It seems as though Edmen Shahbazyan really has upward momentum going for him now, as he scored a late first-round finish of Andre Muniz during the UFC 320 prelims.
After a competitive opening to the fight, Muniz briefly stunned Shahbazyan and attempted a takedown. Shahbazyan, however, managed to reverse momentum with sharp counterstriking.
Late in the round, “The Golden Boy” landed a sharp left hand that wobbled Muniz, swarming him with a flurry of shots. Shahbazyan landed strong ground-and-pound, putting Muniz out and forcing a referee stoppage with only two ticks left in the opening frame.
Edmen Shahbazyan Gets First-Round Finish Of UFC 320
Two seconds left, and Shahbazyan smashes Muniz to the R1 TKO win. Brutal.
Ikram Aliskerov has gotten back in the win column in a notable way, putting out Andre Muniz with a strong finish to open the main card of UFC Kansas City.
After some leg kick trading, Aliskerov took control with pressure, landing several left hands on Muniz. Muniz looked for a takedown but got stuffed, with Aliskerov continuing to have the upper hand with striking. Entering the final minute, Aliskerov had gotten the better of Muniz with leg kicks and the left hand.
And that left hand helped nab him the win. A left hook wobbled Muniz and backed him into the cage, falling to the mat. Aliskerov jumped on him and ground-and-pounded away until the referee stepped in with just seconds to go in the round.
Ikram Aliskerov Scores Finish With Seconds To Go In Round One At UFC Kansas City
The lineup for UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1 has taken a hit after middleweight André Muniz ran into passport issues while attempting to fly to the Middle East.
After closing out its short January schedule with a memorable UFC 311 pay-per-view in Los Angeles, the mixed martial arts leader will hit the road to kick off February at Riyadh’s anb Arena next weekend.
Headlining UFC Saudi Arabia will be former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as he looks to bounce back at the expense of rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. Plenty of intrigue also surrounds the co-main event, in which the unbeaten Shara Magomedov will welcome Michael “Venom” Page to the division for a one-off outing at 185 pounds.
Beyond those contests, a fairly deep UFC Saudi Arabia card was put together. But as has already been the case in 2025, no lineup is safe from late blows.
In this instance, a middleweight clash between the formerly ranked Muniz and last year’s headliner in Saudi Arabia, Ikram Aliskerov, has fallen through. The Brazilian took to Instagram on Sunday to reveal that an unexpected issue with his passport prevented travel to Riyadh.
Both men are now off the card, with Muniz noting that the UFC intends on rebooking the fight for a later date.
“Unfortunately, neither I nor my team, nor the UFC, knew about this in time to let us know, and I haven’t been able to go through the entire process to get this document yet,” Muniz said in Portuguese (h/t MMA Junkie). “The UFC thought it would be better to reschedule my fight with the same opponent, but it took another date. I’m waiting for you to set the date right away, and that’s it.”
The news further delays Muniz’s long-awaited return. The submission specialist hasn’t competed since December 2023, when he outpointed JunYong Park to rebound from a two-fight losing skid.
Aliskerov, meanwhile, was hoping for redemption in the Middle East on Feb. 1 after falling to a first-round knockout in his late-notice main event against Robert Whittaker seven months ago.
With this cancellation, the current lineup for UFC Saudi Arabia next Saturday is as follows:
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For May 31, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Garcia’s team claim ostarine ingestion was unintentional
Costa gets some fight week lessons in
Aliskerov misses out on another big fight
Ryan Garcia’s Team Explains Why They Believe Positive Test Was Caused By Tainted Supplement
Ryan Garcia’s team have put out a statement in response to the recent findings regarding his testing results for his win over Devin Haney.
Garcia’s team believe that this was caused by a tainted supplement, as spoken about in the message that was put out there following the latest update.
“This confirms what we have consistently maintained: Ryan was a victim of supplement contamination and has never intentionally used any banned or performance-enhance substances. Any claims to the contrary, questioning Ryan’s integrity as a clean fighter, are unequivocally false and defamatory.”
The statement also provides several examples of why they believe that this is the case.
It lists the likes of Garcia’s previous track record for voluntary testing, the small traces of ostarine that were found, his other pre-fight tests, and his clean hair sample as points that prove his innocence.
Paulo Costa Receives Twerk Training From UFC Bantamweight Ailin Perez During UFC 302 Fight Week
For a Paulo Costa fight week, UFC 302 appears to have been relatively plain sailing thus far, even if weigh-in day is still to come.
Things can get confusing and crazy very quickly when he’s set to be in action, but in Newark, “Borrachinha” hasn’t been the instigator.
In fact, the only thing that screams Costa fight week was a recent video that surfaced online of him being given twerking lessons from a fellow member of the roster.
Rising Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov Has Yet Another Fight Canceled
Highly regarded middleweight Ikram Aliskerov has had another fight slip through his fingers in 2024.
He was booked to face André Muniz on June 16 but a report from Laerte Viana announced that Muniz was out of the fight.
Aliskerov was named MMA News’ Newcomer of the Year for 2023 following two devastating performances inside the Octagon that should have led to big things in the near future.
The UFC has certainly tried to make that happen but bouts against the likes of Paulo Costa, Nassourdine Imavov, and Anthony Hernandez have all fallen apart during his time in the promotion.
