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The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is back.

Season 32 gets underway Tues., June 4, 2024 on ESPN featuring head coaches Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. The rival flyweights are expected to face off for a third time at the conclusion of the combat sports reality show; however, a date and location have yet to be announced.

The coaches of TUF 32 might end up fighting before the coaches of TUF 31, which is both sad and hilarious. Grasso defeated Shevchenko at the UFC 285 pay-per-view (PPV) roughly one year back to win the 125-pound title, then battled “Bullet” to a draw in their Noche UFC rematch last fall.

Here’s the finalized TUFC 32 roster, featuring men’s featherweights and middleweights.

MEN’S FEATHERWEIGHTS (145)

Edwin Cooper Jr | 31 | 6-1 | Albuquerque, N.M.
Nathan Fletcher | 26 | 8-1 | Liverpool, England
Zygimantas Ramaska | 27 | 9-2 | Ukmergė, Lithuania
Roedie Roets | 27 | 7-1 | Polokwane, South Africa
Bekhzod Usmonov | 28 | 12-4 | Tajikistan
Guillermo Torres | 37 | 7-1 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Kaan Ofli | 30 | 11-2-1 | Melbourne, Australia
Mairon Santos | 23 | 13-1 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

MEN’S MIDDLEWEIGHTS (185)

Omran Chaaban | 23 | 6-1 | Finland
Shamidkhan Magomedov | 29 | 8-1 | Gubkinsky, Russia
Robert Valentin | 28 | 10-3 | Switzerland
Mark Hulme | 29 | 12-3 | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Ryan Loder | 31 | 6-1 | Sacramento, Calif.
Giannis Bachar | 33 | 9-2 | Athens, Greece
Thomas Theocharis | 30 | 9-5 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Paddy McCorry | 26 | 4-1 | West Belfast, Ireland

Stay tuned for more TUF 32 news and notes in the coming weeks.

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After knocking out Jailton Almeida at UFC 299, Curtis Blaydes has Tom Aspinall’s stamp of approval as No. 1 contender for the interim heavyweight title.

Curtis Blaydes pulled off the upset on Saturday night at UFC 299, snapping Jailton Almeida’s six-fight winning streak by knocking the Brazilian out with hammerfists in the second round (watch the highlights here). If Almeida had gotten past Blaydes, there was no question he’d be next in line to face interim champion Tom Aspinall. Now Curtis is looking to step into that position.

“I believe me and Aspinall have some unfinished business,” Blaydes declared in the cage following his win. “I’d like to get that one next. That’s my next fight: Aspinall.”

Blaydes and Aspinall fought back in July 2022, but the bout lasted just 15 seconds before Aspinall blew out his knee. Now that Aspinall is the UFC interim champ, “Razor” Blaydes wants to give him a chance to avenge that loss.

“Don’t gotta ask me twice. I’m in,” Aspinall wrote on Twitter in response to a fan calling for a summer fight.

Heavyweight is in a bit of an odd spot right now with undisputed champion Jon Jones recovering from a pectoral injury. When he does return, it will be against Stipe Miocic in a match that was originally scheduled for UFC 295. That leaves Aspinall in a lurch until late 2024 at the earliest … so why not have him fight Curtis Blaydes in the interim?

While nothing is confirmed, it’s expected that the UFC will return to the U.K. this summer for an event. If that happens, Curtis is ready and willing to travel.

“London was dope,” he said at the UFC 299 post-fight press conference. “I’m down to go back.”

What he’s not interested in is a title eliminator match with the only other potential opponent for Aspinall, Ciryl Gane.

“I feel like you guys are all trying to edge me towards Gane, that’s not happening,” Blaydes said. “I asked for him already in the past, he missed that bus. If it’s not Aspinall, we’ll figure it out. I’m not going to make no concrete decisions right now because I don’t know what’s going on – I haven’t even looked at my phone all day.”

Aspinall hasn’t fought since a first round KO win over Sergei Pavlovich to win the title in November 2023. He’s repeatedly said a fight with Blaydes interested him, considering it’s his sole loss in the UFC. If the promotion wants to keep their burgeoning British star active, the choice seems obvious — unless they decide to go with Ciryl Gane, who could get the nod due to his popularity in France.

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Islam Makhachev is interested in fighting Dustin Poirier in Saudi Arabia on the UFC’s June 22nd card. But is the UFC interested in booking it?

Following his big UFC 299 win over Benoit Saint-Denis in Miami, a frustrated Dustin Poirier declared there was no clear path forward to a title shot in the ‘murky’ lightweight division. But that no longer seems to be the case after 155 pound champ Islam Makhachev’s manager issues a challenge to “The Diamond.”

“Dustin Poirier took a huge risk tonight and came out on top and looked amazing,” Ali Abdelaziz wrote on Twitter following UFC 299. “Dustin vs Islam in June especially since everyone else has fights. If the UFC is good with this then Islam would be game.”

Poirier responded with his own call for “Islam in June,” adding a nose-steam emoticon for emphasis.

There are three UFC shows in June: UFC 302 on the 1st, UFC Riyadh on the 22nd, and UFC 303 on the 29th. None have main events set, so Abdelaziz could mean any of them. But there has been speculation that Islam Makhachev would be a no-brainer for the Saudi Arabia event given his popularity in the region.

The only issue?

“It’s a ‘Fight Night’ card and there will not be a championship fight on it,” White said about the card back in January. Things certainly could have changed since then, especially considering Saudi Arabia’s reported refusal to accept UFC cards without sufficient star power.

Regardless of which event it is in June, Abdelaziz does have a point about everyone else being unavailable. Justin Gaethje, who was all but promised the next title shot against Makhachev, is set to face Max Holloway at UFC 300 on April 13th. What chance is there that he could turn around in two months for the most important fight of his career? Charles Oliveira also fights at UFC 300. It’s just too soon.

Makhachev clearly wants to compete in June. If the UFC wants him to compete in June as well, then Poirier suddenly makes a lot of sense.

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Poirier can’t wait for UFC to release footage of him practicing the right hook that finished Saint-Denis in their UFC 299 scrap.

While Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 may have looked like a wild brawl (watch highlights here), there was a lot of training and technique that came into play with many of the exchanges between the two. Following his second round knockout win, Poirier revealed he’d been sharpening the right hook that finished the fight all through training camp.

Speaking to UFC.com backstage, “Diamond” recounted the finish to his thrilling “Fight of the Night” bonus-winning victory.

“He dipped down to throw an overhand and I caught him, split his timing with an uppercut and his legs kinda went,” Poirier said. “Then he came back up and he was loose — chin up, hands down, trying to hurt me.

