Abdullah Ouazri

"**@Dana White**  *no bullshit, no politics, no nonsense.
Give me Prochazka and I'll give you the biggest MMA fight in Europe's History. Unlike him I always keep my word.*" - Jan Blachowicz via Twitter

This tweet came from former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz (29-9) earlier today. He demanded a fight with Prochazka and insinuated that the champion did not keep his word. He was referring to an interview where Prochazka said he only wanted to fight the toughest challenges, as that was the samurai way. However he, later on, would say that he believes Blachowicz was a harder fight for him than Glover Teixeira, but would rather rematch the latter to right the wrongs of their 1st fight. 

Blachowicz took this personally and called it a violation of the samurai code. He believes he is the rightful number 1 contender and that Jiri is intentionally avoiding him. Another top Light Heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev (17-1), had some words for Blachowicz:

"*I already accepted to fight (Jan Blachowicz) New York, Vegas, doesn't matter . . . You lose your last 2 fights. A title shot is earned not given **@Dana White** cannot save you from me **@Mick Maynard** (UFC matchmaker) don't let this guy run from me. I'm going to stop this guy.*" - Magomed Ankalaev via Twitter

![2C6ACE8F-DA4B-41FB-ABCB-F84E7313FEBF.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e56bfa3c-b118-4868-49ba-6703af06c700/pub "Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 276. Credits to Jerome Miron USA-TODAY Sports.")

Magomed Ankalaev defeated Anthony Smith by 2nd round TKO at UFC 276 and has built up a 9-fight win streak inside the octagon. Naturally, he would not take lightly to someone believing that they should be ahead of him in the title conversation.

Blachowicz's last fight was called a 3rd round TKO over Aleksandar Rakic, however, there was controversy attached. The TKO came by way of injury as Rakic tore his ACL in the fight. Fans are split as to whether or not the win was deserved, but Blachowicz firmly believes he earned it along with a title shot.

Will Blachowicz get his title shot or will Magomed Ankalaev get his wish, and which would the Verdict Community rather see?

Jan Blachowicz Calls Out Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev Protests

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

It was certainly a night to remember at the UFC Apex, filled with finishes, standout performances, and two new Ultimate Fighter winners. Every single fight ended with a finish, only the 10th time this has happened in UFC history. The card started with a bang on the prelims, showcasing what was to come on the main card. Mayra Bueno Silva started the card off with unquestionably a controversial finish, but it went down as a first-round armbar for the Brazilian. Cory McKenna secured a slick Von Flue choke in the second round of her contest with Miranda Granger, Bryan Battle followed that with a brutal head kick knockout that left Takashi Sato out cold, and Michal Oleksiejczuk capped off the prelims by handing Sam Alvey his eighth loss in a row. While the expectations for the main card were high, they certainly delivered high-profile fights. 

Let’s recap what went down on the main card. 

## T-Wrecks Gets A Quick and Easy Submission

![686650A3-F94D-46B2-80F6-2CD2B150ECB9.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/eee2c125-a4c8-41fa-98cf-f2e24c826500/pub "Terrance McKinney sinks in a rear naked choke against Erick Gonzalez. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC")

Terrance McKinney kept the finish streak on the card going with a 2:42 rear naked choke of Erick Gonzalez. McKinney got off to a great start, finding his range, and working in some slick combinations. Gonzalez found a strong punch during an exchange that seemed to get McKinney’s respect, but McKinney jumped on the back of Gonzalez and locked in the rear naked choke. Terrance was a massive favorite, the biggest favorite on the card as a -950, and added another first-round finish to his resume. McKinney called out Paddy Pimblett in his post-fight interview, which could be another fantastic addition to the card in New York. 

## Serghei Spivac Dominates Augusto Sakai

![D41C319D-051F-4EE8-BCE2-D8D047849788.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6290f0a9-9cc1-409e-3db0-fb94b835b800/normal "Serghei Spivac reacts to defeating Augusto Sakai. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC")

Serghei Spivac entered the heavyweight rankings in a big way, dominating the fourteenth-ranked Augusto Sakai on the ground to secure a second-round TKO stoppage. Sakai seemed to have no answer to the wrestling of the Polar Bear, as Serghei landed six takedowns, had six and a half minutes of control time, and outstruck him 85-11. Spivac is yet another prospect in the heavyweight division that has gotten a big win within the last couple of weeks, and he certainly has a bright future. Another standout performance from Serghei Spivac tonight. 

## Two New TUF Winners Enter the Flyweight and Heavyweight Division

![DD5E3DCB-84CE-4047-AF9E-4885F80B9FD1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/18abe1fc-bd06-4eab-2a09-d4f700f7a400/pub "Julianna Miller reacts to winning The Ultimate Fighter finale. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC")

Season 30 was fortunate enough to feature both women’s flyweight and heavyweight athletes, and the season was filled with standout performances from the finalists in both divisions. Brogan Walker and Julianna Miller were the flyweight finalists, with Miller winning the finale and the UFC contract with an impressive performance. Miller defeated Claire Guthrie and Katilyn Neil in the house to earn a spot in the finale. Miller dominated the fight with her wrestling and control time and earned a late TKO into the third round. Four takedowns, almost ten minutes of control time, and nasty, nasty elbows and strikes from top mount gave JuJu the UFC contract she’s worked so hard for. Congratulations to Julianna Miller!

Immediately after, we had another TUF winner in Mohammad Usman, scoring a brutal knockout in the second round, leaving Zac Pauga out cold. In the first round, you could argue Zac had the speed advantage and was able to land more strikes, and seemed to get the edge on Usman. However, in the second, Usman landed a quick check hook that put Pauga down, and a monster shot put him unconscious. Mohammad earned wins over Mitchell Sipe and Eduardo Perez to earn his spot in the finale. Mohammad and his brother Kamaru, the current welterweight champion, become the first set of brothers to win The Ultimate Fighter in history, and Usman dedicated his performance to his son Nash, who tragically passed away a few years ago. Congratulations to Mohammad Usman!

## Geoff Neal’s Hands of Steel Hand Vicente Luque His First Knockout Loss

![D6774A48-C9F8-4A33-9ED9-5EDFAE282C10.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b44b7ab6-5c4e-48f2-e32e-56a9c93ffe00/pub "Geoff Neal hands Vicente Luque his first professional knockout loss. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC")

Geoff Neal looked fantastic in a slight upset win over the insanely durable Vicente Luque. After a very rough first round where Neal surprisingly dropped Luque once and hurt him multiple times, Luque seemed to rebound in the second round, evening the score at 19-19. However, in the third, Neal continued to press forward and landed several uppercuts that put Luque out. An astounding 1.1% of the Verdict Community picked Neal to win by third-round KO. Vicente Luque has been in several wars and is a very tough and durable fighter, but Geoff Neal possesses some crazy power and just stole Luque’s number six ranking in the best performance of his career. 

## "No Judges Needed In Las Vegas Tonight!”

![DE0DC615-42F3-4394-82D4-8E83D62F40FF.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c3d6ad63-5281-4f21-3215-29843a89bf00/pub "Jamahal Hill reacts to defeating Thiago Santos in the main event. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC")

Brendan Fitzgerald’s call at the end of Jamahal Hill’s fourth-round TKO of Thiago Santos was picture perfect, as all ten fights on this card ended via a stoppage. This fight was competitive until the very end, with both men swinging with intent in every punch, and we saw excellent exchanges on the feet, clinch work, and grappling. Santos was successful in finding some takedowns but wasn’t able to control him as Hill was so urgent to get back to his feet, and never settled being on the canvas. The problem was, that Santos showed visible fatigue from the intense grappling heavy approach, and that led to Hill securing the seventh TKO win of his career. Hill will enter the top ten next week, and look to challenge a top-five opponent next. 

It was the second time that a UFC card ended with a 100% finish rate, and seven TKO’s and three submissions capped off an excellent night of fights. Next week, we will have the opportunity to catch Bo Nickal, a former three-time All-American standout from Penn State headline the Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series card, with top fifteen bantamweights Marlon Vera and Dominick Cruz in the main event this Saturday in sunny San Diego. 

UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Hill Post Fight Review

Israel Adesanya confirmed to Sports Center that he will meet Alex Pereira for the 3rd time on November 12th at UFC 281, Madison Square Garden, New York.

These two have a long history with each other stemming all the way back to 2016. This was when their first fight would take place at Glory Kickboxing and Alex Pereira would win by unanimous decision. 

They would meet again the next year in order to settle their grudge. The outcome of the match has haunted Adesanya to this day. Alex Pereira knocked him out cold with a left hook in the 3rd round, becoming the first and only man to finish Adesanya across all combat sports.

This was Stylebender's final kickboxing fight as he transitioned to MMA full-time soon after. He would go undefeated for 20 professional bouts, capturing the middleweight title along the way before tasting defeat once again at the hands of Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya lost a unanimous decision to the Polish fighter at UFC 259 but has gone a perfect 3-0 since.

His last fight was a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 276, a fight card that also featured his rival, Alex Pereira. Alex was booked against #4 ranked Middleweight Sean Strickland on the main card. He made short work of him, knocking him out with his signature left hook in the first round, the same left hook he finished Adesanya with.

![BCA28B0F-1DD4-470F-A653-40C2680C1BAD.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4b90170c-7acf-405f-be6d-ef8bab8fff00/pub "Alex Pereira knocks out Sean Strickland at UFC 276. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie USA-TODAY Sports.")

If Alex Pereira wins here he will improve to 3-0 over Israel Adesanya across 2 different sports, and if Adesanya wins he will earn redemption 6 years in the making. 

Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira lll Set For UFC 281

Thiago Santos vs. Jamahal Hill goes down tomorrow, but there is one more task left at hand before the fights can begin, and that's weighing in. Let's see how the fighters did:

## MAIN CARD (10:00 PM EST on ESPN/ESPN+)

Thiago Santos (206) vs. Jamahal Hill (205)

Vicente Luque (170.5) vs. Geoff Neal (171)

Zac Pauga (239) vs. Mohammed Usman (236.5) 

Brogan Walker (125.5) vs. Juliana Miller (125) 

Augusto Sakai (260) vs. Sergey Spivac (249.5)

Priscila Cachoeira (125.5) vs. Ariane Lipski (128.5)*

## PRELIMINARY CARD (7:00 PM EST on ESPN/ESPN+)

Michal Oleksiejczuk (185.5) vs. Sam Alvey (186) 

Erick Gonzalez (155) vs. Terrance McKinney (155.5)

Bryan Battle (171) vs. Takashi Sato (170.5)

Josh Quinlan (169) vs. Jason Witt (170)

Miranda Granger (115.5) vs. Cory McKenna (115.5)

Stephanie Egger (134.5) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (135.5)

**Ariane Lipski missed weight by 2.5 lbs and will forfeit 20% of her purse to her opponent.*

UFC Vegas 59: Santos vs. Hill Weigh-in Results

Jack MacCool

This week is the week of The Ultimate Fighter.  UFC Vegas 59 will see Jamahal Hill take on Thiago Santos in a Light Heavyweight contender main event, and will also feature this year’s Ultimate Fighter season 30 finale.  The finale features two bouts, a Heavyweight fight between Mohammed Usman (undisputed Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman’s brother) and Zac Pauga, and a Women’s Flyweight fight between Brogan Walker and Juliana Miller.  Further down the card, last year’s Ultimate Fighter winner Bryan Battle makes his return to the Octagon to take on Takashi Sato.  Time will tell whether any of these Ultimate Fighters will have the intangibles and skill necessary to become a champion, but for now, their efforts on reaching the finale and potentially winning the show should not be disregarded.  All of this has laid the foundation for the theme of this article; the top 10 most successful Ultimate Fighter winners in the show’s illustrious history.  

## 10. Nate Diaz

While Diaz never reached the summit in terms of a championship, his ceiling has reached a higher point than 99.9% of the UFC roster ever will.  Not only is he a massive star within the MMA fanbase, but the Stockton, California native is one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in the sport as well, selling 1.5 million PPV Buys in his first match up with Conor McGregor, and 1.65 million in the rematch.  Nate’s UFC run began with his run on The Ultimate Fighter which saw him defeat Manvel Gamburyan in the second round.  From there Nate strung together wins along with losses, culminating in a title shot against Benson Henderson in 2012.  He would lose the title shot but his star continued to rise as fans fell in love with the legend from the 209. Nate has not fought since June of 2021 when he fell to Leon Edwards, but the former Ultimate Fighter winner has a massive fight booked against Khamzat Chimaev in what would appear to be his last fight for the promotion.  If Diaz can pull it off, well, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.

