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Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway competes at lightweight for the second time in his career this weekend, fighting #1 contender Justin Gaethje for the latter’s BMF title at UFC 300. Given the risk-reward and ever-changing landscape at 145lbs, Holloway could’ve chosen another option – but welcoming this risk is emblematic of the man many have loved through it all, win or lose. Continue reading “Max Holloway aware of the risks in Justin Gaethje clash, but that typifies who he is”
Continue reading “Topuria’s coach Climent insists new champion will sell out Real’s Bernabeu”
The long-reigning former UFC featherweight champion has suffered devastating knockout defeats in consecutive bouts, barely four months apart, and is adamant about rematching Ilia Topuria in Spain before 2024 ends to regain his crown as the 145lb king. Eugene Bareman’s health update speaks volumes, but will he listen at a stage of his career where he’s fighting time too?
Continue reading “Alexander Volkanovski needs rest, but right now? Good luck getting him to agree”
In the battle of two Brandons, Royval’s confidence grew and he exacted revenge against former UFC flyweight champion Moreno, utilising volume and sharper head movement during their furious stand-up exchanges to silence the Mexico City crowd. He returns to winning ways just three months after losing an Alexandre Pantoja rematch for 125lbs championship gold before Christmas. Continue reading “UFC Mexico City: Royval ruins Moreno’s homecoming in frantic flyweight rematch”
They were quick to laugh and rubbish his perceived arrogance during the build-up to the biggest fight of his career, but Ilia Topuria made good on his promise by securing a stunning second-round knockout win over long-reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and snap the Australian’s unbeaten 145lb streak, becoming the new divisional king in their PPV headliner. Continue reading “UFC 298: Topuria tops Volkanovski with superb R2 KO to clinch featherweight gold”
He played the game perfectly: said all the things to stir up genuine interest, leaned into the villain role and successfully weighed in for tomorrow night’s UFC 298 PPV main event against long-reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Before then, here’s a rewind to the display which saw Ilia Topuria earn the latest title shot at 145lbs against Josh Emmett last June. Continue reading “Rewind: Ilia Topuria’s UD5 win vs. Josh Emmett, before his Volkanovski title shot”
Nine months after Max Holloway ended his perfect UFC run in the Briton’s first main event matchup, #3 ranked featherweight contender Arnold Allen looks to derail Movsar Evloev’s unbeaten streak during the first PPV card of 2024. Considering the 29-year-old’s title ambitions, he can’t afford to slip up against one of the division’s dark horses – whether the Russian has a big name or not. Continue reading “UFC 297: Arnold Allen cannot afford any missteps against unbeaten Movsar Evloev”
35 next month and forced to impatiently wait for his next matchup, #9 ranked featherweight contender Giga Chikadze has spoken of his frustration at multiple fights falling out as he continues to ready himself for a long-awaited return. He’s not the only ranked fighter in this position, though it reiterates how little they can control outside of getting themselves to the cage fully healthy. Continue reading “Giga Chikadze’s UFC inactivity concerns shine light on issues out of their control”
Featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski returned to his natural weight class and decimated the interim titlist in style, after Dricus du Plessis’ division-altering display at middleweight and Alexandre Pantoja overcame adversity against a familiar face as a new world champion was crowned in the co-main.
Continue reading “UFC 290: Volkanovski bullies Rodriguez, after big wins for Pantoja and du Plessis”
It’s been a week and change since Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight win streak was soundly snapped inside a round by the returning Charles Oliveira, emphatically making his claim for another lightweight championship challenge at UFC 289. The perennial contender and a highly-regarded coach gave their views on what a rematch would look like, against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Continue reading “UFC 289: Dariush, coach Firas Zahabi give their say on Makhachev-Oliveira rematch”
Calvin Kattar and a lot others would’ve felt justified in their pre-fight pick, for long-reigning former featherweight titlist Max Holloway’s championship experience to pay dividends down the stretch against determined contender Arnold Allen. While there’s comfort from familiarity, it also means featherweight finds itself stuck – at least for a little while – atop the division.
Continue reading “UFC Kansas City: Holloway halts Allen’s mammoth win streak, so now we wait”
Having shared the cage with both of tomorrow’s main event fighters, albeit finishing in contrasting circumstances, #7 ranked featherweight contender Calvin Kattar today shared his opinion on the landscape at 145lbs. Still recovering from a torn ACL injury, the 35-year-old remains excited about the future in a division bound to continue shifting at the top before his return. Continue reading “Calvin Kattar calls Holloway vs. Allen true #1 contender fight at 145lbs – he’s right”
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