“We practiced this in the back, I know UFC has the footage because the camera was back there,” he continued. “We were practicing catch, catch, fire the hook, catch catch, fire the hook. He fought my buddy Thiago Moises, and when he got Moises against the fence he starts throwing these combinations from the hip, gunslinging, and his chin’s in the air.

“He’s a decent puncher and a big guy, but he throws everything into every shot with not the best technique,” Poirier concluded. “That’ll come, he’s still young. But, we saw a lot of openings, and I really felt that right hook was gonna be there. And boy was it.”

The win puts Poirier back in the win column after a disappointing head kick knockout loss to Justin Gaethje back in July 2023 (watch it). Win or lose, every Poirier fight delivers fireworks, and we can only hope UFC doesn’t leave him on the sidelines for another eight months.

He’s a legend.

For complete UFC 299 results and play-by-play, click HERE.

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Here’s what you may have missed!

Fan reaction was mixed when UFC announced that Michael Page would be joining the Welterweight roster.

Obviously, no one was outright complaining about a new knockout artist in the ranks, but there was a lot of pessimism. Understandable pessimism, if we’re being honest. “MVP” was teased as the next big thing by Bellator for most of ten years, but the promotion refused to actually book him against top competition for most of that span. When he finally did fight high-level Bellator contenders (Douglas Lima twice, Logan Storley), the results were uninspiring: a knockout loss, a split-decision win, and a split-decision loss.

By the time Page walked into the Octagon for the first time, he was already 36 years old. It’s hard to be overly moved about fighters with, at most, a couple years left competing at the highest level.

The name Kevin Holland helped inject some excitement back into the situation. “Trailblazer” is never in a boring fight, and we already somewhat knew what to expect given the Holland vs. Stephen Thompson slugfest in 2022. Nobody was upset about a continuation of that fight, even if relatively few were hyped about Page particularly.

All that’s changed now.

“Venom” absolutely styled on Holland. From the first bell, the difference in the two was stark. On paper, both men are lanky, fast, and powerful Welterweight strikers. Physically, there are many similarities. In their kickboxing process, however, Page was the vastly superior man. From the first bell, his entries and sudden ability to spring forward with power shots flummoxed Holland, who was left leaping after his opponent and still coming up short.

It looked like a bad copy.

Holland does some funky Karate-esque stuff like his jumping side kick, but really, he’s just a tough and athletic MMA guy with a long 1-2. Page, conversely, is the real deal in their shared style, a lifelong martial artist who has really mastered his method of combat. As the fight wore on, Page’s setups — his leaping right elbow, pivots towards Holland’s back, subtle right foot trip after the lead right hand — all continued to work with great consistency, whereas Holland only grew more frustrated at his inability to hit “MVP.”

Process wins fights, and Page knows exactly how to get opponents dancing to his tune. It was remarkable to watch him take apart such a durable and experienced UFC veteran with relative ease, proving beyond any doubt that Page has SOMETHING to offer the top-tier of the Welterweight division.

I’m not predicting any title run. Page is probably too old, and more vitally, his defensive ground work simply isn’t on the necessary level to handle someone like Shavkat Rakhmonov or even Belal Muhammad. He’s not helpless in that realm — he stalled out Storley quite well and prevented a Holland rally in the second — but he’s not going to become champion in such a historically wrestler-dominated division.

Lock him in the cage vs. Stephen Thompson, however? There’s a main event! Hell, with Alex Pereira-style matchmaking, Page could potentially climb high up into the ranks by fighting strikers like Jack Della Maddalena or Ian Machada Garry. He’d have a real shot against those Top 10-ranked Welterweights, a concept few were giving serious thought to prior to last week.

The UFC Welterweight division is simply better with Page in the mix.

For complete UFC 299 results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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Last night (Sat., March 9, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ventured forth to Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida for UFC 299. Though only one title was on the line, this fight card was about as stacked as they come! Even early in the “Prelims,” there were interesting notes like the debut of a Cuban Taekwondo Olympic medalist, as well as proven finishers like Michel Pereira and Ion Cutelaba. When former main event athletes like Curtis Blaydes and Rafael dos Anjos are on the undercard, you just know it’s going to be a great night of combat!

Let’s take a look back over at UFC 299’s best performances and techniques:

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

An O’Malley Masterclass

Sean O’Malley just put forth a pretty compelling argument that he’s the best striker in the UFC right now. I know, I know, Alex Pereira exists … but is the Brazilian the best, or is he just gifted with ungodly power?

Let me focus back on “Suga,” who absolutely showed out at the expense of Marlon Vera. For five full rounds, he picked apart Vera, mostly with apparent ease. He landed a knee in the second round with the resounding crack of a genuine home run hit, and it’s only because of Vera’s remarkable durability that we were able to witness the full extent of O’Malley’s standup prowess.

O’Malley does a lot of flashy techniques to great effect, but time and time again, it comes back to boxing. From both stances, O’Malley boxed remarkably well. He jabbed up Vera with both hands, feinted the jab, and consistently stayed a step ahead of Vera with his angles and pivots. Vera was constantly turning to face O’Malley and getting stabbed with punches for his efforts, and any time Vera advanced on a retreating champion, O’Malley would still flick him with the jab.

O’Malley’s body work was gorgeous here as well. Vera is known for being difficult to hit cleanly, so O’Malley and his team wisely adjusted strategy and spent long portions of the fight ripping crosses into his mid-section. Vera may be a cardio machine, but nobody runs marathons getting hit in the gut every quarter mile. O’Malley successfully slowed “Chito” down with his body work, as well as setting up future connections upstairs off the level change, like the aforementioned knee and numerous overhands.

Speed, volume, accuracy, technique, strategy — O’Malley was on fire last night. He’s a special fighter. Merab Dvalishvili may present an entirely different challenge and is a remarkable athlete in his own right, but it’s hard to feel confident in any Bantamweight against “Suga” after this master class.

He’s not even 30 yet.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The Diamond Endures

It’s rare that a fight is a two-way ass-beating.

For most of seven minutes, Benoit Saint Denis was abusing Dustin Poirier. Poirier fans around the globe cringed as Poirier repeatedly jumped for the guillotine, even after his coaches begged him to focus on the face-punching. Between those gilly attempts, Saint Denis was chasing Poirier around the Octagon and landing really nasty shots. Combination punches, dirty knees and elbows from the clinch, heavy kicks at range — Saint Denis attacked all targets with equal vigor and then wrestled relentlessly behind his offense.