## 9. Ryan Bader

Ryan Bader’s Ultimate Fighter dream was realized when he knocked out Vinny Magalhaes in the first round at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir Finale.  After that, Bader had a very good run in the UFC, with wins over fighters like Rashad Evans, Rogerio Nogueira, and Quinton Jackson, but it was ultimately Bellator where he would see the most success.  He became a Bellator double champion, claiming both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight titles.  He defended his Light Heavyweight title once against Linton Vassell in 2017 but ended up losing the strap to Vadim Nemkov in 2020.  Currently, Bader still holds the Bellator Heavyweight title and most recently defended it against Cheick Kongo earlier this year.  

## 8. Forrest Griffin

In an article about The Ultimate Fighter winners, Forrest Griffin has to make the list.  He was a part of what many say is a fight that saved the UFC when he fought and beat Stephan Bonnar in The Ultimate Fighter’s first ever finale.  The fight was a barnburner from start to finish and captured the imaginations and hearts of many MMA fans and casual sports fans alike, leading to the growth of the UFC.  After his finale victory, Griffin had a tremendous run, losing only twice before he was selected for a title shot in 2008.  Griffin made use of the shot, and defeated ‘Rampage’ Jackson to claim the UFC’s Light Heavyweight title and add his name to the impressive list of fighters to hold that belt.  Unfortunately for Forrest, he lost the belt in his next fight against Rashad Evans but still managed to pick up wins over Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz twice since losing the title.  He last competed in 2012 but today serves as an ambassador for the UFC and the sport of MMA.

## 7. Rashad Evans

Speaking of Rashad Evans, he also is an Ultimate Fighter winner who made waves in the UFC. He won the show in 2005 when he beat Brad Imes in the Finale by split decision.  He then went unbeaten in his first seven UFC appearances, only fighting to a draw against Tito Ortiz at UFC 73.  He then violently knocked out Chuck Liddell to earn his title shot against the aforementioned Forrest Griffin.  He captured the title with an undefeated record and one of the best reputations in the game.  Like Forrest however, he was unable to defend the belt and lost it to Lyoto Machida in his first title defence.  From there Rashad never found his footing quite the same way, but again like Forrest, he is an excellent ambassador for the sport of MMA and does analytic work for many publications and productions.  

## 6. Matt Serra

When the UFC elected to make the newest Ultimate Fighter season “The Comeback” with the winner getting a guaranteed title shot, not many fans thought that Serra would be able to get his big break.  To the surprise of many, he won his way through the show, beating Pete Spratt, Shonie Carter, and Chris Lytle to become the Ultimate Fighter 4 Welterweight Tournament Champion.  With the win, he earned himself a shot at the then seemingly invincible Georges St. Pierre.  He not only beat ‘GSP’ but he destroyed him, knocking him out in the first round to secure one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport.  His next fight would be a rematch with St. Pierre a year later where he was knocked out in the second round.  He may not have had the highest pedigree career, but he is a champion forever and beating ‘GSP’ is enough to earn him the number six spot on this list.

## 5. Julianna Pena

Julianna Pena has made waves recently with her massive upset win over Amanda Nunes, and her first defence of her title that saw her solidify her toughness and championship medal to all MMA fans in a losing effort to Nunes.  Pena’s UFC run began under the supervision of Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter.  She flew through the competition, finishing all three of her opponents, two by sub and the last by knockout in the final.  From there, Pena’s career took a while to get going; she won three straight fights but then lost to Valentina Shevchenko in early 2017.  She then had to take two full years off due to injury, and won her return fight followed by a submission loss to Germaine de Randamie in her next outing.  She then beat Sara McMann by finish which led to her getting the title shot against Amanda Nunes, and we all know where it went from there.  

## 4. Michael Bisping

Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping is not only a legend of the Middleweight division, but a legend of the Ultimate Fighter as well.  His first experience with the show came as a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter season 3, Team Ortiz vs. Team Shamrock.  Like Pena, Bisping ran through the competition like a hot knife through butter, stopping all three of his opponents including Josh Haynes in the final.  At this point in time, Bisping competed in the Light Heavyweight division and it was not until his loss to Rashad Evans that he would move down to Middleweight.  Bisping’s next experience with The Ultimate Fighter would come as a coach opposite Dan Henderson.  The two would fight at UFC 100 where Henderson would score one of the most iconic knockouts in the history of the sport.  After the Henderson knockout, Bisping would end up coaching the show once again, opposite Jason Miller.  This time he would get the better of his coaching counterpart, knocking him out in round three of their finale bout.  During the next 5 years Bisping would trade wins and losses before putting together a three fight winning streak that he would parlay into a title shot on just 17 days' notice.  Shockingly, he would knock out the then champion Luke Rockhold in the very first round, claiming the belt and becoming Britain’s first UFC champion.  To make things even sweeter, ‘The Count’ would headline a show in his hometown of Manchester in his first title defence against a familiar foe–Dan Henderson.  Bisping avenged his first loss to Henderson with a unanimous decision win.  Today, Bisping does commentary and analysis for the UFC and has etched his name in history.  

## 3. Carla Esparza

Carla Esparza’s Ultimate Fighter tenure is a little bit different than most, as she claimed the inaugural Strawweight Championship as a result of the show.  Not only that, but her stoppage of Rose Namajunas in the show’s finale has aged more and more gracefully as time has gone on.  After her Ultimate Fighter victory, Esparza was unable to defend her title as she ran into the buzzsaw that is Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her first title defence.  From there, ‘The Cookie Monster’s’ career took a wild turn and eventually came full circle.  She lost to Randa Markos, then rattled off wins over Maryna Moroz and Cynthia Calvillo.  Then she lost two in a row to Claudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez by stoppage.  When many fans were counting her out, she put together a miraculous run back to the title, winning five straight before challenging for the title against who else but her old rival–Rose Namajunas.  This time Esparza was unable to secure the finish, but she did do just enough to take the title away from ‘Thug’ Rose to become a two-time Strawweight champion.  Esparza is not only the second ever two-time female champion, but she also had the longest time between title reigns of any champion in the UFC’s history as well.  

## 2. Robert Whittaker

Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker not only has one of the coolest nicknames in the sport, but one of the best Middleweight resumes ever as well.  In 2012, Whittaker’s UFC dream was realized when he was casted for The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, which pitted eight Australian mixed martial artists against eight from the UK.  He would win his first two bouts on the show by knockout, then won a unanimous decision in the final against Brad Scott to claim the show’s crown.  To begin his UFC career Robert struggled, dropping two straight fights to Court McGee (another Ultimate Fighter winner) and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.  After the losses Whittaker won a fight against Mike Rhodes in June of 2014, followed by a move from Welterweight up to 185 pounds.  It was in the Middleweight division that he put together an epic run.  He would win his first eight fights in the weight class with wins over names such as; Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson and Jacare Souza.  Also included in the win streak were two EPIC fights with Yoel Romero in which Robert won both.  Unfortunately for ‘The Reaper’, he ran into ‘The Last Stylebender’ in late 2019 and lost his title.  He then put together three wins in a row over the top names in the division before losing a second fight against Adesanya in February of this year in a fight where some pundits thought he had done enough to win.  Whittaker may not have had the championship reign that some thought he would, but he reached the title level and has been a part of some wars that fans will always remember.  

## 1. Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman is without a doubt the most successful Ultimate Fighter winner in the show’s history.  He is currently scheduled to make the sixth defence of his heavily coveted Welterweight title and has only really had one or two tough fights in his UFC tenure.  He’s finished three of his title victories and has never been knocked down or taken down in his UFC career.  Not only that, but he has a chance to tie Anderson Silva’s win streak record of 16 should he defeat Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August.  With all of that said, Usman began his flawless UFC career in 2015 on The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians Finale.  In the finale, he captured an arm triangle finish over Hayder Hassan, solidifying himself as the best the season had to offer.  While he may not be on the level of George St. Pierre just yet as the greatest Welterweight to ever do it, he has big plans for the remainder of his career, and anyone who counts him out should remember–he’s made the walk 15 times, and all 15 times his bettors have cashed that ticket.  


Top 10 Most Successful Ultimate Fighter Winners of All Time

Heavy hitters collide this Saturday in the UFC Apex. Thiago Santos, top 5 in knockouts in UFC history, will meet the surging Contender Series alumn Jamahal Hill in the main event. The co-main has plenty of power as well between Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal. The main card also features the Ultimate Fighter Finale for Heavyweights and women's Flyweights. 

Let's take a closer look at the card:

## Thiago Santos (22-10) vs. Jamahal Hill (10-1) - Light Heavyweight

Thiago Santos is currently ranked #6 in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. His last fight was a 5-round unanimous decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev. Although he lost, he became the first and only man to drop Ankalaev in a fight, putting his power on display. Thiago has 11 UFC knockouts to his name, formerly tied for the most in history. This 1-punch KO power carried him to a title shot against Jon Jones in 2019. The bout was extremely close and went to a split decision that the judges would give to Jones. It was in this fight that Santos sustained major injuries to both knees and was forced out of action for over a year. He has gone 1-4 in his last 5 since.

Jamahal Hill is on a 2-fight knockout streak, scoring performance of the night finishes over Jimmy Crute and Johnny Walker. His last fight against Walker was a main event in February of this year, and he ended it in the first round. From his contender series debut to now, Hill has finished all but 1 of his 5 wins by knockout and looks to continue to do so. The lone loss in his career came by TKO to Paul Craig, and outside of it, he has been perfect in the octagon.

*The world's most common pick is Jamahal Hill by KO/TKO in round 2.*

## Vicente Luque (21-8-1) vs. Geoff Neal (14-4) - Welterweight

Vicente Luque is a powerful knockout artist on the feet with a dangerous submission game, scoring his last two wins by D'arce. He holds the record for 2nd most finishes in Welterweight history at 13. His last fight was a setback loss to Belal Muhammad, but he remains one of the most lethal fighters on the roster and even has a knockout win over the main event fighter Thiago Santos.

Geoff 'Hands of Steel' Neal lives up to the nickname with his own resume of knockouts. He's finished the likes of Mike Perry and Niko Price on his path to UFC contendership. The last time he fought was at UFC 269 in December of last year against Santiago Ponzinibbio. Neal won the fight by split decision.

*The world's most common pick is Vicente Luque by decision.*

## Mohammed Usman (7-2) vs. Zac Pauga (5-0) - Heavyweight

This fight will decide the next Ultimate Fighter as Mohammed Usman and Zac Pauga meet in the Heavyweight division. Usman has gone undefeated on The Ultimate Fighter season, picking up two wins en route to the finale. He will try to follow in the footsteps of his brother Kamaru Usman, the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Zac Pauga has plans to stop those aspirations on his own road to a UFC contract. The undefeated Heavyweight began his career in strong leagues such as LFA and Cage Warriors, which have produced many UFC champions over the years. He finished his last fight by knockout in the 2nd round on The Ultimate Fighter.

*The winner of this fight will be crowned The Ultimate Fighter of the Heavyweights.*

*The world's most common pick is Mohammed Usman by decision.*

## Brogan Walker (7-2) vs. Juliana Miller (2-1) - Flyweight

Brogan Walker is a perfect 2-0 this season and has already gathered a wealth of experience. She faced UFC fighters Erin Blanchfield and Miranda Maverick during her career in Invicta FC, even defeating the latter. This experience will be a great weapon as her opponent only has 3 professional fights.

As aforementioned, Juliana Miller is very much in the early stages of her career, with only 3 fights on her pro record. This does not mean a lack of combat experience though as she is a decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and has finished all of her wins by submission.

*The winner of this fight will be crowned The Ultimate Fighter of the female Flyweights.*

*The world's most common pick is Brogan Walker by decision.*

## Augusto Sakai (15-4-1) vs. Sergey Spivak (14-3) - Heavyweight

Augusto Sakai returns to action for the first time since December of last year. He has main evented twice in the UFC and possesses a dangerous standup game. Though it's usually his hands that do the talking, he has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt to rely on if the fight hits the ground. Unfortunately, he has lost his last 3 fights by KO/TKO, suffering losses at the hands of Tai Tuivasa, Jairzhinho Rozenstruik, and Alistair Overeem.

Sergey Spivak is a dangerous grappler that will look to take the fight to the mat at any given moment. He has an aggressive style and certainly looks to finish each time. His last win was a ground and pound TKO over Greg Hardy and he even has a win over top 5 Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa.

*The world's most common pick is Sergey Spivak by KO/TKO in round 2.*

## Ariane Lipski (14-7) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (11-4) - Flyweight

Ariane Lipski made headlines at Fight Island with a viral kneebar finish. She is adequately nicknamed 'The Queen of Violence'. Since the initial hype, she faced 2 losses but bounced back in a dominant win over Mandy Bohm. She will string together a winning streak if she earns a victory here.

Priscila Cachoeira is a veteran of the UFC and is 3-1 in her last 4 with two of those coming by knockout. She has been battle tested on numerous occasions and has shown heart. Her last fight was a fight of the night winner vs Ji Yeon Kim. She too is looking to put together a winning streak this weekend.

*The world's most common pick is Ariane Lipski by decision. *

UFC Vegas 59: Santos vs. Hill Pre-Fight Preview

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas this weekend for a showcase of two of the promotion's featured series, with The Ultimate Fighter finale fights taking place along with the card being headlined by Dana White's Contender Series standout Jamahal Hill -323 as he takes on former title challenger Thiago Santos +235. This card also features a clash of top-tier Welterweight strikers as Vicente Luque -196 squares off with Geoff Neal +150. 

**All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 5:00 PM EST 8/4/2022**

## Thiago Santos +235 Jamahal Hill -323

Our headliner features two powerful Lightheavyweights in a top ten matchup. Thiago Santos was once a boogeyman-type figure in this division with terrifying knockout power; however, in his last few showings, he has lost something. Jamahal Hill has been an excellent jolt for the division since he sparked top prospect Jimmy Crute, taking many by surprise, and he will look to continue his rise using the clean boxing that has earned him six knockouts in ten career wins. 

I'm taking Jamahal Hill here as I have a hard time seeing Santos outstrike him at this point in his career. I think this fight may go longer than some expect as Santos is very tough, and although Hill has knockout power, he can go rounds. 

Pick: Jamahal Hill O/U: Over 2.5 +134 

## Vicente Luque -196 Geoff Neal +150

This has fight of the night written all over it as two powerful strikers clash at Welterweight. Vicente Luque is one of the most violent men on the roster, and he has a well-rounded offensive attack along with a granite chin. Geoff Neal is a polished boxer with good defensive tendencies and sneaky high kicks. 

I will take Neal here as we have seen Luque make fights with good strikers close repeatedly, and I believe Neal is a good enough striker to win a close decision. I also like the over 2.5 rounds, as these two are very durable, and I see this fight being a close decision that gets to deep waters no matter who wins. 

Pick: Geoff Neal O/U: Over 2.5 -101

## Zac Pauga -263 Mohammed Usman +200

The Heavyweight finale of TUF 30 sees two team Pena teammates face off for the contract. Zac Pauga is well-rounded despite being undersized for the division, and he trains with one of the best camps in the world at Elevation Fight Team. Mohammed Usman is a powerful puncher, although he doesn't throw much volume and doesn't have great setups for his big shots. 

I like Pauga here, as I think he has the skills to dominate this fight everywhere it goes. I think Pauga will be able to see all of the big shots Usman throws and counter them with his speed advantage. 

Pick: Zac Pauga O/U: Over 2.5 -115

## Juliana Miller -127 Brogan Walker -101

In the Flyweight finale, we see a matchup of two women with very different paths to this opportunity. Juliana Miller has a very aggressive grappling attack, but she gets hit a lot in the standup. Brogan Walker is much more experienced, having already fought high-caliber UFC opposition, and she will have a significant advantage in striking. 

I am taking Brogan Walker here, and I'm not sure why she is the underdog, as I understand Miller has become a fan favorite; however, she is very young in her career and still has flaws. I feel Brogan Walker is much more prepared for this fight at this stage in her career. 

Pick: Brogan Walker O/U: Over 2.5 -385

## Augusto Sakai +200 Sergey Spivak -263

Here we get a fun Heavyweight brawl between two fighters looking for traction. Augusto Sakai was thrust into the top end of the division early, and he has significantly struggled since suffering three straight knockout losses. Sergey Spivak has a fantastic wrestling game with nasty ground and pound. 

I've got Spivak here, and I think he finishes Sakai however, this is a tough price for a Heavyweight fight which I already prefer to avoid. 

Pick: Sergey Spivak O/U: Under 2.5 -172

## Ariane Lipski -185 Priscila Cachoeira +143

This should be an excellent striking battle between Flyweight. Ariane Lipski is a sharp striker who has also shown off some crafty grappling. Priscila Cachoeira is also a striker with solid power and pressure; however, she is very hittable. 

I'll take Lipski here as I think she has the better striking and grappling is unlikely to come into the equation. No bet here from me, as this line is a bit wide for me to be confident in a play. 

Pick: Ariane Lipski O/U: Over 2.5 -192

## Michal Oleksiejczuk -667 Sam Alvey +420

Here we get a Middleweight matchup. Oleksiejczuk has spent most of his career at Lightheavyweight but will make a move down here, which I feel will suit him. Sam Alvey comes into this one-on without a win in his last eight fights and although many were close he has not looked very good.

I can't back a fighter on a streak like Alvey's one. The price is steep, so combining Oleksiejczuk with some of the other big favorites on the card is the best way to get value here.

Pick: Michal Oleksiejczuk O/U: Over 1.5 -167

## Terrance McKinney -1000 Erik Gonzalez +560

Terrance McKinney is back after another fun fight against Drew Dober as he takes on Erik Gonzalez. McKinney is a finisher of the highest order with knockout and submission ability that he has already shown against high-level competition. Gonzalez is coming off a knockout loss to Jim Miller in his UFC debut almost ten months ago. 

McKinney is a massive favorite here, so it is tough to get value out of him; even going with the round-one play is too steep. I found a round-one knockout line to play at over +200 but other than that, McKinney is tough to play. 

Pick: Terrance McKinney O/U: Under 1.5 -217

## Takashi Sato +210 Bryan Battle -286

Here we get the return of last season's TUF winner, moving down to Welterweight against veteran Takashi Sato. Sato is a solid striker but struggles with grappling and is unlikely to show improvement at this stage in his career. Bryan Battle is a good volume striker with a solid ground game to go with it. 

I'll take Battle here as I think he uses his grappling to win but could win the standup as well. This number is very steep for someone as untested as Battle. 

Pick: Bryan Battle O/U: Over 2.5 -147

## Jason Witt +185 Josh Quinlan -244

Josh Quinlan makes his debut off the contender series against UFC veteran Jason Witt. Witt has been up and down over his last few and it's tough to tell whether he will show up or not. Josh Quinlan is a powerful striker who has finished each of his professional wins. However, he is coming off a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs that overturned his contender series result. 

I've got Quinlan, as I think his physical advantages outweigh the experience advantage of Witt. I will not bet this, as it's a steep line for a guy coming off a suspension. 

Pick: Josh Quinlan O/U: Under 1.5 +120

## Cory McKenna -233 Miranda Granger +180

This is a Flyweight matchup between two women who could use this win early in their UFC careers. Cory McKenna is coming off a close loss to Elise Reed in which it felt like she had chances to win. Miranda Granger is coming off multiple losses as a favorite in which she has not looked as good as many had hoped. 

I'll go with Cory McKenna in this fight, as she can be a solid prospect in the Flyweight division. No bet, though, as I was burned by McKenna her last time out and have a hard time trusting her at this price. 

Pick: Cory McKenna O/U: Over 2.5 -312

## Mayra Bueno Silva +108 Stephanie Egger -137

A close matchup here at Bantamweight to start the night that began the week at a pick'em and has since shifted slightly. Mayra Bueno Silva is a skilled grappler with several submissions on her resume. Stephanie Egger is also a solid grappler with both submission and ground and pound skills. 

This line has moved in the direction of Egger all week, and I think that makes sense, as Egger has more ways to win. No bet from me, as any value that may have been there on Egger is gone. 

Pick: Stephanie Egger O/U: Over 2.5 -222

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

ML:

Geoff Neal +150

Zac Pauga -263

Brogan Walker -101

Props:

Vicente Luque Geoff Neal Over 2.5 -101

Geoff Neal by decision +390

Terrance McKinney Round 1 Knockout +215

Parlay:

Terrance McKinney, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Jamahal Hill -152

UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Hill Betting Preview

Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler is close to being finalized for UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden on November 12, but not yet a 'done deal' as per Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.

Poirier and Chandler have been in each other's crosshairs since Chandler made his UFC debut at UFC 257 in January of 2020. He sought out the Poirier fight immediately after, however, Dustin chose to have a trilogy with Conor McGregor instead.

Now in recent times, it has been the other way around with Poirier seeking a fight against Chandler. He has repeatedly taken to social media and interviews to call out 'Iron Mike.' His most recent headline involving Chandler happened at UFC 276 where Poirier initiated a verbal altercation in the stands, forcing security to intervene.

Chandler responded to the incident in an interview at UFC London last month. He explained that Dustin was simply trying to get a fight with him, but went about it the wrong way. This statement made it seem as though Chandler was still adamant about not fighting Poirier, but he later revealed that he had fight news and that it was "Probably Dustin Poirier." 

Poirier's last fight was a 3rd round rear-naked choke loss to Charles Oliveira last year at UFC 269 for the Lightweight title. He also defeated Conor McGregor twice in 2020 and then 2021, first by knockout and then by TKO due to a doctor's stoppage.

![E026126B-C0FA-41DC-B95B-113887519335.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/09fd21aa-4337-47ca-153a-6e9fa97aac00/pub "Dustin Poirier knocks out Conor McGregor at UFC 257. Credits to: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images")

Chandler, on the other hand, is riding the biggest win of his career after his last fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. He won the fight by KO via front kick in the 2nd round and is the front runner for Knockout of The Year.

Although it appeared doubtful as to whether we'd see these two fight, it seems that they will be given the chance to settle their grudge inside the octagon at UFC 281. 

Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler Nearly Finalized For UFC 281

The fighters showed out tonight on Dana White's Contender Series, win or lose. Perhaps the single greatest event in the show's history ended with every winner earning a UFC contract. 

Let's take a closer look at the card, top to bottom:

## Billy Goff vs. Shimon Smotritsky 

The two men involved in the opening act of the night wasted no time getting after it. The fight was a war that saw Goff get dropped by a head kick early on. After appearing to have been knocked out briefly, he recovered and unleashed a swarm of punches, forcing the referee to step in.

![3EC3687B-CCE7-4A23-A404-979632B210B6.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fb78b367-2387-414f-55bc-0b872d37ba00/pub "Billy Goff and Shimon Smotriysky go to war in the first fight of the night. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC")

**Final result: Billy Goff def. Shimon Smotritsky via TKO (punches) - Round 1 3:37**

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Danilo Suzart 

The lone Heavyweight fight of the night delivered on the expectations. Both men landed heavy strikes early on but it was the former LFA Heavyweight champion Waldo Cortes-Acosta that pulled away the win, earning a first-round TKO after finding his range and putting his opponent away with strikes. 

![04D5D510-05AA-4A7E-A837-EA813C4561A4.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/53f109d7-e606-4883-0af0-8e46cb0f9500/pub "Waldo Cortes-Acosta puts away his opponent in the first round. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC")

**Final result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Danilo Suzart via TKO (punches) - Round 1 3:40**

## Francis Marshall vs. Connor Matthews

This fight was an action-packed war that was more of a showcase of Marshall's skills and Matthews' heart than anything else. Although Matthews had his moments, the fight was mostly one-way traffic for Marshall as he walked away with the unanimous decision win.

![7C90C3D5-1D7C-4B11-9A00-80BCE85A2580.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fb9e7627-2480-419e-2d76-777a8fb70200/pub "Francis Marshall lands a heavy blow on his way to victory at DWCS. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC")

**Final result: Francis Marshall def. Connor Matthews via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)**

## Shannon Ross vs. Vinicius Salvador

One of the greatest mixed martial arts rounds of the year occurred as Vinicius Salvador and Shannon Ross left everything they had inside the octagon. Salvador had Ross on unsteady legs for most of the contest, scoring 3 knockdowns. Ross stayed in the fight, however, landing massive shots of his own and slowing his opponent before Salvador put him away in the 2nd round.

![ED9B7025-A317-447D-AE7F-37DE93E2BB54.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3161638d-be91-412c-0664-7ae596ce2600/pub "Salvador throws a flashy kick mid-fight. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC")

**Final result: Vinicius Salvador def. Shannon Ross via TKO (punches) - Round 2 4:22**

## Chris Duncan vs. Charlie Campbell

The final fight of the night ended on a high note with Chris Duncan and Charlie Campbell both displaying their heart and skills. Campbell knocked Duncan down on multiple occasions, seemingly on his way to an inevitable win before Duncan composed himself in the middle of a barrage and landed a massive right hand that sent his opponent to the canvas. He landed two more shots that put Campbell out cold.

![7CD096EC-9310-47DA-BA0B-DE0674D4493D.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f3f857df-0fbe-489a-ab67-ae6892ace300/pub "Chris Duncan walks away from his opponent after a huge KO. Credits to: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC")

**Final result: Chris Duncan def. Charlie Campbell via knockout (punches) - Round 1 1:43**

Last weekend Dana White demanded more action and drive from fighters, and tonight that message was well received. 

Dana White’s Contender Series Records All-Time Great Night of Fights

Dan Hooker has taken to social media to release his next callout. He challenges Tony Ferguson to step up to it.

> Wanna play ball? Step up to the plate. — I'll smash your face in (Tony Ferguson) - Dan Hooker to Tony Ferguson via Twitter

Despite being close to each other in the Lightweight rankings for years now, Hooker and Tony have never been close to fighting one another. Although now may be the perfect time for it.

