ROUNDHOUSE MMA

The PFL is back with another great card this Friday, featuring the welterweights and the lightweights. This card, is headlined by a welterweight matchup between 2022 welterweight champion  Sadibou Sy and Jarrah Al-Silawi. Also on the card, Magomed Magomedkerimov will look to start the 2023 season off on the right foot against Ben Egli, Natan Schultze will take on Stevie Ray, Raush Manfio will meet Alexander Martinez, and Shane Burgos will make his PFL debut against former UFC fighter and PFL champion Olivier Aubin-Mercier. 

Let's take a look at how each fighter weighed in. 


## MAIN CARD (START TIME: 9:30 PM EST ON ESPN+)


_Welterweight:_ Sadibou Sy (**171**) vs Jarrah Al-Silawi (**170.5**)

_Welterweight:_ Magomed Magomedkerimov (**171**) vs Ben Egli (**170.2**)

_Lightweight:_ Natan Schulte (**155.6**) Stevie Ray (**155.8**)

_Lightweight:_ Raush Manfio (**155.8**) vs Alexander Martinez (**155.2**)

_Welterweight:_ Shane Mitchell (**171**) vs Nayib Lopez (**170.4**) 

_Lightweight:_ Bruno Miranda (**156**) Ahmed Amir (**155**)

_Lightweight:_ Zach Juusola (**170.8**) vs Brandon Jenkins (**170.6**)


## PRELIMS (START TIME: 7:00 PM EST ON ESPN/ESPN+)


_Lightweight:_ Olivier Aubin-Mercier (**155.4**) vs Shane Burgos (**156**)

_Lightweight:_ Clay Collard (**154.4**) vs Yamato Nishikawa (**153.4**) 

_Heavyweight:_ Denis Goltsov (**245.4**) vs Cezar Ferreira (**215.8**)

_Welterweight:_ Carlos Leal (**168.8**) vs David Zawada (**170.6**)

_Welterweight:_ Magomed Umalatov (**170.4**) vs Dilano Taylor (**169**)



PFL 3 Weigh-In Results

Liam Lindsay

The first episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team Mcgregor vs. Team Chandler has now aired and is in the books. If you haven't seen the episode or want to refresh your memory for episode two, which airs June 6th, let's recap everything that happened in the first episode.

## Episode Introduction

The episode started with the first meeting between the coaches, former two-division UFC Champion Conor Mcgregor and former 3x Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. The two discussed their bout, and Chandler, who Mcgregor called "Mystic Mike," said he'd win the bout via second-round KO. 

Dana White accompanied the coaches to the UFC APEX, where we were introduced to the sixteen fighters of this season. The two weight classes this season will be Lightweight (155 lbs) and Bantamweight (135 lbs), and each weight class consists of four UFC veterans and four prospects. First, white flipped a coin, which landed on Mcgregor, allowing the Irishman to choose between the Lightweight veterans or the Lightweight prospects, of which he chose the prospects. Chandler was then allowed to choose between the Bantamweight veterans or prospects and chose the veterans, creating an all-veteran side on Team Chandler and an all-prospect side on Team Mcgregor.

![team-mac.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/7da46bfc-12af-4c47-8f55-829fa873d900/pub "Conor Mcgregor welcoming his all-prospect team. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

## Fight Annoucements

The second day started with Team Chandler's first training session, where Chandler assessed his team. We were also introduced to his coaching team, which includes the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion and TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader, the 2005 94kg World Jiu-Jitsu Champion and 2007 Absolute ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion Robert Drysdale, Chandler's striking coach Jason Strout, and the 3x NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion Greg Jones.

Mcgregor opted for a more intense introduction session, putting his team through some hard sparring rounds and even sparring himself. His team consists of Mcgregor's long-time coach John Kavanagh and striking coach Owen Roddy.

The coaches were then asked to rank their teams one through four for the Lightweights and Bantamweights. White explained that the #1 ranked fighter would face the #4 ranked, leaving #2 and #3 to fight each other also.

