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The UFC’s EA Sports Cover Curse Claims Another Victim

UFC The infamous UFC cover curse strikes again. If you’re a football fan, you’re likely familiar with the “Madden” curse…

The infamous UFC cover curse strikes again.

If you’re a football fan, you’re likely familiar with the “Madden” curse where the player featured on the cover of EA Sports’ annual NFL game is doomed to encounter something bad — poor luck, a decline in play, or maybe a serious injury. Over the last decade, it’s become apparent that the curse is not exclusive to players on the gridiron.

On June 3, 2014, EA Sports released its first UFC game in the beloved series and fans immediately noticed the notorious trend when the OG cover athletes, Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson found themselves in some unfavorable situations shortly after appearing on the cover. ‘The Mauler’ would go on to suffer a vicious knockout at the hands of the late Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson in his home country while ‘Bones’ ended up testing positive for cocaine and was inevitably stripped of the light heavyweight title following his involvement in a hit-and-run accident in 2015.

The UFC curse would amass quite the victim count in the years that followed, bringing bad luck to megastars Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor. UFC 4 cover athlete Jorge Masvidal kept the trend going via a nasty knockout loss at the hands of Kamaru Usman as part of a four-fight losing streak that would ultimately see ‘Gamebred’ retire from the sport altogether.

In its most destructive year yet, the still-to-be-released UFC 5 game from EA Sports has already claimed three victims.

– Lost to Sean Strickland
– Drew to Alexa Grasso
– Knocked out by Makhachev

the most brutal cover curse in the history of games #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/Uk0EqUOJWY

— OOC MMA (@oocmma) October 21, 2023

The UFC Cover Curse Claims Three Victims in Six Weeks

Earlier this year, Valentina Shevchenko and Alexander Volkanovski were revealed to be the cover athletes for the game series’ latest entry scheduled to be released on October 27. Since the announcement, Shevchenko fought to a draw with current flyweight world champion Alexa Grasso in September while Volkanovski has lost to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev not once, but twice in 2023.

Israel Adesanya, who features as the cover athlete on the deluxe edition of the game, surrendered the middleweight title for the second time in less than a year after losing a lopsided unanimous decision against Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

Of course, Saturday night gave us the most recent example as reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski came up short for the second time in his bid to become a two-division titleholder. Stepping into the UFC 294 main event on 11 days’ notice, ‘The Great’ suffered a brutal first-round knockout after Islam Makhachev landed a perfectly-timed head kick near the three-minute mark. The ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ followed up the vicious blow with a series of ground-and-pound strikes that ultimately spelled the end of the highly anticipated rematch.

Volkanovski has now lost two of his last three fights and will likely slide to No. 3 on the UFC’s coveted pound-for-pound ranking list behind top-ranked Jon Jones and Makhachev who should slide into the No. 2 spot.

Islam Makhachev warns Charles Oliveira against rematch fight after UFC 294: ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea’

Following last night’s stunning lightweight title defense win against Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev has warned former-foe, Charles Oliveira against…

Following last night’s stunning lightweight title defense win against Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev has warned former-foe, Charles Oliveira against pursuing a rebooked rematch against him for the belt, claiming doing so would not be a “good idea” for him.

Headlining UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE in a reworked title fight re-run against two-time featherweight champion, Volkanovski, Makhachev defended his championship for the second occasion against the Australian, dispatching him with a brutal left high-kick KO in the opening round.

Initially scheduled to headline the flagship return to the Middle East against the above-mentioned Oliveira in a championship rematch, Makhachev was booked against Volkanovski just 10 days’ out from the event, after the Brazilian suffered a nasty laceration above his right eye during his final sparring session before jetting out to Abu Dhabi.

Islam Makhachev warns Charles Oliveira against a title rematch after UFC 294

And despite noting his plans to make a welterweight division leap following his win over Volkanovski, Russian berserker, Makhachev has already been earmarked to reschedule a title defense against Oliveira by UFC CEO, Dana White, who confirmed the Sao Paulo finisher would fight for gold next.

“Yeah, listen, you gotta give it to (Charles) Oliveira, I mean,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 294. “Oliveira was ready to go. Unfortunately, he got cut. But yeah, I think you give it to Oliveira. But again, these are all questions that I really can’t answer right now. We get home, we’ll figure this stuff out and see what’s next for everybody.”

However, as far as Makhachev is concerned, Oliveira should think twice if not thrice before booking a rematch against him, warning him that it would be an unwise decision to do so.

“It’s not my job [to book my next fight],” Islam Makhachev said after UFC 294. “Dana (White) has to work on this, and I will sign the contract. Just send me the name. But in my opinion, I feel like I already had two opponents. Okay, I will beat Charles. Then who is going to be next? (Justin) Gaethje – he will wait. I don’t think it’s a good idea. But it is what it is. If they [the UFC] say Charles, okay, If they say, Gaethje, okay. Doesn’t matter, I’ll be ready.”