Tony Ferguson's last few fights have not gone his way, and he is currently on a 4-fight losing streak. The streak began at UFC 249 where he suffered a brutal 5th round TKO loss to Justin Gaethje, and it only got worse from there. His last fight was against Michael Chandler and he was put on the receiving end of the current front-runner for Knockout of The Year, a brutal front-kick KO in the 2nd round.

![3DA40FA5-804E-4112-8DE2-63AA400AA0A3.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b53e4fed-194b-45e1-4436-8aa98458a800/pub "Michael Chandler knocks Tony Ferguson out with a front kick. Credits to: Hans Gutknecht")

Dan Hooker's luck isn't much better in recent times, as he is 1-4 in his last 5 fights. His most recent fight was a failed attempt to make a resurgence by moving down to 145 lbs. He fought Arnold Allen who finished him on the feet inside of 1 round. 

With their recent falls from grace, now more than ever both fighters need a win in their careers. 

Dan Hooker Picks Fight With Tony Ferguson

Jordan Lopez

The UFC returned to Dallas, Texas for the first time since 2018 with UFC 277 and the main card delivered once again. The main event featured the anticipated rematch between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes for the women's Bantamweight championship. The co-main event featured Brandon Moreno taking on Kai Kara-France for the Interim Flyweight title. The main card had some impressive wins and nice finishes too. Let's recap what took place at UFC 277.

## Amanda Nunes Recaptures The Bantamweight Championship in Classic Fight

![Nunes.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3b2a8127-b789-455c-6243-d8154bcd2000/pub "Amanda Nunes recapturing the Bantamweight championship at UFC 277. Credits to: Carmen Mandato-Zuffa LLC.")

Amanda Nunes becomes the double-champ again when she defeats Julianna Pena at UFC 277 via unamious decision. It was domination from Nunes from start to finish. Multiple times in the first round, Nunes had Pena hurt with some damaging shots. The adjustment to fighting southpaw in this fight paid off. The counter right hook was money for Nunes and she scored three knockdowns in the second round with that shot. Pena was still in the fight as she had her moments as well. Pena got cut with some slicing elbows from Nunes but it did not stop her from fighting. Pena continued to give it her all and display how durable she is. In the fourth round, Pena nearly had an armbar submission but, Nunes got out and continued to control the fight on the ground. At the end of the fight, Nunes secured six takedowns in total with a control time of 11:49. Pena gave everything she had in the octagon but it was not enough to defeat Nunes for a second time. Nunes had one of her best performances and it earned her getting the Bantamweight title back. 

## Brandon Moreno Finishes Kai Kara-France To Become The Interim Flyweight Champion 

![Moreno.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/32da6129-2600-4e84-852e-09931a43e900/pub "Brandon Moreno winning the Interim Flyweight Championship at UFC 277. Credits to: Carmen Mandato-Zuffa LLC.")

In what was a great fight from start to finish, Brandon Moreno earns himself another fight with Deiveson Figueiredo after defeating Kai Kara-France in the third round via TKO. In the first round, Kara-France had a lot of success with his overhand right and had the biggest moment in that round. Moreno landed a lot more leg kicks and was trying to find his distance early. Both men figured out the timing in the second round and it led to Moreno extending his combinations. Moreno looked crisp on the feet and was starting to pick it up. The pace in the third round was going very well for Kara-France as it was his best round of the fight. He executed a sweep on Moreno that took the fight to the floor. Kara-France cut Moreno up with an elbow on the ground and did more damage with some ground and pound strikes. Moreno would get back to his feet yet Kara-France was still landing some clean shots. Towards the end of the third round, Moreno landed a body shot on Kara-France and it was the biggest moment of the fight. The shot shut down Kara-France as he dropped to the ground as Moreno finished the fight at the end of the round via TKO. With the win, Moreno now gets the opportunity to unify the Flyweight belt against Figueiredo. 

## Sergei Pavlovich defeats Derrick Lewis in Controversial Stoppage in the First Round

![Pavlovich.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1c7bc0c5-478a-4854-8522-9f00beb76100/pub "Sergei Pavlovich connecting with a strike against Derrick Lewis at UFC 277. Credits to:  Carmen Mandato-Zuffa LLC.")

Sergei Pavlovich stops Derrick Lewis in 55 seconds, earning the TKO victory at UFC 277. Whether the fight was stopped quick or not, Pavlovich still looked great as long as the fight lasted. He hurt Lewis with some nasty shots when in boxing range. It all started with an uppercut from Pavlovich that was executed perfectly that had Lewis stunned early and he did not let Lewis recover. Pavlovich jumped on him with more pressure while increasing his volume of strikes. Lewis had dropped to the ground while being hit with some powerful shots from Pavlovich. Referee, Dan Miragliotta, saw Lewis get knocked down and called the fight. It appeared that Lewis got right back to his feet after the knockdown and started to protest the call from Miragliotta. Nonethless, Pavlovich earned a first round win over one of the best knockout artists in UFC history. Pavlovich is now 16-1 in his professional career and is on a four-fight winning streak. After this win, Pavlovich will enter the top ten of the Heavyweight division.

## Alexandre Pantoja Makes a Statement Submitting Alex Perez in Round One

![Pantoja.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/eec1f57a-9400-4f2a-0f4d-4655b0ec5e00/pub "Alexandre Pantoja submitting Alex Perez in round one at UFC 277. Credits to: Josh Hedges-Zuffa LLC.")

From the very beginning of the fight, Alexandre Pantoja brought the fight to Alex Perez. Pantoja immediately pressured forward with his relentless striking attacks. Perez stood in the pocket and fired back while both men engaged in a fire fight for the first 15 seconds of the fight. After brawling back and fourth with each other, Pantoja secured a takedown and jumped on the back of Perez. While standing up, Perez still had Pantoja on his back and that is when things went downhill for Perez. Pantoja locked up a rear naked choke and earned a massive win in just 91 seconds. Pantoja is now on a three-fight winning streak and has earned himself to be included in the title picture in the Flyweight division. 

## Magomed Ankalaev Takes Advantage of Anthony Smith's Injury and Wins via TKO

![Ankalaev.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e8e51b27-449c-44b0-0f66-07bb034c4400/pub "Magomed Ankalaev after his win at UFC 277. Credits to: Carmen Mandato-Zuffa LLC.")

Top contender Magomed Ankalaev defeats Anthony Smith in the second round via TKO. To start the fight, both fighters were trying to find their distance and strike with caution. The southpaw versus orthodox stance between the two had the fight starting at a slow pace. Once they started to figure out the spacing, the striking started to pick up a bit. Ankalaev was picking his shots with his leg and body kicks on Smith throughout the majority of the first round. Smith would look to counter with a straight right hand and look for those power shots. It appeared that one of Ankalaev's leg kicks damaged the left leg of Smith, resulting in a injury. After the round ended, Smith told his corner that he believes that his ankle is broken. Once the second round starts, Smith engages into a clinch battle with Ankalaev and pulls guard. With Ankalaev on top, he finishes the fight via TKO as Smith can hardly move due to his injury. This win for Ankalaev makes it nine consecutive wins and he is in prime position to be next to challenge for the Light Heavyweight title. 

UFC 277 Post-Fight Review

Derrick Lewis fought Sergei Pavlovich this weekend at UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. He was finished by a flurry of strikes in under 1 minute.

This was Lewis' return to his home state of Texas after his last fight, another knockout loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 271. Fans were excited to see the Black Beast compete on home soil and hopefully pick up a win. Pavlovich spoiled those plans, though, as he unleashed a barrage of strikes on Lewis, sending him down early. The referee had seen enough just 55 seconds into the fight and waved it off, much to the dismay of fans and the fighters. Even the commentary did not agree with the stoppage, with Joe Rogan referencing the Edgar/Maynard fights stating that fighters need to be given more of a chance to survive.

The controversy surrounding the stoppage stems from the belief that it was premature, and that Lewis could have continued the fight. Lewis immediately protested the stoppage as he jumped back to his feet, while the arena exploded with boos. 

![ACE837F2-8EFE-421B-AFB9-7D36B06C9D63.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9d490ddb-7f02-494d-5299-96d680011800/pub "Fans boo as Lewis springs back to his feet following the stoppage. Credits to: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports")

Many fans voiced their disappointment towards the referee as this was an uncharacteristically quick stoppage for Dan Miragliotta. Perhaps his most notable achievement was officiating Pat Barry vs. Cheick Congo, a fight in which he gave Kongo every chance to survive an early onslaught despite appearing to be out cold multiple times. Congo would spring the comeback and win the fight because of this. Fans were upset that Lewis was not given chances to survive like this.

This is Lewis' 7th KO/TKO loss in the UFC, and he is now 1-3 in his last 4, with all 3 losses coming by knockout.

Derrick Lewis Suffers 3rd Knockout Loss In Texas, This Time With Controversy

The UFC is back with another pay-per-view (PPV) this July as UFC 277 is this weekend headlined by the rematch between Amanda Nunes and the women's Bantamweight champion Julianna Pena. The co-main event is another rematch and this time it is for the Interim Flyweight title. The former Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and the number two ranked contender Kai Kara-France will meet once again at Dallas, Texas. The rest of the main card includes a few important fights in the UFC. Let's take a deeper look into the fights featured on Verdict. 

## Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2

A rematch from UFC 269 when Julianna Pena shocked the world and defeated Amanda Nunes is finally upon us. Pena has been the Bantamweight champion for over 7 months and she now has the opportunity to prove that the first fight was not a fluke. There are still a lot of doubters due to the fact that Nunes was not in great shape nor had a full camp. Nunes recently stated at media day that she had a lot of things go wrong for that camp. She listed complications like recovering from COVID-19 and dealing with several injuries throughout the way. This time, Nunes appears to be in great shape and wants to take back what was once hers. She stated, "This opportunity is to get my belt back, and I’m not letting anything doubt me. Actually, losing the belt fired me up again.” On the flip side, Pena is looking to prove everyone wrong a second time. Pena made Nunes uncomfortable at UFC 269 and got her into wild exchanges. This allowed Pena to capitalize on big opportunites and she did just that. Pena rocked Nunes on the feet and eventually got the fight to the ground when she won via submission in the second round. It was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history as the MMA world was going crazy. Pena has the chance to not only do it again, but show everyone that she is the champion for a reason. As of now, 66.6% of the Verdict Community predicts Amanda Nunes will be getting her belt back against Julianna Pena. 

![PenaNunes.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/89b9e97d-ca4e-42aa-bf3c-e339741c5f00/pub)

## Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France 2

Another rematch is on deck at UFC 277 but this time, the stakes are higher. Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France will be fighting for the Interim Flyweight belt and the winner will have a future match to unify the belt against the undisputed champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Nonetheless, the winner this weekend does become a champion at the end of the night. Moreno and Kara-France first fought in December of 2019 at UFC 245. Moreno earned a unamious decision victory at the end of the night in a fight that was closely contested. There was a lot of back-and-fourth action between the two for three rounds. The difference now is that they will have five rounds (if needed) to determine the winner. Since the first fight, both men have changed drastically. Moreno would build his way up to challenge for the title at UFC 256, which ultimately ended in a draw against Figueiredo. The UFC instantly booked the rematch for UFC 263 when Moreno became the new Flyweight champion when he defeated Figueiredo via submission. A few months later, the trilogy would take place at UFC 270 when Figueiredo earned a decision victory to re-capture the Flyweight title. On the other side, Kara-France has been on a tear. He comes into UFC 277 on a three-fight winning streak while having two first round knockout wins. In that span, Kara-France finished Rogerio Bontorin and Cody Garbrandt in round one and recently earned a unanimous decision win over top contender Askar Askarov. In his last two fights, Kara-France was the underdog and has beaten the odds. At UFC 277, he'll be the underdog for the third straight fight in his career. Fans can expect an incredible fight as both fighters are great strikers. Where it stands now, nearly 60% of the Verdict Community are predicting Brandon Moreno to defeat Kai Kara-France at UFC 277. 

![MorenoKKF.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b471fdde-994f-411c-c787-380ea5a58a00/public)

## Derrick Lewis vs. Sergey Pavlovich

Fan-favorite Derrick Lewis returns to the octagon against the eleventh ranked contender in the Heavyweight division, Sergey Pavlovich. Lewis last fought at UFC 271 when he lost to Tai Tuivasa via knockout in the second round. Prior to that, Lewis looked great against Chris Daukaus when he won via knockout in the first round. Everyone knows that Lewis brings that "stand and bang" mentality to the octagon. Lewis has the most knockouts in the history of the Heavyweight division and will look to add to that total at UFC 277. It'll be no easy task as Pavlovich has been on a roll as of late. Pavlovich is on a three-fight knockout streak and all three wins have been in the first round. He lands at a high rate as Pavlovich averages six signifcant strikes landed per minute. The downside is he also absorbs 4.45 signifcant strikes per minute, which is also extremely high. Nevertheless, this fight has all of the makings to be exciting as both men have one-punch knockout power. As of now, nearly 68% of the Verdict Community are taking the side of Derrick Lewis. The world's most common pick is also Lewis by first-round knockout. 

