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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis puts his title eon the line for the first time on Saturday in the UFC 305 main event against former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.  One fighter that will be watching the middleweight championship clash closely is former champion Robert Whittaker.  

Whittaker broke down the matchup and gave his prediction for the outcome on the MMArcade podcast.  Whittaker has fought both men and is on the cusp on earning another title shot.      

“It’s very hard to put a hard pick on either one of them,” Whittaker said.  “All we can look at is historically, like their previous fights.  Dricus, his last fight against Sean Strickland, he moved forward.  He put pressure on Strickland, didn’t let Strickland do that to him, shut his game down, was very aggressive, crowded that space, didn’t Strickland really find the rhythm he likes to fight in and came away with the decision win.  

“Strickland, prior to that fight (with du Plessis), fought Adesanya.  (He) did exactly that to Israel.  He pushed into his space, didn’t allow Adesanya to utilize that dangerous space that he likes fighting in,” Whittaker continued.  “He crowed him to a point where he didn’t let him have any free distancing from the fence so he could move away and be evasive because he loves fighting like that.  He’s very tall.  He fights very tall.  He likes countering with that.  He slips back.  He leans back, a lot of weight on that rear leg to get away from the punches and strikes.  He moves out, circles out.  Strickland closed that gap, crowded that space, kept Adesanya’s back to the fence for 90 percent of the fight and beat Adesanya by a decision win.”

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In his analysis of the matchup, Whittaker seemed to be leaning toward that champion retaining his title against “The Last Stylebender.”  The unknown is what has Adesanya done to prevent du Plessis from doing what Strickland accomplished.    

“This fight, Dricus versus Israel, we have to look at it and think Dricus was able to, obviously styles fight fights, but Dricus was to push that plan against Strickland that Strickland was able to push against Adesanya.  So, you’d have to think that Dricus is going to push that same plan, the same motive on Adesanya.  The million-dollar question is, what has Izzy done in his layoff since the Strickland fight to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Whittaker said.  

“If I had to make a pick, I’d say that there’s a 50 percent chance, this is my confidence here.  I’m sitting on the fence, but I mean it.  There’s a 50-50 odds.  That’s how much I think either one could sway,” Whittaker continued.  “I think there’s a 50 percent chance that Izzy kind of keeps him at the end of his jab, utilizes that spacing, doesn’t get his back put against the fence.  Defends some takedowns but ultimately wins buy decision.  

“I also think there’s a 50 percent chance Dricus does what he did to Strickland, pushes into that space, takes him down, wears him out, turns it into a dog fight.  Doesn’t get a finish, but drags it out to the point where he’s still going to remain the champion.”  

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Redemption
| BJPenn.com

Contender Series is back!

Season 8 kicks off later TONIGHT (Tues., Aug. 13, 2024) from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is loaded with top mixed martial arts (MMA) talent. Freak athlete, Mansur Abdul-Malik, takes on fellow finisher, Wesley Schultz, in the main event. Meanwhile, in the first fight of the night, viral knockout artist, An Ho, fights top Flyweight prospect, Lone’er Kavanagh.

Before the next crop of Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) fighters get their contracts, MMAmania.com will highlight the best fighter from each of the previous seven seasons.

Annnnnd here we go!

Sean O’Malley

Season One (Jul. 11 – Aug. 29, 2017)

This season is an absolute no-brainer: Sean O’Malley. There is an argument that he is the biggest and best fighter to come off the show, and it feels like UFC CEO, Dana White, has been looking for his next O’Malley ever since.

O’Malley knocked out Alfred Khashakyan in the first round and yelled, “Welcome To The Sugar Show,” which had everyone turning their heads. Oh, and Snoop Dog lost his mind over the knockout.

O’Malley eventually captured UFC’s Bantamweight crown with a knockout over Aljamain Sterling (watch highlights) and has defended it once against his rival, Marlon Vera. O’Malley boasts 8.4 million followers across all social media — eighth most of all fighters on UFC’s roster.

Honorable mentions: Alex Perez, Dan Ige (Ige wasn’t awarded a contract on the show, but fought on short notice at UFC 220).

Photo by Jeff Bottari/DWTNCS LLC

Kevin Holland

Season Two (Jun. 12 – Aug. 7, 2018)

Season two of Contender Series had a ton of great options. From Maycee Barber to Anthony Hernandez to Sodiq Yusuff to Jalin Turner. However, I think Kevin Holland — who wasn’t even awarded a contract on the show because he pissed off White (shocker) — is the best fighter to come out of season two. Holland eventually made his Octagon debut against Thiago Santos on short notice up a weight class … and lost. He rattled off three wins shortly thereafter before losing a second time to Brendan Allen.

But, it was in 2020 that he really made an impact.

During UFC’s COVID-19 pandemic lockdown era — where every single fight was held inside UFC Apex (or Fight Island), Holland competed five times and won all of them, capping off a tremendous year by knocking out Jacare Souza (see it).

His big 2020 would get him two back-to-back main events in 2021, both of which he lost, but he became a fan favorite because of his attitude of fighting anyone, anywhere, in any weight class.

Honorable mentions: Barber, Chris Curtis

Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC

Jamahal Hill

Season Three (Jun. 18 – Aug. 20, 2019)

The first Contender Series fighter to hold UFC gold came in season three, week five: Jamahal Hill. Hill’s first three UFC fights were pretty forgettable, that was, until Paul Craig dislocated “Sweat Dreams” elbow, handing Hill his first professional loss (see it). After that, Hill knocked out highly touted prospect, Jimmy Crute, which scored him his first UFC main event against Johnny Walker (Hill scored a meme knockout).

