Page 11 - Top MMA News and Mixed Martial Arts Headlines

The UFC today announced Oezdemir and Smith will face off at UFC Fight Night 138, resetting Oezdemir (15-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) after his UFC 227 fight with Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was canceled due to a broken nose.

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After leaving the UFC in free agency, Krylov (24-5) has won four straight fights, mostly competing under the Fight Nights Global banner. The Ukrainian, who has never seen the distance in his six-year MMA career, is coming off consecutive knockout victories over Fabio Maldonado and Emmanuel Newton.

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Known for missing weight at several points in his career, Escudero again failed on the scale Wednesday in Uniondale, New York, hitting 163.2, which led to his removal from Thursday’s PFL 5 card. His opponent, Islam Mamedov, did his part by hitting 155.2. Mamedov will be paid his show and win money, as well as receive a win in the PFL Playoff standings. By missing weight for the second time this season, Escudero has been eliminated from post-season consideration.

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It looks like we’re down a fight for UFC 227 due the commission pulling Bethe Correia. The first issues have struck UFC 227. Just a few days before the card, it appears that the California State Athletic Commission has decided to pull women’s bantamweight fighter Bethe Correia from her fight with Irene Aldana. The reason? Something to do with her eye. MMA Brasil’s Matheus Costa on Twitter posted the news, with original credit to AG Fight:

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A little over a month since Fight Nights Global confirmed the release of Nikita Krylov to MMA Fighting, the highly-touted Ukrainian has been booked for his promotional return against Jan Blachowicz at UFC Moscow on Sept. 15. UFC announced the booking through its social media channels on Wednesday morning as well as a middleweight tussle between Krzysztof Jotko and promotional newcomer Adam Yandiev, and a bantamweight bout between Merab Dvalishvili and Terrion Ware. Blachowicz (22-7-0) is coming off a win over Jimi Manuwa in their back-and-forth rematch at UFC London back in March. The Polish light heavyweight has been in the best form of his life under the UFC banner since returning to his old coach, claiming victories over Devin Clark, Jared Cannonier and Manuwa. The former KSW champion has compiled a record of 5-4 with the UFC since his signing in 2014.

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Dustin Poirier ended his rivalry with Eddie Alvarez emphatically on Saturday night in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In the UFC on Fox 30 main event, Poirier scored a second-round TKO over Alvarez to grab a clear victory in their rematch after the first fight ended in a no contest. Back in May 2017 at UFC 211, Poirier couldn’t continue after Alvarez landed an illegal knee to the head while the former was down. Alvarez accused Poirier of quitting. Poirier pursued Alvarez for a rematch and was met with initial resistance before Saturday’s fight came to fruition. Poirier found himself in some trouble in the second round when Alvarez had him on his backside pinned against the fence. Unfortunately, Alvarez landed an illegal 12-6 elbow that cost him the position.

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Despite having what promised to be two of the year’s wildest fights, and delivering on the promise, the television audience wasn’t there for Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 30. The show did only 1,461,000 viewers on the fast nationals, the lowest number in the history of the show. The show at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary was headlined by Dustin Poirier stopping Eddie Alvarez in round two, one of the wildest rounds in years, where both men were in trouble at various times before Poirier rallied to win. It was a rematch of an exciting UFC 211 fight and featured two competitors who have among the best track records at delivering crowd-pleasing fights.

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Kyoji Horiguchi continues to cement himself as one of the top lighter weight fighters in the world, regardless of organization. The former UFC title challenger weathered an early storm to win a decision in a rematch with Hiromasa Ogikubo at Rizin Fighting Federation 11 on Saturday at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Japan. Ogikubo, a two-division Shooto champ, floored his opponent early, but could not capitalize on the fast start, as Horiguchi gradually took control. While the Japanese star was unable to get a finish, he did batter his foe with punches to the face and soccer kicks to the body, leaving Ogikubo bloodied at the end of the 10-minute affair.

