Category Archives: Mmamania.com

‘Chito’ suggested he hadn’t given his body enough time to recover after a tough loss to Sean O’Malley earlier this year.

Did Marlon Vera return to the octagon a bit too soon after taking a hellacious beating at the hands of Sean O’Malley back in March?

That’s a question “Chito” is asking himself after losing to Deiveson Figueiredo via decision on the undercard of UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov. Figueiredo became the first fighter to ever knock Vera down in the UFC (watch the highlights where), which could just be a testament to the former flyweight champion’s power at bantamweight. But in a statement posted on social media after the event, Vera suggested the damage he took five months earlier played a part.

“I fail at myself last night,” Vera wrote on Instagram. “I thought I was ready, I felt good in the gym, but at the end maybe I come back too quick after a hard title fight.”

O’Malley outstruck Vera 232 to 89 in their five round title fight at UFC 299, earning 50-45, 50-45, 50-44 scores from the judges. Vera’s durability carried him to the final bell, but at what cost? The O’Malley fight clearly took a toll on “Chito,” one that he hopes will wear off with more time.

“Life doesn’t end here,” he continued. “I still dream about big things, I just need time to let go and reset. Thank you Abu Dhabi for your love to my family for always being by my side, and Ecuador, thank you for always lifting me up like you did in the past. Shukrahn Abu Dhabi! I’ll be back re-born.”

Vera is just 31 years old, so hopefully an extended break is all that’s needed for him to reset and re-establish himself at the top of the bantamweight division. But it’s an important reminder that fighters can only take so much damage before their body starts to betray them.

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Australians stick together.

Khamzat Chimaev is finally back! (hopefully) UFC CEO Dana White announced that the undefeated Middleweight has been rebooked against Robert Whittaker for UFC 308, which will take place on Oct. 26 inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The rest of the card is stacked; check it out here.

Yesterday (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024), UFC Welterweight Jack Della Maddalena took to his Instagram stories and blasted Chimaev.

“Chimaev loves steroids,” Maddalena wrote.

To be honest, the steroid accusation came out of nowhere. The only thing that makes sense is that maybe Maddalena is just backing his Australian countryman, Whittaker.

Chimaev has not fought since UFC 294 (Oct. 21, 2023) because of visa issues and hospitalizations. He was supposed to headline UFC’s first show in Saudi Arabia against Whittaker but withdrew a week before.

Maddalena last fought at UFC 299 in Miami, where he knocked out Gilbert Burns (watch highlights). Since that fight, the 27-year-old Aussie has been dealing with infections caused by his broken arm, which he suffered in the fight with Burns.

The infection was so nasty that he could not fight in his hometown of Perth at UFC 305 on Aug. 17.

To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.

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Last night (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ventured forth to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for UFC Abu Dhabi. A rare non-PPV card inside Etihad, the show was still stacked with more talent and bigger names than the usual free event. The afternoon showtime was a nice change of pace as well — why couldn’t we do that last week for the English fans and fighters again? — which all in all made for a standout event. It was almost enough to overlook the latest ritual sacrifice of Tony Ferguson!

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

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The Next Title Challenger

There’s no way around it: Umar Nurmagomedov is really damn good.

Cory Sandhagen came fully prepared to upset the Russian and steal away his undefeated record. In the first round, he effectively denied all of Nurmagomedov’s takedowns and began chewing up the lead leg. It was as strong a start as Team Sandhagen could have hoped for, yet it wasn’t destined to last.

Nurmagomedov slowly closed the gap in the stand up. His own kicking game was effective in slowing Sandhagen’s feet, and though his takedowns weren’t resulting in much control, they still limited Sandhagen’s volume and overall work rate. Subsequently, Nurmagomedov’s own hands started getting closer and closer to the target, and by the third, he was straight up out-landing Sandhagen upstairs.

Sandhagen found himself in quite the dilemma. He was falling behind on the scorecards, yet he wasn’t winning the range battle. He tried to up the pressure, but that’s never really been his game. Without the feints and footwork trickery he’s known for, Sandhagen’s increased pressure really only saw Nurmagomedov land more often.