The teams, rankings, and matchups are as follows:

## Team Mcgregor

**Lee Hammond**: Lightweight prospect, 5-0, ranked #1

**Nate Jennerman**: Lightweight prospect, 16-5, ranked #2.

**Aaron McKenzie**: Lightweight prospect, 11-2-1, ranked #3

**Landon Quiñones**: Lightweight prospect, 7-1-1, ranked #4

**Mando Gutierrez**: Bantamweight prospect, 8-2, ranked #1.

**Trevor Wells**: Bantamweight prospect, 8-3, ranked #2.

**Carlos Vera**: Bantamweight prospect, 12-3, ranked #3.

**Rico DiSciullo**: Bantamweight prospect, 11-2, ranked #4.

## Team Chandler

**Jason Knight**: Lightweight veteran, 23-7 (4-5 UFC), ranked #1.

**Austin Hubbard**: Lightweight veteran, 15-6 (3-4 UFC) ranked #2.

**Roosevelt Roberts**: Lightweight veteran, 12-3-1NC (4-3-1NC UFC), ranked #3.

**Kurt Holobaugh**: Lightweight veteran, 19-7-1 (0-4-1NC UFC), ranked #4.

**Hunter Azure**: Bantamweight veteran, 10-3 (2-2 UFC), ranked #1.

**Brad Katona**: Bantamweight veteran, 12-2 (2-2), ranked #2.

**Timur Valiev**: Bantamweight veteran, 18-3-1 (2-1-1NC UFC), ranked #3.

**Cody Gibson**: Bantamweight veteran, 19-8 (1-3 UFC), ranked #4.

## Quarterfinal Fights

Lightweight (155 lbs): #2 Nate Jennerman vs. #3 Roosevelt Roberts

Batamweight (135 lbs): #2 Trevor Wells vs. #3 Timur Valiev

Lightweight (155 lbs): #3 Aaron McKenzie vs. #2 Austin Hubbard

Bantamweight (135 lbs): #1 Mando Gutierrez vs. #4 Cody Gibson

Bantamweight (135 lbs): #3 Carlos Vera vs. #2 Brad Katona

Lightweight (155 lbs): #1 Lee Hammond vs. #4 Kurt Holobaugh

Lightweight (155 lbs): #4 Landon Quiñones vs. #1 Jason Knight

Bantamweight (135 lbs): #4 Rico DiSciullo vs. #1 Hunter Azure 

The first fight is Nate Jennerman vs. Roosevelt Roberts—both Mcgregor and Chandler train and gameplan with their respective fighters. On weigh-in day, Mcgregor didn't show up to support Jennerman, displeasing Chandler. Roberts weighed 156 lbs, and Jennerman weighed 155.5 lbs.


## Nate Jennerman vs. Roosevelt Roberts

**Result**: Roosevelt Roberts def. Nate Jennerman via TKO (punches) at 0:09 of round 1.

**Division**: Lightweight (155 lbs)

**Referee**: Mark Smith

The fight was over before it even began. Roberts immediately asserted himself in the center of the octagon and landed a right hand on Jennerman. He followed up with a quick combination, catching Jennerman with a right hand on the temple, and followed up with hammer fists before Smith waved the action off.

> Roberts went out and did exactly what we knew he could do and what we wanted him to do. It was picture perfect. - Michael Chandler

![rooseveltko.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/73956a94-e28c-44f0-4673-daacd5fb5300/pub "Roosevelt Roberts TKOing Nate Jennerman in the first round. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Roberts moves on to the semi-finals with one of the fastest finishes in TUF history. Next week the fight will be Trevor Wells vs. Timur Valiev. The episode comes out on June 6th, so be sure to check out the episode and the recap right here.

What did you think of the first TUF 31 episode? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

TUF 31: Team Mcgregor vs. Team Chandler Episode 1 Results and Recap

The #12 ranked Flyweight Muhammad "The Punisher" Moakev is one of the most avoided fighters in the Flyweight division. He's an undefeated prospect with a 10-0-1NC record, riding a four-fight winning streak inside the UFC with three finishes. He dreams of becoming the youngest UFC Champion, and at the age of twenty-two, time is running thin. And unfortunately, Mokaev is struggling to get a fight booked and has seemingly called out the entire division in desperation. So let's take at some likely matchups for his next bout. 

