Tag: UFC 294

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over ex-Champion Kamaru Usman – UFC 294 Highlights

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 HighlightsUndefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has made good on his return to the middleweight limit tonight in Abu Dhabi,…

Khamzat Chimaev lands close majority decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 Highlights

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has made good on his return to the middleweight limit tonight in Abu Dhabi, landing a super close majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) victory over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294.

Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, managed to start off in stunning form tonight in the Middle East — taking Usman down early in the opening round, and riding out the remainder of the frame on Usman’s back, after threatening with a slew of rear-naked choke attempts and amassing a ton of top control on the Auchi native.

However, slowing down significantly in the second frame, Khamzat Chimaev failed to wrap up any successful takedown attempts on Usman in the second round, with the Nigerian turning up the pace and landing some decent strikes throughout the round.

And even in the third and final frame, Chimaev, who appeared quite fatigued in the round, was on the receiving end of some heavy strikes from Usman who began to put his hands together.

In the remaining two minutes and change of the third round, however, Chimaev capitalized on a kick miscue from Usman, landing in side control and then half guard of Usman — before the former champion managed to sweep and bring the action back to the feet for a striking showcase in the final moments of the bout.

Below, catch the highlights from Khamzat Chimaev’s close decision win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294

Said Nurmagomedov stops Muin Gafurov with stunning opening minute guillotine choke – UFC 294 Highlights

Said Nurmagomedov stops Muin Gafurov with stunning guillotine choke UFC 294 HighlightsBantamweight division staple, Said Nurmagomedov bounces back to the winner’s enclosure with aplomb tonight in the main card opener…

Said Nurmagomedov stops Muin Gafurov with stunning guillotine choke UFC 294 Highlights

Bantamweight division staple, Said Nurmagomedov bounces back to the winner’s enclosure with aplomb tonight in the main card opener of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE — stopping opponent Muin Gafurov with a first round guillotine choke submission win in the Middle East.

Nurmagomedov, who entered tonight’s clash with Gafurov off the back of a unanimous decision loss to Jonathan Martinez, turns in Octagon win number seven tonight, stopping the previously mentioned challenger with a blistering opening round win.

Capitalizing after a hasty takedown attempt from Gafurov, Nurmagomedov latched onto a front choke on the former at the Octagon tenure, forced a tap on the near side, and landing his fifth stoppage victory in the Octagon from seven total wins.

Below, catch the highlights from Said Nurmagomedov’s submission win at UFC 294

Muhammad Mokaev wraps up Arm-Triangle submission win over Ex-Title chaser Tim Elliott – UFC 294 Highlights

Muhammad Mokaev lands third round arm-triangle win over Tim Elliott at UFC 294 HighlightsRemaining undefeated during his Octagon tenure, number eleven ranked flyweight contender, Muhammad Mokaev moves to 5-0 under the banner…

Muhammad Mokaev lands third round arm-triangle win over Tim Elliott at UFC 294 Highlights

Remaining undefeated during his Octagon tenure, number eleven ranked flyweight contender, Muhammad Mokaev moves to 5-0 under the banner of the promotion, landing a third round arm-triangle choke submission win over former title challenger, Tim Elliott in the featured preliminary card clash of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Mokaev, who entered tonight’s clash with Elliott off the back of four prior consecutive victories inside the Octagon, recently landed a third round neck crank submission success against Jafel Fialho back in March in London at UFC 285.

And showing of his stunning wrestling and grappling ability against former one-time title challenger, Elliott in tonight’s clash for a spot within the flyweight top-10 rankings, Mokaev had to fight off two taut submission attempts in the form of a guillotine choke and a triangle choke attempt.

Managing to land an incredible sweep and subsequent takedown in the third round, Mokaev, who now holds an impressive 11-0-0(1) professional record, stopped Elliott with a third round arm-triangle choke submission win.

Below, catch the highlights from Muhammad Mokaev’s submission win at UFC 294

Ex-UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses plan for one final weight cut: ‘I want to experience it again’

Khabib Nurmagomedov talks plan to make one final UFC weight cut I want to experience it againFormer undisputed lightweight champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has claimed that despite retiring from mixed…

Khabib Nurmagomedov talks plan to make one final UFC weight cut I want to experience it again

Former undisputed lightweight champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has claimed that despite retiring from mixed martial arts competition back in 2020, he would still like to undergo the “experience” of cutting to championship weight one final time.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the organization, called time on his undefeated mixed martial arts career back in 2020, submitting former interim lightweight titleholder, Justin Gaethje with a second round triangle choke submission win to unify the titles.

And in the immediate aftermath of the bout, having improved to 29-0 as a professional and retaining his lightweight title for the third time consecutively, Nurmagomedov confirmed his decision to hang up his gloves with immediate effect.