Hill got another main event against former Light Heavyweight title challenger, Thiago Santos, and then had the best timing ever because he stepped right into a vacant title shot against Glover Teixeira.

“Sweat Dreams” won a dominant unanimous decision to accomplish his goal. He was never be able to defend his title, though, tearing his Achilles and vacating the belt.

Hill will be a staple of the Light Heavyweight division for as long as he fights.

Honorable mentions: Brendan Loughnane, Brendan Allen

Photo by Jeff Bottari/DWCS LLC/Zuffa LLC

Impa Kasanganay

Season Four (Aug. 4. – Sept. 1, 2020)

Season four of Contender Series took place during the global pandemic, which devastated the regional mixed martial arts (MMA) scene.

The best fighter to come off of season four is Impa Kasanganay … and I’ll explain the reason(s). Kasanganay did not have the best UFC run, going 2-2 and got virally knocked out by Joaquin Buckley (it was so good). However, Kasangnay had a fantastic career outside UFC with Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Indeed, in 2023 “Tshilobo” fought his way into PFL by competing on its Challengers show. He went on to win the Light Heavyweight championship and a $ 1 million payday and is on his way to repeat as defending champion.

Oh, and a fun fact: Kasaganay competed in season three, but didn’t nab a contract.

Honorable mentions: Adrian Yanez, Carlos Ulberg

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Jack Della Maddalena

Season Five (Aug. 31. – Nov. 2, 2020)

Season five of Contenders Series was by far the hardest 10 weeks to pick a clear winner; in fact, I’ve changed my mind several times. At the end of the day, Jack Della Maddalena is the best fighter from the fifth season.

“JDM” is undefeated inside the Octagon, holding a perfect (7-0) record with the promotion. He has raked in five “Performance of the Night” bonuses and has the best win of anyone from season five: he stopped former Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns (with a broken arm).

Della Maddalena is currently ranked No. 5 in UFC’s Welterweight Top 15 and has placed himself in a position where he is one or two fights away from a title shot.

Honorable mentions: Diego Lopes, Caio Borralho

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Bo Nickal

Season Six (Jul. 26. – Sept. 27, 2021)

Bo Nickal has only three UFC fights and is perfect (6-0) as a professional; however, his potential has him as the best fight to some off the sixth season of Contender Series.

Nickal is a three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, making him one of the best college wrestlers to compete in MMA. The scary thing is he hasn’t really used his wrestling at all thus far in his career.

He is knocking people out.

We have yet to see him fight a Top 15-seeded Middleweight, but it isn’t like he is turning them down, either. Indeed, Nickal is getting Dana White and Co.’s slow build.

Honorable mentions: Raul Rosas Jr., Joe Pyfer

Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jean Silva

Season Seven (Aug. 8. – Oct. 10, 2023)

One year is definitely challenging to gauge someone; however, Jean Silva has made a big impact already and has had great wins. “Lord” made a statement in his UFC debut, stopping Westin Wilson in the first round (watch it); however, his next two fights put him on everyone’s radar.

He knocked out Charles Jourdain at UFC 303 during “International Fight Week” and then turned around and finished the always-durable, Drew Dober, at UFC Denver while he was up a weight class.

Time will tell how good Silva really is, but as of now, he is the best fight from season seven.

Honorable mentions: Payton Talbott, Hyder Amil

For complete Contender Series news and notes checkout our comprehensive archive here.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

PFL heavyweight Bruno Cappelozza won’t fight again until 2025 after being suspended for one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

This is actually the second suspension the Brazilian has faced for using banned substances after he was hit with a nine-month sanction by the Nevada Athletic Commission in 2023. In that incident, Cappelozza was busted for using drostanolone — an anabolic steroid — and his win over Matheus Scheffel was overturned to a no contest.

On Monday, USADA officials announced that Cappelozza has now been suspended for one year after an out-of-competition drug test conducted on April 17 came back positive for clomiphene and its metabolite desethyl-clomifene. Clomiphene is banned at all times for athletes and listed in the class of hormone and metabolic modulators.

The one-year suspension is the maximum sentence allowable based on the substance used.

Cappelozza remains suspended until April 17, 2025.

USADA oversees the PFL anti-doping policy, which was instituted after a rash of positive drug tests plagued the promotion’s 2023 season.

It’s been a rough couple of years for the 35-year-old veteran after winning the PFL heavyweight tournament in 2021 but then losing to Scheffel in 2022. He recorded a knockout in the rematch, which was swiftly overturned due to 2023’s positive drug test.

In his return to action at the start of 2024, Cappelozza fell to ex-Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov by second-round submission.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

MMA Fighting has DWCS results for all the action from season eight, week one of UFC’s Contender Series on Tuesday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.

In the main event, undefeated 26-year-old Mansur Abdul-Malik and 28-year-old up-and-comer Wes Schultz square off in a middleweight contest.

Check out the DWCS results below for Contender Series season eight, week one.

Fight Card

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Wes Schultz

Ding Meng vs. Rami Hamed

Mikhail Sazhiniani vs. Bruno Lopes

Jose Delgado vs. Ernie Juarez

Lone’er Kavanagh vs. An Tuan Ho

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts