Tag: MMA News

Report: Jeremy Stephens Out Of November 7 Clash With Arnold Allen

StephensPerennial UFC featherweight contender, Jeremy ‘Lil’ Heathen’ Stephens has been forced to withdraw from his UFC Vegas 13 pairing with division upstart, Arnold ‘Almighty’ Allen on November 7 – citing an injury, according to a report from MMA Junkie’s, Nolan King.  Stephens, who was previously linked with an eye-catching featherweight pairing with fellow former lightweight, Edson […]

Stephens

Perennial UFC featherweight contender, Jeremy ‘Lil’ Heathen’ Stephens has been forced to withdraw from his UFC Vegas 13 pairing with division upstart, Arnold ‘Almighty’ Allen on November 7 – citing an injury, according to a report from MMA Junkie’s, Nolan King. 

Stephens, who was previously linked with an eye-catching featherweight pairing with fellow former lightweight, Edson Barboza for a UFC Fight Island event this month, declined the offer, on that occasion citing a need for more time to prepare for the cut to 145-pounds following his tipping of the scales before his UFC 249 knockout loss to Calvin Kattar. 

Stephens was subsequently replaced by Sodiq Yussuf, who was himself replaced by Makwan Amirkhani after he was forced to withdraw due to passport issues – with Barboza ultimately sealing his first victory since his drop to featherweight in a unanimous decision win.

It’s currently unknown if the promotion will attempt to find a short-notice replacement for Ipswich native, Allen who most recently featured at UFC Fight Night Raleigh in late January – taking home a unanimous decision win over Nik Lentz to score his seventh-successive Octagon success.

34-year-old Des Moines, Iowa native Stephens is a thirteen-year, whopping thirty-four fight Octagon veteran. A renowned knockout artist, the Alliance MMA mainstay has managed to score an incredible nineteen knockout wins from twenty-eight overall. 

With a 28-18 professional record, Stephens has secured notable wins over Josh Emmett, Doo Ho Choi, former Strikeforce lightweight best, Gilbert Melendez, former bantamweight champion, Renan Barao, The Ultimate Fighter 14 finalist, Dennis Bermudez, and a memorable 2008 knockout over former lightweight titleholder, Rafael dos Anjos.

For Allen, the 26-year-old currently sits at #9 in the promotion’s 145-pound ranks, with an unbeaten 7-0 record under the UFC’s banner. Taking wins against the above mentioned, Lentz and common-opposition, Melendez – Allen has also scored impressive victories over Mads Burnell, and the previously noted, Amirkhani. 

UFC Vegas 13 takes place on November 7 from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada – with a high-stakes potential light heavyweight title eliminator between one-time title challengers, Thiago ‘Marreta’ Santos and Glover Teixeira expected to take place at the third time of asking. 

Dana White Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Broke Foot Before UFC 254

KhabibCapping off a stunning professional mixed martial arts career, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov had reportedly suffered a broken foot three-weeks before tonight’s lightweight title unification win over Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje – according to UFC president, Dana White. Calling time on his perfect twenty-nine fight career following his excellent second-round triangle win over Gaethje, Khabib […]

Khabib

Capping off a stunning professional mixed martial arts career, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov had reportedly suffered a broken foot three-weeks before tonight’s lightweight title unification win over Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje – according to UFC president, Dana White.

Calling time on his perfect twenty-nine fight career following his excellent second-round triangle win over Gaethje, Khabib announced his decision to retire from professional mixed martial, after making a promise to his mother. Following the untimely passing of his father and renowned Sambo coach, Abdulmanap earlier this year due to complications due to COVID-19 – Khabib had faced a tough trail to get to the Octagon tonight. 

Forcing the usual forward pressing Gaethje to fight off the fence which would eventually prove detrimental, Khabib ate a number of significant inside and outside leg kicks from the Elevation Fight Team mainstay for his troubles. Heading back to his corner and Trevor Wittman after the opening buzzer, Wittman put emphasis on more leg kicks, detailing how eight more would render Khabib’s mobility useless.

Starting the second-round with a notable breath in – Gaethje gave up his back in a scramble, with Khabib threatening with a mounted triangle. Eventually reverting to an armbar and then a triangle from guard – Khabib choked Gaethje unconscious, despite a couple of taps from the Arizonian.

An emotional Khabib fell to his knees in the centre of the Octagon as he celebrated with his corner, before announcing his decision to hang up his gloves during his post-fight interview with UFC commentator, Jon Anik.

Speaking with media at the post-fight press conference, White detailed how Khabib had suffered a break to two of his toes, and a bone in his foot prior to tonight’s Octagon walk.

“Listen, man, what he’s (Khabib Nurmagomedov’s) been through, we’re all lucky we got to see him fight tonight,” White said. “And I’m hearing rumours of other things that I didn’t know about, that you guys will hear about when he comes out later I’m sure.“

“Apparently, he was in the hospital – he broke his foot. Three weeks ago. So he has two broken toes and a bone in his foot that’s broken, or something like that. That’s what his corner was telling me. And never told anybody – [was] walking around, I mean, he is one of the toughest human beings on the planet and he is just – he’s the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. And seriously, you have to start putting him up there at G.O.A.T. status, whoever else you think is the G.O.A.T.“

UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje Bonuses

KhabibEarlier tonight (Saturday, October, 24th. 2020) UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje took place from the Flash Forum on ‘Fight Island’ on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. UFC president, Dana White announced the following bonuses at tonight’s post-fight press conference. Taking main event honours, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov successfully unified the lightweight crown opposite interim […]

Khabib

Earlier tonight (Saturday, October, 24th. 2020) UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje took place from the Flash Forum on ‘Fight Island’ on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. UFC president, Dana White announced the following bonuses at tonight’s post-fight press conference.

