Tag: Featured

Attempting to unify his lightweight title on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi at UFC 254 opposite interim best, Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje – Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov has predicted he’ll score his third consecutive submission win over a “tired” Gaethje to remain unbeaten.

Khabib, who attempts to move to a whopping 29-0 as a professional. most recently submitted former interim champion, Dustin ‘The Diamond’ Poirier at UFC 242 in September of last year on Yas Island with a third-round rear-naked choke, following an October 2018 neck crank win over ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor in a UFC 229 grudge match.

Tasked with overcoming his consensus toughest challenge in the Octagon to date, Khabib – who makes the walk under the UFC lights for the first time since the recent passing of his father and decorated Sambo coach, Abdulmanap, has predicted he’ll score a finish over Gaethje before the allotted twenty-five minute period has elapsed – a submission win, in fact, which would see him become the first to finish the Arizonian via that method. 

“”I feel I’m going to make him tired and I’m going to finish this guy (Justin Gaethje),” Khabib explained to First Take on ESPN. “This is my opinion. But I’m ready for all rounds. All five-round war. But my goal on this fight, make him tired and choke him out.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Gaethje, an accomplished collegiate amateur wrestler himself, has yet to utilise his often superior wrestling in his seven-fight Octagon stint so far, but against Khabib – he’ll undoubtedly face the sternest grappling orientated opposition to date. 

In his sole professional defeats, Gaethje eventually succumbed to strikes and punishment against the above mentioned Poirier, and former lightweight titleholder, Eddie Alvarez, respectively – scoring knockout wins of his own opposite the likes of Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, Donald Cerrone, and Tony Ferguson in May.

For Khabib – the Dagestani grappling maestro has scored ten victories via submission throughout his twelve-year career, only recently displaying his offensive submission acumen opposite common-foe, Johnson, whom he finished with a taught kimura, as well as his above-mentioned choke wins over McGregor and Poirier.  

Originally slated for this weekend’s UFC 254 event in Abu Dhabi, UAE – the lightweight pairing of former division titleholder, Rafael dos Anjos and streaking contender, Islam Makhachev will now land on UFC Vegas 14 at the UFC Apex facility on November 14.

Rio de Janeiro native, dos Anjos was scheduled to make his divisional return at the October 24 event, but released a statement in the weeks before the showcase, detailing how he had tested positive for COVID-19 – ruling him from the pairing with Makhachev. With the promotion initially searching for a short-notice replacement for the Brazilian, they’ve now decided to match the two on the November 14. Las Vegas card instead.

Making his second Octagon appearance of this annum, Evolve MMA mainstay, dos Anjos dropped his second consecutive loss at UFC Fight Night Raleigh in January opposite submission ace Michael Chiesa over three-rounds.

For American Kickboxing Academy mainstay, Makhachev, the wrestling ace looks to snap a fourteen-month hiatus from active competition – with his most recent appearance coming at UFC 242 in September of last year where he notched his six straight win in a unanimous judging win over grappling standout, Davi Ramos. Marcel Dorff of MMA DNA was first to report the news of the rescheduled bout. 

dos Anjos, 34 – is a former UFC lightweight champion, claiming the crown at UFC 185 in 2014 with an inspired unanimous decision display against former WEC and UFC 155-pound best, Anthony Pettis. Prior his title loss to Eddie Alvarez, the Brazilian scored his sole successful title defence against future Hall of Famer, Donald Cerrone in a rematch knockout win in December of 2015.

Since his move to welterweight back in June of 2017 – dos Anjos has scored a 4-4 promotional record, picking up wins over Tarec Saffiedine, Neil Magny, former champion, Robbie Lawler, and Kevin Lee. In defeats, RDA dropped blemishes to Colby Covington, current champion, Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, and the aforenoted, Chiesa.

Dagestani force, Makhachev looks to continue his rise to eventual lightweight division gold with a high-profile pairing with dos Anjos. With a promotional résumé of 7-1 – the 29-year-old has only suffered one professional loss, a 2015 knockout defeat against dos Anjos’ compatriot, Adriano Martins.

Prior to his judging win over Ramos last year – the Javier Mendez student scored other eye-catching wins over Arman Tsarukyan, Kajan Johnson, Gleison Tibau, and Nik Lentz.