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Author: Thomas Albano

  • “It’s Not Wrong That You Share The Same Goal…” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 10 Recap

    “It’s Not Wrong That You Share The Same Goal…” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 10 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the 10th edition of The TUF Stuff!

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    Last week saw semifinal action begin, as Alibi Idiris of Team Cormier secured the first flyweight final spot at UFC 319 by defeating Team Sonnen’s Roybert Echeverria.

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 10

    Now, Team Cormier will have two of its own go at it for the first welterweight final spot as Jeff Creighton and Rodrigo Sezinando do battle.

    Let’s get into episode 10 of The Ultimate Fighter!

    Team Sonnen Out On The Town

    With some extra time due to an all-Team Cormier showdown, Team Sonnen gets to go out on the town in Las Vegas. They attend a Criss Angel show and get to meet the magician himself, as Angel is apparently good friends with Colby Covington, according to UFC CEO and President Dana White.

    Sonnen says the experience was a good one for the team because it’s a break from all the training and their spirits get lifted.

    Criss Angel even invited Sonnen and Covington on stage during the evening.

    Team Cormier Training Session & Fight Preps

    Team Cormier explains it’ll be a sparring session, trying to balance out times so no one feels isolated since the team has two fighters competing. Sezinando says he wants to specifically spar with Alex Sanchez. Crieghton feels Sezinando wants to focus on training with the smaller welterweights to “protect his ego.”

    Cormier says he is not going to coach the two to maintain neutrality, and the others are going to support Sezinando and Creighton’s training.

    Cormier says Sezinando should maintain space and distance to use his striking to his full potential — something he didn’t execute fully in his first-round matchup.

    Sezinando says Creighton is scared to grapple with him and plans to put a lot of pressure on Creighton. “He’s going to see a complete MMA fighter in there.”

    Cormier says Creighton should use his wrestling. He adds that Sezinando hasn’t been seen on his back, and that Creighton should force that. Creighton says he sees the fight starting off hot, and if Sezinando “is smart,” he’ll try to get Creighton out in the first five minutes.

    Creighton guarantees Sezinando won’t be able to finish him and he’ll put a beating on him — whether Sezinando puts his foot on the gas from the start of the fight on or not.

    Cormier says he sees both guys having a solid shot at winning the competition and hopes for a good fight.

    Rodrigo Sezinando Call Home

    We see a phone call between Sezinando and his mother, who he hasn’t seen in a year-and-a-half. Sezinando says his mom is his motivation and why he works hard every day.

    You can see the emotion on Sezinando’s face as he promises they’ll be reunited soon. His mother expresses gratitude to God that he’s okay.

    Sezinando says the world knows their story, and that’s why he continues to push, and he thanks his mom for everything in his life. His mom says that she knows how big of a heart he has and how beautiful of a person he is.

    Sezinando says his mom didn’t eat many days, sacrificing for him and his brother. He explains how hard it is, and we see how emotional Sezinando still is after the phone call. He admits he feels the pressure to do well in order to benefit his mom’s life and pay back for everything she has sacrificed.

    Jeff Creighton Phone Call Home

    Creighton receives a phone call from his wife. Creighton says he’s been missing home; however, the time away has made him truly realize — and more appreciative of — the sacrifices his loved ones have made. “I want their sacrifices to be worth something.”

    Creighton’s wife, Hailey, says even though she knows he hasn’t had his phone, she has still texted him.

    Creighton says his wife has made sacrifices and he couldn’t be more thankful of her support.

    We then see all of Creighton’s family, and Creighton says that their sight brought him additional motivation. “I’m doing this for the right reason. I’m doing this for them.”

    The Fight: Jeff Creighton vs. Rodrigo Sezinando

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Creighton and Sezinando both weigh in at 170.5. The fight is on!

    Andreaas Binder feels Creighton might have the better skillset, but Sezinando has the strength and jiu-jitsu edges. Joseph Morales says Sezinando hasn’t been impressive, at least compared to Creighton’s skillset, and that he’ll need a takedown to secure an edge.

    Dana White says he’s expecting a technical fight between two expert-level grapplers.

    Cormier says the two have been very respectful of each other, but he can’t imagine the guys being comfortable in the same locker room. Cormier puts the two in different locker rooms.

    Cormier says both have worked very hard and closely with the team, and he reminds the two that they’re here because they’ve worked together to support each other to get there. Cormier tells them to have a good fight and may the best man win.

    Both guys seem to have the realization that this is just business, but they’re each a roadblock for the other.

    “It’s not wrong that you share the same goal,” Cormier said. “It’s only wrong if you don’t do everything in your power to accomplish it.

    Cormier says the coaches are divided up in terms of who is cornering which fighter.

    Jeff Creighton vs. Rodrigo Sezinando

    Round 1

    Creighton and Sezinando hug it out and Sezinando asks for some noise. Low kick from Creighton. Creighton with a body kick, and his corner tells him to get his space back. Sezinando with a big right hand and left hook. Sezinando goes in and presses Creighton against the fence. Sezinando gets Creighton up, but Creighton goes back to his feet, preventing the takedown. Creighton appears to have an arm around Sezinando’s neck. More pummeling. Right hand by Creighton. Sezinando continues to search for the takedown. Elbow by Creighton. Cormier is concerned that Sezinando is wasting energy on this takedown attempt. Referee Marc Smith calls for more activity.

    More pummeling from Sezinando, while Creighton looks to pressure his way off the fence. A few short left hands from Creighton. And another. And another. Sezinando gets Creighton up again, but he again can’t get it. Finally, he’s able to get the takedown with about 1:45 left. Or, rather, Creighton got the takedown and Sezinando reversed it. Sezinando’s corner tells him to get control first. Sezinando is able to get into side control, then a transition into half-guard. Creighton’s corner encourages him to work his way to the cage. Sezinando works his way up, trying to threaten an arm-triangle choke. Creighton turns the wrong way and Sezinando gets his back, trying to threaten a choke in the closing seconds of the round. Sezinando can’t get it, and Creighton reverses to end the round on top.

    Round 2

    Creighton with a body shot early. A couple of kicks to add on. Creighton with a right hand, but Sezinando throws a knee. Now it’s Creighton pressuring Sezinando into the fence. Creighton gets the takedown, and Sezinando puts up his guard. Creighton’s corner says to look for elbows. They’re against the cage now, with Creighton pressuring. Creighton tries to get to Sezinando’s back, but Sezinando rolls and threatens a leg lock. Creighton gets out of it, but Sezinando now has Creighton seated back against the fence. We get a switch. Sezinando gets Creighton up again and slams him down, getting right into full mount.

    Sezinando makes his way into full mount. Creighton tries to escape, but Sezinando gets to his back. Creighton gets to his feet and the two exchange heavy on the break. Front kick by Creighton. Right hand by Sezinando. Body shot by Creighton. Right hand by Creighton backs Sezinando up. Strong knee from Creighton on a brief clinch. Sezinando scores a takedown, however. Creighton with a right hand, as his corner yells for him to get up with urgency. Sezinando keeps Creighton down, however. Palm strikes from Creighton as the ref tells Sezinando to work. A couple of strong elbows from Sezinando, though he’s warned to watch the back of the head. A series of consecutive right hands from Sezinando to the head. Sezinando ends the round on top just as Creighton is returning to the feet.

    Round 3

    We’ve got a third round! Is this the first one of the season? Right hand and a round kick from Creighton. Creighton goes for pressure into the fence, but Sezinando reverses and pins Creighton to the fence. A couple of elbows land for Creighton. Creighton continuing to defend the takedown attempts from Sezinando. Sezinando lands a spinning elbow on Creighton. Left hand by Creighton. Another left hand from Creighton. Creighton again tries to rush in, and Sezinando presses and scores a takedown.

