Tag: UFC 281

Frankie Edgar Eyes UFC 281 Swansong, Welcomes MSG Clash With Dominick Cruz

Frankie EdgarFormer undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar is targeting his decorated career swansong for UFC 281 on November 12. at Madison Square Garden, welcoming the opportunity to bow out of the sport against fellow former promotional champion, Dominick Cruz.  Edgar, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, featured most recently on the main […]

Frankie Edgar

Former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar is targeting his decorated career swansong for UFC 281 on November 12. at Madison Square Garden, welcoming the opportunity to bow out of the sport against fellow former promotional champion, Dominick Cruz. 

Edgar, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner, featured most recently on the main card of UFC 268 back in November at MSG, suffering a brutal, third round front kick knockout to streaking Ecuadorian finisher, Marlon Vera.

In the time since, Edgar, who currently sits at #11 in the official bantamweight rankings, has been linked with a slew of potential comeback fights later this year, including a bout with polarizing striker, Sean O’Malley.

Embarking on a run of 1-2 from three outings at the bantamweight limit, off the back of a close-fought decision win over Pedro Munhoz, Edgar suffered a brutal, 28-second flying knee knockout loss to Cory Sandhagen before his defeat to Vera.

Weighing up his future in the sport, Toms River veteran, Edgar admitted that UFC 281 on November 12. in the ‘Big Apple’ will likely come as his final professional outing. 

“I think that would be cool,” Frankie Edgar said. “It would be a pretty cool sendoff at Madison Square Garden, it’s pretty much in my backyard. I trained up in Renzo’s (Gracie) for so many years, it would be a pretty cool sendoff.” 

Frankie Edgar welcomes the chance to share the Octagon with Dominick Cruz

As far as opponents are concerned, Edgar mentioned the possibility of a “legacy” fight against former two-time bantamweight best, Cruz.

“I’m never one to call anybody out or pick anybody, I usually let the UFC and Ali (Abdelaziz) kind of figure that out,” Frankie Edgar said. “But, I’ll say a name just because I think it’s more of a legacy fight and I know he has a fight coming up and who knows how it could happen, but I think Dominick Cruz. He was a champion at 135 when I was the champion at 155. We were both pretty much top of the division, I think that could be an interesting fight.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Mentioning a potential matchup with fellow veteran, Cruz, the Californian is already scheduled to headline an upcoming UFC Fight Night San Diego event on August 13. – tackling soon to be common-foe, Vera.

Report – UFC 281 Set For Madison Square Garden Landing Pad On November 12.

UFC 281The UFC are reportedly set to return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November of last year – in the same month this annum, with their flagship, pay-per-view event, UFC 281 set to land in ‘The Big Apple’ on November 12. The promotion, which most recently hosted a UFC 268 event at […]

UFC 281

The UFC are reportedly set to return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November of last year – in the same month this annum, with their flagship, pay-per-view event, UFC 281 set to land in ‘The Big Apple’ on November 12.

The promotion, which most recently hosted a UFC 268 event at The Mecca back in November of last year, featured a championship doubleheader, with then-strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas defeating Zhang Weili in a title rematch.

In the night’s headliner, defending welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman defeated two-time opponent, Colby Covington in a unanimous decision effort to round out a 14 fight card. 

UFC 281 lands at MSG on November 12. in ‘The Big Apple’

As per an initial report from Combate reporter, Raphael Marinho, the UFC is set to land their UFC 281 card on November 12. – with Madison Square Garden in New York City slated to host the pay-per-view showcase.

At the time of publication, an official headliner for the event has yet to be determined, however, a slew of potential main event bouts have been linked to the card. 

Firstly, an interim heavyweight title fight between former two-time division champion, Stipe Miocic, and former two-time light heavyweight titleholder, Jon Jones, has been linked to the card.

Also, a middleweight title fight featuring defending champion, Israel Adesanya, and the promotional-perfect, #6 ranked contender, Alex Pereira also suggested to feature at the MSG event. 

The promotion’s first-ever event at Madison Square Garden came back in November 2012, with then-featherweight champion, Conor McGregor defeating lightweight kingpin, Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC 205 with a second round knockout to become the promotion’s first two-weight champion head simultaneously. 

November 12. UFC 281 event will mark the organization’s fifteenth trip to New York for a UFC event, with the promotion hosting prior cards in cities including Buffalo, Albany, Utica, Brooklyn, Uniondale, and Rochester.

UFC – Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady, Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan Added To October Schedule

UFCTwo rather high-profile welterweight and strawweight pairings are set for the UFC’s upcoming schedule of fights in the month of October. Firstly, a matchup between the surging Chicago wrestling staple, Bella Muhammad, and the promotional-perfect Roufusport mainstay, Sean Brady has been added to a UFC 281 pay-per-view event on October 22. from the Etihad Arena […]

UFC

Two rather high-profile welterweight and strawweight pairings are set for the UFC’s upcoming schedule of fights in the month of October.