Would you like to see Islam Makhachev rematch Charles Oliveira after UFC 294?

Khamzat Chimaev walks away from post-UFC 294 interview after being overwhelmed with emotion

Khamzat Chimaev made a successful return to the Octagon at UFC 294, but following the contest, he was more…

Khamzat Chimaev made a successful return to the Octagon at UFC 294, but following the contest, he was more interested in talking about the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine than a random fistfight on Saturday night.

More than a year removed from his last outing against Kevin Holland at UFC 279, Khamzat Chimaev stepped back inside the cage for a clash with former welterweight world champion, Kamaru Usman. After three rounds of action that largely saw ‘Borz’ impose his will on the ground, Chimaev was revealed to be the winner via a majority decision.

That victory will likely earn him a shot at reigning middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland, but during his post-fight interview, Chimaev was determined to voice his concern over the bloodshed between Israel and Palestine and the lives that the conflict has already claimed.

“Guys, you know what’s happening in the world right now. I wasn’t happy in the cage to fight this week,” Chimaev said. “I see the kids dying. It doesn’t matter where in the world Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, USA, doesn’t matter. When kids die, it’s hard, guys. I love kids. I have a boy that is waiting for me… Inshallah, we’ll be good in the world. I hope so. Muslim, Christian, Jewish, doesn’t matter. Please, guys, be together. Let us live in this world good, and let us be happy.”

Khamzat Chimaev Excuses Himself From Backstage Interview

Though he didn’t appear at the post-fight press event, Khamzat Chimaev did speak with members of the media backstage and echoed similar sentiments. This time, ‘Borz’ was so overcome with emotion over the situation that he had to excuse himself from the interview.

Chimaev briefly spoke about the horrible things he had been seeing on Instagram as of late before being asked about his UFC 294 opponent. Borz’ was nothing, but complimentary toward Kamaru Usman, but chose to remove himself from the interview before offering any insight into the fight or what it was like to share the Octagon with the former welterweight champ.

Islam Makhachev remains betting favorite to beat Charles Oliviera in title fight rematch after UFC 294 victory

Despite seeing his championship rematch with former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira fall to the wayside ahead of UFC 294,…

Despite seeing his championship rematch with former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira fall to the wayside ahead of UFC 294, last night’s stunning finish for Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi, UAE sees the Russian champion maintain his lead on the betting lines to defeat the former in a potential future title fight.

Makhachev, the incumbent lightweight champion, headlined last night’s return to the Middle East for the Octagon, turning in a spectacular first round win over pound-for-pound best and featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski in another rematch clash, stopping the Australian with a thunderous opening round high-kick KO win.

Drafting in to replace Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira on just 10 days’ notice earlier this month, Volkanovski shared the Octagon with Makhachev in an attempt to avenge a February unanimous decision loss to the Russian in a Perth homecoming.

Islam Makhachev leads betting lines over Charles Oliveira after UFC 294

However, turning in his second consecutive title fight win over the New South Wales native, Islam Makhachev has maintained lines as high as -350 to beat ex-champion, Oliveira if they’re booked opposite each other again, with the former sitting as a +275 betting underdog.

A host of markets and online bookies are still offering action on a potential future rematch between Makhachev and Oliveira – including other writing paper service, as odds appear to point to another one-sided victory for the Russian over his Brazilian rival if they fight again.

Sharing the Octagon for the first time back in October of last year at UFC 280 in a vacant title outing, Makhachev recorded a one-sided and comprehensive victory over ex-champion, Oliveira.

Failing to mount any real significant offense against the Russian all-rounder, Oliveira saw his division-best 11-fight winning streak come to a crushing end in the form of a second round arm-triangle submission losses to Makhachev at the Etihad Arena.

And returning to the Octagon for the first time since in June of this year in Canada, Oliveira snapped his winless run in ‘The Great White North’ – making short work of the surging, Beneil Dariush with a high-kick knockdown and follow-up strikes en route to a first round TKO win over the Iranian.

However, forced from last night’s slated rematch with Islam Makhachev after suffering a sizeable laceration above his right eye, Oliveira has since been tipped to likely return to a championship fight with the former, by UFC CEO, Dana White.

Speaking with assembled media following the culmination of UFC 294 last night, the long-time organizational boss appeared to only have eyes for a future title fight between Makhachev and Oliveira, claiming the promotion had to honor the rematch afforded to the Brazilian, who dispatched Dariush in blistering fashion at UFC 288 earlier this summer.

Remaining non-committal on a re-booked fight with Oliveira, however, Islam Makhachev – who was the immediate subject of a call out from former interim titleholder and recently-minted BMF champion, Justin Gaethje, claimed he would fight whomever the promotion elected to pit him against in his return to the Octagon.

