LIVE weigh ins results and real-time updates will start trickling in around 1 a.m. ET in the post below.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which is set to go down tomorrow (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) on ABC and ESPN2/ESPN+ from inside Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi, UAE. UFC Abu Dhabi will be headlined by a bantamweight clash between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, a five-round headliner with serious title implications for late 2024 and beyond.

Before the ABC and ESPN2/ESPN+ live streams get underway this weekend in Abu Dhabi, which also include the middleweight showdown between 185-pound rising stars Sharabutdin Magomedov and Michał Oleksiejczuk — filling in for the scrapped co-main event between Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque — all 26 fighters must hit the scale to prove themselves worthy.

Complete UFC Abu Dhabi weigh ins text results below:

UFC Abu Dhabi Main Card On ABC/ESPN+:

135 lbs.: Cory Sandhagen (136) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135)
185 lbs.: Sharabutdin Magomedov (186) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (185)
135 lbs.: Marlon Vera (136) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5)
170 lbs.: Tony Ferguson (170) vs. Michael Chiesa (170)
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern (115) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5)
155 lbs.: Joel Alvarez (155.5) vs. Elves Brener (155)

UFC Abu Dhabi Prelims Card on ESPN2/ESPN+:

155 lbs.: Guram Kutateladze (155) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155)
205 lbs.: Alonzo Menifield (204) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205)
115 lbs.: Victoria Dudakova (115.5) vs. Sam Hughes (115)
155 lbs.: Mohammad Yahya (155) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155.5)
265 lbs.: Shamil Gaziev (262) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265)
155 lbs.: Jai Herbert (155.5) vs. Rolando Bedoya (155)
185 lbs.: Sedriques Dumas (186) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185)

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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Dustin Poirier has no time for Colby Covington.

Since Covington turned his back on his old gym, American Top Team (ATT), he’s made enemies with seemingly every fighter he used to train with. In terms of venom spat towards those old friends, Poirier has received plenty over the years.

While Covington loves the idea of a fight at Welterweight with the one-time interim Lightweight champion, Poirier doesn’t even want to look in Covington’s direction. However, they had an impromptu encounter recently that may not have gone as “Chaos” claims it did, according to Poirier.

“I crossed paths with him about three months ago at NYY Steakhouse in Coconut Creek casino,” Covington told Submission Radio. “I looked at him eye-to-eye and I said, ‘What’s up, b*tch? It’s on-site? Say something. Do something,’ and he just walked out of the restaurant because he knows [what would happen].”

“The dude is such a liar,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “I’m not even gonna give him the air time. It’s a lie.

“We ran into each other, yeah, that’s true,” he continued. “The way he said it went down, is completely not true. He wants you to talk about him.”

Both Poirier and Covington fought for titles in their last fights at Lightweight and Welterweight. Unfortunately for them, they lost. Poirier via fifth round brabo choke against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June 2024 (watch highlights) and Covington via unanimous decision against Leon Edwards at UFC 296 in Decmeber 2023.

Covington, 36, claims he’s been recovering since the fight after he broke his foot in the first exchange of his bout with Edwards. A match up against Ian Machado Garry looked like it was going to get organized, but it never materialized.

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Three-division world champion Terence Crawford and undefeated WBA titleholder Israil Madrimov will take the stage later today for their Riyadh Season final press conference, streaming LIVE in the embedded video above at 4 p.m. ET. Their DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) title fight goes down this Sat. night (Aug. 3, 2024) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

“Realistically the next step was to do a rematch with (Errol) Spence,” Crawford told Matchroom Boxing. “For whatever reason it didn’t happen, so I had to move on with my career. The ultimate goal was to try to get the Canelo (Alvarez) fight. That didn’t happen, so we went to the next best thing.”

This weekend’s card is expected to get underway at 4:30 p.m. ET with main event ring walks taking place at 11:30 p.m. ET (subject to change). Crawford is a massive -700 betting favorite over Madrimov, who clocks in at +475. “The Dream” is 11 years younger than the undefeated southpaw at 29 and sports seven knockouts in 10 wins.

For more boxing news and notes click here.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight strikers Shara Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk will collide this weekend (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) at UFC Abu Dhabi inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

This is the rare example of a last-second fight swap being an overall improvement. A Nick Diaz fight in 2024? Nobody needs to see that. Magomedov and Oleksiejczuk both fought in June and were more than willing to jump back into action on short notice. “Bullet” is two fights deep into his UFC career, and the kickboxer has already built up a fair bit of hype thanks to his flashy style. Oleksiejczuk, meanwhile, has proven himself a top-tier action fighter, but holes in his grappling game are responsible for three losses in his last four fights.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images

Magomedov vs. Oleksiejczuk Betting Odds

• Shara Magomedov victory: -238
• Shara Magomedov via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
• Shara Magomedov via submission: TBD
• Shara Magomedov via decision: TBD
• Michal Oleksiejczuk victory: +195
• Michal Oleksiejczuk via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
• Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission: TBD
• Michal Oleksiejczuk via decision: TBD
• Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Magomedov Wins

Magomedov is one of the most unique strikers on the roster. He kicks very fast and very actively for a Middleweight, and he has a deep arsenal of different kicks. His wrestling and grappling appear to still be developing, but at the moment, “Bullet” is one of the more standout 185-pound prospects.

Range will be key here, as this is a kicker vs. puncher match up. Magomedov wants this fight to take place from a further distance than Oleksiejczuk, who will surely be trying to press and cut off the cage. A big factor in Magomedov’s ability to keep distance will be intercepting shots, meaning strikes that hurt Oleksiejczuk more the harder the Polish fighter steps into them.

Fortunately, Magomedov is quite good at timing intercepting strikes. Front kicks and knees should be major weapons for him here, and each successful land helps convince Oleksiejczuk to ease off the pressure. Once that happens, Magomedov will be able to kick more freely, and his job gets progressively easier.

Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Oleksiejczuk Wins

Oleksiejczuk has excellent boxing. Even at Light Heavyweight, the Polish striker was putting foes on the floor despite being fairly small for 185-pounds! The problem is that his grappling is genuinely bad, meaning that getting submitted will always be a serious concern.

Good thing Shara Magomedov is the Dagestani fighter that doesn’t wrestle!

Oleksiejczuk is more than accustomed to pressuring his opponents. He cuts off the cage well and punishes them with combinations up and down the body. If nothing else, the Southpaw understands how he wins fights, and his usual approach fits well to taking on a kicker like Magomedov.

One adjustment Oleksiejczuk could make is to finish his combinations with kicks. He may be more of a boxer, but it’s not that hard to add a low kick to the end of his punching combos! Magomedov moves laterally a lot, so if Oleksiejczuk is able to chop his legs a bit while he’s shuffling sideways, that will help slow the Russian down and leave him more vulnerable to punches.

Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Magomedov vs. Oleksiejczuk Prediction

This is a difficult fight to predict, more of a pick ‘em in my eyes than the odds suggest.

Magomedov has hype … but is he any good? Beating a shopworn Bruno Silva and ill-prepared Antonio Trocoli means very little to me. Obviously, he’s quite athletic and has great kicking skills, but it’s also clear that he doesn’t yet have the fully-formed mixed martial arts (MMA) game necessary to be an elite Middleweight.

At the same time, Oleksiejczuk is a clearly flawed fighter himself … but not in a way Magomedov has the skills to capitalize upon? This is a full-on kickboxing match, and Oleksiejczuk typically wins those. Hell, just a month ago he was knocking around Kevin Holland before he fell into an armbar because he floored “Trailblazer.”

In short, it’s hard to be overly confident in either man for the reasons explained above. Despite Magomedov’s likely higher ceiling overall, the style match up favors the Polish puncher, who likely can get inside and land damaging shots.

Prediction: Oleksiejczuk victory (+195)

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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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Remember UFC 303? Just about a month ago, the card fell apart a half-dozen times, forcing unprecedented actions from the promotion. When Brian Ortega pulled out of his scheduled co-main event versus Diego Lopes on the day of the event, UFC turned to Las Vegas local Dan Ige to save the card.

