Taylor Dow

***Record***:  21-6     
***Born***: February 5, 1988 (age 35) Frankfurt, Germany     
***Weight***: 145 lb (66 kg)     
***Height***: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)     
***Reach***:  70 inches     
***Nationality***: American     
***Division***: Featherweight (145 lb)     
***Fighting out of***: Huntington Beach, California, U.S.     
***Next Fight***: Jesus Pinedo (PFL 7)     






## Wrestling Career



Bubba Jenkins began wrestling in High School, winning the VHSL State Wrestling and NHSCA Senior National Championships.     

During College, Jenkins trained out of Penn State University, and in his Freshman year, he went 23-12 during the regular season and 3-3 post-season.     

For his Sophomore year, he defeated the highly touted Jordan Burroughs in a close match, placing fifth in the Big Ten Championship and becoming a runner-up at the NCAA.    

During his Junior year, Jenkins finished the regular season with an undefeated 22-0 record and went 2-0 before the Big Ten Championship finals. However, despite an impressive start, Jenkins was forced to withdraw before the finals due to an injury, earning him runner-up honors. This injury would stick around during the NCAA's, forcing him to go 0-2.    


During his Senior year, Jenkins opted to move to Arizona State University as Cael Sanderson was placed as the head coach at Penn State University, and their styles clashed. This year, Jenkins captured NCAA gold by pinning undefeated future Olympic gold medalist David Taylor in the finals.      

```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tEymtGxj4tE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```

## First MMA Fights



Jenkins debuted as a professional MMA fighter in 2011 for the Tachi Palace Fights promotion, winning back-to-back first-round submissions over Josh Williams and Chris Gomez.       

Jenkins had one final win before joining Bellator, where he ended up having 11 fights (the most of any promotion he fought in), during which he scored his third round-one submission, this time against Jesus Adame at RFA 3: Stevenson vs. Cochrane.    


```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Q7mjHTovSE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```


## Bellator Run


Jenkins entered Bellator in 2013, debuting against Mike Barreras and scoring a round 2 TKO in one of the most one-sided beatdowns in Bellator history.     

In his next fight, Jenkins suffered his first defeat against LaRue Burley, who finished him by TKO in the third round.    

Eager to return to his winning ways, Jenkins came back with four wins in a row against Ian Rammel, Sean Powers, Poppies Martinez, and Thiago Meller, two by TKO and two by unanimous decision.    

Jenkins would face the second loss of his career against one of his biggest rivals Georgi Karakhanyan, where he was choked unconscious in the first round at Bellator 132 in 2015.      

Over the next year, Jenkins would rack up three more wins to secure a rematch with Georgi Karakhanyan, where this time, he was KO'd by Karakhanyan in under a minute of the bout.      


This fight would be the last of Jenkins' Bellator run, where he finished with an 8-3 record in the promotion.


```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fao25SKrjP8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```

## Final Fights Outside PFL


Jenkins would have four more fights before joining PFL, where he resides today. Jenkins' final fights outside PFL would see him take his fourth loss, followed by a three-fight win streak, which included obtaining and defending the Brave CF Featherweight Championship.     


```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bbm7MDhkt38" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```





## PFL Run


Jenkins made his PFL debut during the third PFL tournament the promotion put together. To start his PFL run, Jenkins scored back-to-back decision victories over Lance Palmer and Bobby Moffett, which placed him in the semi-finals against Chris Wade. Wade would ultimately defeat Jenkins and make it to the finals, losing to Movlid Khaybulaev at the end of the bracket.      

Jenkins' next season in the PFL would see him make it to the finals by defeating Kyle Bochniak and Reinaldo Ekson by decision, and 
Ryoji Kudo by first-round submission for the quick six points in the semi-finals.     

Jenkins took on Brendan Loughnane in the 2022 finals, where he lost by TKO in the first round.     

 
This season, Jenkins has redeemed his loss over Chris Wade and scored the quick six points against Sung Bin Jo with a first-round submission.    



```iframe
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4pddfHgCzi0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
```




## Next Fight and Potential Future
Jenkins' next fight is scheduled to be against Jesus Pinedo, who is coming off a TKO victory against Brendan Loughnane. This fight will decide who will enter the tournament finals and face the winner of Chris Wade vs. Gabriel Alves Braga.     


Two big wins could earn Jenkins his first PFL title and $1,000,000.


![Bubba Jenkins - PFL 0731202.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0bac841c-ca6c-4747-80f8-ed344395cf00/public "Bubba Jenkins and Jesus Pinedo face off. Credit: PFL MMA.")


