On an evening which was impacted by multiple card cancellations, not least the original Sandhagen-Dillashaw main event, #6 strawweight Marina Rodriguez produced a dominant display and almost finished a durable Michelle Waterson in their flyweight headliner before calling out former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (#2) as a potential new challenge to come. Continue reading
Category: UFC
UFC Vegas 25: Jiri Prochazka viciously flattens Dominick Reyes in title eliminator
Rising light-heavyweight Jiri Prochazka (#5) handed two-time title challenger Dominick Reyes (#3) his third straight loss with a second-round spinning back elbow knockout – the third in UFC history – asserting his credentials as a genuine title contender at 205lbs. Before a chaotic main event, there were big wins for Georgian duo Giga Chikadze and Merab Dvalishvili among others.
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Kamaru Usman eyeing UFC 263 return, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is itching for more activity and wants to make the fifth defence of his 170-lb strap at UFC 263, on what would be another stacked card with three title fights, per an ESPN interview with his manager Ali Abdelaziz. While promoter Dana White said a Colby Covington rematch is next, they’re targeting others like Michael Chiesa (#7) instead.
UFC 261: Post-fight presser comments as Shevchenko, Namajunas and Usman talk
Promoter Dana White confirmed that UFC Africa is more than just a fantasy after all, a dominant Valentina Shevchenko spoke about next steps in her division as well as a possible Amanda Nunes trilogy, while Rose Namajunas – rematch aside – is eyeing a few possible contenders and reigning champion Kamaru Usman continues to see the fruits of his labour at welterweight. Continue reading
UFC 261: Kamaru Usman knocks out Jorge Masvidal, retains welterweight strap
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman vowed to produce a better display in their rematch and did exactly that: being the first to KO Jorge Masvidal (#4), retaining his 170lb strap for the fourth time with a devastating right-hand. Beforehand, Rose Namajunas made history becoming a two-time champion while Valentina Shevchenko completed another dominant title defence.
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Kamaru Usman: Jorge Masvidal win left me unsatisfied, why I called for UFC 261 rematch
Ahead of his fourth welterweight title defence this weekend against Jorge Masvidal on a stacked UFC 261 card, Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) has vowed to break the #3 divisional contender while saying 170-lb challengers aren’t exciting him – hinting that he may retire if he gets to a point where the landscape doesn’t motivate the same way anymore. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 24: Robert Whittaker eases past Kelvin Gastelum, eyes Adesanya next
During a middleweight matchup three years in the making, Robert Whittaker handily beat a durable Kelvin Gastelum on the judges’ scorecards, once again retaining his #1 ranking while making his case indisputable to finally rematch champion Israel Adesanya later this year.
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Ask and you may receive: Julianna Pena’s boldness earns her dubious title shot
After news broke that two-weight champion Amanda Nunes would be defending her 135-lb belt against #6 ranked women’s bantamweight Julianna Pena at UFC 265 on August 7 yesterday, it again reinforced the unwritten rule that some momentum, mixed with trash talk and geniune heat can be utilised to skip the traditional queue under the guise of a fresh divisional matchup.
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UFC 266: Jan Blachowicz to defend his LHW title vs. Glover Teixeira on September 4
After making championship weight as a back-up fighter for last month’s UFC 259 pay-per-view, Glover Teixeira has been granted a second opportunity to become light-heavyweight champion: seven years after his unsuccessful challenge against Jon Jones in April 2014. It’ll also be Jan Blachowicz’s second title defence, having ended Israel Adesanya’s unbeaten streak on March 6. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 23: Marvin Vettori dominates Kevin Holland, calls for Adesanya rematch
Marvin Vettori amplified Kevin Holland’s wrestling deficiencies with a dominant and record-breaking main event victory – before calling for a rematch against existing champion Israel Adesanya, who beat him by split decision three years ago this month. Elsewhere, there were big wins for women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern and featherweight Arnold Allen among others.
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No Darren Till, no problem for middleweight title-chasing Marvin Vettori
After Darren Till (#5) broke his collarbone in training and withdrew from this weekend’s main event on March 30, Kevin Holland – who recently underwhelmed against Derek Brunson (#4) – is stepping up on nine days’ notice to face Vettori (#6), though the Italian is unfazed as he continues on the trail to get a crack at the middleweight strap and an Israel Adesanya rematch. Continue reading
UFC 260: Ngannou wants more activity, targets July-August for Jon Jones fight
Newly crowned champion Francis Ngannou had plenty to say at the post-fight press conference, from reflecting on his arduous journey to world title gold in an unforgettable rematch, if there should be a Stipe Miocic trilogy, to when he’ll be ready for his first defence against Jon Jones. Continue reading