    Halfway through the round and Marc Smith asks Sezinando to work again. Sezinando works his way to Creighton’s back and rolls through. Sezinando tries to get a body lock as he hunts for the choke. Creighton trying to get free, but Sezinando keeps the pressure. Sezinando transitions to top position and hunts for an arm-triangle but can’t get it. Creighton uses the cage and elbows to get back to his feet with a minute left. Sezinando presses for a takedown again. More punching from Creighton. He escapes Sezinando’s pressure with 45 seconds to go. Creighton’s corner calling for him to bite down on his mouth piece and pressure, but he’s not bringing it. Creighton then clinches briefly for some reason. The two exchanging, where Creighton lands a strong knee to the body. It’s not enough.

    Winner: Rodrigo Sezinando via unanimous decision after three rounds

    Conclusion

    Cormier says Sezinando accomplished what he’s needed — to score takedowns and nullify Creighton’s offense. Cormier says Creighton had moments where he tried to build momentum, but Sezinando was able to cap off any of that.

    Dana White says Creighton finally let his hands go in the third round, looking for a knockout, knowing he was down 2-0. Cormier adds, however, that every time he overextended, Sezinando caught him. Cormier says he appreciated not keeping his distance to try and get a finish, but White says Sezinando’s takedowns tired him out too much.

    Creighton says it’s a tough pill to swallow, but Sezinando was the better man tonight. Creighton says it’s hard knowing he’s not in the family and feels he let his family down. But Creighton says he will make the Octagon one day.

    Sezinando is emotional, in tears, realizing he’s going to be competing at UFC 319. “The whole world is going to know me, and I’m proud of myself,” Sezinando says. He promises to take care of his mom soon. “Thank you so much for the man you made.”

    Next week, Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez faces Team Sonnen’s top pick, Joseph Morales, to see who faces Alibi Idiris in the flyweight finale!

    Also, season 32 winner Mairon Santos visits the TUF House!

    What will happen next week? Join alongside us then!

    Thanks for joining me for another edition of The TUF Stuff!

  • Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Leaves Vegas Pros Reeling: New Tax Rule Could KO Sports Gamblers

    Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Leaves Vegas Pros Reeling: New Tax Rule Could KO Sports Gamblers

    U.S. President Donald Trump has found himself in the MMA news headlines recently because of his announcement of a UFC card that will take place on the White House lawn next July 4. Congress is also in the headlines for the discussion and possible passing of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act.

    But another piece of politics is about to swoop in and potentially affect professional bettors, according to Gianni “The Greek” Karalis, host of The Gambler’s Perspective and UFC On The Line.

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a piece of legislation that focuses on tax and spending, as part of President Trump’s financial-related policies. This bill, however, can also come at a cost to gamblers.

    The bill proposes that professional bettors could be taxed on gross winnings without being allowed to deduct their losses. In other words, even gamblers who finish with more losses than wins could still owe.

    “It’s basically saying that it could force some bettors — key word there — some, to pay income tax even in years when they have net losses in gambling,” Karalis told James Lynch in a recent interview. “It could significantly hike the tax burden on professional sports bettors.”

    Gianni The Greek: How Sports Gamblers, Including MMA Bettors, Are Affected By The One Big Beautiful Bill

    Traditionally, professional gamblers could deduct losses from winnings when filing taxes, effectively being taxed based on net income. OBBBA threatens that by eliminating loss deductions. That’s the equivalent of taxing an investor for every winning trade while ignoring the losing ones.

    Karalis explains this as “the problem,” as it defies a gambler’s accounting principles.

    “You can no longer write off your losses against your wins like you used to before,” Karalis said. “I mean, the bottom line is this: you could lose money and still have to pay taxes as if you were profitable. That’s the negative of this.”

    Karalis does say, however, that most bettors will not be affected, as this portion of the bill targets professional bettors, rather than recreational ones. According to Karalis, only about 0.5 percent of bettors can be considered profitable and will be the most affected.

    “99.5 percent of sports bettors have negative lifetime earnings,” Karalis said. “Who this is going to affect is that half a percent that truly makes their living in betting sports.”

    There are two possible motives for this governmental action, according to Karalis. The first is a form of government money grab, similar to when states actively passed recreational marijuana laws in order to gain the tax revenue. The U.S. federal government may see sports betting — as an untapped goldmine, and it wants a bigger piece of the pie.

    The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) previously barred sports betting in most states. When the Supreme Court ruled the act unconstitutional in May 2018, states were allowed to decide on its legalization.

    Karalis’ other theory is that sportsbooks themselves may have lobbied for this part of OBBBA. While winning bettors may represent a tiny fraction of users, they may present a major threat to profit margins. In other words, severely hampering these winning bettors protects the bottom line. By making the environment toxic for sharps, they encourage a casual betting pool dominated by losing wagers.

    Karalis compared this to a shift that was seen in casinos when blackjack payouts went from 3-to-2 to 6-to-5 as part of their efforts to stop card counters.

    “To most tourists, the most recreational bettors, they don’t see the difference,” Karalis explained. “They don’t know the difference between blackjack paying three-to-two or six-to-five. But for a card counter, that simple rule made the game unbeatable. So someone like myself that’s an advantaged blackjack player, if I see a table that says six-to-five blackjack, I can’t beat that game no more. The edge has changed.”

    Three groups are most at risk with the bill’s passage, according to Karalis. One, as mentioned, are those professional sports bettors whose success relies on those onscreen, regulated sportsbooks who report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including FanDuel and DraftKings.

    The second group are the scalpers and middlers, including younger bettors, who depend on quick, narrow-margin trades across multiple books. Karalis stated that “It may even shut down a lot of those shops…because the margins are small…you got to question now: Is this endeavor still worth it?”

    Lastly are the handicappers who work solo or in small groups, without access to “off-screen” credit-based betting systems.

    Those offshore books and underground markets can offer one potential workaround, according to Karalis. They, however, do not come without great risk and aren’t available to all bettors. While off-screen books, often offshore and illegal, are preferred by pros for tax and liquidity reasons, high-stakes bettors would need millions tied up in regulated accounts that earn no interest. This, according to Karalis, would make on-screen betting financially inefficient.

    “There’s not very many people worth seven figures who are willing to leave that money sitting in a sportsbook account getting zero return,” he said. “You could put it in Coinbase and get four percent.”

    Though most in the sports gambling world felt negative reaction in the industry to the OBBBA was an overreaction, concern among full-time bettors is growing. As the new tax reality sets in, some professional gamblers are considering a re-evaluation of their systems and the potential end of their careers, especially if they rely on razor-thin profits.

    Karalis says this may even stretch to content creators and side hustlers, including the previously-mentioned scalpers. He adds there are also questions around how bad this will impact younger and newer pros.

    “They’re definitely being forced to reorganize their business model,” Karalis said. “I would not be surprised if a handful do realize maybe it’s not as profitable — and move that capital elsewhere with less risk.”

    When describing how he personally is affected, Karalis says that since 90 percent of his betting is off-screen, he isn’t as affected as other professionals. OBBBA, however, may affect his side hustle due to regulated betting use; it would force him to use the regulated sportsbooks.

    Karalis says that he sees no upsides in OBBBA for sharp bettors and that the bill could shift the landscape by making professional sports betting less viable in the U.S. He implies it could lead to brain drain or push more betting activity to offshore books.

    “Talking to serious guys out here in Vegas, even professional poker players, let alone sports bettors, who are like, ‘Dude, I don’t know if I can continue doing this the way I’ve been doing it and be profitable anymore,’” Karalis said.

    OBBBA could usher in a new era where the house edge isn’t just built into the odds — it’s written into law.

  • Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes Headlines UFC Perth

    Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes Headlines UFC Perth

    A former light heavyweight title challenger and one rising through the ranks with an impressive win streak will be clashing in the main event of UFC Perth this coming September.