![LewisPavlovich.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b0e7cc07-2f3f-44b2-4270-bd193fc1ff00/public)

## Alexandre Pantoja vs. Alex Perez

An important Flyweight bout takes place as Alexandre Pantoja goes against Alex Perez at UFC 277. Perez hasn't fought since 2020 when he lost to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 255. The reason for the inactivity has been from the multiple cancellations of fights throughout 2021. Perez had four fights fall out and this year, two more fights got cancelled as well. The opponents for these fights were Matt Schnell and Askar Askarov. If everything goes as planned, Perez will finally be making his walk to the ocatgon. He has a professional record of 24-6 with seven submission wins in his career. Standing across from Perez, Pantoja has been active as of late. Pantoja had two fights in 2021 and won both. He defeated Manel Kape via unamious decision and Brandon Royval via submission. Pantoja is one of the more exciting fighters in the Flyweight division as he has a 75% finish rate in his professional career. It's an interesting matchup between the two as it is a huge fight in the top five of the Flyweight division. Where it stands now, 80.2% of the Verdict Community predict Alexandre Pantoja to defeat Alex Perez at UFC 277. 

![PantojaPerez.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/533729d2-267d-4e6c-1b7e-28640092b700/normal)

## Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith

A fight that has title implications on the line, Magomed Ankalaev and Anthony Smith will battle it out to become next in line for a title shot at the Light Heavyweight division. This fight opens up the main card and is important as all the other fights on this main card. Ankalaev has been talked about as the next champion of the division. The high praise for Ankalaev has been justified because he has been great in the UFC. With a professional record of 17-1, Ankalaev is riding into this fight winning eight consecutive fights. His most recent win is against Thiago Santos earlier this year via unaminous decision. Ankalaev is more of a balanced fighter yet he leans on his striking for the majority of the fight. He's great at not absorbing too much damage on the feet and keeps his distance. In opposition, Smith has been on a tear of his own. The former title challenger is on a three-fight winning streak with all wins finishing in the first round. In this span, Smith defeated Devin Clark, Jimmy Crute, and Ryan Spann. Smith has a professional record of 36-16 and has a 95% finish rate. Smith always looks to end the fight early and in a domiant way. Smith has looked great with his jab in his last few fights. If the fight were to go to the ground, Smith has an open guard and can submit anyone from the bottom. Ankalaev also does well on the ground as both fighters are balanced in every style of fighting. The winner of this fight can well be the next one in line to challenge for the belt as both fighters deserve that spot. Where it stands now, 68.3% of the Verdict Community are taking the side of Magomed Ankalaev to defeat Anthony Smith at UFC 277. 

![AnkalaevSmith.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/497ce65a-5e45-4484-5b68-b9e860d0bd00/pub)

UFC 277 Pre-fight Preview

Tim Witton

Getting to the elite of the MMA world is only achieved by a select few, and more often than not, these gifted athletes set out on their winning ways immediately from the outset. It’s not uncommon to hear of fighters who have won their first ten or more professional fights when you get to the big leagues, but for some, the first day on the job isn’t as smooth sailing as they would have liked. With UFC 277 taking place this weekend taking place at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas, highlighting the hotly anticipated rematch between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña for the Women’s Bantamweight Championship, now is the perfect time to have a look at ten legends who showed that it’s possible to come from a place of adversity and grow into a world class athlete after losing their professional debut fight.

## Amanda Nunes

![098_Amanda_Nunes_x_Germaine_de_Randamie Esther Lin MMA Fighting.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a33e20b9-af06-4962-6640-91f64a0d6b00/pub "Amanda Nunes celebrates double champ status after defeating Germaine de Randamie. Credits to: Esther Lin-MMA Fighting")

The Lioness has spent nearly half of her entire professional MMA career as a UFC champion, and a good chunk of that as double champion. Her resume includes standout wins over every single previous Bantamweight and Featherweight UFC Champion that came before her, and her stellar record has laid Nunes’ claim to be the greatest women’s MMA athlete of all time stand undoubtedly without question. It is incredible to believe then, that not only did Amanda Nunes lose her professional debut, she did so in 35 seconds, tapping out to an armbar against fellow Brazilian Ana Maria. Amanda’s trademark fiery attitude and aggressive fight style were already on show here which led to her downfall. Quickly learning from this, after losing her debut she went 9-3 over her next 12 fights before amassing her unparalleled win streak, defeating the who’s who of women’s MMA along the way.


## Forrest Griffin

![Forrest Griffin Mark J Rebilas US Presswire.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8c07e216-d68c-470a-05f8-e93c8e3d4f00/pub "Forrest Griffin stands and trades with Tito Ortiz. Credits to: Mark J Rebilas-USA Presswire")

Forrest Griffin rose to fame most prominently as the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Season One, putting on a thriller against Stephan Bonnar that was one of the critical moments in thrusting MMA into the mainstream and beginning the rise to the popularity of the UFC that we see today. Prior to his time in the spotlight, however, Forrest debuted as a fresh 22 year old against now UFC Hall-of-Famer, Dan Severn, in a Heavyweight bout that saw Griffin lose by comfortable decision. Given Severn boasted a professional record of 47-6-4 at the time, as well as a huge size advantage, it’s little surprise that Griffin wasn’t able to overcome the wrestling powerhouse on the day. Undeterred, Forrest climbed the ranks throughout his career, capping it off with a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship win against Rampage Jackson and an eventual induction to the UFC Hall of Fame.

## Renan Barão

![RenanAPImages.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/26e78def-c369-468a-34df-4e1e30bc6e00/pub "Renan Barão celebrates after stopping Urijah Faber in the first round. Credits to: AP Images")

Debuting as a young 18 year old in 2005, Renan Barão’s first ever fight did little to suggest what was to follow. Beginning his professional career at a regional Brazilian fight organization against fellow debutant Joao Paulo Rodrigues, things weren’t smooth sailing for the eager fighter. After three rounds, Rodrigues was awarded the unanimous decision, which lit a fire under Renan Barão as he wasted no time in returning, coming back only a month later to pick up his first win by way of TKO. This win would pave the way for one of the most legendary undefeated streaks in the sport’s history; with Renan going undefeated over 9 years and 33 fights (32 wins, 1 no contest). ‘The Baron’ peaked as the UFC Bantamweight Champion where he reigned as undisputed king over 2013 and 2014, and reached as high as number three on the pound for pound rankings.

## Cub Swanson 

![Image 20-07-22 at 11.31 AM.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ccd23b28-dfe0-4249-884f-c708f14ba000/public "Cub Swanson lands a powerful blow against Doo-Ho Choi in 2016's fight of the year. Credits to: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports")

Always the entertaining fighter, Cub Swanson has put on a myriad of wild shows, picking up multiple fight of the night honors, and was recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his high paced 2016 scrap against Doo-Ho Choi. The UFC mainstay has been fighting in the world’s premier MMA organization for 11 years, and in his prime picked up wins over standouts Jeremy Stephens, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira. Primarily known for his stand up game, submission defense has long been an exploitable hole of Swanson’s game, as seven of his twelve defeats have come by way of tap out. This was on show right from the beginning, as Cub’s pro debut was a short affair, tapping out to a rear naked choke just 15 seconds into the very first round against his opponent, fellow UFC alumni Shannon Gugerty. Fortunately for Cub, he avenged this loss two years later, finishing Gugerty by TKO to extend his record to 6-1 at the time.

## Jon Fitch


![Jon-Fitch Dave Mandel sherdogdotcom.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a879cfd0-615e-47fa-7e0b-0d0178743d00/pub "Jon Fitch celebrates yet another win. Credits to: Dave Mandel-Sherdog.com")

The ex-UFC title contender Jon Fitch had a bumpy start to his pro MMA career. Coming from a background of collegiate wrestling, Jon debuted against fellow future UFC fighter Mike Pyle in 2002. Mike himself had previously just lost his own MMA debut, in a mismatched catchweight bout against Rampage Jackson where there was a 30 lbs difference between the fighters. Jon’s fight against Pyle was not to last long, with Fitch tapping out to a rear naked choke halfway through the first round. Undeterred, Fitch continued to develop, moving city and joining American Kickboxing Academy to develop all facets of his MMA game. This worked a charm, as Fitch turned around and picked up a 16 fight win streak, with 8 of those coming in the UFC to work his way up to a title challenge against Georges St-Pierre. Whilst unsuccessful at achieving UFC gold, Fitch’s career was full of success, eventually winning the WSOF Welterweight Championship (later coming to be known as the PFL Welterweight Championship). Jon Fitch retired from MMA with a record of 32-8-2 (1 No Contest).

## Glover Teixeira

![glover-teixeira-anthony-smith-ufc-on-espn-plus-29-jasen vinlove usa today sports.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7895fa09-2ec1-4d08-c39a-31704bb6e000/pub "Glover Teixeira puts a beatdown on Anthony Smith before referee Jason Herzog steps in. Credits to: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports")

It’s hard not to like Glover Texeira. The amiable Brazilian has a penchant for putting on entertaining fights time and time again, and is always in a positive spirit when talking about the sport or his opponent. Having made his debut back in 2002 as a 22 year old in Brazil, Glover was on the wrong end of a second round TKO to kick off his career. Two years of sitting on the sidelines followed, and after coming up short again against Ed Herman to go 2-2 in his first four fights, Glover went on an incredible 20 fight win streak, with 18 of those wins coming by stoppage. Along the way, Glover joined the UFC and beat names such as Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Ryan Bader, only finally being stopped in his tracks going for his first tilt at UFC gold against a prime Jon Jones. It has been a long journey for the 42 year old, but a worthwhile one, as Glover finally achieved the unlikely accomplishment of becoming UFC Light Heavyweight champion in his second attempt in 2021. After 21 fights and 9 years in the UFC, Glover became the second oldest ever UFC champion, earning the respect of fans across the globe. Teixeira was most recently seen losing his belt in a fight of the year candidate against Jiri Prochazka, in a wild back and forth fight he was less than a minute away from winning on the judges’ scorecards.


## Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza 

![yoel-romero-ronaldo-souza-ufc-194-gary a vasquez usa today sports.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5533d51f-41b1-448e-35a3-3ca147cef900/pub "Jacare pours on heavy strikes against Yoel Romero on the ground. Credits to: Gary A Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports")

Prior to his pro MMA debut, Jacare was already a three time world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and was regarded as one of the greatest BJJ practitioners on the planet. It did not take a lot to work out Souza’s game plan. Debuting against Jorge Patino who at the time was 18-5-1 (1 NC), Jacare did manage to get the fight to the ground twice very early on, albeit to no success. Whilst showing some promise in the standup, some questionable defense led to Ronaldo being caught with two successive overhand rights to send him crashing to the canvas after only three minutes. It proved to be a huge learning experience for the BJJ wizard, as he then went on to win his next ten fights all by finish. Later in his career, Souza became the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, and was a perennial top 10 contender in the UFC’s Middleweight division, before recently retiring with a record of 26-10 (1 NC).

## Cris Cyborg

![Cris-Cyborg-Getty Josh Hedges.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9414545b-e578-4294-385d-40a437683b00/public "Cyborg celebrates after defeating Hiroko Yamanaka in less than 20 seconds. Credits to: Mark J Rebilas-USA Presswire")

Once considered the most feared female fighter on the face of the planet, it wasn’t always this way for Cyborg. Before amassing a devastating 21 fight unbeaten streak (20 wins, 1 no contest) with 17 finishes along the way, Cyborg was unfortunate enough to run into a kneebar submission in less than two minutes in her pro debut. There was no resting on her laurels, as a quick return home to line up a series of four fights in a year in Curitiba, her city of birth, led to four wins with three quick finishes. This was the beginning of a phenomenal career, seeing Cyborg win Featherweight titles in Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, and most recently, Bellator, where she is the current reigning champion having recently made her fourth title defense.

## Andre Arlovski 

![AndreArlovskiJeffBottariZuffaLLC.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a498435f-6238-4b7b-5a52-7e74687a2700/public "Andre Arlovski shows off his signature Bulldog mouthguard. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC")

The former UFC Heavyweight Champion has been a mainstay at the top of competition for the better part of two whole decades, with his first fight in the UFC coming in the year 2000 when he was just 21 years old. Now age 43 and in his second stint in the UFC, Arlovski holds the record for most wins of all time in the Heavyweight division, with 23 UFC wins under his belt. ‘The Pitbull’ has fought almost everyone of note to ever compete in the UFC Heavyweight division, picking up wins over names such as Fabricio Werdum, Tim Sylvia, Frank Mir, and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. The rise to fame did not come without stumbling blocks, and Andre’s debut ended in a knockout loss to Viacheslav Datsik, who is known for his political notoriety in Russia just as much as his MMA career. After losing early on, the rest is history, as Andre became one of the pioneers in helping the UFC achieve popularity early on in his career, and is still fighting today, currently on a four fight win streak in the UFC.

