Category: UFC

UFC

UFC 295: Relive live commentary as Pereira becomes two-division champion, after Aspinall wins interim HW gold

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Tom Aspinall of England receives the interim heavyweight belt after defeating Sergei Pavlovich of Russia by TKO in the interim UFC heavyweight...

Relive my live fight-by-fight commentary as UFC 295 unfolded from New York’s Madison Square Garden overnight, with Manchester’s Tom Aspinall looking to score interim heavyweight gold – on short-notice no less – against the fearsome finisher Sergei Pavlovich in the night’s co-main event before former champions Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira did battle for the vacant light-heavyweight title.
Continue reading “UFC 295: Relive live commentary as Pereira becomes two-division champion, after Aspinall wins interim HW gold” →

UFC

Tom Aspinall looking to succeed where others have fallen short with UFC 295 spot

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Tom Aspinall of England is interviewed after defeating Marcin Tybura of Poland in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night at The O2 Arena...

Thrust into the new co-main slot for UFC 295 next month after news of reigning champion Jon Jones’ serious injury surfaced overnight, the #4 ranked heavyweight will look to win interim gold vs. a dangerous opponent in Sergei Pavlovich on November 11. All things considered, taking the chance without ample preparation time is brave but hasn’t aged well for many of late… Continue reading “Tom Aspinall looking to succeed where others have fallen short with UFC 295 spot” →

UFC

UFC 294: Bad knees – pop or otherwise – Usman’s back is against the wall as Chimaev challenge awaits at 185lbs

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Kamaru Usman of Nigeria holds an open training session for fans and media during the UFC 294 open workouts at Yas Mall on October 18, 2023 in Yas...

After praise for accepting an unenviable task on short-notice last week, it’s fair to say fight week hasn’t been particularly kind to former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He makes his middleweight debut this weekend at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi against the man many tipped to dethrone him at 170lbs – unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev. After Wednesday’s open workout, the noise has instead centred around the state of his long-standing knee issues. Continue reading “UFC 294: Bad knees – pop or otherwise – Usman’s back is against the wall as Chimaev challenge awaits at 185lbs” →

UFC

Bobby Green, Edson Barboza show power of experience in consecutive Apex cards

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Bobby Green reacts after defeating Grant Dawson in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on October 07, 2023 in Las...

Bobby Green relished his role as underdog to score a fast-and-furious main event finish one week, then the man who derailed his sense of invincibility within the promotion some nine years ago recovered from danger to prevail in his own headliner the very next week. At a time where UFC fans and critics seem all too quick to crown the next future champion, it’s a fitting sign of symbolism. Continue reading “Bobby Green, Edson Barboza show power of experience in consecutive Apex cards” →

UFC

New bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley confirms early 2024 return, says UFC want him to headline his own show

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Sean O'Malley celebrates after he defeats Aljamain Sterling by TKO for the bantamweight title in the UFC 292 main even at TD Garden.

Sean O’Malley scored a second-round knockout win over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC 292 main event to capture bantamweight gold, before calling for a Marlon Vera rematch in his first title defence to finish an unforgettable year this December. The promotion have since announced Edwards vs. Covington will headline UFC 296 on Dec. 16, so Suga must wait until 2024 to satisfy that itch. Continue reading “New bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley confirms early 2024 return, says UFC want him to headline his own show” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 79: Gamrot gets anticlimactic victory, as Fiziev sidelined with torn ACL

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Rafael Fiziev of Kazakstan reacts after suffering a knee injury against Mateusz Gamrot of Poland in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night...

An intriguing matchup between two top-10 lightweights ended in disaster for Rafael Fiziev, who lost his #6 ranking and any momentum he could’ve earned with victory at the weekend after sustaining a nasty ACL injury during round two of his competitive clash with Mateusz Gamrot [7]. It means a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while the Pole will look to build off an unfortunate ending. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 79: Gamrot gets anticlimactic victory, as Fiziev sidelined with torn ACL” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 79: Fiziev feels he can handle Gamrot’s wrestling on Saturday night

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Opponents Rafael Fiziev of Kazakstan and Mateusz Gamrot of Poland face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on September 22, 2023 in...

