Tag: Editorials

UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Staff Predictions

We’ve got you covered with our staff picks for UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira! It all goes down in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira, which will NOT be on pay-per-view but rather a special feature presentation streaming on ESPN+. Make sure you are well-rested and ready to bet, watch, scream, and […]

Continue Reading UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Staff Predictions at MMA News.

We’ve got you covered with our staff picks for UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira!

It all goes down in Abu Dhabi tomorrow with UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira, which will NOT be on pay-per-view but rather a special feature presentation streaming on ESPN+. Make sure you are well-rested and ready to bet, watch, scream, and shout as this early event kicks off at 10:30 AM ET (prelims), with the main card scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.

There will be two title fights waiting for you and a stacked fight card from top to bottom, capped off with Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira competing for the light heavyweight championship. In the co-main event, Petr Yan will look to return bantamweight gold to his waist, interim or otherwise, as he goes up against the electric Cory Sandhagen.

Also on tap for tomorrow night is the man often considered to be “The Next Khabib,” Islam Makhachev, who will face Dan Hooker. The Russian invasion will also include appearances from Magomed Ankalaev and Alexander Volkov competing on the main card. And who can forget the highly anticipated return of “Borz,” Khmazat Chimaev, who will look to come back with a smesh when he takes on UFC vet Li Jingliang.

You can check out the full UFC 267 main card below!

UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Main Card

  • UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira
  • UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship Bout: Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen
  • Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker
  • Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir

UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Staff Predictions

MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 267 updates. Staff members Andrew Ravens, Doug Murray, and Harvey Leonard have provided predictions for the main card. And based on the consistency of the picks, there seems to be a lot of safe bets to be made according to these three staffers! Check out their picks below!

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir

Magomed Ankalaev Volkan Oezdemir
Magomed Ankalaev, Volkan Oezdemir

Andrew Ravens: Volkan could be in for a rough night at the office when he steps into the Octagon against Ankalaev, who has looked exceptional aside from his promotional debut that he lost. Ankalaev seems to get better and better every outing while Volkvan has flattened at his spot. Ankalaev walks away with the decision win. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)

Doug Murray: Ankalaev can extend his winning streak to seven with a win against Oezdemir. The former title challenger took a devastating loss when he fell at the hands of Ji?í Procházka. Since Oezdemir’s last fight ended by getting finished, his approach will likely be toned down when he meets Ankalaev. With that in mind, Ankalaev’s pressure and high kicks will be difficult for Oezdemir to dodge for 15 minutes. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)

Harvey Leonard: As good as Oezdemir was at the start of his UFC career, he’s certainly not at his best anymore. I think his victory over Aleksandar Raki? has perhaps disguised that slightly. The result was controversial, and it seemed pretty clear he should have lost. With more competent judging, the Swiss contender would be sitting with five losses in his last six. At that point, a reset against lower-ranked opposition (similar to Dan Hooker last month) is needed. Magomed Ankalaev certainly isn’t that. With the Dagestani’s superior accuracy on the feet and Oezdemir’s inferior defense, I see Ankalaev extending his streak to seven. (Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev)

Consensus: 3-0 Ankalaev

Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Li Jingliang Khamzat Chimaev
Li Jingliang and Khamzat Chimaev

Andrew Ravens: Here’s a chance for Chimaev to get another knockout highlight reel, and I see it happening. Li is a good fighter but does have moments where he simply doesn’t show up as expected. If that happens, then Chimaev is going to get a bonus at his expense. Chimaev stops him in the second round. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)

Doug Murray: Mystery shrouds this welterweight showdown. Since Chimaev was forced to the sidelines after contracting COVID-19, his massive audience awaits his return to Fight Island. With three wins and three finishes in the UFC, Chimaev’s speed and ability to predict opponents as they grapple make his style a nightmare to deal with. While Li is a powerful 170-pound fighter, Chimaev’s speed and takedowns will set the tone for this fight early. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)

Harvey Leonard: Whenever a fighter reveals they didn’t know who their opponent was before a booking, I’m wary to side with them. I can picture the clip of Chimaev at media day being brought up after a defeat. However, I do think the edge lies with “Borz.” He may have been away for over a year, but the quality he trains with at the Allstar gym in Stockholm shouldn’t make that an issue.

