On a night packed with comeback wins, former two-time UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw returned from a two-year drug suspension while gritting through a knee injury and gruesome cut above his eye to eventually outlast #2 contender Cory Sandhagen – winning via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) on the scorecards after a tense, thrilling main event matchup.
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Tag: UFC
Gilbert Burns targets October/November return, names Leon Edwards as top choice
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
UFC Vegas 31: Islam Makhachev mauls Thiago Moises in his first main event slot
Makhachev Mania? Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege Islam thrived in his first main event against Thiago Moises, earning a fourth-round submission. Elsewhere, there were big wins for Billy Quarantillo and Mateusz Gamrot before returning former women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate sent Marion Reneau into retirement with a R3 TKO finish in the co-main.
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UFC Vegas 31: Tate eyes UFC title in comeback, but refuses to rush ahead of Reneau matchup
Thrust into her first UFC fight week for almost five years, Miesha Tate was unequivocal about being where she belongs after retiring. The former women’s bantamweight champion praised upcoming opponent Marion Reneau but also hopes this weekend ultimately proves the important first step en route to achieving gold once more in future as her comeback trail starts. Continue reading
UFC 266: Volkanovski-Ortega, Shevchenko-Murphy and Nick Diaz’s return on Sept. 25
After more than a 400-day absence, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defends his title vs. Brian Ortega (#2) at the UFC 266 PPV in September. Elsewhere, Lauren Murphy challenges Valentina Shevchenko for women’s flyweight gold, after Nick Diaz’s welcome return after a six-year hiatus to rematch Robbie Lawler, 17 years on from their first meeting. Continue reading
UFC 264: Bad guy Conor vs. a bullish Poirier – Time to finally settle this
The niceties surrounding their rematch in January made for uncomfortable viewing at times, but manufactured heat or otherwise, the door will definitively close on their rivalry Saturday night with a title shot looming for the winner. Continue reading
UFC 264: Stephen Thompson believes he is Kamaru Usman’s worst matchup
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?
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UFC Vegas 30: Composed Ciryl Gane passes Alexander Volkov test, remains unbeaten
After five tests of increasing difficulty, Ciryl Gane knew the Volkov challenge was a necessary litmus test to see whether he was more than the UFC’s rapidly-growing hype machine. During an entertaining striking battle, the Frenchman passed with flying colours and won all five rounds on two of the three judges’ scorecards, before eyeing a title shot vs. Francis Ngannou. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 30: Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov welcome a pivotal main event task
In a division that has been deemed imbalanced for a while, this matchup pits two of the top five heavyweights against one another – something they both expect will help produce the best version of themselves with the lure of a potential title shot dangling for Saturday night’s winner.
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UFC Vegas 29: Korean Zombie patiently mixes it up, eventually outworks Dan Ige
The Korean Zombie rebounded from his humbling defeat by title challenger Brian Ortega, with a shrewd show of ringcraft and timely tactics to stifle Dan Ige’s stand-up skills while retaining his #4 spot in the promotion’s featherweight rankings. Elsewhere, there were credible wins for welterweight prospect Khaos Williams and bantamweight Marlon Vera (#15) among others. Continue reading
UFC Vegas 29: Dan Ige vows to impress in main event slot against Korean Zombie
Ahead of his main event matchup vs. Chan Sung Jung (#4) this weekend, #8 ranked featherweight contender Dan Ige has a chance to surge up the rankings but is under no illusions about the task at hand – even though he’s confident about producing a similarly powerful display to the one that saw him blast beyond Gavin Tucker in 22 seconds three months ago. Continue reading
UFC 263: Adesanya eases past Vettori in shutout, retains middleweight strap
Israel Adesanya produced the third defence of his UFC middleweight strap and handily beat Marvin Vettori (#3) in their rematch, after flyweight Brandon Moreno made history by becoming the promotion’s first Mexican champion – dethroning Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event. Continue reading
