Tag: UFC 291

Ex-Champions Alex Pereira, Jan Blachowicz backed to fight for vacant title at UFC 291: ‘Makes a ton of sense’

Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz backed to fight for vacant title at UFC 291 makes a ton of senseFollowing the officially relinquishing of the undisputed light heavyweight championship by Jamahal Hill overnight, social media users have clamored for former Octagon gold holders, Alex Pereira, and Jan Blachowicz to battle for vacant gold in two weeks’ time at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This Friday morning, the undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship […]

Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz backed to fight for vacant title at UFC 291 makes a ton of sense

Following the officially relinquishing of the undisputed light heavyweight championship by Jamahal Hill overnight, social media users have clamored for former Octagon gold holders, Alex Pereira, and Jan Blachowicz to battle for vacant gold in two weeks’ time at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This Friday morning, the undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship was relinquished for the second time in a year, with Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Hill confirming how a ruptured achilles tendon – suffered in a basketball match during International Fight Week, has forced him to vacate his championship belt. 

“I have unfortunately suffered an injury,” Jamahal Hill said. “I’ve ruptured my achilles’. It’s just one of those things that happens. It’s a tough injury. It’s one that will require surgery and will require time and rehab and things for me to be out for a while. Also with that, I was given an opportunity. I was given a blessing that came at the misfortune of someone else. Jiri Prochazka was the champion, he suffered an injury as these things happen. He gave up the belt and allowed for others to not hold the division. To keep the division moving forward. To keep entertaining. To make sure the people had a champion. I’ll do the same.” 

“Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 percent,” Jamahal Hill explained. “I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 percent and I’m the fighter that everybody knows who i am and who I’ve been since I’ve stepped into this. In order to do that, I need to focus on healing and getting ready and rehabbing.” 

Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz are booked to feature at UFC 291 already

And already booked to share the Octagon at UFC 291 in a co-headlining slot at the end of the month, fans have called for a vacant title outing between the aforenoted, Jan Blachowicz, and Alex Pereira – with reporters also suggesting a championship clash between the two also seems to fit the bill.

“Throwing a vacant title on Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira in two weeks’ suddenly makes a ton of sense,” MMA Fighting reporter, Shaheen Al-Shatti tweeted. 

And while according to prominent mixed martial arts reporter, Ariel Helwani, while no discussions have been held regarding the future of the now-vacant crown, a clash between Pereira and Blachowicz can be considered an option.

“Seems like there are two options:” Helwani tweeted. “Make Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira, which goes down in 15 days at UFC 291, for the vacant title. Winner fights Jiri Prochazka. Or winner of that fight goes up against Prochazka later this year in a vacant title fight.”

Paulo Costa vows to ‘Expose’ Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294: ‘See you soon, little insecure weirdo’

Paulo Costa vows to expose Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 insecure little weirdoDespite the fact he is yet to be booked to fight the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October, middleweight contender, Paulo Costa has vowed to “expose” the Chechen-born contender in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ahead of his return later this month. Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he […]

Paulo Costa vows to expose Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 insecure little weirdo

Despite the fact he is yet to be booked to fight the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October, middleweight contender, Paulo Costa has vowed to “expose” the Chechen-born contender in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ahead of his return later this month.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 278 back in August of last year, snapping a two-fight losing skid to Israel Adesanya, and Marvin Vettori – with a unanimous decision win over former division champion, Luke Rockhold.

Slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 291 at the end of this month in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brazilian fan-favorite, Costa is slated to take on soon-to-be common-foe, Ikram Aliskerov on the main card of the Delta Center event. 

As for Chimaev, the 12-0 welterweight contender has himself yet to return to the Octagon since co-headlining UFC 279 back in September of last year, stopping Kevin Holland with a first round D’Arce choke submission win.

And expected to feature at UFC 294 in October in a return to the Middle East, Chimaev has welcomed a bout with former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, and has notably been linked to a middleweight division bow against recent big-winner, Jared Cannonier at the October event.

Paulo Costa takes aim at long-standing rival, Khamzat Chimaev

However, as far as Belo Horizonte native, Costa appears to be concerned, he is in line to fight Chimaev in October, labelling him a “little insecure weirdo”.

“Haha loll look at this,” Paulo Costa tweeted. “Gourmet Chen Chen – me and u knows I’m going to Abu Dhabi to expose you badly and u know that. You got scared since I meet u in UFC PI, @jakeshieldsajj was there too. See u soon, little insecure weirdo.” 

Video – Alex Pereira spotted sparring Olympic boxer Khalil Coe ahead of UFC 291 light heavyweight debut

Alex Pereira UFC 291Just weeks out from his return to action at UFC 291, Alex Periera has been spotted sharpening his skills with Olympic boxer Khalil Coe. Poatan’ is moving up to the light heavyweight division for his return, and is facing one of the most dangerous fighters in the entire division: former light heavyweight world champion Jan […]

Alex Pereira UFC 291

Just weeks out from his return to action at UFC 291, Alex Periera has been spotted sharpening his skills with Olympic boxer Khalil Coe. Poatan’ is moving up to the light heavyweight division for his return, and is facing one of the most dangerous fighters in the entire division: former light heavyweight world champion Jan Blachowicz.