Fighter Spotlight: Bubba Jenkins

Liam Lindsay

According to the PFL, Amanda Serrano has just signed with the organization and will compete in the PFL Superfight division.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1686860300136435713?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

Amanda Serrano is the undisputed Women's Featherweight Champion of the world in boxing, holding all four of boxing's major titles, the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC. She has won Female Boxer Of The Year twice, and multiple officiating boxing boards rank her as the current PFP Queen in Women's boxing.

![serrano-taylor.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cc328039-0860-41ab-9b84-6b3e70ac7900/pub "Amanda Serrano during her Fight of The Year fight against Katie Taylor. Credits to: AP Photo - Frank Franklin II.")

However, she also has a relatively unknown MMA background. She's trained in MMA since 2015 and holds a professional MMA record of 2-0-1 with two submission victories.

> I am officially signed to the PFL, and I'm proud to be a part of great talent in that company. - Amanda Serrano

Serrano is scheduled to face Heather Hardy in the co-main event of Paul vs. Diaz, which goes down this weekend on August 5th. If she wins this weekend, we may see her compete in the PFL cage next, potentially alongside her friend Jake Paul. What do you think of this signing? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts down below.

Amanda Serrano Signs With The PFL

One of the best fights of the season just went down between Brad Katona and Timur Valiev, so let's recap all the events during the full episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler.

## Brad Katona Makes The Switch

The beginning of episode starts with a brief but agreeable conversation between semi-finalist Brad Katona and coach Michael Chandler. After being offered to switch teams last episode, Katona snapped at the opportunity to join his actual coaches and told Chandler he'd be making the switch, which Chandler held no objections to.

## A Visit From The Lightweight King

At the end of Timur Valiev's training, Islam Makhachev visited his fellow Russian friend. Valiev was ecstatic because it was his first time speaking Russian in over five weeks. Valiev discussed his coaches and praised them highly, and Makhachev gave his friend a huge confidence boost heading into his semi-final matchup.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UltimateFighter/status/1686559955904798720?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## Weigh Ins

At the weigh-ins, Timur Valiev weighed in at the Bantamweight limit of 136 lbs, and Brad Katona came in half a pound under that at 135.5 lbs. After an intense face-off, the two backed away.

## Brad Katona vs. Timur Valiev

**Result**: Brad Katona def. Timur Valiev via split decision.

**Division**: Bantamweight (135 lbs)

**Referee**: Keith Peterson

**Round 1**

The first round involved both fighters finding their range. Katona frequently landed with the lead hook, which stunned Valiev several times. It's difficult to tell how, but Katona suffered a brutal cut on the side of his head a minute into the round, either from a knee or headbutt. The knee forced Katona to attempt a takedown, which he secured but was briefly threatened by a guillotine. Valiev scrambled out from underneath after losing the submission and landed a head kick that landed flush with the foot. With a minute to go, Valiev caught a kick and used it to take Katona down, who threatened a triangle choke. After a scramble, Katona got back to his feet with Valiev hanging off his back, and after some strikes and a slam takedown, the round ended.

Between rounds, Team Chandler and Team McGregor agreed Valiev won the first round, which they told their fighters.

**Round 2**

The second round was just as active, with Valiev constantly pumping out body kicks and knees, and Katona kept pressing forward with his lead hand, which Valiev couldn't escape. After Valiev landed a knee in the clinch, Katona landed a bomb of a left hand off the break, which was acknowledged. Valiev began to succeed more in striking exchanges, catching Katona as he was getting off with his boxing. With a minute to go, Katona pushed Valiev against the fence, but in the final seconds, was reversed and thrown to the mat by Valiev, who ended the round on top.

![brad-katona-vs-timur-valiev.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6d2a4fdc-515c-49ac-1516-664460b9fa00/pub "Brad Katona landing a lead hook on Timur Valiev. Credits to: UFC.") 

**Round 3**

For the first half of the third round, Valiev comfortably picked Katona apart with leg kicks and jabs, which he landed frequently. Katona stunned Valiev with a straight as he attempted to enter the pocket, but Valiev clapped back with his shots after chopping the leg. Valiev secured a takedown halfway through the round, but Katona returned to the feet. In the final minute, Katona pushed Valiev against the fence and landed some punches to the body and head. After a final flurry from both men, the round ended.

With Brad Katona advancing to the finals, he will face Cody Gibson or Rico DiSciullo in the finals. 

How did you score this fight? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your scorecard in the comments below.

TUF 31: Team Mcgregor vs. Team Chandler Episode 10 Results and Recap

An absolute banger matchup has just been announced. Jonathan Martinez will take on Adrian Yanez on October 14th at UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Fiziev inside the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, per Carlos Contreras Legaspi via ESPN Deportes.

