Kamaru Usman continues slide further down pound for pound rankings following UFC 286 decision loss

Kamaru Usman drops down UFC pound for pound rankings listKamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards. With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not […]

Kamaru Usman drops down UFC pound for pound rankings list

Kamaru Usman, who was once the UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter, has once again dropped down the ladder with the conclusion of his trilogy against Leon Edwards.

With all the marbles on the line at UFC 286, Usman had made it clear that Edwards capitalizing on a mistake he made in their rematch would not be repeated, but ‘Rocky’ once again found a way to win.

Although there may have been several referee interventions against Edwards, including a point deduction after a fence grab, the Jamaican-born welterweight remained composed and clearly out-pointed Kamaru Usman over five rounds, winning by majority decision.

Kamaru Usman slips down the UFC pound-for-pound pile

This, just the second loss of Usman’s UFC career, steered him down three spots in the P4P rankings, taking him from #5 to #8. 

Undisputed bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling (#7), newly crowned middleweight champion Alex Pereira (#6), and former champion Israel Adesanya (#5) all moved up ahead of the Kamaru Usman.

Pereira will defend his title for the first time at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida. This will be his fourth time exchanging blows with ‘The last stylebender’ in combat sports, and it will surely have a major influence on the next P4P update.

Sterling will go head-to-head with former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 288, as Cejudo returns following a three-year layoff.

While Jon Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic this summer, it is unlikely any result removes him from his P4P #1 status, a ranking he has been familiar with throughout his UFC career.

It is up to Alexander Volkanovski (#2), who will be returning to featherweight to fight interim champion Yair Rodriguez later this year, to put any kind of pressure on Jones’ position.

P4P #3 Islam Makhachev may have struggled immensely in his first championship defence, but he will have to remain consistent as Edwards crawls his way up the rankings.

Edwards is expected to hold his second title defence against Colby Covington as per Dana White.

Justin Gaethje calls for Charles Oliveira rematch next following UFC 286 win: ‘I fought like a complete idiot’

Justin Gaethje calls for rematch with Charles Oliveira UFC I fought like idiotFormer interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has called for a rematch with either former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira, or fellow former interim division titleholder, Dustin Poirier in his Octagon return – claiming he fought like a “complete idiot” during his title outing with the Brazilian. Gaethje, the current #3 ranked lightweight contender, co-headlined UFC […]

Justin Gaethje calls for rematch with Charles Oliveira UFC I fought like idiot

Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has called for a rematch with either former undisputed champion, Charles Oliveira, or fellow former interim division titleholder, Dustin Poirier in his Octagon return – claiming he fought like a “complete idiot” during his title outing with the Brazilian.

Gaethje, the current #3 ranked lightweight contender, co-headlined UFC 288 last weekend in London, England – returning to the winner’s enclosure with a majority decision win over Tiger Muay Thai striker, Rafael Fiziev

Battling with the striking expert over the course of three rounds, Gaethje managed to turn around a deficit with an impressive third round display against Fiziev – bloodying the #6 ranked challenger with a barrage of shots on the feet. 

Prior to his win over Fiziev, the ONX Labs staple and Trevor Wittman student challenged for undisputed lightweight championship honors against the above-mentioned, Oliviera back in May of last year.

Starting brightly against the Sao Paulo native, Gaethje landed multiple knockdowns on Oliveira – before he was submitted by the promotion’s most prolific submission ace with a first round rear-naked choke

Justin Gaethje eyes future rematch with Charles Oliveira

Weighing up his future fighting plans off the back of his win over Fiziev, Gaethje admitted that he would rather not fight friend, Beneil Dariush in the future – but welcomed a pair of rematches against either Oliveira, or Poirier next.

“The loser of the (Charles) Oliveira and (Beneil) Dariush fight – I’d rather not fight Dariush – I love that dude,” Justin Gaethje told assembled reporters following UFC 286. “I think he’s going to beat Oliveira.”

“I fought like a complete idiot when I fought Oliveira, so I’d love to have that fight back,” Justin Gaethje explained. “But Dustin (Poirier) is just as good an option.” 

Minting himself as the interim lightweight champion back in May 2020, Gaethje defeated former interim gold holder, Tony Ferguson with an eventual fifth round knockout. 

Set for his own Octagon return in May, Oliveira is slated to co-headline UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey — taking on Kings MMA staple, Beneil Dariush over the course of three rounds in a potential title-eliminator.