    The UFC has announced that Carlos Ulberg will take on Dominick Reyes in the featured bout of UFC Perth, which takes place on September 27 (September 28 in Australia) at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    This matchup had previously been scheduled twice. The pair were originally booked for UFC 297, but Ulberg sustained an injury. The bout was postponed to UFC Atlantic City in March 2024, but Reyes withdrew.

    Ulberg went on to knock out Alonzo Menifield at the event.

    Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes Announced As UFC Perth Main Event

    Since losing his UFC debut to Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 259, Ulberg has won eight in a row. Ulberg last fought in March, defeating former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC London. A win over Reyes could potentially position Ulberg as a potential next title challenger at some point next year.

    The UFC light heavyweight title will be on the line again on October 4, when Magomed Ankalaev defends in a rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 320.

    Reyes has won three straight since returning at UFC Louisville in June 2024, following a near-two-year layoff. Reyes has scored knockouts of Dustin Jacoby, Anthony Smith, and Nikita Krylov.

    This will be the second UFC event this year to take place in Australia, following UFC 312 in February.

    A total of six bouts have been confirmed for UFC Perth thus far, also including Doo-ho Choi taking on Daniel Santos and Loma Lookboonmee facing Alexia Thainara.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Reinier De Ridder Moves Into Top 5 At Middleweight

    UFC Rankings Report: Reinier De Ridder Moves Into Top 5 At Middleweight

    The latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the UFC rankings toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi, MMA News has you covered with this week’s complete updates.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci moves up three spots to No. 7, while the woman she beat, Amanda Ribas, falls three spots to No. 10. Gillian Robertson moves up one spot, sharing No. 8 with Iasmin Lucindo.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee falls one spot to No. 13 following his loss, while Vinicius Oliveira moves up one spot to No. 12. Aiemann Zahabi also moves up one spot to No. 10, swapping places with Henry Cejudo (now No. 11).

    Despite his win, Petr Yan remains at No. 3.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: Reinier de Ridder moves up eight spots to No. 5, while the man he beat, Robert Whittaker, falls two spots to No. 7.

    Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze, Anthony Hernandez, Brendan Allen, and Paulo Costa all fall one spot to Nos. 8-12, respectively. Marvin Vettori falls two spots to No. 13.

    Light Heavyweight: Bogdan Guskov moves up three spots to No. 10, while the man he beat, Nikita Krylov, falls two spots to No. 12. Johnny Walker moves down one spot to No. 13.

    Heavyweight: Martin Buday moves up one spot to No. 12, swapping spots with Mick Parkin (now No. 13).

    This week’s new UFC rankings were first reported by John Morgan. UFC.com’s rankings section still to be updated as of publication time.

  • Ben Askren Hospitalized Again Due To Chest Infection

    Ben Askren Hospitalized Again Due To Chest Infection

    Ben Askren’s journey to recovery has hit a road block, and he is back in the hospital.

    Just under a week after announcing that he was back home after an approximately two-month hospitalization, Askren has been hospitalized again following a first check-up.

    According to a new video published by Askren, doctors found a chest infection that has resulted in his return.

    “Well, as you guys can probably tell, I’m not home anymore, unfortunately,” Askren said. “I had my first checkup this morning [July 28]. They didn’t like the way the last chest tube looked. Thought it was infected, put me on some antibiotics, and then, had a few X-rays. Hopefully get this solved fast.”

    Chest Infection Puts Ben Askren Back In Hospital

    Askren had posted an update to his social media accounts on July 22, announcing that he was returning home after a 58-day hospital stay. The news of his hospitalization was first broken on June 7, with reports at the time stating Askren was in critical condition.

    Askren received a double lung transplant following severe pneumonia — the result of a severe and complicated staph infection.

    The former ONE and Bellator champion, who fought for the UFC three times in 2019, has previously stated that he has no recollection of events from the end of May through early July. He added that he lost 50 pounds and flatlined about four times.

    In this newest update, Askren says he is remaining positive, and that this is one small setback in a larger journey recovery.

    “Stockdale Paradox; it wasn’t always gonna be smooth,” Askren said. “It wasn’t always gonna be easy. It wasn’t gonna always be all the way up. So, hopefully, this is a small hiccup, then I’m back home getting stronger again. I thought you guys [would] appreciate the update.”

  • Luke Rockhold Ready To Throw Kicks In His Boxing Match Against Darren Till

    Luke Rockhold Ready To Throw Kicks In His Boxing Match Against Darren Till

    Luke Rockhold suggests that the incident that he and Darren Till recently got into might very well be a preview of how chaotic their upcoming boxing match will be.

    Rockhold and Till got into a physical altercation at a recent press conference ahead of their fight that main events Misfits Boxing 22: Ring of Thrones on August 30.

    In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Rockhold says that based on what he saw in Till at that press conference, as well as the negotiations and discussions about what weight the fight would take at, he questions if Till is preparing for the fight with true intent.

    “It’s always good to get your eyes on the man you’re going to fight. I think he’s a little scared. He’s making a lot of excuses and he’s making up a lot of things in his head. So we’ll see what he comes with.

    “He’s looking a little fat right now, so we’ll see how seriously he’s taking this thing. I’ve been working my a** off.”

    Luke Rockhold Ready For Anything Darren Till Throws At Him At Misfits Boxing 22

    The fight with Till will mark the professional boxing debut for Rockhold, the former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion. Since parting ways with the UFC in 2022, Rockhold has lost to Mike Perry in a BKFC bout and defeated Joe Schilling in Karate Combat.

    Meanwhile, Till, the former UFC welterweight title challenger, won an exhibition bout with Mohammad Mutie (a fight that resulted in a post-match brawl) before victories over Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart earlier this year.

    When discussing his strategy for the fight with Till, Rockhold said it will boil down to offensive pressure.

    “I plan on bullying him around,” Rockhold said. “He don’t like pressure. He likes his space. I’m going to pimp him a bit, I’m going to feel him out, but I feel like I’m going to push the pressure, control him, and big brother him a bit.

    “I plan on out-boxing him. I’m going to relax. I’m going to be myself. You got to respect Till; he’s got good hands. So, I got to get in his head, play the game, and look to execute. I think I can knock him out. I’m going to fight to win.”

    Rockhold added that while it may not be a boxing match, and not an MMA one, he won’t be prepared to bring out MMA weaponry if he needs to.

    Till, in fact, once was scheduled to face Tommy Fury before Fury withdrew, claiming he wouldn’t fight Till after Till’s promise to resort to “MMA tactics” if behind on the scorecards.

    “If Darren wants to throw kicks, we can throw kicks,” Rockhold said. “No disqualification for kicks as long as he throws first.”

    Misfits Boxing 22: Game of Thrones takes place on August 30 from the AO Arena in Manchester, England. The card will also feature Tony Ferguson taking on Salt Papi in the co-main event, as well as Dillon Danis’ return against Warren Spencer. The card can be viewed on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

  • “Kill Everybody” – Khamzat Chimaev In Last Training Camp Ahead of UFC 319

    “Kill Everybody” – Khamzat Chimaev In Last Training Camp Ahead of UFC 319

    Khamzat Chimaev is putting on the final touches of his preparations for UFC 319, where he’ll attempt to become the UFC middleweight champion.

    Chimaev took to social media to show images seen of his reported final fight camp. Chimaev is currently in Los Angeles and will soon make his way to Chicago, where UFC 319 takes place.

    Of note, it looks like he is preparing his striking and power, as the photos show him working on his knees and hitting pads.

    Khamzat Chimaev In Los Angeles For Final Camp Before UFC 319

    “Feeling great,” Chimaev posted. “We are in LA. Doing training camp now, last camp before the fight. So, coming for Chicago. Kill everybody.”

    Du Plessis, at 14-0, has taken the MMA world by storm since his UFC signing in 2020. It was then where he scored a pair of knockout victories while breaking the quickest turnaround time between UFC wins at 10 days. Chimaev would then knockout Gerald Meerschaert later that year.