**This bout will occur in the Bantamweight (135 lbs) division.**

Jonathan Martinez holds a professional record of 18-4 (9-3 UFC) and is ranked #13 in the Bantamweight division. He holds notable wins over Said Nurmagomedov, Thomas Almeida, and Cub Swanson.

Adrian Yanez is ranked #14 at Bantamweight and holds a professional record of 16-4 (5-1 UFC), with noteworthy wins coming against Davey Grant, Randy Costa, and Tony Kelly. 

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

Jonathan Martinez is coming off the biggest win of his career back in March. He faced Said Nurmagomedov on the main card of UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili, and despite entering as a considerable underdog, upset the Russian via unanimous decision. After dropping the first round, Martinez would rally and win rounds 2 and 3 to secure the victory. Now, he'll face Adrian Yanez as he looks to climb deeper in the Bantamweight rankings.

![mtinez-clinch.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ddbeead2-0a1d-4ab1-2156-81ebf9af4400/pub "Jonathan Martinez utilising the clinch vs. Said Nurmagomedov. Credits to: Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports.")

Adrian Yanez will be returning from a brutal first-round KO loss to Rob Font. Yanez was outstruck during the bout, and despite landing good shots vs. Font, he was caught with a massive uppercut at the end of the first round. However, he possesses excellent boxing, which he has demonstrated against tough opposition, such as Davey Grant and Randy Costa, and he'll be looking to use his elite striking to get back into the win column.

![yanez-font.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/ccd8689c-777b-4e74-fe82-e3cd5a8b0700/pub "Adrian Yanez during his bout vs. Rob Font. Credits to: Rich Storry - USA TODAY Sports,")

This is a fire matchup in the Bantamweight division, with the victor likely receiving a top-10 opponent next. So, who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment down below.

Jonathan Martiez Faces Adrian Yanez In Brilliant Prospect vs. Prospect Matchup

A top-10 matchup in the Light Heavyweight division has just been announced for UFC 294. Magomed Ankalaev will face Johnny Walker on October 21st in the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, per Vestnik MMA.

**This bout takes place in the Light-Heavyweight (205 lbs) division.**

Magomed Ankalaev is ranked #2 in the Light-Heavyweight division and holds a professional record of 18-1-1 (9-1-1 UFC), and has notable wins over Thiago Santos, Volkan Ozedemir, and Nikita Krylov.

Johnny Walker holds a professional record of 21-7 (7-4 UFC) and is ranked #6 at Light-Heavyweight. He holds credible victories over Anthony Smith, Paul Craig, and Ion Cutelaba.

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

Magomed Ankalaev is coming off a draw at UFC 282 to Jan Blachowicz. After his three-round co-main event was surprisingly promoted to a title fight following Jiri Prochazka's title relinquishment, Ankalaev would go five rounds for just the second time in his career. His leg was severely compromised in the third round due to Blachowicz's leg kicks, but the Dagestani battled through to win rounds 4 and 5, including a 10-8 in the final round. However, it was not enough to rally, and he would not claim the vacant title. Ankalaev will be looking to return to the win column after a 10-month layoff, and he'll be looking to use his technical striking and powerful wrestling to do so.

![mgmed-ankalv.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6d1a400f-06fe-47f2-c65a-8ec7b797c000/pub "Magomed Ankalaev attacking Jan Blachowicz in his last bout. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

Johnny Walker is riding the hottest win streak of his career. After going 1-4 across five bouts, Walker dialed back his wild style and began to use his physical gifts more advantageously. Walker defeated Anthony Smith via unanimous decision in his last bout after dropping him and dominating Smith for most of the bout. Now, he looks to gain the biggest win of his career and bring his win streak to four vs. Magomed Ankalaev. Walker will be looking to use his unpredictable striking and great jiu-jitsu to secure victory in this matchup.

![walker-leg-kick.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0d1e8a53-c641-4e8a-3970-bc6e0387eb00/pub "Johnny Walker slamming a leg kick onto Anthony Smith. Credits to: Jim Dedmon - USA TODAY Sports.")

The UFC 294 card keeps getting better and better. So who do you have winning this matchup? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments section below.

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker Booked For UFC 294

One of the best PPVs of the year just closed its doors, and with only two decisions across the entire card, the judges were only needed a little throughout the card. However, that didn't stop a controversy from arising, as in the co-main event, Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira battled to a razor-close split decision. "Poatan" was awarded the win, but let's examine each round of the fight and break it down. Then we'll compare the judges' scorecards to the Verdict Scorecard and ultimately determine who should've won this fight.