Both men were fatigued by the second, but Poirier seemed to be fading worse. Nevertheless, he managed to escape from back mount, and this time, he used a guillotine attempt to ward off a takedown attempt rather than pull guard. Saint Denis was tired and on his feet with “The Diamond,” still pressuring … as is his nature.

If we know anything from more than a decade of watching Poirier in the Octagon, he carries his power at all times. One counter punch drastically changed the situation, putting Saint Denis into desperation mode. Suddenly, Poirier was in control, and a perfect counter right hook absolutely leveled the French prospect seconds later.

It’s a complicated outcome.

Truthfully, Poirier didn’t look good. He made a lot of bad decisions, relied mostly on his face for defense, and couldn’t stay off the fence at all. There are rumors that he’ll face Islam Makhachev next after this win, and there’s simply no way that match up goes well for him (unless he finally lands that guillotine). At the same time, it was such a ballsy performance that it’s hard not to walk away impressed. Poirier leaves another war of attrition with a sickening knockout win, once again proving himself an all-time great in that style of fight.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

JDM Pulls It Off

This may be a slightly hot take, but on my scorecard, Gilbert Burns was up 2-0 with five minutes remaining.

That’s not to say it wasn’t close or that Jack Della Maddalena wasn’t fight well. In fact, I was consistently impressed with Maddalena’s excellent scrambling. Burns was timing his takedowns really well, using the wise approach of kicking and wrestling the boxer — all the way out or all the way in! When Maddalena hit the floor, however, he did great work in fighting hands, fighting hooks, and flowing with the jiu-jitsu ace to scramble back to his feet in short fashion.

The bout was a little odd when the two were striking. Burns would occasionally land a really hard single punch or heavy kick. Then, Maddalena would cautiously build combinations, but a lot of them didn’t have a ton of power. Combined with Burns’ occasional takedowns but relative lack of control, it made for competitive rounds.

Whatever the scorecards, Maddalena pulled off a hell of a turnaround midway through the third. Burns was finally getting him down with greater consistency, and you could see in Maddalena’s posture and visage that he was exhausted. Nevertheless, Maddalena was able to pull off one last escape from a desperate position — the two-on-one wrist ride — and suddenly, it was “Durinho” desperately searching for a takedown.

Maddalena knew it and timed a knee perfectly to knock out the former title contender. Book “JDM” vs. Shavkat yesterday!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Petr Yan Returns To The Win Column

Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong was an absolute BANGER!

Yadong started the bout really well. His speed in the first five minutes was absurd, as Yadong was able to chop the lead leg, threaten takedowns, and build combinations well. Yan was firing back, but he was clearly put off by his opponent’s raw speed and power.

Naturally, those attributes start to slow a bit after five hard minutes. Yan took advantage in several ways, but his first bit of major success was landing a few body kicks that really took some steam off Yadong’s shots. Then, his jab started to land, and Yan began to punish his opponent’s takedown feints and head movement with ripping uppercuts. We’ve come to expect great adjustments from the former champion, and he certainly delivered!

It call come down the the third, and both men were feeling those 10 violent minutes. Initially, I liked the look of “The Kung Fu Kid,” who found good success by focusing more on his jab and pressuring Yan despite the heavy fire coming back his way. Just as the momentum seemed to be falling back into his corner, Yan was able to score a pivotal takedown along the fence. He finished the fight in top position, throwing elbows, and there was little doubt that “No Mercy” had done enough to get the nod.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Curtis Blaydes Finally Turns The Table

There was a bit of poetic justice in how Curtis Blaydes defeated Jailton Almeida.

How many times have we seen Curtis Blaydes start strong before getting melted? The most infamous example came against Derrick Lewis, where “The Black Beast” hardly landed a single punch until finding the perfect uppercut in the second round to put Blaydes to sleep. Other bouts against the likes of Francis Ngannou and Sergei Pavlovich were less dramatic, but even so, Blaydes found early success before getting smoked.

Finally, this bout was the opposite. Almeida proved his Heavyweight strength and wrestling by manhandling Blaydes for five minutes with an impressively dominant array of clinch trips and throws. Blaydes was thoroughly stuck for the entire first five rounds. It wasn’t looking good!

Then, Blaydes flipped the script. He sprawled on Almeida’s shot early in the second, and before the Brazilian could start chaining together his attempts, Blaydes unloaded a series of hammerfists to the side of his head. Blaydes has never been a fast puncher, but he hits plenty hard and had a stationary target in front of him.

Almeida slumped over, unsure what was happening.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best wins of Blaydes’ career. Almeida hadn’t lost in five years and 15 fights! It should be enough to score Blaydes a title rematch versus Tom Aspinall, which has both the history and style match up to be quite intriguing … even if Blaydes will be a significant underdog.

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Middleweight Michel

It’s really started to feel like Michel Pereira should have been at Middleweight this whole time

The Brazilian ended his Welterweight run — which featured numerous weight misses — on a five-fight win streak. However, only one victory came via finish, and several times, we saw Pereira lose rounds in the process. He looked good, but nobody was really pegging “Demolidor” as a future title contender.

Maybe that’s changed up at 185 lbs? Pereira steamrolled Andre Petrovski in 66 seconds a few months ago in his first bout post-banishment to Middleweight, and he just battered Michał Oleksiejczuk in 61 seconds last night! Oleksiejczuk is a high-quality Middleweight striker, but Pereira ran right through him by ripping apart his mid-section, which is quite a feather in his cap given Oleksiejczuk’s own penchant for body punching.

How high can Pereira climb without killing himself to make weight? I’m excited to find out.

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Four Knockouts In 37 Seconds

Robelis Despaigne is a force of nature. He won three fights prior to his UFC debut in just seconds, and nothing changed against Josh Parisian! Despaigne wasted a beat or two by slipping on a high kick, but as soon as he regained his footing, he immediately made up for lost time with a whipping counter right hook.

Parisian hit the ground and was immediately toast. The fight lasted 18 seconds.

What did we learn about Despaigne here? F—king nothing. We still have no idea what happens if he’s forced to wrestle or simply fight beyond the first minute. Who cares though? If nothing else, Despaigne has established himself as an absolute must-watch Heavyweight and unique prospect. It literally cannot get much more exciting!

For complete UFC 299 results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) enters the meat of its pay-per-view (PPV) season TONIGHT (Sat., March 9, 2024) with an absolutely loaded card from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. UFC 299’s main event will feature the fantastic rivalry between newly-minted Bantamweight roost-ruler, Sean O’Malley, putting his belt on the line for the first time ever against supremely confident challenger (and lone conqueror), Marlon Vera. In UFC 299’s co-main event, former interim Lightweight champion and perennial 155-pound title contender, Dustin Poirier, will attempt to protect his No. 3 ranking at the expense of surging French madman, Benoit Saint-Denis. We’ve also got the Octagon debut of Michael “Venom” Page, as well as Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena and so much more!

