Fight Matrix

Universities and Colleges That Have Produced MMA Champions

Posted on April 24, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-woman-in-a-black-shirt-is-punching-a-punching-bag-OHvTLvZEVP0

In mixed martial arts training, few things are as valuable as a strong foundation in a specific discipline, whether it’s wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or striking arts. Interestingly, many of the most dominant fighters in MMA history didn’t just come from gyms or dojos but from academic institutions known for cultivating elite athletic talent. This article explores the top universities and colleges that have consistently produced MMA champions and how they have contributed to shaping legends in the cage.

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This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Jason

We have a pretty crazy dog parlay this week. Time to get rich!

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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Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)

Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF Super Rizin 6: Shiwasu no Owarinagoya Gekokujo Matsuri

[#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina

[#4 W105] Saori Oshima

Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation]
Last Opponent: [#18 W105] Rena Kubota
Last 5: W W W W W

Last Fight Date: 7/18/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation]
Last Opponent: [#13 W105] Ye Ji Lee
Last 5: L W L W W

Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep - 135 Impact

[#3 SW] Sukai China

[#4 SW] Jo Arai

Last Fight Date: 5/04/2026 [DEEP]
Last Opponent: [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama
Last 5: W W W W W

Last Fight Date: 9/13/2026 [DEEP]
Last Opponent: [#23 SW] Daichi Kitakata
Last 5: L L W L W

Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep Tokyo Impact 2026 6th Round

[#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama

[#10 SW] Goal Makino

Last Fight Date: 9/20/2026 [DEEP]
Last Opponent: [NR] Musashi Musashi
Last 5: W W W L W

Last Fight Date: 9/06/2026 [DEEP]
Last Opponent: [#42 SW] Toshiya Takashima
Last 5: W W W W W

Featured Fighters

[#18 W125]	Lucia Szabova	[#1 WW]	Islam Makhachev
[#18 LW]	Renato Carneiro	[#1 FW]	Alexander Volkanovski
[#8 HW]	Josh Hokit	[#13 LW]	Tom Nolan
[#26 WW]	Jacobe Smith	[#102 W125]	Tainara Lisboa
[#1 LW]	Justin Gaethje	[#2 LW]	Ilia Topuria

Main Categories of Online Slots at Casinolab: What are They

Posted on April 24, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Online slots represent the largest and most diverse game category in digital casinos. These games vary significantly in their mechanics, themes, and potential payouts. New Zealand players can find thousands of different slot titles on sites like https://casinolab-nz.com and other reputable casinos, where they’re organized into distinct categories. Understanding these classifications helps players find games that match their preferences and expectations.

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FightMatrix Exclusive Interview with Professional Boxer – Melody Popravak

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Heather

Introduction

Melody Popravak is a professional boxer fighting out of Atlanta, GA. She holds a professional record of 2-2-1, with one win by the way of knockout. She is signed with Eruption Boxing and managed by Gwen Legge. Melody is ranked #6 welterweight in the US and #41 in the world by BoxRec. Though she started boxing later in life, Melody is looking forward to continued success in the ring and making her debut at welterweight, after starting out her career as a middleweight. She also hopes to build her own business in boxing, once her fighting career is over.

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Octagon vs Odds: How Risk-Taking in MMA Mirrors High-Stakes Gambling

Posted on April 22, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Few sports match the intensity, unpredictability, and mental warfare of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Fighters step into the octagon prepared to walk a tightrope between glory and defeat, often risking everything on a single punch, choke, or judge’s decision. The parallels between MMA and high-stakes gambling are hard to ignore. Whether it’s the mindset, the strategy, or the unpredictable outcomes, fighters and gamblers often live by the same code: calculated risk in pursuit of a big payoff. With the rise of betting sites not on GamStop, the connection between fans of combat sports and gambling culture has only grown stronger, offering more flexibility and fewer restrictions for placing bold bets.

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Overview of the Mostbet Bonus Policy for German players

Posted on April 22, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Mostbet’s bonus policy has made the site popular in Germany. Both those who have just registered and experienced users can get rewards. mostbet bonus helps to save the bank, increases the chances of winning. There are rewards for both bettors and players.

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What First-Time Visitors to Singapore Often Get Wrong and How to Fix It?

Posted on April 22, 2025 by A. J. Riot

Singapore is a city that blends modern innovation with deep cultural traditions, making it one of the most exciting destinations in the world. However, first-time visitors often make common mistakes that can affect their experience—whether it’s underestimating the city’s strict laws, choosing the wrong transportation, or missing out on local gems. While these missteps are natural, they can be easily avoided with a little preparation. So, what are some of the biggest mistakes tourists make in Singapore, and how can you ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit? Let’s dive into the common pitfalls and their easy fixes.

