Report – Rafael dos Anjos books UFC headliner in all-Brazilian return on July card

Rafael dos Anjos books UFC headliner against Vicente Luque in JulyFormer UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is slated for a high-stakes welterweight matchup opposite top-ten-ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque. First reported by MMA Fighting, both men are expected to make their first appearances of 2023 as part of a UFC Fight Night headliner on July 15. No other details regarding the event have been […]

Rafael dos Anjos books UFC headliner against Vicente Luque in July

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is slated for a high-stakes welterweight matchup opposite top-ten-ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque.

First reported by MMA Fighting, both men are expected to make their first appearances of 2023 as part of a UFC Fight Night headliner on July 15. No other details regarding the event have been released by the promotion at this time. News of the matchup broke just hours after Rafael dos Anjos took to Twitter, confirming he had booked his ninth career main event with the promotion.

Currently ranked No. 9 in the lightweight division, the former titleholder is looking to gain some ground in the welterweight division after scoring a second-round submission against Bryan Barberena in December. Dos Anjos went 2-1 in 2022, securing a win over Renato Moicano while suffering a fifth-round knockout against fan-favorite Rafael Fiziev.

Rafael dos Anjos headlines opposite Vicente Luque

After dropping back-to-back bouts against Belal Muhammad and Geoff Neal last year, Vicente Luque is barely clinging onto his No. 10 ranking in the 170-pound division. Prior to the recent setbacks, the Brazilian knockout artist secured four-straight victories over Niko Price, Randy Brown, Tyron Woodley, and Michael Chiesa.

The UFC’s July 15 event is beginning to come together with four other matchups already announced for the summertime showcase. Those fights are as follows:

  • Walt Harris vs. Josh Parisian (heavyweight)
  • Azat Maksum vs. Tyson Nam (flyweight)
  • Alshee Evans-Smith vs. Ailin Perez (bantamweight)
  • Norma Dumont vs. Chelsea Chandler (featherweight)

5 Positives & 3 Negatives From UFC Fight Night 220

On Saturday night, the MMA leader returned for its latest offering from the Apex, UFC Fight Night 220. Before heading into an utterly stacked March schedule, featuring two blockbuster numbered events, the first UK-held pay-per-view since 2016…

On Saturday night, the MMA leader returned for its latest offering from the Apex, UFC Fight Night 220. Before heading into an utterly stacked March schedule, featuring two blockbuster numbered events, the first UK-held pay-per-view since 2016, the return of Jon Jones, and a highly anticipated trilogy between two of welterweight’s best, the MMA leader had one…

Continue Reading 5 Positives & 3 Negatives From UFC Fight Night 220 at MMA News.

Report – Sergei Pavlovich set to headline UFC Fight Night event against Curtis Blaydes on April 22.

Sergei Pavlovich UFC Fight Night Curtis BlaydesA UFC heavyweight clash between the #3 ranked division contender, Sergei Pavlovich, and the #4 rated challenger, Curtis Blaydes, is reportedly slated to take main event honors at a UFC Fight Night event on April 22. At the time of publication, an official billing, location, or venue for the card has yet to be determined […]

Sergei Pavlovich UFC Fight Night Curtis Blaydes

A UFC heavyweight clash between the #3 ranked division contender, Sergei Pavlovich, and the #4 rated challenger, Curtis Blaydes, is reportedly slated to take main event honors at a UFC Fight Night event on April 22. At the time of publication, an official billing, location, or venue for the card has yet to be determined by the organization.

In the midst of a five-fight winning run which includes five consecutive knockout victories, former Fight Nights Global heavyweight champion, Pavlovich most recently landed a dominant, 54-second knockout win over Tai Tuivasa at UFC Fight Night Orlando last December. The victory earned Pavlovich a Performance of the Night bonus.

Sergei Pavlovich books his first UFC main event outing

Himself riding an impressive three-fight winning run, Blaydes, the current #4 ranked contender, most recently headlined UFC Fight Night London in July of last year against Tom Aspinall, securing a 15-second TKO win after the latter suffered a knee injury. ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto confirmed Sergei Pavlovich’s return against Curtis Blaydes.