## Manel Kape

Fighting out of Phuket, Thailand, by way of Luanda, Angolia, Manel "Starboy" Kape joins Mokaev as one of the most exciting prospects in the division. After an 0-2 start in his UFC career, including a highly controversial split-decision loss to Matheus Nicolau, he's won three straight, including finishes over Zhalgas Zhumagulov and Ode Osborne and a dominant decision victory vs. David Dvořák. Despite a short UFC career, he has plenty of experience in RIZIN FC, with bouts against Kai Asakura and Kyoji Horiguchi. 

Mokaev has been howling for the matchup vs. Kape, offering to step in as a replacement since his two previous matchups against the former Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez fell apart. The two have exchanged plenty of verbal altercations on Twitter, so there's a high chance we'll see this one next.

![STAR-BOTY.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/295fe7df-ee09-431f-8504-31472de41200/pub "Manel Kape landing a flying knee on Ode Osborne at UFC 265. Credits to:  Troy Taormina - USA TODAY Sports.")


## Jake Hadley

Mokaev isn't the only Flyweight prospect coming out of the UK. Jake "White Kong" Hadley debuted in the UFC just over a year ago, and despite losing his debut to Allan Nascimento, he's looked very imposing in his three UFC bouts. After his first career defeat, he rebounded with a triangle choke against Carlos Candelario. He followed that victory up against Malcom Gordon, TKOing him in a minute with a lethal body hook. 

Although he's booked against Tagir Ulanbekov for his next fight, we could see this bout come to fruition in Q3 or Q4 of 2023. The two have been engaging in back-and-forth arguments online, and we can expect a high-stakes matchup if the UFC decides to put this one together.

![jake-hadley-body.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/526922ce-10c9-4c70-9fd3-fb5d59b1e200/pub "Jake Hadley TKOing Malcom Gordon at UFC 286 in London, England. Credits to: Per Haljestam - USA TODAY Sports.")

## Tim Elliott

Tim Elliot holds the #11 ranking at Flyweight and is facing Victor Altamirano this weekend for UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs. Albazi. Elliot is one of the most awkward strikers in the division but still manages to find plenty of success despite his uncoordinated style. Accompanied by some slick Jiu-Jitsu, he's one of the most unpredictable contenders in the entire division. He's also a veteran of the UFC, with seventeen bouts inside the promotion and a crazy resume of fights against Demetrious Johnson, Brandon Royval, Deiveson Figueiredo, and Tagir Ulanbekov.

Elliott and Mokaev have verbally agreed to fight on Twitter. But, unlike the previous entries, Mokaev possesses no ill will toward Elliott and instead credited the veteran's heart in his callout.

![elliott-scrapper.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/b9524ba2-305f-4e25-ba9e-110d6e2f1e00/pub "Tim Elliott scrapping with Tagir Ulanbekov at 272. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA TODAY Sports.")

There are plenty of options available to Mokaev, which makes it all the more frustrating that he can't acquire a ranked matchup. Who would you like to see Mokaev fight next? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

 Muhammad Mokaev Next Fight in The UFC

Abdullah Ouazri

Matt Frevola Next Fight in The UFC

Matt Frevola is an electric UFC Lightweight headed for stardom at the rate he's going. His last three wins have been first-round knockouts in front of sold-out crowds and have earned him a place in the UFC Lightweight division's top 15 rankings. 

Let's take a look at three likely options for his next fight:

## Paddy Pimblett

![34193C18-7FE1-43D1-957E-E8BE07EFBAB2.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/edab2bda-811b-4e08-8771-6d11d740ab00/pub "Paddy Pimblett see's Matt Frevola as an easy fight. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

The one everyone is waiting for, Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett. Frevola made a candid callout of him after his last KO win over Drew Dober at UFC 288. Pimblett is a fellow Lightweight with star power behind him already. He's 4-0 in the UFC, submitting his first three opponents. His last fight was an -ultra-controversial decision win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282.

These two have been trading insults and callouts online and have shown interest in setting up a fight.

## Mateusz Gamrot

![E02DF2D7-A3F4-416E-A70A-45F35B41D623.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6c7d9637-5953-46e4-26b3-1c4a27b90a00/pub "Mateusz Gamrot's last win was against Jalin Turner.")

