Event Previews – Fight Matrix

Fight Preview: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Vitaliy Vovk

UFC on ESPN 73 — December 13, 2025
UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
[#5 FLW | #3 UFC] Brandon Royval (17–8–0) vs. [#9 FLW | #6 UFC] Manel Kape (21–7–0)

Stylistic Breakdown

Brandon Royval
A dynamic southpaw known for his unpredictable scrambles and high-level grappling. With nine career submissions, Royval is at his most dangerous on the ground and thrives in chaotic exchanges. His cardio and pace give him an edge in longer fights, though he has shown vulnerability when opponents can control the tempo and maintain positional discipline.

Manel Kape
A powerful and accurate striker with elite speed, sharp boxing, and proven finishing ability. Kape’s stand-up presents a real threat early, as he often capitalizes on defensive lapses. While his takedown defense has improved, extended grappling sequences could still put him at risk against a submission specialist like Royval.

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Vitaliy Vovk

MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst

Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.

https://rfpromo.com/

rfpromo.com/

Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul: What to know ahead of Netflix Judgement Day Boxing Event

Posted on December 10, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Image sourced from Pixabay

Anthony Joshua will face Jake Paul in a professionally sanctioned heavyweight bout on 19 December at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

The fight, branded Judgement Day, will be streamed live on Netflix, at no extra cost to current subscribers.

Britain’s Joshua, the 36-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight champion, will take on the YouTuber-turned-boxer over eight three-minute rounds, with both fighters wearing regulation 10-ounce gloves.

This represents a replacement fight for Paul, who was originally scheduled to face Gervonta Davis in an exhibition earlier this month before it was cancelled due to a lawsuit filed against Davis by his ex-girlfriend.

Instead, the American will face his most credible opponent to date in Joshua, a former heavyweight champion with a professional record of 28 wins and four losses, 25 of those victories coming by knockout.

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Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Kape (12-13-2025)

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Jason

Flyweight (125)
[#5][#5UFC] Brandon Royval (17-8-0, +239) vs. [#9][#8UFC] Manel Kape (21-7-0, -297)
Brandon Royval is the All-Time #13 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Manel Kape is the All-Time #28 ranked Flyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Brandon Royval (2-1-0)
2025-06-28: L vs. [#2DD][#5P4P][#1FLY] Joshua Van (16-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-10-12: W vs. [#3FLY] Tatsuro Taira (18-1-0) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)
2024-02-24: W vs. [#6FLY] Brandon Moreno (23-9-2) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 46-49)

Last 3 Fights: Manel Kape (2-1-0)
2025-03-01: W vs. [#13FLY] Asu Almabayev (23-3-0) via TKO (Retirement) in 2:16 of round 3
2024-12-14: W vs. [#28FLY] Bruno Silva (15-8-2) via TKO (Body Kick and Punches) in 1:57 of round 3
2024-07-27: L vs. [#8FLY] Muhammad Mokaev (16-0-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Manel Kape	-297		71.71%
Elo K170	Manel Kape	1920.99	+5.59	50.81%
Elo Modified	Manel Kape	1902.81	+105.83	64.78%
Glicko-1	Manel Kape	1972.63	+131.12	68.02%
WHR	Manel Kape	1898.38	+159.14	71.42%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Brandon Royval 33.3, Manel Kape 32.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Brandon Royval 168, Manel Kape 287
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Brandon Royval leads 1-0
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Featherweight (145)
[#26][#17UFC] Giga Chikadze (15-5-0, +213) vs. [#68][#37UFC] Kevin Vallejos (16-1-0, -265)