Main event, April 22. No. 3 ranked Sergei Pavlovich vs. No. 4 ranked Curtis Blaydes. High stakes at heavyweight. Early predictions?” 

17-1 as a professional, Rostov Oblast native, Pavlovich’s sole professional loss came in the form of a first round ground strikes TKO defeat to common-opponent, Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night Beijing back in November 2016. 

5-0 in his five Octagon outings subsequently, Pavlovich rebounded with a knockout win over Marcelo Golm, before then finishing Maurice Greene, Shamil Abdurakhimov, and Derrick Lewis – before his knockout win over Tuivasa back in December earned him a spot in the division’s top-3.

17-3(1) as a professional, prior to his TKO win over Atherton native, Aspinall last summer, Elevation Fight Team staple, Blaydes managed to land consecutive triumphs over both Chris Daukaus, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. 

Making his debut against former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou in 2016 akin to Pavlovich, in the time since, Blaydes has dispatched the likes of Mark Hunt, Alexander Volkov, common-foe, Overeem, as well as former undisputed heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos. 

Bobby Green Names The Only Fighter He’s “Afraid” To Fight

UFC lightweight Bobby Green recently revealed a fighter he’s “afraid” of right now. “King” was expected to fight Jim Miller at UFC 276 back in July. However, a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone a week prior to the c…

UFC lightweight Bobby Green recently revealed a fighter he’s “afraid” of right now. “King” was expected to fight Jim Miller at UFC 276 back in July. However, a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone a week prior to the clash led to Green being removed from the card. The substance is believed to have come from tainted…

Continue Reading Bobby Green Names The Only Fighter He’s “Afraid” To Fight at MMA News.

Remaining UFC Fight Nights of 2022

UFCWith just a trio of UFC flagship events remaining in the final months of 2022, the promotion will, however, field six further ‘Fight Night’ billed showcases, with five taking place at the UFC Apex facility in its Las Vegas, Nevada staple – while a December trip to Orlando, Florida is also on the cards. Over […]

UFC

With just a trio of UFC flagship events remaining in the final months of 2022, the promotion will, however, field six further ‘Fight Night’ billed showcases, with five taking place at the UFC Apex facility in its Las Vegas, Nevada staple – while a December trip to Orlando, Florida is also on the cards.

Over the course of the next three months, the promotion are set to feature a host of title fights, including lightweight, bantamweight, middleweight, and strawweight tangles – while a host of ‘Fight Night’ billed cards will feature a series of perennial contenders – many of which in high-profile, potential title-eliminators. Below, catch the run down from the final 6 ‘Fight Night’ cards of 2022.

UFC Vegas 62 – Grasso vs. Araújo 

Set to take main event honors next weekend following this week’s period of no fights, a flyweight matchup between the #5 ranked contender, Alexa Grasso, and the #6 rated, Viviane Araújo. 

Grasso has so far enjoyed an undefeated three-fight streak since her 2020 move to flyweight, while Araujo, a former Pancrase titleholder has struggled to find continued form in the Octagon, most recently defeating Andrea Lee.

An intriguing flyweight fight between division contenders, Askar Askarov, and Brandon Royval is also on deck for the ‘Sin City’ card – while veteran Cub Swanson makes a bantamweight move against Johnathan Martinez.

UFC Vegas 63 – Kattar vs. Allen

Another high-profile, potential title-eliminator at the featherweight limit is booked for the promotion’s October 29. ‘Fight Night’ event – as division strikers, Calvin Kattar, and Arnold Allen share the Octagon.

Set for his third outing of the year, Kattar is attempting to rebound from a loss to Josh Emmett, while the surging Ipswitch native, Allen has enjoyed a promotional perfect run, most recently stopping Dan Hooker with strikes in London. UFC betting UK offers the opportunity to flutter on an impressive and anticipated battle between slick punchers, Kattar, and Allen. 

UFC Vegas 64 – Mitchell vs. Evloev

A grappler’s delight is slated currently for November 5. at the UFC Apex facility – as undefeated featherweight forces, Bryce Mitchell and Movsar Evloev land in the Octagon.

