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BBC Africa ran a story earlier today after being told by the UFC’s chief operating officer Lawrence Epstein the promotion aims to host an event in Africa sometime next year, with Senegal’s Dakar Arena the most likely destination. All things considered, how probable is this and will it live up to the billing?
Continue reading “UFC Africa: As Senegal is named frontrunner destination, how viable is this project in 2024?”
Since losing to former champion Alistair Overeem in November 2018, #2 ranked heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich has won six straight – all in the first round – after blasting perennial contender Curtis Blaydes into submission during their main event at the weekend. He feels his next fight will be for championship gold and following another fantastic finish, it’s hard to deny the rising Russian that wish. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 71: Curtis Blaydes KO sees Sergei Pavlovich punch his ticket into HW title sweepstakes”
Jon Jones needed less than three minutes to clinch UFC heavyweight gold as he ended a three-year layoff in style, submitting Ciryl Gane on his long-awaited return. That finish came after Alexa Grasso’s stunning submission win over long-reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko, crowning her the new women’s flyweight queen after big wins for Shavkat Rakmonov and more in Las Vegas. Continue reading “UFC 285: Jon Jones dismantles Ciryl Gane in R1, Alexa Grasso submits Valentina Shevchenko in stunner”
Regardless of the result from this weekend’s UFC 285 main event between former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane and a returning Jon Jones for the vacant title, Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick will still consider his charge Francis Ngannou the promotion’s undisputed champion. All things considered, it’s another defiant nudge during the biggest fight week for a while. Continue reading “Eric Nicksick’s reminder a sobering one before Jones-Gane at UFC 285 this weekend”
Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane stayed composed and rallied from the first knockdown of his UFC career en route to a third-round TKO finish against Tai Tuivasa during a fun headliner, capping an electric Fight Night card in Paris leaving many talking points – including Robert Whittaker’s future after a masterful decision win over Marvin Vettori and Nassourdine Imavov now riding a three-fight win streak, what’s his next move at 185lbs? Continue reading “UFC Paris: Five things we learned from a memorable Fight Night card in new surroundings”
The heavyweight champion makes his first title defence this weekend against a familiar foe, with a well-documented backstory and storyline that has plenty invested. Will interim titlist Gane – who knows him intimately – prove spoiler? Or can the Cameroonian reign supreme? Continue reading “UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane – Long-awaited heavyweight unification bout upon us”
After fighting through injuries but ultimately losing a split decision to Jon Jones for UFC light-heavyweight gold two summers ago, Thiago Santos stressed he’ll be better than his more recent outings – successive defeats – when facing Brazilian compatriot Johnny Walker tonight. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 38: Thiago Santos finally feels 100% again after injury-plagued losing run”
In a division that has been deemed imbalanced for a while, this matchup pits two of the top five heavyweights against one another – something they both expect will help produce the best version of themselves with the lure of a potential title shot dangling for Saturday night’s winner.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 30: Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov welcome a pivotal main event task”
After making championship weight as a back-up fighter for last month’s UFC 259 pay-per-view, Glover Teixeira has been granted a second opportunity to become light-heavyweight champion: seven years after his unsuccessful challenge against Jon Jones in April 2014. It’ll also be Jan Blachowicz’s second title defence, having ended Israel Adesanya’s unbeaten streak on March 6. Continue reading “UFC 266: Jan Blachowicz to defend his LHW title vs. Glover Teixeira on September 4”
Newly crowned champion Francis Ngannou had plenty to say at the post-fight press conference, from reflecting on his arduous journey to world title gold in an unforgettable rematch, if there should be a Stipe Miocic trilogy, to when he’ll be ready for his first defence against Jon Jones. Continue reading “UFC 260: Ngannou wants more activity, targets July-August for Jon Jones fight”
After blasting uncrowned champion Dominick Reyes to bits in September, Jan Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) makes the first defence of his light-heavyweight strap against an undefeated middleweight star in Israel Adesanya – going up a weight class and looking to make his own history this weekend. An underdog perhaps, Jan offers Izzy’s most dangerous challenge yet. Continue reading “Caution up ahead: Why Jan Blachowicz presents Israel Adesanya’s biggest test yet”
French heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane (#7) extended his unbeaten streak to 8-0 with a dominant decision win over #4 ranked Jairzinho Rozenstruik, earning some welcome Octagon time in his first main event matchup, before revealing he’s willing to be the backup for UFC 260’s PPV event – Francis Ngannou rematches defending champion Stipe Miocic this time next month. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 20: Gane dominates Rozenstruik in his first main event, remains undefeated”
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