Abdullah Ouazri

After a long and exciting career, Marlon Moraes has finally called it.

Moraes was a top 5 UFC Bantamweight for the bulk of his career there and was one of the most feared strikers in MMA. Some of his most notable wins include Jose Aldo, Aljamain Sterling, and Raphael Assuncao.

He began making waves in the World Series of Fighting, where he became the Bantamweight champion and defended his title 5 times. This promotion has been home to famous fighters like Justin Gaethje, Andrei Arlovski, and Anthony Johnson. It later rebranded as  The Professional Fighters League (PFL).

He entered the UFC and fought Raphael Assuncao in his debut, making it known that he was on a high level. He'd lose a split decision before beating John Dodson, Aljamain Sterling, Jimmie Rivera, and the submitting Assuncao in their rematch. This all led to a title fight against Henry Cejudo for the vacant Bantamweight championship. 

Moraes was the favorite and started strong, making Cejudo look like the underdog he was. However, the longer the fight went on, the more he faded, and Cejudo took over, earning a 3rd-round knockout. Moraes bounced back with a split-decision win over Jose Aldo but went downhill from there. He'd be knocked out in his next seven fights. He stayed competitive in the UFC but ultimately lost to Cory Sanhagen, Rob Font, Merab Dvalishvili, and Song Yadong before being released by the promotion and announcing his retirement. 

That was short-lived, as he almost immediately signed with the PFL and entered their Featherweight division. He rematches Sheymon Moraes in his debut, a fighter he'd previously defeated, and was on the way to doing it again before being knocked out in the third round. His next two fights were quick KO losses to Brendan Loughnanne and Gabriel Braga.

Despite not getting the ending fans wanted, Marlon Moraes will always be remembered as one of the most feared strikers to fight in MMA. He continued to fight until he couldn't anymore and told us after the fight that he would encourage anyone else to do the same.

At the end of it all, he said he was happy that he gave fans a show every time he fought.


Marlon Moraes Retires From MMA

Joey Kolnicki

This weekend we're set to see a legend of the sport attempt to defend their title, an incredibly long waited Lightweight matchup, and many more exciting bouts. This main card is stacked with finishers, and hopefully the judges won't have too much involvement in these upcoming fights. 

## Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Eryk Anders

![barriault1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ea9081e9-c6ef-440e-faee-b0bccdb8c900/public "Marc Andre- Barriault throws a hook at Julian Marquez. Credit to: Zuffa LLC.")

Barriault has won three of his last five fights, with his best victories coming over Julian Marquez (9-4-0) and Jordan Wright (12-5-0). Barriault is a striker, preferring to stay in the pocket and brawl. “Power Bar” has solid power in both hands and will also mix in leg kicks in his constant pursuit of a finish. When the fight hits the ground, he’s shown decent top control and throws equally as big shots as he does on the feet, proven by the complete lack of submissions on his record. Barriault has solid defensive wrestling, having a takedown defense percentage of 70%. Training at a great camp in Sanford MMA, he has shown solid cardio recently, landing over 100 strikes in three of his last four wins. Although his cardio has looked good lately, he isn’t a volume striker, often blitzing forward to throw power shots, especially with his right hand. 

Anders has won two of his last five outings with one no-contest and has wins over Kyle Daukaus (11-4-0), Gerald Meerschaert (35-15-0), and Brendan Allen (20-5-0). Anders is a particularly big middleweight with serious power in both hands, usually favoring his left. Anders will often dip his head and throw overhands and is always looking to set up big shots on the feet. He rarely throws kicks and is always looking to get into the pocket and let his hands fly. Training at Fight Ready, Anders is averaging over one takedown landed per fight and will often shoot early. If he takes the fight to the mat, he’s tough to shake off and focuses on landing damage instead of seeking a submission. Anders has skills off his back and solid takedown defense, having defended 75% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Seven of his nine career finishes came in the first round, so Anders is at his most dangerous early in the fight.

## Dan Ige vs Nate Landwehr

![Ige-Jackson.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a9b7a4e5-c1b6-4e73-cb37-04817c741b00/public "Dan Ige throws a jab at Damon Jackson. Credit to: Cageside Press.")

Ige has found victory in two of his last five bouts and holds wins over #14 ranked featherweight Edson Barboza (23-11-0), Gavin Tucker (13-2-0), and Damon Jackson (22-5-1). Ige is a brawler with serious power inside the pocket and excellent technical boxing. He uses great footwork and constantly varies his attacks, going to the head and body evenly. While he primarily uses his hands to land damage, he also possesses powerful kicks, which he’ll often throw naked or at the end of combinations. Ige throws every shot with power and deadly intent and has the one-shot knockout ability. Although more known for his striking, Ige has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has landed a takedown in seven of his eight victories in the UFC. While he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges, he has shown great defensive grappling and is always active on the ground, never staying in one spot.

Landwehr has won four of his last five fights, with wins over Darren Elkins (28-11-0), Ludovit Klein (19-4-1), and David Onama (10-2-0). Landwehr is a brawler who’s more than willing to eat a shot to land one. He’s always coming forward and pursuing a finish, using excellent clinch striking and becoming more dangerous as the fight continues. Landwehr does a great job of wearing his opponents out and making them fight his fight, turning every bout into a knock-down, drag-out affair. He’s also a solid grappler, averaging over one takedown landed per fight in the UFC and 86% takedown defense. He’s active on top, constantly looking to land ground and pound or secure a choke. Landwehr has shown good cardio and volume in his promotional tenure, averaging about 85 strikes landed in his last four wins. 