Last 3 Fights: Giga Chikadze (1-2-0)
2025-04-26: L vs. [#25FW] David Onama (14-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-07-27: L vs. [*] Arnold Allen (20-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-08-26: W vs. [*] Alex Caceres (21-15-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Kevin Vallejos (3-0-0)
2025-08-02: W vs. [#145FW] Danny Silva (10-2-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-03-15: W vs. [#184FW] Seung Woo Choi (11-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:09 of round 1
2024-09-24: W vs. [#573FW] Cam Teague (9-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:23 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Kevin Vallejos	-265		69.44%
Elo K170	Giga Chikadze	1744.52	+26.05	53.74%
Elo Modified	Giga Chikadze	1743.26	+20.24	52.91%
Glicko-1	Giga Chikadze	1794.55	+27.02	53.88%
WHR	Kevin Vallejos	1697.52	+7.93	51.14%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Giga Chikadze 37.3, Kevin Vallejos 24.0
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Giga Chikadze 231, Kevin Vallejos 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Middleweight (185)
[#61][#38UFC] Cesar Almeida (7-1-0, +143) vs. [#66] Cezary Oleksiejczuk (16-3-0, -173)

Last 3 Fights: Cesar Almeida (2-1-0)
2025-01-11: W vs. [#111MW] Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:16 of round 1
2024-10-05: W vs. [#112MW] Ihor Potieria (25-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-06-01: L vs. [#26MW] Roman Kopylov (14-5-0) via SD (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)

Last 3 Fights: Cezary Oleksiejczuk (3-0-0)
2025-09-02: W vs. [#238MW] Theo Haig (6-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:36 of round 1
2025-02-15: W vs. [#76LHW] Tom Breese (20-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:30 of round 1
2024-10-26: W vs. [#271MW] Piotr Strus (16-10-2) via TKO (Punches) in 3:33 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Cezary Oleksiejczuk	-173		60.62%
Elo K170	Cezary Oleksiejczuk	1805.34	+202.50	76.24%
Elo Modified	Cezary Oleksiejczuk	1824.67	+145.71	69.82%
Glicko-1	Cezary Oleksiejczuk	1914.28	+188.01	74.69%
WHR	Cezary Oleksiejczuk	1789.25	+39.26	55.63%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Cesar Almeida 37.7, Cezary Oleksiejczuk 25.9
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cesar Almeida 336, Cezary Oleksiejczuk 102
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.
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Fight Matrix Program – UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan (12-06-2025)

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Jason

Bantamweight Championship (135)
[#1DD][#2P4P][#1][#1UFC] Merab Dvalishvili (21-4-0, -434) vs. [#4][#4UFC] Petr Yan (19-5-0, +329)
Merab Dvalishvili is the All-Time #6 ranked Bantamweight fighter.
Petr Yan is the All-Time #9 ranked Bantamweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Merab Dvalishvili (3-0-0)
2025-10-04: W vs. [#5BW] Cory Sandhagen (18-6-0) via UD (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)
2025-06-07: W vs. [#2BW] Sean OMalley (18-3-0) via Submission (North-South Choke) in 4:42 of round 3
2025-01-18: W vs. [#3BW] Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)

Last 3 Fights: Petr Yan (3-0-0)
2025-07-26: W vs. [#22BW] Marcus McGhee (10-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-11-23: W vs. [#10BW] Deiveson Figueiredo (25-5-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2024-03-09: W vs. [#6BW] Yadong Song (22-9-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Merab Dvalishvili	-434		77.71%
Elo K170	Merab Dvalishvili	2435.76	+296.48	84.64%
Elo Modified	Merab Dvalishvili	2399.39	+231.58	79.13%
Glicko-1	Merab Dvalishvili	2479.12	+260.06	81.71%
WHR	Merab Dvalishvili	2236.74	+188.48	74.74%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Merab Dvalishvili 34.9, Petr Yan 32.8
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Merab Dvalishvili 63, Petr Yan 133
Previous Match-up Record: Merab Dvalishvili leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Merab Dvalishvili leads 5-3
.

