Tag: UFC 299

Robert Whittaker confirms plans for fighting return at UFC 299 in March amid call out from Paulo Costa

Robert Whittaker confirms plans to fight at UFC 299 in March after call out from Paulo CostaSidelined since earlier this summer, former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has confirmed plans to make a return to…

Robert Whittaker confirms plans to fight at UFC 299 in March after call out from Paulo Costa

Sidelined since earlier this summer, former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has confirmed plans to make a return to the Octagon at a UFC 299 event in March in Miami, Florida – having received a recent callout from former title challenger, Paulo Costa for a bout the month prior.

Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight champion and current number three ranked division gold holder, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

Suffering just his third defeat at the middleweight limit since his move to the weight class, Auckland-born contender, Whittaker dropped a second round ground strikes TKO loss to incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis, who is slated to headline UFC 297 in January in a title challenge against gold holder, Sean Strickland.

Robert Whittaker eyes comeback at UFC 299 in March

And announcing plans for his return to the Octagon in the opening quarter of next year, Whittaker targets a comeback at UFC 299 in March, which organizational CEO, Dana White confirmed would be hosted in Miami, Florida.

“Let’s give it another go,” Robert Whittaker posted on his official Instagram account. “#UFC299.” 

Receiving a slew of call outs for his return to the Octagon in recent weeks, most recently, Whittaker was the subject of a call out from former title challenger, Costa – who failed to put pen to paper on a bout agreement to fight the ex-champion at UFC 284 earlier this year in Australia.

Himself naming his ideal opponent for a return to the Octagon, Whittaker urged former welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman to stay at 185 pounds, as he eyes a fight against the Nigerian.

“Definitely, the (Kamaru) Usman fight interests me because I just think we are both guys that are at the tip of the food chain and I want to give him a proper welcome to the middleweight division,” Robert Whittaker explained. “I just like that fight… he’s one of the best welterweights to do it and I think fighting fights of that calibre makes me excited. It’s a face I haven’t fought before, it’s exciting, it’s different.” 

Who would you like to see Robert Whittaker fight in his return to the Octagon?

Robert Whittaker still chasing fight with Kamaru Usman in March return to UFC: ‘We’re both top of the food chain’

Robert Whittaker calls for March fight with Kamaru Usman in UFC return we're both top of the food chainFormer undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has sights fixed firmly still on securing a fight with former welterweight titleholder…

Robert Whittaker calls for March fight with Kamaru Usman in UFC return we're both top of the food chain

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has sights fixed firmly still on securing a fight with former welterweight titleholder and prior pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman, as he eyes a comeback to the Octagon in March of next year.

Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight champion, has been sidelined since he featured at UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week, suffering a stunning second round TKO loss to incoming UFC 297 headliner and title challenger, Dricus du Plessis. 

The defeat came as Whittaker’s first at the middleweight limit beyond a pair of losses to two-time foe, Israel Adesanya, since arriving at 185 pounds back in 2014.

As for Usman, the former undisputed welterweight champion made a middleweight divisional bow on just 10 days’ notice last month in the co-main event of UFC 294, suffering a contentious majority decision loss to the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev over the course of three rounds.

Robert Whittaker echoes calls for Kamaru Usman fight in UFC return

And playing up a potential middleweight limit stay off the back of a heralded performance on such short-notice in the Middle East, Usman has been called out continually by ex-champion, Whittaker – who himself eyes a UFC return as soon as March.

“Definitely, the (Kamaru) USman fight interests me because I just think we are both guys that are at the tip of the food chain and I want to give him a proper welcome to the middleweight division,” Robert Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I just like that fight… he’s one of the best welterweights to do it and I think fighting fights of that caliber makes me excited. It’s a face I haven’t fought before, it’s exciting, it’s different.” 

Would you like to see Robert Whittaker fight Kamaru Usman next?