IS IT THE “SUGA SHOW” OR “CHITO TIME?!?!?!?”

Before that action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 299 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (ESPN/ESPNN will simulcast the undercard action at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 299’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 299 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “O’Malley vs. Vera 2.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 299 “Prelims” undercard results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)

UFC 299 QUICK RESULTS:

UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Kevin Holland vs. Michael Page
Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Petr Yan vs. Yadong Song
Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida
Katlyn Cerminara vs. Maycee Barber
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips — Munhoz def. Phillips by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ion Cutelaba vs. Philipe Lins — Lins def. Cutelaba by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Michel Pereira vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk — Pereira def. Oleksiejczuk by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 1:01 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian — Despaigne def. Parisian by TKO (punches) at 0:18 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
C.J. Vergara vs. Asu Almabayev — Almabayev def. Vergara by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz — Wood def. Moroz by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

UFC 299 ESPN+ ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY RESULTS:

265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida

Round one:
Round two:
Round three:

Final result:

125 lbs.: Katlyn Cerminara vs. Maycee Barber

Round one:
Round two:
Round three:

Final result:

155 lbs.: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Round one: Gamrot tries a head kick to start. Quick right hand, 1-2. RDA catches him leaning with a knee and denies a takedown, then floors him with a clubbing left hand. Gamrot wrestles his way through and puts him on the fence. RDA separates and looks to pressure. Solid punches and he denies a takedown two minutes in. Another hard left hand by RDA and a body kick behind it. Another straight left, Gamrot fires back. Nice single-leg puts Gamrot on top in side control with two minutes to go.

RDA quickly regains guard. Gamrot trying to pass, makes it to half guard. One minute to go. RDA trying to scoot to the fence, eating punches as he does. Solid elbows. 10-9 Dos Anjos.

Round two: Low kick by RDA. Heavy body kick by Gamrot, who fires a single-leg and muscles his way to the body lock. Trying to kick out RDA’s base a minute in, landing punches as he does. Knees to the body. They separate just under two minutes in. RDA trying to pressure, whiffs on a body shot. Reactive double-leg from Gamrot briefly gets RDA to a knee. RDA pops up and fights the grip. Mat return by Gamrot. RDA back to his feet but bleeding from his nose. Two minutes to go.

Elbow from RDA on the exit, jab from Gamrot. Perfectly timed reactive shot puts Gamrot on top in guard. RDA spins to his knees and gets to his feet. One minute to go. Gamrot tries to change levels, then separates. RDA back in pursuit. Counter right by Gamrot as he circles. Tight right hook. RDA puts together a combo, walks into another right hand. 10-9 Gamrot.

Round three:

Final result:

135 lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips

Round one: Solid low kick from Phillips to start. Munhoz catches a knee, can’t get the takedown, avoids a wheel kick. 1-2 from Phillips as he circles. Nice counter right by Munhoz a minute in. Sharpshooting from Phillips, but a kick from too close allows Munhoz to take him down a minute in. Phillips pushes his way free, catching Munhoz in the eye in the process. Jab exchange. Head kick just misses for Phillips, right hand lands two minutes in after they trade low kicks. Good flurry from Munhoz against the fence. Straight shots from Phillips, low kicks. Munhoz ducks a left hook but can’t find the takedown. Phillips tries to go low-high with kicks. Two minutes to go.

Phillips sticking and moving well so far. Hard spinning back kick, then a vicious combination in the center. Phillips avoids a takedown and cracks him with another knee and tries to swarm. Munhoz firing back with a minute to go. Flying knee to right hand from Phillips, but he pushes off with his fingers and catches Munhoz in the eye, prompting a pause. They get right back to slugging when they resume. Nasty left hook by Phillips as they trade and he’s chewing Munhoz up. More clean punches piling up. He continues to land until the bell. 10-9 Phillips.

Round two: Body shot from Phillips, left hook from Munhoz. Nice low kicks by Munhoz as Phillips tries to unload. Phillips falls short with some volleys, then lands a low kick a minute in. Body shot from Munhoz, who eats a calf kick and lands his own. They trade left hands. Phillips staying mobile. Head kick just misses, glancing spinning back elbow behind it. Two minutes in. Calf kick exchange. Body kick by Phillips, then another calf kick and a slick combination in the center. Two minutes to go.

Both look for combos near the fence. Munhoz still trying to pressure. Lead right lands for Phillips, as does a low kick. Stiff jab by Munhoz with a minute to go. Phillips goes low-high with a two-piece, calf kick by Munhoz in return. Nice body kick by Phillips behind a combination. Body kick again. Nasty counter right, Munhoz tries to answer with a combo. Glancing wheel kick to 1-2 by Phillips at the bell. 10-9 Phillips.

Round three: Head kick from Phillips to start. He’s done a great job so far of staying mobile and switching directions to keep Munhoz from cutting off the cage. Low kick from Munhoz, body shot to spinning back kick by Phillips. Another head kick sneaks around the guard. One minute in. Phillips briefly clinches after a lull. Low kick and right hand, Munhoz comes back with a combo. Phillips tries a combination and eats low kicks two minutes in. Jab exchange. Low kick by Phillips. Munhoz low kick, Phillips counter right. Nasty counter right as he’s backed to the fence. Munhoz completely unable to get any sustained offense going. Two minutes to go.

Another low kick from Phillips. Left hook to head kick in center cage, then an inside low kick. Body shot, low kick, head kick, low kick. One minute in. 1-2 from Phillips as he runs circles around Munhoz. Counter right yet again. They slug it out to end the fight and Phillips just misses a wheel kick before stuffing a takedown.

Final result: Phillips def. Munhoz by unanimous decision

205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba vs. Philipe Lins

Round one: Both firing low kicks to start. One minute in. 1-3-low kick from Lins. Cutelaba pressuring but not throwing much besides low kicks. Hard low kicks by Lins. Cutelaba backs him to the fence, tries to open up, eats another low kick two minutes in. Cutelaba counters the next calf kick with an overhand right for a knockdown, but Lins manages to tie up and subsequently make distance. 1-2 from Cutelaba. Two minutes to go.

Lina counters a body jab with a 1-2, then follows with a leg kick. Single-leg attempt, Cutelaba defends and lands an elbow. Nice blitz from Cutelaba but his leg is starting to give out. Lins unloading on a stationary target but Cutelaba forces him back with hard shots of his own. They tie up with a minute to go. Lins looking for a takedown, can’t keep him down, avoids an elbow on the break. Cutelaba backs him to the fence, Lins punches his way off. 10-9 Lins.