A fight against the #7 ranked Lightweight would certainly be a massive jump in rankings and competition, but it wouldn't be completely unwarranted. Gamrot was given a crack at the top 5 against Beneil Dariush at UFC in a fight he lost by unanimous decision. With 11 of the remaining 14 ranked fighters booked for fights currently, a fight against the hot new prospect in the division is certainly something that would excite fans.

## Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker Winner/Loser

![9B5DE5BC-6DAB-4354-981E-4BBE35DFCCBC.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6dba9b32-2f77-49c9-aa08-7fc1d70d4b00/pub "Jalin Turner is the tallest Lightweight with a height of 6'3. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

#10 Jalin Turner vs. #11 Dan Hooker is going down at UFC 290 in July, and while the winner would likely be aiming higher in the rankings, it's certainly possible for either man to be matched up with Frevola next. 

Dan Hooker is no stranger to the UFC. He's a long-time veteran who's seen the top 5 in matchups against Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and even current Champion Islam Makhachev. He's looking to prove he still belongs against the most e recent edition to the top 10, Jalin Turner. 



Matt Frevola’s Next Fight in The UFC

Douglas Vegas Bets

Jan Blachowicz is set to take on Alex Pereira next month in a huge clash at Light Heavyweight. This bout is set for UFC 291 on June 29th from Salt Lake City, Utah.

**Odds Provided by DraftKings accurate as of 5/29/2023 12:30 AM EST**

## Current Odds: Jan Blachowicz -150, Alex Pereira +130

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $150 to win $100 on Jan Blachowicz, meanwhile, a $100 bet on Alex Pereira would win $130.

This matchup could determine a lot in the very uncertain future of the Light Heavyweight division. Jan Blachowicz is coming off a draw in his title fight with Magomed Ankalaev last December, meaning this is his first appearance this year. Alex Pereira makes a rather quick turnaround here off his loss to Israel Adesanya, where he lost his Middleweight title by second-round knockout. 

## Past Odds: Jan Blachowicz

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Jan Blachowicz (+305) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-335) UFC 282 – Draw

Jan Blachowicz (+185) vs. Aleksander Rakic (-200) UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Rakic – Win 

Jan Blachowicz (-245) vs. Glover Teixeira (+205) UFC 267 – Loss 

Jan Blachowicz (+225) vs. Israel Adesanya (-245) UFC 259 – Win 

Jan Blachowicz (+215) vs. Dominick Reyes (-235) UFC 253 - Win

## Past Odds: Alex Pereira

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Alex Pereira (+120) vs. Israel Adesanya (-130) UFC 287 – Loss 

Alex Pereira (+195) vs. Israel Adesanya (-215) UFC 279 – Win 

Alex Pereira (+112) vs. Sean Strickland (-122) UFC 276 – Win 

Alex Pereira (-190) vs. Bruno Silva (+175) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev – Win 

Alex Pereira (-240) vs. Andreas Michailidis (+220) UFC 268 – Win 

How do you think Alex Pereira will look in his Light Heavyweight debut? Let us know in the comments below.

Betting Odds: Jan Blachowicz favored as he welcomes Alex Pereira to new division

Marvin Vettori and Jared Cannonier are set to clash in a Middleweight main event with large stakes for both fighters. This fight is set to take place at the UFC Apex on June 17th. 

**Odds Provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 5/29/2023 7:00 AM EST** 

## Current Odds: Marvin Vettori -145, Jared Cannonier +125

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $145 to win $100 on Marvin Vettori, meanwhile, a $100 bet on Jared Cannonier would win $125.  

This is a matchup of former title challengers at Middleweight who are both coming off wins. Marvin Vettori’s last appearance came earlier this year in London at UFC 286, where he beat Roman Dolidze by decision. Jared Cannonier comes into this matchup off a main-event win over Sean Strickland last December.

