Fighter Highlights – Page 9

UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana

Posted on June 10, 2023 by A. J. Riot

On June 10th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for UFC 289. We will finally see the return of women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

For sports betting fans wishing to bet on this bout, check out betinasia.com/black/, one of the best sports trading platforms. Nunes puts her title on the line for the first time since reclaiming it in July by defeating Julianna Pena via knockout at UFC 277. Her opponent, Irene Aldana, is a born finisher who has also won her past three fights by knockout.

Nunes and Pena were supposed to finish their trilogy, but Pena’s injury gave Aldana her chance. Since becoming the dual champion and avenging her sole loss in eight years, Nunes has controlled the women’s bantamweight and featherweight categories with an iron hand.

Two things can happen at the end of the bout, both of which we will explain below.

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Six Fights That Show Why July 2023 Could be the Best UFC Month of All Time

Posted on May 26, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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? Keep Reading

Fists of Fury: Ranking the Most Notable MMA Fighters from Wisconsin

Posted on May 19, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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.

The Badger State’s Best

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.

Anthony Pettis

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.

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Sterling Emerges Victorious in a Close Fight Against Cejudo

Posted on May 10, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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.

Cejudo’s Return to the Octagon

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.

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Can Conor McGregor Reach The Top Again?

Posted on May 6, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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.
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Three Fighters Who Could Return to The UFC For Success In 2023

Posted on April 27, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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.

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Remembering Stephan Bonnar: A UFC legend that will never be forgotten

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Oleg

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.

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UFC Profiles: Charles Oliveira

Posted on January 12, 2023 by A. J. Riot

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.

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Conor McGregor Comes Under Fire Over Boxing Technique Ahead of UFC Return

Posted on May 18, 2022 by A. J. Riot

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.

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Current MMA Rankings Updated (12-13-2020)

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Jason

The Best Female MMA Fighters of All Time

Posted on February 3, 2020 by A. J. Riot

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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McGregor vs Cerrone – Preview

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Oleg

After taking a couple of weeks off, UFC will be kicking off 2020 with a return of their biggest star of the decade taking on the most decorated veteran and record holder who has never held a title. UFC 246: McGregor vs Cerrone will be one of those events that doesn’t have a star-studded undercard, and is marketed on the strength of the main event alone.

Conor McGregor will be facing Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at welterweight; and while this is not a particularly meaningful fight from the divisional title perspective and not exactly a ‘Super-Fight’ either, it is an interesting bout which should be competitive and fun for as long as it lasts. Here, I will be taking a look at the careers of both fighters, the numerous acclaims and records they hold in the UFC, and the stylistic matchup. And if you are into UFC betting, putting some cash on whoever you think will take home the W might make watching this fight even more exciting.

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The Greatest MMA Fighters – Part 2

Posted on October 17, 2019 by A. J. Riot

Photo by Justin Ng / The Unsplash License

We’ve recently published an article about three of the greatest unheralded fighters in MMA: Frankie Edgar, Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. While ‘unheralded’ is perhaps an unfair term to use as these fighters are recognized by fans and pundits alike as all-time greats, they are typically not considered in the ‘GOAT’ discussion for various reasons. Today, we are going to discuss the careers of another five fighters who may have been at one point the best in their weight division – or even the sport of MMA as a whole – but their greatness might not be recognized by fans who have not been following the sport since it’s inception.

MMA fighters need to exhibit not only skill and strength but also persistence and resilience. They put their all into what they do and deserve the recognition that comes with success. Each of these fighters below has shown the true spirit of an MMA warrior and came out on top, showing that strength and brawn are not the only things necessary to achieve greatness. Each one has their unique methods and strategies, and they have carved a name for themselves as the some of the fighters to compete in the young sport that is Mixed Martial Arts.

These fighters have made watching MMA fights worth while. But who will be the next best MMA fighter? If you want to impress your friends with all of your MMA knowledge, betting sites can offer another way that fans can stay up to date on UFC fighters’ actions: offering advanced statistics, trends, and tips on which fighters are likely to come out on top. That way, you’ll know the picks for the next best-of list before it even comes out.

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The Greatest Unheralded MMA Fighters in History

Posted on September 9, 2019 by A. J. Riot

Many sports fans have witnessed intense matches in the brief history of MMA fighting. Through the years, various MMA organizations orchestrated many different fights between some of the best athletes in the sport. There are fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Georges St Pierre, Ronda Rousey just to name a few, who are rightfully and universally recognized as the greatest athletes to participate in MMA. However there are some great fighters whose careers might have fell through the cracks of history for various reasons, and they may not be held in as high of a regard compared to their peers or according to their accomplishments in the combat arena. This article looks at a few athletes who brought fame and glory to MMA, and contributed a lot to history of the sport itself – but may not be as recognizable to the casual fan. Keep reading to learn more about them:

Cristiane Justino

Also known as Cyborg, Justino is usually considered as the female counterpart of Wanderlei Silva when it comes to women’s featherweight division. Justino always perseveres whenever opportunities come her way and will usually run straight at her opponents. As blood oozes out and enters her sharp senses, she will come forward and bestow a series of strong punches that can be unavoidable for anyone who can’t dodge such quick attacks. The aggression she shows inside the cage is unparalleled. It even made it hard for MMA promoters to seek an opponent who is willing to face Cyborg, without the fear of being beaten to shreds. With the way she’s been running through almost all competition, even the haters eventually turned into her fans. Mostly, bettors are also expecting her to
perform well in every matchup. If you are an aspiring bettor, it’s now possible to bet on live MMA fights using your mobile or desktop computer, so put your money where your mouth is by placing a bet on your favorite MMA competitor! Cyborg’s upcoming Bellator debut could be your next chance to test your MMA prognostication mettle.

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Cowboy Cerrone continues to shatter UFC records

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Oleg

Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone has been competing as a professional MMA fighter for over 20 years, and in the UFC Octagon since 2011. While he’s never held a UFC belt (not even an interim one), coming up short in his only title shot against then lightweight king Raphael dos Anjos in 2015, Cerrone has remained among the MMA elite for his entire career. He has consistently been ranked in the Top 20 fighters in the world at lightweight or welterweight since his third UFC fight, a first round stoppage over Charles Oliveira, and has reached as high as #2 at 155 lbs and #5 at 170. He is also the winningest and the most active fighter in UFC history.

Last year, we published an article musing on who will be the first UFC fighter to achieve 30 fights in the promotion, and did a follow-up piece a few months later. Since then, Cowboy went from 27 UFC bouts at the time of the first article, to the current record of 32. So despite a disappointing loss to Tony Ferguson at UFC 238, Cerrone remains a legend of the Octagon and a future lock for the UFC hall of fame.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at Donald’s accomplishments (striking statistics courtesy of UFCStats.com).

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