Whilst “The Leech” possesses the KO power to finish anyone, his shortcomings on the ground were evident in his loss to Neil Magny. We saw how brutal Chimaev can be when he gets his opponents down, and whilst he hasn’t faced a talent like Jingliang, I’d expect his pressure wrestling to be too much. (Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev)

Consensus: 3-0 Chimaev

Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura

Alexander Volkov Marcin Tybura
(via Zuffa LLC)

Andrew Ravens: Volkov is looking to rebound after losing his previous fight against Cyril Gane while Tybura has been on fire as he’s won five straight. I see Volkov being really fired up to get a win here and prove that yes, he can fight with the best of the best. I don’t see Tybura at that level and predict Volkov can back that up with a TKO win. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)

Doug Murray: A battle of two titans, don’t look now, but Tybura has amassed a five-fight winning streak with the promotion. Tybura is finally synergizing his standup with his strength on the canvas. The heavyweight showed his path to victory in his last fight. With damaging ground and pound, Tybura will need to get “Drago” to the mat to drastically increase his odds for success. Volkov has shown a stellar takedown defense as a former champion in Bellator, and his striking will be overwhelming if the fight makes it to the third round. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)

Harvey Leonard: Tybura is on a pretty devastating win streak, but he’s not come close to facing an opponent with the skill of Volkov during it. The only times he’s faced heavyweights similar to his level on the feet, he was finished by Derrick Lewis and Augusto Sakai. The Pole’s threat is power, but given that Volkov has only been finished by Lewis in the UFC, I can’t see a scenario where he gets taken out by Tybura.

Volkov’s striking is up there with the best in the division, and through The Russian’s reach and speed advantage, I’d expect “Drago” to put it on full display. I’d fancy a Volkov finish, but if it goes to the scorecards, Tybura will struggle to outpoint him. (Prediction: Alexander Volkov)

Consensus: 3-0 Volkov

Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker

Islam Makhachev, Dan Hooker
Islam Makhachev, Dan Hooker (Image Credits: Mike Lawrie/Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

Andrew Ravens: There are levels to this game, and it looks like Islam is on his way to the top tier. That’s not to say Hooker is not a real challenge as he’s a really good fighter. Islam has been running through people, but Hooker is his first real test, and he’s gonna have to put out his best to get past Hooker. I do think that happens with Islam getting the decision win. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)

Doug Murray: Burn the boats. Dan Hooker is coming to Fight Island after just competing on Sept. 25, “The Hangman” is becoming somewhat of a hardcore fight fan’s dream. The wrestling skills of Hooker appear to be evolving rapidly, and he showed as much in his fight against Nasrat Haqparast. With a style geared toward volume, Hooker poses some real challenges to Makhachev. The heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov has looked impressive in the cage. And with a short camp for Hooker, Makhachev’s pressure will likely get the best of Hooker. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)

Harvey Leonard: As much as I’d love for Hooker’s attitude to be rewarded with a victory, it’s hard to bet against the imposing game of Makhachev. Whilst I don’t buy into the idea that it’s as one-sided as the likes of Khabib would like us to believe, I do think “The Hangman” could struggle to implement his game if the Dagestani imposes his own early. Hooker’s route to victory is clearly keeping the fight on the feet. If he can’t, Makhachev could force a submission, but I think a controlling decision is more likely. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)

Consensus: 3-0 Makhachev

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen

Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan
Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Andrew Ravens: In my eyes, Yan is still champion and not Aljamain Sterling. We all know why Yan isn’t technically the champion right now and to his credit, instead of waiting for Sterling, he’s trying to stay active. In such a deep division, there are no easy tests and this inserts Sandhagen, who has a real chance to win this fight. I think Yan is the better fighter, but this will be a close, back-and-forth, and fun fight. (Prediction: Petr Yan)

Doug Murray: After going the distance with TJ Dillashaw, Sandhagen’s style is so fan-friendly that it was no surprise he got the call after hearing the champion was injured. I think Sandhagen’s kick-heavy style will be to his detriment against a disciplined boxer like Petr Yan. Yan is able to connect at will when opponents tire and relies heavily on a boxing repertoire that should carry him to the win. (Prediction: Petr Yan)

Harvey Leonard: This is arguably a better fight on paper than the original Yan vs. Sterling rematch. The contrast between the Russian’s tight boxing and forward pressure and Sandhagen’s kickboxing and elusive movement should make for a barnburner. Whilst Sandhagen is always capable of a highlight-reel KO and Yan is always looking for a brutal finish, I expect this one to go the distance.