## Past Odds: Marvin Vettori

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Marvin Vettori (-235) vs. Roman Dolidze (+215) UFC 286 – Win 

Marvin Vettori (+177) vs. Robert Whittaker (-192) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa - Loss

Marvin Vettori (-170) vs. Paulo Costa (+160) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori – Win 

Marvin Vettori (+200) vs. Israel Adesanya (-220) UFC 263 – Loss 

Marvin Vettori (-280) vs. Kevin Holland (+255) UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Holland – Win 

## Past Odds: Jared Cannonier

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Jared Cannonier (-115) vs. Sean Strickland (+105) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland – Win 

Jared Cannonier (+435) vs. Israel Adesanya (-500) UFC 276 - Loss

Jared Cannonier (-152) vs. Derek Brunson (+142) UFC 271 – Win 

Jared Cannonier (-135) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (+125) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum – Win 

Jared Cannonier (-115) vs. Robert Whittaker (+105) UFC 254 – Loss

Who do you have in this crucial Middleweight matchup? Let us know in the comments below. 

Betting Odds: Marvin Vettori comes in slight favorite over Jared Cannonier

Amanda Nunes makes her first title defense in her second title reign at Bantamweight against Irene Aldana after she steps in for Juliana Pena at UFC 289. This fight is set to take place June 10th from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  

**Odds Provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 5/29/2023 5:30 AM EST** 

## Current Odds: Amanda Nunes -300, Irene Aldana +240

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $300 to win $100 on Amanda Nunes, meanwhile, a $100 bet on Irene Aldana would win $240.  

This is Nunes’s first defense in her second Bantamweight title reign, with it being Aldana’s first title opportunity. Amanda Nunes is coming off a dominant decision win over Juliana Pena in their rematch last year at UFC 277. Irene Aldana enters this matchup off a comeback knockout victory over Macy Chiasson last September at UFC 279.

## Past Odds: Amanda Nunes

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Amanda Nunes (-235) vs. Juliana Pena (+215) UFC 277 - Win

Amanda Nunes (-900) vs. Juliana Pena (+650) UFC 269 - Loss

Amanda Nunes (-860) vs. Megan Anderson (+630) UFC 259 - Win

Amanda Nunes (-540) vs. Felica Spencer (+460) UFC 250 - Win

Amanda Nunes (-335) vs. Germaine de Randamie (+305) UFC 245 - Win

## Past Odds: Irene Aldana

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Irene Aldana (-165) vs. Macy Chiasson (+155) UFC 279 - Win

Irene Aldana (+102) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (-112) UFC 264 – Win 

Irene Aldana (+112) vs. Holly Holm (-122) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana - Loss

Irene Aldana (-185) vs. Ketlen Viera (+170) UFC 245 - Win

Irene Aldana (-500) vs. Vanesa Melo (+435) UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs Stephens - Win

Do you think Aldana has what it takes to pull off the upset? Let us know in the comments below.

Betting Odds: Amanda Nunes large favorite over Irene Aldana for UFC 289 matchup

The odds for this weekends Flyweight main event between Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi have settled near a pick ’em price entering fight week. This fight goes down June 3rd from the UFC Apex. 

**Odds Provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 5/29/2023 4:00 AM EST** 

## Current Odds: Kai Kara-France -115, Amir Albazi -105

These odds mean a bettor would need to risk $115 to win $100 on Kai Kara-France, meanwhile, a $105 bet on Amir Albazi would earn $100. 

The pair meet up at very different points in their respective careers. Kai Kara-France is making his first appearance since his TKO loss to Brandon Moreno for the interim Flyweight title last year at UFC 277. Amir Albazi will be taking on his first-ranked opponent here after knocking out Alessandro Costa in his last showing in December to extend his perfect UFC run to four wins.  

## Past Odds: Kai Kara-France

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Kai Kara-France (+175) vs. Brandon Moreno (-190) UFC 277 - Loss

Kai Kara-France (+365) vs. Askar Askarov (-410) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Daukaus - Win

Kai Kara-France (+120) vs. Cody Garbrandt (-130) UFC 269 - Win

Kai Kara-France (-125) vs. Rogerio Bontorin (+115) UFC 259 - Win

Kai Kara-France (-192) vs. Brandon Royval (+177) UFC 253 - Loss

## Past Odds: Amir Albazi

*Odds from FightOdds.io*

Amir Albazi (-375) vs. Alessandro Costa (+335) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland - Win

Amir Albazi (-470) vs. Francisco Figueiredo (+375) UFC 278 - Win

Amir Albazi (-112) vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (+102) UFC 257 - Win

Amir Albazi (-129) vs. Malcolm Gordon (+119) UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs Benavidez - Win

Who are you taking in this rare Flyweight main event? Let us know in the comments below. 