Round two: Another hard calf kick from Lins, then another. Cutelaba can’t put weight on his left leg. Lins making him chase, avoids a flurry on the fence. One minute in. Low kick to left hook from Lins, who tries to tee off on the fence and eats some shots in return. Back to circling as Cutelaba plods after him. Lins punches into the body lock and takes him to the fence, where Cutelaba grabs the fence before turning to get over-unders. Cutelaba reverses and lands knees two minutes in, but Lins regains the body lock and takes him down into half guard. Two minutes to go.

Lins playing tight but not doing much else from the top. He stands over Cutelaba, then dives in with heavy punches. Cutelaba scrambles up under fire and gets clinched with a minute to go. They separate 30 seconds later. Another calf kick from Lins prompts Cutelaba to shoot unsuccessfully. 10-9 Lins.

Round three: Heavy counter left by Lins, then another low kick. Cutelaba trying to pressure, but a telegraphed right hand lets Lins take him down again. Cutelaba gets to his feet, then latches onto a kimura. He cranks for a bit, but Lins works his way out and puts him on the fence. Two minutes in. Cutelaba continuing to pressure and throw. Counter right from Lins, then a tired-looking takedown attempt. He hauls Cutelaba to the fence, where Cutelaba winds up an elbow directly to the brainstem to earn a chiding from the ref. Cutelaba gets back to pressuring and they slug it out until Lins puts him on the fence with two minutes to go.

Lins grinding against the fence. He changes levels, nothing there. Ref breaks them up with 40 on the clock. Lins circling, Cutelaba pursuing. Hard counter left by Lins, Cutelaba comes back with a war cry. They slug on the fence and Lins gets the better of it, then blasts Cutelaba with a 1-2-3. 10-9 Lins.

Final result: Lins def. Cutelaba by unanimous decision

185 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Round one: Pereira dings Oleksiejczuk with a pair of hard body kicks in the opening seconds. Another body kick, then a right hand downstairs that has Oleksiejczuk reeling. Pereira chases him to the fence and folds him with a right knee to the body, then latches onto a no-hooks rear naked choke and puts Oleksiejczuk to sleep in seconds.

Final result: Pereira def. Oleksiejczuk by technical submission (rear naked choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!

265 lbs.: Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian

Round one: Despaigne stalks Parisian across the cage, but slips trying a head kick. Parisian sprints after him, but a backpedaling Despaigne finds his chin with three brutal shots, capped by a right hook that crumples Parisian. A few more hammer blows and in comes the ref.

Final result: Despaigne def. Parisian by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!

125 lbs.: C.J. Vergara vs. Asu Almabayev

Round one: Almabayev stumbles Vergara with his first leg kick. Next one to the inside. Vergara feinting and switching stance with his hands down. Almabayev tries a spinning back kick, lands a couple low kicks, then shoots. Vergara sprawls initially, but Almabayev drives through and trips him at the base of the fence. Vergara back to his feet, Almabayev keeping the rear waist lock and one hook. Two minutes in. Almabayev looks for a suplex, can’t get his hooks in. Another mat return, still can’t keep Vergara down or secure the back with two minutes to go.

Vergara reverses position and knees the thigh. Almabayev reverses in turn, then separates. Spinning back kick and combo by Almabayev. Vergara comes back with a right cross, then lands a solid left hook with a minute to go. Nice double-leg by Almabayev puts him on top in half guard. Slick move to mount and strong hips to avoid a sweep. 10-9 Almabayev.

Round two: Vergara tries a flying knee and eats a low kick for his trouble. Low kick of his own in return. Nice head kick attempt. Vergara constantly switching stance. Counter right by Almabayev. One minute in. Nice lead right by Vergara, cracking body kick by Almabayev in return. Almabayev transitions from a front headlock to a single-leg to land on top in guard. Two minutes in. Almabayev playing tight, landing the occasional punch. Continuing to do steady work with two minutes to go.

Almabayev sitting down on some heavier punches as he moves to half guard and briefly considers an arm triangle. Hard elbows, more punches. Vergara works his way up and immediately gets dumped back down, nearly giving up back mount in the process. Almabayev landing punches from turtle with a minute to go. More heavy ground-and-pound from Almabayev. Vergara scrambles to his feet and eats a knee before the bell. 10-9 Almabayev.

Round three: Almabayev tries to spin, lands a low kick, and nearly shoots directly into Vergara’s shin. Nice uppercut by Amabayev, spinning back kick behind it. Vergara trying to pressure, blocks a head kick, gives up a single-leg. Almabayev tries to run the pipe before transitioning to the rear body lock and hunting the back a minute in. Both hooks in. Nice scramble from Vergara, who fires body kicks. Wheel kick just misses for Almabayev, who tries a shot and then blasts Vergara with a knee on the way up. Right hand by Vergara two minutes in. Vergara slips throwing a head kick and Almabayev takes top position at the base of the fence. Vergara quickly stands but Almabayev is latched on, trying to dump him back to the mat. Almabayev fighting for a single-leg with two minutes to go.

Almabayev exits with a flurry, tries a spinning back kick, then catches a body kick to answer with a low kick. Vergara wading after him and they trade body kicks. Almabayev catches one for a takedown into guard. He sticks in a hook as Vergara tries to scramble, looking for the other with a minute to go. Full back mount and looking for the RNC. ESPN+ crashes for the second time in two fights, so I miss the last 30 seconds, but considering Vergara didn’t finish him in that time it’s 10-9 for Almabayev.

Final result: Almabayev def. Vergara by unanimous decision

125 lbs.: Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz

Round one: They trade for around 15 seconds before Moroz times a takedown in center cage. Full guard for Moroz. Body punches, elbow upstairs. One minute in. More short punches from Moroz. Moroz staying busy, Wood, struggling to get anything going from her back. Two minutes in. Half guard for Moroz, threatening an arm triangle, nothing there. Two minutes to go.

Wood finally spins for a leg, but doesn’t manage to threaten much before Moroz retakes top position. Back to half guard with a minute to go. Moroz opens up with some heavier shots before the bell. 10-9 Moroz.

Round two: Solid right hand and body shots from Wood prompt Moroz to haul her to the fence. Good elbow and uppercut by Moroz before re-engaging. One minute in. Knees to the body from Moroz, who has double underhooks. Wood separates two minutes in and goes to work with strafing shots. Both women trading heat, hard teep by Wood. ESPN+ crashes mid-exchange, and when I reach the Fight Pass broadcast, Wood has just kicked Moroz in the groin. They trade for a bit, then tie up with two minutes to go.

