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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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
Dana White has finally thrown in the towel on his stance to try convincing undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) out of retirement for one more fight, with ESPN reports confirming an in-form Charles Oliveira (#3) will next face three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler (#4) in the UFC 262 headliner on May 15 for a vacant belt. Continue reading “UFC 262: Chandler-Oliveira announced for vacant lightweight title”
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After earning one of the biggest wins of his career by avenging his 2014 loss with a second-round knockout victory, Dustin Poirier had plenty to say – about the magnitude of this win over Conor McGregor, his unhappiness pre-fight while stressing newcomer Michael Chandler shouldn’t be next for a title shot: as an undisputed lightweight belt is all that eludes him now.
Continue reading “UFC 257: Poirier happy after big win but uninterested in Chandler fight”
Conor McGregor suffered the first knockout loss of his professional career overnight, as Dustin Poirier exacted revenge seven years after their first meeting in 2014. Afterwards, the former two-weight world champion spoke to the press in the UFC 257 post-fight press conference and had plenty to say – from praise for the main event winner, to Khabib Nurmagomedov and next steps. Continue reading “UFC 257: McGregor humble but upset in defeat, highlights Poirier’s calf kicks”
Dustin Poirier (#2) avenged his defeat to Conor McGregor (#4) on the Irishman’s Octagon return with an impressive second-round KO win, after Michael Chandler put the lightweight division on notice by blasting #6 ranked Dan Hooker inside a round during the UFC 257 co-main event. Continue reading “UFC 257: Dustin Poirier avenges Conor McGregor loss, after Chandler’s emphatic debut”
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