Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
After falling narrowly short in a Fight of the Year contender clash against rising star Khamzat Chimaev last April, perennial welterweight contender Gilbert Burns hasn’t been as active as he would have liked – but the experienced Brazilian knows he needs a series of impressive finishes if he wants to earn another title shot and realise his dream of becoming world champion.
Continue reading “UFC 283: Gilbert Burns keen to leave judges out, wants emphatic finish vs. Neil Magny on Jan. 21”
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”
UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (#6) may be on a two-fight losing streak, but the two-time title challenger has responded to speculation that he’ll soon retire – so long as his body holds up – with his father the only man who can influence his decision to call it a day.
Continue reading “UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson refutes retirement talk before Kevin Holland main event matchup”
After logging a productive 2021 in the Octagon, Belal Muhammad has now entered rarefied air at 170lbs – the welterweight’s top five rankings. Having called out rising two-weight star Khamzat Chimaev as well as a rematch against Leon Edwards after their short-notice date ended with an inadvertent eye poke in March, it feels like the 33-year-old will soon get his wish. Continue reading “After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division”
Derrick Lewis reinforced his knockout artist pedigree, now standing alone with the UFC’s KO record (13) after viciously ending Chris Daukaus’ first main event in R1 to cap the promotion’s final card of an eventful 2021 campaign. Elsewhere, there were big wins for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad and lightweight prospect Mateusz Gamrot among others.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 44: Lewis sets KO record to end 2021, after big wins for Muhammad, Gamrot”
Placed right in the centre of the UFC 265 PPV main card this weekend, two top-six welterweight contenders clash when former lightweight Michael Chiesa (#5) ends a seven-month layoff against Vicente Luque (#6) on Saturday night – both hoping to improve their winning streaks.
Continue reading “UFC 265: Vicente Luque expects big rankings boost, if he beats Michael Chiesa”
The one-time welterweight title challenger believes that while potentially facing Leon Edwards (#3) excites him, the Brit – enjoying a 10-fight unbeaten streak – is more deserving of the next title shot against Kamaru Usman by virtue of principle, rather than Colby Covington (#1). Continue reading “Gilbert Burns targets October/November return, names Leon Edwards as top choice”
After an electric start, Dustin Poirier landed vicious ground and pound strikes, raining down on Conor McGregor up against the fence as they exchanged various attacks before an anti-climactic finish. The former two-weight world champion landed awkwardly on his left leg and has a suspected fracture, contorting it after they both missed punches in the final seconds of R1.
Continue reading “UFC 264: Dustin Poirier beats Conor McGregor in trilogy, R1 TKO doctor stoppage”
Ahead of his pivotal co-main event matchup vs. a fellow former welterweight title challenger in Gilbert Burns (#2) this coming weekend, Stephen Thompson (#4) feels like he’s currently the freshest and most tough matchup for reigning champion Kamaru Usman. While still going strong at 38, will Wonderboy earn a third crack at UFC gold before his fighting days are over?
Continue reading “UFC 264: Stephen Thompson believes he is Kamaru Usman’s worst matchup”
Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is itching for more activity and wants to make the fifth defence of his 170-lb strap at UFC 263, on what would be another stacked card with three title fights, per an ESPN interview with his manager Ali Abdelaziz. While promoter Dana White said a Colby Covington rematch is next, they’re targeting others like Michael Chiesa (#7) instead.
Continue reading “Kamaru Usman eyeing UFC 263 return, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz”
Ahead of his fourth welterweight title defence this weekend against Jorge Masvidal on a stacked UFC 261 card, Kamaru Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) has vowed to break the #3 divisional contender while saying 170-lb challengers aren’t exciting him – hinting that he may retire if he gets to a point where the landscape doesn’t motivate the same way anymore. Continue reading “Kamaru Usman: Jorge Masvidal win left me unsatisfied, why I called for UFC 261 rematch”
Kamaru Usman will make the fourth defence of his welterweight strap against #4 ranked Jorge Masvidal, headlining next month’s UFC 261 PPV with three title fights – Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili the other champions scheduled for title defences. Set to be held at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, it’ll be the first event with fans since UFC 248 on March 7 last year. Continue reading “UFC 261: Usman-Masvidal 2 set to headline full crowd PPV in Jacksonville”
Mo and Sports 