Umar Nurmagomedov | Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov are set for a bout that could determine the next challenger for the UFC bantamweight title.
At Friday’s official morning weigh-ins for UFC Abu Dhabi, Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov both successfully weighed in for Saturday’s main event, with Sandhagen tipping the scales at 136 pounds (the maximum for a non-title bantamweight bout) and Nurmagomedov slightly lighter at 135 pounds.
With the headliners both currently occupying top-10 spots in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, it’s a possibility that the winner of the Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov bout earns the right to challenge the winner of the Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili title fight that takes place at UFC 306 on Sept. 14.
In the co-main event, undefeated middleweight Shara Magomedov takes on dangerous fight finisher Michal Oleksiejczuk. Magomedov was the last fighter to weigh in, but successfully made weight at 186 pounds, while Oleksiejczuk came in at 185 pounds.
All 28 fighters competing at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday successfully made weight.
See official UFC Abu Dhabi weigh-in results below.
Main Card (ABC, ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET)
Cory Sandhagen (136) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135)
Shara Magomedov (186) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (185)
Marlon Vera (136) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5)
Tony Ferguson (170) vs. Michael Chiesa (170)
Mackenzie Dern (115) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5)
Joel Alvarez (155.5) vs. Elves Brener (155)
Preliminary Card (ESPN2, ESPN+ at 12 p.m. ET)
Alonzo Menifield (204) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205)
Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk is the latest in the long line of combat sports stars to voice their disgruntlement with this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France – particularly voicing his displeasure with the much-scrutinzed boxing competition, which he described as “rotten”.
Usyk, a native of Ukraine, became undisputed heavyweight world champion in professional boxing back in May, handing British heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury his first professional loss in a one-sided unanimous decision win in Riyadh to snatch the undisputed WBC heavyweight crown.
And expected to take on the Morecambe native at the end of the year in an immediate championship rematch, Oleksandr Usyk, who featured at the Olympic Games in 2012 back in London, won the gold medal at the men’s heavyweight limit.
Oleksandr Usyk labels current Olympic boxing regime “rotten”
However, amid criticizm over the competing of both Imane Khelif and Taiwan native Ling Yu-ting, heavyweight world champion, Usyk has called for a complete reform of the Games’ boxing system, labelling the current regime as “rotten”.
“For many years, there has been a desire to change the boxing system, which is rotten on an international level,” Oleksandr Usyk told SNTV during a recent interview. “So, we just need to work. No promises need to be made; we need to act. When you do this, people see the work done and come to you, asking to collaborate.”
A decorated amateur boxing star, Usyk retired from the amateur scene boasting a stunning 335-15 record, besting the trio of Clemente Russo, Tervel Pulev, and current WBC, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight champion, Artur Beterbiev en route to his gold medal victory in London at the heavyweight limit.
Unbeaten during his professional career in boxing, with his one-sided decision win over Fury earlier this year in the Middle East, Usyk improved to 22-0 as a professional.
Marlon “Chito” Vera returns this weekend in Abu Dhabi where he looks to get back to winning ways in the bantamweight division.
Vera faces a tough test in former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo but he has all the motivation he needs after how his last fight went.
The challenger was unable to really put his stamp on his 135-pound title fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 299, where he was beaten convincingly over the five round contest.
His toughness was enough to keep him in the fight but even that was tested at several points by some sniper-like striking from “Suga”.
One strike, in particular, stole the show in March after O’Malley landed a knee that sounded even worse than it looked.
Marlon Vera Says A Punch In The Fifth Round Hurt More Than Viral Knee
Before he makes the walk once again this weekend, Vera reflected on his last fight and some of the damage that he took.
It says a lot about his heart and durability that he was able to make it to the final bell with many finding it hard to believe that he continued to fight on after that knee strike landed in the second round.
Vera spoke during his media day interview about what was going through his mind at that moment and how much damage the knee actually caused.
“Just to make a comparison, the punch in the fifth round that land perfectly on my eye, it wasn’t an eye poke but it felt like one, hurt me a million times more. Like I was fully blind, I was like, ‘F***!’ It was a perfect punch, props on him but I mean the knee really like kind of shocked me.
“I was like, ‘F*** I got clipped with something big,’ and I know it was the knee but I wasn’t like… my legs were there. I was just like, ‘F*** that really hurt,’ In terms of a hit but I would say my brain and my legs were there. I was just like don’t do that again. It was pretty much almost the same knee that I hit Font with.”
