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Paul Craig targets UFC 286 clash with Anthony Smith for the title “of being the jiu-jitsu guy at light-heavyweight.”

Paul Craig has welcomed the opportunity to face fellow light-heavyweight contender Anthony Smith at the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view in London. Paul Craig returns to action later this month at UFC 283. The Scottish grappling wizard had been tasked with taking on native Brazilian, Johnny Walker, in his homeland when the promotion heads to South America […]

Paul Craig has welcomed the opportunity to face fellow light-heavyweight contender Anthony Smith at the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view in London.

Paul Craig returns to action later this month at UFC 283. The Scottish grappling wizard had been tasked with taking on native Brazilian, Johnny Walker, in his homeland when the promotion heads to South America for their first pay-per-view event of the year.

The 35-year-old will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing final outing in 2022 where he dropped a unanimous decision to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC London.

Meanwhile, his opponent, Johnny Walker, will be looking to claim back-to-back victories for the first time since 2019 after he closed his 2022 out with a submission victory over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279.

You can expect an all-out war when these two men step inside the octagon at the UFC 283, The two hold a combined 47 professional outings so far in their respective careers which have only required the judges’ influence on five occasions,

Should Craig emerge victorious out in Brazil, ‘Bearjew’ already has his sights set on his next opponent after he called for a matchup with former light-heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith.

Paul Craig Calls For Anthony Smith at UFC 286

Speaking in an interview with Michael Bisping, Craig explained his interest in the matchup and why he is so eager to take on the currently ranked 6^th 205-pound contender.

“Anthony Smith is already in a camp. So potentially could be Anthony Smith in London. That would be a pretty good fight in London.”

Craig continued, “He’s obviously come out and said that he wanted to fight me after one of his press conferences. I think it’s a tough and fun fight. Two high-level Jiu-Jitsu guys kind of staying with each other, that just turns into this rock em’ sock em’ robot fighting. I think that is how it’s going to go and I’m also looking for a challenge, I’d like to have that title of being the jiu-jitsu guy at light-heavyweight.”

Anthony Smith has already revealed he is almost certainly guaranteed an outing in March and having expressed an interest in facing Paul Craig the UFC matchmakers should have a very easy decision to get these two men paired up.

Would you like to see Paul Craig vs Anthony Smith at UFC 286 in London?

Michael Johnson offers ex-UFC champion Tony Ferguson lightweight rematch: ‘I’ll give you a chance’

Having previously defeated former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, Tony Ferguson back in 2012, lightweight division staple, Michael Johnson has offered the Oxnard veteran an opportunity to avenge his loss 11 years later, and also snap his run of five consecutive losses. Featuring on a UFC on Fox card in New Jersey back in 2012, Ferguson […]

Featuring on a UFC on Fox card in New Jersey back in 2012, Ferguson suffered his first promotional loss in the form of a unanimous decision defeat to Johnson, fracturing his forearm during the contest after blocking a kick.

Ferguson, a former interim UFC lightweight titleholder, would embark on a division-tying run of 12 fights undefeated in the eight years following the loss to Johnson, including his interim title success.

However, in the last three years, Tony Ferguson has slumped to five consecutive losses, including defeats against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, and most recently, Nate Diaz in September of last year.

For Johnson, the once surging lightweight contender who also holds wins over another former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier courtesy of a 2016 UFC Fight Night Hidalgo main event KO, has experienced a topsy-turvy Octagon tenure.

Returning at UFC Fight NIght Orlando back in December of last year, Johnson returned to the winner’s enclosure with a close, unanimous decision win over former UK lightweight, Marc Diakiese.

Michael Johnson offers Tony Ferguson a rematch of their 2012 matchup

Offering Tony Ferguson a rematch in their next respective Octagon walks, Johnson claimed fans would be interested in seeing the duo rematch.

“Yo @TonyFergusonXT not sure if you’re still in the big game, but if so and you want to come back to ‘55 I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself,” Michael Johnson tweeted. “Or we can do it 170 also!! Let’s give the fans what they want!!!!”

Winning interim lightweight gold back in October 2017, Ferguson submitted promotional alum, Kevin Lee with a third round triangle in the main event of UFC 216.