Flyweight Championship (125)
[#2DD][#4P4P][#1][#1UFC] Alexandre Pantoja (30-5-0, -242) vs. [#14P4P][#3][#3UFC] Joshua Van (15-2-0, +197)
Alexandre Pantoja is the All-Time #2 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Joshua Van is the All-Time #37 ranked Flyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Alexandre Pantoja (3-0-0)
2025-06-28: W vs. [#6FLY] Kai Kara-France (25-12-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 1:55 of round 3
2024-12-07: W vs. [#26FLY] Kai Asakura (21-6-0) via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 2:05 of round 2
2024-05-04: W vs. [#11FLY] Steve Erceg (13-4-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

Last 3 Fights: Joshua Van (3-0-0)
2025-06-28: W vs. [#5FLY] Brandon Royval (17-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-06-07: W vs. [#27FLY] Bruno Silva (15-8-2) via TKO (Punches) in 4:01 of round 3
2025-03-08: W vs. [#49FLY] Rei Tsuruya (10-1-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Alexandre Pantoja	-242		67.75%
Elo K170	Alexandre Pantoja	2220.85	+240.75	79.99%
Elo Modified	Alexandre Pantoja	2141.08	+218.18	77.83%
Glicko-1	Alexandre Pantoja	2236.29	+271.35	82.67%
WHR	Alexandre Pantoja	2063.03	+314.88	85.97%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Alexandre Pantoja 35.6, Joshua Van 24.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexandre Pantoja 161, Joshua Van 161
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Alexandre Pantoja leads 2-1
.

Flyweight (125)
[#7DD][#7P4P][#2][#2UFC] Brandon Moreno (23-8-2, +107) vs. [#7][#7UFC] Tatsuro Taira (17-1-0, -130)
Brandon Moreno is the All-Time #3 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Tatsuro Taira is the All-Time #23 ranked Flyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Brandon Moreno (2-1-0)
2025-03-29: W vs. [#11FLY] Steve Erceg (13-4-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2024-11-02: W vs. [#12FLY] Amir Albazi (17-2-0) via UD (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
2024-02-24: L vs. [#5FLY] Brandon Royval (17-8-0) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 46-49)

Last 3 Fights: Tatsuro Taira (2-1-0)
2025-08-02: W vs. [#73FLY] Hyun Sung Park (10-2-0) via Submission (Face Crank) in 1:06 of round 2
2024-10-12: L vs. [#5FLY] Brandon Royval (17-8-0) via SD (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)
2024-06-15: W vs. [#31FLY] Alex Perez (25-10-0) via TKO (Knee Injury) in 2:59 of round 2

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Tatsuro Taira	-130		53.91%
Elo K170	Brandon Moreno	2005.76	+122.13	66.89%
Elo Modified	Brandon Moreno	2030.96	+134.72	68.47%
Glicko-1	Brandon Moreno	2118.58	+140.09	69.13%
WHR	Brandon Moreno	1997.34	+138.45	68.93%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Brandon Moreno 32.0, Tatsuro Taira 25.8
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Brandon Moreno 252, Tatsuro Taira 126
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Brandon Moreno leads 1-0
.
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Global MMA in 2026: A Defining Year for Expansion, Legitimacy, and High-Stakes Competition

Posted on November 26, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Jun 28, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) fights Kai Kara-France (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport

The year 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative in the history of mixed martial arts. What once existed as a fragmented combat sport with regional pockets of popularity is now a fully globalized ecosystem—led by the UFC’s relentless international touring model, the Professional Fighters League’s accelerated geographic expansion, and the rise of European organizations such as OKTAGON MMA that are aggressively entering new markets. Add to this the long-awaited inclusion of MMA in the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games, and the sport enters a new era of formal recognition, institutional legitimacy, and worldwide cultural integration.

Across these developments, 2026 is not merely a continuation of existing trends: it is the year MMA fully proves it has become a global sporting infrastructure, not a niche spectacle — a shift closely watched not only by analysts and promoters but also by betting audiences who follow market movements through resources like the netbet bonus code.