If “The Sandman” can stay at range and catch Yan when he attempts to move in, perhaps even with a knee as the Russian ducks low with his shots, he is capable of outpointing “No Mercy.” But whilst I expect him to have some success doing so, I believe Yan will have the better of the exchanges, especially in the later rounds. (Prediction: Petr Yan)

Consensus: 3-0 Yan

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira

Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira
Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira

Andrew Ravens: Some casuals may overlook Glover in this fight, but the hardcore fans know how dangerous Glover can be. However, I see this to be a one-sided beatdown by Jan. In the current division, I don’t see anyone beating Jan right now, and I add Glover to that list. Glover has a puncher’s chance early and won’t be put away, but I have Jan getting his hand raised after a decision win. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)

Doug Murray: The light heavyweight titleholder made his name as a Polish champion in KSW. B?achowicz is well versed in maintaining a fight’s geography. As a powerful counter puncher and reactive wrestler, the 38-year-old has all of the tools to deal with Teixeira. While the Brazilian challenger may have the edge in power on the feet, B?achowicz will be too much for a UFC legend that appears to be slowing despite stringing a massive streak together. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)

Harvey Leonard: After the bad blood in last weekend’s main event, it’s a nice change of pace to have two headliners respecting each other. As much of a feel-good story as it would be for Teixeira to become the UFC’s second post-40 champion, I believe he’ll fall short. Of course, he does boast incredible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, and if the fight does hit the mat, he has what it takes to submit the champion.

However, on the feet, Blachowicz will have a speed and power advantage, which will not only help him control the exchanges and possibly find a finish but will also aid him in resisting Teixeira’s attempts to take him down and keep him there. The 42-year-old can never be counted out, but “and new” would surprise me. (Prediction: Jan Blachowicz)

Consensus: 3-0 Blachowicz

That’ll do it for our unanimous staff picks! What do you think? Are these fights as clear-cut as our three staffers seem to think? Or do you see some upsets brewing? Feel free to drop your own picks in the comments section, and you can check out the UFC 267 undercard below.

UFC 267 Undercard

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba (Women’s Strawweight)
  • Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (Featherweight)
  • Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
  • Shamil Gamzatov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (Light Heavyweight)
  • Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy (Featherweight)
  • Hu Yaozong vs. Alen Amedovski (Middleweight)
  • Magomed Mustafaev vs. Damir Ismagulov (Lightweight)
  • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Allan Nascimento (Flyweight)

Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 267!

Continue Reading UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira Staff Predictions at MMA News.

UFC 267: Three Under-The-Radar Fights

The UFC is headed back to Abu Dhabi, and the stacked UFC 267 event has left some fight gems unearthed. This weekend all eyes are on Fight Island. The UFC will double down on title fights as interim bantamweight gold will be fought for when Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen meet under the bright lights. […]

Continue Reading UFC 267: Three Under-The-Radar Fights at MMA News.

The UFC is headed back to Abu Dhabi, and the stacked UFC 267 event has left some fight gems unearthed.

This weekend all eyes are on Fight Island. The UFC will double down on title fights as interim bantamweight gold will be fought for when Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen meet under the bright lights. Spoiled with riches in an exclusive presentation, the main event pits Brazil’s Glover Teixeira, who is adamant that he will not be denied his final title opportunity against Jan B?achowicz.

Three fights, in particular, stand out at UFC 267 that might be flying under the radar. With a pair of title bouts and the return of the surging Khamzat Chimaev, there is plenty to get excited about. The 9-0 viral sensation looks to re-cement his status as one of the scariest prospects at 170-pounds. The Chechnya native will face a tough out when his showdown with China’s Jingliang Li comes full circle.

As the month of October draws to a close, a cold front of violence awaits. Let’s take a closer look at three contests buried on this epic night of fights.

Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba

A strawweight battle between Amanda Ribas and Virna Jandiroba will produce a contender among a busy stable of fighters at 115-pounds. The pair of strawweight athletes made their way into the UFC in 2019 but started careers off in different manners.

“Carcará” was tasked with a difficult debut. Jandiroba faced inaugural former champion Carla Esparza but came up short in a unanimous decision defeat. Within a year of losing her UFC debut, Jandiroba met adversity head-on and picked up her first two victories with the promotion.

As a former Invicta champion, Jandiroba made a career with her submission skills. Interestingly, the 33-year-old first started combat when she was a child practicing kung fu. Nevertheless, it was her affinity for grappling sequences that set her name ablaze in the combat sports community.