Leon Edwards still expecting Kamaru Usman rubber match to take place at UFC 286: ‘The fight’s on’

Incumbent UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards has claimed the UFC have informed him former champion, Kamaru Usman is already preparing for a title trilogy rubber match at UFC 286 on March 18. in London, England – despite the fact the bout has yet to be officially confirmed by the organization. Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, […]

Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, managed to land Octagon spoils at the end of August last year in a rematch against Auchi native, Usman, rallying from a three round swing to land a stunning fifth round high kick KO win.

The victory saw Edwards avenge a 2015 unanimous decision loss to ONX Labs trainee, Usman during their respective tenures as division contenders – with the welterweight standouts expected to headline a UFC 286 card in March.

Leon Edwards still expecting to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 286

Yet to find himself officially booked against Usman, speculation has mounted that Edwards may be facing any combination of Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington, or even Jorge Masvidal in a London homecoming, however, the Birmingham favorite has been offer reassurances from the UFC that a trilogy fight with Usman is still on.

“Yeah, 100 percent, that’s what I’ve been told – that’s what my team’s been told,” Leon Edwards said of a UFC 286 fight with Usman during an appearance on the Believe You Me podcast. “I talked to the UFC last week, I think, and I’ve been told ‘The fight is on, he’s already training for the fight.’ So I was like, okay, perfect.”

“I am aiming towards that,” Leon Edwards explained. “If something changes in the meantime that, then we’ll go from there. But I am focused on having that trilogy with Usman in London.”

Seeing his promotional-perfect run halted against Team Renagade BJJ & MMA staple, Edwards back in August, Usman also slumped from the #1 rank in the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings, and has since been replaced by featherweight best, Alexander Volkanovski.

Nick Diaz details slew of neck, back injuries ahead of expected UFC return: ‘I’m not as agile as I was’

Expected to make another Octagon walk later this year, former UFC welterweight title challenger, Nick Diaz has detailed a series of neck and back injuries which has hampered him in his later career. Diaz, a one-time interim and undisputed welterweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, made his long-awaited Octagon comeback in September […]

Expected to make another Octagon walk later this year, former UFC welterweight title challenger, Nick Diaz has detailed a series of neck and back injuries which has hampered him in his later career.

Diaz, a one-time interim and undisputed welterweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, made his long-awaited Octagon comeback in September 2021 against former undisputed champion, Robbie Lawler in a rematch.

Returning at the middleweight limit, Diaz, the elder brother of former UFC lightweight title challenger, Nate Diaz, suffered a third round TKO loss to Lawler courtesy of retirement.

In the time since, Diaz, who has since rejoined with long-time head coach, Cesar Gracie, has sights fixed on making a return to the UFC. And has welcomed the opportunity to share the Octagon with former undisputed middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya this year.

Nick Diaz details his current injury struggles ahead of a UFC comeback

Yet to be officially booked for a return to the UFC, Diaz revealed both neck and back injuries that he is still dealing with during a YouTube video with a chiropractor.

“I have a little bit of – a few neck issues,” Nick Diaz said. “My L5 and my S1. Lower back stuff. I’m just not as agile as I was. Just lack of training, I think – I used to just jump back into sparring, five five-minute rounds. Teach class and train all day. I still do that, but I gotta map it out and put miles on road. I need to do some strengthening work. Leg strength and lower back stuff, just to pull all that stuff together.”

“Most of these injuries that i have, they’re not from fighting,” Nick Diaz explained. “I fell off a bike, and I got in a few street fights. And I ended up all f*cked up.”

Without a victory since October 2011, Diaz’s most recent professional win came in the form of a unanimous decision win over former two-weight champion, B.J. Penn.

Coach claims UFC champion Francis Ngannou return against Jon Jones in March is ’50-50?

Xtreme Couture head coach, Eric Nicksick has revealed it’s currently “50-50” that a fight between his trainee, Francis Ngannou, and former UFC champion, Jon Jones occurs in March, however, claims he’ll have the Cameroon native ready to fight if a date can be found that soon. Ngannou, the current undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, has been […]

Ngannou, the current undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, has been continually linked with a title clash against former two-time light heavyweight titleholder, Jones since unifying the titles successfully last year.