Don’t get me wrong: every round was competitive from start to finish. At the same time, Nurmagomedov remained a step ahead throughout. Though his wrestling skills certainly didn’t hurt, it’s wild to consider a grappler as dominant as Nurmagomedov is also skilled enough on the feet to out-fox a veteran kickboxer like Cory Sandhagen.

Sean O’Malley or Merab Dvalishvili have their work cut out.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A High-Volume Middleweight

Shara Magomedov’s best aspect might just be conditioning.

Seriously, the guy fights at an outrageous pace. Just last weekend, we saw Giga Chikadze wilt from trying to employ the same game plan against Arnold Allen, but Chikadze fights 40 pounds lower! Michal Oleksiejczuk is a gamer and pushed a hard pace. He (mostly) did what he was supposed to do to test the prospect, and Magomedov was largely able to answer those questions in good form.

It all comes back to conditioning though. How is such a big man able to kick so quickly while running circles around the cage without badly fatiguing? In fact, it was Oleksiejczuk who ended the fight more worn out, because he walked through so many hard body and low kicks while trying to press the Russian.

Even when Magomedov did start to slow, it was mild, and Oleksiejczuk was too battered to truly take advantage. I’m not sold on Shara “Bullet” as a future champion, but he clearly has some unique attributes in his favor.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A Pointless Fight

Michael Chiesa choked out Tony Ferguson in short fashion, just like everybody expected. Ferguson refused to commit to retirement, just like everyone expected. Now that the fight is done, it’s time for something a little less predictable: will UFC actually give Ferguson a ninth opportunity after eight straight defeats?

I hope not.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The Best Joel Alvarez Yet

I expected Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener to be a banger — everyone did! I also expected it to be a very competitive fight, which seemed to be the general consensus as well but ultimately proved to be very wrong!

Alvarez beat the crap out of Brener. From the first bell, he was able to establish his range and stick Brenner with powerful, long punches. The Brazilian is known for his grit, his ability to take damage and fire back, but the strikes of Alvarez were getting to him. Alvarez was able to hurt his opponent badly enough that Brener pretty much accepted Alvarez’s range rather than risk walking through shots.

That strategic decision delayed the finish to the third round but didn’t prevent it. Alvarez’s shot selection was so nice: chopping low kicks, hard straights, and onslaughts of clinch knees and elbows. He broke Brener down, threatened him with several tight submissions, and ultimately finished with a few dozen connections in a row.

The late finish was also impressive because Alvarez cuts a lot of weight. He kept his pace the entire fight and still had the energy to surge towards the stoppage late, hopefully earning himself another opportunity against a ranked foe.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Light Heavyweight’s Best Boxer? (Aside From Pereira)

Azamat Murzakanov stands out from the Light Heavyweight pack.

The Russian improved to 4-0 last night by knocking out Alonzo Menifield, a dangerous if flawed veteran of the division. Murzakanov pretty much took him apart from the first bell, and he did so via good ol’ boxing. There are a lot of strikers in the Light Heavyweight Top 15, but how many of them actually build combinations? How many of them feint their way into exchanges, land, and then exit at an angle? Hardly any. It’s a division full of rangy kickers, wild men, and occasional grapplers.

At 35 years of age, Murzakanov’s window to do something major at 205-pounds is small, and his habit of slowing down over the course of fights isn’t great. Still, he’s an interesting player in the division, and he might just be able to crack a few heads in the Top 10 before all is said and done.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Finally!

The evening started with five straight decisions, and only one of those fights (below) was particularly interesting. Fortunately, Kaue Fernandes broke the streak, utterly battering Mohammad Yahya en route to a first-round finish.

As it so often does, the destruction began with the calf kick. Fernandes attacked the lead leg early, capitalizing upon his opponent’s upright stance. Before long, Yahya was compromised and started looking uncomfortable in exchanges because he was having difficulty planting his weight.

“The UAE Warrior” was in a bad way, and he made the decision to charge. Unfortunately for him, Fernandes stood his ground with a cracking 3-2 combination. Both punches landed hard, flooring Yahya and forcing the finish.

Not a bad first UFC win for the Brazilian!

