After what’s felt like 100 cancellations and postponements, this fight is finally here. Vitor Belfort‘s taken almost two years off from kicking people in the face to give his body the necessary recuperation time as it gets a grasp on life after testosterone replacement therapy. Last time we saw him, The Phenom looked all the […]
After what’s felt like 100 cancellations and postponements, this fight is finally here. Vitor Belfort‘s taken almost two years off from kicking people in the face to give his body the necessary recuperation time as it gets a grasp on life after testosterone replacement therapy. Last time we saw him, The Phenom looked all the […]
Zach Makovsky’s primary goal throughout his mixed martial arts career has been to prove he’s the best of the best in whatever weight class he chooses to compete in.
While that mentality—in addition to a versatile skill set—has allowed him t…
Zach Makovsky‘s primary goal throughout his mixed martial arts career has been to prove he’s the best of the best in whatever weight class he chooses to compete in.
While that mentality—in addition to a versatile skill set—has allowed him to pick up multiple championships across smaller stages in the sport, he’s yet to reach the pinnacle of becoming a UFC champion.
With that said, “Fun Size” has made solid strides toward making that dream a reality during his time under the UFC banner, as the Pennsylvania native has found victory in all but one of his four showings inside the Octagon.
Furthermore, Makovsky has done so against tough competition, and his efficiency and consistency have made him a major player in the steadily-growing flyweight division.
Yet in order for the FirasZahabi-trained fighter to carve out his place in the divisional title picture, he’s going to need a victory over one of the elite members of the upper tier at 125 pounds. The 32-year-old veteran will get his biggest opportunity to date when he faces former title challenger and flyweight powerhouse John Dodson at UFC 187 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Where the natural competitor inside Makovsky allows him to get up for every fight without need for additional motivation, his upcoming tilt with “The Magician” comes with an additional storyline attached, as friendship and mutual respect exist between the two elite-level fighters.
Nevertheless, both are determined to get their hands on championship gold in the UFC and have put all emotions aside going into the fight.
“Honestly I was a little torn because John [Dodson] and I are somewhat friends,” Makovsky told Bleacher Report. “It wasn’t my first choice of opponent, but at the same time, I knew when they offered it how huge of an opportunity it was. I talked to John about it and there are no hard feelings. There’s nothing personal and it’s just part of competing in this sport. This is a huge opportunity for me. He’s the second-ranked flyweight in the world and he’s been in there and fought for the title. It would be a great win for me.”
Makovsky is looking at Dodson as the dangerous threat he is, and the fact that a win on Saturday would put him in the thick of the title hunt is an additional detail to be acknowledged rather than focused upon.
He knows there is an ample amount of risk and reward threaded through his upcoming tilt with the Ultimate Fighter winner, but he’s lending far more attention to what Dodson will bring to the table on fight night, as opposed to what the fruits of his labor could produce in the aftermath.
Granted, there’s nothing he wants more than a chance to compete for the flyweight strap later in the year, but the Pittsburgh-based former Bellator champion knows he needs to be complete in the here and now on fight night—not worried about what could possibly happen down the road.
“I believe I match up very well with John,” Makovsky explained. “I think he’s one of the fastest and most athletic guys in the division. He’s one of the more explosive guys in the entire UFC, and he uses those skills to his advantage. He uses his speed and power to the fullest, and I’m going to do my best to take those things away from him.
“I think overall I have a larger skill set and can do more things MMA-wise. I just can’t get caught up playing his game too much because he’s dangerous. He has been able to pretty much do damage to everyone he’s faced with his left hand, and that’s something i definitely have to be careful of. I need to impose my game and not let him dance around on the outside and throw that left hand.”
While Makovsky is poised to step into the biggest bout of his career at UFC 187 on Saturday night, a large portion of his dream in MMA has already been fulfilled.
Just making it to the ranks of the UFC roster was an ambition forged in the early stages of his career, and it served as his primary motivation up until he made his successful promotional debut by defeating Scott Jorgensen at UFC on Fox 9 in December of 2013.
With one big achievement already marked off his list and a pair of additional wins moving him up the divisional hierarchy, Makovsky is ready to prove he’s a legitimate threat to the flyweight title.
He will need a defeat Dodson to set that status in stone, and that’s precisely what he intends to do at UFC 187.
“It’s been great fighting in the UFC,” Makovsky said. “It is the place you want to be if you are a fighter. There’s no MMA fighter that doesn’t want to fight in the UFC. It’s the highest level of competition and there is no other place that brings as much visibility and attention as the UFC does. It’s also the organization that provides the best chance for a fighter to make a living for themselves.
“Ever since I started in MMA, my goal has been to reach the UFC. It was one of my major goals coming up as a fighter. Now I’m here and I’m a couple of fights [in] and now I’m ready to make a run at the title. I really feel like I’m one big win away from that. He [Dodson] was supposed to fight for the title before he got injured and I think the winner of this fight should get the next title shot.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
UFC Fight Night 72 will take place at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, and the main event was not announced yet.
