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

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”

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

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”

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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”

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”

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Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers

Ketlen Vieira of Brazil punches Miesha Tate in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 20, 2021 in Las Vegas,...

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 “Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers”

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UFC 267: New LHW champion Glover Teixeira teaches a valuable lesson in persistence

Glover Teixeira of Brazil talks with Jan Blachowicz of Poland after their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 267 event at Etihad...

On an evening where multiple divisional contenders’ stock rose exponentially, a new champion was crowned. Before then, Petr Yan’s slow start vs. Cory Sandhagen didn’t deter him from having bantamweight gold wrapped around his waist again, albeit of the interim kind this time. Then Glover Teixeira made history in the main event matchup, submitting Jan Blachowicz with a R2 rear-naked choke to become the new 205lb titleholder at 42 years and two days old. Continue reading “UFC 267: New LHW champion Glover Teixeira teaches a valuable lesson in persistence”

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Kamaru Usman: Jorge Masvidal win left me unsatisfied, why I called for UFC 261 rematch

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 13: Kamaru Usman of Nigeria prepares to fight Gilbert Burns of Brazil in their UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 258 event at UFC APEX on February 13, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Ahead of his fourth welterweight title defence this weekend against Jorge Masvidal on a stacked UFC 261 card, Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) has vowed to break the #3 divisional contender while saying 170-lb challengers aren’t exciting him – hinting that he may retire if he gets to a point where the landscape doesn’t motivate the same way anymore. Continue reading “Kamaru Usman: Jorge Masvidal win left me unsatisfied, why I called for UFC 261 rematch”

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Belal Muhammad up next this weekend, Leon Edwards targeting overdue title shot

Opponents Leon Edwards of Jamaica and Bulal Muhammad face off during the UFC weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 12, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A year ago this weekend, welterweight contender Leon Edwards (#3) had his highly-anticipated matchup against former champion Tyron Woodley cancelled due to the rapidly-changing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been 600 days since his last walk to the Octagon but with short-notice opponent Belal Muhammad stepping up, he targets a big return in Saturday’s main event. Continue reading “Belal Muhammad up next this weekend, Leon Edwards targeting overdue title shot”

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UFC 258: Gilbert Burns confident, vows to wipe out welterweight division if he wins title

Gilbert Burns of Brazil is interviewed backstage during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 30, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With just two weeks to go before his first title matchup against former training partner Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns is confident he’ll be an active UFC welterweight champion – should he win the belt – and has publicly vowed to wipe out each contender rising through the rankings.  Continue reading “UFC 258: Gilbert Burns confident, vows to wipe out welterweight division if he wins title”

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UFC Fight Island 8: Michael Chiesa confident ahead of Neil Magny main event

UFC Fight Island 8: Head-to-head look at Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny - Bloody Elbow

Michael Chiesa (17-4, #8) is hoping to produce a statement display Wednesday against #9 ranked welterweight Neil Magny (24-7), as he makes his Octagon return after undergoing knee surgery last July to repair a troublesome issue that had bothered him since his teenage years. Continue reading “UFC Fight Island 8: Michael Chiesa confident ahead of Neil Magny main event”

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UFC 256: Figueiredo retains title with majority draw, after Charles Oliveira’s emphatic win

UFC 256 scorecards: Judge gives Brandon Moreno a 10-9 tally for round five - Bloody Elbow

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 256: Figueiredo retains title with majority draw, after Charles Oliveira’s emphatic win”

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UFC Vegas 17: Leon Edwards vs Khamzat Chimaev to be rescheduled for 2021

UFC on ESPN 4 results: Leon Edwards puts on masterful performance to top  Rafael dos Anjos - MMA Fighting

Leon Edwards’ 2020 has been dismal and his bad luck continues after being forced to withdraw from his Dec. 19 headliner against rising star Khamzat Chimaev. The #3 ranked welterweight, 29, was promised the next title shot if he won on the promotion’s final card of an unprecedented year, but after a positive COVID-19 test and severe symptoms, has to wait until the new year. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 17: Leon Edwards vs Khamzat Chimaev to be rescheduled for 2021”