Additional Thoughts

• Guram Kutateladze defeats Jordan Vucenic via unanimous decision: This was a quality scrap between talented unranked Lightweights! Short-notice debutant Vucenic started strong, using feints and good movement to line up a hard right hand that floored Kutateladze. The Georgian was able to rally back, however, using body work and takedowns to slow the fight and force himself back into the driver’s seat. Vucenic is a welcome addition to the division, and Kutateladze seems to continually finds himself in close, hard-fought battles regardless of opponent.

For complete UFC Abu Dhabi: “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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Here’s what you may have missed!

It’s really not hard to understand why some fight fans are excited about Shara Magomedov.

First and foremost, his name ends in “Ov.” If you haven’t noticed, Dagestani fighters have been running the board for a while now, and bettors have picked up on the trend. Add in a unique look and undefeated record, and baby, you’ve got a bonafide hype train picking up steam. Three fights into his UFC career, Magomedov believers are justified so far, as he’s largely trounced a trio of reasonably solid opponents.

The problem is that Magomedov simultaneously looks vulnerable. He’s fought in the Octagon for nearly 45 minutes, and yet it’s difficult to have a confident read on his potential and overall ceiling at 185-pounds. He’s shown moments of greatness and plenty of strange holes in his game, which makes for an interesting dynamic.

Let’s start with the positive: pace. Middleweight is a division infamous for fatigued fighters. Now, the average cardio of the average Middleweight is not worse than the bigger men of Heavyweight or 205-pounds, but those lads tend to knock each other out more often. Middleweight seems to be the perfect mix of athletes too large to fight hard for 15 minutes yet not powerful enough to stop each other, which is why the division is known for putting on absolute slogs.

Magomedov is a clear-cut exception. He fights a brutally exhausting style — running around and blasting power kicks is the opposite of efficient — and keeps it up. Sure, he’s a bit tired in round three, but as Michal Oleksiejczuk found out the hard way, eating 70 hard kicks in the first two rounds doesn’t leave his opponents feeling fresh as a daisy either.

The other big positive on display in this fight was offensive variety. When Oleksiejczuk correctly tried to press his way into the pocket — and Oleksiejczuk is actually quite good at this game plan, which gives bonus points to the idea that Magomedov is legit — Magomedov met his advantages with cutting elbows and hard knees. The Polish boxer is a gamer, but he ended up sliced up and worn down from Magomedov’s attritional offense.

That’s really good tactics, and it felt like a strategy that could work against many talented Middleweight strikers.

Unfortunately, Magomedov has obvious holes in his footwork. He ended up on the fence a lot, and his answer every time was to circle off to his own left. Avoiding Oleksiejczuk’s power left hand is great, but had the Southpaw closed the door with his right hook at all, Magomedov would’ve walked right into it.

We just saw a champion lose his title because of poor cage position, and it’ll happen to “Bullet” at some point too if he doesn’t fix the issue.

Then, there’s the more complicated issue that Magomedov’s grappling is simply not good. Oleksiejczuk routinely gets submitted because his own grappling is mediocre, and he was still able to take down and threaten Magomedov. Put the Russian in the cage opposite an actually good wrestler/grappler, and he might not last long enough to enjoy his cardio advantage.

It’s a unique dynamic. Magomedov clearly has special attributes that separate him from the Middleweight pack. If honed correctly, he really could be a player in the title mix. At the same time, he still has flaws that could cost him fights against even unranked opposition. His hype train could sail to the moon or explode in his next match up.

If nothing else, his chaos is an injection of fun into the 185-pound division, which is always a positive.

For complete UFC Abu Dhabi: “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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UFC Abu Dhabi full results, live streaming updates TODAY (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) with Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event on ABC (and ESPN+). Checkout all the action right here!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back in the Arabian Gulf this afternoon (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) with UFC Abu Dhabi on ABC. The mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which takes place inside Etihad Arena — a.k.a. “Fight Island” — in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will be streamed LIVE on ABC and ESPN+. The main event is a Bantamweight title eliminator with Cory Sandhagen meeting the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. The co-main does not feature Nick Diaz because of “travel issues.” His bout with Vicente Luque was scrapped, but in its place we have Shara Magomedov fighting Michal Oleksiejczuk.

UFC Abu Dhabi’s main card didn’t lose all its veterans when Diaz fell out, though.

Indeed, Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa is on the main card in what might be (or should be) Ferguson’s last UFC fight. There’s also Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Marlon Vera, Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez and Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener.