Headlining UFC 270 last January, Francis Ngannou managed to defeat then-interim gold holder, Ciryl Gane in a main event clash, utilizing wrestling and grappling to hand the Frenchman his first professional mixed martial arts defeat.

With his future in the promotion currently up in the air amid long-dragging contract disputes, Ngannou also underwent reconstructive knee surgery following his win over Gane, after suffering a knee injury just days from his UFC 270 headlining fight.

Eric Nicksick talks the UFC return of champion, Francis Ngannou

Expected to make his return to mixed martial arts in some facet this year, the Batie native has been linked with an appearance at UFC 285 on March 4. against the returning, Jones, however, the aforenoted, Nicksick claimed the matchup was still only “50-50” at this stage in the day.

“I think it’s 50-50, to be honest with you, when you’re talking business and timeline,” Eric Nicksick said of the fight during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I’m confident from what I saw from Francis (Ngannou) a couple of weeks ago that if we had to be ready for March, I think we can get him ready, but I think it is cutting it a little bit short because he had to go back home and renew his visa.”

“And then obviously they (the UFC) still haven’t announced anything yet with his (Francis Ngannou) contract and where they’re at, so 50-50 for me,” Nicksick said. “I’m hoping for this thing, fingers crossed that we can get this deal done. If it’s not March, maybe it’s April or May, or something like that. I do know that they’re shooting for March and that Jon Jones is the opponent. Everything else is out of my hands, but if they tell me, ‘Hey, we’re fighting March 4,’ we’ll have our guy ready, that’s for sure.”

While Jones has been linked with a fight against Francis Ngannou in his first UFC outing since 2020, the Rochester native has also been mentioned in potential fights against the likes of former division gold holders, Stipe Miocic, and the above-mentioned, Gane, as well as perennial contender, Curtis Blaydes.

Mike Perry confident of scoring fight with Jake Paul in February: ‘I think it happens. I’ll be ready’

UFC welterweight alum turned bare knuckle fighter, Mike Perry has revealed he is confident of securing a professional boxing return against the undefeated YouTuber, Jake Paul – as soon as February, insisting he is ready to fight as soon as this weekend. Perry, a former welterweight contender under the banner of the UFC, ended his […]

Perry, a former welterweight contender under the banner of the UFC, ended his tenure with the Dana White-led organization back in April 2021 at UFC on ABC 2 against Daniel Rodriguez, suffering a unanimous decision loss. Perry made the Octagon walk on 15 separate occasions.

A native of Flint, Michigan, Perry has since turned his hand to bare knuckle fighting under the banner of the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) where he’s landed an impressive 2-0 record so far.

Debuting with a unanimous decision victory over The Ultimate Fighter veteran, Julian Lane back in February of last year, before headlining an event in London, England against renowned striker and former Bellator MMA welterweight title challenger, Michael Page, landing a majority decision win at BKFC 27.

Mike Perry believes fight with Jake Paul could happen as soon as next month

In the time since, Perry, who initially called for a fight with Paul off the back of his win over London Shootfighters staple, Page, has revealed he had received an offer to fight the Ohio native. And he remains certainly confident of landing the clash – as soon as February, in fact.

“I believe it was for mid-February,” Mike Perry said of a fight with Jake Paul during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I don’t know what I can and can’t say, [because] I want it to happen, but there was supposed to be a really cool location and that intrigued me.”

“I think it happens,” Mike Perry explained. “If it is mid-February, I’ll be ready. I’m ready this weekend. I’m going to keep working, road work, lift some weights, eat healthy, just keep feeding myself and stay hungry. That’s me. That’s what I do.”

Revealing he had previously sparred with the undefeated, Paul, Perry believes the duo could turn in an impressive boxing match in the future if the rumored clash comes to fruition.

“I sparred him (Jake Paul) once, and I think it would be a great boxing match,” Mike Perry said. “I can’t lie, I’m a bare knuckle boxer, and I like to punch without anything, but with the gloves on I feel like I hit harder, and I think it would be interesting to see what I could do.”