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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”
Although UFC chief Dana White today reaffirmed a desire to rebook Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic for the full heavyweight title next summer once Jones has fully healed after surgery on a torn pectoral tendon, new interim champion Tom Aspinall doesn’t want to wait a year to get the dream fight he’s been longing for against the two-division titlist. Ultimately, he might have no choice though… Continue reading “UFC 295: Aspinall appreciates Jones’ niceties, wants dream fight opportunity”
Callum Walsh’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach declared his belief that the rising Irish southpaw, still only 22, will become a world champion at some stage over the next year. Judging by his latest display, a gutcheck over ten rounds as he headlined the Madison Square Garden Theatre overnight, the light-middleweight prospect still has work to do before reaching that ambitious goal. Continue reading “154lbs prospect Callum Walsh withstands Ismael Villarreal firefight to stay unbeaten”
With less than 24 hours until the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou card gets underway in Riyadh, multiple boxing personnel – from boxers on the card to promoters and invested spectators – spoke with me for exclusive interviews over the course of Friday’s festivities, from the afternoon weigh-in to an evening gala dinner hours later. Click below to see what they said, on multiple topics. Continue reading “Fury-Ngannou: Oleksandr Usyk, Badou Jack among several interviewed the night before Saudi showdown in Riyadh”
Thrust into the new co-main slot for UFC 295 next month after news of reigning champion Jon Jones’ serious injury surfaced overnight, the #4 ranked heavyweight will look to win interim gold vs. a dangerous opponent in Sergei Pavlovich on November 11. All things considered, taking the chance without ample preparation time is brave but hasn’t aged well for many of late… Continue reading “Tom Aspinall looking to succeed where others have fallen short with UFC 295 spot”
Why haven’t the WBC stripped him? Just another money grab, wasting his prime years. Those are some of the phrases used to describe Fury-Ngannou before their Riyadh showdown this weekend and as fight week begins, the outside noise will pale into insignificance once the two heavyweights from differing disciplines do battle after their loaded undercard on Saturday night. Continue reading “Fury-Ngannou: However you feel about it all, their lucrative exhibition bout is here”
Sean O’Malley scored a second-round knockout win over Aljamain Sterling in the UFC 292 main event to capture bantamweight gold, before calling for a Marlon Vera rematch in his first title defence to finish an unforgettable year this December. The promotion have since announced Edwards vs. Covington will headline UFC 296 on Dec. 16, so Suga must wait until 2024 to satisfy that itch. Continue reading “New bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley confirms early 2024 return, says UFC want him to headline his own show”
Aljamain Sterling makes the fourth defence of his UFC bantamweight title overnight, and has said plenty in the build-up about how Sean O’Malley – a growing star within the promotion – has purposely been matched up in a way allowing him to fast-track his way to a championship shot. So now, only he stands between Suga Show becoming the second DWCS alum to seize gold…
Continue reading “UFC 292: Sterling says the onus is on him to humble O’Malley tonight, and he’s right”
The recently-retired two-division UFC world champion spoke about being surprised by having a burning desire to rest and recover, after accruing damage aplenty across her body given the gruelling training camps and various fights over the years. Yet the Lioness didn’t close the door on a return, even aged 35… Continue reading “Amanda Nunes confirms she has nerve damage in her legs, doesn’t rule out return”
Five years and three months after a Fight of the Year battle against Dustin Poirier, one he ultimately lost via fourth-round TKO, one-time interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje has an opportunity to right the wrong this weekend. Considering the pot of gold which hangs in the balance for Saturday night’s main event winner, the stakes couldn’t be any higher for The Highlight.
Continue reading “UFC 291: Revenge and another title push motivating Gaethje before Poirier rematch”
35 next month and forced to impatiently wait for his next matchup, #9 ranked featherweight contender Giga Chikadze has spoken of his frustration at multiple fights falling out as he continues to ready himself for a long-awaited return. He’s not the only ranked fighter in this position, though it reiterates how little they can control outside of getting themselves to the cage fully healthy. Continue reading “Giga Chikadze’s UFC inactivity concerns shine light on issues out of their control”
Since losing to Holly Holm (UD3) at UFC 246 in January 2020, Raquel Pennington [2] has won five straight and looks set for a second crack at UFC gold later this year. Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement leaves a long-awaited matchup vs. former champon Julianna Pena the most likely play for the promotion, but will Holm have a say when she returns on Saturday night? Continue reading “Raquel Pennington expects Julianna Pena matchup to be for newly-vacant 135lb title”
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