Amanda Nunes regained her double champion status with a one-sided decision victory over Julianna Pena in a bloody, exhausting, frenetic rematch after Brandon Moreno’s brilliant third-round liver kick against Kai Kara-France secured his status as new interim flyweight champion. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Alexandre Pantoja, Magomed Ankalaev and more besides.
Continue reading
Tag: Flyweight
Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers
It’s been a full week since Ketlen Vieira (#6) seized her main event opportunity vs. Miesha Tate (#8), derailing the former bantamweight champion’s return in a gritty UD win. In the co-main event, welterweight prospect Sean Brady stifled perennial contender Michael Chiesa to overtake him in the rankings. Where do these results leave the big losers as they pursue gold?
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier outworks gamely Kelvin Gastelum in tense main event
The striking differential between the pair was razor-thin over five rounds, but middleweight contender Jared Cannonier (#3) returned to winning ways vs. Kelvin Gastelum. Prior to this, there was a big win for possible new flyweight title challenger Alexandre Pantoja after lightweight prospect Ignacio Bahamondes’ crazy spinning wheel kick knockout on the prelims. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 34: Alexandre Pantoja looking to seize spot in flyweight title conundrum
39 months after earning his second win over the new UFC flyweight champion on the Maia-Usman Fight Night prelims in Chile, Alexandre Pantoja (#3) hopes to skip the queue and will boost his chances of that with a highlight reel showing this weekend vs. Brandon Royval (#6). Continue reading
UFC 263: Adesanya eases past Vettori in shutout, retains middleweight strap
Israel Adesanya produced the third defence of his UFC middleweight strap and handily beat Marvin Vettori (#3) in their rematch, after flyweight Brandon Moreno made history by becoming the promotion’s first Mexican champion – dethroning Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 26: Marina Rodriguez dominates Michelle Waterson in flyweight scrap
On an evening which was impacted by multiple card cancellations, not least the original Sandhagen-Dillashaw main event, #6 strawweight Marina Rodriguez produced a dominant display and almost finished a durable Michelle Waterson in their flyweight headliner before calling out former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (#2) as a potential new challenge to come. Continue reading
Alexa Grasso motivated, targeting top-10 ranked flyweight opponent next
Nearly three weeks removed from her impressive unanimous decision win over a returning Maycee Barber at last month’s UFC 258 PPV, #10 ranked flyweight Alexa Grasso is motivated and itching to get back into the Octagon before long – with sights set on facing another oppponent above her in the rankings as she continues her promising ascent in a new division. Continue reading
UFC 261: Valentina Shevchenko to defend flyweight title vs. Jessica Andrade next
Reports today have confirmed UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (20-3) will make the fifth defence of her title against former strawweight title-holder Jessica Andrade (21-8) in two months’ time, an intriguing bout expected to headline their UFC 261 PPV event on April 24. Continue reading
UFC 256: Figueiredo retains title with majority draw, after Charles Oliveira’s emphatic win
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68504366/1290964137.0.jpg)
Deiveson Figueiredo retained his flyweight title with a majority draw after an unforgettable five-round main event against relentless challenger Brandon Moreno (#1), after there were statement victories for lightweight contender Charles Oliveira and middleweight prospect Kevin Holland – who has now become the third modern UFC fighter with five wins in a calendar year. Continue reading
UFC 255: Deiveson Figueiredo, Valentina Shevchenko with contrasting title defences
Deiveson Figueiredo wasted no time at all against Alex Perez (#4) to complete his first flyweight title defence within two minutes of their main event matchup, while Valentina Shevchenko showcased her wrestling en route to a UD win over a gamely Jennifer Maia in the night’s co-main. Elsewhere, there were wins for Brandon Moreno and Katlyn Chookagian, among others. Continue reading
UFC 255: Cynthia Calvillo under no illusions ahead of Katlyn Chookagian bout
#4 ranked women’s flyweight contender Cynthia Calvillo is preparing for an intriguing matchup against Katlyn Chookagian (#2) this weekend. After her UD win over Jessica Eye back in June, she’s itching to continue climbing up the rankings with another impressive showing on PPV against a former title challenger on the same card as defending champ Valentina Shevchenko. Continue reading
Mo and Sports 