Tag: UFC

‘Heartbroken’ Karolina Kowalkiewicz Answers Retirement Questions After UFC Vegas 100 Loss

UFC women’s strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz doesn’t plan on letting her defeat at the Apex this past weekend mark the end of her journey in MMA. Kowalkiewicz, who has amassed 18 fights worth of Octagon experience since debuting way back in 2015, returned for her second assignment of the year in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 100 featured […]

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UFC women’s strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz doesn’t plan on letting her defeat at the Apex this past weekend mark the end of her journey in MMA.

Kowalkiewicz, who has amassed 18 fights worth of Octagon experience since debuting way back in 2015, returned for her second assignment of the year in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 100 featured preliminary bout.

The Polish standout had hoped to bounce back against Denise Gomes after dropping a decision to the fast-rising Iasmin Lucindo this past May at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.

But the 39-year-old once again fell short to a young Brazilian fighter, with “Dee” also getting the nod on all three scorecards following 15 minutes of action.

A day on from her second straight setback, Kowalkiewicz took to her Instagram Story to address her supporters.

The Polish veteran gave an honest assessment of her performance and the result, admitting that Gomes was simply better. That fact hasn’t, however, brought her to the brink of calling it quits.

“Hey guys, I’m so sorry. But thank you for your support, for your love. I’m okay, as you can see, I’m okay, just my heart is broken,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I had a really great fight camp, perfect weight-cutting, I felt really, really good. Really good shape, but my opponent, she’s better than me, what can I say?

“Give me some time and see you soon. I’m not going to retire, don’t worry,” Kowalkiewicz added.

It remains to be seen what comes next for Kowalkiewicz, but it appears certain that fans haven’t seen the last of the former KSW women’s flyweight champion inside the Octagon.

Gomes, meanwhile, has now won two on the bounce since failing to climb the ladder against Angela Hill in November 2023. The Brazilian will no doubt look to keep her sights on those above her in pursuit of a spot in contention.

Continue Reading ‘Heartbroken’ Karolina Kowalkiewicz Answers Retirement Questions After UFC Vegas 100 Loss at MMA News.

Jon Jones’ Coach Claims Tom Aspinall Has Been On The Radar Since Before Heavyweight Move

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is sure to be one of the most talked about fighters of the week despite the fact that he isn’t set to compete at UFC 309 on Saturday night. Many believe that it should be him facing Jon Jones in a title unification clash at Madison Square Garden rather […]

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UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is sure to be one of the most talked about fighters of the week despite the fact that he isn’t set to compete at UFC 309 on Saturday night. Many believe that it should be him facing Jon Jones in a title unification clash at Madison Square Garden rather than Stipe Miocic.

During his time away from the Octagon due to the injury he suffered ahead of UFC 295 last November, Jones has been very outspoken about Aspinall and a potential fight with him. It’s been a huge talking point throughout this year with some accusing the champion of ducking the interim titleholder.

Whilst Jones has recently stated that he doesn’t believe that the Brit has accomplished anything significant enough to make him interested in the fight, that isn’t to say that Aspinall hasn’t been someone that he’s known about for a long time. This is something that Jones’ long-time striking coach Brandon Gibson recently spoke about in an interview with Submission Radio.

Gibson revealed that Aspinall’s rise to the top of the heavyweight division isn’t surprising because he’s a fighter that the team have had their eyes on for some time now, dating back to when Jones was planning his move to heavyweight during his long hiatus after vacating the light heavyweight belt.

“No, no surprise at all. You know back in the day when Jon was originally making his move up to heavyweight, we thought Francis was going to be the opponent and we were studying the heavyweight landscape. Aspinall was a guy that we’ve always had our eye on, for years now. He’s very smooth, great takedowns, he’s a finisher and in heavyweight, that’s a powerful thing. He has incredible footwork and defense so Aspinall’s been a guy that we’ve already had an eye on for sure.”

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Carlos Prates On ‘Dream’ UFC Run: ‘I Was Fighting For Maybe $200’

Carlos Prates is living the dream on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, having emerged victorious from his maiden UFC main event this past weekend. After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, Prates has announced himself as a name to watch at 170 pounds by reeling off four straight wins in his […]

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Carlos Prates is living the dream on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, having emerged victorious from his maiden UFC main event this past weekend.

After earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, Prates has announced himself as a name to watch at 170 pounds by reeling off four straight wins in his debut year inside the Octagon.

All of those came by way of knockout, with the most recent being a brutal one-punch finish of veteran contender Neil Magny in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 100 headliner.

“The Nightmare” lived up to his moniker by swarming “The Haitian Sensation” with strikes after defending the 37-year-old’s early attempts to drag the fight to the mat. And after putting Magny on skates, a glancing blow to the temple face-planted him.

During his post-fight press conference, Prates reflected on his latest triumph in the UFC, which should see him with a number next to his name come the latest rankings update on Tuesday.

The Brazilian admitted his winning run in 2024 is like a “dream” given his early days in the sport, which saw him follow the grueling path from making pennies on the regional scene to earning a living toward the top of the MMA ladder.

“It’s a dream,” Prates said. “A few years ago — not a few years ago, I think two years ago, one year and a half I was fighting for maybe $200. Now I’m doing a lot of money. It’s a dream. I worked hard for this for many years and I’m really happy.”

And Prates doesn’t appear to plan on slowing down in 2025.

