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Tag: Alex Volkanovski

  • Isaac Thomson: Forged in the LFA

    Isaac Thomson: Forged in the LFA

    Credit: @isaacthomsonmma on Instagram

    Australia’s Isaac Thomson has always been destined to fight. The son of a three-time Australian Muay Thai champion, Thomson recollects training with his mother for her fights at a young age, spending hours in the gym alongside her. It wasn’t long until he began to compete himself, making his MMA debut at just 15 years old, winning by TKO in the second round. With his family fully dedicated to supporting his dream of becoming the youngest UFC champion of all time, Isaac moved to Sacramento, California to train with Team Alpha Male.

    Shortly after winning his first two professional fights, Thomson signed with the Legacy Fighting Alliance in 2021 at just 19 years old. He faced Dorian Ramos, in Ramos’ home state of Arizona for his promotional debut at LFA 119. This would be the first setback Thomson would face in his MMA career. Ramos showed relentless heart and pressure, and secured the win in the second round. After all the hype for this young prodigy, was it all too much too soon?

    Real fighters are not the ones who score the great knockouts, or have the most followers on social media. Real fighters are the ones who face setbacks in both life and their career, yet are able to battle back, recorrect, and fight for their goals. After suffering his first defeat to Ramos, Thomson showcased all of these qualities.

    Thomson with UFC Fighter Darren Elkins

    Thomson returned to the LFA cage on January 23rd, 2023, over a year from his last fight. Reinvigorated, Thomson secured a unanimous decision victory against the tough Gary Konkol, who had double the professional experience. This was valuable as it showed Isaac had the heart, cardio, and toughness to win over the distance.

    Thomson continued his success, winning by TKO for Idaho’s Front Street Fights promotion, before returning to the LFA cage to take on now UFC fighter, Lerryan Douglas. As of the writing of this piece, Thomson is the last man to defeat Douglas as he has since won five consecutive fights by knockout, securing a UFC contract in the process. In their matchup, Thomson utilizes fantastic kicks, landing a left headkick that knocked down Douglas and led to the finish. This is without a doubt the strongest win on Isaac’s resume, and was the perfect showcase of his sky high potential.

    Thomson training with UFC champion and fellow Aussie Alexander Volkanovski

    After defeating Colorado scrapper AJ Robb, Thompson faced his second setback as he dropped a split decision to the experienced Shaheen Santana. This time, Isaac shook off the close defeat and got back in the cage just four months later, defeating Israel Delgado by unanimous decision. He followed this by defeating Jeremy Henry at LFA 213, securing the first submission win of his career by rear naked choke in the first round.

    Isaac Thomson’s journey leads us here to his first main event on October 3rd at LFA 219. The 8-2 Thomson will be facing 10-1 Uzbekistani Akbarjon Islomboev, potentially his toughest opponent yet. Headlining a card might be considered a career peak for many fighters, this is certainly not a surprise to Thomson, it is more akin to destiny. Born to be a fighter, this is just yet another milestone marker in the Aussies blossoming career. While the opportunity to become the youngest UFC champion may have passed, there is no doubt Isaac Thomson will be a name we hear for years to come.

    Watch LFA 219: Thomson vs Islomboev on Friday, October 10th on UFC Fight Pass.

  • UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 Results & Highlights: Alexander Volkanovski Decisions Diego Lopes 

    UFC 314 took place tonight from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes faced off for the vacant featherweight title. While in the co-main event, Michael Chandler faced Paddy Pimblett in a lightweight matchup. 

    UFC 314 Results: Main Card

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46×2)
    • Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO: R3, 3.07
    • Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Featherweight: Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission: R2, 3.52
    • Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via KO: R1, 2.24

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight: Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via TKO: R3, 1.12  
    • Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via TKO: R1, 4.15

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Middleweight: Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas via TKO: R1, 2.49
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Middleweight: Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via TKO: R2, 3.16
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via submission: R2, 1.52

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan

    Nora Cornolle earned the first finish of UFC 314 with a rear-naked choke submission of Hailey Cowan.

    Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore

    In this middleweight bout, Marco Tulio stopped Tresean Gore in the second round.

    Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas

    Michal Oleksiejczuk earned a first-round TKO in his middleweight bout with Sedriques Dumas.

    Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins

    Julian Erosa got it done in the first round against Darren Elkins.

    Main Card Highlights

    Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov

    In this light heavyweight bout, Dominick Reyes earned a first-round KO of Nikita Krylov.

    Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell

    Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell in the second round of their featherweight bout.

    Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull

    Yair Rodriguez got it done on the scorecards against Patricio Pitbull.

    Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler

    In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett earned a TKO of Michael Chandler in the third round.

    Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes

    In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski got it done on the scorecards to regain his featherweight title against Diego Lopes.

  • What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    What’s Next After UFC 313? Current UFC 314 Card For Miami On April 12

    UFC 313 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 314 in Miami.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its third numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Magomed Ankalaev and Justin Gaethje, as well as important victories for Ignacio Bahamondes, Amanda Lemos, and Mauricio Ruffy.

    While the aftermath of the March 8 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the featherweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 314, set for the Kaseya Center on April 12, former champion Alexander will open his account for the new year. Following Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the 145-pound gold and move up to lightweight, the Australian will battle the surging Diego Lopes for the belt.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former three-time Bellator kingpin Michael Chandler looks to defend his spot in the pecking order at 155 pounds and reignite his title ambitions. To do so, the American must become the first to beat Paddy Pimblett inside the UFC Octagon.

    Silva, Prates, Reyes Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 314

    Before Volkanovski, Lopes, Chandler, and Pimblett make the walk, a number of notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 314 card.

    That includes charging featherweight Jean Silva. Less than two months on from his latest crushing knockout victory in Seattle, “Lord” will get his first crack at the rankings opposite Bryce Mitchell in Miami.

    Prior to that, another Fighting Nerds product will make the walk in Carlos Prates. He, too, will have the chance to climb a divisional ladder, as he shares the cage with longtime welterweight contender Geoff Neal.

    And opening the UFC 314 main card will be former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes. Having returned to winning ways with consecutive triumphs, “The Devastator” will look to edge closer to the top five at the expense of Nikita Krylov.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over MMA legend Patrício Pitbull, who is slated to top the prelims in his debut fight versus ex-interim UFC featherweight champ Yair Rodríguez.

    See below for the full UFC 314 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
    • Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
    • Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Yair Rodríguez vs. Patrício Pitbull
    • Featherweight: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson
    • Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
    • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
    • Flyweight: Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
    • Featherweight: Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan
    Patricio Pitbull Freire
    Image: Bellator MMA
  • Alexander Volkanovski Predicts ‘Paulo Costa’ Performance For Israel Adesanya In UFC 305 Return: ‘Dricus Is A Tough Guy, But…’ 

    Alexander Volkanovski Predicts ‘Paulo Costa’ Performance For Israel Adesanya In UFC 305 Return: ‘Dricus Is A Tough Guy, But…’ 

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is envisioning a strong return to competition for his teammate and friend Israel Adesanya later this month.

    Adesanya hasn’t competed since losing the middleweight title in surprising fashion against Sean Strickland last September at UFC 293 in Sydney. He subsequently pointed to a high level of activity when announcing plans for an extended layoff.

    That break comes to an end in less than two weeks’ time, with “The Last Stylebender” set for the chance to achieve three-time champ status when he returns to action back on Australian soil.

    At UFC 305 on August 17, Perth’s RAC Arena will play host to Adesanya’s comeback fight opposite reigning 185-pound kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.

    The South African has continued to prove his detractors wrong on MMA’s biggest stage, first by earning top contender status with a win over Robert Whittaker last year and then by dethroning Strickland this past January in Canada.

    In Adesanya, though, Volkanovski thinks “Stillknocks” will arrive at a hurdle too tall…

    Volkanovski Predicts ‘Incredible’ Comeback Performance For Adesanya

    During an interview with talkSPORT MMA while in Manchester for UFC 304 late last month, Volkanovski looked ahead to the promotion’s next numbered event, which takes place in his home country Down Under.

    “Alexander the Great,” an occasional teammate of Adesanya’s at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, is expecting the former two-time champ to have gold wrapped around his waist to close out the card on August 17.

    And to do so, Volkanovski is predicting the kind of performance that Adesanya put in to claim the title for the first time in 2019 and record his second defense a year later.

    “We’re gonna see him coming back; I think he’s gonna look incredible,” Volkanovski said. “Dricus is a tough guy, great fighter. But I think this Israel that’s gonna turn up is gonna be one of those — you know, when he comes back and you see a Paulo Costa performance, or even the first Robert Whittaker performance.”

    With talk of a bulked-up physique and improvements behind closed doors since returning to training earlier this year, Adesanya will look to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank by returning to the middleweight throne in emphatic fashion.