## Mike Malott vs. Adam Fugitt

![malott1.jfif](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f2dc21d7-098e-4c40-289d-adfe2dca8900/public "Mike Malott cracks Mickey Gall with a hook. Credit to: ESPN.")

Malott is undefeated in his last five bouts, with his UFC victories coming over Mickey Gall (7-5-0) and Yohan Lainesse (9-2-0). Malott is dangerous on the feet with a solid kicking game and one-shot knockout power. He’s very technical and accurate, throwing every shot with purpose and plenty of power. He has great footwork and typically throws in combination, supplying his opponent with a healthy dose of hooks and overhands. Malott also does an excellent job of entering and exiting the pocket, often able to land and return to the outside before his opponent can return fire. He’s a solid grappler with good wrestling and tremendous pressure on top. Similar to his striking, he stays technical and patient on the ground, looking for openings and quickly advancing position. 

Fugitt has found victory in four of his last five outings, with his UFC win coming over Yusaku Kinoshita (6-2-0). Fugitt is a classic Muay Thai striker who starts aggressively, usually opening up the fight with a handful of kicks.  Despite this aggression, he stays technical and constantly feints and changes angles. He always keeps his guard tight and presses forward, looking for openings to land big shots. Fugitt has shown a solid chin and uses his length to his advantage, often landing damage from the outside, but he has excellent clinch striking. He is a solid wrestler, often using trips or clinch takedowns to get the fight to the mat. When on the ground, he has good top control as well as ground and pound and will grab a choke if the opportunity is presented. 

## Beneil Dariush vs. Charles Oliveira

![dariush1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16ad0271-12e9-4eb7-92c1-dd3e49d0cc00/public "Beneil Dariush attempts a heel hook on Tony Ferguson. Credit to: MMA Mania.")

Oliveira has won four of his last five outings, with title victories against #5 ranked lightweight Michael Chandler (23-7-0), #2 ranked lightweight Dustin Poirier (28-7-0), and #3 ranked lightweight Justin Gaethje ((23-4-0) say what you want, this was a title defense). Oliveira could be the most well-rounded fighter of all time, with some of the most deadly BJJ in the UFC and absolute bricks for hands. It truly doesn’t matter where the fight ends up; his opponent is never safe, whether he’s on top, bottom, or standing up. While he established himself as a submission artist, Oliveira has rounded out his game, adding some excellent Muay Thai to his skillset. Averaging over two takedowns landed per fight and nearly three submission attempts per fight; it’s given to see grappling in an Oliveira fight. Training at Chute Boxe, he has proven his ability to stay calm in deep waters, regularly getting dropped in his fights only to come back and find a way to win. 

Dariush has won all of his last five bouts, coming into this fight on an eight-fight win streak with victories over #7 ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (22-2-0), Tony Ferguson (26-8-0), Diego Ferreira (17-5-0). Dariush is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC, holding black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Dariush is more than willing to brawl on the feet, regularly getting into slugfests and hanging in the pocket to land big shots. Training at Kings MMA, Dariush will throw kicks when at range and also has some solid knees in the clinch. Averaging about two takedowns landed per fight, and one submission attempted per fight, his easiest route to victory is likely grappling, possessing excellent top control and wrestling. Dariush will shoot for takedowns in the open but stays patient on top, never putting himself in compromising positions. He also has excellent takedown defense, defending 81% of takedowns attempted on him during his 7-year UFC tenure.

## Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana

![aldana1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/da53aaca-4723-482c-331f-cdd33407df00/public "Irene Aldana lands a body shot on Ketlen Vieira. Credit to: Zuffa LLC.")

Aldana has won 4 of her last five bouts and holds wins over #4 ranked Bantamweight Ketlen Viera (13-2-0),  #6 ranked bantamweight Yana Santos (14-6-0), and #8 ranked bantamweight Macy Chiasson (9-3-0). Aldana is about as pure of a boxer as you see in MMA these days, using practically just her hands and very rarely throwing kicks. Aldana is patient on the feet, never overextending or getting reckless, but puts power into each shot and doesn’t seem content to point fight. Her most dangerous weapon is her left hook, which she used to gain two first-round knockouts in her last three wins. Aldana isn’t the most physically intimidating, making her power a bit deceptive, as it seems opponents don’t give her the respect she deserves, then wake up on the mat. Training at Lobo Gym MMA, she makes great use of footwork and head movement to avoid damage while averaging over five significant strikes landed per minute.

Coming into this bout with four wins in her last five appearances, Nunes hasn’t fought for anything other than a title in 7 years. Holding wins over legends such as Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko, Nunes has placed herself firmly at the head of the sport. Training with Team Nunes, she is excellent in practically every facet of the sport. She possesses one-shot KO power and a dangerous submission game, so she can finish the fight anywhere. With five of her ten title victories ending in the first round, Nunes is typically a quick starter and wastes no time landing damage on her opponent. While incredibly dangerous on the feet, she averages over two takedowns landed per fight and will throw brutal ground and pound before pursuing submissions. Nunes holds a plethora of UFC records, including but not limited to; most wins in women’s title fights, most finishes in women’s history, and the longest combined UFC title reign at 3599 days. 


## Best Bets:

Malott vs. Fugitt does not go the distance.

Ige by knockout or decision.

Nunes by Submission.

