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After outpointing Viviane Araujo with slick boxing back in mid-October, Alexa Grasso [6] faces the toughest challenge of her 11-year professional career this weekend against long-reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. Riding a four-fight winning streak at 125lbs, is she ready for the Bullet?
Continue reading “Rewind: Alexa Grasso’s UD win over Viviane Araujo on Oct. 15, is she ready for Shevchenko shot?”
Tatiana Suarez’s long-awaited return to the Octagon is scheduled for tonight after nearly four years on the sidelines. So, what better time than now to reflect upon an career-best victory last week for flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield over a former strawweight champion in Jessica Andrade last weekend? Continue reading “A week on: UFC Vegas 69 – Blanchfield’s R2 submission win over Andrade opens up possibilities”
She toppled long-standing number one contender Katlyn Chookagian to earn top spot at 125lbs at UFC 280 in October. Now in a division ruled by dominant champion Valentina Shevchenko, France’s Manon Fiorot – who underwent successful knee surgery – has this week spoken about a return timeline and a readiness to welcome former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas to the weight class, should speculation about her future prove true. Continue reading “#1 contender Manon Fiorot aims to avoid Murphy, Santos misstep before Shevchenko title shot”
Islam Makhachev did what he said he would, winning lightweight gold with a second-round submission win over Charles Oliveira before dedicating it to Khabib and his close friend’s father, late coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Prior, Aljamain Sterling definitively defended his bantamweight title against TJ Dillashaw – a fight that should never have been cleared – after Sean O’Malley stunned critics to earn a split decision victory over former champion Petr Yan. Continue reading “UFC 280: Makhachev claims lightweight gold, after Sterling defends 135lb strap and O’Malley stuns Yan”
Former light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz ultimately prevailed against Aleksandar Rakic (#3), though the #1 contender would’ve much preferred a blistering KO than to witness the gruesome injury his Austrian adversary sustained. Elsewhere, there were big wins for fellow 205er Ryan Spann (#13) and women’s flyweight Katlyn Chookagian (#1), among others. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 54: Blachowicz back to winning ways, calls for Teixeira-Prochazka winner”
After a rare week off last Saturday, the promotion returns with the heavily-anticipated UFC 273 PPV this weekend from Jacksonville featuring two title fights. However before then, it’s time to reflect and unpack proceedings from an eventful Fight Night card attended by 18,630 in Columbus, Ohio as Curtis Blaydes reasserted his heavyweight title aspirations and much more. Continue reading “UFC Columbus: Key observations, five things we learned from Mar. 26’s Fight Night card”
She’s glad this matchup, slated for November, was rebooked. Now, Alexa Grasso has a golden opportunity to rise up the women’s flyweight rankings in a division without many genuine challengers for Valentina Shevchenko’s throne. Will the Mexican flourish or falter against perennial contender Joanne Wood, in a striking showdown during Saturday’s co-main event?
Continue reading “UFC Columbus: With women’s flyweight in flux, Alexa Grasso must seize co-main chance”
Having recovered from serious injuries, Aspen Ladd’s long-awaited UFC return unfolded with little more than a whimper as the #3 bantamweight made her featherweight debut and was thoroughly outworked by Norma Dumont in a main event matchup that felt jarring to watch.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 40: Ladd labours to forgettable featherweight main event defeat by Dumont”
After more than a 400-day absence, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title vs. Brian Ortega (#2) at the UFC 266 PPV in September. Elsewhere, Lauren Murphy challenges Valentina Shevchenko for women’s flyweight gold, after Nick Diaz’s welcome return after a six-year hiatus to rematch Robbie Lawler, 17 years on from their first meeting. Continue reading “UFC 266: Volkanovski-Ortega, Shevchenko-Murphy and Nick Diaz’s return on Sept. 25”
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