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Two-time Olympic judo champion and PFL star Kayla Harrison has signed with the UFC, per Dana White’s surprise announcement earlier this week, and is already set to face a former champion at 135lbs in April on a stacked UFC 300 card in Las Vegas. Given where she trains, the outside noise and criticism of her opposition in recent years, this move felt inevitable. Is the timing right now? Continue reading “Kayla Harrison’s UFC deal felt inevitable but recent events means arrival falls flat”
Dricus du Plessis got the job done as promised, mixing wrestling and subtle striking adjustments to outpoint Sean Strickland and become the new middleweight king before an inevitable Israel Adesanya callout. Prior, Raquel Pennington outsmarted Mayra Bueno Silva to seize the vacant women’s bantamweight title after Movsar Evloev’s career-best win over Arnold Allen. Continue reading “UFC 297: Dricus du Plessis seizes Sean Strickland’s middleweight title via split decision, Pennington claims vacant gold”
The recently-retired two-division UFC world champion spoke about being surprised by having a burning desire to rest and recover, after accruing damage aplenty across her body given the gruelling training camps and various fights over the years. Yet the Lioness didn’t close the door on a return, even aged 35… Continue reading “Amanda Nunes confirms she has nerve damage in her legs, doesn’t rule out return”
Mayra Bueno Silva was understandably overcome with emotion after Saturday night’s UFC headliner, as the size of her latest achievement dawned on her. The 31-year-old Brazilian became the first since her compatriot and former two-division champion Amanda Nunes to stop Holly Holm, sending the future Hall of Famer closer to retirement – before calling for a shot at bantamweight gold. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 77: Mayra Bueno Silva scores a massive scalp as 135lb title talk resumes”
Since losing to Holly Holm (UD3) at UFC 246 in January 2020, Raquel Pennington [2] has won five straight and looks set for a second crack at UFC gold later this year. Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement leaves a long-awaited matchup vs. former champon Julianna Pena the most likely play for the promotion, but will Holm have a say when she returns on Saturday night? Continue reading “Raquel Pennington expects Julianna Pena matchup to be for newly-vacant 135lb title”
Things came full circle for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad (#6), as he extended his unbeaten streak to eight fights with a composed all-round showing, swarming Vicente Luque (#5) and executing his tactical plan brilliantly against the same man who knocked him out in 79 seconds six years ago. Afterwards, he called out two-time title challenger Colby Covington (#1). Continue reading “UFC Vegas 51: Muhammad stakes claim with disciplined all-round display, overwhelms Luque”
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”
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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