![Group 32 (1).png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/86892623-3890-4102-e740-b9da6219b200/pub "The Judges' Scorecard for Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira.")

![Group 33.png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2ed6ba80-6a73-4a7c-e7e2-239a499ea700/pub "The official Verdict Scorecard for Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira.")


## Official Judges: Derek Cleary, Ron McCarthy, Junichiro Kamijo

**Round 1**

Jan Blachowicz immediately stuck to the game plan in the first round, pushing Pereira against the fence and attempting to get the Brazillian to the ground. Pereira defended well for a time but couldn't fend off Blachowicz, who secured the takedown. "Poatan" attempted to get back to his feet but gave up his back which the Pole quickly snatched up. For the rest of the round, Blachowicz remained on Pereiras back but could not sink in the rear-naked choke, despite multiple attempts.


**Judges Scorecard: 10-9 Blachowicz x3.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.95-8.97 Blachowicz.**


**Round 2**

It was immediately apparent in round 2 that the elevation was significantly affecting both fighters, especially Blachowicz, who was noticeably labored. Both men chopped at each other's leg during the round, and Pereira pumped his jab out to the body of Jan, which was occasionally parried. Blachowicz secured another takedown after ducking under the left hook of Alex but was unable to do much damage with the position. After stuffing a sloppy takedown from Blachowicz, Pereira pushed Jan against the cage and patiently unloaded uppercuts and hooks. The round ended with Blachowicz desperately covering up.

**Judges Scorecard: 10-9 Pereira.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.19-9.82 Pereira.**


**Round 3**

The third round began similarly to the second, with both men chopping at the legs of the other. "Poatan" returned to his body jab, and Blachowicz occasionally blitzed at the Brazillian with his left hook. Pereira appeared to edge Blachowicz out with the striking, but Jan was still sneaking shots over the guard of Pereira and landed a solid body kick. Alex began to bring his jab upstairs more, which snapped Jan's head back when it landed flush. In the final minute, Blachowicz secured his third takedown but could not damage Pereira with big shots, and the round ended with Jan on top.


**Round 3: Derek Cleary and Ron McCarthy 10-9 Pereira, Junichiro Kamijo 10-9 Blachowicz.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.32-9.69 Pereira**

## Official Result: Pereira def. Blachowicz via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).

## Verdict Scorecard: Pereira def. Blachowicz (28.48-28.46) 

This bout was extremely close, with everything riding on the third round, which was difficult to score for many. Two judges favored Pereira's constant attack with his jab and leg kicks, whereas the other judge favored Blachowicz's blitzing combinations and sole takedown. The Verdict Scorecard agreed with the decision, having Alex Pereira take rounds 2 and 3, but it was very close.

Did the judges get the decision correct? As a member of the Verdict Community, leave a comment below with your scorecard, and give us your thoughts on the bout.

The Final Verdict: Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

Jordan Lopez

UFC 291 was headlined by two of the best Lightweight fighters as Justin Gaethje won the BMF belt and defeated Dustin Poirier in the second round with a vicious head kick knockout. Gaethje now becomes the second-ever BMF title holder alongside Jorge Masvidal, who recently vacated due to retirement. Now that everything has been settled at UFC 291, it's time to play matchmaker for the Lightweight division. Here are five fights to make next in the Lightweight division after UFC 291. 

## UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2 

![OlivesIslam.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/231b4aef-9bc6-438f-ba1a-1d035b44ac00/pub "Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev before their UFC 280 fight. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

As already announced, the Lightweight championship will be on the line at UFC 294 as Islam Makhachev will defend his belt against a familiar foe in Charles Oliveira. The rematch will again occur at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev is coming off a controversial win against Alexander Volkonvski at UFC 284 when he won via unanimous decision. Before that, Makhachev won the belt at UFC 280 when he defeated Oliveira in the second round via submission. Since then, Oliveira fought at UFC 289 and defeated Beneil Dariush in the first round via TKO. This should be another great fight between two of the best Lightweights in the world. 

## Justin Gaethje vs. Winner of Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2

![[GetPaidStock.com]-64c6902f6aa95.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7ea95bb4-cfb6-45f8-dea9-9ba59e1fd000/pub "Justin Gaethje after winning the BMF belt at UFC 291. Credits to: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC.")

It's only fitting that the winner of the UFC 291 main event would get a title shot if they won. In this case, Justin Gaethje has earned that right to fight the winner of Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira. After a brilliant performance against Dustin Poirier, there is nothing left for Gaethje to do but fight for the title next. The head kick knockout was the perfect result he needed to catapult himself into next in line. The current BMF of the UFC should be next for the winner of Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2. That title fight for Gaethje would be projected to be sometime around early 2024 due to UFC 294 being in October of 2023. 

