Alexa Grasso Intensely Motivated After Maycee Barber Victory

After a violent display of striking against Maycee Barber, Alexa Grasso is as motivated as ever to climb up the flyweight ladder. Once hailed the “Ronda Rousey of Mexico” by UFC president Dana White, Grasso went through some growing pains i…

After a violent display of striking against Maycee Barber, Alexa Grasso is as motivated as ever to climb up the flyweight ladder. Once hailed the “Ronda Rousey of Mexico” by UFC president Dana White, Grasso went through some growing pains inside the organization. Although, what flyweight wouldn’t if they have fought in the promotion since […]

Kamaru Usman Opens As Huge Betting Favorite In Jorge Masvidal Rematch

Usman MasvidalIn what won’t come as a surprise, Kamaru Usman has opened as a sizeable betting favorite over Jorge Masvidal. Usman is coming off an impressive third-round TKO win over Gilbert Burns in the UFC 258 headliner this past weekend. Many observers praised Usman for his striking performance which not only gave him his third title […]

Usman Masvidal

In what won’t come as a surprise, Kamaru Usman has opened as a sizeable betting favorite over Jorge Masvidal.

Usman is coming off an impressive third-round TKO win over Gilbert Burns in the UFC 258 headliner this past weekend.

Many observers praised Usman for his striking performance which not only gave him his third title defense, but also broke Georges St-Pierre’s record (12) of most consecutive wins at welterweight.

Following the fight, Usman called for a rematch with Masvidal with the latter naturally being receptive to the idea. However, oddsmakers don’t see Masvidal having much of a chance even with a potential full camp.

BetOnline.ag have opened Usman as the -300 favorite while Masvidal is a +250 underdog. That means you would have to bet $300 to make a $100 profit on Usman while a $100 bet on Masvidal would earn you $250.

For a comparison, Usman opened as a -260 favorite while Masvidal was a +200 underdog when their UFC 251 fight was booked last July.

It definitely seems like the confidence is in Usman and even more so after his performance against Burns. That said, there is certainly great value for those who believe “Gamebred” is capable of pulling off the upset.

As for a rematch, nothing is official yet. However, it definitely looks like the UFC is going in that direction with a potential TUF gig for both fighters possibly in the works as well.

What do you make of these odds?

UFC 258 Medical Suspensions: Kamaru Usman Facing Six-Month Sit

UsmanKamaru Usman faces a potential 180 days on the sidelines. Usman successfully defended his welterweight title following an impressive third-round victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 this past weekend. Although he faced some early adversity as he was almost dropped by Burns in the first round, “The Nigerian Nightmare” rallied to dominate Burns on […]

Usman

Kamaru Usman faces a potential 180 days on the sidelines.

Usman successfully defended his welterweight title following an impressive third-round victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 this past weekend.

Although he faced some early adversity as he was almost dropped by Burns in the first round, “The Nigerian Nightmare” rallied to dominate Burns on the feet and earn the TKO win.

However, Usman seemingly didn’t come out unscathed.

As per MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper, Usman requires an X-ray of his right foot as well as clearance by a doctor before he can return to action. If he doesn’t, he will be medically suspended for six months while his minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days of no contact.

Burns, meanwhile, will need his right eyebrow and left orbital lacerations cleared by a doctor otherwise he will be suspended for 45 days.

You can view the full list of medical suspensions below:

  • Kamaru Usman: Needs X-ray of right foot, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Gilbert Burns: Needs right eyebrow and left orbital lacerations cleared by doctor, otherwise suspended 45 days; minimum suspension is 30 days.
  • Maycee Barber: Needs MRI of right shoulder, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Alexa Grasso: Needs X-ray and MRI of right knee, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Kelvin Gastelum: No suspension.
  • Ian Heinisch: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Ricky Simon: No suspension.
  • Brian Kelleher: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • Maki Pitolo: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • Julian Marquez: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Rodolfo Vieira: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
  • Anthony Hernandez: Needs X-ray of right hand, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact.
  • Belal Muhammad: No suspension.
  • Dhiego Lima: Needs X-ray of nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact.
  • Polyana Viana: No suspension.
  • Mallory Martin: Needs MRI of right elbow, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Andre Ewell: No suspension.
  • Chris Gutierrez: Needs X-ray of nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
  • Gabriel Green: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eye laceration.
  • Phil Rowe: Needs X-ray of left knee, and clearance by doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.