## Rafael dos Anjos

![rafael-dos-anjos-kevin-lee-ufc-rochester-usa-today-sports.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/809611ca-a745-459d-8c3e-c8bb49f92a00/pub "Dos Anjos pours on the punishment against Kevin Lee. Credits to: USA TODAY Sports")

Holder of the unenviable record of having lost both his UFC debut and his pro MMA debut, it is incredible to see how far dos Anjos has come since those early days. According to Rafael, his debut loss came under questionable circumstances, with the hometown fighter Adriano Abu receiving preferential treatment from the officials during the fight. Dos Anjos has been on record at various points in his career, claiming that the mother of his opponent was a financial backer of the organization, and the bell was rung after three minutes in the first round instead of five in order to save his opponent from an unfavorable position. A split decision loss for dos Anjos left him undeterred, and a quick turnaround saw Rafael taste victory for the first time just two weeks later. Entering the UFC with a record of 11-2 saw dos Anjos fall by KO to Jeremy Stephens, and a middling run of four wins and four losses in his first eight fights failed to set the world alight. In 2012, something clicked though, and dos Anjos went on a tear, picking up 10 wins in his next 11 fights, beating out Donald Cerrone, Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz, and to cap it off, Anthony Pettis, to achieve the UFC Lightweight belt in 2015. The veteran with 32 fights in the UFC to his name is still active to this day, most recently coming up short against Rafael Fiziev in another attempted run towards UFC gold.



10 MMA Legends that lost their professional debut

Evan Montgomery 

Kamaru Usman is currently set to defend the Welterweight title against Leon Edwards at UFC 278, but will make his first appearance on the big screen two months later.

The Welterweight champ will make a guest appearance in the upcoming Marvel movie, _Black Panther, Wakanda Forever_. Daniel Cormier first broke the news during the UFC 277 weigh-in show, and it was confirmed later by additional sources. 

No one knows what Usman's role will be in the upcoming superhero film, though it is something the champion has long requested. He publicly asked to be featured in the sequel back in 2019, along with social media posts featuring him in T'Challa's armor. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/uBIyyyiX7j">pic.twitter.com/uBIyyyiX7j</a></p>&mdash; KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) <a href="https://twitter.com/USMAN84kg/status/1211060305373122563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Usman joins a stacked cast for _Black Panther: Wakanda Forever_, including the likes of Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, and Angela Basset returning, along with new characters played by Dominique Thorne and Tenoch Huerta. Check out the first teaser trailer for the film below, dropped this past weekend at Comic-Con!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RlOB3UALvrQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Kamaru Usman Lands Guest Role In 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'

Two title rematches headline this weekend's stacked UFC 277 PPV card from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, with Amanda Nunes -263 looking to get her Bantamweight belt back from Julianna Pena +230 and Brandon Moreno -208 and Kai Kara-France +185 will look to show their evolution as they run back their 2019 battle with much higher stakes.

**All Odds Provided by Stake.com Accurate as of 2:00 AM EST 7/29/2022**

## Julianna Pena +230 Amanda Nunes -263

Our main event features a rematch of a fight that saw one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Julianna Pena showed up in the last fight and put on the best performance of her career when she needed it most to get the finish over Nunes. Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter of all time; we know this; the question is, what happened last fight and how can she bounce back?

I am taking Nunes here, and I will bet her to win inside the distance. This is the best price we have had on Nunes in years, and I believe there is a good chance she looks as dominant as many expected in the first fight, as a loss can often be the best thing for a fighter. 

Pick: Amanda Nunes O/U: Under 2.5 -118

## Brandon Moreno -208 Kai Kara-France +185

I can't wait for this matchup at Flyweight, as both men have gotten much better since their first matchup, which already resulted in a great fight. Brandon Moreno has grown in the UFC and is now a well-rounded fighter who can strike or grapple with anyone in the division for five rounds. Kai Kara-France cashed big for me as an underdog against Askar Askarov earlier this year, showing his evolved grappling defense and powerful boxing combinations to get the win. 

I like Moreno here, as he should have a volume advantage, and I do not see him getting finished. I will bet on this fight to go the distance as Brandon Moreno is near impossible to finish, and Kai Kara-France has shown his submission defense on his current streak, which I believe is the most likely way this fight ends. 

Pick: Brandon Moreno O/U: Over 4.5 -179

## Derrick Lewis +108 Sergei Pavlovich -122

This is going to be a fun one as two powerful Heavyweights meet here. Derrick Lewis is known for his power, and I have criticized his lack of volume at times, but I thought he looked great against Tai Tuivasa before the stoppage as he showed his sneaky fight IQ using different techniques to close distance. Sergei Pavlovich has yet to see the second round in his UFC run, displaying his power and willingness to strike.

This is the kind of fight I like to avoid betting on, as it feels like betting either side of a coin flip at a favorite price. I will lean Pavlovich as he has the physical advantages and youth on his side. 

Pick: Sergei Pavlovich O/U: Over 1.5 +121

## Alexandre Pantoja -182 Alex Perez +160

A Flyweight matchup with profound title implications here as Alexandre Pantoja looks to continue his win streak against former title challenger Alex Perez. Alexandre Pantoja is a top-tier grappler who can strike with anyone and has beaten the division's big names. Alex Perez is a high pace contender series product coming off a quick loss to the champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

I'm taking Pantoja here as I think he is one of the best Flyweights in the world, and I don't believe Alex Perez can beat him anywhere. Perez has been submitted several times in his career, and with Pantoja's ground skills, I will bet him by submission, which is +330 on Stake.com. 

Pick: Alexandre Pantoja O/U: Under 2.5 +113

## Magomed Ankalaev -526 Anthony Smith +420

Here we get a top tier Lightheavyweight matchup to open the main card. Magomed Ankalaev has shown a rare combination of striking and wrestling for his division, although he is very patient, which could cost him. Anthony Smith is also very well rounded, having used his submission skills to get two first-round finishes in his last three fights. 

I believe Magomed Ankalaev is the best Lightheavyweight there is right now, but I see little value in betting a favorite of his size in this spot. I have cashed on Ankalaev to go the distance before, but I will make this fight even easier and go with the over 2.5. 

Pick: Magomed Ankalaev O/U: Over 2.5 -172

## Alex Morono +137 Matt Semelsberger -154

This is a good matchup between two talented strikers at Welterweight. Alex Morono is a solid veteran with good standup who has put together three straight wins. Matt Semelsberger, or Semi the Jedi, has some quick knockouts in his UFC career but has also shown the ability to go three hard rounds.

I am going to lean with Morono as the underdog here, as I think if this one gets to the scorecards, he can do what needs to be done to steal rounds away from Semelsberger. 

Pick: Alex Morono O/U: Over 2.5 -192

## Drew Dober -196 Rafael Alves +175

This should be a fun clash at Lightweight. Drew Dober has only lost to high-level competition since 2016 and showed his toughness in a wild last outing against Terrance McKinney. Rafael Alves is a dangerous submission artist coming off an impressive first-round win over Marc Diakiese. 

I will pick Dober, as he has become easy to trust in spots like this over the last few years. No bet from me, though, as this number is relatively wide, and we have seen Dober submitted before. 

Pick: Drew Dober O/U: Over 2.5 +128

## Don'Tale Mayes -185 Hamdy Abdelwahab +160

Here we get a good grappling matchup at Heavyweight. Don'Tale Mayes was given some tough matchups early in his UFC career but has had success since taking a step down in competition. Hamdy Abdelwahab has Olympic-level wrestling; however, his caliber of opponents is very low tier, with him having fought a man he knocked out in bare knuckle MMA in under twenty seconds again in MMA less than a year later, which raises huge red flags for me. 

I made a play on Don'Tale Mayes early in the week, which has shifted since people have looked into Abdelwahab's competition thus far. I am still picking Mayes, but I would recommend more caution if playing him at this number. 

Pick: Don'Tale Mayes O/U: Over 1.5 -182

## Drakkar Klose -217 Rafa Garcia +190

This is a good matchup between two experienced Lightweights. Drakkar Klose looked fantastic last time, dominating the fight until a second-round stoppage victory. Rafa Garcia has found some traction in the UFC with back-to-back wins after a tough start to his run with the promotion. 

I've got Klose in this one, as with the improvements he had made before his last fight, I am excited to see him again against better competition. Tough to bet this one as Rafa Garcia burned me in his last fight, and this is a steep price. 

Pick: Drakkar Klose O/U: Over 2.5 -244

## Micheal Morales -588 Adam Fugitt +480

Here we see the second outing of twenty-three-year-old Micheal Morales against short-notice replacement Adam Fugitt. Morales is an explosive striker with a long reach for a Welterweight. Adam Fugitt comes in with four finishes in a row outside of the UFC. 

I've got Morales here as I have been very impressed by him so far, and I do not see how Fugitt wins, especially on short notice. I do have my hesitations about betting a number like this on a twenty-three-year-old, though, as there is a lot to be said for experience.  

Pick: Micheal Morales O/U: Under 1.5 -118

## Ji Yeon Kim +105 Joselyne Edwards -119

This is a Bantamweight matchup between two veterans who have been very active in the past year. Joselyne Edwards makes a quick turnaround after her win over Ramona Pascual, where she was able to defend the takedowns and outstrike her at a distance. Ji Yeon Kim is looking to break a three-fight skid with her wins before that coming by split decision. 

I will lean Joselyne Edwards as we have seen her come out with wins more recently, but I don't see any value in betting on this matchup. 

Pick: Joselyne Edwards O/U: Over 2.5 -417

## Nick Negumereanu -108 Ihor Potieria -104

This is a Lightheavyweight matchup where we see the debut of Ihor Potieria off Dana White's Contender Series. Nick Negumereanu has had a solid UFC run thus far, earning some tough decision wins. Ihor Potieria has a confusing record to track as there are amateur and pro results mixed together, although he has clear finishing ability, having ended most of his wins inside the distance. 

This line has flipped over the week as questions have been raised about Potieria's record, and I agree with where it has settled now, with Negumereanu as the favorite. Although I agree with the line movement, I feel like I missed the value on this one but I will make a small play on Negumereanu. 

Pick: Nick Negumereanu O/U: Over 2.5 +105

## Orion Cosce -182 Blood Diamond +160

Here we see the night open with the first City Kickboxing product on the card, taking on Orion Cosce. Cosce is a finisher who has never gone the distance in his professional career. Blood Diamond is known for receiving high praise from Israel Adesanya, yet we have not seen much of him in the octagon thus far to back this up.

I am going to pick Orion Cosce here as I think the lack of ground game shown by Blood Diamond in his last fight is very concerning. No bet here, as although I like Cosce, I am not sold enough on his skills to lay this price.

Pick: Orion Cosce O/U: Over 1.5 -141

## DougLasVegasBets.net Plays

Don'Tale Mayes ML -185

Nick Negumereanu -108

Amanda Nunes Inside The Distance -125

Brandon Moreno Kai Kara-France Fight Goes The Distance -179

Alexandre Pantoja Submission +330

Magomed Ankalaev Anthony Smith Over 2.5 Rounds -172

UFC 277 Betting Preview 

One of the most anticipated women's MMA rematches is taking place tomorrow between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The card will showcase another rematch between all action Flyweight, this time with UFC gold on the line. The Knockout King Derrick Lewis makes his return against Sergei Pavlovich. Let's see how the fighters weighed in.

## Main Card (10:00 PM EST on PPV)

- Julianna Peña (134.5) vs. Amanda Nunes (135) 

- Brandon Moreno (124.5) vs. Kai Kara-France (124.5) 

- Derrick Lewis (264.5) vs. Sergei Pavlovich (254.5)

- Alexandre Pantoja (125.5) vs. Alex Perez (125.5)

- Magomed Ankalaev (206) vs. Anthony Smith (206)

## Prelims (8:00 PM EST on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+)

- Alex Morono (171) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (171)

- Rafael Alves (155.5) vs. Drew Dober (155.5)

- Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (255)

- Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Drakkar Klose (155.5)

## Early Prelims (6:00 PM EST on ESPN+)

- Adam Fugitt (171) vs. Michael Morales (170.5)

- Joselyne Edwards (137.5)* vs. Ji Yeon Kim (135)

- Nicolae Negumereanu (205) vs. Ihor Potieria (204)

- Orion Cosce (172.5)* vs. Blood Diamond (169.5)


*Cosce and Edwards missed weight by 1.5 lbs and will be fined 20% of their purses.*

UFC 277 Weigh-in Results

Capturing a UFC title is no easy feat.  To do it not once but twice is as impressive as accolades in MMA get, and with UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 fast approaching, there’s a chance Amanda Nunes could add her name to an exclusive list of fighters who have captured the same UFC title more than once.  The event will take place in Dallas, Texas and features a pair of title fights as well as some other appointment viewing up and down the card.  But it is the main event that will be drawing the most eyes as Nunes looks to right the ship after losing her UFC Women’s Bantamweight title to Julianna Pena last December in what many are calling the biggest upset in MMA history to this point.  If Amanda can get it done, she’ll become the third two-time champion in UFC women’s history and the prospect of her regaining the throne was the inspiration for this list; 7 fighters who won a UFC championship more than once.  

