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
Tag: Dana White
Francis Ngannou’s desire for boxing clause in future UFC deal an unwelcome distraction
Ahead of his first title defence against former training partner and interim titlist Ciryl Gane on January 22, UFC’s heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has stressed a need for there to be provisions allowing him to box professionally, if and when he agrees terms on a new deal with the promotion. While his wishes have been well-documented, this added noise helps no-one. Continue reading
UFC 269: Julianna Pena on Amanda Nunes’ privilege, ahead of next month’s title fight
After leaving UFC 265 unsatisfied, UFC women’s bantamweight contender Julianna Pena (#4) has needed to keep herself composed and in shape while waiting for a rescheduled title fight date. Now that the Dec. 11 date is finalised, the 32-year-old is itching to make up for lost time against two-division champion Amanda Nunes – who she says has been avoiding her for years.
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UFC Vegas 42: Max Holloway outworks Yair Rodriguez in featherweight war
Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway (#1) added another victory to his ever-increasing pile in the 145lb division (18) but needed to dig deep, recovering from a shaky start to eventually outstrike the returning Yair Rodriguez (#3) and earn a hard-fought decision win.
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UFC 268: Kamaru Usman promises more flawless display in Colby Covington rematch
Thursday’s promotional press conference was energetic with bad intentions in equal measure, as expected, but UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman knows he needs to make clear improvements – just as he did in the rematch with Jorge Masvidal – against an increasingly determined Colby Covington if he’s to make the fifth defence of his 170lb strap this weekend. Continue reading
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 Vegas 41: Burning questions remain as Vettori outworks Costa in fiery LHW clash
Paulo Costa embraced the heel role, having revealed his inability to make the scheduled 185lb limit during fight week. Despite explosive moments aplenty and a flurry of furious head kicks that would’ve ended most other nights, he was outworked by a smart Marvin Vettori showing in a highly-anticipated battle between two former middleweight title challengers at 205lbs.
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Casey O’Neill’s patient progression stance is one more UFC prospects should follow
Across the promotion’s four female weight classes, only four fighters – including an impressive flyweight still in her debut UFC year – are unbeaten with 3-0 records or better. The conscious decision to reject their fast-track route attempts speak to the 24-year-old’s desire for more well-rounded growth with time, something many rising stars before her skipped to their detriment.
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Time to think: Volkanovski happy to have won gruelling Ortega war, discusses future
After more than 400 days out of the Octagon, Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his UFC featherweight title with a UD win over Brian Ortega in a memorable thriller over the weekend. The 32-year-old is eager to return soon – and didn’t rule out the possibility of a move to 155lbs, with former champ Max Holloway (#1) vs. Yair Rodriguez (#3) set for mid-November. Continue reading
UFC 265: Gane outclasses Lewis with R3 TKO, becomes new interim HW champion
Ciryl Gane (#3) improved to 10-0 after another impressive win – this time in enemy territory from Houston’s Toyota Center – blasting Derrick Lewis (#2) with a third-round TKO finish to seize the UFC’s interim heavyweight title. Beforehand, there were impressive victories for a determined bantamweight contender in Jose Aldo as well as welterweight title hopeful Vicente Luque.
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UFC 264: Dustin Poirier beats Conor McGregor in trilogy, R1 TKO doctor stoppage
After an electric start, Dustin Poirier landed vicious ground and pound strikes, raining down on Conor McGregor up against the fence as they exchanged various attacks before an anti-climactic finish. The former two-weight world champion landed awkwardly on his left leg and has a suspected fracture, contorting it after they both missed punches in the final seconds of R1.
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UFC Vegas 30: Composed Ciryl Gane passes Alexander Volkov test, remains unbeaten
After five tests of increasing difficulty, Ciryl Gane knew the Volkov challenge was a necessary litmus test to see whether he was more than the UFC’s rapidly-growing hype machine. During an entertaining striking battle, the Frenchman passed with flying colours and won all five rounds on two of the three judges’ scorecards, before eyeing a title shot vs. Francis Ngannou. Continue reading
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