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Merab Dvalishvili outfoxed Sean O’Malley and seized UFC bantamweight gold to avenge defeat for his friend and former champion Aljamain Sterling, after Valentina Shevchenko smartly stifled the partisan crowd before reclaiming the flyweight throne with a dominant decision win over Alexa Grasso in their trilogy on a night where two titles changed hands to finish an epic Sphere spectacle. Continue reading “UFC 306: Dvalishvili, Shevchenko claim gold with UD5 wins to top landmark card”
Alex Pereira sent Jiri Prochazka into another pressing phase of self-reflection after a definitive head kick knockout finish in their rematch, as the light-heavyweight champion made defence #2 of his 205lb title to headline a second UFC PPV in 11 weeks – after Las Vegas resident Dan Ige stepped up on four hours’ notice and produced a spirited effort vs. Diego Lopes in the co-main. Continue reading “UFC 303: Pereira’s switch kick sends Prochazka packing, Lopes-Ige saves card”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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?”
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