Tag: UFC

UFC Cuts Robelis Despaigne Seven Months On From 18-Second Debut KO

Things have only gone downhill for heavyweight Robelis Despaigne since his victorious UFC debut this past April, culminating in his release from the promotion this week. Despaigne arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year with plenty of hype around him. That was owing to both his Olympic medal-winning success in taekwondo and violent […]

Continue Reading UFC Cuts Robelis Despaigne Seven Months On From 18-Second Debut KO at MMA News.

Things have only gone downhill for heavyweight Robelis Despaigne since his victorious UFC debut this past April, culminating in his release from the promotion this week.

Despaigne arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year with plenty of hype around him. That was owing to both his Olympic medal-winning success in taekwondo and violent start to his MMA career.

Off the back of four straight first-round knockouts that totaled just 37 seconds of cage time, the Cuban powerhouse debuted in the Octagon at UFC 299 in Miami this past March. He made an immediate impact, continuing his brutal run by stopping Josh Parisian in just 18 seconds.

Unfortunately for Despaigne, he peaked early. Two convincing defeats to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane followed, with “The Big Boy’s” expected grappling deficiencies being exposed in both.

And his recent setback opposite Lane at the Apex turned out to be all she wrote for his brief stint in MMA’s leading organization.

The promotion has parted ways with Despaigne, as first reported by @UFCRosterWatch on X and later confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.

The UFC roster has been getting frequent purges as of late, seemingly to make room for the 42 fighters who earned contracts on this year’s edition of Dana White’s Contender Series.

And the latest saw Despaigne join six others outside of the organization, the most high-profile of which being top-10 flyweight Matheus Nicolau. The longtime contender had competed in the UFC since 2015, defeating the likes of Louis Smolka, Tim Elliott, Matt Schnell, and Manel Kape.

Elsewhere, Jessica Penna, Tamires Vidal, Vinicius Salvador, Charalampos Grigoriou, and Jesse Butler have all entered free agency.

Continue Reading UFC Cuts Robelis Despaigne Seven Months On From 18-Second Debut KO at MMA News.

Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t the only prominent name Shara Magomedov has his eye on following this past weekend’s event. Magomedov made a splash in his latest Octagon outing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. In his third fight since June, the Dagestani was tasked with opening the UFC 308 pay-per-view main card […]

Continue Reading Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308 at MMA News.

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t the only prominent name Shara Magomedov has his eye on following this past weekend’s event.

Magomedov made a splash in his latest Octagon outing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. In his third fight since June, the Dagestani was tasked with opening the UFC 308 pay-per-view main card opposite a fellow striking specialist in Armen Petrosyan.

Both men had their moments through a round and a half, but it was “Bullet” who closed the show in memorable fashion before the second horn. He connected with an innovative spinning backfist to send his Armenian counterpart to the canvas.

While the heights he can rise to on MMA’s biggest stage remain unclear given his perceived grappling deficiencies, Magomedov has broken into the rankings this week and appears to be an entertaining addition to the middleweight top 15.

During his post-fight press conference at UFC 308, Magomedov called his shot for an opportunity to climb further up the ladder, reiterating his desire to meet Adesanya next time out.

Whether or not that ambitious request comes to fruition in 2025 remains to be seen. But should the promotion have other plans for “The Last Stylebender,” Magomedov isn’t short on alternative callouts.

“I’m in no rush. I’m not running in front of the train. The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire,” Magomedov said. “Of course I would like to fight Israel to prove that I’m the best striker in the division. But also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me.

“Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira,” Magomedov continued. “Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but I’m the only pirate.”

Vettori, a former title challenger, hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Jared Cannonier in a June 2023 main event. He’s gone 2-2 across his last four, leaving him at #7 in the rankings.

Holland and Pereira, meanwhile, are coming off more recent setbacks, with “Trailblazer” injuring his rib against Roman Dolidze in Salt Lake City earlier this month and “Demolidor” suffering a convincing headline loss to Anthony Hernandez at the Apex on Oct. 19.