Alex Pereira last fought at UFC 287 against Israel Adesanya, in a rematch for the middleweight title. It was their fourth fight in total. Adesanya and Pereira had faced off two times prior in kickboxing, and their first MMA match ended with Pereira victorious over ‘The Last Stylebender’ via TKO and ‘Poatan’ seizing Adesanya’s middleweight title.

The rematch at UFC 287 played out quite differently, and for the first time ever, Israel Adesanya was victorious over Alex Pereira. Instead of going for an immediate rematch (which would have marked their fifth fight against each other in total), Pereira would instead opt to move up to the light heavyweight division.

Alex Pereira prepares for Jan Blachowicz with some sparring with an Olympic boxer

In the video depicting the sparring match, Olympic boxer Khalil Coe can be seen in headgear, shelling up as Alex Pereira lets off an absurd combo of shots. Most of the video goes the same way, with different clips edited together of Pereira having Coe backed up against the ropes, shelling up, while ‘Poatan’ unleashes a lethal barrage of uppercuts, hooks, and straights. A few times Coe can be seen throwing counter shots, but they don’t appear to really land, and at best only lightly clip Periera.

With UFC 291 drawing closer and closer, it’s good to see Pereira look so fit and agile this close to his fight. The world is definitely wondering how the speed and power of ‘Poatan’ will translate to the light heavyweight division, and so far, it looks like Pereira will be a quite frightening force of nature.

Who do you think wins the Alex Pereira vs, Jan Blachowicz fight at UFC 291?

Alex Pereira blasts Paulo Costa after he mocked his training ahead of UFC return: ‘I became champion’

Alex Pereira blasts Paulo Costa over training footage I became a champion UFCAhead of his Octagon return at UFC 291 later this month, Alex Pereira appears to have taken umbrage with his compatriot, Paulo Costa, after the latter mocked footage of him training alongside the outspoken, Dillon Danis this week. Pereira, the current number one ranked middleweight contender and former division champion, is slated to make his […]

Alex Pereira blasts Paulo Costa over training footage I became a champion UFC

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 291 later this month, Alex Pereira appears to have taken umbrage with his compatriot, Paulo Costa, after the latter mocked footage of him training alongside the outspoken, Dillon Danis this week.

Pereira, the current number one ranked middleweight contender and former division champion, is slated to make his light heavyweight divisional move at UFC 291 at the end of this month, taking on Polish veteran, Jan Blachowicz in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Sao Paulo native will share that high-profile pay-per-view card alongside his Brazilian counterpart, Costa, with the one-time middleweight title challenger taking on the highly-touted prospect, Ikram Aliskerov. 

And ahead of his divisional move, footage has emerged of Alex Pereira training alongside Bellator MMA welterweight and decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Danis – leading to a rather mocking and candid response from Belo Horizonte native, Costa.

“Jesus its (sic) not looks (sic) good,” Paulo Costa tweeted.

In reply to his compatriot, Alex Pereira, a former two-weight champion under the banner of GLORY Kickboxing, tweeted, “With this kind of training I became champion.” 

Both Alex Pereira and Paulo Costa have shared the Octagon with Israel Adesanya

Both facing Israel Adesanya during their Octagon tenures, Pereira snatched middleweight gold from the City Kickboxing staple back in November of last year with a rallying final round standing TKO win, before dropping the crown in an immediate rematch last April – courtesy of a thunderous second round KO loss.

Himself facing Adesanya during his first title reign back in October 2020, Costa suffered a one-sided second round TKO loss to the Nigerian-Kiwi in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

With Pereira and Costa featuring at UFC 291 later this month, the Brazilian duo will take stage before a mouth-watering lightweight rematch between former interim division champions, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje – with the pair competing for the returning symbolic BMF championship to boot. 

‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas tipped to struggle amidst move to flyweight: ‘I don’t know why she’s coming up’

NamajunasScottish standout Joanne Wood believes former two-time UFC strawweight world champion ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas will struggle in her move to the flyweight division. Wood made her promotional debut alongside Namajunas on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned in 2014. The two women were part of the field of strawweight contenders vying for the […]

Namajunas

Scottish standout Joanne Wood believes former two-time UFC strawweight world champion ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas will struggle in her move to the flyweight division.

Wood made her promotional debut alongside Namajunas on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned in 2014. The two women were part of the field of strawweight contenders vying for the opportunity to become the first-ever 115-pound champion in the UFC. Wood came up short in her efforts, succumbing to a second-round submission attempt by Namajunas during their quarter-final matchup. Despite the loss, Wood still earned herself a contract with the promotion and proceeded to compete three more times at strawweight before making the permanent move to flyweight.