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Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker (11-22-2025)

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Jason

Lightweight (155)
[*] Arman Tsarukyan (22-3-0, -459) vs. [*] Dan Hooker (24-12-0, +346)
Arman Tsarukyan is the All-Time #46 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Dan Hooker is the All-Time #44 ranked Lightweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Arman Tsarukyan (3-0-0)
2024-04-13: W vs. [#9DD][#2LW] Charles Oliveira (36-11-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-12-02: W vs. [#11LW] Beneil Dariush (23-7-1) via KO (Knee and Punches) in 1:04 of round 1
2023-06-17: W vs. [#81LW] Joaquim Silva (14-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:25 of round 3

Last 3 Fights: Dan Hooker (3-0-0)
2024-08-17: W vs. [#7LW] Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2023-07-08: W vs. [#26LW] Jalin Turner (14-9-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2022-11-12: W vs. [#111LW] Claudio Puelles (12-6-0) via TKO (Body Kick) in 4:06 of round 2

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Arman Tsarukyan	-459		78.55%
Elo K170	Arman Tsarukyan	2302.61	+188.29	74.72%
Elo Modified	Arman Tsarukyan	2198.80	+217.76	77.79%
Glicko-1	Arman Tsarukyan	2263.95	+262.34	81.91%
WHR	Arman Tsarukyan	2116.40	+243.57	80.25%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Arman Tsarukyan 29.1, Dan Hooker 35.8
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Arman Tsarukyan 588, Dan Hooker 462
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#3][#3UFC] Belal Muhammad (24-4-0, +173) vs. [#11][#11UFC] Ian Garry (16-1-0, -211)
Belal Muhammad is the All-Time #7 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Ian Garry is the All-Time #45 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Belal Muhammad (2-1-0)
2025-05-10: L vs. [#4WW] Jack Della Maddalena (18-3-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
2024-07-27: W vs. [#8WW] Leon Edwards (22-6-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
2023-05-06: W vs. [#17WW] Gilbert Burns (22-9-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

Last 3 Fights: Ian Garry (2-1-0)
2025-04-26: W vs. [#7WW] Carlos Prates (23-7-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#9WW] Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-06-29: W vs. [#12MW] Michael Page (24-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Ian Garry	-211		64.94%
Elo K170	Belal Muhammad	2336.56	+196.37	75.59%
Elo Modified	Belal Muhammad	2266.87	+177.12	73.49%
Glicko-1	Belal Muhammad	2315.39	+179.30	73.74%
WHR	Ian Garry	2062.98	+45.01	56.44%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Belal Muhammad 37.4, Ian Garry 28.0
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Belal Muhammad 196, Ian Garry 210
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Ian Garry leads 1-0
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#14][#10UFC] Volkan Oezdemir (20-8-0, -231) vs. [#21][#15UFC] Alonzo Menifield (17-5-1, +188)
Volkan Oezdemir is the All-Time #34 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Volkan Oezdemir (2-1-0)
2024-11-23: L vs. [#4LHW] Carlos Ulberg (14-1-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-06-22: W vs. [#15LHW] Johnny Walker (22-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:28 of round 1
2023-09-02: W vs. [#16LHW] Bogdan Guskov (18-3-0) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in 3:46 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Alonzo Menifield (2-1-0)
2025-06-14: W vs. [#31LHW] Oumar Sy (12-1-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2025-02-22: W vs. [#68LHW] Julius Walker (7-1-0) via SD (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
2024-08-03: L vs. [#12LHW] Azamat Murzakanov (16-0-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:18 of round 2

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Volkan Oezdemir	-231		66.77%
Elo K170	Volkan Oezdemir	1817.43	+39.30	55.63%
Elo Modified	Volkan Oezdemir	1825.42	+65.55	59.32%
Glicko-1	Volkan Oezdemir	1906.69	+134.72	68.47%
WHR	Volkan Oezdemir	1873.61	+149.07	70.22%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Volkan Oezdemir 36.2, Alonzo Menifield 38.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Volkan Oezdemir 364, Alonzo Menifield 161
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Volkan Oezdemir leads 3-2
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Fight Matrix Program – UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev (11-08-2025)