    While injuries and illness have slowed him down over the last few years, Chimaev’s success hasn’t, as he’s since scored wins over Li Jinglang, Gilbert Burns, Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker.

    UFC 316 takes place on Aug 16 at the United Center in Chicago. Chimaev will be competing in the main event, challenging current UFC 185-pound champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    Du Plessis has been champion since defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297, retaining against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 and in a rematch with Strickland at UFC 312.

  • Shara Magomedov In Hospital Recovering From Nose Surgery Following His UFC Abu Dhabi Match

    Shara Magomedov In Hospital Recovering From Nose Surgery Following His UFC Abu Dhabi Match

    Shara Magomedov was hospitalized following UFC Abu Dhabi, suffering a broken nose during his fight with Marc-Andre Barriault.

    According to Red Corner MMA, “Shara Bullet” had overnight nose surgery following his victory over Barriault. He is expected to be released at some point on Monday, July 28 or Tuesday, July 29.

    Magomedov suffered the broken nose during the second round, when Barriault connected with a hard right hand that did damage and troubled the Russian fighter.

    Shara Magomedov Undergoes Nose Operation Following UFC Abu Dhabi Win Over Marc-Andre Barriault

    Magomedov controlled the action during the opening round of the fight with his striking and footwork, but Barriault’s right hand that broke Magomedov’s nose changed the course of the fight temporarily.

    Barriault used his clinch work and takedown attempts to do damage to “Bullet”, but Magomedov would take moment back later in the round with a strong knee. Magomedov’s striking then helped him to control the third round and score the decision win.

    “Shara Bullet” is now 5-1 in the UFC, with this win rebounding him from a loss to Michael “Venom” Page at UFC Saudi Arabia in February. He is 16-1 overall as an MMA pro.

  • Another UFC Vegas 108 Matchup Scrapped As Azamat Bekoev Announces Fight With Yousri Belgaroui Is Postponed

    Another UFC Vegas 108 Matchup Scrapped As Azamat Bekoev Announces Fight With Yousri Belgaroui Is Postponed

    After already losing its main event with just six days to go, UFC Vegas 108 has now suffered another fight lost mere hours later.

    A planned bout between Azamat Bekoev and promotional newcomer Yousri Belagroui has been postponed, according to an announcement from Bekoev on X (fka Twitter).

    Bekoev stated that Belgaroui was unable to get a visa in time and that both fighters are off the card. He also stated, however, that while he is staying ready for any short-notice opportunity, the UFC “likes this matchup and wants us to fight in October.”

    The UFC currently has three events planned for October: UFC 320 on October 4 in Las Vegas, UFC Vancouver on October 18, and UFC 321 on October 25 in Abu Dhabi.

    Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui Off UFC Vegas 108

    Bekoev was originally slated to fight Torrez Finney at UFC Vegas 108; however, Finney withdrew from the fight. Just last week it was announced that Bekoev would instead fight Belgaroui.

    Belgaroui was a professional kickboxer who went 27-7 in the sport and challenged for the GLORY middleweight championship on three occasions — twice facing Alex Pereira.

    Though he competed in both MMA and kickboxing in 2021, Belgaroui switched to MMA full time in 2022, competing for UAE Warriors before a pair of appearances in both Levels Fight League and Dana White’s Contender Series. He lost his initial 2023 DWCS appearance against Marco Silva but returned last year and defeated Taiga Iwasaki.

    Bekoev, the former LFA middleweight champion, has scored two first-round finishes this year thus far, his first in the Octagon. He knocked out Zachary Reese at UFC 311 and finished Ryan Loder at UFC Des Moines.

    Earlier today, July 27, it was reported that UFC Vegas 108’s originally scheduled flyweight main event between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira has been pulled. A completely new main event, still to be announced, is expected.

  • 6 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder

    6 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder

    The UFC returned to what some may feel is their home away from their Las Vegas home, the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for a night of action with UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder.

    It’s the 21st time that the UFC touched down in the Etihad Arena, and it’s the promotion’s first visit to the venue since Ilia Topuria’s knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 late last year.

    The main event featured an interesting and competitive bout featuring the former middleweight champion, fan-favorite Robert Whittaker, and a man rising through the middleweight ranks quickly in RdR, the former two-division champion in ONE Championship.

    Last year, Whittaker had scored victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov, but he was submitted by upcoming title challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 — a bout in which Whittaker suffered jaw injuries.

    De Ridder, meanwhile, came into the bout 3-0 in the UFC, scoring submission wins over Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 100, Kevin Holland at UFC 311, and Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines.

    The co-main event also saw a former champion in action, as one-time bantamweight champion Petr Yan took on the rising Marcus McGhee. Yan was looking to lock up a third straight victory since losing to current 135-pound champion Merab Dvalishvili, while McGhee was looking to improve to 11-1 in his professional MMA career and 5-0 in the Octagon.

    The main card also featured Shara “Bullet” Magomedov in action against Marc-Andre Barriault, a flyweight battle between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa, and a light heavyweight contest featuring Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov.

    Who delivered in Abu Dhabi? Who didn’t? Let’s find out with the hits and misses of UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder!

    Hit – Night Of The Underdogs

    Okay, I don’t know if many people will agree with me in calling this a hit considering how many people are complaining that they lost money on this card. But, at the very least, I think it’s noteworthy.

    Of the 12 fights that took place at UFC Abu Dhabi, and going off the odds from the night before, six of them resulted in the underdog coming out on top.

    We saw Billy Elekna defeat Ibo Aslan in the first upset, followed by Tabatha Ricci’s finish of Amanda Ribas, Davey Grant besting Da’Mon Blackshear, and Muslim Salikhov’s quick knockout of Carlos Leal.

    The main card saw two upsets, one at the start with Bogdan Guskov finishing Nikita Krylov, and one at the end with Reinier de Ridder’s victory over Robert Whittaker.

    Definitely a night that will be remembered by bettors — one way or the other.

    Hit – Steven Nguyen’s Record Six Knockdowns

    The reason this came about, let alone more about Steven Nguyen’s victory, came under dubious circumstances. However, credit has to be given where its due.

    Nguyen put on a monstrous showing during the prelims of UFC Abu Dhabi. His striking was on full display, overwhelming opponent Mohammad Yahya with flurries and combinations throughout the fight’s 10 minutes.

    Nguyen dropped Yahya six times during the fight for a UFC record. And by the time the 10 minutes were up, Yahya’s face was a mess, complete with hematoma (though Yahya supposedly had no facial injuries after his hospitalization).

    This was only Nguyen’s second UFC appearance since his 2023 win on Dana White’s Contender Series, but we’ve seen him earn a Fight of the Night bonus in a loss and now this — which earned him a performance bonus. Hopefully it’s not as long before we see his next fight.

    Miss – Jason Herzog Being A Reckless Referee

    Jason Herzog is one of the more respectable referees of this fight game. That said, he must have been REALLY OFF his game in this fight.

    Most of the knockdowns of Mohammad Yahya happened during the first round of the fight with Steven Nguyen. At some point, when someone is taking so much damage and getting knocked down so much, isn’t that the time to step in and wave the fight off? There weren’t just discussions of 10-8 scorecards with this round…10-7 was also being discussed.

    It’s one thing if a round is considered a 10-8 or worse because of a dominating performance. It’s another when we’re talking about fighter safety getting compromised. If that happens, a referee is not doing his proper job. And on that note, Jason Herzog was not doing his proper job.

    It got so bad to the point people are saying the fight was rigged, with X users claiming it was just to get the over on the 1.5 rounds. Now that’s most likely just X users being X users in that MMA/betting cesspool. But whether it’s true or not, one thing is for certain — I say it again — Jason Herzog failed at his job. It doesn’t matter if Yahya came out with no long-term damage; he and Nguyen were Herzog’s responsibility, and Herzog didn’t handle it.