## Poirier vs. Holloway 2

![DustinMax.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/85d5537f-6141-4ac5-a869-39dee0334500/pub "Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway during their first fight. Credits to: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC.")

On the flip side, Poirier mentioned that he still has a lot left in him to continue fighting. In the post-fight conference, he mentioned that he doesn't want to fight up-and-coming contenders and wants fights that intrigue him. “Before this one, when they offered me Beneil (Dariush), I was just like, ‘Ah, I’m not that excited about it,'” Poirier said. “But when this one came, it got me scared and nervous because what just happened could happen. That’s what kept me waking up in the morning to bust my ass. I knew not only the excitement of the fight, the danger of the fight – a win would get me – we’re No. 2 and No. 3. No. 1 already beat us, and he’s fighting for the title again. How much higher on the ladder could I go? A win over him would be a lock to get the title shot, I thought. We’ll see.” Since he said this, what is a better fight to keep you intrigued and motivated than a rematch with Max Holloway? Both fighters are in a position to have fun and entertaining fights. This particular one makes the most sense right now and would excite many fight fans worldwide. Make it happen (after Holloway fights Chan Sung Jung), matchmakers!

## Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

![ConorMike.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1ad5e543-441e-4809-e362-0b90ebaea100/pub "Conor McGregor and Micahel Chandler facing off in the octagon; filming the Ultimate Fighter. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

They coached the Ultimate Fighter for a reason, right? This is still the fight to make, and Chandler is chomping at the bits for this one. Rightfully so due to the electricity, the fight would produce between two fighters that love to finish fights. The only problem with making the fight is on Conor McGregor's end. He has yet to enter the USADA pool after his injury and can't compete in the UFC until he has completed six months of testing. It seems like a long shot for this fight to come to fruition, but this is still the fight to make for both men. Fight fans will continue to wait for this fight to be finalized, but it makes sense for both men to get it done. 

## Arman Tsarukyan vs. Beneil Dariush

![Dariush.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/17923f57-6b9c-442d-d15c-f5b63b66a800/pub "Beneil Dariush before fighting Charles Oliveira. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuff LLC.")

After losing to Charles Oliveira at UFC 289, Beneil Dariush sits at an interesting spot in the Lightweight division. Dariush can push to get the Chandler fight if Chandler doesn't get McGregor since it'll be a top-five matchup. For the sake of this matchmaking session, Chandler will get that fight with McGregor, leaving Dariush without an opponent. The fight that makes the most sense for Dariush would be Arman Tsarukyan. This would be a great fight, and the winner will place them right into the title picture. Tsarukyan has won two consecutive fights and is ranked eighth in the Lightweight division. This would be a fight between No. 8 and No. 4 in the division and would be a great one to keep the division moving. 

UFC 291 Aftermath: 5 Fights to Make Next in the Lightweight Division

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

## Prelims

**Miranda Maverick vs Priscila Cachoeira**

It was all Maverick through the get-go. She dominated the fight with almost nine minutes of control time on the ground and landed 105 total strikes compared to Cachoeira's 13. It wasn't a Priscila Cachoeira fight without some fouls, as she was caught grabbing the fence multiple times and grasped the top of Maverick while they were grappling. It appears a ranked opponent is next for Maverick. 

**Result**: Miranda Maverick def Priscilla Cachoeira by third round submission.

**Division:** Women's Flyweight

**Referee:** Dave Seljestad

**Matthew Semelsberger vs Uros Medic**

Semelsberger seemed to have control of the fight until he didn't. A dominant first round led to him tiring out, and Medic landed a brutal spinning back fist in the third round that dropped Semi and later finished him with ground and pound. Matthew looked phenominal early, as he dropped Medic in the first round but could not find a finish. 

**Result:** Uros Medic def Matthew Semelsberger by third round knockout. 

**Division:** Welterweight

**Referee:** Tyler Tomlinson

**Jake Matthews vs Darrius Flowers**

Darrius Flowers may be the first fighter to get knocked out and submitted in the same fight. Flowers looked great early on, but a questionable groin shot sent him down to the canvas in agony. However, when the UFC commentators went to the instant replay, they saw that what sent Flowers down was not a kick to the groin, rather a kick to the body, just above the waist line. The referee, Tyler Tomlinson did not see this, and let Flowers recover until it was time to fight again. Jake Matthews, a guy with a lot of UFC experience remained unfazed by the antics of Flowers throughout the fight and found a rear naked choke in the second round. 