Amanda Ribas will meet Jandiroba in a 115-pound contest on Saturday. Despite the recent setback against Marina Rodriguez, Amanda Ribas has shown toughness and a tactical tenacity when she fights in the Octagon. A tale of two different debuts, Ribas made waves with her first performance in the UFC. The strawweight debutante finished Emily Whitmire with a rear-naked choke in round two.

Granted, Amanda Ribas is a well-rounded strawweight, it will take a committed effort in the standup department to uproot Jandiroba from her game. Since Jandiroba is more than willing to take the fight to the canvas, one of Ribas’ notable strengths will be nullified once the two touch gloves.

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir

A hard-hitting light heavyweight match-up will illuminate a clear path for whoever should emerge with a victory. Oezdemir, having lost his last bout to Ji?í Procházka, will need a statement win if he intends to put himself back on the hunt for gold.

Volkan Oezdemir fighting Ji?í Procházka

Ankalaev seeks his seventh consecutive win after going scorched earth following his dramatic defeat to Paul Craig in 2018. Both light heavyweights are notable strikers with power produced even in their glancing shots. With such a long-standing winning streak, Ankalaev will risk it all when he faces a former title challenger at UFC 267. Though, ahead of the contest, Oezdemir is adamant that it will be Ankalaev looking to avoid the action.

With the frantic nature of his last fight against Procházka, many believe we have yet to see the best “No Time” has to offer. In 2017, Oezdemir earned his moniker after finishing Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa in under thirty seconds. The Switzerland native has the chance to become the second fighter in history to defeat Ankalaev when they share the cage on Saturday night.

Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura

Alexander Volkov Marcin Tybura
(via Zuffa LLC)

Marcin Tybura has amassed a quiet but revealing winning streak. Having won his last five bouts, the heavyweight has blasted through some legitimate contenders as of late. In fact, Tybura picked up four of his most recent victories in 2020. After scoring back-to-back decision victories against Maxim Grishin and Ben Rothwell, it seemed the 35-year-old was beginning to find his footing at 265-pounds.

Following his ground-and-pound victory against Greg Hardy, the division and fans alike took notice of the heavyweight’s stellar performance. Putting an exclamation point on his claim for a title contender, Tybura polished off Walt Harris in a single round. Once again, it was the heavyweight’s patented ground-and-pound that got the job done.

However, Tybura will have a challenging night when he meets Alexander Volkov at UFC 267. As a former Bellator and M-1 heavyweight champion, “Drago” will put those former accolades on the line informally when he squares up with Tybura this weekend. Despite Volkov losing his last fight, the defeat came at the hands of Ciryl Gane, and the bout showcased a tactical chess match.

While Volkov was unable to effectively land on Gane, he went the distance with the interim heavyweight champion. As a decorated kickboxer with excellent takedown defense, Volkov will be Tybura’s most puzzling UFC test to date. Alexander Volkov’s striking is difficult to prepare for, and with length and reach not often seen in the UFC, Tybura will need to be defensively sound to avoid fight-ending damage.

What fight at UFC 267 is going under the radar for you?

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The Dictator And I: The Chechen Warlord Behind Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Return

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of MMA News or its members. In April this year, Khamzat Chimaev crashed his brand new Mercedes SUV. This wasn’t just any Mercedes, but one reportedly gifted to Khamzat by a man who’s currently under US sanctions for […]

Continue Reading The Dictator And I: The Chechen Warlord Behind Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Return at MMA News.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of MMA News or its members.

In April this year, Khamzat Chimaev crashed his brand new Mercedes SUV. This wasn’t just any Mercedes, but one reportedly gifted to Khamzat by a man who’s currently under US sanctions for a slew of human rights abuses—Ramzan Kadyrov, the all-powerful leader of Chechnya.

A month earlier, it was Kadyrov who persuaded (or more likely pressured) Chechen-born Chimaev to rethink his retirement from MMA following a near-death battle with COVID-19. The 27-year-old, after all, had become the pride of Chechnya—a tiny Russian republic in the North Caucasus over which Kadyrov rules with an iron fist. And the Mercedes was just a little enticement from the warlord, and quite possibly, like an offer from a Mafia don, one Khamzat couldn’t refuse.

Khamzat Chimaev car

For most people, reciprocating a gift from your nation’s iron-fisted ruler by crashing it isn’t the smartest move. But for Chimaev, who became a UFC fan favorite last year for his regularly stated imperative to “smash everybody,” it almost seems poetic that he did the same to his Mercedes. And besides, Kadyrov simply bought him an even better Ferrari a month later.

