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ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON — Karriss Artingstall and Jasmina Zapotoczna were crowned new champions at featherweight and flyweight respectively in contrasting 10-round contests, on the undercard of Lauren Price’s punch-perfect display against Natasha Jonas in their welterweight world title unification. Continue reading “Jonas-Price undercard: Artingstall claims British title, Zapotoczna stuns Watson”
Alexandre Pantoja made quick work of a promotional newcomer and former Rizin champion Kai Asakura last weekend in his third successful UFC flyweight title defence. While a Demetrious Johnson callout felt inevitable and the incoming Hall of Famer refused to oblige, there’s something to be said about how the Brazilian is full steam ahead enhancing his legacy, fight-by-fight. Continue reading “UFC 310: Pantoja punishes Asakura in style but Demetrious Johnson callout rebuffed”
Sean O’Malley no longer the bantamweight king? No problem. Alexandre Pantoja admitted he’d been contemplating a move up to 135lbs, but now there seems to be a changing of the guard, the Brazilian is happy to reign over the flyweight division for as long as possible – ala recently-retired Demetrious Johnson, racking up title defences to solidify his legacy as one of the best ever. Continue reading “UFC 310: Pantoja pledges to rule flyweight for a long time, debutant Asakura awaits”
Many expected this to be tactical and tense over twelve rounds. Instead, Olympic champion Galal Yafai wasted no time with a clinical showing en route to the seventh stoppage win of his career, clinching the WBC’s interim world flyweight title after a dominant display to banish Sunny Edwards’ revival ambitions. His ex-amateur rival announced an immediate retirement post-fight. Continue reading “Yafai stops Edwards in six to win WBC interim flyweight world title, rival retires”
Forget about me? Petr Yan’s sharp boxing skills and all-round arsenal proved the talk of the town as the former champ produced precisely the display many critics forecasted would see him reign the UFC’s bantamweight division for many years, deftly outpointing an inspiring Deiveson Figueiredo effort over five rounds with 12,615 watching in the promotion’s first return to China since 2019. Continue reading “UFC Macao: Yan rolls back the clock with UD5 win vs. Figueiredo, calls for title shot”
IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis dropped and outpointed Karen Chukhadzhian, leaving his hometown Philadelphia craving more. The Ukrainian’s improved fight and vigour after their previous meeting last April leaves Ennis questions to answer as defensive frailties leaked against a game opponent never expected to hear the final bell over 24 rounds – doing so twice. Continue reading “Bam blasts past Guevara, Boots leaves you wanting more in Chukhadzhian rematch”
A feeling of strong justification will have overwhelmed a beaming Brandon Moreno, who outboxed #2 ranked flyweight contender Amir Albazi en route to a UD5 win in their UFC Edmonton headliner. After a self-imposed six month break, the former champion is eyeing a seat atop the championship elite once more. Continue reading “Moreno pleased after redeeming himself in dominant UD5 win at Albazi’s expense”
Brandon Moreno’s self-enforced hiatus from the sport of MMA, in the middle of his prime years, is a decision many wouldn’t have the luxury to do. Glad to have earned that freedom of choice during a successful second stint as a two-time UFC flyweight champion, the 30-year-old spoke about the renewed energy brewing within before his main event matchup vs. #2 contender Amir Albazi. Continue reading “UFC Edmonton: Brandon Moreno on his newfound energy, after eight-month break”
Two-division world champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez readies himself to box as the chief support on a busy Philadephia-based undercard next weekend, when IBF welterweight titleholder Jaron Ennis returns and looks for a more emphatic showing in his Karen Chukhadzhian rematch on November 9. Having just inked a contract extension with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, the 24-year-old spoke about the importance of loyalty and more as Pedro Guevara awaits. Continue reading “Bam expresses love for Matchroom life before Guevara title defence on Nov. 9”
Surprise flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg exceeded expectations but left Rio empty-handed and heartbroken after going the championship distance against a savvy Alexandre Pantoja, who overcame adversity and some shaky moments en route to making a second title defence on his return to Brazil. Continue reading “UFC 301: Pantoja tested but Erceg’s inexperience costly in flyweight title fight”
Former middleweight champion-turned-analyst Michael Bisping made his feelings clear, as have many of the regular UFC watching public as far as the stakes for this weekend’s flyweight title fight headliner in Rio. Alexandre Pantoja should win emphatically, against a plucky contender given an unlikely shot of a lfietime to win gold just four bouts into his promotional stint. Will he? Continue reading “UFC 301: Bisping favours Pantoja to topple Erceg, Moicano questions low fight buzz”
A month out before his surprise championship clash with flyweight titlist Alexandre Pantoja on enemy territory in Rio de Janeiro, #10 ranked contender Steve Erceg acknowledges he is fortunate to have been given the opportunity but rightly pushed back on the notion unbeaten youngster Muhammad Mokaev [7] was an overwhelming choice over him for the UFC 301 main event clash.
Continue reading “Mokaev’s last showing cost him, says Erceg before surprise Pantoja title shot”
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