UFC 289 Preview

Liam Lindsay

The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team Mcgregor vs. Team Chandler episode 2 just aired, and it was an eventful one. You're in the right place if you have yet to see episode 2 or want to check the results, so let's recap the full episode.

## Timur Valiev Denied His Fight

The episode started unusually to most others, starting directly on the day of the fight that was supposed to go down between Mcgregor's #2 Bantamweight Trevor Wells and Chandler's #3 Bantamweight Timur Valiev. While warming up for his fight, Valiev was interrupted by Chandler, who had just been told by Commissioner Jeff Mullen his fight was off due to Wells suffering from a cold sore. Valiev was disappointed but took the news well, and the team agreed they'd reschedule the fight at a Catchweight in the future. 

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeChandlerMMA/status/1666266510451519488?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```
Instead, this episode will feature Mcgregor's #1 ranked Bantamweight, Mando Gutierrez, against Chandler's #4 Bantamweight, Cody Gibson.

## Training: Team Mcgregor

Mcgregor's team assists Gutierrez, attempting to gameplan for Gibson, who has a height and reach advantage. Mcgregor drills Gutierrez always to keep his feet moving, and he practices grappling with John Kavanagh and imitates sparring with Mcgregor.

## TUF House: Roberts Isn't Fond of Quiñones

Inside the house Roosevelt Roberts, the winner of the last episode, and Landon Quiñones engage in a verbal altercation, with Roberts displaying his displeasure with Quiñones' attitudes towards the veterans of the sport. 

## Training: Team Chandler

Gibson expresses his pleasure in working with Team Chandler, loving the advice he's received from Chandler, Bader, Drysdale, and Strout. They exceeded his expectations as coaches, and he believes he feels part of the team. Chandler and Bader drill wrestling positions with Gibson, and they work on utilizing his range in his striking sessions. Gibson states his game plan is to put heavy pressure on Gutierrez and drown him in deep waters. Chandler agrees and says the only man that can beat Gibson on the night is himself. 

![cody-gibson-lockerroom.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22bc5a2b-be26-4fab-2db4-bd190b867400/pub "Cody Gibson in his locker-room with Coach Chandler and Ryan Bader. Credits to: Ardi Dwornik - ESPN Press.")

## Weigh Ins

On weigh-in day, once again, Mcgregor does not show up to show his support. Chandler is there as per schedule. Mando Gutierrez weighs in at 135.5 lbs, and Gibson weighs in at 136 lbs. They both make the Bantamweight limit and after a firey face-off, the fight is on.

## Mando Gutierrez vs. Cody Gibson

**Result**: Cody Gibson def. Mando Gutierrez via TKO (switch knee to punches) at 3:24 of round 1.

**Division**: Bantamweight (135 lbs)

**Referee**: Jason Herzog

The fight was action-packed while it lasted. Gibson managed to pressure early, using his teeps to push Gutierrez back. Gibson pushes his opponent into the fence and lands some clinch shots before the break. Both men land some chopping leg kicks. Gibson lands some straight shots, including a right hand that hurts Gutierrez. One apparent factor in this fight is that Gibson's ability to listen to his coach is much more substantial than Gutierrez's. The fight concludes after Gutierrez's blitz missed, so Gibson takes an angle change and throws a flying switch knee, landing flush. He follows up with ground strikes, and Herzog waves the action off.

> He listened to our corner and finished him with a beautiful flying knee. He fought so much better than I think he even knew he could. - Michael Chandler

Gibson moves onto the semi-final round after securing a nasty flying knee KO and brings Team Chandler's record to 2-0, while Team Mcgregor falls to 0-2. The fight next week will be Aaron McKenzie vs. Austin Hubbard.

What did you think of this episode? Do you think Team Mcgregor will snap their losing streak next week? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts with a comment below.

TUF 31: Team Mcgregor vs. Team Chandler Episode 2 Results and Recap

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC returns to the great white north this week with pay-per-view action headlined by Amanda Nunes -323 taking on Irene Aldana +275 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This card also features a highly anticipated Lightweight showdown in the co-main event between former champion Charles Oliveira +129 and Beneil Dariush -145. I gave out all my predictions and bets for the entire card, so let’s get into it. 

**Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 6/6/2023 7:00 AM EST**

## Amanda Nunes -323 vs. Irene Aldana +275

The Women’s Bantamweight title is on the line in our main event. Amanda Nunes has shown that she is at the top of women’s MMA in every department with power in her hands and kicks to go with a dominant ground game. Irene Aldana is a solid boxer with good power, although she has been beaten in the physicality department and was out-struck by Holly Holm. 

 I understand many having the urge to go against Nunes again, with her having shown less dominance of late, but I still believe she should win this matchup as she has the striking and grappling advantage.
 
Pick: Nunes O/U: Over 2.5 

## Charles Oliveira +129 vs. Beneil Dariush -145

Explosive Lightweight action here that could determine the next challenger for the belt. Charles Oliveira is an all-action high-pace brawler with very high-level BJJ, which often deters opponents from attacking on the ground after hurting him. Beneil Dariush has worked his way to the top of the division using his high-level wrestling game and powerful striking, although I have slight concerns about his durability. 

I really like Dariush here as he has the perfect skill set to match up with Oliveira as he can hurt him in the striking and has the ground game to compete with him and even win in the grappling exchanges.

Pick: Dariush O/U: Under 2.5 

## Mike Malott -213 vs. Adam Fugitt +185

A Canadian Welterweight gets a chance to shine here on the main card. Mike Malott has shown to be a quick finisher, powerful boxing, and a solid submission game, although he has rarely gone past the first round leaving many questions. Adam Fugitt comes into this matchup fresh off a huge knockout as an underdog, although I believe his best work is done with his wrestling, where he has been able to takedown each of his UFC opponents.

