Former two time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has weighed heavily on UFC 303’s main event this weekend, predicting a chilling outcome.
The Last Stylebender as Adesanya is known is the current Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira’s biggest rival throughout their combat sports careers.
With Pereira currently up 3-1 in their series across kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), Adesanya got the most recent laugh when he scored a second round knockout (watch highlights) over Pereira to snatch back the 185-pound crown in April 2023.
Therefore, sending Pereira up to 205 pounds where he’s made history.
Although Pereira heads into this upcoming Jiri Prochazka rematch with a second round technical knockout of the Czech (watch highlights) on his resume, Adesanya, expects a different outcome than we saw in November 2023.
“I’m going to go Jiri because we’re the chosen few,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel (h/t MMA Fighting). “But also, I think he might have learned from his mistake because people don’t understand, and it also makes things interesting — if [Prochazka beats Pereira] then it’s a trifecta, a trilogy, yeah.
“And I won’t be the only guy to knock this guy out,” he concluded.
“I’m going to go Jiri, and I’m going to go by third-round, or fourth-round finish.”
Pereira and Prochazka have both earned finish victories since their first fight.
At UFC 300, they won their respective bouts against Jamahal Hill and Aleksandar Rakic, setting up this short-notice sequel.
Ultimately, Adesanya expects the rematch element of the match up to be a big factor, but the short notice is the biggest.
“The approach from both fighters will be different because they both know what could happen — Alex knows he can get taken down and controlled, and Jiri knows he can get knocked out,” Adesanya said.
“But also, Alex knows he can get touched and hurt by Jiri. … [It will be a] more calculated [fight], slower because also they are taking this on short notice. They’re both relatively fit, but again, five-round fit, that’s the one. I know it’s short notice, but five-round fit, that’s crazy.
“Someone’s going to die — that’s going to be the mindset, either he finishes me, or I finish him,” he continued. “That’s the mindset you have to have if you’re taking a short notice fight, five rounds. Because holding on for five rounds, if you’re not fit, it’s a bad time. Bad as hell. So you have to go in there and just be like, either he dies, or I die.”
Tag: UFC
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UFC welterweight contender Micheal ‘Venom’ Page is looking ahead of his next fight with Ian Machado for a possible clash with number one ranked Kamaru Usman.
Page spoke with Chamatkar Sandhu in an interview about the path he sees to UFC gold which started at UFC 299 with a win over Kevin Holland.
MVP sees the Ian Garry fight on June 29th at UFC 303 as the perfect springboard to the top of the division.
“He’s an Irish guy that’s doing he’s doing really well … he’s [ranked] 7th, which is my lucky number,” Page said. “So that’s that’s another reason why I was like, ‘Yep. I want that.’ And it propels me into the top 5. So it’s exactly where I wanna be. I don’t wanna waste any time.”
From there Page believes he’s one more fight away from earning a title shot on home turf in England.
“If I wanna bring it back to the UK, there will most likely be one more fight,” he said.
“And then they usually do a show in March or something. So if I can get one more fight by the end of the year, that’d be perfect. Perfect way to sign off the year.”
“Finish Ian. Maybe ask for Usman. You know? Get a big fight next. He’s No. 1 ranked. Like I said, there’s no point wasting time. Let’s jump up. Let’s go. Usman, if he’s happy to go, we go. Get that win, and then there’s no debate after that. It’s like no, I deserve the belt.”
The former Welterweight champion Usman ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ last stepped into the cage in 2023 when he replaced an injured Paulo Costa, to face Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight bout at UFC 294.
Usman lost the fight via majority decision in what was his middleweight MMA debut.
Usman’s possible fight with Page could still take some time to come to fruition, but the Briton is so sure of his plans on beating his next opponent, Garry?
“I’ve got about ten different ways to hurt this guy, and they’re all horrible,” he said with a smile. “So he can pick.”
For insight into his lethal capabilities inside the octagon, Page referenced how he took care of business in his first UFC fight against the top rated Holland.
“You know, Kevin Holland as a first fight, for anybody, it’s a crazy first fight,” Page said. “People saw what I did there. I know my ability. I’m comfortable with anybody up there. So I’m just looking to just get up there as quickly as possible.”
“You can see [my] popularity has gone up. You see the respect level. Especially after that first fight and how I handled Kevin, who is an amazing athlete, high level. He’s come straight back, broke someone’s arm. He’s a tough competitor.”
