Category: UFC

UFC

UFC 282: Blachowicz juggles underdog tag and Ankalaev’s ascent, but will he claim gold again?

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Jan Blachowicz speaks at the UFC 282 pre-fight press conference on December 8 at the MGM Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Jiri Prochazka’s serious shoulder injury saw the Czech vacate his 205lb title, keen not to hold the division up in his absence. While unfortunate, Jan Blachowicz called the news an early Christmas gift, and now the former light-heavyweight champion suddenly has an opportunity to regain the strap he lost against Glover Teixeira 14 months ago. Up against a clearly favoured Magomed Ankalaev though, which man will have the last laugh in the early hours on Sunday? Continue reading “UFC 282: Blachowicz juggles underdog tag and Ankalaev’s ascent, but will he claim gold again?” →

UFC

UFC Orlando: Wonderboy outworks Holland in crazy headliner – after RDA, Nicolau and Dolidze win big

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Stephen Thompson kicks Kevin Holland in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amway Center on December 03, 2022 in Orlando,...

Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson danced with some first-round danger before rolling back the years en route to a R4 TKO victory during a fun battle against Kevin Holland in last weekend’s UFC Orlando main event, while there were big main card stoppage wins for Rafael dos Anjos, Matheus Nicolau and Roman Dolidze – a newcomer in the middleweight rankings this week. Continue reading “UFC Orlando: Wonderboy outworks Holland in crazy headliner – after RDA, Nicolau and Dolidze win big” →

UFC

UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson refutes retirement talk before Kevin Holland main event matchup

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Opponents Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Amway Center on December 02, 2022 in Orlando,...

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (#6) may be on a two-fight losing streak, but the two-time title challenger has responded to speculation that he’ll soon retire – so long as his body holds up – with his father the only man who can influence his decision to call it a day.
Continue reading “UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson refutes retirement talk before Kevin Holland main event matchup” →

UFC

Unpacking last weekend’s unforgettable UFC 281 as Pereira, Weili emerge the evening’s biggest winners

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Alex Pereira of Brazil reacts after his TKO victory over Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the UFC middleweight championship bout during the UFC 281...

Alex Pereira and Zhang Weili reigned supreme as two new champions were crowned at UFC 281 during a memorable PPV card that exceeded expectations last weekend, with seven first-round finishes and surprise results galore – as well as a Fight of the Year contender at lightweight.
Continue reading “Unpacking last weekend’s unforgettable UFC 281 as Pereira, Weili emerge the evening’s biggest winners” →

UFC

UFC 281: Esparza keen to extinguish lingering criticisms vs. confident Weili in first title defence

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Opponents Carla Esparza and Zhang Weili of China pose on stage during the UFC 281 press conference at Madison Square Garden on November 09, 2022 in...

A decision machine. Far from entertaining. Part of the worst title fight in UFC history. The list goes on for Carla Esparza, a two-time strawweight champion not getting the respect her achievements deserve. The first title defence of her second reign against Zhang Weili on Saturday night is one many expect she’ll lose, handily at that, but the 35-year-old is excited. Continue reading “UFC 281: Esparza keen to extinguish lingering criticisms vs. confident Weili in first title defence” →

UFC

Rewind: Before Arnold Allen main event, a look back at Kattar’s split decision loss vs. Emmett on Jun. 18

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Calvin Kattar punches Josh Emmett in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night: Kattar v Emmett event at June 18 Moody Center on in Austin,...

Calvin Kattar looks to defend his top-five ranking against a surging contender in Britain’s Arnold Allen later tonight, a matchup serving as an unofficial 145lb title eliminator. Before their Fight Night main event clash from the UFC’s Apex, here’s a look back at a contentious split decision Kattar suffered vs. Josh Emmett five months ago – before his fifth straight headliner. Continue reading “Rewind: Before Arnold Allen main event, a look back at Kattar’s split decision loss vs. Emmett on Jun. 18” →

UFC

UFC 280: Makhachev claims lightweight gold, after Sterling defends 135lb strap and O’Malley stuns Yan

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Islam Makhachev of Russia celebrates after his victory over Charles Oliveira of Brazil in their UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 280...