**Result:** Jake Matthews def Darrius Flowers by second round submission

**Referee:** Tyler Tomlinson

**Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro**

There were a lot of fantastic finishes on this card. Unfortunately, Roman Kopylov's may have gone under the rug after watching Derrick Lewis and Justin Gaethje record unebelievable knockouts. However, it's worth talking about. Kopylov came out agressive, blasting Ribeiro with shots which resulted in really no offense from Claudio. Right out of the gate in the second round, Kopylov blasted Ribeiro with a picture perfect head kick that sent him crashing to the canvas unconscious.

**Result:** Roman Kopylov def Claudio Ribeiro by second round knockout

**Referee:** Marc Goddard

**CJ Vergara vs Vinicius Salvador**

Our first decision of the night went to CJ Vergara and Vinicius Salvador. The fight was very close contested and back and forth, but Vergara ultimately won a 29-28 on all three judges' scorecards. 

**Result:** CJ Vergara def Vinicius Salvador by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

**Referee:** Dave Seljestad

**Gabriel Bonfim vs Trevin Giles**

Gabriel Bonfim looks like the future at 170 pounds. Just pure domination against a legit UFC veteran in Trevin Giles. Bonfim ragdolled Giles to the canvas in the first 60 seconds of the fight, and locked in a guillotine that ended Giles' night early. Short, but dominant for Gabriel Bonfim who now moves to 15-0. 

**Result:** Gabriel Bonfim def Trevin Giles by first round submission

**Referee:** Herb Dean

## Main Card

**Kevin Holland vs Michael Chiesa**

A bit of an upset to some, but who thought Kevin Holland was going to get it done by submission? According to the UFC broadcast, this was the third time Michael Chiesa has been submitted by a d'arce choke, and the fifth time overall. Really impressive performance by Kevin Holland, perhaps the biggest win of his career. This shoots him into the welterweight top fifteen, and he will absolutely be getting a big fight next. 

**Result:** Kevin Holland def Michael Chiesa by first round submission

**Referee:** Marc Goddard

**Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green**

It's been a really tough break for Tony Ferguson. One of the most dramatic falls from the top we've ever seen in this sport. Once considered one of the best lightweights on the planet on a twelve fight win streak, Ferguson has now lost six fights in a row, including a recent submission loss to Bobby Green. Ferguson looked competitive in the fight, but Green was just piecing him up with combinations and did some serious damage on the ground from top position. Not sure what's next for El Cucuy.

**Result:** Bobby Green def Tony Ferguson by third round submission

**Referee:** Dan Miragliotta

**Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima**

Perhaps the most entertaining 33 seconds you'll ever see in mixed martial arts, Derrick Lewis and his new six pack of abs came rushing out of the opening bell to a vicious flying knee that sent Rogerio de Lima to the canvas. A few hard ground shots later and Lewis has his shorts off in the middle of the octagon! With the knockout, post-fight celebration, and the hilarious interview afterwards, this was a peak Derrick Lewis performance that will be shown online for a long time. 

**Result:** Derrick Lewis def Marcos Rogerio de Lima by first round knockout

**Referee:** Dan Miragliotta

**Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira**

Jan came out with a very clear intention of grappling and that he did exceptionally well against Alex Pereira, taking him down within the first 30 seconds of the fight. Jan landed three takedown and recorded over seven minutes of control time, but Pereira survived and did major damage to Blachowicz's leg on the feet. Jan was exhausted going into the final round, and a late takedown was not enough to win him the fight. It was a really close and competitive fight between Blachowicz and Pereira, but the former middleweight champion moves to 1-0 as a light heavyweight and seems to have a title shot in his distant future. 

**Result:** Alex Pereira def Jan Blachowicz by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 28-29)

**Referee:** Marc Goddard

**Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje II**

One year ago, Leon Edwards shocked the world and won the UFC welterweight title with a beautiful head kick knockout over Kamaru Usman. A year later, Justin Gaethje avenged his longtime teammate and friend by knocking out Dustin Poirier in an eerily similar fashion. The first round was close, with two judges giving the first round to Poirier, but exactly one minute into the second round, Gaethje blew the roof off of the Delta Center with a right high kick that knocked Poirier out cold. Both looked incredibily sharp throughout the fight, but I don't think anyone expected the fight to end the way it did. Justin Gaethje is the baddest man on the planet. 

**Result:** Justin Gaethje def Dustin Poirier by second round knockout

**Referee:** Herb Dean 

UFC 291 Post Fight Results

Every fighter, whether professional or amateur knows how difficult and challenging it is to become a champion. When a fighter wins a title, they often talk afterwards about their road to achieving that lifelong goal, and explain the challenges they had to overcome to get there. It is even more rare to become a multi-sport champion and to hold titles across multiple disciplines of MMA. Alex Pereira is one of the most credentialed combat sports athletes today. He has dominated the kickboxing world, and has done the same in mixed martial arts. 