    And it’s just another example of how much a shame it is that referees, judges, etc. — anyone involved in the commission — are not held to the same responsibility and spotlight of their decisions like officials in other sports.

    Miss – Ibo Aslan And Billy Elekana…What was That?

    Just…what the heck was that?

    Ibo Aslan and Billy Elekana put on a performance in the Octagon that got them a standing boo-vation in Abu Dhabi.

    There are plenty of words in the English language you can use to describe this fight: cautious, uneventful, boring, inactive, snoozefest. No one seemed to land anything major of significance, looking more like a big sparring match held at an MMA gym.

    Elekana only won because he brought the forward pressure (and he did bust Aslan up a bit with a left hand). But the crème da la crème came when Aslan looked shocked that he lost.

    Here’s a piece of advice: If you want to actually guarantee yourself a win, whether it not it comes by the judges, actually fight.

    Hit – Muslim Salikhov Produces Another Highlight First-Round KO

    I think it’s safe to say Muslim Salikhov is back on the right track following his win over Carlos Leal during the UFC Abu Dhabi prelims.

    It was in the fight’s first minute, as the two of them were starting to get a rhythm and feel each other out. Salikhov had his back to the fence, but he timed a right hand so perfectly, it landed with timing, power and precision, dropping the PFL and LFA veteran with a one-hitter quitter.

    And this comes about eight months after Salikhov’s last outing, where he dropped Kenan Song out cold with a spinning wheel kick. After losing three of four between July 2022 and February 2024, this hopefully starts another winning streak for the “King of Kung Fu.”

    Hit – Watch Out For Bogdan Guskov

    Bogdan Guskov doesn’t have the UFC resume that shouts “Title shot!” yet, but keep your eye on him.

    Opponent Nikita Krylov attempted to use his pressure and seemed to get the better of Guskov early on. But Guskov fought fire with fire, and he’d land a powerful overhand right that introduced Krylov to the canvas, where Guskov would pound away for a finish.

    Guskov was defeated by Volkan Oezdemir in his UFC debut a couple of years ago, but now he’s on a four-fight win streak and will find himself either at the bottom of the top 10 in the contenders’ list or just outside of the top 10. Perhaps his next fight can continue to test him with someone like another former title challenger in Dominick Reyes or perhaps the winner of the upcoming Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov bout.

    Hit – Shara Bullet Produces Highly Entertaining Brawl With Marc-Andre Barriault

    “Shara Bullet” put on quite the showing in spite of suffering a broken nose.

    It wasn’t an easy fight; in fact, it was quite the bloody war. But Shara Magomedov came out on top in his battle with Marc-Andre Barriault.

    Magomedov controlled the early action with sharp footwork and low kicks, keeping Barriault at bay. In the second, Barriault turned the tide with the huge right hand that broke Magomedov’s nose, followed by a takedown and heavy clinched strikes. Magomedov would respond with a strong knee, however, and he surged back in the final round with a series of strikes, ending the bout with a strong takedown and ground-and-pound.

    It was a much-needed rebound performance for “Shara Bullet” following his loss to Michael “Venom” Page.

    Hit – Petr Yan In Line For Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen Winner?

    Is Petr Yan ready for the opportunity to reclaim the bantamweight championship? If his UFC Abu Dhabi co-main event performance against Marcus McGhee were to say something, it would indicate he is.

    Yan showcased his striking early with low kicks and combinations, rocking McGhee with a left hook late in the first round. McGhee tried to rally in the second, but Yan busted him open with a right hand, overwhelming him with a high volume of strikes. Yan continued to pressure in the third round and scored the decision.

    Yan has a history with both participants in the upcoming bantamweight title fight at UFC 320 — he defeated Sandhagen in an interim title fight at UFC 267 but loss to Dvalishvili in March 2023 — the latter of which marked Yan’s third straight loss and fourth loss in the five fights since dropping the title to Aljamain Sterling.

    But now, he’s won three straight with victories over Song Yadong, Deiveson Figueiredo, and McGhee, and perhaps this ensures Yan can watch the Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen title fight that much more closely.

    Miss – Reinier De Ridder Beats Robert Whittaker…But Did He Really Win?

    If I was able to go half-sies on this one and give both a hit and a miss, I would. But that kind of ruins the point of this written piece now, doesn’t it?

    I’ll start by giving Reinier De Ridder his props, he got what should have been a clear, but close and competitive, victory over five rounds against the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. He overcame adversity, controlled the action, did more of the work in the fifth round. The judges got the decision correct.

    Anyone who has followed Whittaker’s time in the UFC since he’s moved up to 185 knows that two people have beaten him and became middleweight champion — Israel Adesanya (against Whittaker himself) and Dricus Du Plessis. Khamzat Chimaev joins that list if he beats DDP at UFC 319 in three weeks’ time.

    That said, it wasn’t the strongest performance. Whittaker, in fact, started strong first, using his striking to pressure RDR and bust him open despite clinch and takedown attempts. RDR did hurt Whittaker in the second with a knee, however, completely controlling Whittaker.

    Whittaker, however, did drop the former ONE champion with an overhand right, nearly finishing him before RDR managed to fight his way back into it. Both fighters fatigued in the later rounds, but de Ridder’s grappling did its magic and gave him the decision win.

    RDR did win the fight, as Whittaker did little to answer for his grappling in the fifth. This fight, however, also reminds me why I hate the 10-point must system in MMA and much prefer the PRIDE/Global ruleset (emphasis on its scoring system).

    Is a win over Whittaker a great sign for RDR? Absolutely. But I think he might be troubled now if he got into a title fight with the DDP-Chimaev winner. His best-case scenario might be a Chimaev win and a rematch between those two, giving him the time to have one more fight — perhaps against someone like another former champion in Sean Strickland or Adesanya — to develop a little more before challenging for the gold.

  • “No Where Near Ready For Top Talent” – Fans & Fighters Debate Reinier De Ridder Split Decision Win Over Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “No Where Near Ready For Top Talent” – Fans & Fighters Debate Reinier De Ridder Split Decision Win Over Robert Whittaker At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Whittaker looked to pressure early on, but de Ridder attempted to tie him up in the clinch and limit Whittaker’s offense with takedown attempts. Whittaker, however, worked his way out and worked his striking during the first five-minute frame. Whittaker, in fact, busted de Ridder open with one of his strikes.

    Whittaker looked to continue this strategy during the second round, and while it worked at first, a knee did damage to Whittaker. Whittaker was hurt during the round, and de Ridder managed to take the former champion down and control the action on the ground.

    De Ridder appeared to hurt Whittaker again with a body shot, but Whittaker, not long after, landed an overhand right that dropped the former ONE champion. Whittaker landed some ground-and-pound, but it wasn’t enough to finish the fight. A fatigued Whittaker was then taken down by de Ridder, who again controlled the fight on the ground.

    Both men appeared fatigued during the fourth round, but de Ridder did pressure Whittaker and controlled with his grappling expertise, landing in a notable overhand late in the frame. De Ridder seemed to just use his grappling to nullify Whittaker’s offense in the fifth round, but it was enough to score him the split decision.

    Reinier de Ridder Earns Split Decision Over Robert Whittaker In UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event

    https://twitter.com/WhyGarth/status/1949228391095587300

    De Ridder is now 4-0 in the UFC, having scored finishes of Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal prior to tonight.

    Whittaker has now lost two straight and three of his last five. This marked his first fight since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308.

  • “Petr Yan vs. The Winner Of Merab/Sandhagen. Book It” – Fans & Fighters React To Petr Yan’s Callout After Defeating Marcus McGhee At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Petr Yan vs. The Winner Of Merab/Sandhagen. Book It” – Fans & Fighters React To Petr Yan’s Callout After Defeating Marcus McGhee At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Petr Yan is making a statement that he wants to re-match with Merab Dvalishvili and gain back the UFC bantamweight title, and he emphasized that with a victory over Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Yan brought out his striking early, landing several low kicks and working combinations. McGhee did have his moments with his own combinations; however, Yan rocked McGhee late in the round with a left hook.