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The UFC has finally made several previously reported bouts official for its return to Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 22, and announced three new match-ups for the Fight Night event. Scheduled for Sao Paulo’s Ibirapuera gymnasium, UFC Sao Paulo will feature Ketlen Vieira vs. Tonya Evinger, Ben Saunders vs. Sergio Moraes, and Thales Leites vs. Hector Lombard. Vieira (10-0) was hoping for a shot at the bantamweight belt after winning four in a row inside the Octagon, capped off by a decision over Cat Zingano in March. Instead, she faces former Invicta FC champion Evinger, (19-6, 1 no-contest) who hasn’t fought since a loss to featherweight queen Cris Cyborg last July.

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A bantamweight bout between Petr Yan and Douglas Silva de Andrade is headed to UFC Fight Night 136. Bout contracts are expected to be finalized soon for the bout, according to a person close to one of the fighters who spoke to MMAjunkie on the condition of anonymity because the fight has not been made public. ESPN.com first reported the impending matchup. UFC Fight Night 136 takes place Sept. 15 in Moscow, marking the promotion’s long-awaited debut in Russia. A heavyweight bout between veteran slugger Mark Hunt and submission wizard Oleksiy Oliynyk headlines the card, which is expected to stream live on UFC Fight Pass. With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 136 card includes: Mark Hunt vs. Aleksei Oleinik Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Andrei Arlovski Omari Akhmedov vs. C.B. Dollaway Merab Dvalishvili vs. Terrion Ware Krzysztof Jotko vs. Adam Yandiev Petr Yan vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade

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A middleweight bout between Thales Leites and Hector Lombard is the latest addition to September’s UFC Fight Night 137 lineup. Lombard (34-9-1 MMA, 3-7 UFC) announced the matchup with Leites (27-9 MMA, 12-8 UFC) on social media following an initial report from Globo (via Instagram) The latest UFC Fight Night 137 card now includes: Sam Alvey vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Belal Muhammad vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Alex Chambers vs. Livia Renato Souza Sam Alvey vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Thales Leites vs. Hector Lombard

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UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier’s immediate plans are simple: Beat Eddie Alvarez, get a title shot, and give out a bunch of backpacks. Poirier’s The Good Fight Foundation, founded in April, is holding a back-to-school drive for students at Acadian Middle School in his hometown of Lafayette, La. Poirier (23-5 MMA, 15-4 UFC) and his wife Jolie attended Acadian and hope to raise enough money for 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, in addition to updated computers for the teaching staff.

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A welterweight bout between Warlley Alves and James Krause is the latest addition to August’s UFC Fight Night 135 lineup. Krause (25-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) announced the matchup with Alves (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on social media following an initial report from Globo (via Instagram) The latest UFC Fight Night 135 card now includes: Justin Gaethje vs. James Vick Cortney Casey vs. Angela Hill Andre Fili vs. Michael Johnson Antonio Braga Neto vs. Andrew Sanchez Eryk Anders vs. Tim Williams Iuri Alcantara vs. Cory Sandhagen Deiveson Figueiredo vs. John Moraga Luke Sanders vs. Rani Yahya Joanne Calderwood vs. Kalindra Faria Drew Dober vs. Jon Tuck Mickey Gall vs. George Sullivan Bryan Barberena vs. Jake Ellenberger Warlley Alves vs. James Krause

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The UFC’s return to Dallas in September features a pair of title fights atop the bill, as well as a new lightweight bout. Veteran Jim Miller (28-12 MMA, 17-11 UFC) is set to take on Alex White (12-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC 228. The promotion announced the new booking today. UFC 228 takes place Sept. 8 at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The main card, including the newly announced welterweight title fight headliner between champ Tyron Woodley and challenger Darren Till, airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. With the addition, the UFC 228 card now includes: Champ Tyron Woodley vs. Darren Till – for welterweight title Champ Nicco Montano vs. Valentina Shevchenko – for women’s flyweight title Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Yair Rodriguez Jessica Andrade vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz Cody Stamann vs. Aljamain Sterling Carla Esparza vs. Tatiana Suarez John Dodson vs. Jimmie Rivera Jim Miller vs. Alex White Ryan Benoit vs. Roberto Sanchez Charles Byrd vs. Darren Stewart Frank Camacho vs. Geoff Neal

