CombatSports.org

submitted by /u/rmma
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, the floor is yours.

Everything is lining up for one of Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi headliners to lay claim to the No. 1 contender spot at 135 pounds. Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley finally faces off with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on Sept. 14, and a fresh challenger could be waiting for them before they even step into the octagon.

Will it be the battle-tested Sandhagen? “The Sandman” has already been in one championship fight, an interim title clash with Petr Yan that was one of the best fights of 2021. It was also a loss for Sandhagen, and he’s had to rattle off three straight wins over ranked opponents to stay in title contention. If he beats the heavily favored Nurmagomedov, that surely puts him at the front of the line.

The path looks even clearer for Nurmagomedov, the bearer of a name that now resonates more with the average fan than “Gracie.” Nurmagomedov is the blueprint for the modern MMA fighter, and he’s yet to taste defeat in his 17-fight career. For pundits who have closely followed him, it’s a matter of when for Nurmagomedov, not if.

Stars fill out the rest of the UFC Abu Dhabi main card, including unbeaten Shara Magomedov taking on Michal Oleksiejczuk in the middleweight co-main event, bantamweight contenders Marlon Vera and Deiveson Figueiredo squaring off, fan favorite Tony Ferguson aiming to avoid the longest losing streak in UFC history when he fights Michael Chiesa, strawweight standouts Mackenzie Dern and Loopy Godinez in action, and an absolute banger of an opener between lightweights Joel Alvarez and Elves Brener.

What: UFC Abu Dhabi

Where: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday, Aug. 3. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+, followed by a six-fight main card at 3 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN+.

(Numbers in parentheses indicate standing in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings)

Cory Sandhagen (4) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (8)

Yeah, I’ve settled at about a 16/10 as far as my level of excitement for this one.

Isn’t this why we watch MMA? To see the best fight the best? For the stars to align to give us a true No. 1 contender in a division? And make no mistake, whoever wins Saturday has every right to hold out for a title shot as soon as one can be booked.

Cory Sandhagen has an airtight case if he becomes the first fighter to hand Umar Nurmagomedov an L. The proud Coloradan has built his reputation on being that dude in the division who will fight anyone, anywhere. Just look at his résumé over the past few years, it’s nothing but the absolute best at 135 pounds, including Marlon Vera, who was tagged for a title shot over Sandhagen due to his history with Sean O’Malley.

Wherever the fight goes, Sandhagen is a handful for Nurmagomedov. He wants to keep the fight standing, but he’s also adept at mixing the martial arts. He’ll chase highlights, but he’s not afraid to grind out a win either. He’s the perfect foil at this stage of Nurmagomedov’s career.

Nurmagomedov made his UFC debut in 2021 with a ton of hype behind him and outside of a few hiccups, he’s more than lived up to it. When it comes to the middle tier of bantamweights, he’s faced some of the best, including Raoni Barcelos and the under-appreciated Sergey Morozov, not to mention dangerous newcomer Bekzat Almakhan. Still, the fact stands: Sandhagen is an enormous step up in competition from anyone Nurmagomedov has previously fought.

Normally, I put a lot of weight on experience and strength of schedule, but Nurmagomedov is a special talent. He’s always been levels above the opponents he’s faced, so he’s well-prepared to take on a contender of Sandhagen’s caliber. This won’t be an easy fight for either man — if one of them somehow dominates the other, just book the title shot as soon as they finish their post-fight interview — so I’m going with Nurmagomedov to win a decision in a Fight of the Year candidate.

Pick: Nurmagomedov

Shara Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

If Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is the ideal contenders’ fight, this is the ideal replacement co-main event.

With respect to Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque, little was lost when that bout was postponed and replaced by Shara Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk. They might not have the same name value, but if I have to choose between seeing these two wild boys throw down and a 41-year-old Diaz dragging himself to the cage for a paycheck, the choice is easy.

“Shara Bullet” has been inconsistent in his two UFC fights, so the time is now for him to show that he has skills are as impressive as his social media numbers. He’s an awesome striker with some truly scary finishes on his résumé, but if he doesn’t start showing that he can get it done inside the octagon, it won’t be long until fans sour on his act.

Even though a win over Oleksiejczuk won’t put a number next to Magomedov’s name, this is a beatable opponent being served up on a platter. Oleksiejczuk rarely goes to the cards, so the pressure is on Magomedov to match that pace and deliver a finish.

Magomedov by first-round knockout. Don’t make me regret this pick, Shara Bullet!

Pick: Magomedov

Marlon Vera (12) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (T9)

My logic for picking Deiveson Figueiredo here is that the two-time flyweight champion is just … better? Searing analysis, I know.