## Jon Jones

![Jon Jones Machida.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1a7a0c89-e58a-4927-dcf4-93491f7ed900/pub "Jon Jones roars as he steps on the scale at the UFC 235 weigh ins. Credits to: Esther Lin-MMAFighting.")

One cannot examine the career of Jon ‘Bones’ Jones without being aware of his extracurricular activity which saw him get stripped of his UFC Light Heavyweight title twice, and an Interim Light Heavyweight title once.  Now in order for a champion to be stripped of the title twice, it means they would have had to win the title twice as well, which is why Jon Jones begins this list.  Jones’ first title reign began at UFC 128, where he defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua by knockout in an incredible performance that also saw him become the youngest champion in the promotion’s history–a record that still stands today.  He then rattled off eight consecutive title defences, including wins over four former champions.  That brought him to mid-2015 when he was involved in a felony hit-and-run.  As a result, the UFC stripped him of the title, leaving Daniel Cormier to scoop it up in Jones’ absence.  Jon would return from his hiatus in 2015 and defeat Ovince Saint Preux for the interim title after Cormier pulled out due to injury, however he was then stripped of his interim title after failing a pre-fight drug test.  Finally Jones would face off with Cormier for a second time and he would stop his biggest rival via strikes stemming from a gorgeous left high kick.  Unfortunately for Jones, the win would be overturned to a no-contest due to yet another failed pre-fight drug test, meaning he would have to wait if he wanted to be a two-time champ.  Cormier was reinstated as champion but would vacate the title 174 days after becoming a double champ, opening the door for Jones to win the title again.  On December 29, 2018, Jon would face Alexander Gustafsson for a second time for the vacant championship.  Jones stopped the Swede and reclaimed the title he had never lost in the Octagon.

## Dominick Cruz

![Dom Cruz.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d9660329-d9f1-491c-8e08-d723c2a73700/pub "Dominick Cruz raising his UFC Championship after defeating TJ Dillashaw. Credits to: Bob Chiara-USA TODAY Sports.")

Dominick Cruz’s career is a story of perseverance and overcoming adversity.  He first began his time as a titleholder in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), where he was their Bantamweight champion.  Prior to the UFC-WEC merger, Cruz defeated Scott Jorgensen to retain his belt, and was then awarded the inaugural UFC Bantamweight title as a result.  From there he defended the title twice, avenging his only career loss to that point by beating Urijah Faber by unanimous decision at UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber.  His second defence in his first stint as champion came against Demetrious Johnson in October of 2011, a loss that would age incredibly nicely as time went on.  Unfortunately for Dominick and fans alike, he would not return to the Octagon for nearly three full years due to a plethora of injuries.  Cruz vacated the title in the midst of his injury woes due to not being able to compete.  When Cruz returned in late 2014, he defeated Takeya Mizugaki by KO in one minute, vaulting him right back into title contention for the belt he never lost. During Cruz’s absence, TJ Dillashaw had become the staple of the UFC Bantamweight division, defeating Renan Barão twice as well as defending the belt against Joe Soto as well. Cruz would face Dillashaw at the height of his powers in January of 2016, where he would come away with a razor thin split decision victory to recapture the belt.  After so many trials and tribulations, Dominick Cruz was a champion once more.  

## Rose Namajunas

![Thug Rose.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/52458000-cc52-48ab-eeac-8d46d12f0700/pub "Rose Namajunas after her rematch against Jessica Andrade. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

In the words of the great Daniel Cormier, “when Rose Namajunus wins titles, she does it in spectacular fashion”, and boy is that quote accurate. Rose began her career in the UFC fighting for the inaugural Strawweight Championship against Carla Esparza (man does this division ever come full circle).  Unfortunately for ‘Thug’ Rose, she would lose to Esparza via choke in the third round.  She would then make her way back to the title conversation with wins over Angela Hill, Paige Vanzant, Tecia Torres, and Michelle Waterson-Gomez.  However by this time, Esparza had given her belt up to the boogeywoman of the division, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.  Entering UFC 217 Joanna was a -700 favourite to defeat Rose, and much to the shock of the MMA world, Rose dethroned Joanna Champion in just over three minutes via KO.  Sadly for Rose, she loses titles in spectacular fashion as well, as in her second title defence she was spiked on her head and knocked out by Jessica Andrade, leaving her in disarray about where to go next.  Thankfully for MMA fans, Rose returned just over a year later and avenged her loss to Andrade in a rematch on Fight Island, propelling her into another title shot against Weili Zhang who had defeated Andrade to win the belt.  Her fight with Weili was just getting started when Namajunas split Weili’s guard with a head kick, knocking the champion out with one of the most exhilarating knockouts of the year.  ‘Thug’ Rose had done it again.  Since then, she defended the title against Weili, then lost it to Esparza–eight years after their first encounter.  With Rose’s ability to overcome obstacles physically and mentally, she very well could be a three-time champion in the future.

## Stipe Miocic

![Stipe.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/c5038996-645e-4d28-57b4-db2838ac6d00/pub "Stipe Miocic waiting to defend his UFC Heavyweight title. Credits to: Esther Lin-MMAFighting.")

Stipe Miocic is widely regarded as the greatest Heavyweight in UFC history and a lot of it stems from how he was able to win his belt back.  Miocic first grabbed UFC gold in 2016 when he knocked out Fabricio Werdum in the first round at UFC 198.  From there he defended the belt three times, defeating Junior Dos Santos, Allistair Overeem, and Francis Ngannou, before running into a recurring name on this list, Daniel Cormier.  The two would face off for the first of three meetings in mid-2018.  Cormier would get the better of the Croatian-American, knocking him out in the very first round.  Miocic would sit out a full year before returning to rematch ‘DC’ in 2019.  The fight was wildly different from the first with each man seeing great success in the first three rounds.  However in the fourth, Stipe would find the mark on what felt like 30 consecutive liver shots before hurting Cormier to the head and finishing him on the ground.  Instantly, Miocic had solidified himself as an all time great, and he would defeat Cormier for a second time in their rubber match in 2020, before losing the belt to Francis Ngannou in March of 2021.  

## Georges St. Pierre

![GSP.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9b7f8b17-91c1-4e29-54b0-5491c5dc2b00/pub "Georges St-Pierre after finshing Michael Bisping to become the UFC Middleweight Champion. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

‘GSP’ is one of the single greatest fighters in the history of the sport, but without an upset loss that would see him lose his belt, he may have never known the success he knows today.  However, before he could ever lose his Welterweight title, he had to win it first.  This takes us back all the way to UFC 65: Bad Intentions, where St. Pierre faced the champion Matt Hughes for the Welterweight strap.  Georges had shared the cage with Hughes once prior, a first round armbar loss, but this time would be far different as St. Pierre thrashed the champion, finishing him via headkick just 1:25 into the second round.  He was finally a world champion, although it wouldn’t last long as challenger Matt Serra arrived in town in April of 2007.  Serra had won the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, with the grand prize being a title shot against the dominant St. Pierre.  Nobody expected Serra to make it out of the first round, let alone defeat ‘GSP’.  But as we've learned many times as MMA fans, MMA math doesn’t work, and Serra beat Georges by first round knockout, claiming the title.  Serra’s first title defence would be a rematch against St. Pierre who had beaten Josh Kosheck and Matt Hughes to get himself another crack at the Long Islander.  This time, Georges would not be denied and nearly one year to the date later, he stopped Serra with vicious knees to the body in the second round.  From then on ‘GSP’ wouldn’t lose another fight, defending his title nine times before taking a four-year break from MMA.  He’d return in 2017 and capture the Middleweight title, solidifying himself as the greatest Welterweight the sport had ever seen.

## Deivison Figueiredo

![Figgy.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/113c92f2-62dc-4a5d-5058-77a712c7f200/pub "Deiveson Figueiredo after finally defeating Brandon Moreno. Credits to: Josh Hedges-Zuffa LLC.")

The most recent entry that made this list is the incumbent Flyweight Champion, Deiveson Figueiredo.  Figueiredo’s championship history began in just 2020, but he had produced one of the most exciting eras in sometime.  He first captured the belt against Joseph Benavidez in July of 2020 with a devastating first round rear naked choke.  Then, in November he defeated Alex Perez via first round guillotine choke.  On the same card, Brandon Moreno defeated Brandon Royval via TKO due to an injury.  With both fighters hardly winded or injured, the two decided to fight less than one month later at UFC 256 for the title.  The two Flyweights would put on what was a fight of the year contender, ending in a majority draw.  Naturally, the UFC would run it right back in June of the following year, only this time Moreno would be too much for ‘Figgy’ as he put him away with a third round submission.  With the score at 1-0-1 for Moreno, the UFC decided to go with the trilogy bout in January of this year, with many expecting the younger Moreno to make even shorter work of the Brazilian former champ.  The fight would go the full five rounds with each fighter having their moments.  Figueiredo would land less volume but overwhelm Moreno with his power shots, scoring three knockdowns.  When the fight was over, nobody knew who would get the nod from the judges, but as the scores were read it was ‘Deus da Guerra’ who would get the victory–48-47 across the board.  Figueiredo became the first Flyweight UFC fighter to recapture the title and become a two-time champion, but Moreno could join him shortly if he gets by Kai Kara-France this weekend and sees Figueiredo for a fourth time.

## Randy Couture

![Randy C.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2becbdce-b04f-4e9d-556a-93973dd33700/public "Randy Couture after making weight at his final fight at Heavyweight. Credits to: Jon Kapaloff-Zuffa LLC.")

Randy Couture is the only fighter on this list to become a multiple time champion in multiple weight classes–a feat that may never be accomplished again.  Not only that, but Couture is a three-time Heavyweight Champion, another feat that may never be accomplished again.  His first UFC championship reign began at UFC - Ultimate Japan after he defeated Maurice Smith by majority decision to claim the belt.  He was then stripped of the title after he failed to defend the belt against who the UFC wanted.  He returned to the UFC after a short stint in Japan when he fought Kevin Randleman in November of 2000 for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.  Couture was controlled for the first two rounds but turned the tide late, getting the TKO victory and his second UFC Heavyweight title.  Couture would defend the title twice against Pedro Rizzo, with the first being a razor thin decision, and the second being a third round TKO.  Unfortunately for Couture, his second stint as champion would come to a violent end at the hands of Josh Barnett  in March 2002.  However, Barnett was subsequently stripped of the title after testing positive for anabolic steroids and was cut from the UFC.  Couture would get another crack at the title after Barnett’s release, but he came up short, losing to Ricco Rodriguez.  After consecutive losses, Couture decided to move down to Light Heavyweight where he faced Chuck Liddell for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship.  He beat Liddell by TKO to become the first UFC fighter ever to win titles in two weight classes.  With the interim strap in hand, Couture faced Tito Ortiz for the undisputed title.  He won the fight by unanimous decision to become the undisputed champion.  His first defence would come against Vitor Belfort, a man who Couture had beaten at Heavyweight years prior.  The fight would end unceremoniously when Belfort cut Couture’s eye with his glove, leading the cageside physician to stop the fight.  The two would fight for the third time later in the year and Couture dominated.  He won all three rounds before the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut on Belfort, becoming a two-time champion for the second time.  Randy would lose his next contest by knockout in a rematch with Chuck Liddell, followed by a win over Mike van Arsdale before losing a third fight with Liddell.  Immediately after the third fight with the ‘Iceman’ Couture would announce his retirement from MMA.  However, in early 2007 he announced he would be making a return to competitive MMA against the menacing Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.  At the ripe age of 43, Couture beat Sylvia by unanimous decision to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion for a third and final time.  Couture is a legend of the sport and his reigns at Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight should be remembered forever.  


7 UFC Fighters Won the Same Championship More than Once

Julianna Pena will attempt to shock the world again as she takes on Amanda Nunes for the second time this weekend from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, at UFC 277. The first meeting produced the biggest upset in Verdict history, with 92% of the community picking Nunes to win going into the matchup. Julianna Pena would go on to win by submission in the second round, leaving her the Bantamweight champion and setting up this epic rematch. 

![Group 7.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4adb6779-9dac-4021-f15f-7d734f97a900/pub "This result still stands as the biggest upset in the history of Verdict.")