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Yet another winner from Dana White’s Contender Series has gotten the call for a UFC fight. Kevin Holland (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) took a unanimous decision from Will Santiago earlier this season at DWCS 9. He didn’t win a contract, but he’s heading to the UFC anyway with a newly announced middleweight booking against Thiago “Marreta” Santos (17-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC) at UFC 227. UFC officials announced the new matchup on tonight’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series 14 on UFC Fight Pass. UFC 227 takes place Aug. 4 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass. The new UFC 227 lineup includes: Champ T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt – for bantamweight title Champ Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo – for flyweight title J.J. Aldrich vs. Polyana Viana Renato Moicano vs. Cub Swanson Kevin Holland vs. Thiago “Marreta” Santos Montel Jackson vs. Ricky Simon Brett Johns vs. Pedro Munhoz Irene Aldana vs. Bethe Correia Sheymon Moraes vs. Matt Sayles Alex Perez vs. Jose Torres Kyung Ho Kang vs. Ricardo Ramos Danielle Taylor vs. Weili Zhang Wuliji Buren vs. Marlon Vera

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Montel Jackson didn’t get a contract earlier this season on Dana White’s Contender Series, but he’ll be in the UFC soon regardless. Jackson (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is stepping up on short notice to replace Benito Lopez (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a bantamweight fight against Ricky Simon (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 227 next month. UFC officials announced the new matchup on tonight’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series 14 on UFC Fight Pass. The exact nature of Lopez’s injury was not disclosed. The fight will take place on the FX-broadcast prelims, according to the announcement, though the UFC.com bout order for UFC 227 was changed Monday to put Lopez-Simon on the main card. The new UFC 227 lineup includes: Champ T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt – for bantamweight title Champ Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo – for flyweight title J.J. Aldrich vs. Polyana Viana Renato Moicano vs. Cub Swanson Montel Jackson vs. Ricky Simon Brett Johns vs. Pedro Munhoz Irene Aldana vs. Bethe Correia Sheymon Moraes vs. Matt Sayles Alex Perez vs. Jose Torres Kyung Ho Kang vs. Ricardo Ramos Danielle Taylor vs. Weili Zhang Wuliji Buren vs. Marlon Vera

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In the wake of an injury to interim welterweight champ Colby Covington, the UFC is in the process of finalizing a fight between undisputed champ Tyron Woodley and top contender Darren Till for UFC 228. Woodley (18-3-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) today told MMAjunkie that bout agreements for the fight are not yet signed, but the matchup is likely to take place for the Sept. 9 pay-per-view card at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The news was first reported by ESPN.com.

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The UFC’s return to New York City is turning into a middleweight party this fall. The latest addition to the lineup is a 185-pound bout between Yoel Romero (13-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Paulo Costa (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC). UFC officials announced the new booking today. The matchup joins two other key middleweight bouts already on the card: former champions Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman in a rematch, and David Branch vs. Ronaldo Souza. UFC 230 takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass. The UFC 230 lineup now includes: David Branch vs. Ronaldo Souza Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman Paulo Costa vs. Yoel Romero

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With Sunday’s news that Alexander Gustafsson won’t be competing at UFC 227, the benefactors appear to be a pair of bantamweights. MMAjunkie first reported Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was off the card. Today, UFC officials adjusted the UFC 227 lineup and bumped up bantamweights Benito Lopez (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Ricky Simon (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) to the main card. The new UFC 227 lineup includes: Champ T.J. Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt – for bantamweight title Champ Demetrious Johnson vs. Henry Cejudo – for flyweight title J.J. Aldrich vs. Polyana Viana Renato Moicano vs. Cub Swanson Benito Lopez vs. Ricky Simon Brett Johns vs. Pedro Munhoz Irene Aldana vs. Bethe Correia Sheymon Moraes vs. Matt Sayles Alex Perez vs. Jose Torres Kyung Ho Kang vs. Ricardo Ramos Danielle Taylor vs. Weili Zhang Wuliji Buren vs. Marlon Vera

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A crucial middleweight rematch between a pair of former champions appears headed to the “Big Apple.” Former middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman (14-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and the man who beat him to take the belt, Luke Rockhold (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC), will meet again at UFC 230 in November, according to a report from Brett Okamoto at ESPN.com. UFC officials have not made a formal announcement of the booking. UFC 230 takes place Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

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