This fight is sure to produce violence, and Malott could win early, but I believe if this fight gets into the later stages, it will be Fugitt who finds the finish, so I will bet his rounds 2 and 3 props. 

Pick: Fugitt O/U: Under 2.5 

## Dan Ige -238 vs. Nate Landwehr +210

Featherweight firefight here between veterans who are no strangers to bonus-winning performances. Dan Ige is a powerful boxer who has proven nearly impossible to finish. Nate Landwehr is a high pace action fighter with a tricky grappling game, although he lacks power in his hands, and I do not trust his durability. 

I’ve got Ige here, and I think he finishes the fight by knockout as Landwehr’s last two losses were by first-round knockout, and he was nearly finished against David Onama as well, and none of those opponents were on the level of Ige, who’s last two wins have come by knockout.

Pick: Ige O/U: Under 2.5 

## Eryk Anders +128 vs. Marc-Andre Barriault -145

A Middleweight matchup featuring one of several Canadians on the card takes place to open the pay-per-view. Eryk Anders is a powerful puncher with a solid wrestling game, although he is rather low-volume and tends to fade as fights go on. Marc-Andre Barriault is a well-rounded fighter with a high pace which he can often use to take over a fight late.

I’ll take Barriault here as I think he has a large cardio and output advantage that he will use to dominate the later stages of this fight. 

Pick: Barriault O/U: Over 2.5 

## Nassourdine Imavov -145 vs. Chris Curtis +128

Fun Middleweight clash here in the featured prelim. Nassourdine Imavov is a sharp striker who has struggled against higher volume and has concerns in the cardio department, although he is also very big for the weight class and knows how to use that size. Chris Curtis is a great counter striker with powerful hands, and he showed in his last fight against Kelvin Gastelum he can go at a very high pace, although he has had trouble tracking down opponents before. 

I’m picking Imavov here as I think he has a stylistic edge with his footwork and ability to control distance. 

Pick: Imavov O/U: Over 2.5

## Jasmine Jasudavicius +255 vs. Miranda Maverick -294

Flyweight grapplers collide here, looking to establish position in the division. Jasmine Jasudavicius is a grappler with a long reach, although she struggles when matched up with opponents who are comfortable grappling with her. Miranda Maverick has shown high-level potential at times in her UFC run, as she has a very high-level wrestling game and an aggressive striking attack that she can use to get in range, as she did against Sabina Mazo. 

I’ve used Maverick as a piece in several parlays as I have trouble seeing how she loses this matchup being the much better wrestler, and despite the reach disadvantage, I give her the striking edge as well.

Pick: Maverick O/U: Over 2.5 

## Aiemann Zahabi +108 vs. Aorqileng -122

Intriguing matchup here at Bantamweight featuring a familiar name in Canadian MMA. Aiemann Zahabi has bounced back well after a tough start to his UFC run showing solid counterstriking and a decent grappling game. Aorqileng is a decent striker, although he struggles to find the finish and often slows as the fight goes on. 

This fight is tough to call, and I expect it to be a close decision either way, but I’ll give the slight edge to Aorqileng.

Pick: Aorqileng O/U: Over 2.5 

## Blake Bilder -233 vs. Kyle Nelson +200

Solid clash here at Featherweight between two men at very different stages in their careers. Blake Bilder is undefeated as a high pace, well-rounded fighter, although he has often been hurt even in his wins. Kyle Nelson is a gritty wrestler with some decent power in his hands but lacks in cardio and pace. 

I’ll take Bilder here as a pick because I give him a cardio and pace edge, but I can’t bet him at this price because he has not shown enough to justify this number. 

Pick: Bilder O/U: Over 2.5 

## David Dvorak -312 vs. Steve Erceg +265

Veteran and newcomer clash here early on the card at Flyweight. David Dvorak is a good wrestler who has recently competed with some of the best in the division, although it did not go his way. Steve Erceg is a submission artist who has had an impressive run so far, finishing five opponents in the first round. 

I’ll pick Dvorak here as I give him the edge in the striking and wrestling, so I expect him to defend the submissions and win the minutes.

Pick: Dvorak O/U: Over 2.5

## Diana Belbita -104 vs. Maria Oliveira -109

Strawweights looking to get back into the win column open card here. Diana Belbita is an aggressive striker who works the body well with a long reach, and she showed solid takedown defense in her last fight. Maria Oliveira is a striker with good movement, although she lacks much pop to her punches and struggled greatly when put on her back by Vanessa Demopoulos. 

I’ll lean with Belbita here as I think she can use her length to maintain distance and win a close decision. 

Pick: Belbita O/U: Over 2.5

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Beneil Dariush 

Diana Belbita

Dan Ige by KO/TKO 

Adam Fugitt Round 2/ Round 3

Chris Curtis vs Nassourdine Imavov Over 2.5 + Amanda Nunes

Dan Ige + Beneil Dariush

Miranda Maverick + Beniel Dariush

Miranda Maverick + Dan Ige 

UFC 289 Predictions

Taylor Dow

Heading into UFC 289 this weekend, GWOAT and double champion Amanda Nunes puts her belt on the line in Vancouver against Mexican stand-out Irene Aldana. As well as becoming a champion at 2 weights simultaneously, Nunes became a 2x champion when she regained her belt against Julianna Peña in July of 2022. So that begs the question: who else in the Women's divisions has won a UFC title more than once? Let us look through the history books and see.