The casual fan will know Alex Pereira for his storied rival with the current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The two fights are tied one apiece, with each fighter holding a knockout win over the other. What people may not realize is that this rivarly spans over the course of several years, in multiple different sports. Alex and Israel competed under the same kickboxing promotion Glory and both have had their own successes. Lots of people understand Adesanya's background as a kickboxer, but not many know how dominant Alex Pereira's run was as a former two division champion. Let's dive into some of Poatan's accomplishments in kickboxing. 

To start, Alex Pereira is the former Glory middleweight and light heavyweight champion. He has beaten several current UFC fighters under glory, like Israel Adesanya and Dustin Jacoby. His record as a kickboxer is  33-7, with 21 wins by knockout. 

# Claiming the Glory Middleweight Title

Alex won the Glory Middleweight title in 2017 after defeating Simon Marcus by decision at Glory 46. He then went on to defend his title five times against Yousri Belagarousi twice, Simon Marcus again, Jason Wilnis, and Ertugrul Bayrak. Through that reign, four of Pereira's five Glory title defenses were won by knockout. Pereira held the Glory middleweight title until he decided to move up to light heavyweight where he would fight for the interim title, and win. 

# Defeating Kickboxing Legend Artem Vakhitov

In his final two fights as a professional kickboxer, Alex Pereira fought a kickboxing legend in Artem Vakhitov twice, winning one and losing one. Artem is a very credentialed kickboxer from Russia who's amassed a 22-6 career record. Vakhitov is one of the greatest kickboxers to ever compete under the Glory banner, and in 2021, Pereira defeated Artem to win the Glory Light Heavyweight title by a split decision. 

![alex-pereira-knee-artem-vakhitov.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0f33d06f-7879-4490-a850-c5c3bd333300/public "Alex Pereira knees Artem Valikhov in their Glory match. Credits to: Glory MMA. ")

# Becoming a Two Division Champion

Pereira moved up to light heavyweight to win the interim light heavyweight title against Donegi Abana by third round knockout. This title victory made history, as Pereira became the first fighter under the Glory banner to hold two titles simultaneously. Pereira won the unified light heavywight title after defeating Artem Vakhitov, but later lost a rematch by a decision after a point was deducted for "repeated clinch attempts." 

# Wins over Israel Adesanya

Perhaps Pereira's most recgonizeable accomplishments in the world of kickboxing were his two wins over Israel Adesanya, the catalyst for their rivarly in the UFC. Their first fight took place in 2016 under the Glory of Heroes promotion, where Pereira won a unanimous decision against Adesanya. Israel has been adamant that he won that fight as of recent, but the second of their two kickboxing meetings had no controversey at all. In 2017, one year later, Pereira landed a flush left hook that sent Adesanya onto the canvas at Glory of Heroes 7 in Brazil, and left him unconscious. That clip has been played numerous times, as we saw Adesanya blossom into the mixed martial arts champion he is today. This clip is the single reason we have this storied rivarly between these two fighters, and a big reason why we saw Alex move into the sport of MMA and even win a third fight against Adesanya and becoming a Glory and UFC champion. 

![[GetPaidStock.com]-64c559576eb2f.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9dd1a394-a32c-45f6-855f-5e9c3f2e7000/public "Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya faceoff prior to their fightat UFC 281. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC")

Alex Pereira is a two divsion Glory kickboxing champion, and the former UFC middleweight champion. This weekend, he embarks on a new chapter in his career, a fight in the light heavyweight division. A win over Jan Blachowicz could mean a title shot against either Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, Magomed Ankalaev, or even Adesanya again for a third MMA fight. If Pereira is able to win another UFC title in a new division, not many can lay claim to winning multiple titles across multiple sports like he could. 

Alex Pereira: A Trail Blazer in Kickboxing

One of the more anticipated cards is upon us, as UFC 291 is right around the corner with some fantastic fights. The card is headlined by two fan favorites, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier will fight for the vacant BMF belt. An interesting Light Heavyweight bout headlines the co-main event as Jan Blachowicz welcomes Alex Pereira to the 205 lb division. The rest of the main card is stacked with fighters like Tony Ferguson, Stephen Thompson, Kevin Holland, and more. Let's dive deeper into the fights on the main card. 

## Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland 

![ChiesaHolland.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/647faf0c-9a6b-43b1-2c75-ea4407771800/pub "Michael Chiesa and Kevin Holland at the UFC 291 press conference. Credits to: Mike Roach - Zuffa LLC.")