    McGhee tried to push the pace early in the second, but Yan landed a right hand that busted him open. Yan brought out a mixture of striking attacks, working McGhee over in terms of volume and variety.

    Yan continued t pressure in the third round, going on to earn 29-28 scores on all three judges’ cards. Yan then called out the winner of the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen.

    Petr Yan Defeats Marcus McGhee By Decision In UFC Abu Dhabi Co-Main Event

    Yan has now won three straight, also scoring victories over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo last year.

    This marked just McGhee’s second loss as a pro, dropping him to 10-2. He had won his first four UFC bouts, finishing Journey Newson, JP Buys, and Gastón Bolaños, before a decision win over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309.

  • Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico Named UFC 319 Co-Main Event

    Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico Named UFC 319 Co-Main Event

    Finally, three weeks before it’s scheduled to go down in Chicago, UFC 319 has its co-main event. It’ll be one that features an unbeaten fighter welcoming a Bellator veteran to the Octagon.

    The UFC 319 co-main event will see Lerone Murphy taking on Aaron Pico. The announcement was confirmed during the UFC Abu Dhabi broadcast.

    This comes after the plans for Pico’s awaited UFC debut fell through. Pico was originally booked to face Movsar Evloev, but the fight fell through twice. Originally booked for UFC Vegas 106, the bout was moved to UFC Abu Dhabi. Less than two weeks out, however, Evloev withdrew due to injuries.

    UFC 319 Co-Main Event Sees Aaron Pico Make Octagon Debut vs. Lerone Murphy

    Pico signed with Bellator in 2017 and competed exclusively under their banner before the promotion was purchased by the PFL in 2023. After going 12-4 in the promotion, Pico fought once under the PFL banner, finishing Henry Corrales at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event in February 2024.

    Murphy is 16-0-1 in his professional MMA career, having drawn in his first UFC bout and having scored victories ever since. Murphy comes into this contest off a decision win over Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Vegas 105 in April.

    UFC 319 will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis defending the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev.

  • “Shara Bullet’s Greatest Performance To Date” – Fans And Fighters React As Shara Magomedov Overcomes Broken Nose To Defeat Marc-Andre Barriault In Bloody Battle At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Shara Bullet’s Greatest Performance To Date” – Fans And Fighters React As Shara Magomedov Overcomes Broken Nose To Defeat Marc-Andre Barriault In Bloody Battle At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Looking for a rebound from his first professional MMA loss, Shara Magomedov was troubled by the power of Marc-Andre Barriault; however, he overcame by firing fire with fire and nearly scoring finishes en route to a decision win in their UFC Abu Dhabi contest.

    Magomedov controlled the range early with low kicks and good footwork, controlling the pace and keeping Barriault off-balance. Barriault tried to pressure with his grappling, but Magomedov’s striking kept him at bay.

    Barriault pressured Magomedov in the second round, landing a huge right hand that broke Magomedov’s nose. Barriault swarmed with follow-up strikes. He secured a takedown and punished the bleeding Russian with clinch work and uppercuts, though Magomedov rallied with a damaging knee that rocked the Canadian.

    “Shara Bullet” returned to his striking in the final frame, landing hook kicks, jump knees, and brutal elbows, hurting Barriault before ending the round with a takedown and strong ground-and-pound.

    Shara Magomedov Scores Decision Win Over Marc-Andre Barriault At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/MMAHistoryToday/status/1949208153121284210
    https://twitter.com/YuhOnicx/status/1949206088273817829
    https://twitter.com/afeldMMA/status/1949205403100717065

    Magomedov rebounds from his decision loss to Michael “Venom” Page at UFC Saudi Arabia in February. He had won his first 15 fights in MMA, including four straight in the UFC.

    Barriault has lost four of his last five now. He came into this fight off a performance bonus-earning knockout of Bruno Silva at UFC 315 in May.

  • VIDEO: Bogdan Guskov Drops Nikita Krylov With Massive Right Hand, Scores First-Round TKO At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Bogdan Guskov Drops Nikita Krylov With Massive Right Hand, Scores First-Round TKO At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Bogdan Guskov scored a statement victory that will hopefully bring him up the light heavyweight ranks, finishing Nikita Krylov in the opening round of their fight that started the UFC Abu Dhabi main card.

    Krylov came out aggressive, looking to back Guskov up with offensive pressure and control the action. Krylov worked over him well with combinations, but Guskov started to use his counterstriking to his advantage.

    Guskov started to connect and do damage to Krylov’s face, backing Krylov up with his power. Guskov would land a powerful overhand right that dropped Krylov.

    Bogdan Guskov Rocks, Drops, Finishes Nikita Krylov

    Guskov jumped down and finished Krylov off with ground-and-pound.

    Guskov has won four straight since dropping his UFC debut, and he’s now been victorious in nine of the last 10 fights in his professional MMA career.

    Krylov has now dropped two straight after a three-fight win streak. He’s lost four of his last seven.

  • “Getting Control Time But Not Doing Anything” – Fight Community Split On Bryce Mitchell Defeating Said Nurmagomedov In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Getting Control Time But Not Doing Anything” – Fight Community Split On Bryce Mitchell Defeating Said Nurmagomedov In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Bryce Mitchell faced adversity early on in his UFC bantamweight debut, but he managed to use his grappling expertise to comeback and score a decision victory over Said Nurmagomedov in the featured preliminary card bout at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Nurmagomedov got the better of Mitchell early, dropping him with a big knee. He then jumped onto Mitchell and connected with solid ground-and-pound, but Mitchell tried to stay active from the bottom. He managed to end the round pressing Nurmagomedov into the fence.

    Mitchell then scored a takedown early into the second round, showing dominance on top while attempting to find a kimura and an arm-triangle choke. Nurmagomedov would manage to work his way back to the feet, only for Mitchell to score another takedown before the round’s end.

    Nurmagomedov threatened with a guillotine and secured mount during the third round. Mitchell, however, managed to reverses and controlled most of the round from the top with a body triangle, nullifying any of Nurmagomedov’s offense attempts.

    Mitchell won the bout 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Bryce Mitchell Victorious In Bantamweight Debut At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/ShoyaIshidaStan/status/1949178598990172635

    Mitchell has traded wins and loses consecutively since his undefeated record came to an end in 2022. He came into this bout off a loss to Jean Silva at UFC 314.

    Nurmagomedov has now lost two straight and three of his last four. He made his return after an approximately 15-month layoff at UFC Saudi Arabia in February, losing to Vinicius Oliveira.

  • VIDEO: Muslim Salikhov Drops Jaws With One-Punch, Walk-Off KO Of Carlos Leal In Under A Minute At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Muslim Salikhov Drops Jaws With One-Punch, Walk-Off KO Of Carlos Leal In Under A Minute At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Mark another highlight knockout victory for Muslim Salikhov, as he needs less than a minute to put away Carlos Leal at UFC Abu Dhabi.

    Both men moved around the Octagon, feeling the other fighter out and testing power. Leal had managed to back Salikhov up toward the fence and fired off a left hand.

    But it was there where Salikhov loaded up and landed a right hand like a bullet, dropping Leal to bring a quick close to the contest.

    Muslim Salikhov Sends Carlos Leal To The Shadow Realm With One Punch At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Salikhov has now won three straight. He came into this contest off a first-round, spinning wheel kick KO of Kenan Song at UFC Macau in November.

    Leal, the PFL and LFA veteran, is now 1-2 in the Octagon. He won his most recent bout prior to tonight, defeating Alex Morono at UFC 313.

  • VIDEO: Tabatha Ricci Puts Away Amanda Ribas With Series Of Brutal Elbows At UFC Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Tabatha Ricci Puts Away Amanda Ribas With Series Of Brutal Elbows At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Tabatha Ricci looks to continue her rise up the strawweight rankings, a mission that continued through UFC Abu Dhabi, where she rebounded from her previous outing with an impressive finish of Amanda Ribas during the preliminary card.