Betting Odds: Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi odds near even entering fight week

Benjamin	Zeltser

The UFC has had a storied history throughout the years, and the promotion would only be where it is today with the key figures who blazed the trail in its infancy. Today, fans have grown fond of the commentary team that continues to raise the bar with respect to professionalism and attention to detail. Legacy fans will remember the first commentary team that graced its first few pay-per-view events, which featured the late great Jim Brown, who passed away last week at 87 due to natural causes.

![ap01073001121-d9a897b50c02ea989ee2fa5cb6a4fce0225002cb-s1100-c50.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cf2035b0-5fc3-489d-adc7-99455d1c9100/public "Jim Brown was one of the greatest football players of all time. Photo by Associated Press.")

Jim Brown was mainly known for his American football career, winning three league MVP awards and becoming an NFL champion in his penultimate season. As a fullback, Brown led the league in rushing on eight separate occasions, pacing the NFL in touchdowns for five of those seasons. The man was a legend of the sport and was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame in 1971 for his achievements.

Brown later went on to contribute to the UFC massively, acting as a key member of the commentary team for their first six PPV events. Starting in November 1993, Brown’s presence in the booth served as an essential factor in attracting new fans to a sport that was still in its early stages. He would lend his voice up until July 1995.

In his first statement on the UFC 1 broadcast, Brown said, “I’ve been around the toughest fighters in the world in Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, (and) Mike Tyson. I’ve been around the greatest NFL players, the tough guys – Dick Butkus, Sam Huff, all of those guys. But I tell you, they could not last in this ring.”

![feb27ufc1.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/89a0d459-6057-4d43-b158-a5fed52f6600/public "Jim Brown serving on the UFC commentary team. Photo by chud.com.")

While the UFC is commonly accepted as a legitimate sport in the present day, the same could not be said for the early stages of the UFC. Brown’s support added a layer of legitimacy that the sport direly needed. He also blazed the trail for African American commentators in combat sports as the first black UFC commentator. This opened the door for legends like Yves Edwards, Din Thomas, and Daniel Cormier to make their impact on UFC broadcasts, be it on the play-by-play side of the sport or behind the scenes. 

![oakImage-1684524967149-superJumbo.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/43b4aa91-129b-4b4e-73a9-fec7b601ba00/public "Seated third from the left, Jim Brown brought Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and other black athletes together to help support Ali's stances on the Vietnam war. Photo by Tony Tomsic, Associated Press.")

Jim Brown’s impact transcended the sports world, as he took a significant role in the civil rights movement after he retired from football in 1965. He founded the Black Economic Union (then the Negro Industrial and Economic Union). In addition, he helped organize the Cleveland Summit in 1967, which supported boxing icon Muhammad Ali when he stood against the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War. He, along with Ali and basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell, will forever be etched in history for their bravery during this time. 

![MV5BZDBjOGM5ZTgtODM1ZS00MjQ1LTlhYjAtNzg0M2VlOThiY2QzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjk3NTUyOTc@._V1_.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/424f0855-5c68-4e7f-38bf-003f1a415000/public "Jim Brown in Any Given Sunday (1999). Photo by imdb.")

Brown even made a sizeable contribution to the entertainment industry, starring in over 30 films, including a memorable role in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday. Even today, the public wrestles with a narrative surrounding athletes’ societal impact. Brown helped set the tone early on, showing that athletes can be more than just athletes, offering his talents on many different fronts. His wife and five children continue his long-standing legacy.

Remembering Jim Brown - Football HOFer, Leading Actor, Civil Rights Activist, and UFC Commentator

A massive top-5 matchup between Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev is rumored to go down on October 30th inside the Etihad Arena at UFC 294, per Chimaev via his YouTube channel.

**This bout takes place in a currently unknown weight class.**

Kamaru Usman holds a professional record of 20-3 (15-2 UFC) and is ranked #1 in the Welterweight division. He holds notable wins over Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, and Jorge Masvidal.

