Gui Mendes joined the VF Comunica podcast to to discuss professional opportunities in jiu-jitsu Brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes are two of the most successful lighter weight jiu-j…
Screengrab, Art of Jiujitsu YouTube
Gui Mendes joined the VF Comunica podcast to to discuss professional opportunities in jiu-jitsu
Brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes are two of the most successful lighter weight jiu-jitsu competitors of all time. Rafael won six IBJJF World and two ADCC titles while Guilherme won four IBJJF World titles. In 2012, they opened Art of Jiu Jitsu, an academy that not only created champions but also revolutionized the way jiu-jitsu academies looked and were marketed. Art of Jiu-Jitsu laid the foundation of for its success by initially focusing on building a strong kids program. The idea was to build a strong foundation in the youth competitors that would ultimately translate to a strong adult team once they reached those ranks. Tainan Dalpra and Johnatha Alves are two shining examples of this program’s success. In their first competitive year at black belt, Tainan and Johnatha won both major tournaments and super fights.
The success of the Art of Jiu Jitsu students on the mat is unmistakable, but Guilherme Mendes is not content with merely building their physical skills. He wants to provide them with the tools to have successful careers off the mats as well. Many professional jiu-jitsu competitors have been vocal about the financial opportunities in the sport, and are thus rethinking their athletic career paths. A jiu-jitsu world championship alone will currently not change an athlete’s life significantly from a financial perspective. Guilherme Mendes joined the VF Comunica podcast hosted by Vitor Freitas to discuss these issues and his vision for building his athletes.
“What I’ve always proposed to do is, not just help the person to be world champion, because I really think that doesn’t change a person’s life,” Mendes said (Translation provided by Vitor Freitas). “We have several examples of people who were world champions and are not doing well. In a lot of other sports, you reach the maximum level and you’ll have a great life, but in Jiu-Jitsu it’s not like that.
“There is a combination of things that need to be added to the world title for you to leverage your career and opportunities. I’ve always said that my goal was to guide a person to success and provide the right tools and give the right instructions to the guy, not only to be champion on the mat, but to create an opportunity to make a living from Jiu-Jitsu.”
Currently, jiu-jitsu world champions tend to either crossover to mixed martial arts or focus on teaching, whether that be through opening a physical academy or through creating instructionals for various online learning platforms. Sponsorships are another way to create a revenue stream, but jiu-jitsu based companies often don’t have the resources to provide lucrative deals. As the sport continues to grow in 2022 and beyond, coaches like Guilherme Mendes will play a critical role in the development of the athletes and the sport as a whole.
The full interview (Portuguese only) can be found below:
Happy New Year, fight fans! To kick off our 20th anniversary, we will be rolling out the MMA News Top 100 UFC fighters of 2021 throughout the month of January as voted on by our panel.
This list is NOT solely based on fights and performances of 202…
Happy New Year, fight fans! To kick off our 20th anniversary, we will be rolling out the MMA News Top 100 UFC fighters of 2021 throughout the month of January as voted on by our panel.
This list is NOT solely based on fights and performances of 2021. Being active in 2021 is what QUALIFIES one to make the list. Instead of only considering performances of the year, we are taking a holistic look at who is the better overall fighter exiting 2021 based on our selected criteria. A full explanation of the criteria can be found below.
1: Career Trajectory/Recent Performances (50%)
Where are the fighters trending right now? How much evidence-backed momentum do they have?
2: Career Success/Body of Work (25%)
Championships, wins, résumé, etc.
3: Likelihood To Be The Betting Favorite In Any Fight In 2021 (25%)
This was determined using past betting history, betting lines during 2021, and the projected odds moving forward as determined by the panel. This category is being used to get a gauge of the talent level the public feels the fighter is/was at.
Be sure to keep checking back right here at MMANews.com for frequent updates to this list throughout the month of January as we continue to update this list! You can view Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Part 3 begins right now!
#80: Chris Daukaus
Chris Daukaus. Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Coming in at #80, Chris Daukaus is ranked just above Tai Tuivasa (#82) and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (#81) despite having much less UFC experience. That is because, unlike the aforementioned heavy hitters, the power in Daukaus’ punches knocked out two men this year who have been ranked in the promotion: Alexey Oleynik and Shamil Abdurakhimov.