UFC 258 Medical Suspensions: Usman & Grasso Face Long Layoff

The winners of both the main event and co-main event of UFC 258 are facing a six-month medical suspension without proper clearance. UFC 258 featured one of the best performances of Kamaru Usman’s career when he became the first person to defeat Gilbert…

The winners of both the main event and co-main event of UFC 258 are facing a six-month medical suspension without proper clearance. UFC 258 featured one of the best performances of Kamaru Usman’s career when he became the first person to defeat Gilbert Burns in the welterweight division and doing so with a TKO stoppage. […]

PHOTO | Brian Kelleher Shows Nasty Cut Suffered At UFC 258

One of the standout matchups from UFC 258 was between bantamweights Brian Kelleher and Ricky Simon. The two natural 135ers both meet at 145lbs, in an exciting back and forth war. Simon was eventually crowned the victor, as his relentless wrestling secured him the unanimous decision. During the first round, Kelleher received a brutal cut, […]

One of the standout matchups from UFC 258 was between bantamweights Brian Kelleher and Ricky Simon. The two natural 135ers both meet at 145lbs, in an exciting back and forth war. Simon was eventually crowned the victor, as his relentless wrestling secured him the unanimous decision.

During the first round, Kelleher received a brutal cut, that the commentators initially believed to be due to the power of Simon’s triangle choke attempt. However, it was later revealed to be the result of a series of brutal strikes delivered by Simon. The cut was not deemed so bad as to stop the fight, although a post-fight Twitter post from Kelleher indicates differently. The graphic image of Kelleher receiving treatment was partnered with the caption “Scar too deep for a bandaid solution”.

Kelleher appears to have taken the loss well. The cut will likely lead to a lengthy lay off for him, however there is not doubt we will see him in the UFC octagon again.

Alternatively, Ricky Simon is going from strength to strength. He is currently riding a three-fight win streak, having also defeated Ray Borg and Gaetano Pirrello. He also holds a submission victory over Merab Dvalishvili, who is currently one of the biggest bantamweight prospects. It stands to reason that he is deserving of a fight that would see him break into the rankings next.

What were your thoughts on the matchup between Brian Kelleher and Ricky Simon? Let us know in the comments.

Colby Covington: Kamaru Usman Looks Primed To Get Knocked Out In His Next Fight

CovingtonWith watchful eyes fixed on UFC 258 last Saturday, former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has claimed that former-foe and incumbent titleholder, Kamaru Usman looked “chinny” in his performance against Gilbert Burns — before predicting the gold holder drops his next outing in a knockout defeat.  Covington, who rebounded to winning-ways at UFC Vegas 11 […]

Covington

With watchful eyes fixed on UFC 258 last Saturday, former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has claimed that former-foe and incumbent titleholder, Kamaru Usman looked “chinny” in his performance against Gilbert Burns — before predicting the gold holder drops his next outing in a knockout defeat. 

Covington, who rebounded to winning-ways at UFC Vegas 11 in September via a unanimous decision win over rival and former champion, Tyron Woodley — has been linked continously to a matchup against former teammate, Jorge Masvidal, as well as a possible short-notice March appearance against the #3 ranked, Leon Edwards. As of writing, neither matchup has come to fruition. 

Sharing the Octagon with Usman in a grudge-match for the undisputed welterweight title back in December of 2019 at UFC 245 — the two battled in an instant classic spent entirely on the feet and in the pocket mostly, with Usman scoring his first successful title defence via a late knockout after dropping the Colvis native twice.

Utilizing his wrestling and striking to nullify the faltering former champion, Woodley at the UFC Apex facility event, Covington took home a fifth round stoppage win over the St. Louis native who had suffered a rib injury in the one-sided defeat. Immediately calling for both Masvidal or Usman afterwards, Covington has yet to feature against either since.

Speaking with Submission Radio recently, Covington reflected on Usman’s third round knockout win over challenger, Burns, claiming the Auchi native looked “chinny” — and how he’ll get stopped with strikes in his next attempted title defence, detailing how he wants to be one to do just that. 

“I think that looks like a guy (Kamaru Usman) really primed to get knocked out his next fight, and I want to be the one to deliver it. He looks a little chinny. Dilbert (Gilbert Burns), he’s an oversized midget, man, he’s a 155-er getting knocked out by 155-ers. The guy’s nothing, and that guy came out and dropped you and almost finished you in the first round? You got lucky to get out of that, he fell on his back and just sat there for five minutes and let you recover. Besides that, I didn’t see anything special. I see a guy that’s gotten worse. He changed camps and he looks like a different fighter in the worst way. He looks like he’s declined in his progression. So, he looks like a guy I’m ready to expose to the world, and I want to show them Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington 2.0.”  

Despite stopping the Niteroi native in the third frame, Usman dealt with some notable adversity within the first thirty seconds of the fight, with Burns launching a clubbing overhand right counter — knocking Usman off his feet and to his hands, before he managed to regain his composure.

Sticking behind a piston-like, and almost bizarrely damaging jab in the second round following some beckoning from new head-coach, Trevor Wittman, Usman started to swing the tide of the fight in his favour. Stunning Burns with a beautifully timed pull-counter right in the second, Usman scored a knockdown in the early goings of the third — finishing with a flurry of well-placed ground strikes.

The victory proved to be a record-setting one for the defending champion, surpassing former two-weight world champion, Georges St-Pierre as the most streaking welterweight in promotional history — notching his thirteenth straight triumph.