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.

Engaging in any sporting activity comes with immense benefits and everyone has got his or her own sports preference. To participate in any sporting activity, it all starts from self-interest and you may opt to play a given sport professionally, or as a hobby – just for fun. As much as some sporting activities could be similar, each sport has its own rules and regulations. Both Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and boxing have a long history of existence and while they are somewhat similar, there is a clear difference between these two combat sports.

Here are the key differences between the MMA and boxing:

Since becoming the UFC’s middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has enjoyed something of a verbal sparring session with Jon Jones. In turn, speculation has emerged relating to a potential bout between the two high-level fighters.

On paper, a contest involving both competitors promises to set new pay-per-view records, surpassing that set by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor at UFC 229. So, let’s take a look at whether a fight between Adesanya and Jones is something that the UFC should seriously be considering.

Jones’ Plan, Adesanya’s Legacy, and Attracting New Fans

In the near future, it appears unlikely that the Las Vegas-based promotion would strive to book the Last Stylebender and the former light heavyweight champion. Fundamentally, this is because of Jones’ short-term plans.

Back in August 2020, the consensus 205-pound king vacated his belt in targeting a move up to heavyweight, as per TheGuardian.com. As a result, several fighters have been open to welcoming Bones to his new weight class, including the reigning champion, Stipe Miocic, who has warned the newcomer of the division’s one-punch knockout power.

On the other hand, Adesanya’s upcoming plans don’t point to a burning desire to face Jones imminently. Following his second-round victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 253, the Nigerian-born fighter called out Jared Cannonier, should he defeat Robert Whittaker in their upcoming bout. Despite the hurdles, there are numerous benefits to booking the fight between two of the company’s most famous stars. Aside from the financial advantages, a superfight of that magnitude would undoubtedly grow the UFC’s viewership.

It is unquestionable that the UFC would not be what it is today, if not for ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality TV series. Prior to the first season of TUF, which featured 16 fighters competing for two six-figure contracts in the light-heavyweight and welterweight divisions, UFC – and MMA as a whole – were more or less on life support. At the time when an opportunity to produce a UFC-themed reality show presented itself, the fans could only watch UFC on Pay-Per-View (PPV), with on average 5-6 events held every year. The success of ‘TUF’ season 1, and especially it’s live finale – the first time live MMA was broadcast on a US cable network – propelled MMA & UFC into the eye of the mainstream US viewer.

The winners of the first season, Forest Griffin and Diego Sanchez, became instant stars and household names. The bloody, back-and-forth war between Griffin and Stephen Bonnar is to this day widely regarded as one of the most exciting and important match-ups in MMA history. Griffin became the first of many Ultimate Fighter alumni to capture the UFC gold, retired while not far removed from his peak, and still holds a back office job with the company. Sanchez on the other hand remains an active fighter – the only Season 1 contestant to still fight in the Octagon, having racked up 32 bouts book-ended by his win at the Season 1 finale and his most recent loss to Jake Matthews at UFC 253.

Betting on MMA matches isn’t a tough go, but most definitely, old tricks become a cliché as time goes by. There is no defined methodology for MMA betting and predictions. However, you can always bolster your winning chances by working out your odds in the best way possible that spans wide and large from the mere research. In MMA sports betting, there are several unique blunders committed by most of the gamblers in the most casual way. Worry no more because you got covered here with some top hacks that will enable you to join the league of top gamblers when it comes to fights.

Layout Strategies

When you are deeply immersed in an MMA betting spree, you will be placed in a situation where you have to realize the bet’s value or become a sucker. Betting on sites including sweet bonanza needs a closer watch on the fights. You will be placing your money on the main event, yet some undercards remain before the battles. It is a situation where you are just interested in the entertainment value instead of the bet’s value. That means that it isn’t worthwhile to stake the wages of fighters you don’t know and have never heard about them. When it comes to betting in MMA fights, your weapon is the money. It doesn’t matter the amount you are ready to lose, always restrain from betting on risky fights. Wins are still enjoyable, unlike failures.