Speaking with Drake Riggs of MMA Mania, Wood suggested that Rose Namajunas could run into some obstacles at flyweight, referencing her own transition from 115 to 125 in 2018.

“I feel like she will struggle because I know I’ve been in there with these girls and they are like so much bigger than the Strawweights,” Wood said. “In the past, I have struggled with that, but Rose is a completely different fighter to me (laughs).

“I was shocked at that [news],” she continued. “I don’t know why she’s coming up, but she’s made that decision and I’m sure she’ll go with it and walk with it.”

‘Thug’ Rose will make her flyweight debut in September as she meets No. 2 ranked contender Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris.

Rose Namajunas’ move to flyweight is preceded by her unceremonious loss at the hands of Carla Esparza in May 2022. ‘Thug’ Rose surrendered the strawweight world title to Esparza in a bout dubbed by many as the worst title fight in UFC history. Interestingly enough, Esparza also defeated Namajunas in the TUF 20 tournament finals to become the inaugural strawweight champion nearly a decade ago.

Rose Namajunas Will Find Plenty of Competition in a Stacked Flyweight Division

Ready for a brand new setting and a bevy of fresh matchups, Namajunas will be a welcome addition to a flyweight division that has seen a plethora of world-class talent come out of the woodwork in recent years.

“As far as the division itself, it’s crazy to see because when I was coming up I was like, ‘Yep, just watch. In five years, this is gonna be the division,’” Wood said. “Once it kind of settled, everyone was moving up, everyone was moving down. I feel like now we’re in contention with strawweight of being very, very exciting. It’s just great to see it all resolve, everyone find their weight and find all these up-and-comers as well. It’s great, it’s exciting and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

On July 29, ‘JoJo’ will return to the Octagon for a flyweight clash with Brazilian standout Priscila Cachoeira. Wood will look to score back-to-back wins after snagging a split decision victory over Luana Carolina in March.

“I’m excited this kind of fight plays into my game, I feel very well,” Wood said. “I know the fans will love it. Her style is like she’s coming to throw that right hand and land that right hand and that’s perfect. I love that.

“Looking at a technical stance coming from my Muay Thai background, counter and capitalize on that with my kicks and blah, blah, blah,” she added. “The other side of me is like, ‘Man, I just like getting in there and getting bloody.’ I know she’s probably gonna land one, my nose is gonna bleed, but I don’t care. So, it’s gonna bring out that discipline side but also that, ‘You know what? We’re just in a fight.’”

Alex Pereira favored in potential UFC title fight against Jamahal Hill: ‘It’s perfect for him’

Alex Pereira backed to beat Jamahal Hill in perfect style matchup UFC titleAmid continued speculation regarding how his style will translate at 205 pounds ahead of UFC 291 divisional landing, former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has been backed to likely take over the throne from champion, Jamahal Hill by teammate, Glover Teixeira – who claims the matchup is “perfect” for his compatriot. Pereira, the current number one […]

Alex Pereira backed to beat Jamahal Hill in perfect style matchup UFC title

Amid continued speculation regarding how his style will translate at 205 pounds ahead of UFC 291 divisional landing, former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has been backed to likely take over the throne from champion, Jamahal Hill by teammate, Glover Teixeira – who claims the matchup is “perfect” for his compatriot.

Pereira, the current number one ranked middleweight contender, is slated to make both his Octagon return and his light heavyweight divisional bow at UFC 291 at the end of the month, taking on former light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz in a co-main event slot in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Last time out, the Sao Paulo native, who has held gold at both the middleweight and light heavyweight limits during his tenure with GLORY Kickboxing, suffered a thunderous second round KO loss to arch-rival, Israel Adesanya – as the City Kickboxing staple regained the middleweight title.

Slated to return in a potential title-eliminator against Polish veteran, Blachowicz in Utah at the end of July, Alex Pereira’s knockout rate and ability has been questioned by Hill – with the current champion doubting the Brazilian’s chances of turning in violent finishes at light heavyweight akin to his middleweight stay.

Alex Pereira picked to beat Jamahal Hill in favourable matchup

However, according to former champion, Teixeira – who retired following his January title fight loss to Hill, Alex Pereira would matchup well against the Dana White’s Contender Series product in a projected future championship outing.

“For sure, the style with Jamahal Hill and Alex (Pereira), it’s perfect for Alex,” Glover Teixeira told assembled media following UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4. “Listen, Jamahal Hill is a great fighter, and Jan (Blachowicz) is a great fighter. We’re not looking past Jan over here like that. Styles make fights. My style was more grappling, and Jan is a tremendous striker. He beat Israel Adesanya and he was doing really good in the standup before he started going [for takedowns]. Jan is dangerous, he hits hard.” 

“But if everything goes to plan and Alex can get past Jan, for sure I think Jamahal Hill will be an amazing fight for Alex, and it would be nice to see revenge – nothing against Jamahal Hill, he’s a great guy as well, but yeah.” (H/T BJPENN.com)