There are some intriguing possible returns set for 2022
The last couple of years have been a test for all sports. Some have coped better than others, and there is little doubt that the UFC has coped among the very best. It is a feature of MMA in general but also of the UFC specifically that it is both willing and able to be flexible, to quickly adapt to the market and its prevailing conditions.
Matt Hughes, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Jose Aldo, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Demetrious Johnson, and others. If any of these names sound familiar to you, it means you have seen MMA fights at some point in your life. No matter if you are just excited about the fighting art or you are rooting for one specific athlete, every MMA show will not leave you indifferent. According to CBS sports, it is not easy to single out the most impressive and promising fighter, so it is up to the spectators to decide who they love and appreciate the most.
Anyway, before you immerse yourself into watching each contest, you need to learn some basic information about MMA, its rules, and specifications. Keep reading to discover the most appealing facts that will make the sport even more intriguing.
| Saturday, March 14th 2026: Pancrase 361 | |||
 [#4 SW] Yuta Miyazawa | [#9 SW] Kanji Funada | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 11/09/2025 [Pancrase] Last Opponent: [#32 SW] Tateo Iino Last 5: W W L W W | Last Fight Date: 4/27/2025 [Pancrase] Last Opponent: [#51 SW] Takafumi Ato Last 5: W W W W W | ||
| Friday, March 20th 2026: PFL Madrid: Van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 | |||
 [#8 MW] Costello Van Steenis |  [#12 MW] Fabian Edwards | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 7/19/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#13 MW] Johnny Eblen Last 5: W L W W W | Last Fight Date: 8/21/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#27 MW] Dalton Rosta Last 5: W L W W W | ||
| Sunday, April 12th 2026: RIZIN LANDMARK 13 in FUKUOKA | |||
 [#25 W115] Natalia Kuziutina | [#7 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 8/16/2025 [Ural Fighting Championship] Last Opponent: [#77 W115] Rose Conceicao Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 11/23/2025 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#14 W105] Ye Ji Lee Last 5: W L W L W | ||
| [#242 LW] |  Rustambek Nurzhanov | [#2 LW] |  Charles Oliveira | |
| [#18 FW] | Kyoma Akimoto | [#840 LW] | Daniel Holt | |
| [#5 LW] |  Max Holloway | [#1 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | |
| [NR] | Markwayne Mullin | [#43 LW] | Drew Dober | |
| [#46 FW] | Patrick Mix | [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev |
Sports betting is far from the occasional hobby it once was and now stands as one of the most impactful economic spheres globally. The niche boasts a market value of around $131.1 billion and is estimated to hit $180 billion by 2026. Regions like the UK, Australia, Canada, and Macau have established industries that generate billions in revenue, and many more countries are following suit, considering the venture’s potential.
One such jurisdiction is the United States, where the federal government recently passed a law allowing each state the freedom to run its own legalized sports industry. States like New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, and Mississippi have already embraced the niche, and most others will likely follow suit.
While the issue of government regulation has only started taking off recently, sports betting has always been popular with the masses. Citizens in countries with restrictions often resort to illegal offshore sources, which presents many issues for individuals and society at large. Governments are stepping in to make the environment more friendly, and here is how they are doing it.
MMA nowadays is considered to be one of the most spectacular and interesting sports. When and where did it emerge, who was considered the most notable fighter, how have the rules changed over time? The experts of write essays for me service will tell you about the most curious facts from the history of MMA.