They separate and trade at range. Heavy right hand by Wood. Moroz throwing a lot but getting the worst of these exchanges. There’s a nice knee from her. One minute to go. Wood denies a clinch and lands knees. Moroz 1-2, Wood check hook. Hard 1-2 by Wood, who tries to follow with a spinning back fist. Brutal left hook as they exchange, then a body kick and left hook. They slug it out until the bell. 10-9 Wood.

Round three: Heavy body kick from Moroz after both fire volleys at range. Moroz hauls her to the fence a minute in, Wood separates after eating a right hand. Wood catches a body kick and takes her down, but Moroz kicks her off and stands. Both throw combos, Moroz finds the mark with a pair of hard straight rights two minutes in. Front kick to the fence from Wood in return. Moroz with some solid shots in the clinch. 1-2. Moroz outworking her this round. Sharp jabs by Wood in center cage. Two minutes to go.

Wood answers a series of jabs with a clean right cross. Right cross by Wood in the center, then a left hook and counter jab. Wood picking her off with cleaner shots. Teep from Wood, who catches a body kick and lands another teep. One minute to go. Moroz ties up, only for Wood to knock her loopy with a spinning back fist on the break. Wood chasing her down and unloading in pursuit of the finish. Moroz manages to tie up but her legs are not there. Wood empties the tank but can’t put her away. 10-9 Wood.

Final result: Wood def. Moroz by split decision

Remember: MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 299’s entire five-fight PPV main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 299: “O’Malley vs. Vera 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

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*** HIGHLIGHTS! Watch Joshua Batter Ngannou With Legendary Knockout! ***

The mixed martial arts (MMA) world watched in horror Friday night as former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou was knocked out cold by boxing superstar Anthony Joshua. It was the first time fight fans have ever seen Ngannou seriously hurt in a fight, let alone laying on his back unconscious looking up at the stars.

Needless to say, the result of Ngannou’s second pro boxing match was shocking. “Predator” may have been a betting underdog against Joshua, but he handled himself so good against Tyson Fury last October that it seemed completely plausible that Ngannou could pull of the upset on Friday. Sadly for Ngannou and MMA fans around the world, Joshua was simply too good and would not be denied the early knockout finish.

After witnessing Ngannou’s destruction, the MMA community took to social media to share their support and utter shock for how things turned out. Some fighters even started to pray for Ngannou’s health after seeing Joshua’s final right hand. It wasn’t a good moment for many around MMA, including former UFC champions Daniel Cormier and Israel Adesanya.

Check out Cormier’s reaction to Ngannou getting slept below:

“He just dropped Francis,” said Cormier. “Oh my goodness.”

“Oh my gosh,” he continued. “Again, bro. Oh that was worse. Left hook. I think Francis might be done boys. It does not look good. Francis is hurt bad.”

“Oh sh-t,” shouted Cormier after the final blow was delivered. “Oh my god.”

Adesanya, who has forged a close relationship with “Predator” over the past few years, was speechless after witnessing his friend get knocked out cold inside of the boxing ring. The look on Adesanya’s face said it all.

Check it out below:

For complete Ngannou vs. Joshua results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.

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UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is defending his 135-pound title in a five-round rematch against bitter rival Marlon Vera … which would have sounded strange a couple of years ago but alas; here we are just a few hours ahead of the UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) event. Dustin Poirier will collide with lightweight sensation Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 299 co-main event, taking place at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., with some other familiar faces joining the lineup, as well. It’s also worth mentioning that Michael Page will finally get the opportunity to prove he was more than just a big fish in a small Bellator pond against a very tough out in the form of welterweight “Trailblazer” Kevin Holland.

Before we break down the five-fight PPV main card, which also features an important bantamweight battle between former champion Petr Yan and fan favorite Song Yadong, be sure to take a closer look at our comprehensive preview and predictions for this weekend’s preliminary undercard action on ESPN and ESPN+ by clicking here and here. The latest UFC 299 odds and a complete betting guide for the entire “O’Malley vs. Vera” PPV lineup can be located here.

Let’s take a look at what the main card has in store for us tonight in “The Sunshine State.”

135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight champion “Suga” Sean O’Malley (17-1, 1 NC) vs. Marlon “Chito” Vera (23-8-1)

Sean O’Malley is bantamweight champion and the growing consensus seems to be that “Suga” is merely keeping the belt warm until the promotion grants wrestling “Machine,” Merab Dvalishvili, a shot at the 135-pound title. It’s hard to know at this juncture what O’Malley’s legacy will be as champion because of his bizarre path to the title. If you include his “Contender Series” destruction of Alfred Khashakyan back in summer 2017, “Suga” has 10 wins inside the Octagon and eight of those opponents are no longer competing under the UFC banner. The two wins he does have over active competition are big ones, edging out former champion Petr Yan at UFC 280 before stopping Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.

The big talking point ahead of his Marlon Vera rematch is the outcome of their first fight. O’Malley fans will attribute the UFC 252 loss to injury; which is fine, but they conveniently leave out the fact that Vera’s leg kicks were a contributing factor. No question they’ll be on the menu tonight in “The Sunshine State” but my concern heading into UFC 299 is the challenger’s output, which seems to have dwindled over the last few years. I can also admit I wasn’t blown away by his decision victory over notoriously tough out Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, which followed a decision loss to Cory Sandhagen at UFC San Antonio. Still, it feels like nitpicking when you look at his violent finish over Dominick Cruz at UFC San Diego, as well as his clinic against Rob Font at UFC Vegas 53.

What makes this fight so compelling is the fact that O’Malley has incredible one-punch power while Vera has a beard made of stone, competing in over 30 professional fights without ever getting finished. It’s been said that every fighter loses their chin if they stay in the game long enough, I just don’t know if this fight will be violent enough to test that theory. O’Malley is at his most dangerous when he’s playing matador, a strategy that will fail him at UFC 299 if Vera doesn’t take the bait. I know it sounds crazy to think two fighters with a combined 16 post-fight bonuses might turn in a boring match, but this could devolve into a 25-minute chess match with each combatant waiting for the other to make the first mistake.

I’ve never wanted to be so wrong in my life.