The most anticipated MMA fights of 2023 and how to bet on them

Conor McGregor Michael Chandler UFCWith the second quarter of 2023 set to role into town, a host of mixed martial arts fights are slated to come to fruition in the coming months ahead of summer. A slew of former champions and sport icons, as well as returning stars are set to make their comebacks to active competition – including […]

Conor McGregor Michael Chandler UFC

With the second quarter of 2023 set to role into town, a host of mixed martial arts fights are slated to come to fruition in the coming months ahead of summer.

A slew of former champions and sport icons, as well as returning stars are set to make their comebacks to active competition – including former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor, who has been pegged to fight this annum – while new heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones is earmarked for a July title outing.

Below, catch three of the most anticipated mixed martial arts fights this year – and find out how to bet and place wagers on them.

Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya II

Just over three weeks away; an undisputed middleweight title fight rematch between Brazilian knockout supreme, Alex Pereira, and former division best, Israel Adesanya – who take curtain closing honors at UFC 287 on April 7. in Miami, Florida.

Rekindling their rivalry following a November title matchup last year, Adesanya, the-then-undisputed middleweight champion dropped his crown in a spectacular fifth round knockout defeat to Pereira – with the Sao Paulo striker once more getting the better of the City Kickboxing staple. The former GLORY Kickboxing two-weight champion, notoriously holds two victories over Adesanya during their respective tenures inside the squared circle. 

If you’re willing to wager on next month’s middleweight re-run, a host of low minimum deposit casinos to bet with can be found across many markets and bookies, including online marketplaces. 

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

While yet to be officially inked by the organization – a heavyweight championship fight between recently minted division champion, Jon Jones, and former two-time titleholder, Stipe Miocic seems to be in the works for UFC 290 during International Fight Week in July. 

Snapping a three-year Octagon hiatus at UFC 285 earlier this month, former two-time light heavyweight champion, Jones, managed to clinch the vacant heavyweight title with a stunning first round submission win over Ciryl Gane – latching onto a guillotine choke. 

Himself sidelined for the last two-years plus, Miocic is expected to challenge Jones for gold this summer, attempting to rebound from a 2021 knockout loss to former champion, Francis Ngannou at the UFC Apex facility.

During his time under the UFC banner, Miocic twice minted himself as the heavyweight champion – with knockout triumphs over both Fabricio Werdum, and Daniel Cormier

Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

Wrapping up filming for The Ultimate Fighter 31 earlier this month, former two-weight UFC titleholder, Conor McGregor is expected to fight current #5 ranked lightweight contender, Michael Chandler later this year – potentially as soon as September.

Yet to fight since July 2021, Crumlin native, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO defeat to former interim lightweight titleholder, Dustin Poirier.

As for Chandler, the Missouri native also suffered his most recent professional loss against common-opposition, Poirier, back in November of last year at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden – in the form of a third round submission loss courtesy of a rear-naked choke in New York City. 

Pereira Trades Bombs With ‘Dangerous’ Heavyweight Monster

https://twitter.com/AlexPereiraUFC

He’s no “Mountain” but the Chinese boxer is one of the world’s most dangerous heavyweights. Wrap up your closing arguments for UFC 286 — for which there are aplenty — because the UFC 28…


https://twitter.com/AlexPereiraUFC

He’s no “Mountain” but the Chinese boxer is one of the world’s most dangerous heavyweights.

Wrap up your closing arguments for UFC 286 — for which there are aplenty — because the UFC 287 pay-per-view (PPV) card is just around the corner and will feature the middleweight rematch (or Part 4, depending on your scorecard) between newly-crowned 185-pound champion Alex Pereira and former division titleholder Israel Adesanya.

To help prepare for his “Last Stylebender” showdown, which may in fact be the last with another victory, Pereira strapped on the gloves and went four rounds with Olympic medalist Zhilei Zhang, a 6’6”, 290-pound monster who is 24-1-1 in boxing with 19 knockouts.

“What a sparring! After four rounds with Zhilei Zhang I’m very confident for my next fight!” Pereira wrote on social media. “It was a hard and dangerous sparring — exactly what I needed. Now I know even more: I’m [100-percent] ready for 8th of April!”

Pereira holds two victories and one knockout over Adesanya on the kickboxing circuit and after racking up three straight wins with two finishes under the UFC banner, “Poatan” scored another Adesanya fight and halted “The Last Stylebender” in the final frame.