Sean O’Malley predicts blistering win over Marlon Vera in UFC 299 title fight rematch: ‘I’m gonna smoke this dude’

Sean O'Malley predicts win over Marlon Vera in UFC 299 title rematch I'm gonna smoke this dudeNow officially booked to defend his undisputed bantamweight championship against former-foe, Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March of…

Sean O'Malley predicts win over Marlon Vera in UFC 299 title rematch I'm gonna smoke this dude

Now officially booked to defend his undisputed bantamweight championship against former-foe, Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March of next year, divisional titleholder, Sean O’Malley remains supremely confident of defeating the Ecuadorian in the pair’s rematch, claiming he will “smoke” his long-time rival.

O’Malley the current undisputed bantamweight champion, headlined UFC 292 back in August of this year in Boston, Massachusetts, defeating long-time gold holder, Aljamain Sterling in a spectacular second round knockout win over over the Uniondale native.

On that same card, Chone contender, Vera earned his title fight with O’Malley off the back of a close decision win over Pedro Munhoz, returning to winning ways following a one-sided decision loss to perennial contender and former interim title challenger, Cory Sandhagen in a San Antonio main event clash.

Sean O’Malley predicts victory over Marlon Vera in UFC 299 rematch

Holding a 2020 win over O’Malley – Vera is the sole fighter in mixed martial arts to defeat the Dana White’s Contender Series product, however, the former is confident of putting TKO wrongs right this time around, predicting a stoppage win in March.

“I want that fight,” Sean O’Malley told MMA Fighting. “It’s just perfect. I feel like it’s perfect timing. After that first fight, everyone was like, ‘You gotta get that rematch, you gotta get that rematch.’ And I said, ‘I’ll get that rematch when I want that, when it’s time. When it’s time for the that rematch, I’m going to call for it and I’ll get it.’ I could’ve gotten that rematch whenever I wanted. I was like, it’s not the right time yet. Now is the right time, so I’m just very excited about that fight.”

“I don’t want to talk him down too much, because I’ve got to build a fight,” Sean O’Malley continued. “But I’m going to smoke this dude.” 

Who wins in their UFC 299 title fight rematch: Sean O’Malley or Marlon Vera?

UFC Full Fight: Relive Curtis Blaydes Smashing Jailton Almeida With Hammerfists To Secure Interim Title Shot At UFC 304 

UFC 304 co-headliner Curtis Blaydes’ latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable fashion four months ago. The #4-ranked heavyweight contender is set to feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, where he’ll challenge for the division’s interim title against Tom Aspinall. To earn that opportunity, which […]

Continue Reading UFC Full Fight: Relive Curtis Blaydes Smashing Jailton Almeida With Hammerfists To Secure Interim Title Shot At UFC 304  at MMA News.

UFC 304 co-headliner Curtis Blaydes’ latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable fashion four months ago.

The #4-ranked heavyweight contender is set to feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, where he’ll challenge for the division’s interim title against Tom Aspinall.

To earn that opportunity, which marks his first shot at UFC gold, “Razor” stalled the charge of the highly touted Jailton Almeida in violent fashion at UFC 299 in Miami this past April.

Off the back of a grappling-heavy decision win over Derrick Lewis in Brazil last November, “Malhadinho” picked up where he left off by attempting early takedowns on Blaydes. But after a round of control, Almeida’s grappling entry seconds into the second round was met with hammerfist after hammerfist from the American for the TKO stoppage.

Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Blaydes vs. Almeida fight from UFC 299 on its official YouTube channel.

Blaydes will hope to deliver a similarly emphatic finish at the expense of Aspinall this weekend.

Should he accomplish that feat, “Razor” will not only head back to the United States with gold in his possession for the very first time, but he will also add a more definitive victory over the Brit to his record following the unfortunate ending to their 2022 bout.

Continue Reading UFC Full Fight: Relive Curtis Blaydes Smashing Jailton Almeida With Hammerfists To Secure Interim Title Shot At UFC 304  at MMA News.