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Jason

Welterweight Championship (170)
[#1DD][#2P4P][#1LW][#1LWUFC] Islam Makhachev (27-1-0, -268) vs. [#9DD][#10P4P][#1][#1UFC] Jack Della Maddalena (18-2-0, +216)
Islam Makhachev is the All-Time #16 ranked Absolute fighter.
Jack Della Maddalena is the All-Time #17 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Islam Makhachev (3-0-0)
2025-01-18: W vs. [#13LW] Renato Carneiro (20-7-1) via Submission (Brabo Choke) in 4:05 of round 1
2024-06-01: W vs. [*] Dustin Poirier (30-10-0) via Submission (Brabo Choke) in 2:42 of round 5
2023-10-21: W vs. [#6DD][#1FW] Alexander Volkanovski (27-4-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 3:06 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Jack Della Maddalena (3-0-0)
2025-05-10: W vs. [#2WW] Belal Muhammad (24-4-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
2024-03-09: W vs. [#16WW] Gilbert Burns (22-9-0) via KO (Knee and Elbows) in 3:43 of round 3
2023-09-16: W vs. [#32WW] Kevin Holland (28-15-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Islam Makhachev	-268		69.70%
Elo K170	Islam Makhachev	2566.47	+263.13	81.97%
Elo Modified	Islam Makhachev	2497.98	+320.87	86.38%
Glicko-1	Islam Makhachev	2635.51	+364.77	89.09%
WHR	Islam Makhachev	2426.71	+422.60	91.93%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Islam Makhachev 34.0, Jack Della Maddalena 29.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Islam Makhachev 301, Jack Della Maddalena 189
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Women Flyweight Championship (125)
[#2P4P][#4DD][#1][#1UFC] Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1, -125) vs. [#1DD][#1P4P][#1SW][#1SWUFC] Weili Zhang (26-3-0, +103)
Valentina Shevchenko is the All-Time #2 ranked Women’s fighter.
Weili Zhang is the All-Time #5 ranked Women’s fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Valentina Shevchenko (2-0-1)
2025-05-10: W vs. [#6P4P][#7DD][#2FLY] Manon Fiorot (13-2-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-09-14: W vs. [#6FLY] Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2023-09-16: D vs. [#6FLY] Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) via Draw (Split) in 5:00 of round 5

Last 3 Fights: Weili Zhang (3-0-0)
2025-02-08: W vs. [#9DD][#4SW] Tatiana Suarez (11-1-0) via UD (49-46, 49-45, 49-46)
2024-04-13: W vs. [#5SW] Xiaonan Yan (19-5-0) via UD (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
2023-08-19: W vs. [#6SW] Amanda Lemos (15-5-1) via UD (50-43, 50-44, 49-45)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Valentina Shevchenko	-125		53.00%
Elo K170	Weili Zhang	2086.40	+25.06	53.60%
Elo Modified	Weili Zhang	2045.83	+23.24	53.34%
Glicko-1	Weili Zhang	2068.42	+38.72	55.55%
WHR	Weili Zhang	1954.66	+47.56	56.80%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Valentina Shevchenko 37.7, Weili Zhang 36.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Valentina Shevchenko 189, Weili Zhang 280
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Weili Zhang leads 3-2
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Welterweight (170)
[#5][#5UFC] Leon Edwards (22-5-0, +170) vs. [#11][#10UFC] Carlos Prates (22-7-0, -207)
Leon Edwards is the All-Time #5 ranked Welterweight and #34 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Leon Edwards (1-2-0)
2025-03-22: L vs. [#10DD][#3WW] Sean Brady (18-1-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:39 of round 4
2024-07-27: L vs. [#2WW] Belal Muhammad (24-4-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
2023-12-16: W vs. [#12WW] Colby Covington (17-5-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Last 3 Fights: Carlos Prates (2-1-0)
2025-08-16: W vs. [#18WW] Geoff Neal (16-7-0) via KO (Spinning Back Elbow) in 4:59 of round 1
2025-04-26: L vs. [#8WW] Ian Garry (16-1-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-11-09: W vs. [#21WW] Neil Magny (31-13-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:50 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Carlos Prates	-207		64.54%
Elo K170	Leon Edwards	2257.47	+246.31	80.50%
Elo Modified	Leon Edwards	2190.21	+193.58	75.30%
Glicko-1	Leon Edwards	2231.63	+132.64	68.21%
WHR	Carlos Prates	2005.14	+21.43	53.08%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Leon Edwards 34.2, Carlos Prates 32.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Leon Edwards 238, Carlos Prates 91
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Bonfim (11-08-2025)

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Jason

Welterweight (170)
[#21][#18UFC] Randy Brown (20-6-0, +127) vs. [#24][#21UFC] Gabriel Bonfim (18-1-0, -157)

Last 3 Fights: Randy Brown (2-1-0)
2025-04-26: W vs. [#43WW] Nicolas Dalby (23-7-1) via KO (Punch) in 1:39 of round 2
2024-12-07: L vs. [#28WW] Bryan Battle (12-2-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2024-06-01: W vs. [#67WW] Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-10-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Gabriel Bonfim (3-0-0)
2025-07-12: W vs. [#25WW] Stephen Thompson (17-9-1) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2025-02-15: W vs. [#75WW] Kalinn Williams (15-5-0) via Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) in 4:58 of round 2
2024-07-13: W vs. [#141WW] Ange Loosa (10-5-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Gabriel Bonfim	-157		58.10%
Elo K170	Gabriel Bonfim	1975.70	+13.93	52.00%
Elo Modified	Randy Brown	1989.30	+87.25	62.30%
Glicko-1	Randy Brown	2065.36	+117.96	66.35%
WHR	Randy Brown	1865.24	+42.94	56.15%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Randy Brown 35.3, Gabriel Bonfim 28.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Randy Brown 196, Gabriel Bonfim 119
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Randy Brown leads 2-1
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Flyweight (125)
[#27][#18UFC] Joseph Morales (13-2-0, -242) vs. [#66][#30UFC] Matt Schnell (17-10-0, +191)

Last 3 Fights: Joseph Morales (3-0-0)
2025-08-16: W vs. [#85FLY] Alibi Idiris (10-1-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:04 of round 2
2023-02-03: W vs. [#596FLY] Anthony Do (9-8-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 4:46 of round 3
2022-03-04: W vs. [*] Sidemar Honorio (13-8-0) via SD ()

Last 3 Fights: Matt Schnell (1-2-0)
2025-04-26: W vs. [#138FLY] Jimmy Flick (17-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-09-07: L vs. [#165BW] Cody Durden (17-9-1) via Submission (Ninja Choke) in 0:29 of round 2
2024-03-02: L vs. [#11FLY] Steve Erceg (13-4-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:26 of round 2

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Joseph Morales	-242		67.31%
Elo K170	Joseph Morales	1817.04	+277.84	83.19%
Elo Modified	Joseph Morales	1772.78	+258.87	81.61%
Glicko-1	Joseph Morales	1805.68	+288.52	84.03%
WHR	Joseph Morales	1774.54	+375.43	89.67%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Joseph Morales 31.2, Matt Schnell 35.8
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Joseph Morales 84, Matt Schnell 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.

Welterweight (170)
[#23][#20UFC] Muslim Salikhov (22-5-0, +149) vs. [#64][#44UFC] Uros Medic (11-3-0, -186)

Last 3 Fights: Muslim Salikhov (3-0-0)
2025-07-26: W vs. [#37WW] Carlos Leal (22-7-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:42 of round 1
2024-11-23: W vs. [#132WW] Kenan Song (22-9-0) via KO (Spinning Wheel Kick) in 3:49 of round 1
2024-07-13: W vs. [#53WW] Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-9-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Uros Medic (2-1-0)
2025-08-09: W vs. [#580WW] Gilbert Urbina (7-4-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:03 of round 1
2025-01-11: L vs. [#47WW] Punahele Soriano (12-4-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:31 of round 1
2024-04-27: W vs. [#76WW] Tim Means (33-17-1) via TKO (Punches) in 2:09 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Uros Medic	-186		61.82%
Elo K170	Muslim Salikhov	1946.97	+379.87	89.90%
Elo Modified	Muslim Salikhov	1906.75	+286.63	83.89%
Glicko-1	Muslim Salikhov	1953.35	+309.43	85.59%
WHR	Muslim Salikhov	1795.88	+210.00	77.01%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Muslim Salikhov 41.4, Uros Medic 32.5
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Muslim Salikhov 105, Uros Medic 91
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Sponsorship Opportunity for Pro-Boxer, Stanley “Kid Muscle” Johnson

Posted on November 1, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Introducing Stanley “KiD Muscle” Johnson, @k1dmuscle the newest member of Team LI, the esports division of Long Island Gaming League (LIGL) — in collaboration with Eruption Boxing & MMA Management / @eruptionboxing and Muscle Syndicate. He dominates in the ring, while leveling up in the game. Stanley is a fighter, a gamer, and a creator. As a boxer, his record is 7 – 1 (5 KOs), is ranked #12 in the US Cruiserweight division, and #108 worldwide. Stanley brings the same discipline that fuels his boxing career into esports and digital media.

Next Fight: Nov 8 | WBC Australian Title | Stanley Johnson vs Karim Maatalla (10–2, 8-win streak) | Melbourne, Australia

Gaming Debut: Now streaming, competing, and creating as part of Team LI — including highlights from his EVO 2025 appearance and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from both the ring and the arena.

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Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama (11-01-2025)

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jason

Featherweight (145)
[#15][#10UFC] Steve Garcia (18-5-0, -121) vs. [#19][#14UFC] David Onama (14-2-0, -100)

Last 3 Fights: Steve Garcia (3-0-0)
2025-07-12: W vs. [#46FW] Calvin Kattar (23-10-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-09-07: W vs. [#54LW] Kyle Nelson (17-6-1) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 3:59 of round 1
2024-07-20: W vs. [#182FW] Seung Woo Choi (11-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:36 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: David Onama (3-0-0)
2025-04-26: W vs. [#20FW] Giga Chikadze (15-5-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-11-16: W vs. [#574FW] Roberto Romero (8-5-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-04-27: W vs. [#86FW] Jonathan Pearce (14-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Steve Garcia	-121		52.26%
Elo K170	Steve Garcia	1915.52	+52.52	57.50%
Elo Modified	Steve Garcia	1904.40	+46.37	56.63%
Glicko-1	Steve Garcia	1970.38	+48.69	56.96%
WHR	Steve Garcia	1875.46	+76.21	60.79%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Steve Garcia 33.4, David Onama 31.4
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Steve Garcia 112, David Onama 189
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Heavyweight (265)
[#10][#7UFC] Waldo Cortes-Acosta (14-2-0, -140) vs. [#15][#11UFC] Ante Delija (26-6-0, +115)

Last 3 Fights: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (2-1-0)
2025-08-23: L vs. [#5HW+] Sergei Pavlovich (20-3-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-06-07: W vs. [#11HW+] Serghei Spivac (17-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2025-03-15: W vs. [#38HW+] Ryan Spann (23-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:48 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Ante Delija (2-1-0)
2025-09-06: W vs. [#19HW+] Marcin Tybura (27-10-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:03 of round 1
2025-04-12: W vs. [#79HW+] Yorgan De Castro (12-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:41 of round 1
2024-04-04: L vs. [#17HW+] Valentin Moldavsky (14-4-0) via TKO (Knees and Punches) in 2:17 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	-140		55.63%
Elo K170	Ante Delija	1872.44	+43.48	56.22%
Elo Modified	Ante Delija	1883.77	+24.77	53.56%
Glicko-1	Ante Delija	1949.56	+68.28	59.70%
WHR	Ante Delija	1869.92	+96.40	63.53%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Waldo Cortes-Acosta 34.1, Ante Delija 35.2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta 70, Ante Delija 56
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.

Welterweight (170)
[#62][#42UFC] Themba Gorimbo (14-5-0, -139) vs. [*] Jeremiah Wells (12-4-1, +117)

Last 3 Fights: Themba Gorimbo (2-1-0)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#35WW] Vicente Luque (23-12-1) via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke) in 0:52 of round 1
2024-10-12: W vs. [#88WW] Niko Price (16-9-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-05-18: W vs. [#104WW] Ramiz Brahimaj (13-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Jeremiah Wells (1-2-0)
2024-02-10: L vs. [#41WW] Max Griffin (20-12-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2023-08-05: L vs. [#77WW] Carlston Harris (19-7-0) via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke) in 1:50 of round 3
2023-04-22: W vs. [#125WW] Matthew Semelsberger (11-8-0) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Themba Gorimbo	-139		55.79%
Elo K170	Themba Gorimbo	1652.70	+19.55	52.81%
Elo Modified	Jeremiah Wells	1687.53	+13.30	51.91%
Glicko-1	Jeremiah Wells	1727.12	+66.42	59.44%
WHR	Jeremiah Wells	1591.08	+35.73	55.12%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Themba Gorimbo 34.8, Jeremiah Wells 39.0
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Themba Gorimbo 329, Jeremiah Wells 630
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Fightmatrix Focus: Analyzing the Canadian Contenders at UFC Vancouver, Including Jasudavicius’s Title Shot Aspirations

Posted on October 27, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Image source: AI

With the UFC returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, the focus is on Canadian athletes aiming to advance in the global rankings. The Fightmatrix MMA Rankings, which are based on objective data from the CIRRS engine, show that these fights on home soil are very important. They are a crucial period where performance metrics, especially the strength of the opponent and the kind of victory, can change a fighter’s path in a big way. Both Canadian fans and experts want to know which member of the “Maple Leaf Militia” is most likely to make the biggest leap in the weight classes. The rankings method gives us the solution by looking at the forthcoming encounters in a strict way.

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UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane Preview

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Jack Latham

Tom Aspinall (C) vs Ciryl Gane

Background

A blockbuster encounter headlines UFC 321 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi as the heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, defends his belt for the first time against Ciryl Gane.

This will be Aspinall’s first defence after claiming the title in June, following Jon Jones’ retirement. He had previously won eight of his nine fights in the UFC, with each victory coming via either submission or KO.

Aspinall’s only loss was also in contentious fashion, as he injured his medial collateral ligament after just 15 seconds of his first fight with Curtis Blaydes.

As for Gane, this will be his second shot at UFC gold after his submission loss to Jon Jones in March 2023. A controversial victory over Aleksandar Volkov last year has given him another opportunity, one that ‘Bon Gamin’ will be desperate to take.

Gane has showcased his knockout power in the past with victories over Tai Tuivasa and Serghei Spivac but is also very efficient in the clinch, something that may put the champion on notice…

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Jack Latham

My name is Jack Latham.

I am 20 years old and am currently studying Sports Journalism at the University of Chester.

I became interested in combat sports, particularly MMA, in the lockdown period and have followed it closely ever since.

I have previously created my own website titled ‘Combat Corner,’ where I produce MMA content.

This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Jason

Both parlays still in the green!

Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:

Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
Both fighters must have at least 5 fights, with at least 1 draw or 1 loss (excluding debut). More data makes WHR happy.
Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.

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Upcoming Events: Real Fight Promotion (RFP) Continues Its 2025 Season with Two Shows in Western Ukraine

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Vitaliy Vovk

Real Fight Promotion (RFP) — Ukraine’s leading MMA organization — is set to close out the 2025 season with two events this November. Both cards promise high-level competition, regional pride, and a mix of professional MMA and combat sambo action.

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Vitaliy Vovk

MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst

https://rfpromo.com/

rfpromo.com/

Brief Fight Analysis: Volkov vs. Almeida (UFC 321 – Aspinall vs. Gane)

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Vitaliy Vovk

Oct 25, 2025 / Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Current Fighter Status

Alexander Volkov (#4 HW per FightMatrix / #2 UFC):

Record: 38–11–0
Experience: 49 professional bouts; moderate activity level; last fight in 2024
Strengths: Powerful striking, height (201 cm), 203 cm reach, extensive top-10 UFC experience
Weaknesses: Occasional takedown defense issues; reduced footwork speed compared to younger opponents

Jailton “Malhadinho” Almeida (#6 HW per FightMatrix / #5 UFC):

Record: 22–3–0
Experience: 25 professional bouts; highly active; recent fights in 2024–2025
Strengths: Elite grappling (BJJ black belt), high takedown accuracy, excellent cardio
Weaknesses: Less experience against elite-tier opposition; striking less destructive than Volkov’s

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Vitaliy Vovk

MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst

https://rfpromo.com/

rfpromo.com/