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No-one likes to fight down in the rankings, not least seasoned veterans more eager to boost their championship credentials and especially on short-notice. While not indirectly, Dustin Poirier’s stoppage win over Benoit Saint-Denis has resonated with others in a similar situation – including longtime contender Vicente Luque, facing unranked Joaquin Buckley in New Jersey this weekend. Continue reading “Luque taking a leaf out of the Poirier playbook with unranked Buckley next”
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has this week confirmed he’ll stay at welterweight for the remainder of his career – unless a superfight tempts a 155lb return – stressing future possibilities are endless and another title shot could figure, especially with an impressive win over perennial contender Vicente Luque in tonight’s UFC Vegas 78 main event overnight. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque”
It’s been a week and change since Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight win streak was soundly snapped inside a round by the returning Charles Oliveira, emphatically making his claim for another lightweight championship challenge at UFC 289. The perennial contender and a highly-regarded coach gave their views on what a rematch would look like, against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Continue reading “UFC 289: Dariush, coach Firas Zahabi give their say on Makhachev-Oliveira rematch”
Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson danced with some first-round danger before rolling back the years en route to a R4 TKO victory during a fun battle against Kevin Holland in last weekend’s UFC Orlando main event, while there were big main card stoppage wins for Rafael dos Anjos, Matheus Nicolau and Roman Dolidze – a newcomer in the middleweight rankings this week. Continue reading “UFC Orlando: Wonderboy outworks Holland in crazy headliner – after RDA, Nicolau and Dolidze win big”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Islam Makhachev, has long been tipped to capture UFC lightweight gold. Yet this weekend while preparing for his second main event, it’ll be another instance where he’s fighting down to the level of short-notice competition in a bullish Bobby Green after the eighth withdrawal or cancellation since signing with the promotion in 2015. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 49: Out of his control, Islam Makhachev’s title aspirations muddied once more”
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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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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”
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There was to be no fairytale story ending on five days’ notice for Paul Felder, as former champion Rafael dos Anjos made a triumphant return to the lightweight division with an impressive split decision victory in a Fight of the Night main event matchup. Beforehand, welterweight Khaos Williams lived up to the billing with a 30-second KO in the co-main event. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 14: Rafael dos Anjos makes triumphant lightweight return, beats Paul Felder”
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