Tag: Top Stories

Brandon Moreno Set To Return In UFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event On Nov. 2

Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will bring his brief layoff to an end in the “Great White North” later this year. The changes keep on coming for the promotion’s return to Edmonton in Canada on November 2. When the card was originally announced, a flyweight showdown between Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield was […]

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Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will bring his brief layoff to an end in the “Great White North” later this year.

The changes keep on coming for the promotion’s return to Edmonton in Canada on November 2. When the card was originally announced, a flyweight showdown between Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield was set as the main event, with heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov co-headlining.

But after the latter of those bouts was split in two to create fresh matchups, the UFC Fight Night in Alberta now has a new headline pairing.

UFC CEO Dana White revealed in a social media video this week that Mexico’s Moreno (21-8-2) will make his return in the main event for a rearranged clash against rising contender Amir Albazi (17-1).

Moreno Looks To End Losing Skid, Albazi’s Perfect UFC Record

When he makes the walk this November, Moreno will be looking to break his first losing skid since 2018.

“The Assassin Baby” enjoyed a strong start to 2023, regaining the flyweight gold from longtime rival Deiveson Figueiredo six months on from an interim title win over Kai Kara-France. But as was the case with his first reign, Moreno fell short in his attempt at recording a successful defense, with Alexandre Pantoja emerging victorious from their Fight of the Year war at UFC 290.

The Mexican return this past February for an appearance on home soil, where he was scheduled to do battle with Albazi. But after an injury forced the Iraqi out, Moreno fell on the wrong side of a narrow split decision against replacement opponent Brandon Royval.

While he announced plans to take an extended period away from the cage to recharge, Moreno will be back in action just nine months later, looking for his matchup with Albazi to make it to the cage at the second time of trying.

For “The Prince,” the Nov. 2 headliner marks the opportunity for him to stake his claim for a first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage. The former Brave CF standout has gone 5-0 in the Octagon thus far, most recently outpointing Kara-France in a tight five-round main event at the Apex in June 2023.

With this addition, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:

  • Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi (flyweight main event)
  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight co-main event)
  • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
  • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
  • Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles (welterweight)
  • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
  • Serhiy Sidey vs. Garrett Armfield (bantamweight)
  • Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
  • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
  • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrovi? (women’s flyweight)
  • Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro (light heavyweight)
Amir Albazi
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

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UFC Contender Targets Michael ‘Venom’ Page Having Emulated Him In The Past: “I Know The Way To Knock The Guy Out”

Carlos Prates has been a fantastic edition to the UFC roster since earning his contract via the last season of the Contender Series. The Fighting Nerds athlete has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon, stopping all three opponents with devastating finishes. His latest win over Li Jingliang at UFC 305 set him up well for an […]

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Carlos Prates has been a fantastic edition to the UFC roster since earning his contract via the last season of the Contender Series.

The Fighting Nerds athlete has gone 3-0 inside the Octagon, stopping all three opponents with devastating finishes.

His latest win over Li Jingliang at UFC 305 set him up well for an even bigger name next time out, and given the fact that he has put on a show with each appearance, a ranked opponent isn’t out of the question.

When looking at the fighters that occupy the ranking sports from 15-10, one name in particular stands out to Prates.

Carlos Prates Reveals That He Emulated Michael Page For ‘MVP’s Only Knockout Loss

In a recent interview with Sherdog.com, Prates gave his thoughts on all of the potential ranked opponents that he could be matched with in the near future.

He revealed an interesting story from his earlier career when arriving at the name of one of the division’s most talented strikers.

Michael “Venom” Page is an incredibly difficult opponent to train for because you don’t find people that have his unique style combined with size and reach, very easily.

Prates said that he has been a stand in for “MVP” when he was training alongside Douglas Lima, who fought Page twice in Bellator.

In their first meeting, Lima would hand the Brit his first defeat at Bellator, via a ruthless second-round knockout.

Prates believes that after being a part of the camp for this fight, he has the secret to become the second man to stop Page.

“Michael Page would be a really good fight. I would like to fight him, it would be a great bonus again. You know the first time he lost to Douglas Lima? I was a sparring partner of Douglas. I was doing like MVP and Douglas was doing his game. He, Douglas and his coach, came to Thailand and we trained all together… So it’s kinda I know the way to knock the guy out.”

Read also: Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

Continue Reading UFC Contender Targets Michael ‘Venom’ Page Having Emulated Him In The Past: “I Know The Way To Knock The Guy Out” at MMA News.

UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! After a brief break from action, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back to put on another card at the Apex f…

Gilbert Burns & Sean Brady

UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! After a brief break from action, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back to put on another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas. Topping the lineup will be a […]

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight at MMA News.

UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier

UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!  In the main event, ranked middleweights Jared Cannonier (#5) and Caio Borralho (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Angela Hill faced Tabatha Ricci in a strawweight matchup. The event […]

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UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

In the main event, ranked middleweights Jared Cannonier (#5) and Caio Borralho (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Angela Hill faced Tabatha Ricci in a strawweight matchup. The event also featured this year’s TUF finales.

UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

  • Middleweight Main Event: Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (49- 45×2, 48-46)
  • Women’s Strawweight Co-Main Event: Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
  • Middleweight (TUF 32 Finale): Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder via TKO: R2, 1.49
  • Featherweight (TUF 32 Finale): Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli via KO: R2, 1.30
  • Welterweight: Michael Morales def. Neil Magny via TKO: R1, 4.39 
  • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan via submission: R2, 4.12

Preliminary Card

  • Lightweight: Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 
  • Middleweight: Zachary Reese def. Jose Medina via split decision via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
  • Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev def. James Llontop via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
  • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30)

Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo via KO: R1, 1.02 

Preliminary Card Highlights

Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo

Making her UFC debut, Wang Cong took just over a minute to KO Victoria Leonardo in their flyweight bout.

