Tag: featherweight

UFC

UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett

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Islam Makhachev of Russia punches Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 284 event at RAC Arena...

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was thrust into deep waters and finished an arduous first title defence on his back, but did enough over 25 minutes to outpoint featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski in a clash of two champions which lived up to the billing in-front of a manic 14,124 strong RAC Crowd in Perth, western Australia. Volkanovski will face new interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at 145lbs, after his second-round submission win over Josh Emmett. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett” →

UFC

UFC 284: Interim featherweight title or not, Emmett and Rodriguez now have a career-best showcase

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Opponents Yair Rodriguez of Mexico and Josh Emmett face off during the UFC 284 press conference at RAC Arena on February 10, 2023 in Perth, Australia.

Sure, you would much rather fight reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski for the undisputed championship. However, an interim title shot is the biggest honour either Yair Rodriguez or Josh Emmett have managed in their respective careers and given the 145lb division remains in flux, both would be wise to seize it during tonight’s co-main event. Continue reading “UFC 284: Interim featherweight title or not, Emmett and Rodriguez now have a career-best showcase” →

UFC

UFC 284: Makhachev eager to secure a KO finish against ‘brick wall’ Volkanovski this weekend

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Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev and UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski face off during a UFC284 Media Opportunity on January 22, 2023...

Before the promotion’s top two pound-for-pound stars do battle this weekend, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev believes he will make his first title defence an emphatic one against featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski, in the Aussie’s backyard. The 34-year-old, moving up a weight division to chase history, feels he is well-prepared to physically surprise Makhachev, having bulked up in the months since his decisive trilogy win over Max Holloway. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev eager to secure a KO finish against ‘brick wall’ Volkanovski this weekend” →

Boxing

Amanda Serrano, Alycia Baumgardner seal undisputed titles after gritty decision wins

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Amanda Serrano punches Erika Cruz during their fight for Serrano, WBC, WBO and IBF featherweight titles and Cruz's WBA featherweight title at The...

Alycia Baumgardner scored two third-round knockdowns en route to a hard-fought decision win over France’s Elhem Mekhaled to secure undisputed status at super-featherweight, before Amanda Serrano found herself thrust into a similarly tough battle against a relentless Erika Cruz display – also victorious on points – setting up a Katie Taylor rematch for May 20, with the Irish undisputed lightweight star watching ringside and making a post-fight appearance too. Continue reading “Amanda Serrano, Alycia Baumgardner seal undisputed titles after gritty decision wins” →

Boxing

Alycia Baumgardner visualising KO win, before tonight’s undisputed clash vs. Elhem Mekhaled

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Fresh from her split decision win over Mikaela Mayer in mid-October, unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner has another tough test as she looks to realise her dream of becoming an undisputed titlist when facing France’s Elhem Mekhaled later tonight. Continue reading “Alycia Baumgardner visualising KO win, before tonight’s undisputed clash vs. Elhem Mekhaled” →

Boxing

2022’s Fight of the Year: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan – pulsating firefight with a dramatic finish

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Leigh Wood knocks out Michael Conlan during the WBA World Featherweight Title fight between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan at Motorpoint Arena...

We’re already into the second week of 2023, but there’s one end-of-year award that feels fitting to reflect upon now as recent news prepares both main event fighters for big opportunities in the first-half of 2023 – one as soon as next month. This one had an electric atmosphere, knockdowns and a 12-round contest ending with a dramatic knockout finish last March. Continue reading “2022’s Fight of the Year: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan – pulsating firefight with a dramatic finish” →

UFC

Rewind: Before Arnold Allen main event, a look back at Kattar’s split decision loss vs. Emmett on Jun. 18

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Calvin Kattar punches Josh Emmett in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night: Kattar v Emmett event at June 18 Moody Center on in Austin,...

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

UFC Long Island: What’s next for Volkanovski after Rodriguez’s anticlimactic main event victory?

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Yair Rodriguez of Mexico and Brian Ortega talk after their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UBS Arena on July 16, 2022 in...

As he continues recovery from the broken thumb sustained during his dominant title defence over former champ Max Holloway earlier this month, featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski wants the winner of UFC 280’s lightweight title headliner: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev. Based on last weekend’s result, should he attend to the business awaiting him at 145lbs first? Continue reading “UFC Long Island: What’s next for Volkanovski after Rodriguez’s anticlimactic main event victory?” →

UFC

UFC 276: Adesanya outpoints Cannonier, after Volkanovski dominates Holloway in trilogy fight

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Israel Adesanya of Nigeria celebrates his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier in their middleweight title bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile...

Israel Adesanya made the fifth defence of his middleweight title against Jared Cannonier, on an evening where the champion’s next challenge presented itself: former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira, who thunderously ended #4 ranked Sean Strickland’s four-year unbeaten run. In the co-main event, featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski closed the chapter on his Max Holloway trilogy with a one-sided UD win before stressing a desire to move up to lightweight. Continue reading “UFC 276: Adesanya outpoints Cannonier, after Volkanovski dominates Holloway in trilogy fight” →

Boxing

Katie Taylor withstands fiery Amanda Serrano storm to edge split decision win

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Katie Taylor of Ireland trades punches with Amanda Serrano of Puerto Rico for the World Lightweight Title fight at Madison Square Garden on April 30,...

Billed as the most heavily-anticipated women’s boxing bout of all-time, this thrilling encounter didn’t disappoint but questions will linger and a rematch is poised after undisputed lightweight titlist Katie Taylor retained her belts with a split decision victory over unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano in-front of a sold out 19,187 crowd at Madison Square Garden.
Continue reading “Katie Taylor withstands fiery Amanda Serrano storm to edge split decision win” →

UFC

UFC 273: Volkanovski’s vicious statement, after Sterling and Chimaev edge razor-thin wins

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Alexander Volkanovski of Australia punches 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung of South Korea in their UFC featherweight championship fight during the...

Alexander Volkanovski produced a striking clinic against the Korean Zombie to retain his featherweight strap with perhaps his best display yet. Prior, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling bested Petr Yan in their long-awaited rematch and the highly-anticipated Burns-Chimaev matchup exceeded expectations with what quickly turned into a pulsating classic. Continue reading “UFC 273: Volkanovski’s vicious statement, after Sterling and Chimaev edge razor-thin wins” →

UFC

UFC 273 Preview: Two title fights, bad blood and compelling matchups to settle

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Alexander Volkanovski of Australia interacts with fans and media during the UFC 266 Press Conference at Park Theater at Park MGM on September 23,...

It’s taken longer than expected, but as the saying goes: good things come to those who wait. So, will April 9 prove another successful title defence for Alexander Volkanovski? What about the eagerly-anticipated bantamweight unification battle between Aljamain Sterling and interim titlist Petr Yan, a rivalry left to fester after their controversial ending last March? We will see. Continue reading “UFC 273 Preview: Two title fights, bad blood and compelling matchups to settle” →