## Carla Esparza

![esparza.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8555f794-7b1a-42fb-6d68-25abdeefa100/public "Carla Esparza becomes a 2x UFC champion. Credit: GETTY Images.")

Esparza was the inaugural Strawweight champion when the division opened in 2015 following a season of The Ultimate Fighter in which she won. However, this glory didn't last long for Esparza, as Joanna Jędrzejczyk was waiting in the wings to be her first title defense. Then, Jędrzejczyk would snatch the title from Esparza in one of the shortest title reigns in UFC history and dominate the division for around 3 years. The belt would change hands 4 times in the following years until it ended up being held by Rose Namajunas, a former opponent of Esparza, whom she beat to win The Ultimate Fighter and the inaugural belt. The rematch was lackluster and often criticized as one of the worst fights in UFC history. However, in the end, Carla Esparza would get her hand raised and be able to call herself a 2x UFC champion.


## Rose Namajunas

![rose.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/86d53147-fc23-4df0-e7a7-f635db3fa400/public "Rose Namajunas becomes a 2x champion with her KO win over Zhang Weili.")

Namajunas secured her first UFC title with a massive upset KO win over Joanna Jędrzejczyk in 2018. She then defended her title in the immediate rematch to silence the doubters and become a defending champion. Namajunas went on to hold the title until mid-2019 when she faced 
Jéssica Andrade and lost by brutal slam knockout in the second round. Andrade would quickly lose the title to Zhang Weili by first-round knockout, which set up Namajunas for a shot to regain the title she worked so hard to get. In Namajunas' second title shot, she shocked the world again when she scored a head-kick knockout over Zhang in just 1 minute, regaining her title and becoming the first 2x champion in Women's UFC history. 



## Zhang Weili

![zhang.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/598a8b73-f8db-40ee-e1fd-371c0e142900/public "Zhang Weili earns her first UFC championship with a 42-second KO over Jéssica Andrade. Credit: Xinhua.")

As mentioned, Zhang won her first UFC title when she knocked out Jéssica Andrade in just 42 seconds. Zhang then returned with one of the greatest fights of all time against Joanna Jędrzejczyk, winning by a split decision to defend her title. But, unfortunately, her next fight didn't go her way as she was finished in the first round by Rose Namajunas with a vicious head-kick that rendered her unconscious. As the Strawweight title began to change hands furiously, Zhang continued on her warpath for gold and found herself in her second title shot against the new champion, Carla Esparza. Zhang dominated Esparza for 6 minutes until locking in the rear-naked choke submission and walking away as a 2x Strawweight champion.

## Amanda Nunes

![nunes.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/213ae72d-cc9f-4599-07cf-d4b8081bfc00/public "Amanda Nunes celebrates with her 2 belts. Credit: Getty Images.")

Amanda Nunes has solidified herself as the most remarkable woman of all time in the world of combat sports. She has held and defended 2 belts at different weight classes many times and ran through all the competition she has been up against. Nunes won her first title at UFC 200 against Meisha Tate with a first-round knockout where she left Tate bloodied and broken. Then, after 3 consecutive title defenses, Nunes decided to challenge Cris Cyborg for the Featherweight title; as Cyborg was struggling to find opponents, Nunes knew without a doubt that she would be the one to dethrone Cyborg, and in 51 seconds, she did just that. After 2 title defenses at Featherweight and 2 at Bantamweight, Nunes took on Julianna Peña for the Bantamweight championship, and Peña did what she said she would do and brought the fight to Nunes and made it a war, scoring the upset victory and becoming a UFC champion in the process. The 2 women went on to be opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter to promote their rematch. When the rematch came around, Nunes put on one of the most one-sided beatdowns the UFC has seen, dominating Peña for all 5 rounds and deciding not to finish her just to beat her up even more. Finally, Nunes received the victory, her belt back, and the ability to call herself a 2x champion.



A look at every Woman that has won a UFC championship more than once

A huge fight in the Middleweight division has just been announced. Chris Weidman will return from a 28-month layoff to face Brad Tavares on August 10th at UFC 292, per Mark La Monica via NewsdayMMA.

**This bout takes place in the Middleweight (185 lbs) division.**

Chris Weidman holds a professional record of 15-6 (11-6 UFC) and is unranked in the Middleweight division. He holds notable wins against Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Kelvin Gastelum.

Brad Tavares is also unranked in the Middleweight division, holds a professional record of 19-8 (14-8 UFC), and has credible wins over Omari Akhmedov, Krzysztof Jotko, and Phil Baroni.

**Official odds have yet to be released.**

Chris Weidman hasn't fought since April 2021. He fought Uriah Hall in a rematch after beating him in 2010, and the bout was highly anticipated. However, Weidman would cruelly snap his leg on a checked kick from Hall just seventeen seconds into the bout. It was one of the nastiest injuries we've ever seen in an MMA octagon before, and the road to recovery has been lengthy. Finally, however, "The All-American" will return to action after nearly two and a half years. The years have been cruel to Weidman, having only secured two wins in his last eight matches. He'll be looking to use his wrestling advantage to secure the victory in his return.

![weidman-snap.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/71bf6764-cf3d-4231-1bac-2c5e683aa400/pub "Chris Weidman snapping his leg on Uriah Halls shin at UFC 261. Credits to: Jasen Vinlove - USA TODAY Sports.")

