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Alex Pereira and Zhang Weili reigned supreme as two new champions were crowned at UFC 281 during a memorable PPV card that exceeded expectations last weekend, with seven first-round finishes and surprise results galore – as well as a Fight of the Year contender at lightweight.
Continue reading “Unpacking last weekend’s unforgettable UFC 281 as Pereira, Weili emerge the evening’s biggest winners”
A decision machine. Far from entertaining. Part of the worst title fight in UFC history. The list goes on for Carla Esparza, a two-time strawweight champion not getting the respect her achievements deserve. The first title defence of her second reign against Zhang Weili on Saturday night is one many expect she’ll lose, handily at that, but the 35-year-old is excited. Continue reading “UFC 281: Esparza keen to extinguish lingering criticisms vs. confident Weili in first title defence”
With no UFC card for fans to digest this past weekend, I look back at the five things we learned from May’s electric UFC 274 PPV card – where one championship was controversially stripped on the scale beforehand, another title fight changed hands and plenty more happened besides. Continue reading “UFC 274: Key observations, five things we learned from May 7’s PPV card”
Ahead of next month’s PPV event in Singapore, with two championship fights and a highly-anticipated title eliminator at strawweight, the six headline fighters spoke on a virtual press conference with a variety of answers – from what’s to come for them respectively in June and potentially beyond, like double-champ status and one fighter eyeing another title rematch. Continue reading “UFC 275 Virtual Presser: Santos keen to wrestle, Joanna targeting revenge and more”
After falling short against Valentina Shevchenko in her bid to become a two-weight world champion, the former women’s strawweight titlist headlined a largely forgettable Fight Night card from the Apex on Saturday night and wasted no time: delivering a first-round standing arm-triangle choke win over her Brazilian compatriot, Amanda Lemos on her return to 115lbs. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 52: Andrade earns historic sub win over Lemos on return to strawweight division”
Seven-and-a-half years after their first meeting, UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will hope to avenge her submission defeat by former titlist Carla Esparza (#2) as the pair are set for an intriguing rematch in the UFC 274 co-main event, on a night headlined by Namajunas’ teammate Justin Gaethje – attempting to claim lightweight gold vs. Charles Oliveira. Continue reading “Repeat or revenge? Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 set for UFC 274 co-main event on May 7”
Surging strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez has dented two hype trains in 2021, first knocking out Amanda Ribas on Fight Island in January and now outlasting Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Mackenzie Dern on the scorecards during her second successive main event, after which she stressed a readiness to fight for UFC gold – displays like this make it feel inevitable.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 39: Marina Rodriguez ruins Mackenzie Dern’s showcase night with harsh lesson”
Armed with five straight victories, it might be difficult to deny Carla Esparza another shot at strawweight gold for much longer after a commanding display like this one…
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 27: Carla Esparza dominates Yan Xiaonan, calls for title shot vs. Rose Namajunas”Nearly three weeks removed from her impressive unanimous decision win over a returning Maycee Barber at last month’s UFC 258 PPV, #10 ranked flyweight Alexa Grasso is motivated and itching to get back into the Octagon before long – with sights set on facing another oppponent above her in the rankings as she continues her promising ascent in a new division. Continue reading “Alexa Grasso motivated, targeting top-10 ranked flyweight opponent next”
At long last, bantamweight challenger Aljamain Sterling gets his wish. After watching Cory Sandhagen flatten previously top-ranked contender Marlon Moraes on Saturday night, the 31-year-old will now face Petr Yan in the Russian’s first title defence at UFC 256 on December 12. Continue reading “UFC 256: Petr Yan to face Aljamain Sterling in first bantamweight title defence”
After recent news confirmed UFC 256 will not feature Kamaru Usman’s scheduled welterweight title defence against #1 contender Gilbert Burns – a fight once again postponed for a later date – it now begs the question: what’s next for 2020’s final PPV card on December 12? Continue reading “UFC 256: Usman-Burns to be rescheduled again, so what’s next?”
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