Be it against one of those names or a different middleweight entirely, all eyes will no doubt be on Magomedov’s next walk to the cage given the performance he put in at the Etihad Arena this past weekend.

Continue Reading Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308 at MMA News.

Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield – Odds and Match Preview

Rose Namajunas details nightmares ahead of UFC Vegas 89 I had to fight a dudeThe upcoming UFC match between Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas is set to take place on November 2, 2024,…

Rose Namajunas details nightmares ahead of UFC Vegas 89 I had to fight a dude

The upcoming UFC match between Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas is set to take place on November 2, 2024, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This five-round co-main event in the women’s flyweight division is generating buzz in the MMA community. It is projected to be a close matchup.

Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield – Odds

Coming into this flyweight bout, the odds are quite close. Erin Blanchfield is currently a slight favorite, with odds around -125 (implying about a 55.6% chance of winning), while Rose Namajunas is a narrow underdog at around +100 to +105. It’s a close matchup where the risks are high. To help mitigate risk, you can use a practice account to learn forex trading with JM demo account right here.

These odds suggest that bookmakers and bettors see this as a very evenly matched contest, with Blanchfield having just a slight edge. The close odds are likely due to Blanchfield’s recent success and rising star status in the division, against Namajunas’ experience and championship background. However, the narrow margin indicates that oddsmakers believe Namajunas has a very real chance of pulling off the win, making this an unpredictable fight for fans.

Rose Namajunas is a former two-time strawweight champion who has recently moved up to the flyweight division. At 32 years old, Namajunas is looking to secure her third consecutive win in the new weight class after victories over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez.

She’s known for her striking skills, particularly her crisp boxing and kicks. Namajunas has shown impressive resilience in her career, bouncing back from setbacks to reclaim championship status in the past. Typically, she brings a quick in-and-out striking style focused on her strong punches and is usually aggressive.

rose tracy
DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 13: (L-R) Rose Namajunas punches Tracy Cortez in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Ball Arena on July 13, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“Cold Blooded” Erin Blanchfield is a rising star in the flyweight division at just 25 years old. With a record of 6-1 in the UFC and 12-2 overall, Blanchfield is looking to rebound from her first UFC loss to Manon Fiorot in March, which was coming off of a great win streak in the UFC.

Erin Blanchfield

She’s a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with excellent grappling skills but has also shown command in striking. Blanchfield’s youth and rapid improvement make her a challenging opponent. She’s known for her aggressive, well-rounded fighting style.

This matchup is crucial for both fighters, as the winner could potentially position themselves for a title shot against the current champion, Valentina Shevchenko. “Bullet’ Shevchenko Shevchenko has commanded the flyweight division for several years. Her only title loss in this division was to Alexa Grasso, a loss that she later avenged.

Alexander Volkanovski On Ilia Topuria’s Fighter Of The Year Claim: ‘If It Wasn’t Pereira Saving Cards…’

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is backing Ilia Topuria for 2024’s Fighter of the Year accolade despite Alex Pereira’s record-breaking run. Topuria took another step toward greatness on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view against BMF titleholder and 145-pound legend Max Holloway. […]

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski On Ilia Topuria’s Fighter Of The Year Claim: ‘If It Wasn’t Pereira Saving Cards…’ at MMA News.

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is backing Ilia Topuria for 2024’s Fighter of the Year accolade despite Alex Pereira’s record-breaking run.

Topuria took another step toward greatness on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view against BMF titleholder and 145-pound legend Max Holloway.

After shockingly putting Volkanovski down in Anaheim this past February, “El Matador” repeated the feat at Holloway’s expense, becoming the first to knock the Hawaiian out in the process.

Just weeks ago, many saw the Fighter of the Year debate as being wrapped up after Pereira defeated Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 to record his third successful light heavyweight defense of the year.

