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Two days shy of a year since his lacklustre third attempt at championship gold, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington’s 2024 was ended rather abruptly by a disciplined Joaquin Buckley display – the streaking 30-year-old’s power and precision too much to handle, as an inevitable doctor stoppage saved Chaos from more punishment after three gruelling rounds.
Continue reading “Doctor stoppage saves Covington after three-round Buckley beatdown in Tampa”
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 97: Brady beckons Garry, Covington next after comfy UD5 Burns win”
Riding a five-fight win streak since their main event ended abruptly after an accidental eye poke rendered him unable to continue, #2 welterweight Belal Muhammad has persistently poked Leon Edwards who now holds UFC championship gold three years later. If he gets his long-awaited wish at a title shot as expected, the 35-year-old cannot underperform as Colby did last month. Continue reading “Belal barking up an Edwards-shaped storm that very soon, he’ll have to back up”
After praise for accepting an unenviable task on short-notice last week, it’s fair to say fight week hasn’t been particularly kind to former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He makes his middleweight debut this weekend at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi against the man many tipped to dethrone him at 170lbs – unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev. After Wednesday’s open workout, the noise has instead centred around the state of his long-standing knee issues. Continue reading “UFC 294: Bad knees – pop or otherwise – Usman’s back is against the wall as Chimaev challenge awaits at 185lbs”
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling secured his third title defence with a split decision nod against two-division champion Henry Cejudo, who acquitted himself well after a three-year layoff but wasn’t active nor urgent enough to consistently trouble the 135lb titlist over 25 minutes. Prior, there were big wins for Belal Muhammad and Yan Xiaonan among others. Continue reading “UFC 288: Sterling outpoints returning Cejudo, after Belal’s big decision win”
#4 ranked welterweight Belal Muhammad has reaffirmed a desire to fight up, eager to finally earn a #1 contender spot with potential fights against former champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington or a rematch with current titlist Leon Edwards – rather than having to fight down the rankings once more against Shavkat Rakhmonov [6]. Whether that will materialise, is the question. Continue reading “Belal Muhammad only looking upwards – wants Edwards, Usman or Covington next”
UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards believes unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev has been overvalued by the promotion, and in a recent interview with Michael Bisping, said as much as he prepares for his first title defence against former titlist Kamaru Usman in March.
Continue reading “Leon Edwards: Khamzat Chimaev is not the untouchable monster UFC built him to be”
Kamaru Usman has revealed a readiness to travel to Leon Edwards’ home comforts, as he looks to regain his welterweight title in 2023 – with London’s Wembley Stadium mooted as a possible venue – having led 3-1 on all three judges’ scorecards but ultimately suffering a dramatic final-minute leg kick KO defeat at the weekend during their rematch in the UFC 278 main event. Continue reading “UFC 278: Usman at peace with shock KO defeat, welcomes trilogy clash in England next year”
Things came full circle for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad (#6), as he extended his unbeaten streak to eight fights with a composed all-round showing, swarming Vicente Luque (#5) and executing his tactical plan brilliantly against the same man who knocked him out in 79 seconds six years ago. Afterwards, he called out two-time title challenger Colby Covington (#1). Continue reading “UFC Vegas 51: Muhammad stakes claim with disciplined all-round display, overwhelms Luque”
Colby Covington’s wrestling proved key en route to a dominant decision win against Jorge Masvidal, in a grudge match between friends turned foes. Elsewhere, there were big wins for surging featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell and Kevin Holland on his debut at 170lbs, while Marina Rodriguez (#3) asserted her case for a shot at Rose Namajunas’ strawweight strap.
Continue reading “UFC 272: Covington mauls Masvidal, after big victories for Mitchell and Holland”
Ahead of his main event headliner against best friend turned fierce foe Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night, #1 ranked welterweight Colby Covington has issued a warning to highly-rated contender Khamzat Chimaev: win some big fights, then he’ll destroy Borz’s hype in its tracks. Continue reading “UFC 272: Chimaev? Win some big fights then I’ll destroy you like Masvidal, Covington insists”
After logging a productive 2021 in the Octagon, Belal Muhammad has now entered rarefied air at 170lbs – the welterweight’s top five rankings. Having called out rising two-weight star Khamzat Chimaev as well as a rematch against Leon Edwards after their short-notice date ended with an inadvertent eye poke in March, it feels like the 33-year-old will soon get his wish. Continue reading “After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division”
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