It does not take a genius for one to know who Khabib Nurmagomedov is. He has taken over the headlines for the past few years, and for all the right reasons-his greatness. Born in 1988, Khabib is a 32-year-old fighting machine and one of the staples in MMA betting. All the fans that he has procured over the years hear and see rumours of him fighting off bears when he was a child (yes, really), in addition to additional intense fighting rumours that he actually went through. So, you can call this a short but sweet biography of everything he has managed to build for himself thus far.

It was only a few weeks ago that Khabib defeated Justin Gaethje within the second round and then shocked the world with his announcement to retire. Great figures like him genuinely deserve tons and tons of stories told about him within the history books, so let us start with this one! Continue reading for all the facts, figures and information you ever wanted to know about the number one pound-for-pound fighter. 

When Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier met in the Octagon for the first time in September 2014, the two fighters were at a very different point in their careers compared to where they’re at now. McGregor has gone on to become the biggest star in the UFC history, to hold championship titles in featherweight and lightweight division, and to have a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. Poirier has also gone up in weight, held the interim lightweight title, and faced many of the same opponents as Conor. Both fighters lost twice since their first encounter. Both have had their ups and downs in the cage and outside of it. So now here we are 6 years and 21 combined MMA bouts later – with McGregor and Poirier scheduled for a rematch on January 23rd 2020 in Abu Dhabi. Let’s take a look at 10 moments along the way that brought us here:

The above was created by Betway

It sounds odd, but not nearly enough time is devoted to talking about the UFC greats. Everything seems rooted in the here and now, with an heavier emphasis on future fights, while everything that’s already happened falls by the wayside, except for brief mentions when discussing someone’s resume.

There’s no clear-cut explanation for this phenomenon. Part of it is definitely because the UFC is still in its infancy relative to other sports leagues. It didn’t start until 1993, and it has only really become ultra-popular since the turn of the millennium. Another potential reason is the scarcity of matchups. Fighters are scheduling bouts every other week, so even the longest-tenured UFC participants have a finite sample size under their belts.

And finally, let’s not neglect the financial aspect: Everyone cares about the upcoming fight most because that’s the one they can order on pay-per-view and place wagers on. Only a handful of sports in North America are more popular when it comes to that, and it’s become an incredibly lucrative industry. Why, sports betting in California alone is projected to be worth $2.5 billion per year. And that’s just one state. People love to wager on sports that don’t take place every day. That’s why, like college football and the NFL, the UFC takes center stage when it comes to looking at upcoming events rather than past ones. It also helps that virtually every new fight is either a title fight or a bout that will determine who gets the next shot at a title matchup.

Make no mistake, though, the UFC has officially been around long enough that it’s put together a colorful history. Plenty of those who have set foot in the octagon are worthy of being considered among the sport’s all-time greats. And while there’s no one way to identify them, it makes sense to start with the fighters who have racked up the most victories in UFC history.

Donald Cerrone (23 victories)

“Vice Chairman USO Tour” by The USO is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Let’s just say the 37-year-old Donald Cerrone, who was formerly a professional kickboxer, has been around the UFC for quite some time. And he has the resume to prove it.

Not only does he hold the all-time record for victories, but he has also fought in more bouts (35) and owns more finishes (16) than anyone else. And guess what? He’s not done yet. His last fight came in September 2020, and he very much plans to keep going.

As MMA’s old guard lay down their shields and move on to new pastures, the UFC looks set to go through a transitionary period in the coming years. Indeed, with established stars fading, there’s room in the spotlight for emerging talent. Evidence that this is the case came courtesy of UFC 256. In the wake of Yoel Romero’s surprise departure from the organization, three battle-worn warriors showed their scars on December 12 at the Apex in Las Vegas.

Kevin Holland secures win number 5️⃣ of 2020! 🤯

✅ May 16 Anthony Hernandez
✅ Aug. 8 Joaquin Buckley
✅ Sept. 19 Darren Stewart
✅ Oct. 31 Charlie Ontiveros
✅ Dec. 12 Jacare Souza

Take a bow, @Trailblaze2top 👏#UFC256 pic.twitter.com/2cCMfJsysf

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 13, 2020

Flyweight Championship (125)
[#1/#4DD/#6P4P] Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1-0, 124.5lb, -331) vs. [#2] Brandon Moreno (18-5-1, 124.5lb, +256)
Deiveson Figueiredo is the All-Time #8 ranked Flyweight fighter.
Brandon Moreno is the All-Time #13 ranked Flyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Deiveson Figueiredo (3-0-0)
2020-11-21: W vs. [#5FLY] Alex Perez (24-6-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:57 of round 1
2020-07-18: W vs. [#3FLY] Joseph Benavidez (28-7-0) via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:48 of round 1
2020-02-29: W vs. [#3FLY] Joseph Benavidez (28-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:54 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Brandon Moreno (3-0-0)
2020-11-21: W vs. [#11FLY] Brandon Royval (12-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:59 of round 1
2020-03-14: W vs. [#8FLY] Jussier Formiga (23-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2019-12-14: W vs. [#27FLY] Kai Kara France (21-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Deiveson Figueiredo 21, Brandon Moreno 21
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
.