Having secured a place in the top 15, “The Nightmare” has his sights on continuing to climb closer to title contention. Judging by his post-fight remarks, he’s hoping for that to come at the expense of either Jack Della Maddalena or Geoff Neal in the coming months.

Continue Reading Carlos Prates On ‘Dream’ UFC Run: ‘I Was Fighting For Maybe $200’ at MMA News.

Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’

Former two-division ONE champion and UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder would welcome the chance to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat inside the cage. De Ridder arrived in mixed martial arts’ leading promotion this year, having had his two pieces of ONE Championship gold ripped from his grasp by Anatoly Malykhin and becoming angered by […]

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Former two-division ONE champion and UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder would welcome the chance to hand Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat inside the cage.

De Ridder arrived in mixed martial arts’ leading promotion this year, having had his two pieces of ONE Championship gold ripped from his grasp by Anatoly Malykhin and becoming angered by the workings of the Asia-based promotion.

After bouncing back under the UAE Warriors banner in the summer, “The Dutch Knight” put pen to paper on a dream move to the UFC. And his pursuit of adding the organization’s middleweight belt to his trophy cabinet got underway this past weekend at the Apex.

Co-headlining UFC Vegas 100, de Ridder shared the cage with a former training partner and fellow grappling specialist in Gerald Meerschaert. The Breda, Netherlands native emerged victorious from a competitive and grueling affair by way of submission in round three.

De Ridder’s debut performance split opinion in the community, with many already writing off his chances of defeating the top names high up the ladder at 185 pounds.

The former ONE double champ, however, says he’s “ready” for the toughest tests.

During his post-fight press conference on Saturday night, de Ridder reflected on his first foray into the Octagon, admitting that not everything went how he had envisioned pre-fight.

“On the floor, I made a few mistakes, especially in the second round,” de Ridder said. “I shouldn’t have went for those (D’arce chokes), I thought I had them but they weren’t there. There’s a few little tweaks I should make there.

“But I’m happy it happened this way, the fight happened this way. Because normally he’s the guy who lasts longer, he takes some shots and he’s still there and he finishes guys at the end of the second or in the third round,” de Ridder continued. “So it’s cool I was that guy this time.”

Nevertheless, the manner in which the fight played out hasn’t dented his confidence. In fact, de Ridder has maintained his self-belief when it comes to defeating the best contenders, even calling for the opportunity to blemish Khamzat Chimaev’s perfect record.

“Why not Khamzat? That would be a nice matchup, grappling wise, it would be cool,” de Ridder suggested. “Whatever the UFC wants of me, I’ll do it. Just give me a call. I’m ready.”

Continue Reading Reinier de Ridder Targets Khamzat Chimaev After Successful UFC Debut: ‘I’m Ready’ at MMA News.

Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler – Odds and Match Preview

Charles Oliveira Michael Chandler UFC 309Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler are set to face off in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 309 on…

Charles Oliveira Michael Chandler UFC 309

Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler are set to face off in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024. This five-round co-main event will take place on the same card as the heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.

Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler – Odds

As the fight approaches, Oliveira is listed as a significant favorite with odds ranging from -218 to -250, depending on the sportsbook. This means that a $100 bet on Oliveira would potentially yield a profit of around $45 to $50 if he wins. On the other hand, Chandler is the underdog with odds of +180 to +205. A $100 bet on Chandler could result in a payout of $280 to $305 if he pulls off the upset. If one is looking to play, then check out nonstop casinos at https://www.techopedia.com/gambling/casinos-not-on-gamstop-uk right here.

Some analysts suggest considering a bet on Oliveira to win inside the distance or under 2.5 rounds, while those backing Chandler might look at props for him winning by knockout in the early rounds.

Charles Oliveira

The first encounter between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler occurred at UFC 262 in May 2021, where they competed for the vacant lightweight title. In that fight, Chandler nearly finished Oliveira in the first round, but the Brazilian rallied to secure a TKO victory in the second round, claiming the championship.

The former champion ‘Do Bronx’ Charles Oliveira is renowned for his exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills and has the most submission victories in UFC history. Oliveira has shown remarkable growth throughout his career, transforming from a fighter who sometimes struggled with adversity to a relentless competitor who constantly pushes forward.

Michael Chandler came to the UFC with a strong reputation from his time in Bellator. He’s known for his explosive wrestling, powerful striking, and high-energy fighting style. Chandler is a fan favorite due to his willingness to engage in exciting battles. He’s had some legendary matchups trading with dangerous fighters such as Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. He’s been close to capturing UFC gold but sat out for a few years chasing a match against Conor McGregor that never materialized.

Michael Chandler
Image via: Getty

The stakes for this rematch are significant. Both fighters are looking to secure a win that could potentially put them back in title contention. For Charles Oliveira, it’s an opportunity to reassert his dominance in the lightweight division after losing his title due to a weight miss and a subsequent loss to Islam Makhachev. Chandler, on the other hand, sees this as a chance to avenge his previous loss and prove he belongs among the elite of the division.

‘Do Bronx’ Charles Oliveira’s world-class grappling and improved striking will be pitted against Chandler’s explosive power and wrestling. Both fighters pack power in their hands. The Brazilian has developed his striking acumen with Chute Boxe’s Muay Thai style while the US-born Chandler can throw down with anyone.

Fans and analysts eagerly anticipating another potential Fight of the Year candidate. Given the history between these two fighters and their exciting styles, it’s expected to be an action-packed matchup that could go either way.