Furthermore, Daukaus’ only loss in the UFC was against the #3-ranked Derrick Lewis. We will find out if Tuivasa will fare any better against The Black Beast at UFC 272.
In the meantime, Daukaus’ two KO wins over proven opponents along with winning five of his last six fights, each by KO, is why the former Philadelphia police officer is our #80-ranked fighter of 2021.
Heading Into 2022: At the start of 2021, Daukas was 2-0 in the UFC and ready for a big step up in competition. By the finish of his second KO and Performance of the Night win of 2021, everybody knew his name. Daukaus is currently ranked #7 in the UFC’s heavyweight division and will be looking to bounce back from his KO loss to Lewis the next time he enters the Octagon.
#79: Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France. Image Credit: 2021 Jeff Bottari
Reasoning Behind Ranking: In 2021, Kai Kara-France was sure to get one message across loud and clear: Don’t Blink. Two first-round knockouts and two Performance of the Night bonuses make Kai Kara-France our #79 fighter of 2021. The 28-year-old is currently only ranked #6 at flyweight, but unlike all the flyweights ranked above him, Kara-France holds a KO victory over a former UFC champion: Cody Garbrandt.
In addition to his blinkless picture-perfect 2021, Kara-France has won three of his last four fights overall and has a 6-2 UFC record.
Heading Into 2022: Kai Kara-France will now set his sights on a title eliminator against Askar Askarov at the March 26 UFC Fight Night event.
#78: Marlon Vera
Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Reasoning Behind Ranking: You can add Marlon Vera to the 2021 Undefeated Club, with “Chito” spittin’ out buck shots to two victims with a pair of performance bonuses for his bounty. First, Vera outgunned Davey Grant in the Fight of the Night of UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige. Next, he turned in a viral KO of former champion and UFC legend Frankie Edgar, which is the primary reason behind his placement at #78.
Vera also holds a victory over our #87-ranked fighter, “Sugar” Sean O’Malley from 2020.
Heading Into 2022: Marlon Vera enters 2022 ranked #8 in one of the deepest divisions in the UFC at bantamweight. His next fight is up in the air, but one man he’s expressed interest in is former foe “Sugar” Sean O’Malley in a rematch of their 2020 bout that saw an ending that left many wanting more answers.
#77: Geoff Neal
Photo via Instagram @handzofsteelmma
Reasoning Behind Ranking: While it’s true that Geoff Neal picked up a victory over a ranked opponent in 2022, the main reason behind his ranking on our list is his résumé of a 50% finish rate in the UFC and once holding a seven-fight win streak, including a major win over someone who will be appearing later on our list, Belal Muhammad. At 31 years old, Neal still has time to make an even bigger splash in the deep welterweight talent pool.
Heading Into 2022: After defeating Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 269, Neal finds himself ranked #12 in the welterweight division. His next opponent is unknown, but after three straight fights that went to a decision, Neal’s Handz of Steel are itching to revert to laying out his opponents like hypnosis.
#76: Calvin Kattar
Calvin Kattar (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa via Getty Images)
Reasoning Behind Ranking: With only one fight in 2021 in what was a one-sided beatdown in favor of his opponent, Max Holloway, it certainly wasn’t the “recent performances” category that netted Kattar his #76 placement. However, let’s not pretend that this loss was not against arguably the greatest featherweight in UFC history.
In terms of body of work and likelihood to win a fight, Kattar’s overall record of 22-5 is one of the more impressive in the division and is no doubt a strong reason why he is ranked in the top 5 at featherweight.
In the UFC, Kattar is 6-3, with four of those six wins coming by way of finishes, including victories over the following respected names: Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens, Andre File, Shane Burgos, and Dan Ige. Additionally, two of his three losses in the UFC (Holloway and Zabit Magomedsharipov) have won Fight of the Night.
Heading Into 2022: After getting bruised up by Blessed to kick off the 2021 UFC season, Kattar will arrive in Las Vegas prepared to rise like the New Orleans sun above the brand-new horizon that is 2022. He will again kick off the UFC’s season this year when he faces Giga Chikadze next Saturday at UFC Vegas 46. This time, he’ll be the one hoping to lead the battering dance.