Pre-UFC 308, though, Volkanovski outlined a strong case for Topuria were he to add Holloway’s name to his growing résumé in the sport’s leading promotion.

And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Volkanovski said there wouldn’t even be a debate about “Poatan” pipping Topuria to the post if it wasn’t for the way in which his assignments came together.

The Australian pointed out that Pereira is credited with ‘saving’ the promotion after a struggle to find a suitable UFC 300 main event and the late-notice withdrawal of Conor McGregor weeks before UFC 303.

“A few things come into play when you’re saving cards. Put it this way, if it wasn’t Pereira saving cards and putting his belt on the line while saving cards, it would be clearly Ilia,” Volkanovski said. “Yeah, you’ve had three defenses, but the two that Ilia took out and finished us both, it’s hard to pick against Ilia, to be honest.

“Before this past weekend, I was like, ‘How does Pereira not get it?’ It was pretty clear,” Volkanovski continued. “It’s pretty impressive, man. It’s tough to say.”

Pereira’s victories over Jamahal Hill, Ji?í Procházka, and Rountree this year came in the space of just 175 days, breaking Ronda Rousey’s record for the shortest time to record three consecutive defenses.

The level of competition Topuria has faced, however — alongside the manner with which he’s beaten two of the greatest of all time — has made him a popular choice for Fighter of the Year.

Beyond that discussion concluding in a couple of months’ time, Volkanovski appears likely to be the one next tasked with bringing Topuria’s violent run to an end.

After he entered the cage for a respectful interaction with the champ in Abu Dhabi, the Australian was confirmed as the next challenger by UFC CEO Dana White, setting the stage for a monumental rematch in 2025.

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski On Ilia Topuria’s Fighter Of The Year Claim: ‘If It Wasn’t Pereira Saving Cards…’ at MMA News.

Alexandre Pantoja Explains Why He Isn’t Interested In Moving Divisions

Many UFC fighters are quick to talk about their desire to move up the weight classes in order to achieve success in multiple divisions. This is not a current priority or goal for UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. The Brazilian has already defended his title twice since beating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to finally […]

Continue Reading Alexandre Pantoja Explains Why He Isn’t Interested In Moving Divisions at MMA News.

Many UFC fighters are quick to talk about their desire to move up the weight classes in order to achieve success in multiple divisions. This is not a current priority or goal for UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

The Brazilian has already defended his title twice since beating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 to finally realize his dream of holding the gold. Alongside successful defenses over Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg, Pantoja has already beaten other top contenders in Alex Perez and Manel Kape.

This doesn’t leave the champion with an abundance of options for new challenges when you look at who’s at the top right now, hence why new star signing Kai Asakura will be going straight into a title fight at UFC 310 on December 7. Despite this, Pantoja does not have plans to move to bantamweight in the near future.

In a recent interview with Sherdog, he said that in his opinion, the flyweight division has never been better when you look at the quality of fights and talent. He’s extremely happy where he is, especially whilst he’s on top.

“Flyweight have the best moment ever. We have a lot of main events, a lot of best fights of the night, a lot of bonuses. All the flyweight fights, you make sure that the fight is going to be crazy. I’m super happy with that moment and when I look to the back, I see a lot of good challengers, especially guys coming into the top 10, top 15. New guys in the UFC, that’s crazy. You see Taira make a close fight with Royval. You see Asu (Almabayev) fight beautiful fight with Matheus Nicolau too. You have a lot of good names coming for that division and now, one more, Kai Asakura, is going to be great. I think that’s the best moment for flyweight in UFC.”

Pantoja also said that his desire to move up to bantamweight depends on two things, a potential fight with Sean O’Malley or a rematch with Deiveson Figueiredo but neither are champions right now.

Continue Reading Alexandre Pantoja Explains Why He Isn’t Interested In Moving Divisions at MMA News.