Earlier this year, however, Nurmagomedov discussed a potential return to the sport, and whilst remaining coy on a potential retirement u-turn, the Dagestan native noted his awareness that fans have clamored for him to make one final Octagon walk. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov claims he wants to make one final weight cut

However, as far as Nurmagomedov is concerned, the “experience” of cutting weight to a championship limit is something that appeals him more than competing once more – claiming his final weight cut for his fight with Arizona native, Gaethje was his most difficult one in his career.

“Honestly, I want to experience it again,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said on his official YouTube channel. “I think that an ordinary fan or enthusiast wouldn’t understand this. You can’t get these emotions anywhere else. You only feel them on that day, in that state. You can’t get such emotions anywhere else.”

“The last one [weight cut], it was the toughest,” Khabib Nurmagomedov explained. “I knew for myself that it was the last weight cut. I knew for myself that it wouldn’t be in that weight class anymore. And I understood that it would never happen again. It was my last fight. I made the weight cut very well.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Would you like to see Khabib Nurmagomedov make one final UFC walk?

Charles Oliveira defends decision to exit UFC 294: ‘It’s not about money, It’s about legacy

charles OliveiraCharles Oliveira details the decision to withdraw from his fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 this weekend. With…

charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira details the decision to withdraw from his fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 this weekend.

With just 10 days to go, Oliveira was forced out of his rematch with Oliveira after suffering a horrendous cut above his eye in his last sparring session of camp. The Brazilian has since be replaced by Alexander Volkanovski in what is another rematch. 

The Brazilian has become a fan favourite since his legendary title run and time as champion, many were disappointed with the news and it is unclear if Oliveira will get another shot on his return. 

Charles Oliveira talks Pull-out 

Talking with Ag Fight, Oliveira discussed his withdrawal and while it was disappointing to have to do so ultimately he and his team felt it was the right decision. ‘Do Bronx’ says that it is not about money, rather legacy.

“We made this decision together,” Oliveira began. “We all sat down and thought about what would be best for us. We’re in a moment in our lives where we don’t have to fight just for the sake of fighting. If this was about money, I’d be in Abu Dhabi right now, for sure, waiting for my moment to fight, because we are talking about a lot of money.” (H/T Bloody Elbow)

“It’s not about money. It’s about legacy.” Oliveira continued. “It’s about what we want to show in the middle of the fight. There would be no point in going out there just for the first grazing punch that touched me to open up the cut and make the fight bet stopped and give him another win. We thought this through, we analysed it thoroughly and we made this decision together.”

Charles Oliveira talks with Ag Fight

Do you want to see Charles Oliveira fight for a title on his return? 

Report – Sean Strickland rejected UFC 294 title fight against Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in Abu Dhabi

Sean Strickland rejected short notice UFC 294 title fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Abu DhabiScrambling to save this weekend’s UFC 294 card in the Middle East, prior to booking an official middleweight title-eliminator…

Sean Strickland rejected short notice UFC 294 title fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi

Scrambling to save this weekend’s UFC 294 card in the Middle East, prior to booking an official middleweight title-eliminator between Khamzat Chimaev, and Kamaru Usman, the promotion is said to have floated a championship fight between the undefeated, Chimaev, and incumbent divisional gold holder, Sean Strickland, ultimately to no avail.

Returning to Abu Dhabi, UAE this weekend – the promotion was forced to alter both originally scheduled co-headlining and headlining bouts for the flagship event, after Brazilian duo, Paulo Costa, and former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira were forced from their respective clashes due to nasty injuries sustained ahead of the card.

As a result, the promotion have since booked a middleweight championship eliminator between former welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound number one, Usman, and the above-mentioned Chechen-born finisher, Chimaev for the night’s co-headlining slot.

Sean Strickland reportedly turned down a UFC 294 title fight with Khamzat Chimaev

However, as per a report tonight from ESPN reporter, Marc Raimondi, prior to locking in a fight between Usman and Chimaev, recently-minted undisputed middleweight champion, Strickland was initially floated in a short-notice title defense against the former, having just featured at UFC 293 last month in Sydney, Australia.

Rejecting such a short-notice turnaround to defend his middleweight crown against Chimaev, Strickland was subsequently out of the picture to fight at UFC 294 in the Middle East – with the organization instead landing on a fight between Usman and Chimaev. 

Atop tomorrow’s card at the Etihad Arena, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev will take on undisputed featherweight champion and pound-for-pound leader, Alexander Volkanovski on just 11 days’ notice in a championship rematch, having initially clashed back in February in Perth, Australia. 

Would you like to see Sean Strickland fight Khamzat Chimaev in the future?