Tag: UFC

Khamzat Chimaev’s Close Relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov Sparks Controversy: UFC Faces Dilemma Says Former Fighter

Ramzan Kadyrov and Khamzat ChimaevUFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev has a relationship with the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov. This is a…

Ramzan Kadyrov and Khamzat Chimaev

UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev has a relationship with the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov. This is a controversial position for the UFC to continue to support ‘The Wolf.’

Ramzan Kadyrov and MMA

As reported by journalist Karim Zidan at Sports Politika, connections between Kadyrov and MMA fighters have raised ethical concerns and potentially led to career limitations for some athletes. There are reports suggesting that UFC fighters may be facing visa bans due to their ties with Kadyrov.

Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA goes beyond mere support for athletes. He has been accused of using his fight club as a recruitment tool for his private militia, with some fighters allegedly being transformed into hired thugs and soldiers. In December 2020, the United States Department of the Treasury issued sanctions targeting Kadyrov and his fight club, marking the first time a country had taken such action against Kadyrov’s sports investments.

Journalists covering this topic, such as Karim Zidan, have faced challenges and even threats for their reporting on Kadyrov’s involvement in MMA.

Ramzan Kadyrov is widely considered a war criminal due to his long history of human rights abuses and involvement in atrocities. Since taking power in 2007, Kadyrov has ruled Chechnya with an iron fist, using his security forces to brutally suppress any opposition or dissent. Under Kadyrov’s leadership, Chechen authorities have been implicated in widespread torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions.

Kadyrov’s influence in MMA extends to high-profile fighters, including UFC athletes including Khamzat Chimaev. One of the most notable examples is his relationship with Khamzat Chimaev. The connection between Kadyrov and Chimaev has become a subject of recent concern.

Ramzan Kadyrov and Khamzat Chimaev

Former UFC athlete Brendan Schaub believes that the UFC working with Ramzan Kadyrov and Khamzat Chimaev is cause for concern. On his podcast, Schaub explained:

“There’s a lot going on behind the scenes with Khamzat that people don’t know about… That Chechen dictator, his two sons were his cornermen, did you know that? So then, it’s like, how close is he with this dictator?… Do you want that to be the face of the middleweight division? One of the faces of the UFC, knowing there are these ties to this horrible dictator.

“If you’re DDP [Dricus du Plessis] and Strickland [Sean], whoever wins that fight, which they’re probably going to do next… You’re gonna ask that champ to only fight in the Middle East? Well, that ain’t fair… To make these guys go to the Middle East is insane.”

UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” […]

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results at MMA News.

UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” where Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosts a UFC Fight Night.

Topping the lineup on Nov. 2 is a clash of ranked flyweights as former champion Brandon Moreno looks to break his two-fight losing skid by stalling the charge and title ambitions of Amir Albazi.

Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, which will see former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas look to keep her ball rolling at flyweight. To secure a third straight win at 125 pounds this year, “Thug Rose” must get the better of #3-ranked contender Erin Blanchfield.

Elsewhere, the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, home favorite Mike Malott, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz will all be in action.

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Weigh-In Results

UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi takes place on Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

Main Card:

  • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno (125.5lbs) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield (125.5lbs) vs. Rose Namajunas (125lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight: Caio Machado (205lbs) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205lbs)
  • Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault (185lbs) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5lbs)
  • Welterweight: Mike Malott (170.5lbs) vs. Trevin Giles (170lbs)

Preliminary Card:

  • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi (135.5lbs) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski (125lbs) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs)
  • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135lbs) vs. Victor Henry (135lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jack Shore (145.5lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (145lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov (261lbs) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264lbs)
  • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey (135lbs) vs. Garrett Armfield (135lbs)
  • Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger (135lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125lbs)

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results at MMA News.

UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

Lists are always going to create discussion in regards to which options should or shouldn’t have made it onto the final version. This is no different with ESPN’s Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century list. Unsurprisingly, the current UFC heavyweight champion and consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones, takes the top […]

Continue Reading UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot at MMA News.

Lists are always going to create discussion in regards to which options should or shouldn’t have made it onto the final version. This is no different with ESPN’s Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century list.

Unsurprisingly, the current UFC heavyweight champion and consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones, takes the top spot with the usual cast following behind him. Welterweight great Georges St-Pierre is the runner-up with the long-time champion of the weight class above him, Anderson Silva, rounding out the top three.

Dominant champions Demetrious Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov make up the top five whilst Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn and Kamaru Usman complete the full list.

On a recent episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, two men who are in a great position to debate the list did just that as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Liddell spoke about who could have earned a spot that ultimately didn’t.

Jackson, perhaps controversially, said that he isn’t sure whether the number five pick had enough fights at the highest level to be considered, especially when someone like Matt Hughes didn’t make the cut.

“Nothing against Khabib, I just don’t think he fought enough fights. To be on there and to not have Matt Hughes on there, you know what I’m saying cus he was champion for a long time.”

Liddell, who did make the cut, responded by agreeing with his former opponent’s take that Hughes deserves a mention. He also named one other great champion that would have undoubtedly been in contention, even if some of his best work was done before he arrived in the UFC.

“If you look at the strength of opponents, you know. There’s some other guys in there, José Aldo. A beast man, for years. Those lists are lists man and all those guys are quality guys. It’s tough really.”

Continue Reading UFC Legends Debate ESPN’s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot at MMA News.

Derrick Lewis Calls It: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic in First Round at UFC 309

UFC 309 Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe MiocicHeavyweight knockout machine “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis has offered his pick for the UFC heavyweight championship showdown between…

UFC 309 Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

Heavyweight knockout machine “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis has offered his pick for the UFC heavyweight championship showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The title tilt will place as the headlining fight of UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 17.

Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

The US-born Derrick Lewis is a veteran of the UFC’s heavyweight division having a whopping 29 bouts in this organization since making his debut in 2014. This weekend, he faces Jhonata Diniz at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi.

‘Bones‘ Jon Jones was the long-reigning UFC light heavyweight champion racking up some incredible wins and remaining unbeaten as a titleholder. He defeated several notable fighters such as Rashad Evans, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Daniel Cormier, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, among many more.

Jon Jones

Eventually, Jon Jones would vacate his light heavyweight strap and make a move to heavyweight. He captured the vacant title with a quick submission against Ciryl Gane in early 2023. Now, he is set to face the former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Stone Cold” Stipe Miocic set the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC Heavyweight division history during his reign and has wins over fighters such as Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Daniel Cormier, among others. Miocic has not been active since 2021.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 27: Stipe Miocic prepares to fight Francis Ngannou during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

On squaring up the UFC 309 main event Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Derrick Lewis said:

“I think Jones will beat him in the first round. It’s crazy to see a lot of people just disrespect Jones like that, like he ain’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that, Jones has been doing this for so many years at the top of the level against all these opponents, like top-ranked guys.

“Even though he have been having all this trouble outside the UFC, it’s like people outside the UFC don’t know, it’s 80% mental and 20% physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you aren’t going to do well. For him to be going through all that stuff he been going through, and still beaten these guys like this, it says a lot.” [Ht BJPenn]

Derrick Lewis Calls It: Jon Jones Will Finish Stipe Miocic in First Round at UFC 309

UFC 309 Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe MiocicHeavyweight knockout machine “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis has offered his pick for the UFC heavyweight championship showdown between…

UFC 309 Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

Heavyweight knockout machine “The Black Beast” Derrick Lewis has offered his pick for the UFC heavyweight championship showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The title tilt will place as the headlining fight of UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 17.

Derrick Lewis on Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

The US-born Derrick Lewis is a veteran of the UFC’s heavyweight division having a whopping 29 bouts in this organization since making his debut in 2014. This weekend, he faces Jhonata Diniz at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi.

‘Bones‘ Jon Jones was the long-reigning UFC light heavyweight champion racking up some incredible wins and remaining unbeaten as a titleholder. He defeated several notable fighters such as Rashad Evans, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Daniel Cormier, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, among many more.

Jon Jones

Eventually, Jon Jones would vacate his light heavyweight strap and make a move to heavyweight. He captured the vacant title with a quick submission against Ciryl Gane in early 2023. Now, he is set to face the former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Stone Cold” Stipe Miocic set the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC Heavyweight division history during his reign and has wins over fighters such as Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Daniel Cormier, among others. Miocic has not been active since 2021.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 27: Stipe Miocic prepares to fight Francis Ngannou during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

On squaring up the UFC 309 main event Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Derrick Lewis said:

“I think Jones will beat him in the first round. It’s crazy to see a lot of people just disrespect Jones like that, like he ain’t the GOAT, for real. A lot of people keep throwing around these GOAT terms and this and that, Jones has been doing this for so many years at the top of the level against all these opponents, like top-ranked guys.

“Even though he have been having all this trouble outside the UFC, it’s like people outside the UFC don’t know, it’s 80% mental and 20% physical. If you don’t have the mentality going into these fights, you aren’t going to do well. For him to be going through all that stuff he been going through, and still beaten these guys like this, it says a lot.” [Ht BJPenn]

Dricus du Plessis Laughs Off Sean Strickland’s Title Hopes with Brutal Three-Word Retort ‘Finish Your Fights’

Dricus Du Plessis Sean StricklandStillknocks’ Dricus du Plessis is not too impressed with the former champion Sean Strickland attempting to work his way…

Dricus Du Plessis Sean Strickland

Stillknocks’ Dricus du Plessis is not too impressed with the former champion Sean Strickland attempting to work his way into a UFC middleweight title shot. South Africa’s du Plessis has his eyes on a new challenge in the form of Khamzat Chimaev.

Dricus du Plessis Laughs Off Sean Strickland

The South African champion Dricus du Plessis earned a win over Sean Strickland to capture the UFC middleweight crown and then defended this throne against Israel Adesanya. ‘Stillknocks’ is not interested in further rematching the former titleholder Strickland, instead is looking at the fresh matchup of Khamzat Chimaev.

Dricus du Plessis confirms plan to fight Khamzat Chimaev next: 'He should get the next shot'

Since losing the title, the US-born Strickland has picked up an uneventful win against the mid-ranked Paulo Costa and is demanding a shot at the title with this. Strickland is not well known for his exciting fights or finishing ability but is more popular due to his rants aimed at minorities and women.

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 26: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia reacts after a submission victory against Robert Whittaker of New Zealand in a middleweight fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

‘Borz’ Khamzat Chimaev has an 85% win rate by way of knockout or submission over his undefeated MMA career. Having just won a stunning first-round submission against the former champion Robert Whittaker, ‘Stillknocks’ is looking at Chimaev as the better contender. Strickland is begging for a title shot on social media, he said:

“Understand one thing… I am next in line. Its been said, it’s been written. January/February me and @dricusduplessis are scrapping. Go back to Chechnya and wait a few months. Wait — sorry UAE — you’re not allowed in Chechnya, but hey, crypto scams while you wait.”

In response, speaking to TMZ Sports, the champion Dricus Du Plessis said:

“Finish your fights”

‘Stillknocks’ is mocking Strickland for his unimpressive 51% finish rate in his MMA career. To add, UFC personalities such as Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan are picking Chimaev for the next shot at the middleweight title, snubbing Strickland.