Firstly, a matchup between the surging Chicago wrestling staple, Bella Muhammad, and the promotional-perfect Roufusport mainstay, Sean Brady has been added to a UFC 281 pay-per-view event on October 22. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto was first to report the news of Muhammad’s return against Brady in October. 

The UFC books a high-stakes strawweight headliner to main event an October 1. event

As for the beginning of the month, a high-stakes, potential strawweight title-eliminator between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Mackenzie Dern, and the Liaoning native, Yan Xiaonan is scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 1. to kick off the month’s proceedings for the organization.

Confirming the headlining clash on their official Twitter account, Paradigm Sports Management confirmed Dern’s return against Xiaonan on October 1.

“It’s official. Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan will meet in a strawweight main event on October 1.” 

Enjoying an impressive three-fight winning run, Muhammad headlined UFC Vegas 51 back in April, earning the #5 rank in the official welterweight pile with a rematch, unanimous decision win over Vicente Luque.

In a pair of prior victories against former title challengers prior to avenging his win against Luque, Muhammad handed one-sided unanimous decision losses to both Stephen Thompson, and Demian Maia. 

As for Brady, the #9 ranked Philadelphia native boasts a 15-0 professional record, most recently besting Michael Chiesa with a unanimous decision triumph at UFC Vegas 43 last time out.

Calling for an interim title fight recently at the strawweight limit, Dern returned to winning ways after a loss to Marina Rodriguez, defeating division staple, Tecia Torres with a split judging success at UFC 273 back in April. 

For Xioanan, the Chinese contender is tasked with rebounding from a recent pair of losses to the aforenoted common-foe, Rodriguez, as well as a ground strikes knockout defeat to inaugural strawweight champion and current division titleholder, Carla Esparza. 

Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady Set For UFC 281 On October 22

Top-ten welterweights Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady are reportedly set to lock horns at UFC 281 in Abu Dhabi. First reported by Full Violence and yet to be made official, the matchup will see the pair throw down inside the Etihad Arena on Fight Island …

Top-ten welterweights Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady are reportedly set to lock horns at UFC 281 in Abu Dhabi. First reported by Full Violence and yet to be made official, the matchup will see the pair throw down inside the Etihad Arena on Fight Island in what will be the UFC’s first event in Abu…

Continue Reading Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady Set For UFC 281 On October 22 at MMA News.

Khamzat Chimaev, Belal Muhammad Verbally Agree To October UFC Fight On ‘Fight Island’

Khamzat ChimaevSurging UFC welterweight contenders, the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev, and Belal Muhammad appear to have verbally agreed to an October matchup on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE – with the duo engaging in a back-and-forth on Twitter. Chimaev, the current #3 ranked welterweight contender, managed to land his fifth UFC victory back in April on […]

Khamzat Chimaev

Surging UFC welterweight contenders, the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev, and Belal Muhammad appear to have verbally agreed to an October matchup on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE – with the duo engaging in a back-and-forth on Twitter.

Chimaev, the current #3 ranked welterweight contender, managed to land his fifth UFC victory back in April on the main card of UFC 273 in Jacksonville, Florida – defeating one-time title challenger, Gilbert Burns over the course of three, hard-fought rounds in a the event’s Fight of the Night.

As for Muhammad, the Chicago-born wrestling ace managed to avenge a November 2016 first round knockout defeat to Vicente Luque in a UFC Vegas 51 also in Apri, successfully landing his third straight victory since an official ‘No Contest’ against Leon Edwards, as well as scooping the #5 rank at welterweight. 

In the time since his victory over Burns, Chimaev has been linked to a slew of potential matchups, including a rebooking against the aforenoted, Edwards, as well as a title-eliminator against former interim gold holder, Colby Covington, however, neither fight have so far come to fruition. 

Khamzat Chimaev and Belal Muhammad publicly float a UFC 281 clash in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Issuing a call out to Muhammad over Twitter, Chimaev and the Illinois native both agreed to fight “for Palestine”.

“I will fight you if you don’t take the Palestinian flag into battle @bullyb170 (Belal Muhammad),” Khamzat Chimaev tweeted.

“Respect bro…,” Belal Muhammad tweeted. “I’ll bring a flag for you too and we both fight FOR Palestine… I can’t bring the flag down to battlefield anymore even if I wanted to. But ??? ???????.”

Offering to fight Muhammad before the close of this year, Chimaev suggested an Abu Dhabi, UAE outing in October – with the promotion set to land in the Middle East for UFC 281 in the final week of the month.

“October, Abu Dhabi,” Khamzat Chimaev tweeted. 

In response to the AllStars MMA staple, Belal Muhammad tweeted, “Deal.”