With respect to Marlon Vera, it feels like we’ve seen his ceiling. He’s a slow starter, he can finish anywhere, and he’s tough as all hell. Despite being in the cage with a slew of knockout artists, none of them have put a significant dent in Chito’s chin. It’s remarkable.

Figueiredo was widely recognized as one of the hardest hitters in the flyweight division and while the impact of his strikes is understandably dulled 10 pounds up, he still has more than enough pop to earn Vera’s respect. Vera can’t just walk Figueiredo down if he expects to win.

The size difference can’t make up for the skill difference here, because Vera isn’t going to just hoss Figueiredo around. He’ll test Figueiredo’s standup, land a few good shots, and look to power his way to a decision. It’s a strategy that has served him well in his career, but against the speedy “Deus da Guerra,” I can’t see him connecting enough times to take the decision. This is Figgy’s fight to lose.

Pick: Figueiredo

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa

What’s this? A winnable fight for Tony Ferguson?

Look, I really want to talk myself into an “El Cucuy” comeback here. If we cherry pick the best moments from his recent performances (remember how well he was doing against Michael Chandler before his face was removed from his face?), we can see hints of the guy who once looked unbeatable at 155 pounds. On paper, Michael Chiesa shouldn’t be an impossible opponent for him to beat, especially if the Chiesa that fell so flat against Kevin Holland shows up.

It’s not like Chiesa is a spring chicken either, having turned 36 this year, only four years younger than Ferguson. His performance against Holland might have been a sign that his best days are truly behind him.

All that said, Chiesa has a clear path to victory with his grappling and easy to picture Ferguson avoiding being wrestled into oblivion. I close my eyes to envision how this fight goes and all I see is Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush ragdolling Ferguson for 15 minutes. Chiesa isn’t as good as either of those guys, but he doesn’t need to be.

This is MMA, so Ferguson pulling a rabbit out of a hat would be a delight, but I vowed a long time ago to stop picking Ferguson to win fights and I see no reason to veer from that strategy.

Chiesa by decision.

Pick: Chiesa

Mackenzie Dern (8) vs. Loopy Godinez (10)

The strawweight division is fun!

Look, I could not care less at this point whether or not Mackenzie Dern ever “wins the big one” or whatever narrative we’re imposing on her fights these days. She always puts on a show, even if it’s at her own expense, and at this point in her career that’s all you can ask for. Maybe she fights for a title someday. Maybe she doesn’t. ‘Tis of no concern to me.

I feel much the same about Loopy Godinez, an absolute maniac who would fight every week if medically permitted to do so. Godinez is going to see red as soon as that bell rings. Don’t be surprised if she tackles Dern right out of the gate and dares the jiu-jitsu queen to tap her out. I mean, she probably can, but I guarantee you Godinez doesn’t give a hoot.

Dern’s limitations are well-documented. She struggles to find another gear of offense even when she has a dominant position, and on the feet she remains a hard puncher with limited setups. It’s entirely possible that Godinez exploits these weaknesses and cruises to a decision.

I still think Dern is below the elite (her past four losses are to fighters who have competed in title fights, and Marina Rodriguez, a woman who would have were it not for bad timing), but a notch above the next tier of fighters, which includes Godinez. Dern holds onto her spot here, catching Godinez with a submission in the second or third round.

Pick: Dern

Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener

Elves Brener is a premier agent of chaos and I like his chances to score the upset against Joel Alvarez.

If this goes to the ground, the wiry Alvarez presents all kinds of problems for Brener and it will likely be a matter of time before Alvarez adds to his impressive submission tally. It’s imperative that Brener keep this on the feet if he’s to work his unique brand of madness. Brener is a serious submission threat in his own right, but the size difference will be too much for him if this turns into a strict grappling contest.

Look for Brener to use his grappling defensively to stifle Alvarez’s offense and tire him out, before letting his hands go after a tense opening minutes. Alvarez will do his best to return fire before eventually succumbing to a power punch on the money.

Brener by first-round knockout.

Pick: Brener

Preliminaries

Azamat Murzakanov (15) def. Alonzo Menifield

Kaue Fernandes def. Mohammad Yahya

Shamil Gaziev def. Don’Tale Mayes

Jordan Vucenic def. Guram Kutateladze

Viktoriia Dudakova def. Sam Hughes

Jai Herbert def. Rolando Bedoya

Sedriques Dumas def. Denis Tiuliulin

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Apology envisioned
| BJPenn.com

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.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

submitted by /u/event_threads
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Kaue Fernandes returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi to face Mohammad Yahya and achieve redemption after suffering a split decision loss to Marc Diakiese at UFC 301 in his native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Fernandes is switching from home-field advantage to enemy territory in his second UFC appearance, but is focusing more on the things he has to do inside the cage rather any pressure brought from the stands, either with cheers or boos.