The “Prelims” card features Azamat Murzakanov vs. Alonzo Menifield. The undercard also includes Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic and Victoria Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes.

UFC ABU DHABI START TIME, DATE

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Abu Dhabi card below, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which begin at 12 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card (also on ABC/ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET.

Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Abu Dhabi results. (Note: This will go from the top down; therefore, look to the top of the stream for the newest update).

UFC ABU DHABI QUICK RESULTS

135 lbs.: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque— Canceled (details here)
185 lbs.: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
135 lbs.: Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
170 lbs.: Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez — Dern def. Godinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener — Alvarez def. Brener via TKO (knees), round 3 (3:36) — HIGHLIGHTS!
205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov — Murzakanov def. Menifield via KO (punch), round 2 (3:18) — HIGHLIGHTS!
155 lbs.: Mohammad Yahya vs. Kaue Fernandes — Fernandes def. Yahya via TKO (punches), round 1 (4:45) — HIGHLIGHTS!
265 lbs.: Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes — Gaziev def. Mayes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
155 lbs.: Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic — Kutateladze def. Vucenic via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
115 lbs.: Victoria Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes — Hughes def. Dudakova via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 28-29)
155 lbs.: Jai Herbert vs. Rolando Bedoya — Herbert def. Bedoya via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
185 lbs.: Sedriques Dumas vs. Denis Tiuliulin — Dumas def. Tiuliulin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

UFC ABU DHABI ‘SANDHAGEN VS. NURMAGOMEDOV’ PLAY-BY-PLAY

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Abu Dhabi news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here, here and here. For the updated and finalized “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” fight card and ABC/ESPN+ lineup click here.

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Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KO) will put his pound-for-pound ranking on the line later tonight (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) LIVE on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) from inside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., when the undefeated three-division world champion meets Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KO) for the WBA super welterweight title.

Luckily, the Riyadh Season fight card will offer much more than the main event between “Bud” and Madrimov. It will also feature a co-headliner as Mexico’s Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz puts his WBA super lightweight title on the line for the first time against Jose Valenzuela. In addition, a revamped Andy Ruiz Jr. look to capture his third-straight win when he collides with heavyweight knockout sensation Jarrell Miller.

With UFC Abu Dhabi’s early start time there won’t be much competition for “Crawford vs. Madrimov” later tonight on DAZN PPV. Check out below for all the ways to watch and official start times:

Start Time

• Sat., August 3, 2024 from inside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California
• DAZN PPV fight card begins at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. ET
• The “Prelims” undercard is scheduled to begin at 4:20 p.m. ET / 1:20 p.m. ET
• Crawford vs. Madrimov main event is expected to begin around 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT

Online Viewing

• Crawford vs. Madrimov PPV main card can be viewed through the DAZN network (watch HERE)
• Current DAZN subscribers will pay $ 79.99 to watch the PPV main card
• The Crawford vs. Madrimov “Prelims” undercard will air LIVE and FREE on YouTube.

Television Viewing

• For U.S. viewers, DAZN can be broadcast directly on your television via Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, LG Smart TV, Samsung TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, or Xbox.

Mobile Viewing

• Crawford vs. Madrimov PPV card will be accessible through the DAZN app via Android, Amazon Fire, and Apple.

Bets & Wagers

• For those feeling lucky you can visit DraftKings Sportsbook for all your official Crawford vs. Madrimov fight odds and prop bets.

DAZN PPV Main Card (6 p.m. ET)

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov
Isaac Cruz vs. Jose Valenzuela
Andy Ruiz vs. Jarrell Miller
David Morrell vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic
Jared Anderson vs. Martin Bakole
Andy Cruz vs. Antonio Moran

“Prelims” Undercard (4:20 p.m. ET)

Steve Nelson vs. Marcos Rodriguez
Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Michal Bulk

For complete Crawford vs. Madrimov results, coverage and highlights click HERE.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back at it again with a special “Fight Night”-themed event as UFC Abu Dhabi is set to go down later TODAY (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) inside Etihad Arena — a.k.a. “Fight Island” — in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Headlining the ESPN+-streamed event (simulcast on ABC in the United States) is a Bantamweight fight between Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov. In the co-main event, Shara Magomedov will battle Michal Oleksiejczuk in a Middleweight affair.

