Analysis, feature pieces

Questions asked as Colby Covington mooted as Edwards’ next title defence

Colby Covington is seen in attendance during the UFC 286 event at The O2 Arena on March 18, 2023 in London, England.

UFC president Dana White says he doesn’t make fights immediately after cards, but declared former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington is the next challenger for Leon Edwards’ 170lb belt. Considering the 35-year-old’s relative inactivity and underwhelming resume, a myriad of questions have been asked. Continue reading “Questions asked as Colby Covington mooted as Edwards’ next title defence”

UFC

UFC 286: Edwards outpoints Usman to defend welterweight crown, after Gaethje stifles Fiziev in firefight

Leon Edwards of Jamaica kicks Kamaru Usman of Nigeria in a lightweight fight during the UFC 286 event at The O2 Arena on March 18, 2023 in London,...

Leon Edwards’ persistent kicks helped him manage risk vs. reward and ultimately prove successful over 25 minutes during his first welterweight title defence against Kamaru Usman, after Justin Gaethje’s impressive majority decision win over Rafael Fiziev in the night’s co-main event. Continue reading “UFC 286: Edwards outpoints Usman to defend welterweight crown, after Gaethje stifles Fiziev in firefight”

UFC

UFC 286: Usman vows to reclaim gold, while Edwards adamant he’ll retire the former champion

Opponents Leon Edwards of Jamaica and Kamaru Usman of Nigeria face off during the UFC 286 press conference at Magazine London on March 16, 2023 in...

Ahead of this weekend’s heavily-anticipated trilogy bout between new welterweight champion Leon Edwards and long-reigning, now-former titlist Kamaru Usman, both have different mindsets before their latest title fight. Usman wants nothing more than a marquee win on enemy soil, while Edwards feels he’ll open the door to retirement for a 35-year-old with other interests. Continue reading “UFC 286: Usman vows to reclaim gold, while Edwards adamant he’ll retire the former champion”

UFC

Leon Edwards: Khamzat Chimaev is not the untouchable monster UFC built him to be

Khamzat Chimaev speaks to the media following their UFC 279 win on September 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards believes unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev has been overvalued by the promotion, and in a recent interview with Michael Bisping, said as much as he prepares for his first title defence against former titlist Kamaru Usman in March.
Continue reading “Leon Edwards: Khamzat Chimaev is not the untouchable monster UFC built him to be”

UFC

UFC 283: Gilbert Burns keen to leave judges out, wants emphatic finish vs. Neil Magny on Jan. 21

Gilbert Burns appears at the UFC 282 post-fight press conference on December 10 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

After falling narrowly short in a Fight of the Year contender clash against rising star Khamzat Chimaev last April, perennial welterweight contender Gilbert Burns hasn’t been as active as he would have liked – but the experienced Brazilian knows he needs a series of impressive finishes if he wants to earn another title shot and realise his dream of becoming world champion.
Continue reading “UFC 283: Gilbert Burns keen to leave judges out, wants emphatic finish vs. Neil Magny on Jan. 21”

UFC

UFC 278: Usman at peace with shock KO defeat, welcomes trilogy clash in England next year

Kamaru Usman of Nigeria reacts after being defeated by Leon Edwards of Jamaica in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 278 event at...

Kamaru Usman has revealed a readiness to travel to Leon Edwards’ home comforts, as he looks to regain his welterweight title in 2023 – with London’s Wembley Stadium mooted as a possible venue – having led 3-1 on all three judges’ scorecards but ultimately suffering a dramatic final-minute leg kick KO defeat at the weekend during their rematch in the UFC 278 main event. Continue reading “UFC 278: Usman at peace with shock KO defeat, welcomes trilogy clash in England next year”

UFC

UFC 278: Leon Edwards dethrones Kamaru Usman with R5 head kick KO, new welterweight champion

Leon Edwards of Jamaica lands a head kick to Kamaru Usman of Nigeria in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 278 event at Vivint...

Midway through the fifth, they thought he was demoralised and it was over. Instead, Leon Edwards scored a stunning head kick KO to dethrone Kamaru Usman, as the UK’s second-ever UFC champion since Michael Bisping after big main card wins for former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa and an in-form Merab Dvalishvili at 135lbs – both against MMA legends.
Continue reading “UFC 278: Leon Edwards dethrones Kamaru Usman with R5 head kick KO, new welterweight champion”

UFC

UFC 272: Covington mauls Masvidal, after big victories for Mitchell and Holland

Colby Covington punches Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight fight during the UFC 272 event on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Colby Covington’s wrestling proved key en route to a dominant decision win against Jorge Masvidal, in a grudge match between friends turned foes. Elsewhere, there were big wins for surging featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell and Kevin Holland on his debut at 170lbs, while Marina Rodriguez (#3) asserted her case for a shot at Rose Namajunas’ strawweight strap.
Continue reading “UFC 272: Covington mauls Masvidal, after big victories for Mitchell and Holland”

UFC

UFC 272: Chimaev? Win some big fights then I’ll destroy you like Masvidal, Covington insists

Colby Covington is seen on stage during the UFC 272 press conference on March 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ahead of his main event headliner against best friend turned fierce foe Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night, #1 ranked welterweight Colby Covington has issued a warning to highly-rated contender Khamzat Chimaev: win some big fights, then he’ll destroy Borz’s hype in its tracks. Continue reading “UFC 272: Chimaev? Win some big fights then I’ll destroy you like Masvidal, Covington insists”

UFC

UFC 270: Ngannou inflicts Gane’s first defeat, after Figueiredo regains flyweight strap

Heavyweight world champion Cameroon's Francis Ngannou and France's Ciryl Gane fight for the heavyweight title at the Honda Center in Anaheim,...

After plenty of build-up, expectations and storylines aplenty, the first UFC PPV event of the new year didn’t disappoint. Deiveson Figueiredo regained his flyweight title in a competitive chess match with Brandon Moreno before Francis Ngannou fought through pre-existing knee injuries to make the first defence of his heavyweight strap against former training partner Ciryl Gane. Continue reading “UFC 270: Ngannou inflicts Gane’s first defeat, after Figueiredo regains flyweight strap”

Archives, Specials

After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division

Belal Muhammad has his hands wrapped prior to his fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After logging a productive 2021 in the Octagon, Belal Muhammad has now entered rarefied air at 170lbs – the welterweight’s top five rankings. Having called out rising two-weight star Khamzat Chimaev as well as a rematch against Leon Edwards after their short-notice date ended with an inadvertent eye poke in March, it feels like the 33-year-old will soon get his wish. Continue reading “After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division”

Archives

UFC Vegas 44: Lewis sets KO record to end 2021, after big wins for Muhammad, Gamrot

Derrick Lewis knocks out Chris Daukaus in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 18, 2021 in Las Vegas,...

Derrick Lewis reinforced his knockout artist pedigree, now standing alone with the UFC’s KO record (13) after viciously ending Chris Daukaus’ first main event in R1 to cap the promotion’s final card of an eventful 2021 campaign. Elsewhere, there were big wins for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad and lightweight prospect Mateusz Gamrot among others.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 44: Lewis sets KO record to end 2021, after big wins for Muhammad, Gamrot”