Aliskerov posted on social media to suggest that he will be staying on the card, providing that the UFC can find him a replacement opponent.
André Muniz doesn’t just break arms, he has knockout power, too.
#13 middleweight contender André “Sergipano” Muniz is coming into the new year hot with another first-round armbar submission.
Fans watched the armbar from the edge of their seats that night in December in anticipation of Muniz possibly fracturing Anders’ arm, as he did to one of the best grapplers in UFC history, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, back in May at UFC 262.
Andre Muniz and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Photo Credit: Getty Images
Triangle choke, guillotine choke, arm-triangle choke, armbar—the list of beautifully executed submissions just gets longer for the brutal middleweight.
But do not let the 15 wins by submission sway you from his ability to knock an opponent out. As of now, Muniz has only 4 knockout wins, none of which are in the UFC, but that coulbe subject to change this year.
“This is all the result of very hard work, and people, don’t be surprised when I get my knockout because I’ve got really heavy hands, too. I’m working to get a knockout besides the submissions,” Muniz told MMA Junkie after winning their award for 2021 submission of the year.
But we should expect to see a different winning approach at his next UFC bout.
Who Is Up First?
Andre Muniz, Daniel Oliveira, Photo Credit: Alan Oliveira
“Sergipano” is no stranger to a knockout win. In 2013, he put Daniel Oliveira on the ground in round 1 at Watch Out Combat Show 24 and delivered a vicious pounding of punches to Joao Paulo Dos Santos in 2017.
So, who will be the first UFC knockout win for the Brazilian?
At UFC 269 Andre Muniz got his third round one submission win against Eryk “Ya Boi” Anders and has since already called out prospect fighters for his next bout in the Octagon.
Andre Muniz and Eryk Anders, Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie USA Today Sports
Not trying to jump the gun, Muniz wants either Darren Till or Uriah Hall, the #8 and #9 middleweight contenders, as his first opponent.
With six straight impressive wins in the UFC, the 21-4-0 fighter is speeding through the middleweight rankings and has already proven to be a solid competitor in the division. Now, André Muiz may give it his all to soon show us the greatness of his knockout ability.
Do you think André Muniz can knock out UFC competition?
UFC middleweight contender André Muniz has pitched two potential locations and opponents for his first Octagon appearance of 2022.
Muniz has quickly developed into one of the most promising rising 185lbers and one of the most dangerous men in the UFC on the ground. “Sergipano,” a 3rd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Otávio Duarte, is 4-0 on MMA’s biggest stage, a record that includes three armbar submissions.
After back-to-back wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, Muniz earned an opportunity in the UFC, one that he has grabbed with both hands; hands that are capable of some terrifying things when they get hold of a limb.
After starting on the right track with a decision triumph against Antônio Arroyo and showcasing his submission skills in the UFC for the first time in his victory against Bartosz Fabiński, the Brazilian went from prospect to serious contender in his third appearance.
Muniz was matched up with the legendary Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza, regarded as one of the best submission grapplers in the promotion’s history, at UFC 262 last May. In an incredible performance, Muniz sunk in a unique armbar in the opening round, one that brutally (and audibly) snapped the arm of his compatriot.
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Muniz Targets Home Crowd Or Hostile Crowd
After a clash against fellow rising middleweight Dricus Du Plessis fell through, Muniz secured his second win of 2021 at UFC 269 against 13-fight promotional veteran Eryk Anders. How did he do it? You guessed it, with an armbar.
Ranked #13 at 185 pounds, Muniz will be hoping to break into the top 10 in 2022 and maybe even stake his claim for a shot at divisional gold. With that in mind, he knows what he wants from the UFC next.
“I hope that now, with these submissions (against Souza and Anders), that the UFC will give me a top 10 or even a top five (opponent),” Muniz told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn. “I’d like to end the year in a top-five position. Maybe Darren Till.”
Muniz went on to suggest he’s hoping for a clash with “The Gorilla” in the Liverpudlian’s home country. The UFC is reportedly targeting the March 19 card as its return to London, England. While a host of European names and UK stars have had matchups booked for that date, it still lacks a main event. Perhaps the promotion will go down the Muniz vs. Till route.
If that doesn’t come to fruition, Muniz has his sights ready to divert to another international venture for the UFC, this time to his own home nation. Reports suggest the promotion is targeting a return to Brazil for a pay-per-view on May 7. Muniz said it would be “amazing” to fight in Rio de Janeiro against an opponent ranked higher than him. He named top-10 stalwart Uriah Hall as a potential foe.
“If I can’t hook them to put me against Darren Till in England, it would be great, it would be amazing to fight in Rio(de Janeiro) against somebody ranked ahead of me. Who knows, maybe a Uriah Hall or somebody like that. That would be amazing.”
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Some fighters get excited by the prospect of a delivering a winning-performance in front of their home crowd and making the walk to the Octagon with fanfare and cheers. Others relish in the chance to spoil a homecoming in an opponent’s backyard and walk to the cage amidst a chorus of boos.
Muniz’s 2022 targets are ambidextrous in that regard…
Would you rather see André Muniz face Darren Till in England or a high-ranked opponent like Uriah Hall in Brazil?