Khamzat Chimaev holds an undefeated professional record of 12-0 (6-0 UFC) and is ranked #4 in the Welterweight division. He has credible wins against Kevin Holland, Gilbert Burns, and Li Jingliang.

**Current Odds: Kamaru Usman +145, Khamzat Chimaev -170, per BestFightOdds as of May 24th 8AM EST**

Kamaru Usman is currently in uncharted territory in his career. After amassing a 15-0 perfect record inside the UFC, alongside four title defenses, he finally tasted defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, where he lost via a shocking upset KO in the fifth round. Following this loss, Usman would lose again in his last bout in their rematch, unable to outstrike Edwards or secure meaningful takedowns. As a result, many fans speculate that this could be the final fight of Usman's career, and at 36 years old, it may be. Still, Usman is a former Champion for a reason and a massive threat to every Welterweight in the division, and he'll be looking to use his accurate striking and elite wrestling to hand Chimaev his first loss in this matchup.

![usman-cracking.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/23402e81-40e3-40d2-7898-0240c12d9900/pub "Kamaru Usman cracking Leon Edwards with a left hand in their trilogy bout. Credits to: Haljestam - USA TODAY Sports.")

Khamzat Chimaev finally has a fight. Chimaev has shown so much potential in his six UFC bouts and has struggled to find a matchup despite being in the prime years of his career. His last bout came at the wild ufc 279, where he weighed in 7.5 lbs over the Welterweight limit, subsequentially canceling his bout with Nate Diaz and forcing Kevin Holland to take a 180 lbs catchweight matchup. Chimaev dominated the bout, scrambling with Holland for minutes before finding the D'Arce choke submission. Since then, he hasn't fought in over eight months but will finally return over a year from his last bout. He'll be looking to use his explosive wrestling and striking to secure the most significant victory of his career vs. Usman.

![chimaev-era.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/97a53b28-94ed-4196-6a61-d6849a06d400/pub "Khamzat Chimaev dominating Kevin Holland at UFC 279. Credits to: Joe Camporeale - USA TODAY Sports.")

If this bout gets signed on paper, it will be one of the year's most anticipated bouts. So who do you think will win? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.

Khamzat Chimaev Annouces Kamaru Usman Fight is in the Works

It's pretty crazy that we're already starting to discuss the final event of 2023, yet here we are halfway through the year, and the rumors are starting to arise. Let's go over all the speculations surrounding UFC 296. 

Although the current date is unknown, we know it will take place in the middle of December, and much like the last four years (except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic), UFC 296 is rumored to be held in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The T-Mobile has hosted many historic events like UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington and UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier. It also hosted the historic UFC 229 event, where Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor fought for the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship. Other fighters like Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, Nate Diaz, and Jon Jones have also fought in the T-Mobile.

![oliveraaaa.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/fbf0afa7-050b-4b9f-f964-617110864e00/pub "Charles Oliveira fighting Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 inside the T-Mobile Arena. Credits to: Stephen R. Sylvanie - USA Today Sports.")

## Confirmed Fights

There are no confirmed fights for UFC 296, but check this space regularly for all fight announcements surrounding this event.

## Rumored Bouts

The only rumored bout for UFC 296 is the highly anticipated showdown between the former UFC Champ-Champ Conor McGregor and the former 3x Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. The bout initially came into fruition when Chandler called out McGregor in 2021 and then again in 2022. The two are participating in the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter, and the date of the fight is meant to be released during the series airing. Both men have lost their last two fights, meaning a victory and loss could make or break their careers.

```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/espnmma/status/1523147182102130688?s=20">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## Betting Odds

The odds for the main event have been released, and they're as tight as you can get. Conor McGregor opened as the underdog at +130 but has since crept up to a -110 favorite, as opposed to Michael Chandler, who started as the -130 favorite but now stands as the slight underdog at +110. The odds reflect how unpredictable and explosive this fight will be, and we'll likely see the lines stay very close over time.

![mcregor-poirier.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a1a2c4c3-86b1-4575-5edb-c77420e3ef00/pub "Conor McGregors last fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Credits to: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.")

We'll keep this space updated with all the information that surfaces, so make sure to check back so you can get all the information for the biggest event of 2023. As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know who you think will win the bout between McGregor and Chandler in the comments below.