The fight that opens up the main card is a great one in the Welterweight division as Michael Chiesa returns to the octagon against Kevin Holland. Fight fans saw Holland compete at UFC 287, where he earned a KO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. The "Trailblazer" is known for his stand-up game despite having an underrated submission game. That might be tested as Chiesa is one of the better fighters in the Welterweight division at grappling. Chiesa has 16 professional wins, as all ten finishes have been by submission. He is dangerous on the ground and will look to get back into the win column after dropping two straight against Vicente Luque and Sean Brady. This fight is a tremendous main-card opener and should be an electric one to watch. 

## Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green

![TonyBobby.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/812b4474-f0d0-4324-5438-7e5507316500/pub "Tony Ferguson and Bobby Green facing off at the UFC 291 press conference. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

This Lightweight clash is exciting as Tony Ferguson returns to the octagon against Bobby Green. Ferguson will get most of the fan love at UFC 291 as he is beloved in the UFC community, despite being on a five-fight losing skid. He'll try to change that against Green in what should be a fun match-up. Green loves to stand and bang, as he has some crisp boxing for the division. While being 0-2-1 in his last three fights, Green will look to shift the momentum with a win over a huge fan-favorite. Both fighters are looking to get back into the win column at UFC 291 in what fans can expect to be a great, high pace fight. 

## Michel Pereira vs. Stephen Thompson

![ThompsomPeriera.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/8a34fad9-cb6d-4c11-a69d-6066c375db00/pub "Michel Pereira and Stephen Thompson facing off at the UFC 291 press conference. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

If any fight has the chance to take the spotlight from the main event, it is this one. Unfortunately, we will have to wait if this fight continues as planned, as Michel Pereira has missed the Welterweight limit by three pounds. Negotiations are ongoing, but we will preview it as of now. Despite the weight discrepancy, Thompson will likely take the fight and compete at UFC 291. Thompson will have a significant advantage now with his cardio and fitness in the octagon. "Wonderboy" is known for his craftiness and karate skills. He'll pick his shots from the outside and try to methodically break down Pereira. Thompson is coming off an electric win against Kevin Holland and will try to repeat that performance at UFC 291. Pereira missing weight is a problem since this is arguably the biggest fight of his career. He is on a five-fight winning streak and will try to continue that streak against a dangerous opponent. 

## Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

![JanAlex.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/89c8122a-c9a3-4d6b-bcb2-05483efc6000/pub "Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira facing off at UFC 291 press conference. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

The co-main event should not disappoint, as the anticipated Light Heavyweight debut of Alex Pereira is upon us at UFC 291. After losing the Middleweight title to rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, Pereira will be going up in weight and taking on the former Light Heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Many believe that this is a number one contender fight for the division. Jamahal Hill had to vacate the title due to injury, so there is a real possibility that the winner of this co-main event can get the title shot next. It'd be interesting to see if Blachowicz will implement the same game plan he utilized against Adesanya to Pereira. The most prominent question lies in the wrestling and grappling aspects of the fight. Pereira will look to keep the fight on the feet as he is one of the most dangerous strikers to ever compete in the UFC. His kickboxing abilities are second to none, which will be his path to victory. Blachowicz did a great job checking the kicks of Adesanya when they fought, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out on the feet when they meet in the octagon. The co-main event is big for the Light Heavyweight division and has significant implications for the winner and loser. 

## Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2

![DustinJustin.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e3add1b2-f0a8-4f6e-b207-58c185839500/pub " Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje after the UFC 291 press conference with Jorge Masvidal holding up the BMF belt. Credits to: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC.")

The main event will determine who will be crowned the BMF between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. The rematch is upon us and with higher stakes. Both fighters are in their prime and in great shape. The first fight occurred in April of 2018 when Poirier earned a TKO victory in the fourth round. That fight is still considered a "classic" fight, and the rematch might produce another one. Since Jorge Masvidal has retired, the BMF belt has been vacated. The UFC made the right choice to keep the belt alive and have two of the most violent Lightweights ever fight for it. Everyone remembers the inaugural BMF fight between Masvidal and Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden. The second-ever fight will now happen at UFC 291, and fans expect a fantastic show. Gaethje will bring the chaos with him into the octagon and the heavy leg kicks he is known for. Poirier had trouble with those leg kicks in the first fight and will try to mitigate that now in the rematch. Poirier can also be chaotic, but it's more controlled than Gaethje, making this fight tremendous and entertaining. Poirier said it best in an interview about this BMF fight at UFC 291: "I don’t think it goes 25 minutes. If it does, me and him will chat about it in the hospital because that’s where we will be going.”