#75: Neil Magny
Credit: Getty Images
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Magny went 1-1 in 2021, but one of those wins was an impressive, unanimous decision win over our #77 ranked fighter, Geoff Neal. Additionally, Magny has won four of his last five fights, with each being unanimous decisions. In terms of résumé, you’re looking at a man who holds victories over names like Carlos Condit, Johny Hendricks, Kelvin Gastelum, and former world champion Robbie Lawler.
Heading Into 2022: Coming off his aforementioned victory over Geoff Neal, Neil Magny’s next assignment is undetermined. One thing we have learned from Magny over the years is that he will sign any contract in a heartbeat and he’ll do it with absolutely no regrets. Magny is currently ranked #8 in the UFC’s welterweight division.
#74: Gregor Gillespie
Gregor Gillespie, Credit: Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Reasoning Behind Ranking: In his lone fight in 2021, Gregor Gillespie arrived like a man unashamed of his first defeat, proving that he still has The Gift. Prior to his loss to Kevin Lee in 2019, Gillespie had established himself as one of the biggest and brightest prospects at 155 lbs. The Division I All-American wrestler was 6-0 in the UFC with five of the six wins being finishes. Frankly, many thought that we’d be seeing Gillespie challenging for a world title by now, with many wondering how he would have fared against the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov.
After being knocked out by Lee in 2019, Gillespie took over a year off from competition before bouncing back with yet another stoppage, this time against formerly ranked lightweight Carlos Diego Ferreira.
Heading Into 2022: Gregor Gillespie is currently ranked at #10 in the lightweight division. If Gillespie had it his way, his next opponent will be Tony Ferguson, whom he has called out in a somewhat uncharacteristic fashion.
#73: Edson Barboza
Edson Barboza, Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Reasoning Behind Ranking: With over a decade in the UFC under his belt, Edson Barboza has managed to remain relevant. During this lengthy stretch, the Brazilian has picked up victories over names like Paul Felder, Anthony Pettis, Beneil Dariush, Dan Hooker, and many others.
Although Barboza has never fought for, let alone won a title like some of the other veterans he is ranked above on this list, he has always managed to bounce back when faced with hardships like a true-life Rocky Balboa and has thus remained a fixture in MMA’s most competitive promotion. In 2021, Barboza went 1-1, with a KO victory over Shane Burgos and a loss to Giga Chikadze in his most recent bout.
Heading Into 2022: The 35-year-old Barboza will begin this year ranked at #10 in the featherweight division. He is scheduled to face Bryce Mitchell on March 5. Mitchell did not make this year’s list due to him not being active in 2021.
#72: Movsar Evloev
Movsar Evloev
Reasoning Behind Ranking: If you want someone who is flying under the radar and right under your nose, it’s this dude. Movsar Evloev has one of the most efficient fighting styles in the UFC as evident by his flawless 15-0 record. His hard-nosed style carries the melody of the mountains that has proven to be a safe play for gambling sharps to push. Evloev’s 5-0 run hasn’t been against easy opponents. He’s beaten game opponents like Enrique Barzola and Nik Lentz as well as fellow prospects Mike Grundy and, most recently, Hakeem Dawodu.
Heading Into 2022: Movsar Evloev will begin his 2022 campaign against our #86-ranked fighter, Ilia Topuria. Topuria arguably has a better win than any of Evloev’s by defeating Ryan Hall, but Evloev has four more victories on his undefeated record. If Topuria gets the win over Evloev, he’ll almost assuredly be ranked higher next year. If Evloev wins….and keeps winning…then there’s no telling where this Russian will land on next year’s list.
#71: Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Reasoning Behind Ranking: Arman Tsarukyan has two losses on his 17-2 record. One of them took place in 2015. The other was against Islam Makhachev. So let’s just say we’re not faulting him too much for those losses, especially when you consider that he managed to be relatively competitive against Makhachev in an exquisite contest that won Fight of the Night in 2019.
When you have a Fight of the Night against Makhachev as opposed to being on the wrong side of a Performance of the Night…and you do so at 22 years old…you might just be a bonafide prospect of the highest degree.
