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Khamzat Chimaev has been inactive, endured health struggles but you just never know what you’re about to get: he praised former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman before warning Robert Whittaker that if a decorated wrestler couldn’t stuff his takedowns during their short-notice contest last October, the former middleweight titleholder wouldn’t have more success. Continue reading “Chimaev: If Usman couldn’t manage it, then Whittaker won’t stop my wrestling”
Caio Borralho began well, fended off some adversity and multiple warnings for outstretched fingers, but eventually got the job done over 25 minutes and ticked multiple boxes with a mature showing across all levels against one-time middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier, before calling out the 185lb champ having asserted himself as one of the division’s rising contenders. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 96: Borralho beckons du Plessis after UD5 win in gruelling Cannonier clash”
Dricus du Plessis defiantly embraced the chaos and emerged stronger for the experience to make a successful first UFC middleweight title defence against longtime champion Israel Adesanya in the early hours Sunday, inflicting another career-altering defeat as the 185lb division has shaken up once more. Continue reading “UFC 305: Dricus defies doubters again, retains title with R4 sub win vs. Adesanya”
Continue reading “Dana downbeat about Chimaev, Whittaker aware of short-notice Aliskerov’s danger”
The long-reigning former UFC featherweight champion has suffered devastating knockout defeats in consecutive bouts, barely four months apart, and is adamant about rematching Ilia Topuria in Spain before 2024 ends to regain his crown as the 145lb king. Eugene Bareman’s health update speaks volumes, but will he listen at a stage of his career where he’s fighting time too?
Continue reading “Alexander Volkanovski needs rest, but right now? Good luck getting him to agree”
They were quick to laugh and rubbish his perceived arrogance during the build-up to the biggest fight of his career, but Ilia Topuria made good on his promise by securing a stunning second-round knockout win over long-reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and snap the Australian’s unbeaten 145lb streak, becoming the new divisional king in their PPV headliner. Continue reading “UFC 298: Topuria tops Volkanovski with superb R2 KO to clinch featherweight gold”
After logging his fourth consecutive submission victory to cap a busy 2023 schedule at Paul Craig’s expense, #8 ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen has a golden opportunity to do what he has publicly stated is his destiny: showcase his championship credentials against a one-time title challenger and catapult himself into the top-5 rankings at 185lbs in three months’ time.
Continue reading “Brendan Allen earns springboard shot at 185lbs against Marvin Vettori on Apr. 6”
Well then, who saw that coming? Sean Strickland is now king of the UFC middleweights after a fantastic display of pressure and stern defence over 25 minutes bamboozled Israel Adesanya into submission at the weekend, on enemy soil no less, as fresh matchups galore have been cracked open after the American’s shock title victory in Australia. Click to read more, for the debrief. Continue reading “UFC 293 – The debrief: Strickland stuns, outboxes Adesanya to earn 185lb gold”
Israel Adesanya makes the first defence of his second UFC middleweight title reign against an unpredictable underdog in Sean Strickland – whose path to this opportunity was borne from activity at a time where fresh contenders were sparse. While a Dricus du Plessis showdown seems inevitable in future, Strickland’s best method of winning this championship clash is gruelling and difficult to achieve after all that has come before it. Can he execute it though? Continue reading “UFC 293: Adesanya insists Strickland is selling wolf tickets, so should you watch?”
Featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski returned to his natural weight class and decimated the interim titlist in style, after Dricus du Plessis’ division-altering display at middleweight and Alexandre Pantoja overcame adversity against a familiar face as a new world champion was crowned in the co-main.
Continue reading “UFC 290: Volkanovski bullies Rodriguez, after big wins for Pantoja and du Plessis”
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker predicted Jared Cannonier would win last weekend’s main event matchup against Marvin Vettori, in a battle of two contenders he’s previously beaten. However, he spoke of his surprise at how things played out – something that has been brewing for a while as far as the Italian is concerned. Continue reading “Whittaker surprised by Cannonier’s dominant win vs. Vettori – he shouldn’t be”
Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane stayed composed and rallied from the first knockdown of his UFC career en route to a third-round TKO finish against Tai Tuivasa during a fun headliner, capping an electric Fight Night card in Paris leaving many talking points – including Robert Whittaker’s future after a masterful decision win over Marvin Vettori and Nassourdine Imavov now riding a three-fight win streak, what’s his next move at 185lbs? Continue reading “UFC Paris: Five things we learned from a memorable Fight Night card in new surroundings”
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