Lightweight (155)
[#3] Tony Ferguson (25-4-0, 155.0lb, -167) vs. [#5] Charles Oliveira (29-8-0, 154.5lb, +138)
Tony Ferguson is the All-Time #8 ranked Lightweight and #40 ranked Absolute fighter.
Charles Oliveira is the All-Time #36 ranked Lightweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Tony Ferguson (2-1-0)
2020-05-09: L vs. [#1LW/#8DD] Justin Gaethje (22-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:39 of round 5
2019-06-08: W vs. [#21WW] Donald Cerrone (36-15-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 2
2018-10-06: W vs. [#13WW] Anthony Pettis (23-10-0) via TKO (Corner Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Charles Oliveira (3-0-0)
2020-03-14: W vs. [#10LW] Kevin Lee (18-6-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 0:28 of round 3
2019-11-16: W vs. [#59FW] Jared Gordon (16-4-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:26 of round 1
2019-05-18: W vs. [#54FW] Nik Lentz (30-11-2) via TKO (Punches) in 2:11 of round 2

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tony Ferguson 217, Charles Oliveira 273
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Tony Ferguson leads 3-1
.

Women Strawweight (115)
[#13] Virna Jandiroba (16-1-0, 115.0lb, +157) vs. [#18] Mackenzie Dern (9-1-0, 115.0lb, -191)

Last 3 Fights: Virna Jandiroba (2-1-0)
2020-08-15: W vs. [#48SW] Felice Herrig (14-9-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 1:44 of round 1
2019-12-07: W vs. [#38SW] Mallory Martin (7-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:16 of round 2
2019-04-27: L vs. [#4SW] Carla Esparza (17-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Mackenzie Dern (2-1-0)
2020-09-19: W vs. [#27SW] Randa Markos (10-10-1) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:44 of round 1
2020-05-30: W vs. [#80SW] Hannah Cifers (10-7-0) via Submission (Kneebar) in 2:36 of round 1
2019-10-12: L vs. [#10SW] Amanda Ribas (10-1-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Virna Jandiroba 119, Mackenzie Dern 84
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.

Fighting is an exciting sport. In 2020 there have been some restrictions for fighting due to the pandemic;   but 2021 could be a big year for MMA with some big fights coming up. These bouts can be as exciting as a slot in an online casino (click here to learn more), or sometimes even more! The adrenaline, the show and the spectacular fights in boxing or MMA have always drawn huge crowds.

Let us look at the most anticipated bouts that are happening next year. Whether you can watch them live in a stadium or on TV, these fights will be spectacular as it gets and should not be missed!

• UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar (January 16. 2021)
• UFC 257: Poirier vs McGregor 2 (January 23. 2021)
• March 2021 at UFC Fight Night 190: Welterweight bout: Max Griffin vs. Song Kenan
• March 2021 at UFC 259: Light Heavyweight bout: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Thiago Santos
• March 2021 at UFC 259: Bantamweight bout: Dominick Cruz vs Casey Kenney

These are just some of the few big bouts that are happening in 2021. More will be announced in the coming weeks. We can anticipate even more blockbuster fights in 2021 with some special title fights who can shape the future of MMA.

For anyone who wants to place a bet on the sport they follow, the good news is that you can place a bet on almost any sport out there. The service on offer from bookmakers has never been as strong, and part of that service allows people to bet on MMA fights. This isn’t the biggest betting sport that bookmakers deal with, but it is certainly one that they are taking seriously and one the rise and what helps this is that betting on MMA is very easy. Will we ever see MMA betting alongside other traditional betting sports such as football and horse racing? That is highly unlikely, but as things improve and more fans get involved, the bookmakers will only take this sport more seriously.

Don’t let the fact this is not a title fight scare you away – UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis has so many implications. For starters, the winner of this fight could be poised to fight Francis Ngannou for the No. 1 contender spot. Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis are scheduled to fight on Saturday, November 28th in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex. The free fight will be streamed on ESPN, and all fans of the UFC should tune in. 

There has been a lot of drama surrounding the heavyweight division for the UFC. This fight adds one more layer. 

All combat athletes have to call time on their careers at some stage, but 2020 has seen the UFC lose some of the biggest pay-per-view draws to ever grace MMA and the Octagon.

As great cage fighters retire, it makes room for others to step up and take their place in the spotlight. That is something Dana White needs in the lightweight division as two of the main attractions in that category won’t compete again.

Khabib Nurmagomedov unanimously takes the top spot in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings 🦅

Complete P4P rankings ➡️ https://t.co/iBsac24vXn pic.twitter.com/KsGoYbhhgo

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 28, 2020

All sports move on when a big name hangs it up, and so must the UFC. Here we take a look back and celebrate three MMA superstars that retired in 2020.

The world of mixed martial arts is certainly grueling. Up-and-coming competitors will often be forced to fight multiple bouts each month with little downtime. Training schedules are notoriously strict and diets can be hard to follow. Of course, all of these sacrifices are worth it once an individual steps into the octagon. We should still mention that victory could very well come at a physical price thanks to chronic issues such as soreness, fatigue and an overall lack of motivation.

This is why supplements are playing an increasingly important dietary role in regards to MMA athletes. While we have all heard about substances such as human growth hormone (HGH) and creatine, what about formulations which are intended to increase blood flow to the extremities? These are commonly referred to as vasodilators and nitric oxide is undoubtedly the most common. Might supplementing with nitric oxide be a good idea? Let us take a look at what MMA fighters should consider.