Since that loss in his UFC debut to Makhachev, Tsarukyan has gone 4-0 in the UFC, including wins over much more experienced names like Olivier Aubin-Mercier, 3rd-degree Brazilian black belt Davis Ramos, and a Performance of the Night TKO over Christos Giagos in September.
Heading Into 2022: Arman Tsarukyan’s young MMA career has shown that the sky is the limit for the Armenian-Russian. This Master of Sport in MMA and wrestling is currently ranked #13 at lightweight and is scheduled to face Joel Álvarez on February 26, 2022. He had hoped to be fighting Dan Hooker, but Hooker has committed to dropping down to featherweight. He also agreed to fight Gregor Gillespie, but that fight never came to fruition, either.
Like many elite rising contenders before him, it may be a long climb up the ranks for Tsarukyan due to the ol’ “high-risk, low-reward” dilemma that he poses to his peers. But if he remains active in 2022, you can just close your eyes and imagine where he might be placed on our list next year.
Rafael Fiziev is set to face former UFC lightweight champion Rafael do Anjos at the February 19th Fight Night card as the main event per MMA Fighting. According to sources close to the UFC, a matchup has been agreed between Fiziev and dos Anjos for a five-round fight although contracts have not been signed. The […]
Rafael Fiziev is set to face former UFC lightweight champion Rafael do Anjos at the February 19th Fight Night card as the main event per MMA Fighting.
According to sources close to the UFC, a matchup has been agreed between Fiziev and dos Anjos for a five-round fight although contracts have not been signed. The bout would take place at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas with the undercard yet to be announced.
This announcement follows a small social media back and forth just a few days prior, where Fiziev would call out the Brazilian.
We all saw that fight and I already replied to ufc that I’m available for that day https://t.co/s8KgReBJMd
‘Face it @RdosAnjosMMA I’m the best Rafael in @ufc’
The Background Of Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos
Fiziev is currently considered one of the UFC’s brightest prospects following a five-fight win streak since late 2019. The Azerbaijani-Kyrgyzstan fighter bumped his stock up massively in 2021 with a win over Bobby Green in a fight of the year contender and a wheel kick KO over Brad Riddell. Fiziev also gained popularity with his post fight call outs of social media star Hasbulla and actor Vince Vaugh.
If the bout is to take place, dos Anjos would be ending a 15-month layoff following a split decision win over Paul Felder, although he was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 267. Before this, dos Anjos had gone 1-4 in his previous five at welterweight but the long-time UFC veteran is still a tough test for anyone performing well in his last bout at lightweight. Although dos Anjos is coming to the tail end of his career, he will hold mountains of experience of Fieziev, holding wins over the likes of Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis and Robbie Lawler.
What do you think? is it too soon For Rafael Fiziev to face the likes of Rafael dos Anjos?
Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder. | Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Looking back at the best that boxing had to offer in 2021. Yes, we’re a week into 2022 and we just had a pay-per-view bo…
Tyson Fury knocks out Deontay Wilder. | Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Looking back at the best that boxing had to offer in 2021.
Yes, we’re a week into 2022 and we just had a pay-per-view boxing event last Saturday, but why should that disqualify me from doing an awards post for the best from 2021? It might not have necessarily been an all-time great year for the sport but we were not short on high-quality fights, the best against the best, remarkable upsets, and wicked KOs. All things considered it as a positive year for boxing and that’s leaving out the circus Jake Paul fights.
Let’s get to it!
Fight of the Year – Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III
Who doesn’t love a heavyweight thriller at the highest level? Fury vs. Wilder III was by far the best of this trilogy and the most violent. It looked as if Fury was on his way to another one-sided win when he dropped Deontay in the third round. In a rapid turn of events, Wilder’s vaunted right hand put Fury down twice in the fourth round and suddenly it was anyone’s fight. Fury did inevitably pull away and if not for Wilder’s insane toughness he’d have been knocked out far sooner than the 11th round.
There’s nothing better than a big fight over-delivering, and this fit the bill as an absolute classic.
I could’ve doubled up Fury’s win over Wilder as KO of the Year too, but among the big fights there wasn’t a more visually terrifying knockout than what Oscar Valdez did to Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC junior lightweight title. This was a fight billed as a slugfest and instead it was mostly a beatdown by Valdez, who put Berchelt down twice before the exclamation point to cap off a brilliant performance. This was when the Top Rank bubble was still in effect so there wasn’t a full house of fans, but much like the UFC APEX, I think the sound from these punishing punches is amplified by the lack of a crowd.