Read also: Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’
Continue Reading Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Gives Props To Sean O’Malley, Talks Viral Knee: ‘Really Kinda Shocked Me…’ at MMA News.
Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has the opportunity to become a three-time titleholder when he faces champion Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 305 main event on Aug. 17.
Du Plessis (21-2) won the 185-pound championship by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January. He’ll put the belt on the line for the first time at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia against “The Last Stylebender.” Adesanya (24-3) hasn’t fought since September 2023 when he lost the title to Strickland.
Adesanya released behind-the-scenes training footage from his UFC 305 preparation to his YouTube channel on Thursday.
UFC 305 will mark the fight promotion’s third time holding an event in Perth and the beginning of a multiyear deal for two annual events in the city. The title bout will be the first time two African-born athletes compete for a UFC title.
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The PFL 7 weigh-in video features all 20 fighters set to compete on Friday’s card at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
In the main event, heavyweights Denis Goltsov and Tim Johnson have to hit the 265-pound limit (plus a one-pound allowance) for a non-title fight.
In the co-main event, flyweights Dakota Ditcheva and Jena Bishop have to hit the 125-pound limit (plus a one-pound allowance) for a non-title fight.
Friday’s event determines the finalists for the 2024 heavyweight and flyweight tournaments.
The PFL 7 ceremonial weigh-ins kick off at 7 p.m. ET. Watch a live stream above.
Official PFL 7 weigh-ins took place Thursday morning.
See official results below.
Main Card (9 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN+)
Denis Goltsov (247.6) vs. Tim Johnson (265.8)
Dakota Ditcheva (125.2) vs. Jena Bishop (125.2)
Oleg Popov (247.2) vs. Linton Vassell (248)
Liz Carmouche (127)* vs. Taila Santos (125.2)
Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Tyrell Fortune (255.6) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (249.6)
Alexei Pergande (146) vs. Daniel Boehle (145.2)
Cody Law (145.4) vs. Zachary Hicks (145.6)
Sergio Cossio (162.8 lbs)** vs. Dedrek Sanders (155.2 lbs)
Jaleel Willis (172.6 lbs)*** vs. Anthony Ivy (172.8 lbs)***
Kevin Pease (169.2) vs. Nick Meck (170.2)
*missed weight. Carmouche forfeits 20 percent of her purse as penalty and will be deducted one point on the scorecards for her fight with Taila Santos.
**Sergio Cossio missed weight. He will be fined 20 percent of his purse to his opponent and the fight will move forward at a catchweight of 163 pounds.
***Both Jaleel Willis and Anthony Ivy missed weight. Neither will have their purse deducted. The bout will move forward at a catchweight of 173 pounds.
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Photo by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
It’s been more than 11 years since Ronda Rousey helped usher in a new era of women’s sport after she debuted in the UFC with a win over Liz Carmouche at UFC 157.
Until that night in Anaheim, Calif., women had never competed in the UFC, but Rousey’s magnetism and star power finally convinced Dana White to launch a division largely based around her presence. More than a decade later, women are cemented as superstars and equals on the UFC roster, but it all started with Rousey.
Sadly, her exit from the sport ended with a dramatic thud after Rousey suffered back-to-back knockout losses and effectively retired from the sport before eventually being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Despite all her accolades, Rousey has admitted that she has a difficult relationship with MMA these days, and went as far as saying she’d expect a negative reaction if she ever walked into an arena for UFC event.
While she certainly can’t tell fans how they should feel, Carmouche — the other half of that historic 2013 fight — offered nothing but praise when addressing Rousey’s MMA legacy.
“I would hope with what she’s done in the history of this sport, whether it ended on a good note or it ended on a bad note, she accomplished so much and made women’s MMA what it is today, and we should show her the respect that she earned,” Carmouche told MMA Fighting. “Let her close it that way.
“Now, if she’s back here talking, ‘I hate MMA fans, I hate MMA,’ that’s a little bit different, but I think we need to give her credit where credit is due.”
Rousey blamed a long history with concussions as the major contributing factor to her UFC exit. She dated her first concussion all the way back to childhood swimming, but the problems only multiplied after years spent competing in judo and then doing MMA.
Rousey believes without a doubt that her concussions struggles played a part in her final two knockout losses at the hands of Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in consecutive fights.
Of course, many believe Rousey addressing her issues now sounds like an excuse for her losses, but Carmouche understands just how debilitating a concussion can be for a fighter.