“I think I had a good debut,” Fernandes told MMA Fighting. “I made mistakes, but I think I won the fight. There was only one aggressor in that fight, and I was the aggressor. His only good moment in the fight was to stall. He’s an excellent fighter but he didn’t want to fight me, and they gave him the win even though he was almost knocked out and submitted with an armbar.”

Only one judge scored the bout in Fernandes’ favor, giving him a 29-28 scorecard with advantages in rounds one and two, however the other two judges disagreed.

Fernandes said he learned lessons from that fight, mainly to focus on improving his wrestling and conditioning.

“It’s a lot of pressure to debut in the UFC and I expected to feel very nervous, but I think I did well. I wasn’t intimidated,” said Fernandes, whose opponent had a 7-7 UFC record going into that bout. “Many people choke under those circumstances and I’ve shown I’ll perform and give my all against whoever, so that gives me confidence going forward.”

Diakiese completed his UFC contract that night and chose not to re-sign with the promotion, inking a deal with PFL instead.

Fernandes doubles down on his opinion that Diakiese should’ve left on a three-fight losing skid — following prior defeats to Michael Johnson and Joel Alvarez — rather than a win.

“I can’t cry over spilled milk,” Fernandes said. “I’ve rewatched that fight 1,000 times and I think he won the third round, but you can’t give him rounds one and two.”

“UFC naturally renews its roster and they wouldn’t re-sign him without an excellent performance, and he won in highly contested fashion,” he continued. “The fight was exciting until he made it boring. I’d rather get beat up and bloody and lose than [that]. … I left with a clean face and he went straight to the hospital. Who won the fight? He realized in the first round he couldn’t stand and trade with me. I could have done more. I have to get out of those situations because I might face that again, but it’s hard to fight someone who just doesn’t want to get finished.”

Yahya, a former lightweight champion in his native United Arab Emirates, is also attempting to rebound from a decision defeat in his UFC debut after losing to Trevor Peek at UFC 294.

Fernandes vows to do anything needed to emerge victorious for the first time inside the octagon.

“I think Mohammad might come to grapple after seeing that opening in my last fight, or he might do his thing and stand and trade,” Fernandes said. “Or maybe I can grapple him? Winning is what matters. If I have to grapple to beat him, so be it. I don’t rule anything out in this fight. I’m very powerful in the first round, and if it lands, he will feel it. That’s the perfect scenario, but I’m in no rush. I’m ready to go three rounds too.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Taila Santos believes Dakota Ditcheva was given a much easier path to the PFL Playoffs.

Both Santos, who once gave Valentina Shevchenko a run for her money inside the Octagon, and Ditcheva are one win away from advancing to the PFL flyweight final. Santos has gone 2-0 since making her Smart Cage debut earlier this year, defeating Ilara Joanne and Jena Bishop during the regular season.

But despite her own success, the one-time UFC title challenger believes Ditcheva was handed more favorable matchups to secure her spot in the final four.

“The fights they were giving her in the beginning, it’s pretty clear they were giving her an easy run so she could make it to the finals,” Santos told MMA Fighting. “That’s why I said I want to show her what a real fight is all about, a tough fight. I fought tough fights since the beginning and I don’t care. That’s exactly what I want. I want to tough fights to show I’m the best.”

Ditcheva scored the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with wins over Lisa Mauldin, a 6-5 fighter from California, and Chelsea Hackett, a 4-3-1 Aussie who made an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020. Ditcheva earned her way into this year’s regular season after winning the PFL Europe Championship in 2023, running through three opponents with a combined record of 13-10.

Meanwhile, Santos has more than proven herself by going five rounds with former UFC flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko and earning wins over the likes of Joanne Wood, Roxanne Modafferi, Molly McCann, and Gillian Robertson.

Though she’s by no means looking past her next opponent, Santos can’t help but salivate over the idea of meeting Ditcheva in the tournament final.

“It’s going to be really interested to have both of us getting to this final and fighting each other,” Santos said. “I just want to be in the final and face whoever, but it would be quite interesting to fight her. I would really like to fight Dakota because fans would like this one. People are talking about this fight, and I want to show her what a real fight is like. It would be exciting. I’m very excited to face her, really.”