Ige, who wasn’t scheduled to fight for another few weeks, weighed in and fought on just four hour’s notice. He went to war opposite Lopes — himself a short-notice replacement as well — and ultimately lost a competitive decision to the rising star. In the immediate aftermath, Ige was showered with love from the community and promised a major opportunity in his next fight.

He felt like a winner.

After the fight, both Lopes and Ige requested to fight at the Noche UFC event in the Las Vegas Sphere. Lopes received his wish and will face Brian Ortega next, but Ige didn’t make the cut. After the full fight card announcement, Ige reacted on social media graciously.

“A lot of people are upset at Dana or upset for me not being on the Sphere card,” Ige wrote. “I know it was a ‘promise’ but I believe there’s something bigger and better in store and I will have another fight this year. Thank you all for the love and support. We’re ending this year on a DUB!”

Now, Ige’s next match up has been announced. Per a report from MMAFighting, Ige will return to action opposite undefeated contender Lerone Murphy at UFC 308 inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024. 6-0-1 inside the Octagon, Murphy has been rising up the ranks and most recently scored his first main event victory by decisioning Edson Barboza.

It’s a fun Featherweight fight between No. 14 and No. 11 in the 145-pound rankings, and overall, it’s a reasonable match up for both. At the same time, it’s hard to consider the match up a huge reward for Ige after saving a pay-per-view (PPV) event. Murphy is really good and not that well-known!

Hopefully, Ige has at least received a pay bump for his troubles.

Insomnia

Cory Sandhagen heard the critiques that he needs to be a more entertaining personality, and he’s taking action!

Tom Aspinall has come a long way.

A level of spine flexion I will never achieve.

Dana cannot contain his enthusiasm for his new Welterweight champion.

Charles Oliveira sparring footage is always so fun, “Do Bronx” is one of the most creative strikers in the business.

Spirit punch!

Slips, rips, and KO clips

It’s difficult to time and carries consequences if executed improperly, but a left liver kick under the right cross can be a devastating shot.

The early days of “El Pantera!”

I already know his opponents and their fans are so irate.

Random Land

New trolley problem just dropped.

Midnight Music: Ballad, 1999

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

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“Get my picture on the poster, goddamn it.”

NASHVILLE, TN — Taila Santos is confused by the PFL Nashville fight card lineup this weekend (Fri., Aug. 2, 2024).

2024 led the one-time UFC flyweight title challenger to new pastures when she signed with the PFL to participate in its seasonal tournament. PFL acquired one of the best fighters on the planet with the surprise addition of Santos, making her one of the favorites to become a millionaire champion.

Now one fight away from the finals, Santos is essentially competing in the finals before the finals when she battles the reigning Bellator champion Liz Carmouche. As two of the very best 125-pound fighters on the planet, Santos doesn’t understand how the matchup is opening this weekend’s main card. Sorry, Tim Johnson and Denis Goltsov.

“If you look at the whole context, How are we not in the main event or co-main at least?” Santos told MMA Mania. “Get my picture on the poster, goddamn it. That’s one of the big things is not having the picture on the poster. Kind of bums me out.”

Santos’ biggest fight undeniably came in her lone UFC title bid opposite the then-champion Valentina Shevchenko. Despite losing a split decision, Santos performed better than almost anyone else against “The Bullet” at the time, winning in the minds of several throughout the community.

Against the streaking nine-fight unbeaten Carmouche (22-7), Santos (19-3) believes she’ll have an equally difficult challenge awaiting her.

“Liz is one of the most interesting opponents in the tournament and someone I’ve always wanted to fight,” Santos said. “She’s a very important icon in women’s MMA and our recent history. At the end of the day, I’m here to win the whole thing. I prepared for everybody, I prepared for the best there are and she’s probably one of the best in the tournament. So, come Friday night, we’re gonna have to get that done.

“I think if you think about throughout my entire career, it’s probably gonna be Liz and Shevchenko up there. The two are easily the most accomplished and [best] fighters I’ve fought.”

For all the latest PFL news and notes click here.

