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 269: Pena dethrones Nunes, before Oliveira submits Poirier on crazy night”
Tag: Amanda Nunes
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 “Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers”
UFC 269: Julianna Pena on Amanda Nunes’ privilege, ahead of next month’s title fight
After leaving UFC 265 unsatisfied, UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Pena (#4) has needed to keep herself composed and in shape while waiting for a rescheduled title fight date. Now that the Dec. 11 date is finalised, the 32-year-old is itching to make up for lost time against two-division champion Amanda Nunes – who she says has been avoiding her for years.
Continue reading “UFC 269: Julianna Pena on Amanda Nunes’ privilege, ahead of next month’s title fight”
UFC 269: Dustin Poirier vs. Charles Oliveira lightweight title fight in the works
Per a recent report from MMAFighting.com, the promotion is targeting Charles Oliveira’s first lightweight title defence to be against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 on December 11 – verbal agreements are already in place, though contracts haven’t yet been issued. That PPV already has a title bout slated: Amanda Nunes defending her bantamweight strap vs. Julianna Pena. Continue reading “UFC 269: Dustin Poirier vs. Charles Oliveira lightweight title fight in the works”
UFC Vegas 33: Sean Strickland keen to solve the Uriah Hall puzzle in main event
On a rare weekend overshadowed by Bellator’s featherweight title main event, this is far from a sexy main event on paper but Uriah Hall (#9) vs Sean Strickland (#11) feels like a middleweight matchup with implications aplenty for both – especially considering the latter has won four straight and will be targeting the top guns should he pass this latest acid test at 185lbs. Will he? Continue reading “UFC Vegas 33: Sean Strickland keen to solve the Uriah Hall puzzle in main event”
UFC Vegas 31: Tate eyes UFC title in comeback, but refuses to rush ahead of Reneau matchup
Thrust into her first UFC fight week for almost five years, Miesha Tate was unequivocal about being where she belongs after retiring. The former women’s bantamweight champion praised upcoming opponent Marion Reneau but also hopes this weekend ultimately proves the important first step en route to achieving gold once more in future as her comeback trail starts. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 31: Tate eyes UFC title in comeback, but refuses to rush ahead of Reneau matchup”
UFC 261: Post-fight presser comments as Shevchenko, Namajunas and Usman talk
Promoter Dana White confirmed that UFC Africa is more than just a fantasy after all, a dominant Valentina Shevchenko spoke about next steps in her division as well as a possible Amanda Nunes trilogy, while Rose Namajunas – rematch aside – is eyeing a few possible contenders and reigning champion Kamaru Usman continues to see the fruits of his labour at welterweight. Continue reading “UFC 261: Post-fight presser comments as Shevchenko, Namajunas and Usman talk”
Ask and you may receive: Julianna Pena’s boldness earns her dubious title shot
After news broke that two-weight champion Amanda Nunes would be defending her 135-lb belt against #6 ranked women’s bantamweight Julianna Pena at UFC 265 on August 7 yesterday, it again reinforced the unwritten rule that some momentum, mixed with trash talk and geniune heat can be utilised to skip the traditional queue under the guise of a fresh divisional matchup.
Continue reading “Ask and you may receive: Julianna Pena’s boldness earns her dubious title shot”
Coming out of retirement, former UFC champion Miesha Tate returns on July 17
A one-off or necessary acid test as she targets becoming a two-time champion? After a four-and-a-half year retirement, former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (18-7, 5-4 UFC) makes her return on July 17 against Marion Reneau in the latter’s final professional fight.
Continue reading “Coming out of retirement, former UFC champion Miesha Tate returns on July 17”
UFC 259: Blachowicz, Nunes win big after controversial bantamweight title finish
Jan Blachowicz defended his light-heavyweight strap for the first time with a UD win after a closely-fought duel against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, following Amanda Nunes’ ruthless decimation of her latest featherweight challenger in Megan Anderson. Prior to that, bantamweight Petr Yan’s R4 illegal knee on Aljamain Sterling saw the Russian lose his title.
Continue reading “UFC 259: Blachowicz, Nunes win big after controversial bantamweight title finish”
Caution up ahead: Why Jan Blachowicz presents Israel Adesanya’s biggest test yet
After blasting uncrowned champion Dominick Reyes to bits in September, Jan Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) makes the first defence of his light-heavyweight strap against an undefeated middleweight star in Israel Adesanya – going up a weight class and looking to make his own history this weekend. An underdog perhaps, Jan offers Izzy’s most dangerous challenge yet. Continue reading “Caution up ahead: Why Jan Blachowicz presents Israel Adesanya’s biggest test yet”
UFC 261: Valentina Shevchenko to defend flyweight title vs. Jessica Andrade next
Reports today have confirmed UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (20-3) will make the fifth defence of her title against former strawweight title-holder Jessica Andrade (21-8) in two months’ time, an intriguing bout expected to headline their UFC 261 PPV event on April 24. Continue reading “UFC 261: Valentina Shevchenko to defend flyweight title vs. Jessica Andrade next”
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