But Kadyrov—who is under US sanctions for committing bloody anti-gay purges, extra-judicial killings, and the torture of his citizens—isn’t doling out luxury vehicles simply because he’s filled with the milk of human kindness. It’s more than likely he expects a return on investment from Khamzat in the form of his continued rise through the UFC ranks. Because “Borz” isn’t just his dear leader’s favorite fighter, but also his latest puppet to help distract from the crimes of his regime.

Ramzan Kadyrov: The World’s Sleaziest Fight Promoter

Mix the sociopathic tendencies of Saddam Hussein with the fight game ambitions of Dana White, and you have Ramzan Kadyrov, a despot who rules Chechnya as his personal fiefdom in between running his own MMA promotion, Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) —a franchise that has generated outrage for hosting bouts between children. 

For Kadyrov, involving himself in MMA is part of a strategy to “sportswash” his many heinous crimes against humanity. ACA, which has held over 150 MMA events across the globe, is one such avenue through which Kadyrov curates his public image as a sports-loving, hyper-masculine, yet benevolent leader. So too via his public flirtations with some of the UFC’s and boxing’s biggest stars.

In 2015, Chris Weidman, Fabricio Werdum, and Frank Mir visited Chechnya as honored guests of Kadyrov to attend the inaugural ACA event. Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson have also hung out with and snapped selfies with Kadyrov. And in late 2020, even Kamaru Usman accepted an invitation from the warlord to train at his Akhmat MMA facilities in Chechnya. Video shows the welterweight champ hanging out with Kadyrov’s sons after a sparring session, and even chanting the dictator’s slogan. Renzo Gracie, Alexander Gustafsson, Frankie Edgar, and Khabib Nurmagomedov have also experienced the red carpet treatment from Kadyrov.

Kadyrov Frank Mir Fabricio Werdum
Ramzan Kadyrov with his praetorian guard of UFC heavyweights (PHOTO: BLOODY ELBOW)

Kadyrov’s tentacles run deep through the MMA world. With his Akhmat MMA Fight Club, the dictator runs a network of training facilities across many former Soviet states, and those in Chechnya not only produce a long line of talent for Kadyrov’s MMA promotion, but also foot soldiers for his army. Akhmat MMA Fight Club is, after all, run by the commander of Chechnya’s special forces.

Some Akhmat MMA graduates have even made it to the UFC, most notably light heavyweight rising star Magomed Ankalaev, who’s set to face Volkan Oezdimir at UFC 267 this weekend. Managing these fighters through a tight working relationship with Kadyrov is Ali Abdelaziz. The Dominance MMA president has since 2015 represented a number of UFC fighters who were developed through Kadyrov’s Akhmat MMA gyms, including Magomed Bibulatov, Abdul-Kerim Edilov, Ruslan Magomedov, in addition to those currently on the UFC roster, Said Nurmagomedov, Maxim Grishin, and Ankalaev.

Kadyrov Mayweather

Abdelaziz, like many others profiting from their relationship with Kadyrov, has casually turned a blind eye to the warlord’s many human rights violations. In a 2019 interview with Luke Thomas, the MMA manager to the stars brushed off media coverage of Kadyrov’s anti-gay purges as simply fake news. 

“A lot of people say a lot of shit. Right? I don’t know what this man in Chechnya thinks about gay, not gay,” Abdelaziz said. “But the whole thing is, I don’t know nothing about it, because I don’t believe anything the media says. I don’t see it with my eyes, I don’t believe it.”

Where Abelaziz’s business ethics failed to prevent him from pursuing commercial interests with Kadyrov, the US sanctions imposed late last year have most likely succeeded.

Kadyrov and Khabib: A Complicated Relationship

Perhaps the greatest PR strategy for a murderous dictator like Kadyrov is to latch onto the coattails of UFC stars from the North Caucasus region. For years, the Chechen strongman has attempted to court Khabib Nurmagomedov, who hails from neighboring Dagestan, into his good graces.

The former lightweight champ has received the full “dictator’s plaything” treatment from Kadyrov. He’s been invited to host training seminars at Kadyrov’s Akhmat gym and appear as a guest of honor at several of his MMA events. Khabib has also, like Chimaev, been lavished with luxury cars and even been anointed an honorary citizen of Chechnya.

