Tag: Vicente Luque

UFC

UFC Atlantic City: Blanchfield has a big problem, Buckley boosted by Luque scalp

Mosope

Manon Fiorot of France punches Erin Blanchfield in a flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Boardwalk Hall Arena on March 30, 2024 in...

Erin Blanchfield’s boxing deficiencies were painfully laid bare under the lights over 25 minutes against an economical Manon Fiorot display in their main event title eliminator, while Joaquin Buckley’s move down a weight class continues to pay off as he’ll have a number next to his name at 170lbs this coming week after making longtime contender Vicente Luque look ordinary en route to a R2 finish.
Continue reading “UFC Atlantic City: Blanchfield has a big problem, Buckley boosted by Luque scalp” →

UFC

Luque taking a leaf out of the Poirier playbook with unranked Buckley next

Mosope

Opponents Vicente Luque and Joaquin Buckley face off during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at Boardwalk Hall Arena on March 29, 2024 in...

No-one likes to fight down in the rankings, not least seasoned veterans more eager to boost their championship credentials and especially on short-notice. While not indirectly, Dustin Poirier’s stoppage win over Benoit Saint-Denis has resonated with others in a similar situation – including longtime contender Vicente Luque, facing unranked Joaquin Buckley in New Jersey this weekend. Continue reading “Luque taking a leaf out of the Poirier playbook with unranked Buckley next” →

UFC

Randy Brown’s respectful, pointed Chiesa callout exemplifies the UFC’s ranking issue

Mosope

Randy Brown of Jamaica punches Muslim Salikhov of Russia in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in...

During the main card of an underwhelming Fight Night card over the weekend, welterweight Randy Brown scored his first stoppage win for almost three years in round one vs. Muslim Salikhov, then called to feature on the UFC 300 card – angling to prove why he’s top-15 calibre at 170lbs. Michael Chiesa unwittingly became an example fuelling the fire for him and other non-ranked contenders. Continue reading “Randy Brown’s respectful, pointed Chiesa callout exemplifies the UFC’s ranking issue” →

UFC

Belal barking up an Edwards-shaped storm that very soon, he’ll have to back up

Mosope

Belal Muhammad poses on the scale during the UFC 296 official weigh-in at UFC APEX on December 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Riding a five-fight win streak since their main event ended abruptly after an accidental eye poke rendered him unable to continue, #2 welterweight Belal Muhammad has persistently poked Leon Edwards who now holds UFC championship gold three years later. If he gets his long-awaited wish at a title shot as expected, the 35-year-old cannot underperform as Colby did last month. Continue reading “Belal barking up an Edwards-shaped storm that very soon, he’ll have to back up” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque

Mosope

Opponents Vicente Luque and Rafael Dos Anjos of Brazil face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on August 11, 2023 in Las Vegas,...

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has this week confirmed he’ll stay at welterweight for the remainder of his career – unless a superfight tempts a 155lb return – stressing future possibilities are endless and another title shot could figure, especially with an impressive win over perennial contender Vicente Luque in tonight’s UFC Vegas 78 main event overnight. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque” →

UFC

UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett

Mosope

Islam Makhachev of Russia punches Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 284 event at RAC Arena...

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was thrust into deep waters and finished an arduous first title defence on his back, but did enough over 25 minutes to outpoint featherweight titlist Alexander Volkanovski in a clash of two champions which lived up to the billing in-front of a manic 14,124 strong RAC Crowd in Perth, western Australia. Volkanovski will face new interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez at 145lbs, after his second-round submission win over Josh Emmett. Continue reading “UFC 284: Makhachev outlasts spirited Volkanovski showing in instant classic, Rodriguez stops Emmett” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 59: Jamahal Hill overwhelms Thiago Santos in back-and-forth LHW duel

Mosope

Jamahal Hill punches Thiago Santos of Brazil in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 06, 2022 in Las...

Light-heavyweight contender Jamahal Hill relished the challenge in his first UFC main event and quickly made it a memorable one against Thiago Santos, earning a fourth-round TKO finish against a former title challenger who thoroughly tested him. Elsewhere, there were impressive wins for Geoff Neal and Terrance McKinney among others on the main card. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 59: Jamahal Hill overwhelms Thiago Santos in back-and-forth LHW duel” →

Archives

UFC Vegas 51: Muhammad stakes claim with disciplined all-round display, overwhelms Luque

Mosope

Belal Muhammad kicks Vicente Luque of Brazil in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 16, 2022 in Las Vegas,...

Things came full circle for welterweight contender Belal Muhammad (#6), as he extended his unbeaten streak to eight fights with a composed all-round showing, swarming Vicente Luque (#5) and executing his tactical plan brilliantly against the same man who knocked him out in 79 seconds six years ago. Afterwards, he called out two-time title challenger Colby Covington (#1). Continue reading “UFC Vegas 51: Muhammad stakes claim with disciplined all-round display, overwhelms Luque” →

Archives, Specials

After a productive 2021, Belal Muhammad seizing his chance in flimsy 170lb division

Mosope

Belal Muhammad has his hands wrapped prior to his fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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” →

Archives

Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers

Mosope

Ketlen Vieira of Brazil punches Miesha Tate in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 20, 2021 in Las Vegas,...

It’s been a full week since Ketlen Vieira (#6) seized her main event opportunity vs. Miesha Tate (#8), derailing the former bantamweight champion’s return in a gritty UD win. In the co-main event, welterweight prospect Sean Brady stifled perennial contender Michael Chiesa to overtake him in the rankings. Where do these results leave the big losers as they pursue gold?
Continue reading “Analysis – UFC Vegas 43: Vieira, Brady victories pose more questions than answers” →

Archives

UFC 268: Kamaru Usman promises more flawless display in Colby Covington rematch

Mosope

Opponents Kamaru Usman of Nigeria and Colby Covington face off during the UFC 268 press conference at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on...

Thursday’s promotional press conference was energetic with bad intentions in equal measure, as expected, but UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman knows he needs to make clear improvements – just as he did in the rematch with Jorge Masvidal – against an increasingly determined Colby Covington if he’s to make the fifth defence of his 170lb strap this weekend. Continue reading “UFC 268: Kamaru Usman promises more flawless display in Colby Covington rematch” →

Archives

UFC 265: Gane outclasses Lewis with R3 TKO, becomes new interim HW champion

Mosope

Ciryl Gane punches Derrick Lewis in the third round of their Heavyweight bout at Toyota Center on July 7, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

Ciryl Gane (#3) improved to 10-0 after another impressive win – this time in enemy territory from Houston’s Toyota Center – blasting Derrick Lewis (#2) with a third-round TKO finish to seize the UFC’s interim heavyweight title. Beforehand, there were impressive victories for a determined bantamweight contender in Jose Aldo as well as welterweight title hopeful Vicente Luque.
Continue reading “UFC 265: Gane outclasses Lewis with R3 TKO, becomes new interim HW champion” →