‘Get Ready For 25 Minutes Of Pain’
“The way I handled him, they saw the frustration in his eyes and how he struggled to handle me,” he continued. “I think there’s loads of respect. But it’s interesting, I’ve been telling you guys this for a long time, you guys just don’t listen. Before, I was ‘crushing cans,’ and now everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you can actually fight.’” -
MMA legend Israel Adesanya of Nigeria can now breathe easy after he received an inconsequential sentencing for a recent drunk-driving charge.
Stuff.co.nz reported Wednesday that the two-time UFC middleweight champion had avoided a conviction after recently pleading guilty to driving drunk in Auckland, New Zealand, on Aug. 19, three weeks ahead of his most recent fight.
Adesanya went on to drop his UFC title to Sean Strickland in a lopsided unanimous decision loss at UFC 293.
The Nigerian Kiwi pleaded guilty to the charge in September and issued a public apology.
He faced a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to $4500 NZD.
However, according to court documents acquired by Stuff.co.nz, Adesanya’s lawyer argued that a conviction would even be more damaging to the fighter due to a potential loss of sponsors that could lead to a six-figure hit in earnings.
The lawyer added that Adesanya would also be unable to travel to certain countries, including Canada, which hosts a middleweight title fight in Toronto on Jan. 20 between Strickland and Dricus du Plessis.
Judge Peter Winter offered a favorable ruling, discharging Adesanya without a conviction on the grounds that his drunk-driving reading was deemed to be relatively low (87 mg. per 100 ml. of blood, 37 mg. above the limit), his level of cooperation, and his history of charitable work in the community.
Consequently, Adesanya received a six-month suspension from driving and he was ordered to pay $1500 to charity.
He must also complete an anti-drunk-driving program.
Currently, Adesanya has not indicated when he next plans to compete.
The 34-year-old announced a self-imposed hiatus shortly after losing to Strickland, but recently said that he could be back inside the octagon sooner than expected.For support and news stories: woramangra@yahoo.com or via WhatsApp on +2348084193706.
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The The Professional Fighters League has acquired Paramount’s Bellator MMA as the Saudi-backed company challenges Endeavor’s Ultimate Fighting Championship in the mixed martial arts world.
The US-based PFL did not disclose the price of the acquisition but its founder Donn Davis told the Financial Times that Paramount would retain a small minority stake and that the deal would create a stronger competitor to UFC
“This totally changes the MMA landscape overnight,” he said. “You essentially put two number two companies to create a co-leader. The combined PFL Bellator roster now has 30 per cent of its fighters who are ranked top 25 in the world by Fight Matrix. That’s the same as UFC has in their roster.”
PFL was founded in 2017 and is a relative newcomer to the growing sport but attracted a $100mn investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund in August.
The investment was part of a plan to expand the PFL in the Middle East, with a regional league headquarters in Saudi Arabia set to launch next year.
Saudi Arabia wants to bolster its global presence in sports, investing in everything from football to golf and tennis.
The country, which seeks to compete with the neighbouring United Arab Emirates as a regional finance and logistics hub of the Middle East, has hosted multiple high-profile fights in recent months while the UAE hosted UFC championship events.
Saudi Arabia hosted an October match between boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and the mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou, who has signed with PFL, with other matches scheduled for next year.
However, its investment in PFL has drawn derision from the UFC’s president and chief executive Dana White, who said the league was “burning cash”.
The UFC has been at the forefront of securing mainstream popularity for mixed martial arts, generating about $1.1bn in revenue in 2022, but it is being sued by fighters over pay.
Last month Davis said his company raised about $500mn in its last financing round and was in “investment mode and growing mode”.
Although a venerable name in the mixed martial arts world with a roster that includes some of the best fighters, Bellator’s viewership is smaller than the UFC’s according to Davis.
“You revitalise the product, and we will rebuild the global audience,” he said when asked about his plans.
“Bellator would continue to operate under its own brand,” Davis said. “with its own set of fight rules that allowed moves such as elbow strikes, unlike the PFL. However, it would share its roster of fighters with PFL.”Credit: ft.com
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Nigeria’s Light of the Nation, Anambra state, is expected to shine brighter as One Fight Ultimate OFU Fightnight 3 ignites the capital city Awka at OMA/XFIT Event Center tomorrow 4 November 2023.