UFC 287 will go down on Sat., April 8, 2023 at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida, and also feature the welterweight collision between former 170-pound title challengers Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal. Elsewhere on the card (see it here), Kevin Holland looks to test his chin against welterweight “Dagger” Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman did not train ‘Properly’ for UFC 286 title fight due to host of injuries

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman didn't train UFC 286 due to injuryFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed that a host of injuries suffered in the lead-up to last weekend’s UFC 286 championship headliner, prevented former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman from “properly” training for his trilogy rubber match with Leon Edwards. Headlining UFC 286 last Saturday night at The o2 Arena, Usman suffered a […]

Francis Ngannou reveals Kamaru Usman didn't train UFC 286 due to injury

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has revealed that a host of injuries suffered in the lead-up to last weekend’s UFC 286 championship headliner, prevented former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman from “properly” training for his trilogy rubber match with Leon Edwards.

Headlining UFC 286 last Saturday night at The o2 Arena, Usman suffered a second consecutive loss to Birmingham native, Edwards, dropping a close, majority decision defeat to the incumbent welterweight kingpin.

Back in August of last year in Salt Lake City, Utah – Usman dropped both his undisputed crown and pound-for-pound number one status, after suffering a fifth round high kick knockout loss to Edwards at the Vivint Arena. 

As for Francis Ngannou, the former undisputed heavyweight titleholder was stripped of his status as division champion back in January of this year, as well as booted from the organization after his contractual obligations with the UFC ended in December of last year.

Francis Ngannou shares some insight into Kamaru Usman’s camp ahead of UFC 286

A close friend of fellow former African champion, Usman, Ngannou took to his official YouTube channel where he reflected on the Auchi native’s decision defeat to Edwards – claiming the former was unable to train sufficiently for his trilogy rubber match, after suffering from injuries.

“Usually, when people get knocked out, they don’t come back in the fight,” Francis Ngannou said following UFC 286. “Like, they will be like wobbly, he (Kamaru Usman) was there before tonight, which is like a lot of step back. I know that he didn’t train [for the fight] – he didn’t have to train properly because of a lot of injuries, but he was there.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Welcoming the opportunity to fight Edwards for a fourth time in the future, Usman has been offered a route back to the welterweight title by former two-time division championship challenger, Stephen Thompson – who admitted he would consider fighting the Nigerian as he targets a July Octagon comeback himself

UFC fighter Sean Strickland hits out at ‘Idiot’ Greta Thunberg, calls for activist to be ‘Thrown in a forest’

Sean Strickland calls Greta Thunberg idiot UFC fighterUFC middleweight, Sean Strickland takes aim at climate activist, Greta Thunberg – ‘Can we please just throw this idiot in a forest somewhere….’ While Strickland certainly has impressed in his UFC career, holding wins over Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Nasourdine Imavov, it is his out of competitions behaviour which has garnered him a reputation. […]

Sean Strickland calls Greta Thunberg idiot UFC fighter

UFC middleweight, Sean Strickland takes aim at climate activist, Greta Thunberg – ‘Can we please just throw this idiot in a forest somewhere….’

While Strickland certainly has impressed in his UFC career, holding wins over Jack Hermansson, Uriah Hall and Nasourdine Imavov, it is his out of competitions behaviour which has garnered him a reputation. Much like his fighting style, Strickland pulls no punches in interviews and on his social media.

Via his Twitter, which had previously been banned, Strickland goes at everyone and is not afraid to say what many consider not ‘politically correct’. The American has faced major criticism in the past for language that some deemed homophobic and misogynistic.

Strickland once tweeted: ‘If I had a gay son I would think I failed as a man to create such weakness… If I had a whore for a daughter I’d think she just wanted to be like her dad lol!!

Sean Strickland goes after Greta Thunberg

This time, however, it’s Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who was in Strickland’s sights. Thunberg has grown to fame for her environmental activism and addresses to world leaders.

Sean Strickland responds to Thunberg

“It is getting even more impossible to ignore the climate crisis. The fact that people in power still somehow live in denial, and actively move in the wrong direction, will eventually be seen for and understood as the unprecedented betrayal it is. It is just a matter of time”, Thunberg initially Tweeted.

“Yo retard you’re literally using a phone as we speak… A phone made in some polluting factory in China, lithium that takes massive amount of water and waste…..

”Can we please just throw this idiot in a forest somewhere….”, Strickland responded.

Strickland is currently coming off a decision win over Imavov, jumping in on short notice and putting on an impressive performance given the circumstance, even outpacing the Frenchman in the later rounds.

What do you make of Sean Strickland?