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Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night: Garry vs Prates (04-26-2025)

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Jason

Welterweight (170)
[#7][#7UFC] Ian Garry (15-1-0, -128) vs. [#21][#18UFC] Carlos Prates (21-6-0, +108)
Ian Garry is the All-Time #47 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Ian Garry (2-1-0)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#4WW] Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-06-29: W vs. [#16MW] Michael Page (23-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-02-17: W vs. [#11WW] Geoff Neal (16-6-0) via SD (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Carlos Prates (3-0-0)
2024-11-09: W vs. [#30WW] Neil Magny (29-13-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:50 of round 1
2024-08-17: W vs. [#61WW] Jingliang Li (19-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:02 of round 2
2024-06-08: W vs. [#79WW] Charlie Radtke (10-4-0) via KO (Knee to the Body) in 4:47 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Ian Garry	-128		53.86%
Elo K170	Ian Garry	2081.70	+112.46	65.64%
Elo Modified	Ian Garry	2024.92	+57.76	58.24%
Glicko-1	Carlos Prates	2065.62	+1.61	50.23%
WHR	Ian Garry	1985.17	+19.55	52.81%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Ian Garry 27.4, Carlos Prates 31.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ian Garry 140, Carlos Prates 168
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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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#15][#12UFC] Anthony Smith (38-21-0, +348) vs. [#40][#26UFC] Mingyang Zhang (18-6-0, -472)
Anthony Smith is the All-Time #32 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Anthony Smith (1-2-0)
2024-12-07: L vs. [#9LHW] Dominick Reyes (15-4-0) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 4:46 of round 2
2024-06-29: L vs. [#9MW] Roman Dolidze (15-3-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-05-04: W vs. [#32LHW] Vitor Petrino (11-2-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:00 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Mingyang Zhang (3-0-0)
2024-11-23: W vs. [#108MW] Osman Diaz (10-3-0) via TKO (Elbow and Punches) in 2:25 of round 1
2024-02-17: W vs. [#57LHW] Brendson Ribeiro (17-7-0) via KO (Punches) in 1:41 of round 1
2022-06-09: W vs. [#147LHW] George Tokkos (10-5-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:57 of round 1

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Mingyang Zhang	-472		78.71%
Elo K170	Anthony Smith	1690.23	+47.58	56.81%
Elo Modified	Anthony Smith	1701.29	+74.23	60.52%
Glicko-1	Anthony Smith	1731.85	+3.29	50.47%
WHR	Mingyang Zhang	1688.21	+7.91	51.14%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Anthony Smith 36.7, Mingyang Zhang 26.7
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Anthony Smith 140, Mingyang Zhang 154
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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Featherweight (145)
[#16][#14UFC] Giga Chikadze (15-4-0, +148) vs. [#53][#34UFC] David Onama (13-2-0, -176)

Last 3 Fights: Giga Chikadze (1-2-0)
2024-07-27: L vs. [#7FW] Arnold Allen (20-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-08-26: W vs. [#45FW] Alex Caceres (21-15-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2022-01-15: L vs. [#21FW] Calvin Kattar (23-9-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)

Last 3 Fights: David Onama (3-0-0)
2024-11-16: W vs. [#383FW] Roberto Romero (8-4-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2024-04-27: W vs. [#81FW] Jonathan Pearce (14-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-06-24: W vs. [#62FW] Gabriel Santos (12-2-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:13 of round 2

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	David Onama	-176		61.26%
Elo K170	Giga Chikadze	1852.89	+98.51	63.81%
Elo Modified	Giga Chikadze	1830.57	+45.40	56.50%
Glicko-1	Giga Chikadze	1880.41	+49.14	57.03%
WHR	Giga Chikadze	1762.08	+7.22	51.04%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Giga Chikadze 36.6, David Onama 30.9
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Giga Chikadze 273, David Onama 161
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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Top 5 Ways to Turn MMA Knowledge Into Smart Wagers

Posted on April 21, 2025 by A. J. Riot

If you’ve spent more Saturday nights than you can count glued to the octagon, arguing decisions, predicting finishes, and analyzing walkout songs, you’re not just a fan—you’re sitting on a goldmine of fight IQ. But here’s the twist: while most people scroll fighter stats and ranking data out of curiosity, a growing number are turning that insight into something more profitable.

You don’t need to be a Vegas oddsmaker or a professional gambler. With the right approach, your MMA knowledge can evolve into an edge, especially in the modern betting world that now includes everything from traditional sportsbooks to sweepstakes-based gambling platforms. Below, we’re breaking down the top five ways savvy fight fans are leveraging their MMA obsession into smarter wagers—and how you can do the same.

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Current MMA Rankings Updated (04-20-2025)

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Jason

Big change to the Current MMA Rankings.

Aside from the P4P and Division Dominance lists, we are now ranking every fighter with 15 points or greater. This will result in approximately twice as many fighters being ranked!

The Generated Historical Rankings will also be expanded in the same manner. The 2025 sets have already been updated. The 2022-2024 sets will be updated by the end of the today, while the rest will be updated throughout the next several weeks.

Without question, this expansion will reveal some data errors (ex: wrong gender) and perhaps some shortcomings and bugs. As usual, our primary focus is on the top of the rankings. However, if you see anything strange, let us know in the forum, or submit a comment.

We may do further expansion in the near future…. stay tuned.