Tag: UFC 312

Top-5 Middleweight Contender ‘In Talks’ For Israel Adesanya Fight At Sydney-Held UFC 312

Rising UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho claims that talks are ongoing with the promotion regarding a potential showdown with former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. Adesanya returned to action close to a year on from his defeat to Sean Strickland this past August. After being shockingly unseated from the throne by “Tarzan,” the Nigerian-New Zealander was […]

Continue Reading Top-5 Middleweight Contender ‘In Talks’ For Israel Adesanya Fight At Sydney-Held UFC 312 at MMA News.

Rising UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho claims that talks are ongoing with the promotion regarding a potential showdown with former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

Adesanya returned to action close to a year on from his defeat to Sean Strickland this past August. After being shockingly unseated from the throne by “Tarzan,” the Nigerian-New Zealander was looking to achieve three-time status at the expense of Dricus Du Plessis.

The pair collided in the main event of UFC 305 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where the South African champ maintained his grip on the crown at 185 pounds thanks to a fourth-round submission.

“The Last Stylebender” was quick to dismiss any suggestion of a possible retirement in the aftermath, and it appears that his next outing could mark his third straight Down Under.

It was recently announced that UFC 312 will mark the organization’s return to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney — the venue in which Adesanya lost to Strickland last year. And should Borralho get his wish, the ex-champ will get his chance for redemption in the city opposite him in 2025.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, the #5-ranked contender claimed discussions are ongoing with the UFC over sharing the cage with Adesanya at next year’s second pay-per-view.

Borralho sought to explain why the matchup makes sense and also attempted to dismiss rival Nassourdine Imavov’s claim to the next shot at using Adesanya’s name to rise the ranks.

“I want to fight Izzy. We are in talks with UFC, but nothing confirmed yet,” Borralho said. “But that’s the fight we want. I think that’s the fight that makes sense. Adesanya already fought all the guys from (the) top five. Just me and Imavov he didn’t fight, but Imavov didn’t (have) a good fight last time, so I think they’re thinking about me. Let’s see what the UFC wants.”

“The Natural” has had a perfect run in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2021. He’s won all seven of his Octagon outings to date, knocking out Paul Craig and outpointing Jared Cannonier in his 2024 assignments.

Having climbed into title contention, Borralho is certainly due a major fight next time out. And he’s made no secret over which longtime star in the middleweight division he wants to face en route to the gold.

Continue Reading Top-5 Middleweight Contender ‘In Talks’ For Israel Adesanya Fight At Sydney-Held UFC 312 at MMA News.

Diego Lopes Responds To Alexander Volkanovski Proposing Interim Title Fight In Australia

The UFC announced on October 16 that it will be returning to Sydney, Australia on February 8 for UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena. Following the announcement, one of the biggest names from this region spoke to the press about bringing the Octagon back down under. Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has been […]

Continue Reading Diego Lopes Responds To Alexander Volkanovski Proposing Interim Title Fight In Australia at MMA News.

The UFC announced on October 16 that it will be returning to Sydney, Australia on February 8 for UFC 312 at the Qudos Bank Arena. Following the announcement, one of the biggest names from this region spoke to the press about bringing the Octagon back down under.

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has been biding his time and taking some well deserved rest in recent months ahead of the upcoming title fight at UFC 308.

After losing his belt to Ilia Topuria in February, “The Great” is waiting to get a rematch once “El Matador” faces Max Holloway later this month in his first title defense. Speaking to the media in an interview published by Submission Radio, Volkanovski said that he could be interested in other fights if this doesn’t materialize in time for Sydney.

He said that an interim title fight against the #3-ranked contender Diego Lopes would interest him if it means fighting in front of his home fans once again.

“Anything with gold with it, I’ll be happy. That’ll just lock me in for whoever it is that wins that anyway. So even if it’s interim, that’s still a big one. I’d say it’d be an exciting one with Lopes, if that was going to happen. If not, it’s Max or Ilia.”    

Via a post on social media, Lopes also signed off on the idea of stepping inside the Octagon in Sydney next time out. The Brazilian called for a fight with Volkanovski following his latest win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 in September.

It seems unlikely that the UFC will put an interim title on the line in this division but with Volkanovski only wanting to compete for gold, this clash taking place in Australia could justify it. Lopes’ response was perfectly to the point.

Continue Reading Diego Lopes Responds To Alexander Volkanovski Proposing Interim Title Fight In Australia at MMA News.