UFC

UFC FN Paris: Whittaker ponders move up to 205lbs, ahead of co-main event matchup with Vettori

Robert Whittaker interacts with fans during a Q&A session after the UFC 275 weigh-in at Singapore Indoor Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Singapore.

Assuming he gets past former title challenger Marvin Vettori this weekend, you can’t help but think former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker wants an upset at UFC 281 on Nov. 12 when former foe Israel Adesanya defends his strap against kickboxing adversary Alex Pereira next. Judging by his recent comments, that could determine his immediate future…
Continue reading “UFC FN Paris: Whittaker ponders move up to 205lbs, ahead of co-main event matchup with Vettori”

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UFC Vegas 36: Derek Brunson submits Darren Till in R3, on a five-fight win streak

Derek Brunson reacts after his submission victory over Darren Till of England in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC...

Armed with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman among his circles, confidence brewing on a five-fight win streak and a maiden UFC middleweight title shot in the offing, Derek Brunson has plenty to be happy about after earning a third-round submission win over Darren Till overnight.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 36: Derek Brunson submits Darren Till in R3, on a five-fight win streak”

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UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier outworks gamely Kelvin Gastelum in tense main event

Jared Cannonier punches Kelvin Gastelum in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 21, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The striking differential between the pair was razor-thin over five rounds, but middleweight contender Jared Cannonier (#3) returned to winning ways vs. Kelvin Gastelum. Prior to this, there was a big win for possible new flyweight title challenger Alexandre Pantoja after lightweight prospect Ignacio Bahamondes’ crazy spinning wheel kick knockout on the prelims. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier outworks gamely Kelvin Gastelum in tense main event”

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UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier aims to bounce back vs. a determined Kelvin Gastelum

Jared Cannonier interacts with media during the UFC Vegas 34 media day on August 18, 2021 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.

Although his title-chasing momentum was convincingly halted by former champion Robert Whittaker last October, middleweight contender Jared Cannonier (#3) looks to pick up where he left off this weekend against Kelvin Gastelum (#9) in the UFC Vegas 34 main event. Both fighters find themselves in contrasting situations as far as their promotional stock is concerned too… Continue reading “UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier aims to bounce back vs. a determined Kelvin Gastelum”

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Talk is cheap: Pivotal moment awaits Marvin Vettori in middleweight championship slot

Israel Adesanya of Nigeria and Marvin Vettori of Italy have words during the UFC 263 press conference at Arizona Federal Theater on June 10, 2021 in...

38 months after suffering a split decision loss to the now-reigning 185-lb champion, the #3 ranked middleweight has been granted an unexpected but nonetheless golden opportunity to exact his revenge – but another defeat in Arizona could be catastrophic for his future title hopes. Continue reading “Talk is cheap: Pivotal moment awaits Marvin Vettori in middleweight championship slot”

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UFC Vegas 24: Robert Whittaker eases past Kelvin Gastelum, eyes Adesanya next

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 17: (R-L) Robert Whittaker of Australia kicks Kelvin Gastelum in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 17, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

During a middleweight matchup three years in the making, Robert Whittaker handily beat a durable Kelvin Gastelum on the judges’ scorecards, once again retaining his #1 ranking while making his case indisputable to finally rematch champion Israel Adesanya later this year.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 24: Robert Whittaker eases past Kelvin Gastelum, eyes Adesanya next”

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No Darren Till, no problem for middleweight title-chasing Marvin Vettori

Marvin Vettori of Italy prepares to fight Jack Hermansson in a middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 05, 2020 in...

After Darren Till (#5) broke his collarbone in training and withdrew from this weekend’s main event on March 30, Kevin Holland – who recently underwhelmed against Derek Brunson (#4) – is stepping up on nine days’ notice to face Vettori (#6), though the Italian is unfazed as he continues on the trail to get a crack at the middleweight strap and an Israel Adesanya rematch. Continue reading “No Darren Till, no problem for middleweight title-chasing Marvin Vettori”

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Caution up ahead: Why Jan Blachowicz presents Israel Adesanya’s biggest test yet

Opponents Jan Blachowicz of Poland and Israel Adesanya of Nigeria face off during the UFC 259 weigh-in at UFC APEX on March 05, 2021 in Las Vegas,...

After blasting uncrowned champion Dominick Reyes to bits in September, Jan Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) makes the first defence of his light-heavyweight strap against an undefeated middleweight star in Israel Adesanya – going up a weight class and looking to make his own history this weekend. An underdog perhaps, Jan offers Izzy’s most dangerous challenge yet. Continue reading “Caution up ahead: Why Jan Blachowicz presents Israel Adesanya’s biggest test yet”

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Kevin Holland to replace injured Darren Till, faces Jack Hermansson on Dec. 5

Holland vs. Giles odds: Money line, KO, submission, decision odds for UFC  Fight Night on ESPN - DraftKings Nation

After an already busy 2020, middleweight prospect Kevin Holland is set to seize a golden opportunity against #4 ranked Jack Hermansson on short-notice after reports today emerged that Darren Till (#6) pulled out of their Dec. 5 main event matchup with an undisclosed injury. Continue reading “Kevin Holland to replace injured Darren Till, faces Jack Hermansson on Dec. 5”

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UFC 254: Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Justin Gaethje in R2, then retires at 29-0

UFC 254 Result: Khabib Nurmagomedov breaks down in tears before RETIRING  after choking out Justin Gaethje on Fight Island - 'this is my last fight'

Khabib Nurmagomedov retained his UFC lightweight title with a second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje, before retiring in the Octagon post-fight to pull the curtain on an illustrious career where he finishes 29-0 – undefeated and undisputed champ with 13 UFC victories. Before then, Robert Whittaker outstruck Jared Cannonier to win their middleweight title eliminator. Continue reading “UFC 254: Khabib Nurmagomedov submits Justin Gaethje in R2, then retires at 29-0”

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UFC 253: Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa exchange final pre-fight words

UFC 253 video: Paulo Costa taunts Israel Adesanya with white belt leading to scuffle - MMA Fighting

UFC 253 pits top-ranked middleweight contender Paulo Costa against defending champion Israel Adesanya in the headliner on Fight Island’s return during the early hours on Sunday morning. Compared with the card’s co-main event, this features plenty of bad blood between two athletes who don’t like one another and are itching to duel in the Octagon this weekend.   Continue reading “UFC 253: Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa exchange final pre-fight words”

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UFC on ESPN 14: Robert Whittaker returns with gritty win over Darren Till

#1 middleweight contender Robert Whittaker returned after a nine-month absence, earning a difficult but important decision victory over Darren Till in tonight’s main event. There were also statement wins for Fabricio Werdum and Carla Esparza among others.

Continue reading “UFC on ESPN 14: Robert Whittaker returns with gritty win over Darren Till”