Latifi (9-4, 1 no-contest) was 2-0 with a pair of first-round stoppages since losing to Gegard Mousasi in his Octagon debut, but suffered a TKO loss to Jan Błachowicz in October. Stringer (22-6-3) looks to get back on track following his first UFC loss, a second-round TKO loss by the hands of Fabio Maldonado.
Edwards (9-2), a former BAMMA welterweight champion, scored his first UFC win by knocking out Seth Baczynski in eight seconds in April. Pawlak (11-1) competed on the same card in Poland, defeating Sheldon Westcott via unanimous decision.
Whiteford (11-2), who tapped to Jimy Hettes in his promotional debut in 2013, bounced back to the win column with a unanimous decision over Daniel Pineda. He was slated to meet Dennis Siver last October, but was forced out of the card with an injury. Redmond (10-4) looks for his first UFC win after a decision loss to Mirsad Bektic in January.
Ray (17-5), a former BAMMA and Cage Warriors 155-pound champion, tries to go 2-0 in the UFC following a second-round finish over Marcin Bandel in April. Mafra (12-2) recently scored his first win since joining American Kickboxing Academy, defeating Cain Carrizosa by decision at UFN 62.
Four new bouts were added to UFC’s first card in Scotland on July 18.
UFC Fight Night 72 will take place at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, and the main event was not announced yet.
Latifi (9-4, 1 no-contest) was 2-0 with a pair of first-round stoppages since losing to Gegard Mousasi in his Octagon debut, but suffered a TKO loss to Jan B?achowicz in October. Stringer (22-6-3) looks to get back on track following his first UFC loss, a second-round TKO loss by the hands of Fabio Maldonado.
Edwards (9-2), a former BAMMA welterweight champion, scored his first UFC win by knocking out Seth Baczynski in eight seconds in April. Pawlak (11-1) competed on the same card in Poland, defeating Sheldon Westcott via unanimous decision.
Whiteford (11-2), who tapped to Jimy Hettes in his promotional debut in 2013, bounced back to the win column with a unanimous decision over Daniel Pineda. He was slated to meet Dennis Siver last October, but was forced out of the card with an injury. Redmond (10-4) looks for his first UFC win after a decision loss to Mirsad Bektic in January.
Ray (17-5), a former BAMMA and Cage Warriors 155-pound champion, tries to go 2-0 in the UFC following a second-round finish over Marcin Bandel in April. Mafra (12-2) recently scored his first win since joining American Kickboxing Academy, defeating Cain Carrizosa by decision at UFN 62.
Jessica Aguilar, one of the best strawweight fighters in the world, is now on the free-agent market. Appearing on The MMA Hour, the former WSOF women’s strawweight champ announced that World Series of Fighting had released her on Monday, freeing up an opportunity to finally sign with the UFC and compete against the best 115-pound fighters […]
Jessica Aguilar, one of the best strawweight fighters in the world, is now on the free-agent market. Appearing on The MMA Hour, the former WSOF women’s strawweight champ announced that World Series of Fighting had released her on Monday, freeing up an opportunity to finally sign with the UFC and compete against the best 115-pound fighters […]
Anderson Silva is unsure if his friend Jon Jones should come back to the UFC.
The MMA legend told TMZ that Jones “needs to change everything in his life” when cameras caught up with him in Los Angeles this week. Silva gave a half-answer…
The MMA legend told TMZ that Jones “needs to change everything in his life” when cameras caught up with him in Los Angeles this week. Silva gave a half-answer when asked if the UFC should bring him back.
“I don’t think so,” Silva said. “Jones is a good boy — he’s a good man. He needs to focus.”
Jones was arrested April 27, one day after he was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run car accident in Albuquerque, N.M. “Bones” was driving a rental SUV when he allegedly ran a red light and crashed into a car driven by a pregnant woman. The woman sustained a broken arm in the collision. Jones allegedly fled the scene, but only after coming back and grabbing a handful of cash.
Jones is facing a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury. On April 28, he appeared in court for his felony first appearance. He’ll now await the Bernalillo County district attorney’s decision whether or not to bring the case to a grand jury.
A day after his arrest, UFC president Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta flew down to Albuquerque to speak with Jones and his lawyer Vincent Ward. That same day, White announced on FOX Sports 1 that he would be stripping Jones of the light heavyweight title and suspending him indefinitely.
Jones was scheduled to face Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 this Saturday in Las Vegas. Daniel Cormier will replace him in the main event, which will be for the vacant title.
Jones’ manager Malki Kawai told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour two weeks ago that he’s “50-50” on whether Jones will come back to the UFC and MMA.
“I love Jones,” Silva said. “He needs to change everything in life. It’s very important.”
Silva is facing some issues of his own. The former UFC middleweight champion tested positive for anabolic steroids before and after his UFC 183 main event fight with Nick Diaz in January. “The Spider” will face the Nevada Athletic Commission for a disciplinary hearing, likely next month.
After scoring the most impressive win of his career against Mark Hunt last week in South Australia, Stipe Miocic made his bid to challenge for the heavyweight title. Of course, whether the UFC grants him that shot remains to be seen.