The Mixed Martial Arts MMA competition brings to an end the yearnings of Anambrarians, and by extension the whole of South East, for international and professional combat sports action.
In the final build-up to tomorrow’s showpiece, the ceremonial weigh-in and faceoff took centre stage today at Wadorf Hotel, Awka where fighters’ tempers and adrenaline overflowed to the admiration of the audience.
On fight day, six explosive MMA bouts are expected to set the cage alight with the main event featuring the experienced heavyweight contender Emeka ‘Tiger’ Onyebuchi and Venatius ‘Vugar” Iyinagolu.Daniel ‘Danny D Great’ Iwuoha (L) facing off against Philemon ‘Captain Hook’ Bitrus
Elbows, submission moves and strikes are billed to continue with one of Nigeria’s hot MMA properties Philemon ‘Captain Hook’ Bitrus colliding with Daniel ‘Danny D Great’ Iwuoha in the welterweight challenge.
Both fighters have got a score to settle as they clashed in the 2022 National Sports Festival in Delta State where Iwuoha snatched the gold medal, leaving Hook seething with vengeful anger.Rebecca Amongi of Uganda tipping the scales
Another fighter seeking revenge is Ugandan soldier and widely travelled Rebecca ‘Warrior’ Amongi who squares up to Nigeria’s ‘Woman King’ Terlumon Doose from Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior, in the women’s Flyweight bout.
The fight provides an opportunity for Amongi(4-1) to avenge her previous MMA home loss to another Nigerian Juliet Ukah sometime in 2022 but Doose’s immaculate MMA record(5-0) makes the battle a titanic one.
The international feel of Fightnight 3 produces a huge splash in the men’s category as Nigeria Vs Congo Democratic Republic cold war ensues.
Winner in OFU Fightnight 2 Ebenezer ‘D Dragon’ Imbu faces Congolese fighter Christopher ‘Moolstar Mobeti’ Moly(4-1) in the middleweight challenge while another Congolese Ken Botton squares off against Nigeria’s Shaolin Tiger Stanford Ebere, another Akalaka product, in a bantamweight contest.
Another winner from Fightnight 2 Chukwuemerie ‘Oseoji’ Okoli will make his international bow with a lightweight matchup against the dangerous and smart talking lawyer, Jean Jacques Lubaya ‘Ziwi(7-0) of Congo DR.
The Congolese team has spent more than 1 month in Nigeria after deciding to stay behind, following an MMA event organised by Warrior Sports Championship, WSC, in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
So acclimatization isn’t a problem for the East African fighters.
The organiser and South East representative on the Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria, KFN, board, Chief Ife Obiudo said as Fightnight 3 signs off the calendar for the promotion, more opportunities would come up next year for grassroots and international combat sports development.
OFU Fightnight 3 is sanctioned by Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts, GAMMA. -
Former UFC star Francis Ngannou’s convincing performance against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has made the Cameroonian combat sports legend a well sought after fighter for promoters.
Ngannou, signed to PFL, knocked down Fury in a crossover boxing contest and was competitive throughout their 10-round bout, but Fury ultimately won the fight via split decision, outlanding the former UFC champion 71 to 59.
Consequently, Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn is now interested in being next in line to pit a fighter he promotes against Ngannou, calling for former heavyweight champion and Nigerian-Brit Anthony Joshua to challenge the Cameroonian-French Ngannou.
Hearn is even reviving one of the most iconic promotional boxing slogans of all time, saying that an Ngannou-Joshua fight will be the second-coming of the “Rumble In The Jungle,” the iconic 1974 bout between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire.
“AJ against Francis Ngannou is absolutely massive, it’s massive. Two giants next to each other. Who knows what’s going to happen? I can’t even believe we’re debating this,” Hearn said on “The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.”
“The money for Francis Ngannou in boxing, he ain’t going back [to MMA]. The money that I know AJ against Ngannou could generate. A lot more than [Ngannou got against Fury].
“[Joshua] wasn’t [originally] interested in the gimmick fight when it was proposed to him. A lot of people’s perception pre-fight was that [Fury vs. Ngannou] was farcical.”
Ngannou’s solid showing during his pro debut has all of a sudden made him a power player in heavyweight boxing, as the public is interested in seeing more from the 37-year-old.
His addition to the heavyweight picture and the big-money fights that can be made with him as a dance partner disrupts and divides the long-desired matchups that should be taking place instead.