“I certainly know how much concussions can truly change a person,” Carmouche said. “It changes their chemistry, everything. So if she has proof of that and that’s what’s been happening, then I wish she would have gotten the help she needed from the beginning to hopefully change how she went out from her MMA career, to be able to go to a different chapter.”
Nonetheless, Carmouche says Rousey’s contributions to the sport are undeniable. In fact, Carmouche admits that as much as she wanted to win back in 2013, she’s not sure women’s MMA would’ve ever reached the heights it did unless Rousey was the face of it all.
“Women’s MMA wouldn’t be where it is [without Rousey],” Carmouche said. “As much as I can look back and be like, ‘I wish it had been a different outcome and I won the belt,’ I don’t think it would have played out the way it did if Ronda hadn’t been the one who won the belt.”
While Rousey hasn’t competed since 2016, Carmouche hasn’t slowed down one bit.
On Friday, Carmouche competes in the semifinals of the ongoing 2024 PFL flyweight tournament, when she faces Taila Santos with a chance to move into the championship round, where the winner earns a title belt and a $ 1 million prize.
Carmouche knows she’s traveled a tough road to get here — including a pair of rematches she had to endure just to make it to the PFL playoff format — but she expects being battle-tested to help her in ways that cruising to the playoffs may hurt some other fighters.
“You can’t really argue when it comes to the results that I’m getting,” Carmouche said. “With my wins, I truly deserve to be where I’m at, whereas you can’t always say that about other people.”
UFC fighters couldn’t help but react to the unusual boxing match and subsequent controversial ending between Angela Carini and Imane Khelif.
There was much speculation whether Khelif should be allowed to compete in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The Algerian has been rejected entry into competition in the past due to their high testosterone readings, which renders competitors ineligible in combat sports.
Despite the plea from fans, Imane Khelif did compete at the Olympics and made their opponent quit in just 46 seconds. This caused uproar among the MMA world as fighters rushed to social media to voice their discontent.
The #9-ranked UFC light heavyweight Johnny Walker was furious with the Olympic Games’ decision to allow the fight to go ahead.
He shared his thoughts on X before deleting his post and later confirming he didn’t know enough about the situation to comment further.
@JohnnyWalker on X
I just think everyone that are reposting about the female olympic boxing issue, have no idea of the real history behind , is he borne woman ? Is she have genetic issues? Is have is a woman or not ? Mostly have no idea!
— Johnny Walker (@JohnnyWalker) August 1, 2024
Dillon Danis was upset with how events unfolded and insisted she was cheated out of a lifelong dream. Though, it wouldn’t be a Danis post without the BJJ phenom firing shots at someone he dislikes.
Trained her whole life to make it all the way to the OLYMPICS.. just to get cheated. Not only cheated. Abused and and embarrassed on top of it.
This is despicable and unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/Q7etylRPyS
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) August 1, 2024
Jake Paul after hearing there's an easier path to a boxing gold medal. pic.twitter.com/4vqWu8kPt9
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) August 1, 2024
Colby Covington joined in. The former interim UFC welterweight champion ranted about keeping men far away from women’s sports.
I tried to warn all of you. The Olympic committee, USA Boxing and the people who advocated for this madness need to take full responsibility. I feel for all the women who worked their whole lives to compete on the world’s largest stage only to have it taken away from them by a… pic.twitter.com/WNApBGi5DN
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) August 1, 2024
Related: Jake Paul offers Angela Carini life-changing opportunity after Olympics controversy
Former UFC lightweight king Rafael Dos Anjos also spoke out against the fight. The Brazilian insisted that anybody that thinks allowing Imane Khelif to compete in women’s boxing is sick.
Angela Carini, I Stand with you!! As a fighter and athlete I know how many hours of training and sacrifice to get to that level of competition. Olympics it’s the highest level and people allow a man to fight a woman it’s unacceptable. If you think this is right you’re sick. pic.twitter.com/mI0I3iJ5Xl
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) August 1, 2024
While the vast majority of internet users are angry with the Olympics, others were conflicted on the events.
Sodiq Yusuff and Chris Curtis didn’t fire shots at Khelif, but instead believe it’s a difficult situation to assess given the circumstances.
This… sometimes life isn't black or white, grey areas exist, and how we navigate them is difficult, but will speak volumes of our character in the future. https://t.co/RgEhogRa1x
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) August 1, 2024
Derek Brunson and Kamaru Usman also sided with the African boxer. The UFC veterans stated that fans may have jumped the gun on their witch-hunt of Imane Khelif before knowing all the facts.
1000% no one does research just jump on it and run.
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