Earlier in 2020, Conor McGregor made the bold claim that he was, essentially, MMA’s greatest ever fighter. And this got me thinking. There have been several top MMA stars who have put on some incredible fights over the years, including Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. These fighters have offered great entertainment (like this slots lv casino review), and ranking them is tough, but below I assembled a list of the top three MMA fighter of all time – in my opinion of course.

Middleweight Championship (185)
[#1/#10DD/#7P4P] Israel Adesanya (19-0-0, -165) vs. [#3] Paulo Henrique Costa (13-0-0, +137)
Israel Adesanya is the All-Time #6 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Paulo Henrique Costa is the All-Time #30 ranked Middleweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Israel Adesanya (3-0-0)
2020-03-07: W vs. [#4MW] Yoel Romero (13-5-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
2019-10-05: W vs. [#2MW] Robert Whittaker (21-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:33 of round 2
2019-04-13: W vs. [#9MW] Kelvin Gastelum (15-6-0) via UD (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)

Last 3 Fights: Paulo Henrique Costa (3-0-0)
2019-08-17: W vs. [#4MW] Yoel Romero (13-5-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2018-07-07: W vs. [#13MW] Uriah Hall (15-9-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:36 of round 2
2017-11-04: W vs. [*] Johny Hendricks (18-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:23 of round 2

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Israel Adesanya 203, Paulo Henrique Costa 406
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
.

Light Heavyweight Championship (205)
[#3] Jan Blachowicz (26-8-0, +214) vs. [#8] Dominick Reyes (12-1-0, -267)
Jan Blachowicz is the All-Time #24 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Dominick Reyes is the All-Time #43 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Jan Blachowicz (3-0-0)
2020-02-15: W vs. [#12LHW] Corey Anderson (13-5-0) via KO (Punch) in 3:08 of round 1
2019-11-16: W vs. [#9LHW] Ronaldo Souza (26-8-0) via SD (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
2019-07-06: W vs. [#17LHW] Luke Rockhold (16-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:39 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Dominick Reyes (2-1-0)
2020-02-08: L vs. [#1LHW/#1P4P] Jon Jones (26-1-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
2019-10-18: W vs. [#11MW] Chris Weidman (15-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:43 of round 1
2019-03-16: W vs. [#14LHW] Volkan Oezdemir (17-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jan Blachowicz 224, Dominick Reyes 231
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
.

Featherweight (145)
[#42] Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1, -114) vs. [#73] Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1, -109)

Last 3 Fights: Zubaira Tukhugov (1-1-1)
2020-02-22: W vs. [#111LW] Kevin Aguilar (17-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:21 of round 1
2019-09-07: D vs. [#97FW] Lerone Murphy (9-0-1) via Draw (Split) in 5:00 of round 3
2016-05-14: L vs. [#25LW] Renato Carneiro (14-3-1) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Hakeem Dawodu (3-0-0)
2019-11-02: W vs. [#86FW] Julio Arce (16-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2019-07-27: W vs. [#191FW] Yoshinori Horie (9-2-0) via TKO (Head Kick) in 4:09 of round 3
2018-12-08: W vs. [#176FW] Kyle Bochniak (8-5-0) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Zubaira Tukhugov 217, Hakeem Dawodu 329
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
.

What a year it has been! I don’t know about you but I for one am ready for 2020 to be over.  While we still have a few fun fights to look forward to this year, like the upcoming UFC 253 with double-header title matchups – or the highly anticipated matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje in October, my curiosity has been piqued by the recent rumors of several retired fighters who will be making a return to action next year. These bouts might be even more exciting if you wager money on your favorite fighter, but be sure to first read online casino reviews before placing a bet.

Georges St. Pierre

The MMA GOAT won’t be coming out of retirement for just anyone. Since hanging up the gloves and relinquishing the UFC welterweight title in 2013, GSP had only one fight, beating Michael Bisping for the middleweight belt in 2017 and promptly retiring again. Now, rumors are swirling for St. Pierre to return to the Octagon one more time – to take on lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, for a chance to win the third divisional title for GSP.

There are many obstacles in the way of this fight happening.  For one, Khabib would have to get past Justin Gaethje in his scheduled title defense at UFC 254. Then, there is the negotiating process involved to put together a match-up of this magnitude. Let’s all hope that Nurmagomedov, GSP, and UFC president Dana White will all be on the same page to make this happen.