Heavyweight (265)
[#4] Derrick Lewis (25-8-0, +115) vs. [#14] Chris Daukaus (12-3-0, -139)
Derrick Lewis is the All-Time #26 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Derrick Lewis (2-1-0)
2021-08-07: L vs. [#3HW+] Ciryl Gane (10-0-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:11 of round 3
2021-02-20: W vs. [#5HW+] Curtis Blaydes (15-3-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:26 of round 2
2020-08-08: W vs. [#22HW+] Alexey Oleynik (59-16-1) via TKO (Punches) in 0:21 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Chris Daukaus (3-0-0)
2021-09-25: W vs. [#34HW+] Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-7-0) via TKO (Punches and Elbows) in 1:23 of round 2
2021-02-20: W vs. [#22HW+] Alexey Oleynik (59-16-1) via TKO (Punches) in 1:55 of round 1
2020-10-10: W vs. [#108HW+] Rodrigo Nascimento (9-1-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:45 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Chris Daukaus | -139 | 55.56% | |
| Elo K170 | Derrick Lewis | 2058.72 | +299.05 | 79.67% |
| Elo Modified | Derrick Lewis | 2028.28 | +266.29 | 76.24% |
| Glicko-1 | Derrick Lewis | 2108.59 | +262.60 | 81.93% |
| WHR | Derrick Lewis | 1912.77 | +161.97 | 67.70% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Derrick Lewis 133, Chris Daukaus 84
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#7] Stephen Thompson (16-5-1, -233) vs. [#13] Belal Muhammad (19-3-0, +188)
Stephen Thompson is the All-Time #14 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Stephen Thompson (2-1-0)
2021-07-10: L vs. [#3WW] Gilbert Burns (20-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2020-12-19: W vs. [#24WW] Geoff Neal (14-4-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2019-11-02: W vs. [#5WW] Vicente Luque (21-7-1) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
Last 3 Fights: Belal Muhammad (2-0-0, 1 NC)
2021-06-12: W vs. [#22WW] Demian Maia (28-11-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2021-03-13: NC vs. [#6WW] Leon Edwards (19-3-0)
2021-02-13: W vs. [#111WW] Dhiego Lima (15-9-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Stephen Thompson | -233 | 66.83% | |
| Elo K170 | Belal Muhammad | 2097.91 | +87.34 | 59.84% |
| Elo Modified | Belal Muhammad | 2046.07 | +59.77 | 56.50% |
| Glicko-1 | Belal Muhammad | 2088.33 | +37.72 | 55.41% |
| WHR | Stephen Thompson | 1931.14 | +9.51 | 51.09% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Stephen Thompson 161, Belal Muhammad 189
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Stephen Thompson leads 2-0
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Women Strawweight (115)
[#6] Amanda Lemos (10-1-1, -372) vs. [#14] Angela Hill (13-10-0, +285)
Last 3 Fights: Amanda Lemos (3-0-0)
2021-07-17: W vs. [#45SW] Montserrat Ruiz (10-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:35 of round 1
2021-03-06: W vs. [#31SW] Livinha Souza (14-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:29 of round 1
2020-08-22: W vs. [*] Mizuki Inoue (15-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Angela Hill (1-2-0)
2021-08-07: L vs. [#5SW] Tecia Torres (13-5-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2021-03-13: W vs. [#34SW] Ashley Yoder (8-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2020-09-12: L vs. [#8SW] Michelle Waterson (18-9-0) via SD (48-47, 49-46, 47-48)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Amanda Lemos | -372 | 75.21% | |
| Elo K170 | Amanda Lemos | 1658.51 | +257.16 | 76.40% |
| Elo Modified | Amanda Lemos | 1675.15 | +185.77 | 69.28% |
| Glicko-1 | Amanda Lemos | 1691.43 | +196.90 | 75.65% |
| WHR | Amanda Lemos | 1629.65 | +187.38 | 70.19% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Amanda Lemos 154, Angela Hill 133
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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Although the end of 2021 is quickly approaching on the horizon, there is still plenty of time for season’s beatings and with the latest instalment of the UFC’s fight circus coming to Nevada this weekend, more octagon warfare will be on the agenda.
Warfare that will see Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier square off in a bid to become the Lightweight champion and with the former currently holding the gold, he will not be in a mood to give it away.
Especially as Oliveira will be undertaking his first defence as king of the Lightweight division and after getting the better of Michael Chandler at UFC 262, he would take possession of the then vacant belt.
Now though, his possession of the belt also means he has a target on his back and with Poirier formerly being anointed as an interim champion within the Lightweight division, he will now look to go one step further.
A step that he has attempted to take before and after being paired against the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, the outcome was one that saw the fearsome Dagestani earn a submission victory.
Online gambling has seen a huge increase in demand in the past few years. It has also been observed that gamblers from the UK, Austria, and Canada have a huge number of sites to choose from. Some sites only offer a specific type of gambling, while some include all types of games. Nowadays, gambling has been legalized in almost all the countries. These games are fun to play and can also help you earn lump sum money. You may also want to know that there are mainly three types of internet gambling: sports betting, casino, and Poker. People usually play these games with the hope of earning some extra cash. So, why not check if you can get a no deposit casino bonus Canada for free and benefit from it?
Business savvy, studying, and practice are key elements for individuals who desire to become professional poker players. One should also have a progression plan which clearly shows how they grow. Successful poker careers require hard work, determination, and an operational plan which help in increasing chances of realizing these goals.
Lightweight Championship (155)
[#1/#5DD] Dustin Poirier (28-6-0, -165) vs. [#2/#7DD] Charles Oliveira (31-8-0, +137)
Dustin Poirier is the All-Time #6 ranked Lightweight and #37 ranked Absolute fighter.