Prediction: O’Malley def. Vera by unanimous decision

155 lbs.: Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (29-8, 1 NC) vs. Benoit “God of War” Saint-Denis (13-1, 1 NC)

Dustin Poirier may not have the “BMF” title, but he should certainly be wearing the “MVP” belt. If you examine what “The Diamond” has done across his UFC career it’s nothing short of extraordinary. Forget wins and losses, just look at his level of competition — a veritable murderer’s row dating back to summer 2016. Not many lightweights in his position would risk their place in the division Top 5 by taking on a younger brute like Benoit Saint Denis but that’s what makes Poirier such a special athlete. That said, you have to wonder what the Louisianan has left in the tank after 15 years of back-and-forth violence. I don’t want to put him out to pasture because he was stopped by Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 because losing to “The Highlight” is nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, Poirier turned 35 back in January and Father Time is undefeated. He’s also facing an all-action killer who at age 28, is competing in his athletic prime.

Saint Denis was a highly regarded prospect coming out of Brave Combat Federation in late 2021, though his Octagon debut against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos left a lot to be desired (and marked the first loss of his professional career). Undaunted, the reinvigorated “God of War” came storming back with five straight wins, with all five ending by way of knockout or submission. That includes his “Performance of the Night” against Matt Frevola at UFC 295 last fall. The counterargument is that Saint Denis has not faced anyone in the division Top 10 and was able to rack up highlight-reel finishes against less than stellar competition. We also don’t know how well the Frenchman will hold up in a five-round fight in the off chance it lasts that long. The two times Poirier went all 25 minutes, he captured “Fight of the Night” honors against Max Holloway and Dan Hooker. Not surprisingly, pundits are leaning toward Saint Denis early and Poirier late.

This is a very difficult fight to predict because of the unknown. Poirier has been in countless wars in the past and won most of them, outboxing strikers like Conor McGregor and submitting wrestlers like Michael Chandler. This will not be new territory for him. At the same time, “The Diamond” will have to shine on defense and not allow himself to be dragged into the phone booth, where he remains most vulnerable against the taller and longer Saint Denis. Assuming that strategy comes to pass, it’s easy to envision the more experienced Poirier weathering an early storm, then settling down and taking over the bout after “God of War” blows his load and fades in the second half of the fight. It’s not a confident pick by any stretch of the imagination, but when push comes to shove, it’s hard to bet against the proven commodity, regardless of its wear and tear.

Prediction: Poirier def. Saint Denis by technical knockout

170 lbs.: Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (25-10, 1 NC) vs. Michael “Venom” Page (21-2)

Kevin Holland is an exceptional fighter who sometimes lets his jackassery get in the way of a serious run at the 170-pound title. That’s not entirely his fault, because it’s more important — financially speaking — to be a successful personality than it is a successful fighter. It’s also a lot easier, so sometimes it pays to just do enough to not get killed inside the cage. Some of the previews of this fight have drawn comparisons to the Stephen Thompson loss. Like “Wonderboy,” Michael Page is a rangy striker who presents a unique set of problems on the feet. That said, we can’t overlook the fact that “Trailblazer” broke his hand early in the Thompson fight and was basically a sitting duck until a merciful, fourth-round corner stoppage. What followed were back-to-back wins — and back-to-back finishes — over veteran bruisers Santiago Ponzinibbio and Michael Chiesa, later spoiled by a loss to welterweight wunderkind Jack Della Maddalena. I don’t think anyone will ever mistake Holland for being a wrestler but he’s been able to rattle off a couple of offensive takedowns when the occasion calls for it — and it just might against Page.

“Venom” was one of the must-see attractions in Bellator and built up a reputation for delivering highlight reel knockouts (get a sample here). I have a pretty strong stomach after covering this sport for nearly 20 years but what he did to the skull of Evangelista Santos remains uncomfortable to watch. It’s been said the Englishman was the best striker not signed to UFC and he certainly looked the part … though he had a little help from the promotion. Is anyone breaking out the good champagne for stoppages over Charlie Ontiveros and Charlie Ontiveros? Combined, they’ve been knocked out 16 times in MMA. It’s also worth noting that Page looks mortal when opponents don’t play his game. Decisions against Logan Storley (L) and Douglas Lima (W) come to mind. “Venom” is also turning 37 next month and will be dealing with a younger opponent who has a longer reach. Personally, I would have liked to see Page get a tune-up fight before getting thrown into the PPV shark tank, because I think Holland presents a unique (and difficult) challenge.

Page is a former kickboxing champion and will probably look like one this weekend in Miami. As for Holland, his awkward style and penchant for showmanship may make him a difficult target. I also think he’s going to use his in-cage antics as bait and let an overconfident Page get too close for comfort, resulting in a surprise submission that “Venom” won’t see coming until its already too late.

Prediction: Holland def. Page by submission

170 lbs.: Gilbert Burns (22-6) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (16-2)

Gilbert Burns has managed to hang around the Top 5 of the division for the last few years but hasn’t really looked like a Top 5 fighter. The Brazilian was able to score a 170-pound title shot by knocking around a 42 year-old Demian Maia, which preceded a decision victory over a washed Tyron Woodley. Burns went on to get knocked out by Kamaru Usman in early 2021 and in the years that followed, compiled a 3-2 record with his lone finish coming against Neil Magny at UFC 283. Burns turns 38 in July and is clearly on the back nine of his combat sports career and UFC 299 marks the first time “Durinho” will fight an opponent under 30 since his submission win over Mike Davis at UFC Ft. Lauderdale back in early 2019. Wrestling is clearly his bread-and-butter and carves a path for his top-shelf submission game, though his striking leaves a lot to be desired. Burns does have power, he just lacks the fundamentals to set it up effectively. When you combine his age with the injury he suffered against Belal Muhammad early last year, it’s hard to feel good about his chances in this fight.

That’s assuming Jack Della Maddalena is the talent we think he is, based on what we’ve seen thus far in his UFC career. There’s also the very real possibility that he’s just a tornado of violence who is likely to get exposed when facing the experience and composure of combatants nestled in the upper echelon of the division. Maddalena made a name for himself on Dana White’s “Contender Series” back in late 2021 and has since compiled six straight wins, though his last two were not the lights-out finishes fans have become accustomed to. I’m not going crazy over his performance against Bassil Hafez last July, because the Aussie was tasked with fighting a short-notice opponent he didn’t train for and knew nothing about. That bewilderment became obvious during multiple grappling exchanges that had fans cursing the injury bug. The follow up to that win was another tough outing against Kevin Holland, which had some pundits casting doubt on Maddalena’s future, but I saw it the other way: he faced a Top 15 fighter and proved he had the mettle to get it done.

Burns will try to exploit Maddalena’s takedown defense and for good reason. His success in that department will likely dictate the outcome of this fight. If Burns does not succeed in grounding his Australian foe, he’s likely to get battered from pillar to post. Maddalena has better hands and more importantly, produces more volume. That’s a critical component in a three-round contest, which could mirror the Khamzat Chimaev fight in terms of insane, back-and-forth action. Expect this to be in the running for “Fight of the Night” and my apologies to all the “Durinho” fans, but I think this is Maddalena’s coming out party.