The first meeting was one of the most unpredictable and shocking outcomes in UFC history; with Amanda Nunes closing at a -1125 betting favorite with a roughly 92% implied win rate, she was one of the largest favorites in UFC history. Amanda Nunes came into this fight having nine title victories in a row against some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, like Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm, earning stoppages in six of those victories. Julianna Pena made it clear during fight week that she would not roll over despite her underdog status by going at Nunes during a press conference which many were not expecting. Pena was coming into this matchup, having gone just two and two over her last four fights with wins over Sara McMann and Nicco Montano; however, she was finished in each of the two losses leaving many to question if she could handle Nunes resulting in her being a +700 underdog. 

![Group 8.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9cfad133-9726-41c5-b2c9-d86a68fc3200/pub "The pre-fight data headed into the rematch between Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes.")

This time there is much more intrigue going into the fight as we have seen that Julianna Pena can pull off the upset, and many are wondering how Amanda Nunes will respond to her first loss in so long. Despite the last result, Amanda Nunes still sits as a heavy favorite at -275, with 66.5% of the Verdict community predicting her to win, showing that despite the last result, the public still has a lot of respect for what Nunes has done. Julianna Pena has shown she is not one to shy away from the underdog role, which she will be in again at +230. This is an interesting scenario where we see a fighter who was finished in a dominant fashion still be such a large favorite; however, in this case, it is impossible to ignore Nunes' past record when evaluating the fight.

Going into the first fight, it was known that if Julianna Pena were to beat Nunes, she would need to do it twice, and here we are with their second clash just ahead. It is clear that most believe Amanda Nunes is the better fighter in the rivalry; however, Julianna Pena is here because of her ability to prove people wrong, and she will have a chance to prove the first fight was not a fluke at UFC 277. 

Comparing The Pre-Fight Data From Pena/Nunes 1 & 2 

The UFC touched down in London for the second time in 2022, delivering a high-paced Fight Night card. In the main event, Curtis Blaydes came away with the TKO victory after Apinall suffered a knee injury in the opening seconds. 

The Heavyweight division is fairly laid out right now outside of the title picture. Next week, #5-ranked Derrick Lewis will take on the rising Sergey Pavlovich. In August, #10 Marcin Tybura meets #13 Alexandr Romanov, while Augusto Sakai looks to defend his #14 ranking against Sergey Spivak. The top five meets in Paris on September 3rd when #1 contender Ciryl Gane faces fan favorite and #3-ranked Tai Tuivasa.

Champion Francis Ngannou is currently out dealing with a knee injury, and though there were talks of an interim title bout between Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones, nothing has materialized yet. There are still plenty of hot matchups to book at 265 pounds after the wild London event with a contender looking to get back to the title.

## Curtis Blaydes vs. Winner of Lewis/Pavlovich

Although it was not the decisive victory he was looking for, Curtis Blaydes still got his hand raised in London. He is seated at #4 in the division and will likely hold that ranking come Monday. He is now on a three-fight win streak, but will need to string together another win or two to get back into the title picture. Up next should be a clash with the winner of the upcoming fight between Derrick Lewis and Sergei Pavlovich. The pair are set to fight next weekend at UFC 277 and either one could be seated just outside the top five with a win. In addition,Pavlovich has not fought Blaydes before, prompting an intruiging stylistic battle.

## Tom Aspinall vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

The main event could not have gone worse for Tom Aspinall, who hardly had any time to fight before suffering the injury. He will likely be out for some time recuperating, though the next few days will give us more information. Upon his return, I like a bout with Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Rozenstruik is ranked at #8 and coming off two losses, recently suffering a knockout defeat to Alexander Volkov. Aspinall will need to regain some of the hype surrounding him, while Rozenstruik is looking to get back on the winning track.

## Alexander Volkov vs. Loser of Gane/Tuivasa

Alexander Volkov rebounded from his loss to Tom Aspinall with a knockout over Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Seated at #5, he is just outside the top of the pack. Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa are slated to meet in September with the winner likely moving towards a title bout. The loser will need to get back to the grindstone and defend their position. Volkov remains a top-ranked opponent with elite striking, making a tough challenge for whoever loses in Paris.

## Chris Daukaus vs. Winner of Tybura/Romanov

Chris Daukaus surged into the Heavyweight rankings with a string of knockout victories. He then suffered knockout defeats to Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes, now finding himself ranked at #9. He needs a win to defend his place in the top 10, and I like a match with the winner of Marcin Tybura and Alexandr Romanov. The pair are set to face off in August, with the #10 ranking on the line for the winner.The winner will deserve a chance to move up, while Daukaus desperately needs to get back on the right track.

## Blagoy Ivanov vs. Andrei Arlovski

Blagoy Ivanov got back in the win column in May with a decision vic tory over Marcos Rogerio de Lima. Currently seated at #15, he will need to turn away a rising name to recreate a win streak. Although a long-time veteran, Andrei Arlovski has been on a tear as of late. He is currently riding a four-fight win streak and holds six wins in his last seven fights. Arlovski deserves a shot to get a number next to his name once again, while Ivanov needs to prove he deserves his spot in the top 15.

Five Fights To Make In The UFC Heavyweight Division

On The MMA Hour, Khamzat Chiamaev revealed that he would move to 185 lbs after his scheduled bout vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 279 if the winner of the upcoming Welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards wishes to sit out for an extended period. 

Chimaev joined the UFC in 2020 and got in an instant roll through the 170 and 185 lbs divisions. Scoring 3 wins in 2 months, Chimaev seemed unstoppable and on a fast track to a UFC title shot. These ideas were put on hold though as 
Chimaev contracted a severe case of COVID-19, and at one point briefly retired. 

The illness wasn't enough to keep him away from the sport for long though as he made a full recovery and returned to action the next year at UFC 267 where he quickly dispatched number 11 in the world, Li Jingliang, with a 1st round rear-naked choke. He then picked up a unanimous decision win over 2nd ranked Welterweight contender Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in a potential Fight of The Year winner. 

![F165E68C-5BF0-4AA8-9E6C-5E2000FF311E.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8f039470-6f12-43f8-a9a0-3151c8c46c00/pub "Khamzat Chimaev holds his opponent in the air as he converses with Dana White. Credits to: Craig Kidwell.")

He now finds himself matched up against one of the biggest stars in the sport, Nate Diaz. They will headline UFC 279 at the T-mobile Arena in LAs Vegas, Nevada. Chimaev is expected to make quick work of his opponent as he opened as a greater than 10 to 1 favorite over the Stockton Native.

 A win here could set him up for a title shot against the winner of Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards which takes place at UFC 278 on August 20th at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The last 4 fighters to defeat Nate Diaz have received immediate title shots after, could Khamzat Chimaev join that list? 

Khamzat Chimaev wants a Middleweight fight after Nate Diaz if the wait for a Welterweight title shot is too long

The rematch for Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira is 'close to being finalized' for UFC 282 on December 10th according to Ariel Helwani. 

There were plans to hold it at UFC 283 in Brazil but Prochazka opposed it. Prochazka tweeted the event number, the date, and mentioned the location Las Vegas. It appears that is where this fight will take place.

These two competed in a certain Fight of The Year contender last June at UFC 275 in Singapore with the Light Heavyweight title on the line. The fight was a wild affair of strikes and grappling exchanges that eventually saw Prochazka lock up a rear-naked choke in the 5th round to secure the win and the belt.

![7049164D-3B3C-4FCF-82E2-50F7B05817D6.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1977474f-f7fb-4cf1-5b3b-521500f6f900/pub "Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira go to war in Singapore. Credits to: Paul Miller USA-TODAY Sports")

After their war, there was much speculation as to who Prochazka would fight next as the newly crowned champion. Gloer, having lost his belt, wanted the rematch right away. There seemed to be a chance we'd get the former champion Jan Blachowicz vs. Prochazka, but that fizzled out. Lastly, there were reports that Dana White had plans for the winner of Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith to fight for the belt, but now Ankalaev, the winner, seems to be chasing Blachowicz. 

Prochazka entered the fight with Glover a sizeable -200 favorite despite being the challenger. The chances he would win by submission however were 16:1 and the fight result was considered a massive upset. Even more impressive is that Glover Teixeira was winning the fight on 2 judges' scorecards leading up to the final round and was well on his way to winning the 5th. 

Both fighters have expressed shame in their performances that night and believe that they are capable of much more, now it seems that they will be given the opportunity to show that.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira 2 Being Finalized For UFC 282

Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland is planned for October 15 as the main event at the UFC Apex. The fight is not a done deal but is targeted right now according to Ariel Helwani. 

Jared Cannonier (15-6, 8-6 UFC) is currently ranked #2 in the Middleweight division. He is coming off of a unanimous decision loss to champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 276. The fight had close rounds according to the Verdict Scorecard but Israel would receive the nod on almost every one. This will be Cannonier's 4th UFC main event.

Sean Strickland (25-4, 12-4 UFC) also fought on UFC 276. He faced kickboxing legend and one-half of the upcoming main event at UFC 281, Alex Pereira. Pereira knocked Strickland out in the 1st round with his signature left hook. This will be Strickland's 3rd UFC main event.

![BCA28B0F-1DD4-470F-A653-40C2680C1BAD.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4b90170c-7acf-405f-be6d-ef8bab8fff00/pub "Alex Pereira knocks Sean Strickland out with a left hook. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie USA-TODAY Sports")

These two have been on each other's radars since Strickland began climbing the ranks at 185 after moving up from 170. Cannonier moved all the way down to the Middleweight division from Heavyweight. Both are now in need of a win if they wish to re-insert themselves into the title picture.


Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland Targeted For October 15th

Dominick Cruz was asked during a media scrum whether or not he believes Daniel Cormier watches film on fighters prior to calling their fights. *"I doubt it. . . I call him 'The Golden Fluffer.' Whatever you wanna hear, he will say it.* - Dominick Cruz to media

Cruz has previously expressed criticism towards fellow UFC commentator Daniel Cormier. Last year at UFC 269 he had words for DC: 

*"When it comes to DC, I usually mute it. I love DC. He’s my friend, but to me, from my experience, he doesn’t do the homework. He wants to get in and out, get the job done, make his money. And I think he cares about us, but it’s just different. He doesn’t do the preparation from my experience."* - Cruz insinuates that DC doesn't do his job as he should. 

The two have since squashed their beef with one another in the form of a sit-down interview as part of Cormier's YouTube series, "The DC Check-In With Domonick Cruz". Cruz held firm to his beliefs while DC tried to persuade him that excellent commentary isn't always the most prepared for and detailed analysis of the fight. In the end, their views did not change but the relationship between them was restored.

Now it appears that Cruz still thinks the same way heading into his upcoming fight against another commentator Marlon Vera. The two will compete in the main event at UFC San Diego this Saturday on ESPN and ESPN+.

The winner of this fight will factor heavily in the Bantamweight top 5 and potentially the title picture.


Dominick Cruz Still Doesn't Believe Daniel Cormier Watches Film on Fighters

Uriah Hall announced earlier today on his Instagram that he has retired from the sport of MMA.

*“It is with great sadness that I will be stepping away from the greatest sport in the world. I’m going to miss the incredible UFC staff that has become like family and the mentors I have met along the way . . .To the next generation, you are the top 1% greatest athletes on the planet. Will be a pleasure to watch where you all take this sport from here. I will be watching! Goforth"* - Uriah Hall via Instagram

Uriah Hall has long been one of the top Middleweights of the world. He held his place in the UFC rankings for years and has defeated legends such as Anderson Silva, Gegard Mousasi, and Thiago Santos. He was one of the most fearsome strikers in his division, with power in all limbs. 

Hall earned his start on The Ultimate Fighter 17: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen in 2013. On the show, he rose to stardom almost instantly due to a viral knockout. Hall hadn't yet finished the season and was already talked about as one of the best in the world. He would lose a split decision to teammate Kelvin Gastelum in the finale but earned a UFC contract nonetheless as his potential seemed infinite.

Why didn't this potential carry him to a UFC championship? Hall had a well-documented drawback during his career - his mindset. He showed remorse after each fight and seemed to hate hurting people, even in the fighting business. He sought advice from his head coach, Chael Sonnen, on TUF regarding this but was never able to get past the mental wall. Even until his final win against Anderson Silva, Hall threw just 9 strikes in a round due to his gunshy nature. After securing the 3rd round TKO, he broke into tears apologizing to the legend for what he'd done, seemingly regretful for winning.

![73CE9A51-5FC6-40AC-BDEE-A07361D9F083.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1092d340-885e-4d90-45b2-f9a8bb78e400/pub "Uriah Hall cries and apologizes to Anderson Silva after their bout. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

Having faced 2 dominant losses and realizing he no longer belonged in the sport, Uriah Hall called an end to a career that fans will always remember as one of the most talent-rich and memorable journeys in mixed martial arts.

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