Furthermore, expected to have a keen eye on how UFC 296’s title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington plays out, Makhachev has stressed his intentions to land a second championship belt during his tenure with the promotion.

Do you still want to see Islam Makhachev fight Charles Oliveira after UFC 294?

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite to defeat Sean Strickland in title fight after UFC 294 win

Off the back of his close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main…

Off the back of his close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294 last night, Khamzat Chimaev has opened as a significant betting favorite to defeat Sean Strickland in a future title fight – after landing a win in his title-eliminator return.

Co-headlining UFC 294 in a reshuffled bout last night in Abu Dhabi, Chechen-born contender, Khamzat Chimaev turned in a close, majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) victory over former pound-for-pound number one, Usman in his first Octagon walk since he featured at UFC 279 back in September of last year.

Revealing he suffered a fractured right hand likely in the opening exchanges of his first round brawl with Usman in the Middle East last night, Chimaev may face an extended period on the sidelines, claiming the injury setback forced him to utilize a striking gameplan predominantly, ahead of his usual wrestling and grappling approach.

Khamzat Chimaev opens as betting favorite over Sean Strickland after UFC 294

And following his victory – in what UFC CEO, Dana White-billed as an official middleweight championship-eliminator prior to the flagship event, Chimaev has opened as a -340 betting favorite to beat middleweight titleholder, Strickland, with the Covina native opening as a sizeable +270 betting underdog.

Despite the immediate fallout from last night’s action in the desert, a host of bookies and markers are already offering odds on a potential championship showcase between Strickland Chimaev, including free bet no deposit wagers, and even prop bets and outright winner wagers.

Striking Octagon gold just last month in Sydney, Australia, Strickland turned in a spectacular upset win over former two-time championship holder, Israel Adesanya, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over the City Kickboxing staple.

And initially expected to fight the Nigerian-Kiwi in an immediate title fight rematch off the back of his upset win, Strickland had reportedly been approached to fight Chimaev on just 10 days’ notice at UFC 294 prior to the booking of his fight with ex-champion, Usman, before rejecting the bout promptly due to its’ short-notice nature.

Improving to 13-0 as a professional last night in his return to the middleweight limit for the first time since a shuddering first round knockout win over Gerald Meerschaert back in 2020, Khamzat Chimaev had most recently submitted Kevin Holland with a first round D’Arce choke submission win in September of last year, in another rebooked co-main event bout.

Prior to that dominant victory, Chimaev had turned in a close, back-and-forth decision win over former welterweight title challenger and common-foe of the above-mentioned, Usman, Gilbert Burns in April of last year.

And despite previous weight miss issues at the welterweight limit, Khamzat Chimaev has stood firm in his intentions to strike gold in not just one or two weight classes, but three, if afforded the opportunity, as he eyes fights with either incumbent 170 pound kingpin, Leon Edwards, or incoming UFC 296 title challenger, Colby Covington.

With last night’s win over Usman, Chimaev is firmly expected to leapfrog current number one ranked middleweight contender, Dricus du Plessis and challenge for divisional gold against the previously mentioned, Strickland.

Who wins in a future fight: Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev?

Video – Conor McGregor accuses Islam Makhachev of cheating in UFC 294 knockout win

Former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has claimed Islam Makhachev cheated during the finishing sequence of his UFC 294 knockout…

Former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has claimed Islam Makhachev cheated during the finishing sequence of his UFC 294 knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski last night, showing footage which appears to show the Russian land numerous strikes to the back of the Australian’s head ahead of his victory.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the organization, is lined up to snap a hiatus from the Octagon next year in a welterweight fight against Michael Chandler, having remained sidelined since fracturing his left leg in a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Tuning into last night’s UFC 294 event in the Middle East, McGregor watched on as undisptued lightweight champion, Makhachev turned in a spectacular first round stoppage win over featherweight best, Volkanovski, finishing the New South Wales native with a hellacious left high-kick and some follow-up strikes.

However, upon further review from the Dubliner – who claimed Volkanovski was susceptible to a left high-kick from the southpaw stance, Makhachev was lucky not to be cautioned for landing a series of illegal strikes to the back of the Australian’s head.

Conor McGregor’s questions Islam Makhachev finish at UFC 294

“A difficult sport to ref,” Conor McGregor posted on his official X account in a now-deleted comment. “To stop that on a warning or a point deduction when Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) was essentially out already is a tricky one. But there would be grounds for it, 100%. [It] would have been nail-biting stuff. I’d have loved to see it happen. Back of the head shots are not good.”

As well as criticizing Makhachev’s finishing sequence last night, McGregor also hit out at arch-enemy and former-foe, Khabib Nurmagomedov – again accusing the Russian of “quitting” amid his retirement from the sport more than three years ago.

Do you agree with Conor McGregor’s view on the ending of last night’s UFC 294 headliner?