Kadyrov Khabib Nurmagomedov

But Khabib and Kadyrov’s relationship is one that’s been complicated by the messy politics of the North Caucasus. In 2019, the dictator claimed that Dagestan’s national hero, Imam Shamil—who led the Caucasian resistance to Imperial Russia in the 1800s—also caused the “annihilation of the Chechen people.” This didn’t sit well with the people of Dagestan nor Khabib, who’s since largely steered clear of Kadyrov. The tyrant did, however, attend the funeral of Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap last year, where footage showed him embracing the lightweight GOAT.

Khamzat Chimaev: Kadyrov’s Latest Plaything

Just as his relationship with Khabib was on the outs, in stepped another shiny new plaything to monopolize Kadyrov’s attention—Khamzat Chimaev. 

Last year, when Chimaev announced himself as the UFC’s next rising star by achieving three wins in just 66 days, Kadyrov wasted no time in worming his way into the good graces of the Chechen-born Swede, labeling him a “true Chechen” in a congratulatory post on Russian social media. That Chimaev represents Sweden and has resided there since his teens matters little to Kadyrov.

“Regardless of the country in which he performs, Khamzat always remembers that he is, first of all, a Chechen, and strictly observes the traditions and customs of his people,” wrote Kadyrov.

Prior to achieving UFC fame, Chimaev had visited Kadyrov’s Akhmat MMA facility on numerous occasions, even hosting a training seminar for children. And since his breakout performances last year, “Borz” has well and truly taken Khabib’s place as his dear leader’s favorite fighter.

Kadyrov has of course showered him with lavish gifts. And like any third-world tyrant obsessed with projecting an image of machismo, has engaged in a sparring session with his 27-year-old compatriot.

These friendly gestures, however, seemingly carry with them weighty expectations for Chimaev. What Khabib Nurmagomedov had done for neighboring Dagestan, Chimaev was doing for Chechnya in 2020—smashing every opponent placed before him in the name of his beloved homeland. So when Khamzat announced his MMA retirement earlier this year, Kadyrov would have none of it. The tyrant was quick to “persuade” his favorite fighter into doing otherwise, even offering rehabilitation in Chechnya to speed his recovery.

“During our conversation, Chimaev realized how important his career is for every Chechen and promised to make every effort to recover as soon as possible,” Kadyrov wrote in an Instagram post. “In the near future, he will fly to the republic, where he will complete a rehabilitation course, hold a training camp, and start training.”

“And this means that Khamzat does not leave, HE REMAINS AND WILL FIGHT TO THE END!”

Kadyrov Khamzat Chimaev

It’s probably safe to say that while Khamzat was likely all-in on making his UFC return if he wasn’t, he’d be facing far more dire repercussions than simply no longer receiving luxury vehicles from Kadyrov.

Yes, Chimaev resides in Sweden. But he no doubt has family in Chechnya, and international borders aren’t something that has deterred Kadyrov from exerting his power over Chechen expatriates, often with bloody results.

As “Borz” prepares to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 267 this weekend, it seems he’ll be fighting for more than just recapturing the form that saw him rise to prominence last year. And one man, from the confines of his opulent presidential palace in Grozny, will be watching closely.

Continue Reading The Dictator And I: The Chechen Warlord Behind Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Return at MMA News.

One Historic Landmark That PFL Can Top UFC In Tonight

In tonight’s 2001 PFL Season finale, the undefeated Kayla Harrison will compete against Taylor Guardado in the main event. All the buzz surrounding this bout has been in one direction, that of soon-to-be free agent and PFL’s current franchise star, Kayla Harrison. The expectations heading into this headliner can be summed up in two words: […]

Continue Reading One Historic Landmark That PFL Can Top UFC In Tonight at MMA News.

In tonight’s 2001 PFL Season finale, the undefeated Kayla Harrison will compete against Taylor Guardado in the main event. All the buzz surrounding this bout has been in one direction, that of soon-to-be free agent and PFL’s current franchise star, Kayla Harrison. The expectations heading into this headliner can be summed up in two words: “Why bother?” But for Taylor Guardado, like all the overlooked underdogs before her, the real questions are: “Why not?” and “Why not me?”

As an amateur, it started off always being her. She was the woman continuously getting her arm raised while adding to her undefeated record, including a victory over future UFC title challenger Raquel Pennington. Then, at 6-0, Guardado ran into the woman who Kayla Harrison is often compared to, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey.