Brad Tavares is one of the most tested veterans in the division. He's fought some of the division's greats, like Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Yoel Romero. But, recently, he's fallen to a two-fight losing streak, losing back-to-back battles against Dricus du Plessis and Bruno Silva. He'll be looking to use his well-rounded game to turn back Weidman and secure his fifteenth UFC victory.

![war-tavares.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/af5d0a19-3d72-445c-1d7f-b259b0fa6800/pub "Brad Tavares and Dricus du Plessis after their Fight of The Night at UFC 276. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

This is an all-veteran matchup in the Middleweight division, with the winner likely securing a ranking inside the top-15. So who do you have winning this matchup? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction with a comment below.

Chris Weidman Returns From Two-Year Layoff to Face Brad Tavares

The first non-title Flyweight main event since 2017 did not disappoint, pitting together #3 ranked Kai "Don't Blink" Kara-France and #7 ranked Amir "The Prince" Albazi. The action was heated, but in the end, Albazi was awarded the highly controversial split decision on the scorecards. 

Let's examine the decision round by round and break it down. Then we'll compare the judges' scorecards to the Verdict Scorecard and ultimately see who should've won this fight.

## Official Judges: Michael Bell, Sal D'Amato, Chris Lee.

![3.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1e58d143-e86a-4d10-7d43-2ef91aff1900/pub "The official Judges' Scorecard for Kara-France vs. Albazi.")

![Group 30.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4b8b210c-d873-4a13-cf0f-9b6398c36e00/pub "The Verdict Scorecard for Kara-France vs. Albazi.")

## Round 1

The first round was a feeling-out process for both men. Albazi, who pressured heavily throughout the entire round, stung Kara-Frace with a lead hook early. All that was landed in the first three minutes were leg kicks, mainly for Kara-France, and some glancing blows from both men. Albazi also attempted a takedown but was unable to secure it. In the last two minutes, KKF picked up the pace, landing multiple jabs, leg kicks, and hooks, some landing on Albazis' guard and others just poking through. KKF finished the round strong with the best shot of the round, a straight right directly through the guard—a close round with a strong finish for the Kiwi.

**Judges Scorecards: Chris Lee and Michael Bell 10-9 Kara-France, Sal D'amato 10-9 Albazi.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.77-9.26 Kara-France.**

## Round 2

The closest round of the fight began with Albazi returning to the pressure, but Kara-Frace was more willing to exchange. The first half of the round was strong for the Iraqi, who used his range nicely to score straights to the body, jabs, and leg kicks, with the occasional blitz from Kara-France. Albazi attempted another takedown at the midpoint of the round but was separated quickly by KKF. "The Prince" also landed multiple lead hooks, some of the most significant shots throughout the round. Albazi landed a tremendous counter right over the jab of Kara-France with a minute to go. The Kiwi finished strong with a long blitzing combination.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Albazi x3.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.54-9.48 Albazi.**

## Round 3

Round 3 is Albazis' strongest round by a mile. No real offense is landed for the first minute, but the next three minutes are dominated by Albazi, who secures a takedown, control time, and nearly locks in a rear naked choke submission after taking the back. However, Kara-France survives the scare and gets to his feet before shaking Albazi off his back, delivering some nasty ground and pound elbows at the end of the round. It's a good rally for KKF, but a large portion of the round was all Albazi.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Albazi x3.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.8-9.22 Albazi.**

## Round 4

Now, moving on to one of Kara-Frances' best rounds. The Kiwi doesn't allow Albazi to take the center of the octagon and lands every time he presses forward. He lands multiple right hands on Albazi, who eats them well. He's also much more punctual with his jabs and leg kicks, two of his best strikes. Albazi attempts a takedown again, but KKF doesn't sit still and scrambles back to his feet quickly. In the closing seconds of the round, Kara-France secured his first takedown, stamping the round nicely.

**Judges Scorecards: Michael Bell and Sal D'Amato 10-9 Kara-France, Chris Lee 10-9 Albazi.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.87-9.14 Kara-France.**

## Round 5

The final round saw both men ramp up the output. A massive right-hand gets through for Kara-France about a minute into the round. Albazi manages to wrap his hands around KKF but can't keep him on the ground and separates. Both men unload on each other throughout the round, but the Kiwi is the much busier fighter and frequently throws combinations. Kara-France lands some laser-focused jabs, and in the closing seconds, both men land some big shots, but again it's KKF with the volume.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Kara-France x3.**

**The Verdict Scorecard: 9.9-9.1 Kara-France.**

## Official Scorecards:

**Michael Bell: 48-47 Kara-France, Chris Lee 48-47 Albazi, Sal D'Amato 48-47 Albazi.**

**Official Result: Amir Albazi def. Kai Kara-France via split decision.**

## Verdict Scorecard:

**Kai Kara-France def. Amir Albazi - Final Score: 48.24-46.84 Kai Kara-France.**

Once again, the Verdict Scorecard disagrees with the decision. Despite some close rounds, the Verdict Scorecard has Kara-France clearly winning the fight. However, the judges' scorecards were very different, handing the win to Albazi via split decision.

How did you score the fight? Drop your scorecard in the comments below.

The Final Verdict: Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi

UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs. Albazi Post-Fight Results



## Early Prelims

## Philipe Lins vs. Maxim Grishin

**Result:** Philipe Lins def. Maxim Grishin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27.)

**Division:** Light Heavyweight

**Referee:** Dan Mirgliotta


These two men engage in a clinch-heavy fight. Lins landed the bigger shots at a higher rate and controlled most of the grappling. I had Lins winning 30-27, and the ringside judges also had it unanimous for Lins with two 29-28s and a 30-27. Lins increases his win streak and could be a problem at Light Heavyweight moving forward.