Charles Oliveira is the All-Time #18 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Dustin Poirier (3-0-0)
2021-07-10: W vs. [#13LW] Conor McGregor (22-6-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 1
2021-01-23: W vs. [#13LW] Conor McGregor (22-6-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:32 of round 2
2020-06-27: W vs. [#10LW] Dan Hooker (21-11-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-46)
Last 3 Fights: Charles Oliveira (3-0-0)
2021-05-15: W vs. [#7LW] Michael Chandler (22-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:19 of round 2
2020-12-12: W vs. [#8LW] Tony Ferguson (25-6-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2020-03-14: W vs. [#62WW] Kevin Lee (18-7-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 0:28 of round 3
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Dustin Poirier | -165 | 59.60% | |
| Elo K170 | Dustin Poirier | 2403.36 | +101.74 | 61.42% |
| Elo Modified | Dustin Poirier | 2335.15 | +79.52 | 58.62% |
| Glicko-1 | Dustin Poirier | 2413.60 | +45.52 | 56.51% |
| WHR | Dustin Poirier | 2161.14 | +30.17 | 53.44% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Dustin Poirier 154, Charles Oliveira 210
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Dustin Poirier leads 5-2
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Women Bantamweight Championship (135)
[#1/#1DD/#1P4P] Amanda Nunes (21-4-0, -825) vs. [#7] Julianna Pena (10-4-0, +546)
Amanda Nunes is the All-Time #1 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Amanda Nunes (3-0-0)
2021-03-06: W vs. [#7FW] Megan Anderson (11-5-0) via Submission (Reverse Triangle Armbar) in 2:03 of round 1
2020-06-06: W vs. [*] Felicia Spencer (9-3-0) via UD (50-44, 50-45, 50-44)
2019-12-14: W vs. [#3BW] Germaine de Randamie (10-4-0) via UD (49-46, 49-45, 49-44)
Last 3 Fights: Julianna Pena (2-1-0)
2021-01-23: W vs. [#16BW] Sara McMann (12-6-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:39 of round 3
2020-10-03: L vs. [#3BW] Germaine de Randamie (10-4-0) via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:25 of round 3
2019-07-13: W vs. [*] Nicco Montano (4-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Amanda Nunes | -825 | 85.21% | |
| Elo K170 | Amanda Nunes | 2041.07 | +402.98 | 86.30% |
| Elo Modified | Amanda Nunes | 2010.12 | +342.20 | 81.73% |
| Glicko-1 | Amanda Nunes | 2071.12 | +418.78 | 91.76% |
| WHR | Amanda Nunes | 2087.31 | +461.52 | 89.17% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Amanda Nunes 280, Julianna Pena 322
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Amanda Nunes leads 5-2
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Welterweight (170)
[#28] Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-4-0, -111) vs. [#30] Geoff Neal (13-4-0, -111)
Last 3 Fights: Santiago Ponzinibbio (2-1-0)
2021-06-05: W vs. [#61WW] Miguel Baeza (10-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2021-01-16: L vs. [#33WW] Jingliang Li (18-7-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:25 of round 1
2018-11-17: W vs. [#10WW] Neil Magny (25-8-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:36 of round 4
Last 3 Fights: Geoff Neal (1-2-0)
2021-05-08: L vs. [#10WW] Neil Magny (25-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2020-12-19: L vs. [#7WW] Stephen Thompson (16-5-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2019-12-14: W vs. [#64WW] Mike Perry (14-8-0) via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in 1:30 of round 1
| System | Favorite | Rating | Rating Diff | Win % |
| Betting Odds | Geoff Neal | -111 | 50.00% | |
| Elo K170 | Santiago Ponzinibbio | 2017.35 | +217.64 | 72.99% |
| Elo Modified | Santiago Ponzinibbio | 2005.98 | +197.70 | 70.38% |
| Glicko-1 | Santiago Ponzinibbio | 2037.79 | +181.77 | 74.01% |
| WHR | Santiago Ponzinibbio | 1805.96 | +66.85 | 57.58% |
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Santiago Ponzinibbio 189, Geoff Neal 217
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Santiago Ponzinibbio leads 2-1
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MMA is a mix of drive, emotions, and fierce fights. But millions of people continue to watch every show, betting on who will be the winner. There are quite a few MMA fighters who have shown amazing skills and strategic thinking. However, some of them never went to college. The point is that you don’t need the education to fight in the octagon. It should be understood that professional fighters give all their time and energy to achieve success, but today education has become easier and more accessible, thus it is possible to pay for a paper assignments, take remote lessons or even study part-time. In addition, many famous fighters began their careers without even a couple of thousand dollars in their accounts. So here are the top 5 MMA fighters without college degrees.
Randy Couture is a former MMA fighter, gold medal-winning Greco-Roman wrestler, fighting coach, and actor. Couture is a former Heavyweight world champion for the UFC and is one of only 2 fighters over the age of 40 to have won a UFC fight.
Today, we will be looking at his life and career.
Before the UFC
In the early 1990s, Couture wrestled at the collegiate level. During his college career, he won 2 silver medals in the field.
He went to wrestle for Team USA in multiple Pan American Games and World Championships. Between 1991 and 1998, Couture won 3 Bronze Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and 2 Gold Medals for his country.
He also served for the United States Military between 1992 and 1998 in the 101st Airborne Division.