    Ricci and Ribas traded quick punches early on, and Ricci found success by working the clinch during the opening frame. Both also looked for grappling success, with Ribas connecting on a couple of trips, while also landing some noteworthy strikes. Ricci, meanwhile, pressured with her own takedown attempts.

    Ricci was able to put things away in the second round, a round she came out aggressive in once again. Ricci landed a series of elbows before taking Ribas down and landing a flurry of ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in.

    Tabatha Ricci Finishes Amanda Ribas At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Ricci is 3-2 in her last five now, rebounding from a loss to Yan Xiaonan in November.

    Ribas has now lost three straight and four of her last five.

  • “Cut Them Both” – Fans Rip Apart Billy Elekana And Ibo Aslan’s Uninspiring UFC Abu Dhabi Bout

    “Cut Them Both” – Fans Rip Apart Billy Elekana And Ibo Aslan’s Uninspiring UFC Abu Dhabi Bout

    Fans tuning into the preliminary card of UFC Abu Dhabi expecting a great fight were let down in a major way by Ibo Aslan and Billy Elekana, both of whom put on a lackluster effort as Elekana scored a decision victory.

    The fight started cautiously, with both men trading low kicks. Elekana was more on a front foot than his opponent, though neither man landed anything significant.

    The inactivity continued into the second round, with more feints, glancing kicks, and misses on strikes. Elekana had the advantage again, if only because of his front kicks and grappling pressure — though his takedown attempts were for naught.

    Aslan landed low kicks late in the third, but Elekana landed a left hand that busted Aslan open, briefly wobbling him. Still, neither man showed any sense of urgency, including Elekana failing to follow-up on the wobble.

    Two judges scored the bout for Elekana 30-27, while the other scored it 29-28 in his favor.

    MMA Community Blasts Billy Elekana’s Lackluster Win Over Ibo Aslan At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1949157216965349732

    Elekana dropped his UFC debut at UFC 311 in January, getting submitted by Bogdan Guskov.

    Aslan won his first two fights in the UFC but has now lost two straight, coming into this fight off a submission loss to Ion Cutelaba in February.

  • “Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Shame Referee Jason Herzog In Steven Nguyen’s UFC-record performance Against Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

    “Needs To Be Fired” – Fans Shame Referee Jason Herzog In Steven Nguyen’s UFC-record performance Against Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

    Steven Nguyen put on a UFC record performance in his win over Mohammad Yahya on the preliminary card of UFC Abu Dhabi; however, the spotlight has been unanimously, and quite negatively, placed on referee Jason Herzog for irresponsibility.

    Nguyen used his crisp striking to lead to a dominant performance, overwhelming Yaha from the get-go with sharp combinations. Nguyen, in fact, dropped Yahya with six knockdowns — a UFC record for one bout.

    Yahya showed surprising resilience early, briefly dropping Nguyen with a flurry early in the second round. Nguyen, however, quickly regained control and rocked Yahya again, nearly putting the fight away with ground-and-pound and submission attempts.

    By the end of the round, Yahya had a hematoma under one of his eyes, prompting the doctor to step in and stop the fight.

    The MMA community unanimously took aim at Herzog for allowing the fight to get to this point, putting Yahya in more danger than was necessary.

    MMA Community Blasts Referee Jason Herzog After Steven Nguyen Win Over Mohammad Yahya At UFC Abu Dhabi

    https://twitter.com/Kinggz_locks/status/1949152985780531230
    https://twitter.com/CKPicks23/status/1949149321493975418

    Nguyen, a 2023 alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, scores his first UFC win after dropping his debut against Jarno Errens last year.

    Yahya, the former lightweight champion of UAE Warriors, is now 0-3 since coming over from that promotion.

  • UFC Abu Dhabi Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Whittaker vs. De Ridder, Yan vs. McGhee, And More

    UFC Abu Dhabi Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Whittaker vs. De Ridder, Yan vs. McGhee, And More

    UFC Abu Dhabi is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, July 26. The main card portion of the event will start at 3PM ET/12PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 12PM ET/9AM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on former ONE Championship two-division champion Reinier De Ridder.

    In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan faces Marcus McGhee.

    The main card will also feature Shara “Bullet” Magomedov taking on Marc-Andre Barriault, Asu Almabayev against Jose Ochoa, and Nikita Krylov facing Bogdan Guskov.

    UFC Abu Dhabi: Whittaker vs. De Ridder Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Abu Dhabi as of July 25 at 8:45pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Robert Whittaker (-155) vs. Reinier De Ridder (+130)
    • Bantamweight: Petr Yan (-360) vs. Marcus McGhee (+285)
    • Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (-650) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (+470)
    • Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (-110) vs. Jose Ochoa (-115)
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (-198) vs. Bogdan Guskov (+164)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell (-142) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (+120)
    • Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov (+400) vs. Carlos Leal (-535)
    • Bantamweight: Davey Grant (+295) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (-375)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Ribas (-198) vs. Tabatha Ricci (+164)
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan (-298) vs. Billy Elekana (+240)
    • Featherweight: Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Steven Nguyen (-395)
    • Heavyweight: Martin Buday (+210) vs. Marcus Buchecha (-258)
  • Watch Robert Whittaker, Reinier De Ridder Face Off At UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Robert Whittaker, Reinier De Ridder Face Off At UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re a little more than 24 hours away from UFC Abu Dhabi, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC Abu Dhabi takes place on July 26 from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    The main event of the evening will feature a middleweight matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and former ONE Championship two-weight champion Reinier De Ridder. Whittaker comes into this bout off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a title eliminator at UFC 308 in October. De Ridder has won four straight and is 3-0 in the UFC, with submission victories over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, and Bo Nickal.

    The co-main event will see former bantamweight champion Petr Yan square off with Marcus McGhee. Yan heads into this fight off back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. McGhee is 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the UFC, scoring finishes of Journey Newson, JP Buys, and Gastón Bolaños before a decision win over Jonathan Martinez at UFC 309.

    The rest of the main card will see middleweight action that sees Shara “Bullet” Magomedov take on Marc-Andre Barriault, a flyweight battle between Asu Almabayev and Jose Ochoa, and a light heavyweight contest featuring Nikita Krylov and Bogdan Guskov.

    All fighters for the card made weight. All the fights are on!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

    UFC Abu Dhabi Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder Weigh-In Results

    UFC Abu Dhabi: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier De Ridder takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    Held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this is the 21st time in UFC history that the Octagon will touch down in Abu Dhabi. It last hosted UFC 308 in October, which saw Ilia Topuria knock out Max Holloway, and it will play host to UFC 321 this coming October — with a Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane heavyweight championship main event.

    This time around, however, UFC Abu Dhabi will be topped by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on former ONE Championship two-division champion Reinier De Ridder.

    This is Whittaker’s first bout since suffering a loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight title eliminator at UFC 308. Chimaev, who injured Whittaker’s jaw in the fight, is expected to challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC’s 185-pound gold on August 16 at UFC 319. RDR is on a four-fight win streak and is 3-0 in the Octagon, ending the undefeated streak of blue-chip prospect Bo Nickal at UFC Des Moines in May.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Petr Yan, Shara Magomedov, Asu Almabayev, Nikita Krylov, and Bryce Mitchell will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder takes place on Saturday, July 26, at the Ethiad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    See below for videos from the UFC Abu Dhabi weigh-ins and full results.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1948611766520267174

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Robert Whittaker (185.5) vs. Reinier De Ridder (186)
    • Bantamweight: Petr Yan (135.5) vs. Marcus McGhee (135)
    • Middleweight: Shara Magomedov (186) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (185)
    • Flyweight: Asu Almabayev (126) vs. Jose Ochoa (125.5)
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (205) vs. Bogdan Guskov (205)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Bryce Mitchell (136) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (136)
    • Welterweight: Muslim Salikhov (170.5) vs. Carlos Leal (170)
    • Bantamweight: Davey Grant (136) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (136)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Ribas (116) vs. Tabatha Ricci (115)
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan (204) vs. Billy Elekana (204.5)
    • Featherweight: Mohammad Yahya (146) vs. Steven Nguyen (145.5)
    • Heavyweight: Martin Buday (266) vs. Marcus Buchecha (254)
  • Sean Strickland Suspension Extended Indefinitely By NSAC

    Sean Strickland Suspension Extended Indefinitely By NSAC

    Sean Strickland will have to wait a while longer before a return to competition.

