Almost a year removed from an unforgettable final second knockout loss by Max Holloway at UFC 300, former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes that with an impressive performance in his Rafael Fiziev rematch this weekend, he’ll put himself in contention for another chance at 155-pound gold. Continue reading “UFC 313: Justin Gaethje knows win puts him ‘in consideration’ for third title shot”
Tag: Dan Hooker
Moicano knows Saint Denis isn’t ‘easy money’ but he’s in Paris to prove himself
#11 ranked lightweight contender Renato Moicano is aware of the test awaiting him on enemy soil in Paris this weekend, but the bullish Brazilian intends to seize Benoit Saint Denis’ rising star status – even if the 28-year-old is ranked one spot below him – after the Frenchman was agonisingly close to a stunning stoppage win over former interim champion Dustin Poirier last time out.
Continue reading “Moicano knows Saint Denis isn’t ‘easy money’ but he’s in Paris to prove himself”
UFC 305: Dricus defies doubters again, retains title with R4 sub win vs. Adesanya
Dricus du Plessis defiantly embraced the chaos and emerged stronger for the experience to make a successful first UFC middleweight title defence against longtime champion Israel Adesanya in the early hours Sunday, inflicting another career-altering defeat as the 185lb division has shaken up once more. Continue reading “UFC 305: Dricus defies doubters again, retains title with R4 sub win vs. Adesanya”
UFC 290: Volkanovski bullies Rodriguez, after big wins for Pantoja and du Plessis
Featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski returned to his natural weight class and decimated the interim titlist in style, after Dricus du Plessis’ division-altering display at middleweight and Alexandre Pantoja overcame adversity against a familiar face as a new world champion was crowned in the co-main.
Continue reading “UFC 290: Volkanovski bullies Rodriguez, after big wins for Pantoja and du Plessis”
Unpacking last weekend’s unforgettable UFC 281 as Pereira, Weili emerge the evening’s biggest winners
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”
Rewind: Before Arnold Allen main event, a look back at Kattar’s split decision loss vs. Emmett on Jun. 18
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 London: Aspinall’s heavyweight ascent continues with first-round submission vs. Volkov
Rising heavyweight talent Tom Aspinall put the division on notice in his first main event opportunity. He wasted no time becoming the first man to submit perennial contender Alexander Volkov since 2010, as the Mancunian capped an electric night of fights at London’s O2 Arena after big KO victories for Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett and Arnold Allen among others.
Continue reading “UFC London: Aspinall’s heavyweight ascent continues with first-round submission vs. Volkov”
UFC Vegas 49: Out of his control, Islam Makhachev’s title aspirations muddied once more
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Islam Makhachev, has long been tipped to capture UFC lightweight gold. Yet this weekend while preparing for his second main event, it’ll be another instance where he’s fighting down to the level of short-notice competition in a bullish Bobby Green after the eighth withdrawal or cancellation since signing with the promotion in 2015. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 49: Out of his control, Islam Makhachev’s title aspirations muddied once more”
UFC 267: New LHW champion Glover Teixeira teaches a valuable lesson in persistence
On an evening where multiple divisional contenders’ stock rose exponentially, a new champion was crowned. Before then, Petr Yan’s slow start vs. Cory Sandhagen didn’t deter him from having bantamweight gold wrapped around his waist again, albeit of the interim kind this time. Then Glover Teixeira made history in the main event matchup, submitting Jan Blachowicz with a R2 rear-naked choke to become the new 205lb titleholder at 42 years and two days old. Continue reading “UFC 267: New LHW champion Glover Teixeira teaches a valuable lesson in persistence”
Are you watching? UFC 267 a sleeper PPV card setting up 2021’s big finish in style
With six more promotional events to round out an eventful year after tonight’s card from Abu Dhabi, the fanfare surrounding future matchups should not detract from an overseas event featuring a compelling title fight without the unsavoury trash talk at 205lbs, alongside a rightful interim belt and more intriguing bouts that promise to move the needle ahead of 2022. Continue reading “Are you watching? UFC 267 a sleeper PPV card setting up 2021’s big finish in style”
UFC 266: Volkanovski outlasts Ortega, retaining featherweight title in frenetic thriller
Alexander Volkanovski survived a R3 frenzy, where he was knocked down with a bullet left-hand and recovered from two tight submission manoevures before outlasting Brian Ortega (#2) via UD to retain his featherweight title: 49-46, 50-45, 50-44. Valentina Shevchenko made the sixth defence of her flyweight crown against Lauren Murphy, while there were other big winners too.
Continue reading “UFC 266: Volkanovski outlasts Ortega, retaining featherweight title in frenetic thriller”
UFC Vegas 37: Anthony Smith submits Ryan Spann in R1, calls out Aleksandar Rakic
Former light-heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith earned another R1 win, as he stormed Ryan Spann (#11). Immediately post-fight, the 33-year-old agreed a December rematch with Aleksandar Rakic (#3) as he plots a return to the top table at 205lbs. Elsewhere, there were big finishes for lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, middleweight Joaquin Buckley and others. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 37: Anthony Smith submits Ryan Spann in R1, calls out Aleksandar Rakic”
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