Upset of the Year – George Kambosos vs. Teofimo Lopez
There were a ton of notable upsets in the ring in 2021, but none more impactful than what George Kambosos pulled off against Teofimo Lopez. The Aussie was a hefty underdog against the unified, undefeated lightweight champion, and after numerous postponements and the flip from Triller to DAZN, they finally faced off on Thanksgiving weekend in New York.
Lopez was decked in the opening round, came back to knock Kambosos down in the 10th round, but otherwise was outboxed for a majority of the contest. Kambosos took a deserved split decision, shutting up some stupid people who doubted him, and now he holds the cards at 135 lbs.
Consider this another bout that was a Fight of the Year contender.
This is not debatable. Canelo fought three times and won by stoppage every time, unifying the super-middleweight division in the process. His run really started in December 2020 when he defeated Callum Smith to win the WBA and vacant WBC titles, but we’re only revisiting his work from 2021. He took a stay-busy fight in the form of a mandatory title defense against Avni Yildirim, whom he stopped in three rounds.
In May, with over 60,000 in attendance at AT&T Stadium in Texas, Alvarez handed Billy Joe Saunders his first defeat, broke his orbital in the process, and took the WBO title off of him.
Then to wrap up his busy schedule, Alvarez became undisputed champion with an 11th round KO of Caleb Plant.
Best Win of the Year – Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua
You know I had to get in some Usyk love! And why shouldn’t I? Boxing’s ultimate road warrior went into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and took all of Anthony Joshua’s belts back home to Ukraine. It was an excellent fight that showed the former undisputed cruiserweight champion’s ability to defeat the elite at heavyweight. Joshua was outboxed and he was hurt multiple times over, including in the final round.
Usyk and Joshua are slated for a rematch in the spring, and perhaps we could see Usyk against Tyson Fury later this year.
Women’s Fight of the Year – Mikaela Mayer vs. Maiva Hamadouche
Top Rank really doesn’t have any commitment to women’s boxing outside of Mikaela Mayer, and yet they produced the most entertaining fight of 2021. Mayer’s 10-round war with France’s Maiva Hamadouche saw her unify the WBO and IBF titles and it really showed Mayer’s mettle to be tested in a non-stop action bout.
Women’s KO, Upset of the Year – Alycia Baumgardner vs. Terri Harper
Prior to November 13th, Baumgardner had never competed in a 10-round fight (which is still the maximum for women’s boxing). She was the challenger to Harper’s WBC 130 lbs title, and the American dominated in the Englishwoman’s backyard. A beautifully timed right hand froze Harper and put her asleep while she was standing, prompting a brilliant referee stoppage to prevent any unnecessary punishment.
Baumgardner parlayed that monumental win in enemy territory by signing with Matchroom Boxing. Be on the lookout for Baumgardner making waves in 2022, potentially unifying titles with Mayer in what could be an absolute classic.
I could give this to Amanda Serrano considering she got to be a main event fighter in Puerto Rico, as well as serve as the PPV co-feature in consecutive Jake Paul cards, but I’m going a different direction. Seniesa Estrada did gain notoriety for that absurd 7-second KO against the way overmatched Miranda Adkins, but let it be known that Estrada is a legitimately terrific boxer. Estrada fought three times in 2021, winning a fun scrap over Anabel Ortiz to take her WBA minimumweight title, followed by a decision over Tenkai Tsunami up at junior-flyweight to win her second world title, then defending that minimumweight strap by KO against Maria Micheo Santizo.
Estrada is powerful, sharp, and outside the ring she’s shown natural broadcasting skills when working for DAZN. Golden Boy has a potential star for women’s boxing in ‘Super Bad’ Estrada.
Here’s to an even better 2022 for boxing… and fewer pay-per-views, please.
Jake Paul has dropped a pair of hints that suggest he is preparing to make a jump over to MMA.
Jake Paul has been linked to MMA arguably more than any boxer in history. Between the handpicked MMA opponents, the feud with the biggest promoter in the…
Jake Paul has dropped a pair of hints that suggest he is preparing to make a jump over to MMA.
