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Ahead of next month’s PPV event in Singapore, with two championship fights and a highly-anticipated title eliminator at strawweight, the six headline fighters spoke on a virtual press conference with a variety of answers – from what’s to come for them respectively in June and potentially beyond, like double-champ status and one fighter eyeing another title rematch. Continue reading “UFC 275 Virtual Presser: Santos keen to wrestle, Joanna targeting revenge and more”
The tagline for this event – legacy is earned – couldn’t be more apt. WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol produced a career-best showing and justified the pre-fight caution with a UD win over undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, throwing a spanner in the Mexican’s future plans by boxing with deadly discipline to inflict his second pro defeat.
Continue reading “Brilliant Bivol breaks down Canelo en route to UD win, retains WBA light-heavyweight title”
Ahead of his return to light-heavyweight against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night, the undisputed king at 168lbs has already stressed he won’t deviate from a plan that has proven decisive throughout his career to date. How will that insistence pan out against an unbeaten, savvy Russian operator who many critics are wrong in overlooking this weekend? Continue reading “Canelo stresses patience is key in weekend’s light-heavyweight title battle with Bivol”
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After a hand injury shelved a proposed bout vs. Russian former world title challenger Maxim Vlasov on Dec. 13, Joshua Buatsi is fully recovered and now faces Craig Richards in a domestic tussle between two light-heavyweights acting as a title eliminator of sorts. Richards produced a spirited showing but ultimately fell short against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol last May. Continue reading “Battle of south London booked: Joshua Buatsi vs. Craig Richards LHW clash set for May 21”
Title shot next? It wasn’t an electrifying main event, but light-heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev took Thiago Santos’ best strikes – R2 knockdown included – and weathered the Brazilian’s storm over 25 minutes. Prior, featherweight Sodiq Yusuff (#12) returned to winning ways, while bantamweight contender Song Yadong (#14) blasted Marlon Moraes (#10) in the co-main event.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 50: Ankalaev thoroughly tested, but eventually outworks Santos in title eliminator”
Since a last-second submission defeat vs. Paul Craig on his UFC debut four years ago this month, Dagestani light-heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev (16-1, 9 KOs) has justified the high hopes for his progression with six consecutive victories. Now, he faces former title challenger Thiago Santos tonight, targeting another scalp in his first main event opportunity. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 50: Thiago Santos, Magomed Ankalaev excited before LHW title eliminator”
Light-heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill (#12) began the new year the same way he ended the last: producing a furious first-round finish, this time blasting Johnny Walker (#10) into a state of helplessness midway though a memorable maiden main event slot. The 205lb division needs some fresh contenders and after an early KO of the Year contender, that won’t be his last. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 48: Hill’s highlight-reel R1 KO win over Walker puts LHW division on notice”
Frank Warren today confirmed light-heavyweight contender Callum Johnson has withdrawn from his scheduled January 15 title fight against WBO champion Joe Smith Jr, while revealing another of his stable – #1 mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde – is consequently monitoring the state of affairs, with an in-ring return mooted sometime in March for the 30-year-old.
Continue reading “COVID-19: Callum Johnson withdraws from Smith Jr title fight, Anthony Yarde eyes matters”
364 days on from losing their first bout with an underwhelming display, there was no time for more hesitation from Anthony Yarde. He knew what was needed of him and executed it well, to emphatically stop domestic rival Lyndon Arthur with a fourth-round KO. Now, he’ll challenge for the WBO light-heavyweight title in 2022 – against the Joe Smith Jr vs Callum Johnson winner. Continue reading “Yarde blasts past Arthur in long-awaited rematch with R4 KO, reinforces world title bid”
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”
With six more promotional events to round out an eventful year after tonight’s card from Abu Dhabi, the fanfare surrounding future matchups should not detract from an overseas event featuring a compelling title fight without the unsavoury trash talk at 205lbs, alongside a rightful interim belt and more intriguing bouts that promise to move the needle ahead of 2022. Continue reading “Are you watching? UFC 267 a sleeper PPV card setting up 2021’s big finish in style”
Paulo Costa embraced the heel role, having revealed his inability to make the scheduled 185lb limit during fight week. Despite explosive moments aplenty and a flurry of furious head kicks that would’ve ended most other nights, he was outworked by a smart Marvin Vettori showing in a highly-anticipated battle between two former middleweight title challengers at 205lbs.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 41: Burning questions remain as Vettori outworks Costa in fiery LHW clash”
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