What’s Hot:

The Nurmagomedov clan is still putting in massive work in the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene — including this honorary member — and Umar is the next man up to get some shine. He is currently undefeated (17-0), including being perfect (5-0) inside the Octagon with three finishes. His big advantage — as is customary with Khabib-trained fighters — is his suffocating grappling. Currently ranked No. 10 in the division, he looks to take a huge leap in the rankings by taking out the the No. 2-seeded fighter in Sandhagen.

Speaking of which, “The Sandman” currently finds himself on a three-fight win streak, a nice turnaround after suffering back to back losses to T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan, which was for the interim 135-pound strap. Known as the most unassuming fighter in the game, Sandhagen has shown to be as dangerous as anyone with his all-around skill-set, which has helped him collect several highlight reel knockouts (like this one), so keeping it on the feet will be his best course to victory. Once it gets to the ground, Nurmagomedov gets in full control and doesn’t let up. It’s not to say that Sandhagen is a novice — he has three submissions — but Umar, like the rest of his team, are very heavy once on top and they are hard to get out from under. It’s a great stylistic matchup, and the winner here makes a huge leap toward the title.

What’s Not:

Tony Ferguson has lost his last seven fights, while Michael Chiesa is on a three-fight losing streak. Still, UFC matchmakers felt a spot on the main card was fitting for the struggling veterans. For my money, I would have them headlining the undercard, instead. But, apparently it’s about “name value” as opposed to, “what have you done for me lately?”

Nevertheless, this could very well be the last fight for “El Cucuy” — or not — so perhaps it’s a decent way of sending him out of the promotion (assuming he loses). Chiesa, though, hasn’t had a win in three years, and if he loses his fourth straight he could also decide he prefers his analyst job full-time and hang up the gloves for good. Chiesa is the favorite here because, let’s face it, Ferguson has looked like a shell of his former self for some time now and should’ve have retired long ago.

Original Card Vs. Actual Card:

Nick Diaz was set to face off against Vicente Luque in a 170-pound title bout before the Stockton slugger was forced out of the card as a result of visa-related issues. In turn, no replacement was found for Luque and the fight was postponed.

Injuries:

A Lightweight fight between Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Guram Kutateladze was set to go down before Al-Selwady withdrew because of an undisclosed injury and replaced by promotional newcomer, Jordan Vucenic. Also, a Flyweight showdown between Azat Maksum and C.J. Vergara was canceled after Maksum withdrew from the fight with an injury.

New Blood:

Vucenic will make his UFC debut against Kutateladze in the headlining fight of the “Prelims.” The former Cage Warriors Featherweight champion has a record of 9-1 with the promotion, which includes his current four-fight win streak, and is now out to mirror the same success under UFC’s banner. His first test will come against Kutateladze, who currently finds himself on a two-fight losing streak, bringing his record to 1-2 inside the Octagon.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Undefeated sensation, Victoria Dudakova, will attempt to improve her overall record to 9-0 and win her third fight under UFC’s umbrella. The 25-year-old striker has impressed so far and could find herself with a ranking spot sooner rather than later if she keeps on her winning attack. Standing in her way is Sam Hughes, who wants to bounce back after getting schooled by Yazmin Jauregui in her previous fight.

Shamil Gaziev is not used to losing, so when he suffered the first defeat of his MMA career at the hands of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, it was tough for him. Hopefully, he improved his cardio this time around because if he doesn’t get a finish early, he could very well find himself struggling once again. He will battle Don’Tale Mayes, who is riding high after getting back on track with a win over Caio Machado earlier this year.

Mohammad Yahya and Kaue Fernandes both lost their UFC debuts to Trevor Peek and Marc Diakiese, respectively, and now one man will go down 0-2 inside the Octagon when they collide in a must-win fight for both of them in the Lightweight division.

Azamat Murzakanov is enjoying a highly-impressive 13-0 record, which includes going 3-0 under UFC’s banner. He will take on his hardest test to date, however, when he goes toe-to-toe with hard-hitting Light Heavyweight, Alonzo Menifield, who is out to get back on track after having his three-year, five-fight unbeaten streak snapped by Carlos Ulberg.