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Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan both failed gender eligibility tests and were disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year in New Delhi. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) no longer recognizes sanctioning from the International Boxing Association (IBA) as a result of multiple “irregularity issues.”

That series of events cleared the way for Khelif and Yu‑ting, who reportedly returned XY chromosomes in their IBA tests, to compete in the women’s 66kg and 57kg matches this Thursday in Paris, despite pushback from Australian boxing captain Caitlin Parker.

“I don’t agree with them being allowed to compete in sport, especially combat sports,” Parker said (via Daily Mail). “It can be incredibly dangerous. I don’t agree with it. It’s not like I haven’t sparred men before. But you know it can be dangerous for combat sports and it should be seriously looked into.”

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Cris Cyborg, no stranger to the “sweet science,” recently called for IOC to “protect the integrity of women’s sports” and “would not compete” against boxers unable to pass gender eligibility tests.

“Yes, biologically … genetically they are going to have more advantages and in combat sports it can be dangerous,” Parker continued. “I really hope the organizations get their act together so that boxing can continue to be at the Olympics. It’s the oldest Olympic sport. Women’s boxing was only introduced in 2012 and I want to see it for the next 100, 200 years to come.”

Mexico’s Brianda Tamara Cruz fought Khelif in late 2022.

“I don’t think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men,” Cruz told The Telegraph. “When I fought her I felt very out of my depth. Her blows hurt me a lot. Thank God that day I got out of the ring safely, and it’s good that they finally realized.”

IOC representatives defended the decision to include Khelif and Yu-ting, who previously competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo but did not medal.

“These boxers are entirely eligible, they are women on their passports, they have competed for many years,” spokesperson Mark Adams said during a recent press conference. “I actually think it is not helpful to start stigmatising people who take part in sport like this. They are women who competed in Tokyo. I think we all have a responsibility to dial down this [talk] and not turn it into some kind of witch hunt.”

Former Olympic champion, Claressa Shields, called it a “heartbreaking” decision.

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This weekend (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ventures forth to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for UFC Abu Dhabi. The non-PPV events in recent weeks have been missing a little something, but this card is a clear exception. Cory Sandhagen is about as battle-tested as contenders come at 135-pounds, while Umar Nurmagomedov might just be the next champion to come from Dagestan — it’s a great main event! Better yet, the rest of the main card fights are highly intriguing and likely to be very fun, which is a great combination.

Let’s dig into all the main card fights leading up to the co-main event:

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (+145) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (-175)

Best Win for Vera? Sean O’Malley For Figueiredo? Brandon Moreno
Current Streak: Vera lost his last bout, while Figueiredo has won two in a row since moving to 135-pounds
X-Factor: Vera was absolutely demolished in his last fight
How these two match up: I have high expectations for a full-on Bantamweight banger.

Look at those betting odds and tell me public belief in Vera isn’t at an all-time low currently. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you play the role of punching bag in a UFC title fight. Vera is incredibly tough and viciously opportunistic, but fight fans are a little fed up with his reactive style.

Figueiredo, meanwhile, has been performing really well as a Bantamweight! The former Flyweight king is still hitting with a ton of power, and his wrestling has held up very well against bigger opponents. He’s quickly marching up the ladder and could be just a couple fights from a title shot.

I’m a little torn here. On one hand, it’s been a few fights since Vera has looked particularly good in the Octagon. At the same time, Figueiredo is 36 years of age, and I’m not sold on the idea of “Daico” as a genuine title threat in his new division. There’s also the issue that Figueiredo usually wins via finish, while Vera is functionally immortal.

Ultimately, the fact that this fight is 15 minutes rather than 25 has me siding with the Brazilian. Between his power punches and takedowns, it feels likely that Figueiredo can snag at least two of the three rounds. If Vera does rally late, well, Figueiredo is at least plenty comfortable in a dogfight.

