They were originally scheduled to face one another in a serious mismatch, but instead Nate Diaz ended his existing UFC deal with a memorable win over a fellow legendary veteran while Khamzat Chimaev leaned into a villainous role – one he carved out for himself after a massive weight miss – easing to another emphatic first-round victory during the night’s co-main event. Continue reading “Wacky, weird and wild: Unpacking UFC 279 as Nate Diaz and villain Khamzat Chimaev win big”
Tag: welterweight
Rewind: Vergil Ortiz Jr’s R9 TKO win vs. Michael McKinson, a look at what’s perhaps next for both
The dust has settled and with a rare weekend lacking big boxing or UFC fights, I reflect in detail on Vergil Ortiz Jr’s R9 TKO win over crafty British southpaw Michael McKinson three weeks ago. Ortiz Jr ended his long-awaited return while maintaining his stoppage streak (19-0, 19 KOs), but what’s next for him and McKinson – who feels this display shows he belongs at world level? Continue reading “Rewind: Vergil Ortiz Jr’s R9 TKO win vs. Michael McKinson, a look at what’s perhaps next for both”
UFC 278: Usman at peace with shock KO defeat, welcomes trilogy clash in England next year
Kamaru Usman has revealed a readiness to travel to Leon Edwards’ home comforts, as he looks to regain his welterweight title in 2023 – with London’s Wembley Stadium mooted as a possible venue – having led 3-1 on all three judges’ scorecards but ultimately suffering a dramatic final-minute leg kick KO defeat at the weekend during their rematch in the UFC 278 main event. Continue reading “UFC 278: Usman at peace with shock KO defeat, welcomes trilogy clash in England next year”
UFC 278: Leon Edwards dethrones Kamaru Usman with R5 head kick KO, new welterweight champion
Midway through the fifth, they thought he was demoralised and it was over. Instead, Leon Edwards scored a stunning head kick KO to dethrone Kamaru Usman, as the UK’s second-ever UFC champion since Michael Bisping after big main card wins for former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa and an in-form Merab Dvalishvili at 135lbs – both against MMA legends.
Continue reading “UFC 278: Leon Edwards dethrones Kamaru Usman with R5 head kick KO, new welterweight champion”
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson tonight: Time to shine bright, or a step too far?
Vergil Ortiz Jr ends a 53-week layoff later tonight (Sunday, 4am BST) as he faces fellow unbeaten boxer Michael McKinson in their WBA welterweight world title eliminator. Will the 24-year-old rising star have it all his own way, against a hard-working Brit, or is a surprise in store? Continue reading “Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Michael McKinson tonight: Time to shine bright, or a step too far?”
Andrade urges Eubank Jr to agree fight terms, but domestic duel with Benn nears completion
After pulling out of his scheduled fight against Zach Parker in May with a shoulder injury, WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade still wants a UK appearance this year – against Parker’s compatriot and a bigger name in Chris Eubank Jr, but currently isn’t getting his way. Continue reading “Andrade urges Eubank Jr to agree fight terms, but domestic duel with Benn nears completion”
Jaron Ennis predicts dominant, eventual KO win over Custio Clayton overnight
Ahead of his heavily-anticipated return to the ring against Custio Clayton tonight, 24-year-old welterweight rising star Jaron Ennis has doubled down on his desire to make 2022 the best year yet: believing he will dominate and eventually stop an unbeaten Canadian (19-0-1, 12 KOs) who at 34, has a golden opportunity to skip the line, proving himself against the best at 147lbs. Continue reading “Jaron Ennis predicts dominant, eventual KO win over Custio Clayton overnight”
Eimantas Stanionis refutes Hearn’s claim on prospective Benn fight, eyes Errol Spence next
After dethroning Radzhab Butaev on the Spence-Ugas undercard last month, Lithuania’s unbeaten WBA (Regular) welterweight world champion responded to Eddie Hearn’s comments on a prospective Conor Benn matchup while targeting three-belt titlist Errol Spence Jr next. Continue reading “Eimantas Stanionis refutes Hearn’s claim on prospective Benn fight, eyes Errol Spence next”
Spence Jr unifies WBA, WBC, IBF welterweight titles with R10 TKO win vs. Ugas
Errol Spence Jr endured an iffy start but made subtle adjustments on-the-fly and produced a tenth-round stoppage win over Manny Pacquiao’s conqueror Yordenis Ugas, unifying three of the sport’s four welterweight titles. At long last, surely a highly-anticipated clash against WBO champion Terence Crawford to see one true titlist reign supreme cannot be avoided any longer. Continue reading “Spence Jr unifies WBA, WBC, IBF welterweight titles with R10 TKO win vs. Ugas”
UFC Vegas 51: Muhammad stakes claim with disciplined all-round display, overwhelms Luque
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”
Demolition job: Conor Benn batters Chris van Heerden with startling second-round TKO
An emotional, angry fighter? More like calculated with spiteful bite. Chris van Heerden experienced that first-hand as Conor Benn started aggressively and made the south African pay with some blistering punch combinations, scoring a second-round knockout in Manchester’s main event tonight to make the seventh defence of his WBA Continental welterweight belt. Continue reading “Demolition job: Conor Benn batters Chris van Heerden with startling second-round TKO”
He’s angry, emotional power puncher: Van Heerden dismisses Benn ahead of Saturday’s bout
Ahead of their welterweight bout on Saturday, Chris van Heerden has dismissed Conor Benn’s boxing ability by describing the 25-year-old unbeaten prospect as an emotional, angry fighter who he doesn’t rate very highly – insisting a reliance on power will not do him any good this weekend in a matchup many aren’t exactly excited to see given Benn’s lofty title aspirations.
Continue reading “He’s angry, emotional power puncher: Van Heerden dismisses Benn ahead of Saturday’s bout”
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