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is also negotiating to fight Ngannou.
Instead of Hearn publicly calling to stage Joshua vs. Wilder or Joshua vs. Fury, he’s now doubling down on Joshua vs. Ngannou.
“We are now in the position where we’re debating if Francis Ngannou beats Anthony Joshua. Take my money, prove me wrong, and listen, [Ngannou] can punch, there’s no doubt,” said Hearn.
“Take my money, and I will show you what happens when Anthony Joshua fights Francis Ngannou. I said three rounds last Saturday, but I’ll be generous and say six rounds [for Joshua to beat Ngannou].
“I got to give him respect because [Ngannou] took a few shots early in the fight, and he seemed to take them well, with a good chin. It was a close fight. I felt he won the fight by one or two rounds, but still.” -
Former MMA welterweight champion Kamaru Usman of Nigeria delivered one of his best performances on 11 days notice after losing by majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev in a grueling UFC294 co-main event today in Abu Dhabi UAE.
The Russian fighter Chimaev nearly scored a finish in the first round but had to endure a challenging pace to eventually secure the win over Usman.
When the fight started, Chimaev grabbed onto a takedown and he immediately began punishing Usman with punches and elbows before looking for a submission.
It was a dominant opening but after Chimaev didn’t get the stoppage, Usman managed to come back with a strong striking attack that saw him begin to even the score.
A late takedown from Chimaev in the third round likely helped him secure the victory with the judges returning scores reading 29-27, 29-27 and 28-28, which was enough for a majority decision win.Chimaev and Usman in a show of respect after UFC294 contest
Following the win, Chimaev didn’t shout for a title shot but instead asked for peace while paying homage to his opponent.
“I’m a big fan of Usman,” Chimaev said. “He has good coaches, a good team. I didn’t come here for the titles, [I’m here to] make money and be happy.”
It took a matter of seconds for Chimaev to rush forward and grab onto the leg before bringing Usman down to the canvas.
Chimaev quickly advanced to take the back as he began raining down shots while Usman played defense from a bad position.
Chimaev maintained his dominance while peppering away with punches and elbows until Usman stood to his feet, which nearly led to a standing rear-naked choke.
Usman defended by diving down to the canvas and that broke Chimaev’s grip but he still held onto the same position on the back.
Usman survived to see the second round and he finally started to establish his striking on the restart after popping Chimaev with a well-timed jab.
Chimaev’s pace was significantly slower as well, which allowed Usman to set up his combinations with a stinging right hand that came down the middle to tag the Chechen on the chin.
With less than a minute to go in the round, Chimaev managed a late takedown but he couldn’t do much with the position before the horn sounded.
Following the advice from his corner heading into the final five minutes, Usman started getting more aggressive with his strikes and his punches were consistently finding a home.
A couple of those shots snapped Chimaev’s head around but he staved off further damage by grabbing onto a leg and bringing Usman back to the canvas.
Despite a dominant position, Chimaev couldn’t do much damage before Usman got back to the feet, which led to a wild flurry just before the fight came to a close.
Still that takedown and ground control was enough for two judges to give Chimaev the round, which made the difference in the fight.
Usman has now lost three straight fights. “The Nigerian Nightmare” lost back-to-back title fights against Leon Edwards, and couldn’t get back on track at middleweight against Chimaev.
Prior to the fight, UFC CEO Dana White declared that the winner would get the next shot at middleweight champion Sean Strickland so that appears to be Chimaev’s next assignment after the biggest win of his career over a welterweight legend in Usman. -
Nigeria’s Mixed Martial Arts MMA star Israel Adesanya’s trainer has asked for an immediate rematch with reigning UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Adesanya lost his UFC middleweight title in a shocking unanimous decision defeat to Strickland, early hours of yesterday in Sydney, Australia.
After the contest, the Nigerian fighter stepped into the media room to announce that he wanted to be with his friends and family, and that his coach Eugene Bareman would offer answers on his behalf.Adesanya’s trainer Eugene Bareman
Bareman said all the technical things that had to do with Adesanya’s training camp were perfect and there were no excuses for the loss.
Bareman is hoping the UFC books an immediate rematch between Adesanya and Strickland, as he’s confident they can get the belt back.
The head coach at City Kickboxing believes Adesanya wasn’t on his A-game, and he’s sure they can beat Strickland even if they fought immediately.