Prediction: Figueiredo via decision

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Welterweight: Tony Ferguson (+470) vs. Michael Chiesa (-650)

Best Win for Ferguson? Rafael dos Anjos For Chiesa? Beneil Dariush
Current Streak: Ferguson has lost a record seven in a row, while Chiesa has lost his last three
X-Factor: Ferguson is shot
How these two match up: It probably won’t be boring, but I’m not looking forward to this one and will keep the prediction short.

Ferguson was one of the best Lightweights of all time. Nearly a natural force of creative violence, Ferguson broke elite opposition with scary consistency, battering opponents into bloody pulps. Alas, that was many years and many bad losses ago. Chiesa, meanwhile, has also looked rather ineffective in his current losing streak, but at least he’s still in good athletic form and was getting beaten up by top talent.

I don’t get why we’re booking Ferguson anymore, let alone at Welterweight. If he has to fight again in the Octagon, he should be booked against some other aging, unranked Lightweight who is barely on the roster. He’s never been big enough for 170-pounds, and Chiesa was ranked not that long ago.

Nobody would be happier than me if I’m wrong, but all logic suggests “The Maverick” dominates on the floor to an eventual strangle.

Prediction: Chiesa via submission

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (-125) vs. Loopy Godinez (+105)

Best Win for Dern? Virna Jandiroba For Goodinez? Tabatha Ricci
Current Streak: Dern has lost two straight, while Goodinez lost her last bout
X-Factor: Dern took a lot of damage in her last two fights
How these two match up: I’m expecting a bit of chaos.

Dern’s approach to fighting has ebbed and flowed, but her overall issue remains the same: she has the best jiu-jitsu in the division but has no way to consistently use it against top competition. She recently returned to her boxing coach, Jason Parillo, so perhaps that will help shore up her hands once more, but wrestling remains an area in need of development.

Godinez has almost the exact opposite issue. She’s quite technical everywhere, but the Mexican talent doesn’t really have one standout issue. In her defeats, more specialist opponents have been able to force her to fight in their preferred skill set.

This is a good match up, and I expect Godinez to win a majority of the exchanges. Is that enough to win the fight though? Dern is so much more dangerous, a much more severe finishing threat. Godinez might do great work for four minutes then end up fighting off deep submissions for the final 60 seconds and still lose the round … if not her arm.

Ultimately, it takes a pretty elite, Top Five opponent to defeat Dern, and even then it’s not guaranteed. Returning to Parillo was a necessary step, but even without that vote of confidence, Godinez is just a much less threatening hitter than Amanda Lemos or Jessica Andrade.

At some point, Dern’s jiu-jitsu excellence will come into play, and she’ll absolute take over when that happens.

Prediction: Dern via decision

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Lightweight: Joel Alvarez (-162) vs. Elves Brener (+135)

Best Win for Alvarez? Thiago Moises For Brener? Guram Kutateladze
Current Streak: Alvarez won his last bout, whereas Brener suffered his first UFC defeat
X-Factor: Will Alvarez make weight?
How these two match up: Inject this match up straight into my veins.

Alvarez doesn’t fight terribly often, but it’s always must-watch stuff when he’s in the Octagon. The massive Spanish Lightweight hits very hard and strikes in creative fashion, and he’s quite excellent at snatching submissions from failed takedown attempts. What’s so fun here is that Brener is also a knockout artist and submissions fighter himself! Wrestling is the weakest aspect for both, while brutalizing their opposition in opportunistic moments is a shared strength.

The big question to me in this fight is whether or not Alvarez can finish his opponent. Early on, he’s such a monster because of that size advantage and his aggressive style. Brener is not a defensive wizard or evasive fighter, meaning he’s probably going to throw down with Alvarez right away and lose those exchanges.

Does he lose them badly enough to get stopped? If not, Brener is primed for a rally in the second half of the fight. Alvarez is accustomed to quick finishes, and there’s probably a reason he’s never won a decision in his pro career. The combination of a huge weight cut and pedal-to-the-floor fighting style means that Alvarez isn’t built to succeed in the late rounds.

Brener is durable and vicious for all 15 minutes. If he makes it to the third, he’ll pay back Alvarez for every shot “El Fenómeno” landed early on, it’s just a question of making it that deep into the fight.