#6 ranked lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev believes he’s grown stronger for the experience after being outpointed by former interim champion Justin Gaethje six months ago, and enters tomorrow’s Fight Night headliner against Mateusz Gamrot [7] aware of the heavy grappling game his opponent presents. Can the 30-year-old successfully nullify those dangers over 25 minutes though? Continue reading “UFC Vegas 79: Fiziev feels he can handle Gamrot’s wrestling on Saturday night” →

UFC

Tracy Cortez targets a title tilt, and given the women’s flyweight picture – why not?

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Tracy Cortez battles Jasmine Jasudavicius of Canada in a flyweight fight during the Noche UFC event at T-Mobile Arena on September 16, 2023 in Las...

After ending a 16-month layoff, women’s flyweight contender Tracy Cortez improved to 5-0 in the Octagon with a UD3 win over Jasmine Jasudavicius but wasn’t satisfied being stashed on the Noche UFC card’s early prelims – headlined by a title fight in her division. With more activity, a steady step-up in opposition and more composure, she could soon make a title push of her own. Continue reading “Tracy Cortez targets a title tilt, and given the women’s flyweight picture – why not?” →

UFC

Noche UFC: Grasso-Shevchenko 2 ends in split draw after contentious scorecards

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Alexa Grasso of Mexico and Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan react after fighting to a majority draw in the UFC flyweight championship fight during...

Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 was exactly as advertised: a much different fight than their first showdown just six months later, with both enjoying periods of success and throwing strikes aplenty across all angles trying to wrestle UFC gold from the other’s grasp. Instead though, after a thrilling contest over 25 minutes, we’re left to lament poor judging once again. Continue reading “Noche UFC: Grasso-Shevchenko 2 ends in split draw after contentious scorecards” →

UFC

Noche UFC: So with doubts heightened, what does Valentina have in store?

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Alexa Grasso of Mexico and Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan face off during the Noche UFC ceremonial weigh-in at Toshiba Plaza on September 15,...

Questions aplenty have been raised surrounding long-reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko as she looks to reclaim gold six months after a surprise submission defeat by Alexa Grasso. Chief among them is this: will her return resemble Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena 2… or Ronda Rousey’s short-lived return against the recently-retired Brazilian champion seven years ago? 

Continue reading “Noche UFC: So with doubts heightened, what does Valentina have in store?” →

UFC

UFC 293 – The debrief: Strickland stuns, outboxes Adesanya to earn 185lb gold

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Sean Strickland punches Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena on...

Well then, who saw that coming? Sean Strickland is now king of the UFC middleweights after a fantastic display of pressure and stern defence over 25 minutes bamboozled Israel Adesanya into submission at the weekend, on enemy soil no less, as fresh matchups galore have been cracked open after the American’s shock title victory in Australia. Click to read more, for the debrief.  Continue reading “UFC 293 – The debrief: Strickland stuns, outboxes Adesanya to earn 185lb gold” →

UFC

UFC 293: Adesanya insists Strickland is selling wolf tickets, so should you watch?

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Opponents Israel Adesanya of Nigeria and Sean Strickland face off during the UFC 293 ceremonial weigh-in at Qudos Bank Arena on September 08, 2023 in...

Israel Adesanya makes the first defence of his second UFC middleweight title reign against an unpredictable underdog in Sean Strickland – whose path to this opportunity was borne from activity at a time where fresh contenders were sparse. While a Dricus du Plessis showdown seems inevitable in future, Strickland’s best method of winning this championship clash is gruelling and difficult to achieve after all that has come before it. Can he execute it though? Continue reading “UFC 293: Adesanya insists Strickland is selling wolf tickets, so should you watch?” →