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Sean Strickland Predicts Israel Adesanya Vs. Alex Pereira

Sean Strickland has given his thoughts on the highly-anticipated upcoming middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. Strickland will face Jared Cannonier in his Octagon return at a UFC Fight Night event on December 17th. He retu…

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Zhang Weili impressively lifts Francis Ngannou off the ground in training footage

Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is just days away from the opportunity to recapture UFC gold at UFC 281 on November 12th. Weili will be the first to challenge new strawweight queen Carla Esparza after ‘Cookie Monster’ scored a split decision win over ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas in what many called the worst fight in […]

Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is just days away from the opportunity to recapture UFC gold at UFC 281 on November 12th.

Weili will be the first to challenge new strawweight queen Carla Esparza after ‘Cookie Monster’ scored a split decision win over ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas in what many called the worst fight in UFC history. Nevertheless, Esparza earned the victory and began her second reign 2,612 after her first reign came to an end.

Deep into preparation for the highly anticipated UFC title fight, Zhang Weili put in some work at the gym alongside UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. In a clip posted on Ngannou’s Twitter, Weili is seen impressively picking up the 239-pound heavyweight with relative ease.

“I can’t believe that @zhangweilimma just picked me up like I wasn’t 293lbs. I didn’t want her to do it I was scared of her hurting her back and was trying to explain this to her….then found myself suddenly up in the air. Her strength ratio is through the roof.”

Zhang Weili Excited to Test Her Skills Against an Elite Wrestler Like Carla Esparza

Zhang Weili is known for her standup wars, specifically her 2020 Fight of the Year against former women’s champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and their subsequent rematch at UFC 275. At UFC 281, Weili will fight a woman whose success primarily comes on the ground rather than the feet. Riding a six-fight win streak, Esparza is notorious for getting her opponents to the ground and grinding out a win. That will be a unique test for Weili who has typically only fought other strikers.

“Because Joanna and Carla, they are different fighters… Joanna is a stand-up fighter, Carla is a wrestler, so our tactics will definitely have some changes,” said Weili in an appearance on the Fruiting Body Podcast. It’s my first time fighting a wrestler, I’ve never fought a wrestler before,” she concluded. “I’m very excited and I also want to test my wrestling and my controlling skills.”

While Esparza is known for wrestling her opponents into oblivion, Zhang Weili is a much different fighter. In 22 career wins, Weili has 11 victories by way of knockout and another seven via submission. If Weili can fend off the relentless takedowns of Esparza, she stands a good chance of catching ‘Cookie Monster’ who will have a significant disadvantage on the feet. If Esparza is able to implement her wrestling, it will be a very long night for Weili and the fans watching UFC 281.

Israel Adesanya predicts dominant UFC 281 win over Alex Pereira: ‘He’s gonna fold, he’s not gonna last’

Ahead of his impending Octagon return at UFC 281 later this month, reigning middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya believes challenger, Alex Pereira will likely “fold” within the opening round of their title grudge match, doubting the Brazilian’s ability to keep up with his pace. Attempting to land his sixth successful title defense at the middleweight limit, […]

Attempting to land his sixth successful title defense at the middleweight limit, Adesanya managed to knock back Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC 276 back in July during International Fight Week, in a less than memorable performance.

As for Pereira, the Sao Paulo striker moved to 6-1 as a professional on the same card at the T-Mobile Arena, stopping the streak of Sean Strickland with a thunderous first round knockout win on the main card.

Earning a title fight with Adesanya off the back of the massive knockout win, Pereira, a former two-weight GLORY Kickboxing champion, holds two wins over the Nigerian-Kiwi during their respective kickboxing stints, including a spectacular rematch KO win.

Israel Adesanya doubts Alex Pereira’s ability to match his pace at UFC 281

Previewing his Madison Square Garden fight with Pereira next weekend, Adesanya believes he will set a pace in the opening round of their undisputed title clash at MSG, leaving the Brazilian in the dust.

“I honestly think within the first five minutes, within the first round – even within the first three minutes, with the pace we’re gonna (bring), I think it’s gonna be a high pace,” Israel Adesanya said during a recent interview with The AllStar. “He’s (Alex Pereira) not gonna be able to keep that high pace.”

“In the first round, you’re gonna see him start to fold,” Israel Adesanya explained. “He’s not gonna be able to keep that high pace. I know the kind of pace I can (set). He’s not gonna last. If this fight has to go, each round, until someone falls, trust me, I know who’s gonna stand. I know who’s gonna be left standing.”

23-1 since his transition to professional mixed martial arts, Adesanya is in the midst of a three-fight winning run over Cannonier, Robert Whittaker, and Marvin Vettori – since a light heavyweight title challenge loss to former champion, Jan Blachowicz in March of last year.

Dan Hooker still planning UFC title reign despite recent skid: ‘I’m not interested in anything else’

Despite a recent losing streak ahead of his incoming UFC return next weekend in Madison Square Garden, Auckland striker, Dan Hooker admits he’s still hopeful of landing Octagon spoils. And if he ever feels like that goal is unattainable, he will likely leave the promotion. Set to return at UFC 281 later this month in […]

Set to return at UFC 281 later this month in a lightweight division return, Hooker will draw Peruvian grappling prospect, Claudio Puelles beneath a middleweight title fight between challenger, Alex Pereira, and teammate, champion Israel Adesanya.

Retaining the #12 rank in the official lightweight rankings, New Zealand native, Hooker has been sidelined since March of this year, suffering a first round knockout loss against Ipswitch native, Arnold Allen at UFC London.

The defeat followed a short-notice submission loss to recently minted undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makahchev last year in October on ‘Fight Island’.

Dan Hooker admits he suffered an “ego death” amid his losing streak

1-4 in his last five Octagon appearances, City Kickboxing striker, Hooker admits he still has plans to clinch a UFC championship in the future – and hopes to kickstart that run with a win over Puelles in the ‘Big Apple’.

“You will not see me compete in the UFC if the objective is not a world title,” Dan Hooker told Submission Radio during a recent interview. “I’m not interested in anything else. I’m not interested in the money. I’m not interested.”

“Nothing else interests me except having the belt,” Dan Hooker continued. “Because the belt means you’re the best fighter in the world. And when I lose sight of that, yeah, I really find no interest in fighting without the opportunity to become the best in the world.”

Without a victory since September of last year, Hooker displayed his grappling and wrestling ability en route to a unanimous decision win over the touted prospect, Nasrat Haqparast back at UFC 266.

In other notable Octagon victories, Hooker has defeated Jim Miller, Marc Diakiese, Ross Pearson, James Vick, Al Iaquinta, Paul Felder, and former welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns.

Israel Adesanya: Alex Pereira Is Giving Me ‘Paulo Costa Vibes’

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has compared Alex Pereira’s pre-fight antics to those of former opponent Paulo Costa. At UFC 281 next weekend, Adesanya will look to make the sixth successful defense of his 185-pound gold. Previously, the Nigerian-New Zealander has seen off challenges from Costa, Yoel Romero, Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier….

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Michael Chandler Gives Major Update On UFC Status

One of the most exciting UFC signings in recent memory, Michael Chandler is not going anywhere anytime soon. From the moment he arrived in the UFC, former Bellator champion Chandler brought with him nothing but fireworks, earning a win in his debut in …

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