Taking main event honours, Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov successfully unified the lightweight crown opposite interim titleholder, Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje – before announcing his stunning retirement from professional mixed martial arts at an undeniable 29-0.

Finding himself on the wrong end of a number of worrying leg kicks early in the opening round, Khabib forced Gaethje to fight off the fence and never allowed him get comfortable, with massive pressure and pace. With a visibly fatigued Gaethje returning to his stool, Khabib managed to take the Arizona native’s back in the second-round in a scramble near the Octagon fence. Assuming full-mount, Khabib then dropped to his back, locking up a taut triangle – with Gaethje ultimately falling unconscious after a series of taps.

An emotional Khabib gathered his thoughts in the centre of the Octagon afterwards, before calling time on his illustrious career, after a promise he had made to his mother following the passing of his father, Abdulmanap. The victory proved enough for Khabib to score a Performance of The Night bonus.

Opening up our main card portion of the event, an intriguing light heavyweight rematch between rivals, Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba. Following a controversial stoppage in March of this year – the pair looked to finally settle the score in a heated rivalry.

Dropping the Moldovan in the opening frame, Ankalaev then scored a massive counter left-hook to drop Cutelaba a second time – with a series of massive ground-and-pound hammer-fists finishing Cutelaba. No question here – clean as a whistle for the dangerous, Ankalaev. With the victory, the division contender also picked up Performance of The Night spoils.

Earning Fight of The Night bonuses apiece – bantamweight contenders, Nathaniel ‘The Prospect’ Wood, and Casey Kenney clashed at a 140-pound catchweight, in an exciting three-round barnburner. Lodging his second win of this month alone, Kenney managed to take home a unanimous decision win over Wood in an intriguing affair.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Chokes Out Justin Gaethje, Announces Retirement – UFC 254 Highlights

Khabib29-0. Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov is the undisputed UFC lightweight champion once again. With a scary pace and pressure approach, Khabib forced Gaethje to fight off the back foot from the very early goings of the first-frame – eating a couple of notable leg kicks for his troubles, however. With Gaethje visibly pressed and fatigued […]

Khabib

29-0. Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov is the undisputed UFC lightweight champion once again.

With a scary pace and pressure approach, Khabib forced Gaethje to fight off the back foot from the very early goings of the first-frame – eating a couple of notable leg kicks for his troubles, however.

With Gaethje visibly pressed and fatigued on route back to his corner and coach Trevor Wittman, the emphasis was put on continued leg kick attacks. Scoring a couple more damaging leg kicks, Gaethje gave up his back in a scramble, and with Khabib attempting to set-up a mounted triangle, he eventually scored a triangle from his back, choking Gaethje unconscious with referee Jason Herzog eventually pealing the Dagestani grappler off.

Below, catch the highlights of Khabib’s submission success opposite Gaethje.

Robert Whittaker Takes Exciting Decision Win Over Jared Cannonier – UFC 254 Highlights

WhittakerFormer UFC middleweight champion, Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker seems to have earned his title rematch with kingpin, Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya – with a 29-28 (x3) unanimous decision win to knock back surging contender, Jared ‘The Killa Gorilla’ Cannonier. In a largely kickboxing back-and-forth, Whittaker fired off a picture-perfect jab throughout the three-round affair, […]

Whittaker

Former UFC middleweight champion, Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker seems to have earned his title rematch with kingpin, Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya – with a 29-28 (x3) unanimous decision win to knock back surging contender, Jared ‘The Killa Gorilla’ Cannonier.

In a largely kickboxing back-and-forth, Whittaker fired off a picture-perfect jab throughout the three-round affair, with MMA Lab mainstay, Cannonier scoring punishing leg kicks behind the left-knee of the former champion.

Taking the opening two rounds, closely – Whittaker sealed the deal in the third and final round with a patented snap right high-kick, rattling Cannonier. Assuming mount, Whittaker couldn’t find a finish, with the resilient Cannonier displaying his massive heart to ride out a worrying moment before the close of the final round.

Below, check out the highlights from Whittaker’s entertaining back-and-forth with Cannonier.

Tai Tuivasa Scores Buzzer-Beating KO Over Stefan Struve – UFC 254 Highlights

TuivasaShoey-enthusiast, Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa is back in the winner’s enclosure. Standing opposite the almost seven-foot veteran, Stefan ‘The Skyscraper’ Struve in our featured preliminary matchup of the night. Unloading at the fence, the knockout artist managed a massive uppercut win over the Dutch submission threat with a single-second remaining in the opening-frame. Looking to […]

Tuivasa

Shoey-enthusiast, Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa is back in the winner’s enclosure. Standing opposite the almost seven-foot veteran, Stefan ‘The Skyscraper’ Struve in our featured preliminary matchup of the night.

Unloading at the fence, the knockout artist managed a massive uppercut win over the Dutch submission threat with a single-second remaining in the opening-frame.

Looking to fight in the pocket against the much taller, Struve – Tuivasa utilised his heavy-hands in the clinch and at the fence, clipping Struve on occasion – before forcing the issue and referee Jason Herzog to step-in and call a halt to proceedings.

Denied his customary shoey by officials afterward, Tuivasa who scaled the Octagon fence in search of a shoe, was ultimately corralled by officials.

Check out the highlights from Tuivasa’s knockout win, below.