Jake Paul has been linked to MMA arguably more than any boxer in history. Between the handpicked MMA opponents, the feud with the biggest promoter in the sport, and the neverending banter with MMA fighters on social media, Paul has remained a steady presence in MMA headlines.
Today’s Jake Paul/MMA story isn’t about callouts, trash-talking, or even another round of commentary about UFC fighter pay. It’s about Paul appearing to take the first steps to now become the cross-over athlete himself with a potential move to MMA.
Friday, Paul released the following tweet that showed himself training kicks for the first time.
“1st day training kicks. Doubted every step of the way.. but kick down the doors of the doubters. @bellatormma@pflmma.”
What’s every bit as noteworthy as Paul revealing that he’s training leg kicks is the fact that he went out of his way to tag Bellator’s and PFL’s Twitter handles, hinting that these could be where he ultimately takes his finished MMA product if and when it’s ready for presentation.
Scott Coker has already confirmed that he would be more than happy to welcome Paul into the Bellator fold with open arms. And Friday night, an unconfirmed report began to circulate that Paul is in talks to sign with the PFL. Conspicuously absent from Paul’s tag roster is the UFC. This no doubt is mostly because of the YouTuber’s contentious relationship with company president Dana White.
However, over the past week, Paul did state that he would be open to an MMA fight against Jorge Masvidal if White provided better pay and benefits to UFC fighters. As expected, White did not comply, which leaves a Jake Paul/UFC partnership just as unlikely today as it’s been over the entire past year.
Alexander Gustafsson thinks his teammate and countryman, Khamzat Chimaev, has a good chance of dethroning the UFC welterweight champion in spectacular fashion. Chimaev burst onto the scene in the summer of 2020 and has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC. ‘The Wolf’ has racked up four straight wins without taking […]
Alexander Gustafsson thinks his teammate and countryman, Khamzat Chimaev, has a good chance of dethroning the UFC welterweight champion in spectacular fashion.
Chimaev burst onto the scene in the summer of 2020 and has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC. ‘The Wolf’ has racked up four straight wins without taking any damage at all. Chimaev seems set for a big 2022 and is being lined up for a fight with former title challenger, Gilbert Burns, in April.
Alexander Gustafsson Doesn’t Think Kamaru Usman Could Take Khamzat Chiamev’s Power
A win in that fight would almost certainly mean Chimaev is next in line for a shot a Kamaru Usman, who has been a dominant 170lb champion for some time now.
Gustafsson, a three-time light-heavyweight title challenger, is a fan of Usman and respects him very much but just doesn’t think he’ll be able to hang with Chimaev.
“I think he’d [Khamzat Chimaev] put Kamaru Usman to sleep honestly,” Gustafsson told ESPN. “I think if he just touches his chin, it’s a big chance that Kamaru, Kamaru Usman goes to sleep. I like Kamaru Usman, he’s a great champ and he’s just been breaking records and like you know, it’s a pleasure to see him fight because he’s a very good technical, you know I love his jab and his wrestling and you can see that he’s on top, Kamaru Usman. But I just can’t see him take Khamzat’s punches.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)
Gustafsson announced his retirement from MMA in the immediate aftermath of his loss to Anthony Smith in 2019. One year later, he was back in the Octagon this time at heavyweight against Fabricio Werdum, who quickly submitted him. The Swedish fight legend hasn’t competed since but confirmed in the below interview that he is looking to fight in 2022.
Do you agree with Alexander Gustafsson? Is Khamzat Chimaev the man to dethrone Kamaru Usman?
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Rafael Fiziev is set to face former UFC lightweight champion Rafael do Anjos at the February 19th Fight Night card as the main event per MMA Fighting. According to sources close to the UFC, a matchup has been agreed between Fiziev and dos Anjos for a five-round fight although contracts have not been signed. The […]
Alexander Gustafsson thinks his teammate and countryman, Khamzat Chimaev, has a good chance of dethroning the UFC welterweight champion in spectacular fashion. Chimaev burst onto the scene in the summer of 2020 and has quickly become one of the most exciting prospects in the UFC. ‘The Wolf’ has racked up four straight wins without taking […]