After plenty of build-up, expectations and storylines aplenty, the first UFC PPV event of the new year didn’t disappoint. Deiveson Figueiredo regained his flyweight title in a competitive chess match with Brandon Moreno before Francis Ngannou fought through pre-existing knee injuries to make the first defence of his heavyweight strap against former training partner Ciryl Gane. Continue reading
Category: UFC
UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane – Long-awaited heavyweight unification bout upon us
The heavyweight champion makes his first title defence this weekend against a familiar foe, with a well-documented backstory and storyline that has plenty invested. Will interim titlist Gane – who knows him intimately – prove spoiler? Or can the Cameroonian reign supreme? Continue reading
UFC Vegas 46: Calvin Kattar returns in style, earns dominant UD win vs. Giga Chikadze
Despite outside noise suggesting otherwise, Calvin Kattar (#5) defended his ranking with aplomb – producing a brilliant all-round display to earn a shutout victory against surging Georgian Giga Chikadze (#8), inflicting his first UFC loss. Prior, there were contrasting decision wins for flyweight Brandon Royval and women’s flyweight Katlyn Chookagian, among others.
Continue reading
UFC 271: Ahead of rematch, Whittaker says ego cost him in knockout loss to Adesanya
Ahead of a highly-anticipated middleweight title rematch against Israel Adesanya on February 12, former champion Robert Whittaker hasn’t been shy in admitting his ego got in the way during their first meeting in October 2019 – something that won’t be a problem this time. Continue reading
UFC 272: Volkanovski-Holloway 3, Sterling-Yan 2 title fights to headline March 5 PPV
A pair of compelling championship fights are scheduled to headline the UFC 272 PPV card from the T-Mobile Arena on March 5, when Alexander Volkanovski prepares to make the third defence of his featherweight title vs. former champ Max Holloway in their trilogy, while Aljamain Sterling faces interim titlist Petr Yan in a long-awaited rematch for the bantamweight strap. Continue reading
Francis Ngannou’s desire for boxing clause in future UFC deal an unwelcome distraction
Ahead of his first title defence against former training partner and interim titlist Ciryl Gane on January 22, UFC’s heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has stressed a need for there to be provisions allowing him to box professionally, if and when he agrees terms on a new deal with the promotion. While his wishes have been well-documented, this added noise helps no-one. Continue reading
After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division
After logging a productive 2021 in the Octagon, Belal Muhammad has now entered rarefied air at 170lbs – the welterweight’s top five rankings. Having called out rising two-weight star Khamzat Chimaev as well as a rematch against Leon Edwards after their short-notice date ended with an inadvertent eye poke in March, it feels like the 33-year-old will soon get his wish. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 44: Lewis sets KO record to end 2021, after big wins for Muhammad, Gamrot
Derrick Lewis reinforced his knockout artist pedigree, now standing alone with the UFC’s KO record (13) after viciously ending Chris Daukaus’ first main event in R1 to cap the promotion’s final card of an eventful 2021 campaign. Elsewhere, there were big wins for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad and lightweight prospect Mateusz Gamrot among others.
Continue reading
Daukaus-Lewis a classic matchup between rising contender and dangerous veteran
Although he fell way short of his own sky-high expectations against Ciryl Gane for interim gold in August, Derrick Lewis wants to end 2021 by righting that wrong against soaring heavyweight contender Chris Daukaus set for his first main event this weekend. Continue reading
UFC 269: Pena dethrones Nunes, before Oliveira submits Poirier on crazy night
The final UFC PPV event of 2021 certainly lived up to the billing, as Charles Oliveira rallied from a frenetic first-round to make the first defence of his lightweight strap against Dustin Poirier. Prior, his compatriot Amanda Nunes was stunned by a fierce Julianna Pena display – who similarly recovered from a slow start to shock the world with a round two rear-naked choke. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 44: Aldo rolls back the years with commanding decision win vs. Font
It feels like just yesterday, critics were starting to get worried about Jose Aldo’s career trajectory after suffering three contrasting defeats for the first time in his 17-year pro stint. Now, he’s flipped the script: three consecutive UD wins against hopeful contenders – a first since 2014 – and his potential has risen again, in a bantamweight division packed with uncertainty.
Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers
It’s been a full week since Ketlen Vieira (#6) seized her main event opportunity vs. Miesha Tate (#8), derailing the former bantamweight champion’s return in a gritty UD win. In the co-main event, welterweight prospect Sean Brady stifled perennial contender Michael Chiesa to overtake him in the rankings. Where do these results leave the big losers as they pursue gold?
Continue reading
Mo and Sports 