I think the Brazilian can do it. He’s never been finished, and between the two, he’s the better wrestler. A brief takedown might help him survive a hairy moment or two, and once the momentum does shift to his side, he’ll capitalize violently.

Prediction: Brener via knockout

‘X-Factor’ Picks for 2024: 27-19 (3)

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Mike Perry may have gotten smoked by Jake Paul (watch highlights), but “Platinum” still has options.

Not only does he remain the face of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), but Perry started his own promotion just prior to squaring off with Paul. His Dirty Boxing promotion is a Karate Combat-esque mix of MMA-style striking with limited ground work. The promotion is planning a September debut, but its inception greatly angered Conor McGregor, who is a part-owner of BKFC.

Following Perry’s loss to Paul, McGregor exploded on Twitter and claimed to fire Perry. “Platinum” already refuted McGregor’s firing once and suggested McGregor try boxing Paul himself. Now, Perry has elaborated further on his podcast, and he seems to believe he’s more of a BKFC owner than McGregor.

“Well thanks bro,” Perry said in response to McGregor’s firing tweet. “I don’t really want to fight right now. My rib hurts! I don’t really want to f—king fight, so thanks for the time off. I’ll tell you what, when people want to watch BKFC again, they’ll be calling me. They’re already calling me, but I’m not taking calls at this time … He’s my employee!”

Most likely, Perry will return to the BKFC squared circle following his Paul defeat. However, he did also discuss facing Paul in the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) smart cage, which would certainly be interesting as well. Meanwhile, McGregor is still expected to face Michael Chandler sometime this year, though his return has already been delayed at least once.

Insomnia

Aside from his improved hand speed, Belal Muhammad’s ability to consistently get his hands locked when shooting was the most impressive part of his championship performance.

I definitely thought this fight had already happened at some point in the last five years.

Wrestlers are some of the best athletes on the planet provided you don’t force them into ball sports.

Nate Maness’ release has generated some major attention. Perhaps it’ll result in a UFC return or at least better offer from a different promotion?

If you’re wondering what UFC Bantamweight Casey Kenney has been up to in his three years away from the Octagon, it doesn’t appear to be anything good.

Cory Sandhagen offers his thoughts on his main event opponent, Umar Nurmagomedov.

Five years is a lifetime in MMA.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Ducking into a knee is a bad way to go.

A quick clip highlighting the Soviet style boxing of Dmitry Bivol.

A perfect right high kick.

Random Land

A really cool story from Paris 2024.

Midnight Music: Blues, 1955

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

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Umar Nurmagomedov will get a chance to prove how legit of a contender he is against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi this weekend (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024).

The Bantamweight division has always been competitive and exciting. That hasn’t changed as we enter the second half of 2024 and contendership will be decided ahead of the upcoming title fight at Noche UFC on Sept. 14, 2024.

For Nurmagomedov, the No. 2-ranked Sandhagen will be his first-ranked opponent. Should he win, Nurmagomedov says he’s been promised a title opportunity against the winner of the champion, Sean O’Malley, vs. top contender, Merab Dvalishvili.

“I hope I will fight next, they said I will fight whoever will win [between O’Malley and Dvalishvili],” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie. “Yes, [they told me I will be next].”

Nurmagomedov, 28, has been flawless in his 17-fight career. The Sandhagen match up isn’t the first time the pair prepared to collide as they weren’t supposed to do so in Nashville, Tennessee last year (Aug. 5, 2023). Unfortunately, Nurmagomedov was injured out of the bout and replaced by Rob Font, who Sandhagen defeated via a unanimous decision.

Regarding the next title fight, Nurmagomedov isn’t sure who will get the job done, but he doesn’t think either O’Malley or Dvalishvili wants to fight him.

“I think they pray [they don’t fight me],” Nurmagomedov said. “They hope I will pull out and will not take this opportunity to fight for the title. They wish this. For me, it doesn’t matter who wins. It’s a very hard fight for both. One is a wrestling, one is a striker weight height. He is tall. Stylistically, for me, personally, it’s very difficult to say who is going to win. I don’t know.”

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