And with fellow contenders Travis Browne fighting the resurgent Andrei Arlovski on May 23 at UFC 187, Miocic could end up on the outside looking in. It’s still a little bit up in the air as to who will face the winner of UFC 188’s unifying title bout between interim champion Fabricio Werdum and actual champ Cain Velasquez.
Yet during an appearance on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, the former Cleveland State wrestler Miocic said it’s not really that debatable. When asked directly if he thought he should be the No. 1 contender after the sustained beating he put on Hunt, Miocic didn’t beat around the bush.
“Yes I am, yeah,” he said. “I feel that I am and I feel that I deserve it.”
Miocic said that his camp has been in contact with the UFC to discuss the title shot, but that that everything is very preliminary right now.
“My manager’s talked a little bit, nothing much more than that,” he told Ariel Helwani. “So we’ll see what happens. I just beat the fifth-ranked guy decisively. I feel like I deserve it. I showed that I belong. I showed that, especially in that fight before even though I lost against the former champ [Junior] dos Santos. I’ve been through a five-round fight twice. So I want a shot at the title.”
The 32-year-old Miocic is 7-2 in the UFC (13-2 overall), and is coming off the TKO of Hunt in Adelaide. Before that, though, he and former heavyweight champion dos Santos went toe-to-toe for five rounds at UFC on FOX 13 in Phoenix. Though he ended up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision, Miocic thinks he showed enough of his mettle to stay in the top contender’s spot.
Before the dos Santos decision, Miocic defeated Fabio Maldonado, Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson respectively. Yet it was his work against Hunt over the course nearly 23 minutes that everybody has on their minds.
The fight was nearly called on a couple of occasions, with Miocic even pleading with referee John Sharp at one point as he rained down blows on “The Super Samoan.” That the fight went an additional two rounds was a topic of debate in the aftermath.
Asked if he was wondering what he had to do to get the referee to stop the fight, Miocic instead complimented Hunt’s granite chin.
“Yeah, I mean, I was doing whatever I could, but it’s the fight game so I just had to keep going until I get that W no matter what,” he said. “Mark’s as tough as they come, man. He’s got a great chin. The guy can take it better than anyone. He’s a tough guy.
“I thought I had it in the third.”
Miocic said that he had no problem with Hunt’s corner not stopping the fight.
“I wouldn’t want my corner throwing in the towel no matter what,” he said. “I wouldn’t want my corner to do that.
“There’s always that puncher’s chance, too.”
After scoring the most impressive win of his career against Mark Hunt last week in South Australia, Stipe Miocic made his bid to challenge for the heavyweight title. Of course, whether the UFC grants him that shot remains to be seen.
And with fellow contenders Travis Browne fighting the resurgent Andrei Arlovski on May 23 at UFC 187, Miocic could end up on the outside looking in. It’s still a little bit up in the air as to who will face the winner of UFC 188’s unifying title bout between interim champion Fabricio Werdum and actual champ Cain Velasquez.
Yet during an appearance on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, the former Cleveland State wrestler Miocic said it’s not really that debatable. When asked directly if he thought he should be the No. 1 contender after the sustained beating he put on Hunt, Miocic didn’t beat around the bush.
“Yes I am, yeah,” he said. “I feel that I am and I feel that I deserve it.”
Miocic said that his camp has been in contact with the UFC to discuss the title shot, but that that everything is very preliminary right now.
“My manager’s talked a little bit, nothing much more than that,” he told Ariel Helwani. “So we’ll see what happens. I just beat the fifth-ranked guy decisively. I feel like I deserve it. I showed that I belong. I showed that, especially in that fight before even though I lost against the former champ [Junior] dos Santos. I’ve been through a five-round fight twice. So I want a shot at the title.”
The 32-year-old Miocic is 7-2 in the UFC (13-2 overall), and is coming off the TKO of Hunt in Adelaide. Before that, though, he and former heavyweight champion dos Santos went toe-to-toe for five rounds at UFC on FOX 13 in Phoenix. Though he ended up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision, Miocic thinks he showed enough of his mettle to stay in the top contender’s spot.
Before the dos Santos decision, Miocic defeated Fabio Maldonado, Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson respectively. Yet it was his work against Hunt over the course nearly 23 minutes that everybody has on their minds.
The fight was nearly called on a couple of occasions, with Miocic even pleading with referee John Sharp at one point as he rained down blows on “The Super Samoan.” That the fight went an additional two rounds was a topic of debate in the aftermath.
Asked if he was wondering what he had to do to get the referee to stop the fight, Miocic instead complimented Hunt’s granite chin.
“Yeah, I mean, I was doing whatever I could, but it’s the fight game so I just had to keep going until I get that W no matter what,” he said. “Mark’s as tough as they come, man. He’s got a great chin. The guy can take it better than anyone. He’s a tough guy.
“I thought I had it in the third.”
Miocic said that he had no problem with Hunt’s corner not stopping the fight.
“I wouldn’t want my corner throwing in the towel no matter what,” he said. “I wouldn’t want my corner to do that.
Zach 