Main Card Highlights

Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan

Gerald Meerschaert came from behind to submit Edmen Shahbazyan with an arm triangle in the second round.

Michael Morales def. Neil Magny 

In this welterweight bout, Michael Morales got it done with a TKO of Neil Magny in the first round.

Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli

Mairon Santos earned a UFC contract after finishing Kaan Ofli in the TUF 32 featherweight finale.

Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder

Robert Valentin earned a spot in the UFC after stopping Ryan Loder in the TUF 32 middleweight finale.

Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill

In the co-main event, Tabatha Ricci earned a unanimous decision win against Angela Hill.

Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier

In the main event, Caio Borralho earned a unanimous decision against Jared Cannonier.

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier at MMA News.

Muhammad Mokaev Signs With New Promotion Following UFC Departure

Muhammad Mokaev finally has a new home after his public departure from the UFC last month. “The Punisher” has signed with Brave CF, where he previously competed prior to the UFC. Mokaev’s signing was first reported by the BBC before the promotion put out a press release announcing his signing. In a statement in the […]

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Muhammad Mokaev finally has a new home after his public departure from the UFC last month. “The Punisher” has signed with Brave CF, where he previously competed prior to the UFC.

Mokaev’s signing was first reported by the BBC before the promotion put out a press release announcing his signing.

In a statement in the release, Brave CF president Mohammad Shahid said Mokaev and his talents were welcome with open arms, and he appeared to accuse other promoters, including UFC CEO Dana White, of trying to defame the Dagestan-born Brit’s character.

“There has been an unjust persecution of his character and attempts to use defamation to feed personal vendettas, and is evidently clear that there are no clear reasons as to why the best athlete in the world cannot compete,” Shahid stated. “This is not what the sport is all about, and for BRAVE CF to have him back is fantastic, and he now can become a voice for all these challenges. Not only that, his return solidifies our ethos to have the best fight the best irrespective of any other variable, be it of creed, sex, color or marketability.

“We would like to welcome back Muhammad Mokaev, an undefeated superstar, who is an amateur legend, with two IMMAF world titles, and someone who has proven to be the best flyweight in the world, with no losses to his amateur or professional record. This is a very exciting time for Brave CF.”

Muhammad Mokaev Signs With Brave CF Following UFC Departure

Mokaev made his professional MMA debut with Brave CF in 2020, scoring a decision win over Glenn McVeigh at Brave CF 37. Five of the seven fights Mokaev had prior to signing with the UFC were in the organization, with “The Punisher” going 4-0 (1 NC).

Mokaev later went 7-0 in the UFC and was a top flyweight contender. However, he was not re-signed by the promotion, with White criticizing Mokaev in a UFC 304 post-fight press conference for “so much bad s*** that happened behind the scenes.”

That card saw Mokaev defeat Manel Kape in a lackluster outing after a fight week that included multiple confrontations between the pair, including one where Mokaev sucker-punched “Starboy.”

PFL’s Ray Sefo later added that he had heard Mokaev was a “pain in the ass” and the promotion was not interested in him.

Continue Reading Muhammad Mokaev Signs With New Promotion Following UFC Departure at MMA News.

UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of UFC 305, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings. Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Dricus Du Plessis closed out the latest pay-per-view by once again proving his […]

Continue Reading UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List at MMA News.

As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

And in the aftermath of UFC 305, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Dricus Du Plessis closed out the latest pay-per-view by once again proving his doubters wrong, emerging from a competitive main event against the great Israel Adesanya with the middleweight gold still in his possession. The South African has been rewarded with a five-place rise up the P4P ladder, leaving him one position above his bantamweight counterpart Sean O’Malley at #6.

Adesanya, meanwhile, has fallen two spots to #15, with his and Du Plessis’ former opponent Sean Strickland going the same distance the other way to replace “The Last Stylebender” at #13.

Women’s Pound-for-Pound: There were moves unrelated to UFC 305 on the female P4P list, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington suddenly dropping two places to #8, now leaving her below flyweight contenders Rose Namajunas (#6) and Erin Blanchfield (#7).

Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

Women’s Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Viviane Araújo has been pushed out of the top 10 to #11. Her two-spot slide has paved the way for Amanda Ribas and Karine Silva to rise to #9 and #10, respectively.

Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

Flyweight: Kai Kara-France made an emphatic return this weekend by knocking out recent title challenger Steve Erceg inside the first round. He’s remained unmoved at #4, however. “AstroBoy,” meanwhile, has slipped to #8, swapping positions with Matheus Nicolau (#7).

Bantamweight: No changes.

Featherweight: No changes.

Lightweight: Among the biggest victors to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, who is this week’s biggest mover in the rankings. After falling on the right side of a split decision against the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot, “The Hangman” has climbed six spots to #5. “Gamer,” on the other hand, has fallen three positions to #8. Further down, Hooker’s rise has resulted in drops for Rafael Fiziev (#10) and Renato Moicano (#11).

Welterweight: No changes.

Middleweight: No changes.

Light Heavyweight: No changes.

Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik made it back-to-back wins in 2024 this past weekend, outpointing home favorite Tai Tuivasa across three rounds. As a result, “Bigi Boy” has risen by two places to #10. His defeated opponent, meanwhile, finds himself three spots worse off at #13.

You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

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