    A hearing on his temporary suspension, intended to be heard by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on July 23, was voted to be tabled until another time. This means that Strickland will be unable to compete until the NSAC has its hearing and gives a formal punishment to Strickland.

    The next potential time such a hearing could be held is next month, as the NSAC’s meetings are monthly.

    “In connection with the June 29, 2025 contest held in Las Vegas, NV, which the respondent was not participating in as a combatant,” Nevada deputy attorney general Matthew Feeley said during the meeting (per MMA Fighting). “The respondent engaged in a physical altercation with a contestant immediately after the contestant’s bout.”

    Sean Strickland Suspension For Tuff-N-Uff Incident Extended

    The origins of Strickland’s suspension come from a Tuff-N-Uff event held on June 29, broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass, as Strickland and fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis were in the corner of Miles Hunsinger as he took on Luis Hernandez.

    Hernandez scored a second-round submission via guillotine choke and then immediately started taunting Strickland and the rest of Hunsinger’s team.

    Strickland and Curtis entered the cage, with Strickland throwing punches, landing at least one, before security broke up the altercation.

    Strickland last fought in February at UFC 312, coming up short in a middleweight title rematch with Dricus Du Plessis.

  • TKO-Backed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act Introduced In U.S. Congress To Bring UFC Structure To Sport, Boxing Community Split

    TKO-Backed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act Introduced In U.S. Congress To Bring UFC Structure To Sport, Boxing Community Split

    The United States Congress has introduced a bipartisan bill that would create new legislation targeted toward the sport of boxing.

    The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act would create Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs) that would serve as alternative systems to the alphabet sanctioning organizations that currently govern the sport — the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO. The bill would allow a UBO to run events, as well as award its own championships and control its own rankings independent of those of the sanctioning bodies. Fighters would be allowed to enter the professional ranks through either the UBO system or the current system with the sanctioning bodies.

    ESPN notes that the bill also require boxers to be compensated $150 per round. According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, most states don’t have required minimums, and six states that do have theirs set below $150.

    The bill was introduced by Congressman Brian Jack of Georgia and Sharice Davids, a Republican and Democrat, respectively. Davids has competed in two MMA fights professionally, while Jack has been a long-time fan of boxing.

    “To me, boxing is dying in America,” Rep. Jack told ESPN. “Every metric would affirm it’s in a steady decline. Pay-per-view numbers are down, HBO and Showtime have exited the sport. ESPN’s deal with Top Rank Promotions is expiring in August. The ambiguity of current regulations have stifled U.S. investments and we are proposing a bipartisan solution.”

    Top Rank Boxing’s card this Saturday, July 26, will mark the final on ESPN since the two sides’ broadcasting agreement began back in 2017. Following this event, no major U.S. broadcaster will have boxing on their network.

    Bipartisan Boxing Bill Introduced In U.S. Congress Draws Split Reactions Among Boxing Community

    Rep. Jack added on, telling Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine: “The tenant that will generate the most interest is establishing a regulatory framework for alternative systems to exist. And our perspective, some of the greatest legal minds of Capital Hill’s perspective is that current law (‘96 Ali Act) is ambiguous and this law is needed to clarify whether or not unified boxing organizations can exist…”

    The Act reportedly is intended to expand on the original Muhammad Ali Act, passed in 2000, which itself expanded on the 1996 Professional Boxing Safety Act. The Muhammad Ali Act made boxing the only professional sport regulated in the U.S. by Congress — and the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act would be the first piece of legislation since.

    Various voices in the combat sports world — including BoxRec’s Grey Johnson, Erik Magraken of Combat Sports Law, and Patrick Stumberg of Bad Left Hook — have expressed concerns regarding the new bill, however.

    Magraken, among the others, feel that such a bill opens the door to potential exploitation of fighters that has been prevalent in MMA.

    “Boxers compete for titles. Promoters compete for boxers,” Makragen wrote on social media. “If promoters own and control titles then boxers can be exploited by promoters.”

    He also notes that the bill requires “the boxer has access to equipment and facilities that are operated by the UBO for training and rehabilitation” — which immediately drew a comparison to the UFC Performance Institute.

    In the wake of the bill’s news, the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association promoted a petition on its social media page, urging fighters to come forward and “please sign our petition in support of the real fighter protection bill—not the bill designed to exploit you and extend their monopoly to boxing.” This refers to expanding the original Muhammad Ali Act into MMA to end exploitations of fighters — their limitations, pay issues, and lack of benefits.

    Also on that note, the timing of this bill is noteworthy, with TKO Boxing set to promote Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford this September in its first big event. TKO Boxing is led by Dana White, UFC CEO and President, and Turki Alalshikh, Chariman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. White has been a huge fan of boxing but previous ventures to become a promoter in the sport — most notably with Zuffa Boxing in 2017 — made no substantial progress.

    A TKO spokesperson stated the following to ESPN: “We thank Rep. Jack and Rep. Davids for their vision in leading this bipartisan effort to bring innovation to the sport of boxing for the first time in 25 years. This is a thoughtful solution that preserves the original Ali Act of 2000 while providing boxers with access to more choices and opportunities, greater health and safety protections and better pay for up-and-coming fighters.

    “We are proud to support the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act alongside the remarkable Lonnie Ali and the Association of Boxing Commissions in the effort to help restore boxing to its rightful place of prominence in America.”

    In May, a five-tier pay structure for TKO Boxing was revealed that included boxer purses ranging from $20,000 for unranked boxers, to $750,000 for the promotion’s champions.

    Sports Illustrated adds that the bill will also set a $25,000 health coverage minimum for injuries sustained during a fight, a total that is higher than the minimums set in 43 states. In UBOs, fighters who get injured during training would also receive health coverage.

    There would reportedly also be stringent anti-doping testing and anti-betting policies fighters would be required to follow. Fighters, however, would not be required to pay sanctioning fees.

    When describing what the model would look like for TKO Boxing, in its introductory March press conference, White stated: “Everybody knows the format—the best fight the best,” White said in March. “You work your way up the rankings, and once somebody breaks into the top five [and] there is no question [about] who the best five guys are in each weight class, they fight it out. And once somebody holds that belt, you don’t need three letters in front of the belt. Whoever has that belt is the best in the world in that weight class. It’s a very simple model.”

    Stumberg, however, has pointed out various recent times in which this was not always the case, the most prominent being the Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall saga, as well as Sean O’Malley recent bantamweight title shot against Merab Dvalishvili — with O’Malley receiving a title rematch despite not fighting since the loss (while Dvalishvili had to go through a title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov).

    As noted, the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) and Lonnie Ali, the wife of the late Muhammad Ali, have both voiced their support of the bill.

    “The sport of boxing provided a pathway for Muhammad to become a global sports and cultural icon,” Lonnie Ali said. “Boxing elevated his public platform and gave voice to his fight for civil rights. If Muhammad was with us today, he would want to ensure the sport of boxing in America remained strong and viable for generations to come, providing opportunities for other athletes to pursue their goals and dreams, just like he did.

    “Given its enhanced protections for boxers, I believe Muhammad would be proud to have his name associated with this bill.”

    Congress is set to be in recess for August, so the bill will most likely be acted upon by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the fall.