Rolando Bedoya could also find himself on the chopping block if he loses his third straight fight inside the Octagon. In his first two tries with the promotion, Bedoya lost to Kalinn Williams and Kenan Song. He will look to register his first win with the promotion when he battles Jai Herbert, who could uses a win since he only has a record of 2-4-1 in seven fights and is coming off a loss to Fares Ziam.

Who Needs A Win Badly:

Aside from Ferguson and Chiesa needing wins as discussed earlier, Denis Tiuliulin finds himself in desperate need of a victory since he is currently on a three-fight losing streak — all stoppage defeats — including two in the first round. Overall, he is just 1-4 inside the Octagon, so trying to get a win over Sedriques Dumas in the opening fight of the night. Dumas is coming off a loss to Nursulton Ruziboev, bringing him to an even 2-2 record under UFC’s banner.

Interest Level: 7/10

Co-headlining the event is Magomedov, who is making a fairly-quick turnaround to face Oleksiejczuk in a 185-pound scrap. Magomedov defeated Antonio Trocoli a little more than one month ago to improve to 13-0 (2-0 UFC). The promotion is hoping the hype continues to be real for “Bullet,” so that’s probably the reason it booked him against Oleksiejczuk, who is on a two-fight losing streak and 1-3 overall in his last four fights. He does have a huge opportunity to not only get back on track, but to upset an up-and-coming future star.

One of my personal favorite fights on the card is the Bantamweight showdown between Marlon Vera and former Flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo. Vera came up short in his bid to dethrone Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 (watch highlights), and wants to build some momentum to earn his way back to a title fight. A win over “Daico” will help his cause, but that is easier said than done. Speaking of which, Figueiredo moved up to the 135-pound division in late 2023, and went on two win back-to-back fights against Rob Font and Cody Garbrandt, allowing him to earn the No. 6 spot in the division. Looking to crash the Top 5 — and possibly a title shot — “Daico” can do that if he gets a win over Vera, who is as scrappy as they come. This is my pick for “Fight of the Night.”

Mackenzie Dern has seen better days. Like Michelle Waterson, Dern is slowly becoming that fighter who, while marketable, just cannot seem to get over the hump. She is currently on a two-fight losing streak and is just 1-3 in her last three fights. I don’t foresee the promotion parting ways with her even is she loses her next two, or three, but boy does she need a win badly. It will be hard to come by, though. That’s because Loopy Godinez is as scrappy as they come. She had her four-fight win streak snapped by Virna Jandiroba, so she is hungry for a win.

This will be a fun fight … and one I don’t think favors Dern.

Kicking off the main card is an intriguing Lightweight fight between Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener. Alvares got back into the win column with a submission win over Marc Diakiese, bringing him to 5-1 over his last six fights with the promotion. As for Brener, his is also 5-1 in his last six, but suffered the first loss of his UFC career in his previous outing at the hands of Myktybek Orolbai.

Enjoy the fights!

Full UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card:

UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event On ABC/ESPN+:

135 lbs.: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC Abu Dhabi Main Card On ABC/ESPN+ (3 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque — POSTPONED (details here)
185 lbs.: Shara Magomedov vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
135 lbs.: Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
170 lbs.: Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez
155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener

UFC Abu Dhabi ‘Prelims’ Card on ESPN2/ESPN+ (12 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic
205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov
115 lbs.: Victoria Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes
155 lbs.: Mohammad Yahya vs. Kaue Fernandes
265 lbs.: Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes
155 lbs.: Jai Herbert vs. Rolando Bedoya
185 lbs.: Sedriques Dumas vs. Denis Tiuliulin

*Fight card, bout order and number of fights remain subject to change.*

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Abu Dhabi fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ABC/ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Abu Dhabi: “Sandhagen vs. Umar” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

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The 2024 Professional Fighters League (PFL) playoffs kick off later TONIGHT (Fri., Aug. 2, 2024) inside Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. In the main event of the evening, Denis Goltsov will face off against Tim Johnson. In the co-headlining act, Dakota Ditcheva will battle Jena Bishop, while former UFC stars Liz Carmouche and Taila Santos face off in a 125-pound affair.

The event will stream on ESPN+ and ESPN for United States-based viewers, while international mixed martial arts (MMA) fans can catch the action via DAZN starting at 6 p.m. ET.