Islam Makhachev did what he said he would, winning lightweight gold with a second-round submission win over Charles Oliveira before dedicating it to Khabib and his close friend’s father, late coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Prior, Aljamain Sterling definitively defended his bantamweight title against TJ Dillashaw – a fight that should never have been cleared – after Sean O’Malley stunned critics to earn a split decision victory over former champion Petr Yan. Continue reading “UFC 280: Makhachev claims lightweight gold, after Sterling defends 135lb strap and O’Malley stuns Yan” →

UFC

UFC 280: Makhachev-Oliveira, Sterling-Dillashaw and Yan-O’Malley on a packed PPV card

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Opponents Charles Oliveira of Brazil and Islam Makhachev of Russia face off during the UFC 280 ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on October 21,...

Tonight’s UFC 280 PPV card is packed with multiple fights that could headline their own events. Two championship clashes, one intriguing bantamweight scrap, a of contrasting lightweights and a flyweight title eliminator all on the main card. That’s ignoring Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady, while Volkan Oezdemir and Muhammad Mokaev are among those also on the prelims. Continue reading “UFC 280: Makhachev-Oliveira, Sterling-Dillashaw and Yan-O’Malley on a packed PPV card” →

UFC

Rewind: Cory Sandhagen’s R4 TKO – doctor stoppage – vs. Song Yadong at UFC Vegas 60 on Sept. 17

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Cory Sandhagen punches Song Yadong of China in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 17, 2022 in Las Vegas,...

With no UFC event taking place last weekend, and Saturday’s UFC Vegas 61 card not attracting much buzz, I take a look back at the promotion’s most recent headliner: Cory Sandhagen’s return to the win column at bantamweight against rising young contender Song Yadong. Continue reading “Rewind: Cory Sandhagen’s R4 TKO – doctor stoppage – vs. Song Yadong at UFC Vegas 60 on Sept. 17” →

UFC

Wacky, weird and wild: Unpacking UFC 279 as Nate Diaz and villain Khamzat Chimaev win big

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Nate Diaz punches Tony Ferguson in a welterweight fight during the UFC 279 event at T-Mobile Arena on September 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

They were originally scheduled to face one another in a serious mismatch, but instead Nate Diaz ended his existing UFC deal with a memorable win over a fellow legendary veteran while Khamzat Chimaev leaned into a villainous role – one he carved out for himself after a massive weight miss – easing to another emphatic first-round victory during the night’s co-main event. Continue reading “Wacky, weird and wild: Unpacking UFC 279 as Nate Diaz and villain Khamzat Chimaev win big” →

UFC

UFC Paris: Five things we learned from a memorable Fight Night card in new surroundings

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Ciryl Gane of France punches Tai Tuivasa of Australia in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at The Accor Arena on September 03,...

Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane stayed composed and rallied from the first knockdown of his UFC career en route to a third-round TKO finish against Tai Tuivasa during a fun headliner, capping an electric Fight Night card in Paris leaving many talking points – including Robert Whittaker’s future after a masterful decision win over Marvin Vettori and Nassourdine Imavov now riding a three-fight win streak, what’s his next move at 185lbs? Continue reading “UFC Paris: Five things we learned from a memorable Fight Night card in new surroundings” →

UFC

UFC FN Paris: Whittaker ponders move up to 205lbs, ahead of co-main event matchup with Vettori

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Robert Whittaker interacts with fans during a Q&A session after the UFC 275 weigh-in at Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Singapore.

Assuming he gets past former title challenger Marvin Vettori this weekend, you can’t help but think former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker wants an upset at UFC 281 on Nov. 12 when former foe Israel Adesanya defends his strap against kickboxing adversary Alex Pereira next. Judging by his recent comments, that could determine his immediate future…
Continue reading “UFC FN Paris: Whittaker ponders move up to 205lbs, ahead of co-main event matchup with Vettori” →