[ Israel Adesanya finally landed the punches he sought for years – and when they landed, he once again became the UFC middleweight champion. In the UFC 287 main event in Miami, Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira by knockout at 4:21 of Round 2. It was rivalry’s fourth in combat sports and the second in MMA. … Read more
[ Share this article share tweet text email link on Facebook on Twitter via text message on LinkedIn via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/12/touch-of-gloves-video-ufc-bellator-pfl-one-championship-stars-appreciation-2023 Brian Garcia and Ken Hathaway December 29, 2023 6:00 pm ET ‘”As real as it gets” is the UFC’s slogan to describe just how realistic MMA combat can be. But before fighters get to … Read more
[ Share this article share tweet text email link on Facebook on Twitter via text message on LinkedIn via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/12/video-ufc-top-finishes-2023-islam-makhachev-jon-jones-justin-gaethje-edson-barboza-israel-adesanya December 29, 2023 9:15 am ET The UFC delivered some thrilling and impressive highlights during its 2023 campaign, ranging from title fights to main events to early prelims and more. Of the 520 bouts … Read more
[ Paul Felder is not a fan of fighters chasing dual-champion status so early in their title reigns. Felder specifically has an issue with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) expressing interest in moving up to challenge welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC). Edwards also mentioned moving up to middleweight … Read more
[ Be careful what you wish for, Justin Gaethje. That essentially was UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s message after receiving another callout. On Tuesday, Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) tagged both Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) and UFC CEO Dana White in an X post in which he said he’s simply “waiting on the call” … Read more
[ Bo Nickal thinks UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards would struggle against Khamzat Chimaev but not Islam Makhachev. Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his title against Colby Covington at UFC 296, taking care of another elite grappler in the division after defeating Kamaru Usman in back-to-back title fights. Nickal, who was a standout wrestler … Read more
[ Henry Cejudo thinks Leon Edwards would struggle with Islam Makhachev’s wrestling. Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is eyeing a move up to challenge welterweight champion Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC), who’s fresh off a title defense against Colby Covington this past Saturday at UFC 296. Edwards was in cruise control for the … Read more
[ Islam Makhachev was not impressed by Leon Edwards’ win over Colby Covington. Welterweight champion Edwards (22-3 MMA, 14-2 UFC) retained his title when he defeated Covington (17-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) by unanimous decision in this past Saturday’s UFC 296 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC), who … Read more
[ Josh Thomson sees Justin Gaethje as the biggest threat to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) recently said he prefers a fresh matchup in Gaethje rather than have rematches with Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. Makhachev’s former American Kickboxing Academy teammate Thomson thinks “The Highlight” is currently his sternest test. … Read more
[ Daniel Cormier explains why he agrees with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for wanting fresh challenges. When asked if he’d rather run things back with Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan next, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) said he prefers a new challenge in the form of “BMF” champion Justin Gaethje. Although Oliveira (34-9 MMA, … Read more
