Aaron Tau and Elijah Smith face off ahead of Contender Series, week six | Zuffa LLC
MMA Fighting has DWCS results for all the action from season eight, week six of UFC’s Contender Series on Tuesday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the main event, undefeated prospect Aaron Tau takes on the 6-1 Elijah Smith in a bantamweight contest.
Contender Series starts at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday on ESPN+. You can find the results for season eight, week six below.
Discuss your favorite fighters, the upcoming card or whatever's on your mind.
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UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is nearing a return date after suffering a torn ligament in his hand that delayed his next fight after dispatching Dustin Poirier in June.
Most believed Makhachev would fight top ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan in October at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi but the hand injury prevented that from happening. Now the 33-year-old champion has a better idea in mind when he should be able to fight again.
“Most likely Tsarukyan [is next],” Makhachev told Russian reporter Igor Lazorin. “[He’s] the No. 1 contender now. I have a small injury now but I’m finishing up my treatment and I’ll be ready around the end of the year, beginning of [next] year, January.”
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Right now, the UFC has scheduled out major fights and pay-per-views through November with UFC 309 set for Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 16. That card is headlined by Jon Jones making his long-awaited return to face Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight title fight.
The only major event without a headliner for the rest of 2024 is UFC 310 on Dec. 7, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s possible Makhachev could end up on that card, although that’s relatively early in the month so perhaps a return in early 2025 is more likely.
The UFC has plans to eventually go back to Saudi Arabia next year after striking a deal with Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority, following a successful partnership launching with a Fight Night event in June and another card set for 2025.
Makhachev remains a massive star in the Middle East so it’s possible the UFC waits until a show in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi to book his next fight.
Either way it appears Tsarukyan is stuck waiting until at least the end of 2024 before he gets his shot at becoming UFC lightweight champion.
Alexander Volkanovski is seeking two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) status.
The last two fights for Australia’s “Great” did not have positive results. First suffering a first round head kick knockout loss in his rematch against Lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev (watch highlights), Volkanovski then lost his Featherweight title in defense to the undefeated Ilia Topuria (watch highlights).
As one of the greatest champions in UFC history, especially at Featherweight, Volkanovski believes he deserves an instant shot back at the title he held since December 2019. However, Topuria is currently tied up with Volkanovski’s old rival, Max Holloway, who he’ll defend against at UFC 308 next month (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024). Diego Lopes has since emerged as the clear possible next contender, winning his fifth straight with a unanimous decision over two-time title challenger, Brian Ortega, at UFC 306 this past weekend (Sept. 14, 2024).
“Lopes — massive win. Both two top dudes. I like both of them, so whoever was going to win, I was going to be happy for,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel (h/t MMA Junkie). “Lopes is right up there now. I’m guessing he’ll be ranked [No.] 3.
“Obviously, my next fight is for the title, depending on what happens,” he continued. “Are there injuries in the Max and Ilia fight? Who knows what’s going to happen. Could there be an interim with someone like Lopes? You never know, so we’ll see what happens.”
Regardless of how things shake out at Featherweight, Volkanovski is adamant he’ll be fighting for a title when he returns to the Octagon.
“My next fight is for the title,” Volkanovski said. “But if they can’t do that soon enough, say if Max wins, is he going to go to lightweight and do BMF? Is there going to be an interim fight? I haven’t had them proper discussions, so I’ll get back to the UFC and have a proper chat with them. All I know is that my next fight is for the title.”
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul | Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul just got a little bit bigger.
On Monday, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions announced the upcoming fight card between Paul and Tyson will also feature a WBC welterweight title fight between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT
MVP is excited to announce that on the same night as Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, we will have an electrifying WBC Welterweight Championship bout between reigning champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios @Boxer_Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) and Abel Ramos @abelramosboxing… pic.twitter.com/V3q2Hf03gG
— Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) September 16, 2024
Barrios won the WBC interim welterweight title a year ago with a unanimous decision victory over Yordenis Ugas. He then defended the interim belt back in May with a decision win over Fabian Maidana. Barrios was elevated to undisputed WBC welterweight champion in June, after demoting Terence Crawford following his move up to super welterweight.
Sporting a 28-6-2 professional record, Ramos is most notable for losing a split decision to Ugas for the WBA welterweight title back in 2020.
Most Valuable Promotions also announced a bout between Indian boxer and influencer Neeraj Goyat and Brazilian YouTuber and boxer Whindersson Nunes.
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul takes place on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX and will be streamed globally via Netflix.
Below is the full Tyson vs. Paul fight card as it currently stands.
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul — 8 two-minute rounds, heavyweight
Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano — 10 rounds, undisputed lightweight title
Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos — 12 rounds, WBC welterweight title
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Darren Till — 6 rounds, cruiserweight
Ashton Sylve vs. Floyd Schofield — 10 rounds, lightweight
Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes — 4 rounds, middleweight
Merab Dvalishvil’s championship triumph rang across the continents.
“The Machine” dominated Sean O’Malley in Saturday’s UFC 306 main event at Sphere in Las Vegas to earn a unanimous decision win and become the new UFC bantamweight champion. Back in his native Georgia, thousands of Dvalishvili fans gathered in a Tbilisi square to watch their countryman go to battle.
He didn’t disappoint, thrilling the gathered masses and delivering the European country its second UFC titleholder, alongside current featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Watch footage of the festivities below, courtesy of Setanta Sports.
An unforgettable day for Georgia, Georgian sport and Georgian people ❤
7-8AM, thousands of people in the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, paralyzed capital city, and #AndNew UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili!
What a time to be alive as a Georgian!
Setanta… pic.twitter.com/yiL6SLBewR
— Giorgi Kokiashvili (@iHeartGeorgius1) September 15, 2024
This is how Georgian fans celebrated Merab Dvalishvili’s Championship victory over Sean O’Malley in the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia
7AM, more than 10’000 people, paralyzed streets, total joy and unforgettable emotions! ❤
— Giorgi Kokiashvili (@iHeartGeorgius1) September 15, 2024
According to Setanta Sports’ Giorgi Kokiashvili, there were over 10,000 people gathered to watch Dvalishvili achieve his championship dream. Dvalishvili made his UFC debut in 2017 and after a pair of losses, he hasn’t looked back since. The new bantamweight king made it 11 straight wins with his victory over O’Malley, adding “Suga” to a hit list that includes former UFC champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo.
Up next for Dvalishvili is presumably undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov. Whenever that fight is booked, expect Dvalishvili’s supporters to once again show up en masse.
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