Guardado suffered her first loss to Rousey, but like all first defeats, this was a learning experience. And unlike most first defeats, it came against an Olympian and future UFC Hall of Famer. Rousey remains the only fighter to finish Guardado at either the amateur or the professional level, and even this stoppage was disputable.

At the end of the contest, Guardado refused to tap out to Rousey’s fully applied armbar and was not provided any time to work out of it. You can catch the full fight below.

That fight was 10 years ago. The woman Guardado faced that night in Las Vegas would later have something else in common with her opponent tonight. Both Rousey and Harrison were viewed as locks to win each of their fights while undefeated. If Guardado can do the unthinkable tonight, she will add one other piece of comparison between Olympic judokas Rousey and Harrison: both falling victim to historic upsets.

Like all of us, Guardado isn’t the same woman she was 10 years ago. Her story isn’t as widely known as the Kayla Harrisons and Ronda Rouseys of the world. You won’t find extensive coverage about her career or many interviews that document her journey. But just her making it to the main event of an ESPN card with a chance to win $1 million is already a piece worth writing.

After her final amateur bout in 2011, Guardado had not competed in MMA until last year. During that time away from competition, she suffered through injuries, fractured relationships with coaches, and post-partum depression. Now, after going 3-0 in the PFL this season, she has a chance to make and change MMA history tonight when she faces Kayla Harrison.

Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

A Kayla Harrison victory tonight seems inevitable, with the unbeaten star entering the fight as a -3000 favorite. Those are Serena Williams numbers. You’re not supposed to see lines like that outside of an early-bracket tennis Grandslam match or an Alabama Roll Tide home game against an overmatched squad. Yet, here we are.

By comparison, Ronda Rousey closed as a -750 favorite over Holm, and that upset is regarded as the biggest championship fight upset in WMMA history. Should Guardado do the unthinkable tonight, that historic landmark would now belong to the PFL.

In fact, a Guardado victory would be the biggest championship fight upset in the history of the entire sport, regardless of gender. The current #1 upset belongs to Matt Serra’s victory over Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69. St-Pierre was the -1300 favorite coming into that fight. A crazy figure, to be sure, but still not even half the favorite that Kayla Harrison will be tonight.

It’s to the point where the conversation around tonight’s main event isn’t even about how Harrison will perform or if she will win. The narrative is, “Will she stay in PFL, or will she take her undefeated record with her to another promotion?”

A victory for Harrison tonight is viewed as elementary, but that was also the case with Rousey, St-Pierre, and other “locks” who were picked off by overshadowed bandits who crossed the lines, leaving house residents with empty pockets in search of explanations. Taylor Guardado will look to pull off the biggest heist in MMA history tonight. If it goes off as she plans, she’ll exit the casino $1 million richer and spread the wealth to all the crazy rebels who backed her.

Continue Reading One Historic Landmark That PFL Can Top UFC In Tonight at MMA News.

[ARCHIVES] McGregor Continues To Steal The Show Before UFC 179

Conor McGregor is on his way to becoming the most entertaining fighter in MMA history.

Continue Reading [ARCHIVES] McGregor Continues To Steal The Show Before UFC 179 at MMA News.

[MMA NEWS ARCHIVES]

Here’s a look back to an editorial written about Conor McGregor in the middle of his rise to superstardom in 2014. The following piece was published seven years ago to this day and is presented to you in its original, unaltered form.

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 23, 2014, 11:30 PM]

How can anyone not love Conor McGregor?

Seriously?

“The Notorious” one has been providing entertainment all week long as we head into Saturday’s UFC 179 pay-per-view in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Jose Aldo defends his UFC Featherweight Championship in a rematch against Chad Mendes.

While Aldo and Mendes are the headliners this weekend, no one is making more headlines than Ireland’s finest.

Whether it’s Mendes claiming he wants to punch a hole through McGregor’s face, or Aldo calling him a “sh*t,” Conor McGregor is getting people’s attention.

Whether it’s Conor ranting on Twitter (which resulted in a likely January bout with Dennis Siver), or hijacking live television interviews and threatening to rest his balls on a certain Featherweight’s forehead, McGregor is the man in the spotlight.

Whether it’s calling Ben Askren a “pube head”, or stealing the show on UFC 179 Embedded, Conor McGregor cannot — and will not — be ignored.