Taila Santos will have to go through women’s MMA legend liz Carmouche if she wants to meet Ditcheva in the flyweight final

But to get there, Taila Santos will have to get past two-time UFC title challenger and current Bellator flyweight women’s champion, Liz Carmouche.

“It’s an incredible fight. All respect to her, an incredible athlete as well, a veteran, and it’s an honor for me to fight her,” Santos said. “I’m very versatile as a fighter, although I grew up training Muay Thai before training jiu-jitsu and wrestling and everything else. I feel super comfortable in all areas today. I like it a lot, and I know she tries to grapple more, to back her opponents against the cage and impose her game. It’s going to be a very interesting game.”

As for how she sees things playing out in Ditcheva’s semi-final scrap with Jena Bishop, Santos isn’t entirely convinced that the Manchester native will get the job done.

“I think it’s going to be close,” Santos said. “It won’t be an easy fight for either one of them. If Jena can close the distance and take her down quickly and not give Dakota space on the feet — Dakota knows her to use her reach and she’s powerful. Jena surprised me, she’s really strong and I wasn’t expecting that. She’s very experienced, so she can win this if she can close the distance.”

“I came here to win this belt,” Santos added. “I’m ready to go to the final and win, no matter who I’m fighting there. I’m here to fight the best.”

LowKickMMA.com

Boxing superstar Terence Crawford will make his long-awaited return to the ring this Saturday. He takes on Israil Madrimov for the WBA Super Welterweight Championship and the vacant WBO Interim World Super Welterweight Championship at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

While all eyes will be on the main event, fans are also excited about the matchups on the undercard. One of the anticipated bout will feature Andy Ruiz Jr. facing Jarrell Miller in an interesting heavyweight contest

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Jarrell Miller

Ruiz Jr. returns to the boxing ring after nearly two years of absence from competition. His last fight was a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz on September 4, 2022. Since then, he’s been looking for a big fight with Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, or even his former rival Anthony Joshua. In addition to being unsuccessful in securing a fight with another heavyweight superstar, Ruiz Jr.’s inactivity has removed him from title opportunities. 

The comeback fight against Miller will test whether the former champion can still threaten the rest of the division. That said, “Big Baby” isn’t an easy opponent to return against. Although Miller lost his fight against Daniel Dubious by TKO on December 23, 2023, he had moments where he hurt the current IBF World Heavyweight Champion.

DraftKings currently has the “Destroyer” victorious on Saturday. However, it’s unclear if his time away from competition will affect his performance. 

Other Key Matchups On The Undercard

Elsewhere on the card, there are more fights that fans will be intrigued to watch. Here are some of the key matchups on the undercard:

• Vacant WBA Light Heavyweight Championship: David Morrell (10-0) vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2)

Morrell will try to get his seventh straight knockout win this Saturday. Kalajdzic has more professional experience than his opponent, but Morrell’s punching power can be difficult to handle.

• IBF International & WBA Continental Latin-American Lightweight Championship: Andy Cruz (3-0) vs. Antonio Moran (30-6-1)

Undefeated with three wins, Cruz will put his title on the line against Moran. Both fighters come into the matchup having won the last fight and try to get a statement win to put the division on notice. 

• USWBC & WBO International Heavyweight Championship: Jared Anderson (17-0) vs. Martin Bakole (20-1)

Anderson will take the next step toward becoming a title contender by taking on Bakole to open the main card. Both heavyweights have a record of 15 knockouts, so it’s possible the bout will not go the distance. 

Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov Fight Card

(Fight Card Is Subject To Change)

Main Card: (DAZN PPV & ESPN+ PPV)

• WBA World Super Welterweight Championship & Vacant WBO Interim World Super Welterweight Championship: (C) Israil Madrimov (10-0-1) vs.
  Terence Crawford (40-0)
• WBA World Super Lightweight Championship: (C) Isaac Cruz (26-2-1) vs. Jose Valenzuela (13-2)
• Heavyweight: Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2) vs. Jarrell Miller (26-1-1)
• Vacant WBA Light Heavyweight Championship: David Morrell (10-0) vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2)
• IBF International & WBA Continental Latin-American Lightweight Championship: (C) Andy Cruz (3-0) vs. Antonio Moran (30-6-1)
• USWBC & WBO International Heavyweight Championship: Jared Anderson (17-0) vs. Martin Bakole (20-1)

Preliminary Card: (DAZN YouTube Channel)

• Welterweight: Ziyad Al Maayouf (5-0) vs. Michał Bulik (6-7)
• Super Middleweight: Steven Nelson (19-0) vs. Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez (20-0-1)

Continue Reading Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov Undercard Preview at MMA News.

MMA News

UFC

submitted by /u/event_threads
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts