The UFC is a sport that has its ebbs and flows. While some fans enjoy the weekly fight nights and the lower-tier bouts, for many fans, the excitement comes from the packed stadiums and watching the big names square off. For fans that love the biggest fights and the most incredible showcases, July is set to be a month that should not be missed out on.
July will feature two, I repeat, two separate major UFC events that will take place three weeks apart. With a packed slate of programming featuring several of the biggest fighters in the sport, fans and bettors alike will not want to miss out. Before you start wagering on these events on sportsbooks like PowerPlay betting, you’ll probably want the low-down on who’s fighting and who looks likely to emerge victorious. We’re here to help with a look at six of the main fights being held during UFC 290 and UFC 291 that have July poised to become maybe the best UFC month ever.
Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez is the main event for UFC 290. It features a unification bout for the featherweight championship between the two current holders. This is an exciting fight because it marks Volkanovski’s return to the division that he has spent the past several years dominating. Volkanovski is an all-time great and will be the heavy favorite, but Rodriguez’s champion status was earned as well. It should be a tight battle, but all projections have Volkanovski triumphing. Can Rodriguez shock the world, or will Volk’s striking and all-around game be too much to handle?
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has become a global sensation with athletes from all corners of the world showcasing their prowess in the cage. Amid this international mix, the state of Wisconsin, USA, has nurtured some remarkable talents, producing fighters who have left a decent mark on the sport.
Wisconsin has proven itself to be quite impactful on the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene. Producing a number of top-tier fighters who have come under the spotlight in various MMA organizations, Wisconsin’s influence in the sport is undeniable. In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at these athletes – the finest MMA fighters hailing from the Badger State.
Born in Milwaukee, Anthony Pettis is a name that resounds in the MMA world. Known for his versatility, Pettis has competed in the Welterweight, Lightweight, and Featherweight divisions of the UFC and PFL. His journey started with taekwondo and boxing training at the tender age of 5, eventually adding capoeira to his repertoire. As a former UFC Lightweight Champion and the final WEC Lightweight Champion, Pettis’ career boasts 25 wins in 39 fights, solidifying his place as one of Wisconsin’s finest.
The highly anticipated bantamweight title fight at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, ended with Aljamain Sterling emerging victorious over former champion Henry Cejudo. The fight headlined the pay-per-view card and was highly competitive, with both fighters showcasing their skills and techniques.
Sterling managed to land crucial takedowns and was more active in striking, ultimately securing a split decision win (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) in his third title defense. Despite the close nature of the fight, Sterling’s victory was disputed, with many fans and experts arguing that Cejudo deserved the win.
The fight was Cejudo’s first since his abrupt retirement following a May 2020 title defense against Dominick Cruz. Despite being away from the sport for three years, Cejudo showed no signs of ring rust and gave Sterling a tough challenge throughout the fight. Although he could not keep Sterling down or make him pay, Cejudo managed to take him down and excelled in striking during the championship rounds.
The charismatic and eternally self-assured Irishman was arguably the biggest crossover star in any sport throughout the previous decade. The culmination of his popularity sent him on a collision course with Floyd Mayweather Jr, which became one of the most bought PPV events ever.
McGregor has had many high points in his career, and as he reaches the end of such an extraordinary journey, many have pondered whether he has enough left in the tank to make one last serious run at the big names in the division. Rumors that he is looking to campaign at welterweight pose a few serious questions about whether he has enough left in the tank to reach the zenith of cage fighting at a third weight class.
Dana White took a big gamble on McGregor, and it paid off. He has generated billions of dollars for the UFC and brought a new generation of fans to the sport. Dana White has been known to gamble on other things other than big business moves, too, and is no stranger to some of the high-roller tables in Las Vegas.
Jon Jones has already made a big comeback in 2023 to land the heavyweight title in the UFC, with victory coming over Ciryl Gane. Jones may not be the last big name to make a successful return to the Octagon this year. Jones is now at the top of the pound-for-pound list in the UFC following his successful comeback. Here is a look at three fighters who could replicate what he has done if they feature in the sport this year.
On December 23, 2022, the MMA community was deeply saddened by the tragic news that former UFC light heavyweight contender Stephan Bonnar died at the age of 45.
“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon,” commented UFC President Dana White. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him, related to him, and he always gave them the best. He will be missed.”
Bonnar made his name known during the UFC’s first-ever airing of The Ultimate Fighter reality show in 2005. And with the help of Forrest Griffin, Bonnar produced one of the greatest fights of all time, a bout that earned him a place in UFC’s Hall of Fame fight wing.
Any UFC fan knows the names of the latest champions, and the fighters who have gone down in the record books. Betting on the UFC lines can be a great and worthwhile pass time if you know who you should be putting your money on.
One of the names that has been pretty popular in recent years is Charles Oliveira.
Oliveira is a MMA and BJJ practitioner, competing in the lightweight division of the UFC, where he is a former Lightweight UFC champion.
He has the most submission wins in the history of the organization and this is a major part of what brings him his fame. He has 16 submissions and 19 finishes.
Back in the late summer of 2022, he was ranked as number one in the lightweight rankings of the UFC, and by October of the same year he ranked as number 7 in the UFC’s men’s pound for pound rankings.
He is quite the performer, at 5ft10, weighing 155 lbs, his MMA record is impressive. His total overall records include 43 total matches, with 33 of those being wins! He made 9 wins by knockout, 21 wins by submission, and 3 by decision.
Let’s take a moment to look at his records, and more of what we know about Charles Oliveira.
Conor McGregor has been putting the hard yards in at the gym as he continues his recovery from a broken leg. But by the looks of things, he is trying something new to strike fear into his rivals.
A video recently surfaced of the Irishman using his unconventional “bow and arrows” technique and he is gearing up for a return to the Octagon later this year. The “bow and arrows” technique seems to be modelled on boxing and McGregor famously took on Floyd Mayweather nearly five years ago in one of the highest-grossing exhibition fights in Las Vegas.
For now, McGregor has been hitting pads with his coach and he will be itching for a return after back-to-back defeats last year in his ongoing feud with Dustin Poirier. While McGregor came under fire from UFC rival Henry Cejudo over his boxing heavy approach, labelling it “unbelievable”, McGregor is sticking to his guns and isn’t moving away from his style.
MMA fans are sure to disagree about who the greatest-ever female fighter is because it does not always come down to statistics. However, there is no doubt that the MMA fighters on this list deserve to be mentioned as some of the best female MMA stars of all time.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/HN_4K2diUWs
Number 5: Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko
The current Women’s Flyweight champion, Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko, is presently considered to be one of the greatest female fighters on the planet, and her reputation is sure to go down in MMA history. The Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian MMA fighter, and former Muay Thai fighter, gives the impression she can carry on winning for years to come. With an impressive 18 wins, no draws, and only three losses, she currently ranks number two in the UFC’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
If you are in the mood to try some MMA moves yourself, you can play various martial arts games online. The Ninja Magic casino slot game comes particularly recommended. You can play this, and other slot games, at Casumo.com.
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