Hell, today alone, McGregor posted two tweets that generated legitimate laughter from yours truly, as he touted “sipping fresh coconut on the beach in Rio” and then posted a photo of himself with who he called UFC’s “Head Of Operations,” Garry Cook, in the back of an “armored vehicle” while referring to himself as UFC’s “Head Of Removing Heads.”

Conor McGregor is truly a rock star.

No one was sadder than I when Chael P. Sonnen retired — but fear not — his Irish-counterpart has arrived …in style.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to “The Notorious era.” The best part? We’re just getting started!

Talk about this on our official FACEBOOK page, or on our official TWITTER page. You can also talk about it in our popular FORUMS.

Continue Reading [ARCHIVES] McGregor Continues To Steal The Show Before UFC 179 at MMA News.

Is The UFC Being Too Lenient When Fighters Miss Weight?

When a fighter takes a fight, a contract is sent out and signed by both parties. In this contract is a lot of information but among that information is time, place, and agreed-upon weight. Historically, if a fighter steps on the scale and comes in over the limit of their weight class, there are two […]

Continue Reading Is The UFC Being Too Lenient When Fighters Miss Weight? at MMA News.

When a fighter takes a fight, a contract is sent out and signed by both parties. In this contract is a lot of information but among that information is time, place, and agreed-upon weight.

Historically, if a fighter steps on the scale and comes in over the limit of their weight class, there are two punishments. Either the fight is canceled, which is the case most of the time if the fighter’s health is in jeopardy. The other option is to keep the scheduled fight and fine the fighter a percentage of their fight purse. Usually, it would be 20 percent of their purse being handed over to their opponent. On some occasions, it could be 30 percent.

Depending on how much that fighter is making for their fight could be the deciding factor on whether their opponent agrees or not. Also to take into consideration is how much of an advantage a fighter has by not cutting the extra 1-5 pounds or more. More on this later.

Fighters having missed weight has been an issue for years. Since the beginning of weight classes, someone probably missed the mark. However, now more than ever it seems the UFC is becoming more lenient on these mishaps. In the last month alone, four fighters have come in heavy and been let off the hook or downright rewarded for it, beginning with Nick Diaz.

Diaz was returning to the Octagon after a long layoff. He agreed to fight Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. The bout was set to be a welterweight matchup, but the week before the fight, Diaz called for it to be moved up 15 pounds to middleweight. UFC president Dana White even laughed about it saying he didn’t think Diaz wanted to cut the weight. So the fight was adjusted, and Lawler agreed, no punishment was given, it was just moved up.

Next was the situation with Aspen Ladd. Ladd actually made it to the scale for her UFC Vegas 38 bout against Macy Chiasson but missed weight. Ladd was visually in bad shape on the scale and the fight was canceled. Not one week later it was announced that Ladd was going to get an opportunity to headline the UFC Vegas 40 card against Norma Dumont at featherweight. So not only did she miss weight, she cheated Chiasson out of a fight opportunity and was rewarded with another main event opportunity where she would not need to cut as much weight.

Recently on the Dana White Contender Series, a fighter, Jake Hadley, missed weight. He went on to win his fight against Mitch Raposo and received a UFC contract. This sets a bad precedent. Let’s talk more about the advantage a fighter could have by not cutting the full weight.

Fighter A and B decide to meet at 155 pounds. Fighter A makes weight. They worked hard for weeks watching what they ate. Sweated out for a day or days to make the weight. They pushed their body to the limit and made themselves ill in the process. Fighter B gives up a few pounds. Maybe they pushed just as hard as fighter A, but maybe they didn’t. Perhaps they decided to give up some money and not go through that last bit of agony to kill themselves to make weight. They might be able to balloon back up bigger and better than fighter A. That could be an advantage.

The last example is happening now. Paulo Costa is fighting Marvin Vettori this coming Saturday. Costa knew he was coming in heavy. He fessed up and asked for a catchweight. This is both saving him the agony of cutting too much and the loss of money by giving up a percentage of his purse. The UFC granted a catchweight of 195 pounds, which has since been bumped up to 205 pounds. Now could every fighter start asking for this treatment? Maybe a new plan could be to wait until a week out when your opponent doesn’t expect it and ask for a move in weight. That isn’t fair and the UFC should not be allowing these things to go on. Granted, they don’t want to lose out on main events but maybe the leniency could be taken advantage of.

Do you think the UFC needs stricter punishments for fighters missing weight?

Continue Reading Is The UFC Being Too Lenient When Fighters Miss Weight? at MMA News.