PFL Nashville Quick Results:

265 lbs.: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson
125 lbs.: Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop
265 lbs.: Oleg Popov vs. Linton Vassell
125 lbs.: Liz Carmouche vs. Taila Santos – Santos via unanimous decision
265 lbs.: Tyrell Fortune vs. Sergei Bilostenniy – Bilostenniy via submission (heel hook)
145 lbs.: Alexei Pergande vs. Daniel Boehle – Pergande via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Sergio Cossio vs. Dedrek Sanders -Sanders via first-round knockout
145 lbs.: Cody Law vs. Zachary Hicks – Law via first-round submission (rear-naked choke) 170 lbs.: Jaleel Willis vs. Anthony Ivy – Ivy via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
170 lbs.: Kevin Pease vs. Nick Meck – Pease via unanimous decision

PFL Nashville Card Highlights:

To checkout the latest PFL-related news and notes click here.

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UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will finally make his Octagon return in November.

“Bones” is scheduled to defend his 265-pound strap against former division titleholder Stipe Miocic, a five-round showdown that was previously scheduled for UFC 295 late last year but delayed when Jones suffered a pectoral tear.

In his absence, fast-rising heavyweight bruiser Tom Aspinall captured the interim crown in New York, then defended the substitute strap by laying waste to Curtis Blaydes in their UFC 304 rematch last month in Manchester.

Unfortunately, the 31 year-old “Honey Badger” will have to sit on the sidelines while Jones and Miocic settle their unfinished business.

A choice that will undoubtedly protect the champ’s UFC legacy.

“Jon Jones is not an idiot,” Aspinall told MMA Fighting. “Even though he might act like it sometimes. He’s not unintelligent. Stipe, one of the best heavyweights if not the best heavyweight of all time. Stipe’s also 43 years old, coming off a three-year layoff and his last fight was a knockout loss. Obviously, he’s going to want to take that fight before me because it’s easier. Way easier. Way, way, way easier. He knows that I’m the tougher fight for him. I’m not going to say [Jones is] scared because he isn’t, but he’s smart in his approach and he’s going to fight Stipe before me every time.”

Sadly, Jones doesn’t have time for “intern” champions like Aspinall.

“I’d like to think he would [fight me] but at this point is Jon Jones even fighting Stipe? We don’t know,” Aspinall continued. “We have no idea. Like I said, Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy. You don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, snaky, he does different movements. He says one thing, does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea to be honest. Jon got one win in the heavyweight division. I got eight, all finishes. I’m not saying my résumé is better than Jon Jones because it isn’t. It’s not close. He’s way better than me but as far as heavyweights go, I’m the best heavyweight in the world.”

And impatient UFC fans are the best crybabies in the world, according to Miocic.

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With the UFC Abu Dhabi early (and official) weigh ins already in the books, the promotion will send all 26 fighters back to the stage for the ceremonial festivities, popping off LIVE at 10 a.m. ET in the embedded video above. This marks the final stop before the “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” MMA event on ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN+ tomorrow (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) at Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Get complete UFC Abu Dhabi early weigh-in results right here.

“Umar is a unique fighter,” Sandhagen told reporters at the UFC Abu Dhabi media day. “Stylistically, he’s a really tough fight. I had to work in a lot of overtime hours in order to make sure I was prepared for this fight. But the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors, I couldn’t honestly give a sh*t less. I’m focused on what I’m going to do Saturday, and that’s executing underneath the lights, and I can’t wait for that peace because it’s weird that people are counting me out for this one, but I just can’t wait to prove all those people wrong.”

“No one’s seen me defensively wrestle ever almost except the situation with (Aljamain) Sterling,” Sandhagen continued. “That’s what we’ll call that loss, a situation. The situation with Sterling — and that was what, four years ago? I was two years into my career. I’m six, seven years into my career now and still no one’s really seen it. So, just another element that I get to show to people, and man, I’m excited for this one just to show how great I am because Umar is going to bring out the best in me, and he already has in this camp, and I’m pumped for it. I can’t wait to watch myself fight.”

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Abu Dhabi fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ preliminary card matchups, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance on ABC/ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Abu Dhabi news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archives here, here, and here. For the updated and finalized “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” fight card and ABC/ESPN+ lineup click here.

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