## Luan Lacerda vs. Da'Mon Blackshear

**Result:** Da'Mon Blackshear def. Luan Lacerda by TKO at 3:52 of round 2.

**Division:** Bantamweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni


After the first round, Lacerda is already looking sloppy and slow. After some wrestling and submission attempts take place in round 2, Blackshear finds himself on top with Lacerda attacking a leg; as Lacerda's arms are unable to protect himself, Blackshear rains down the ground and pound for the TKO stoppage at 3:52 of round 2.




## Elise Reed vs. Jinh Yu Frey

**Result:** Elise Reed def. Jinh Yu Frey by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)

**Division:** Women's Strawweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

This fight is very close; either woman could be up on the scorecards. I have Reed up 2-1. We go the distance after 3 hard-fought rounds, and all 3 judges agree on a 29-28 unanimous decision to Elise Reed.





## Jamie Mullarkey vs. Muhammad Naimov

**Result:** Muhammad Naimov def. Jamie Mullarkey by knockout at 2:59 of round 2.

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Herb Dean

WHAT A COMEBACK! WHAT AN UPSET! The biggest underdog on the card cashes with a big knockout in the second round. Tajikistan is going crazy right now. After a big first round from Mullarkey, Naimov lands a huge counter shot while moving backward at 2:59 of round 2 in his short-notice debut.





## John Castaneda vs. Muin Gafurov

**Result:** John Castaneda def. Muin Gafurov by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27.)

**Division:** Bantamweight

**Referee:** Chris Tognoni

Castaneda dropped Gafurov in the first and was close to a finish. Gafurov spent most of the fight throwing technique out the window and focusing on huge shots instead. This fight has been an all-out war. Gafurov loses a point for leading with his head and causing a clash. I scored the fight 2-1 Castaneda, and the round Gafurov won was a 9-9 with the point deduction. All 3 judges agree for a unanimous decision to Castaneda. Despite the loss, Gafurov showed promise and proved he belongs in the UFC.





## Andrei Arlovski vs. Don'Tale Mayes

**Result:** Don'Tale Mayes def. Andrei Arlovski by knockout at 3:17 of round 2.

**Division:** Heavyweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Arlovski picks Mayes apart for most of the fight, with illusive movement, and it's clear Mayes is struggling to get in. Until halfway through round 2, Mayes rocks and drops the 44-year-old veteran and follows up with ground and pound, ultimately finishing the fight. Mayes gets the biggest win of his career, and Arlovski enters a list of only 2 people who have crossed over 40 UFC fights, the other being Jim Miller.



## Daniel Santos vs. Johnny Muñoz

**Result:** Daniel Santos def. Johnny Munoz via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27.)

**Division:** Bantamweight

**Referee:** Herb Dean

The featured bout of the evening for the Prelim portion of the card begins here—a fun fight from both men, with great striking, submission attempts, and a frantic pace. Daniel Santos is deducted a point, nearly losing him this fight, but ultimately the judges give him the unanimous decision, 3 rounds to none.




## Main Card


## Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

**Result:** Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Abubakar Nurmagomedov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28.)

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Dan Mirgliotta

Dos Santos shows some impressive defense in the clinch to nullify the wrestling approach from Nurmagomedov. Most of the fight is contested on the feet, and dos Santos showcases incredible leg kicks. Dos Santos has his best round in the third and final round, landing brutal knees and punches. Dos Santos gets the nod via split decision, and I agree. I had him 2-1, landing the more significant damage.




## Karine Silva vs. Ketlen Souza

**Result:** Karine Silva def. Ketlen Souza by submission at 1:45 of round 1.

**Division:** Women's Flyweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

A freaky fast finish here! Silva gets the tap on her first submission attempt of the fight and continues her record of all finishes (16 of 16). Karine Silva will be a massive problem for the Women's Flyweights. Silva gets the leg lock submission at 1:45 of round 1. This submission is the fifth leg lock submission in Women's UFC history.




## Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano

**Result:** Tim Elliott def. Victor Altamirano by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28.)

**Division:** Flyweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith

Elliott maintains the heavy wrestling over 3 rounds to steal the unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28.) Elliott racks up over 10 minutes of top control time in one of his most dominant wins.




## Jim Miller vs. Jesse Butler

**Result:** Jim Miller def. Jesse Butler by knockout at 0:23 of round 1.

**Division:** Lightweight

**Referee:** Dan Mirgliotta

Jim Miller wastes no time with a quick, brutal knockout that leaves Butler unconscious scarily long. The 2 men begin brawling; however, Miller gets the better of the exchange and lands a monstrous hook that sends Butler astro traveling. As a result, Jim Miller extends his record for most fights in UFC history (42) and takes the top spot for most wins (25). This finish is the fastest of Jim Miller's career.




## Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda

**Result:** Alex Caceres def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)

**Division:** Featherweight

**Referee:** Mark Smith


An easy Fight of the Night here; these men are throwing down. Pineda is beginning to look tired and desperate the later the fight goes. Ultimately, Caceres wins the unanimous decision.


## Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi

**Result:** Amir Albazi def. Kai Kara-France by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47.)

**Division:** Flyweight

**Referee:** Herb Dean



This fight is a chess match of striking between these 2 men. Kara-France is waiting to counter, and Albazi is waiting to back him to the cage to land a big shot. Thus far, the combinations from Kara-France are winning him the fight. Albazi took the back during round 3 and nearly secured the rear naked choke submission, but Kara-France fought it off and ended up on top, landing big elbows to close out the round. After a hard-fought battle from both men, Kara-France is clearly up on the strikes and damage; however, the judges somehow award the split decision to Amir Albazi. Albazi had 6 minutes of control time and next to no damage. The VerdictMMA community scored the fight 48.26-46.83 Kai Kara-France. Regardless of how we scored it, Albazi belongs at the top of the Flyweights.

UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs. Albazi Post Fight Results

Rafael Fiziev is ranked #6 in the Lightweight division and holds a professional record of 12-2 with nine finishes. He's one of the most exciting strikers in the division, coming off a close fight against the #3 ranked Justin Gaethje at UFC 286, and it's getting to the point where we should be expecting a fight announcement soon. Let's look at some likely opponents for his next bout.

## Mateusz Gamrot

The most viable opponent for Fiziev's next bout is the #7 Lightweight Mateusz "Gamer" Gamrot. Gamrot is a talented grappler fighting out of Poznań, Poland, with a professional record of 22-2. His most notable UFC moments come against his high-level fights vs. Beniel Dariush, Arman Tsarukyan, Guram Kutateladze, and Jalin Turner. Furthermore, he's also a former KSW double champion, holding belts in both the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions.

The two are both extremely talented Lightweights, and you can expect the stereotypical "striker vs. grappler" matchup here, albeit at the very highest level. Both fighters have agreed to fight on Twitter, including accepting five rounds.

![mateusz-gamrot-vs-jalin-turner.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5b00059f-c4c0-4914-cc3f-384825d10f00/pub "Mateusz Gamrot going to war against Jalin Turner at UFC 285. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

## Arman Tsarukuan

Another fighter currently tearing through the Lightweights is Arman "Akhalkalakets" Tsarukyan, ranked #8 in the Lightweight division. The Armenian only has UFC losses to the current Champion, Islam Makhachev, and prior mentioned Mateusz Gamrot. He's an elite wrestler with dangerous striking, including a lethal rear-body kick. Tsarukyan holds wins over Damir Ismagulov, Joel Alvarez, and Matt Frevola, and if he can get through his next fight against Joaquim Silva, he'll be eyeing a highly-ranked fight next.

This fight would be a massive treat for the fans, and the winner would factor in nicely to receive a top-5 opponent next.

![arman-tsarukyan-vs-mateusz-gamrot.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fa08e4b4-8422-4a66-1283-a2aa72d5bd00/pub "Arman Tsarukyan landing a spinning back kick to the body of Mateusz Gamrot in their main event clash. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

## Winner of Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker

Another possible matchup for Fiziev is the winner of the fight between Turner and Hooker. The two are scheduled to face each other on the mard card of UFC 290. Turner ranked #10, is a dangerous finisher with heavy hands and slick submissions. Hooker is a hard-hitting veteran with eighteen career finishes, most known for his highlights in 2020, where he secured back-to-back fight of the year contenders vs. Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier.

Either man would be a welcome challenge for Rafael Fiziev. The matchup would be a barn burner, with all three fighters being incredibly talented and powerful strikers.

![jalin-turner-vs-brad-riddell.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c68b198b-32f9-46c4-0198-9e91efacb500/pub "Jalin Turner submitting Brad Riddell at UFC 276. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

We've listed some opponents here, but who would you like Fiziev to face next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts by dropping a comment below.

Rafael Fiziev Next Fight in The UFC

Odds have been released for the rumored Heavyweight matchup between rising contender Jailton Almeida and tested veteran Curtis Blaydes. This main event fight is set for November 4th in Sau Paulo, Brazil. 

**Odds Provided by Virgin Bet accurate as of 6/2/2023** 

## Current Odds: Jailton Almeida -350, Curtis Blaydes +280

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $350 to win $100 on Jailton Almeida, meanwhile, a $100 bet on Curtis Blaydes would win $280.  

This matchup is a massive test for Jailton Almeida as he takes the next step up in competition on his impressive run. Almeida is coming off his dominant main-event win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Charlotte just weeks ago. Curtis Blaydes will look to bounce back from a loss to Sergey Pavlovich earlier this year when he was knocked out in round one.

## Past Odds: Jailton Almeida

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Jailton Almeida (-450) vs. Jarizinho Rozenstruik (+400) UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Rozenstruik – Win

Jailton Almeida (-925) vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov (+725) UFC 283 – Win 

Jailton Almeida (-605) vs. Anton Turkalj (+505) UFC 279 – Win 

Jailton Almeida (-450) vs. Parker Porter (+380) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Viera – Win 

Jailton Almeida (-355) vs. Danilo Marques (+320) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland – Win 

## Past Odds: Curtis Blaydes

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Curtis Blaydes (-155) vs. Sergey Pavlovich (+145) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Pavlovich – Loss

Curtis Blaydes (+125) vs. Tom Aspinall (-135) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall – Win 

Curtis Blaydes (-525) vs. Chris Daukaus (+450) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Daukaus - Win

Curtis Blaydes (-305) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+275) UFC 266 – Win 

Curtis Blaydes (-385) vs. Derrick Lewis (+345) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis - Loss

Do you think oddsmakers are putting too much stock in Jailton Almeida already? Let us know in the comments below. 

Brad Katona