Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

UFC

UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett

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Islam Makhachev of Russia punches Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 284 event at RAC Arena...

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was thrust into deep waters and finished an arduous first title defence on his back, but did enough over 25 minutes to outpoint featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski in a clash of two champions which lived up to the billing in-front of a manic 14,124 strong RAC Crowd in Perth, western Australia. Volkanovski will face new interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at 145lbs, after his second-round submission win over Josh Emmett. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett” →

UFC

UFC 284: Interim featherweight title or not, Emmett and Rodriguez now have a career-best showcase

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Opponents Yair Rodriguez of Mexico and Josh Emmett face off during the UFC 284 press conference at RAC Arena on February 10, 2023 in Perth, Australia.

Sure, you would much rather fight reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski for the undisputed championship. However, an interim title shot is the biggest honour either Yair Rodriguez or Josh Emmett have managed in their respective careers and given the 145lb division remains in flux, both would be wise to seize it during tonight’s co-main event. Continue reading “UFC 284: Interim featherweight title or not, Emmett and Rodriguez now have a career-best showcase” →

UFC

UFC 284: Makhachev eager to secure a KO finish against ‘brick wall’ Volkanovski this weekend

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Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev and UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski face off during a UFC284 Media Opportunity on January 22, 2023...

Before the promotion’s top two pound-for-pound stars do battle this weekend, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev believes he will make his first title defence an emphatic one against featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski, in the Aussie’s backyard. The 34-year-old, moving up a weight division to chase history, feels he is well-prepared to physically surprise Makhachev, having bulked up in the months since his decisive trilogy win over Max Holloway. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev eager to secure a KO finish against ‘brick wall’ Volkanovski this weekend” →

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 Long Island: What’s next for Volkanovski after Rodriguez’s anticlimactic main event victory?

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Yair Rodriguez of Mexico and Brian Ortega talk after their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UBS Arena on July 16, 2022 in...

As he continues recovery from the broken thumb sustained during his dominant title defence over former champ Max Holloway earlier this month, featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski wants the winner of UFC 280’s lightweight title headliner: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev. Based on last weekend’s result, should he attend to the business awaiting him at 145lbs first? Continue reading “UFC Long Island: What’s next for Volkanovski after Rodriguez’s anticlimactic main event victory?” →

UFC

UFC 276: Adesanya outpoints Cannonier, after Volkanovski dominates Holloway in trilogy fight

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Israel Adesanya of Nigeria celebrates his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier in their middleweight title bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile...

Israel Adesanya made the fifth defence of his middleweight title against Jared Cannonier, on an evening where the champion’s next challenge presented itself: former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira, who thunderously ended #4 ranked Sean Strickland’s four-year unbeaten run. In the co-main event, featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski closed the chapter on his Max Holloway trilogy with a one-sided UD win before stressing a desire to move up to lightweight. Continue reading “UFC 276: Adesanya outpoints Cannonier, after Volkanovski dominates Holloway in trilogy fight” →

UFC

UFC 273: Volkanovski’s vicious statement, after Sterling and Chimaev edge razor-thin wins

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Alexander Volkanovski of Australia punches 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung of South Korea in their UFC featherweight championship fight during the...

Alexander Volkanovski produced a striking clinic against the Korean Zombie to retain his featherweight strap with perhaps his best display yet. Prior, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling bested Petr Yan in their long-awaited rematch and the highly-anticipated Burns-Chimaev matchup exceeded expectations with what quickly turned into a pulsating classic. Continue reading “UFC 273: Volkanovski’s vicious statement, after Sterling and Chimaev edge razor-thin wins” →

UFC

UFC 273 Preview: Two title fights, bad blood and compelling matchups to settle

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Alexander Volkanovski of Australia interacts with fans and media during the UFC 266 Press Conference at Park Theater at Park MGM on September 23,...

It’s taken longer than expected, but as the saying goes: good things come to those who wait. So, will April 9 prove another successful title defence for Alexander Volkanovski? What about the eagerly-anticipated bantamweight unification battle between Aljamain Sterling and interim titlist Petr Yan, a rivalry left to fester after their controversial ending last March? We will see. Continue reading “UFC 273 Preview: Two title fights, bad blood and compelling matchups to settle” →

UFC

Staying ready: Calvin Kattar keen for UFC 273 back-up role ahead of Volk-Zombie title fight

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Calvin Kattar reacts after his victory over Giga Chikadze of Georgia in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on...

Fresh from his impressive decision win over rising contender Giga Chikadze last month, the #5 ranked featherweight has revealed he is staying ready as he looks to secure a reserve role, which could see him potentially fight for gold at UFC 273 on April 9 after former champion Max Holloway withdrew from his proposed Alexander Volkanovski trilogy with an undisclosed injury. Continue reading “Staying ready: Calvin Kattar keen for UFC 273 back-up role ahead of Volk-Zombie title fight” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 46: Calvin Kattar returns in style, earns dominant UD win vs. Giga Chikadze

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Calvin Kattar punches Giga Chikadze of Georgia in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on January 15, 2022 in Las...

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 Vegas 46: Calvin Kattar returns in style, earns dominant UD win vs. Giga Chikadze” →

UFC

UFC 272: Volkanovski-Holloway 3, Sterling-Yan 2 title fights to headline March 5 PPV

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Opponents Alexander Volkanovski of Australia and Max Holloway face off prior to their UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event...

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 “UFC 272: Volkanovski-Holloway 3, Sterling-Yan 2 title fights to headline March 5 PPV” →