Out of action since a career-best unanimous decision win over Brazilian kicking veteran, Edson Barboza, Mitchell currently boasts an unbeaten 15-0 record, while Evloev is fresh from a judging win over Dan Ige in June – moving him to 16-0. A strawweight fight between Marina Rodriguez, and Amanda Lemos is also slated for the UFC Apex card.

UFC Vegas 65 – Lewis vs. Spivak

Heavyweight division contenders, Derrick Lewis, and Sergey Spivak are set to headline UFC Vegas 65 on November 19. – as the fan-favorite promotional standout knockout artist looks to prevent a third consecutive loss against the impressive, Spivak.

Riding a pair of knockout defeats to both Tai Tuivasa, and Serghei Pavlovich into his headlining clash, Lewis meets with Moldovan contender, Spivak who has landed knockout wins over Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai recently. 

UFC Orlando – Thompson vs. Holland

After a brief two-week retirement, fan-favorite striker, Kevin Holland has booked himself his third Octagon main event in the form of a UFC Fight Night Orlando clash against two-time title challenger, Stephen Thompson.

Simpsonville striker, Thompson has been sidelined since December of last year, where he dropped a unanimous decision loss against Belal Muhammad, while Holland suffered a one-sided D’Arce choke defeat against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 just last month.

UFC Vegas 66 – Cannonier vs. Strickland

A middleweight rescheduling – initially scheduled for next weekend in ‘Sin City’ between one-time title challenger, Jared Cannonier, and Sean Strickland will take placeholder as the final fight of the year on December 17.

Cannonier has been out of action since July where he suffered a forgettable unanimous decision defeat to middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, while Strickland dropped a thunderous first round KO loss to Alex Pereira on the same International Fight Week main card.

UFC – Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady, Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan Added To October Schedule

UFCTwo rather high-profile welterweight and strawweight pairings are set for the UFC’s upcoming schedule of fights in the month of October. Firstly, a matchup between the surging Chicago wrestling staple, Bella Muhammad, and the promotional-perfect Roufusport mainstay, Sean Brady has been added to a UFC 281 pay-per-view event on October 22. from the Etihad Arena […]

UFC

Two rather high-profile welterweight and strawweight pairings are set for the UFC’s upcoming schedule of fights in the month of October.

Firstly, a matchup between the surging Chicago wrestling staple, Bella Muhammad, and the promotional-perfect Roufusport mainstay, Sean Brady has been added to a UFC 281 pay-per-view event on October 22. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto was first to report the news of Muhammad’s return against Brady in October. 

The UFC books a high-stakes strawweight headliner to main event an October 1. event

As for the beginning of the month, a high-stakes, potential strawweight title-eliminator between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Mackenzie Dern, and the Liaoning native, Yan Xiaonan is scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 1. to kick off the month’s proceedings for the organization.

Confirming the headlining clash on their official Twitter account, Paradigm Sports Management confirmed Dern’s return against Xiaonan on October 1.

“It’s official. Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan will meet in a strawweight main event on October 1.” 

Enjoying an impressive three-fight winning run, Muhammad headlined UFC Vegas 51 back in April, earning the #5 rank in the official welterweight pile with a rematch, unanimous decision win over Vicente Luque.

In a pair of prior victories against former title challengers prior to avenging his win against Luque, Muhammad handed one-sided unanimous decision losses to both Stephen Thompson, and Demian Maia. 

As for Brady, the #9 ranked Philadelphia native boasts a 15-0 professional record, most recently besting Michael Chiesa with a unanimous decision triumph at UFC Vegas 43 last time out.

Calling for an interim title fight recently at the strawweight limit, Dern returned to winning ways after a loss to Marina Rodriguez, defeating division staple, Tecia Torres with a split judging success at UFC 273 back in April. 

For Xioanan, the Chinese contender is tasked with rebounding from a recent pair of losses to the aforenoted common-foe, Rodriguez, as well as a ground strikes knockout defeat to inaugural strawweight champion and current division titleholder, Carla Esparza.