Prediction: Maddalena def. Burns by technical knockout

135 lbs.: Petr “No Mercy” Yan (16-5) vs. Yadong “Kung Fu Kid” Song (21-7-1, 1 NC)

Less than two years ago, Petr Yan was ranked No. 1 in the bantamweight division and among the Top 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings. These days, it seems like fickle fight fans are ready to wipe “No Mercy” from the list of eligible contenders based on his recent performances. True, Yan has dropped three straight, but his opponents were current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, No. 1-ranked title contender Merab Dvalishvili, and former 135-pound titleholder Aljamain Sterling. There’s no disputing the loss to Dvalishvili but you can make arguments than Yan won his split decisions against O’Malley and Sterling. Of the 26 media outlets who scored UFC 280, only one scorecard landed in favor of “Suga.” Part of the issue for Yan, also apparent in his victory over Cory Sandhagen, is how long it takes for the Russian bruiser to get out of first gear. He’s an exceptional striker with a formidable wrestling base but sometimes seems content to do … nothing. Other times it looks as though Yan is mailing it in or attending a timeshare seminar. If he’s checked out for his UFC 299 return, or spends the first round trying to figure things out, “No Mercy” could find himself in big trouble.

Song Yadong is just 26 years old but already has 30 professional fights, which is both impressive and concerning. The “Kung Fu Kid” has been a fantastic addition to the bantamweight division with his all-action style, good enough for six post-fight performance bonuses, including one “Fight of the Night” opposite Marlon Vera at UFC Jacksonville. Cory Sandhagen showed that Yadong still has room to grow (har har) but again, at just 26 years old, the Chinese prospect has yet to reach his competitive prime. You wouldn’t know it by his output, which comes with devastating power, often at the expense of technique. That could be the deciding factor against Yan, who may present a broader palette to work from, in terms of the standup. The bigger concern is how Yadong will deal with the wrestling, having already been grounded en route to a decision loss to Kyler Phillips. Again, that all depends on how aggressive Yan wants to be with just 15 minutes to work. With a deeper toolbox and a more decorated resume, Yan feels like the right pick. Don’t expect it to come easy and we cold have an early contender for “Fight of the Night,” as well as another close decision for fans to argue about over the next few days.

Prediction: Yan def. Yadong by decision

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 299 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 299: “O’Malley vs. Vera” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 299 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Francis Ngannou is an incredible athlete with an unbelievable life story.

At this very moment, some writer somewhere in Southern California is in the midst of converting that life story into a film script. They’re running into trouble making the facts read realistic, however. How can a man cross deserts and oceans into homelessness, stumble into a boxing gym, and walk away a UFC Heavyweight champion? Already, it sounds implausible, and we haven’t even gotten to his bold stance against UFC pay, record-setting power, or professional boxing debut against undefeated champion Tyson Fury.

It’s absurd. Ngannou has bet on himself repeatedly in the last few years, and it has continually paid off! There’s a great moral here about self-belief and big goals, but those lessons do have to be tempered by the simple fact that Francis Ngannou is a special human being.

Even so, his gifts have limits. He is just a man. Anthony Joshua knocking him out (watch it) has no right to feel surprising — it’s the logical conclusion of Ngannou’s boxing career. A great chin cannot absorb so many clean Joshua blows, nor can an MMA fighter master boxing in his late 30s

Ngannou’s remarkable nature has blurred the line between possible and impossible, reality and fantasy. It’s why fight fans gave him a chance against Anthony Joshua, despite the fact that we all know better! We know what happens when MMA fighters, even the best ones, cross over into the boxing ring against elite boxers.

For a moment, Ngannou was the exception. He took Fury’s best shots, knocked him down, and brought him to the brink of his first professional defeat. This Joshua loss sends him back to reality, and it really forces us to reconsider the Fury fight.

Suddenly, the Fury bout looks like a perfect storm. It was obvious from the weigh-ins that Fury wasn’t in peak shape for the Ngannou match. He didn’t prepare well enough, nor has he ever been a huge hitter in the ring. Ngannou also had the element of surprise on his side in regards to how he would look in the ring. Combine that surprise with a well-trained MMA fighter’s adeptness in the clinch, and Ngannou nearly scored one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.

A miracle. Lightning in a bottle. The perfect storm.

Joshua didn’t encounter such rough waters. He saw Fury struggle, but he also saw ten rounds of Ngannou throwing the same counter left hook over and over again. His game plan was obvious from the backstage clips of him hitting mitts. Consequently, Joshua wisely showed up in shape, executed his game plan, and unloaded right away.

It looked like an expert boxer piecing up an MMA fighter. It looked like what we should have been expecting. Ngannou was shook from the first knockdown, and he never managed to work back into the fight before the hammer fell.

There are at least silver linings of Ngannou’s boxing sojourn and subsequent return to Earth. Ngannou parlayed his self-confidence into a legendary performance against Fury and TWO gigantic paydays. His gamble already paid off in terms of finance and legacy. Now, he can ride off into the PFL smart cage to knock out Renan Ferreira on his terms.

Is there still boxing opportunity? Of course. A Fury rematch will still sell at any point in the next few years, as would a match up vs. the struggling Deontay Wilder. Saudi Arabia has the bank reserves to book another Ngannou super fight or two, though I wouldn’t be too optimistic about the outcomes after other boxers have now seen Ngannou felled.

The game has changed.

Insomnia

I am glad that Ion Cutelaba is back to doing his Green Man routine. An unserious fighter in an unserious division!

An update to a forthcoming Apex event:

Only one of these three lines is the least bit funny or interesting.

Claudio Ribeiro’s loss last weekend to Christian Leroy Duncan will go down as the last of his UFC stint.

I hope Merab Dvalishvili was paid well for his second cut in three weeks.

Are Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko TUF coaches that you’ll tune in for?

I don’t care if Ngannou gets knocked out in the ring ten more times, no professional boxer would touch him in the cage.

Sean Strickland’s retirement could come sooner than later.

A lovely bit of grappling!

Song Yadong is exaggerating with his 170 pound number, but he is probably the biggest Bantamweight I’ve ever personally trained with. Which is annoying because he’s also the second fastest!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

A prospect to watch:

Stationary along the ropes is a bad idea.

A good show of composure to recover from the rolled ankle!

Random Land

RIP to a legend! Dragon Ball is so woven into martial arts culture that this really oughta be in the regular column.

Midnight Music: Alternative, 1979

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

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