UFC

UFC on ESPN 11 Preview: Curtis Blaydes & Alexander Volkov look to take a step towards the title

by
Curtis Blaydes, UFC

UFC on ESPN 11 will mark the fourth consecutive Saturday night where we’ve had a UFC card from the APEX. The main event of the evening pairs two top ten heavyweights against each other as Curtis Blaydes (13-2, 1) takes on Alexander Volkov (31-7). The card is stacked from the prelims all the way through the main card. Let’s dive into the card that fight fans will be tuning into this Saturday night on ESPN.

Curtis Blaydes vs Alexander Volkov

Curtis Blaydes is one of the best heavyweights in the world. Since joining the UFC back in 2016, Blaydes has an impressive record of 8-2 with one no contest. He’s got ever-improving striking skills, elite wrestling, and a ground attack that is vicious. The problem for Blaydes in the heavyweight division is the fact that he’s lost twice to top contender, Francis Ngannou, and neither fight was competitive. Earlier this week, I wrote about the problem that Blaydes is facing. He said he wants to wait for a title shot if he wins against Volkov, but he might be waiting a while.

If it wasn’t for a last minute rally by Derrick Lewis back at UFC 229, Alexander Volkov might have fought for a UFC title by now. Volkov has an impressive record of 5-1 in the UFC with wins over guys like Roy Nelson and former heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum. Volkov has really good striking technique, and presents multiple different looks on his feet. He’s got great kicks, and his accuracy does nothing but help his power. However, Volkov’s weakness is Blaydes’ strength. Volkov does not historically do well against grapplers. Volkov is better when he can use range and pick his opponents apart on the feet. Blaydes is going to try to take this fight to the ground almost immediately. Another big disadvantage Volkov has is the smaller cage. With this fight being at the UFC‘s APEX, the cage is 30% smaller. That’s a big advantage for a guy like Blaydes who wants to close the distance. Blaydes is a massive betting favorite for these reasons, and I think it’s pretty safe money. Volkov is one of the best, but this is an awful matchup for him.

Prediction: Curtis Blaydes by TKO – Round 3

Josh Emmett vs Shane Burgos

The co-main event of the evening is the fight that I’m the most excited about when it comes to Saturday’s card. Two top ten featherweights will be going head-to-head as Josh Emmett (15-2) takes on “Hurricane” Shane Burgos (13-1). Any time you see Josh Emmett fight, you have to tell yourself, “Don’t blink.” Emmett has incredible power for the featherweight division. If he connects flush, I’m not sure anyone in the division can take it. Emmett also has really good wrestling and grappling skills, but he seems to be content with standing and trading with his opponents. In this matchup, he might be wise to look to mix in some of the grappling just to give Burgos something to think about.

Shane Burgos is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC‘s featherweight division. His lone career loss came to Calvin Kattar back in 2018, but since then, Burgos has rattled off three impressive victories. Burgos has incredible foot-work and speed which will help him greatly in this matchup. Going into this fight, I think Burgos has the clear advantage when it comes to the overall striking game. Burgos is the faster guy with cleaner boxing. However, Burgos likes to get inside with some of his shots, and that can leave him open to a massive shot from Emmett. My gut is telling me to go with Burgos due to the advantage on the feet, but it’s hard to pick against a guy who is always one shot away from winning the fight. I’m going to go with my gut on this one, but it’s truly a toss-up.

Prediction: Shane Burgos by Unanimous Decision

Raquel Pennington vs Marion Reneau

The third fight on the main card is a very intriguing matchup between two top ten bantamweights as former title challenger, Raquel Pennington (10-8), takes on Marion Reneau (9-5-1). Pennington has had a very up and down last five years if you just look at her record. Since 2016, Pennington is just 4-3, but those losses have all come against either current or former UFC champions. Pennington is as tough as they come in the bantamweight division. She doesn’t have any skills that will wow you, but she will always come forward, and push the pace. Pennington has decent wrestling, okay hands, and does okay in the clinch. However, she’s able to bring the skills she does have together to put on pretty good performances.

Across from Pennington will be the oldest fighter on the card. At 42-years-old, Marion Reneau is coming off of back-to-back decision losses. Prior to those losses, Reneau had gone 3-0-1 in her previous four fights including three finishes. Reneau has really good punching power, and an incredible ground game from the top position. She has struggled at times on her back, but on top, she’s one of the better practitioners in the division. She has multiple ways of winning the fight on Saturday night. Reneau has the power advantage, and she’ll possess the grappling advantage. However, we have seen Reneau lose some decisions due to lack of activity. She has big moments in fights, but then she’s been susceptible to taking her foot off the gas. If this fight gets finished, I think Reneau is going to be the winner. However, if the fight goes to the scorecards, I think Pennington’s forward pressure and activity will get her the nod. I think it’s a close fight, but I think this one is going to the scorecards.

Prediction: Raquel Pennington by Split Decision

Belal Muhammad vs Lyman Good

The second fight on the main card is a classic stylistic matchup that features former Bellator champ, Lyman Good (21-5, 1 NC), and Belal Muhammad (16-3). Lyman Good is going into this fight we a pretty decent advantage on the feet. In his 21 career victories, 11 of those have come via KO/TKO. The last time we saw Good was back in November at UFC 244 where he stopped Chance Rencountre in the third round. Good has some serious power in his hands, but he does have a weakness, and that’s his defensive grappling. In his two UFC losses to Demian Maia and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Good was controlled on the ground. If he can’t keep this fight with Muhammad standing, it could be a long night.

As you probably are guessing, Muhammad is going to have a very predictable strategy in this fight. Do not expect Muhammad to try to keep this fight standing. From the opening bell, expect Muhammad to use his grappling to try to get the fight to the ground. Muhammad is a specialist with really good top control. He’s got a pretty decent chin too only being finished once in his professional career. Muhammad fights like a wet blanket which is the exact style that can give a fighter like Lyman Good some problems. While Good is capable of putting almost anyone away, I think Muhammad is going to be able to use his grappling to nullify any advantage that Good has on the feet.

Prediction: Belal Muhammad by Unanimous Decision

Jim Miller vs Roosevelt Roberts

Kicking off the main card is a lightweight matchup between veteran Jim Miller (31-14, 1 NC), and Roosevelt Roberts (10-1). For Roberts, Miller is the biggest name that he’s fought so far in his UFC career. After coming out of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Roberts has a 4-1 record in the UFC. Roberts looked sensational in his fight against Brok Weaver back on May 30th at UFC on ESPN 9. Roberts has really good submissions skills, and his striking his progressing nicely. This is a true test to see where Roberts is in his development. If he’s able to beat Miller with flying colors, you would have to think he’s ready for a top 15 opponent. However, Miller is the type of guy who will be able to show you any weaknesses that Roberts might have in his game.

In this fight, Jim Miller will tie Cowboy Cerrone with the most fights in UFC history at 35. Miller has fought the who’s who in the UFC over 12 years. While he’s never received a title shot, Miller is widely known as one of the better fighters in the world. Before losing a close decision to Scott Holtzman back in February, Miller had won two fights in a row. Miller is as tough as they come, and you have to know that he’s going to push the prospect, Roberts. I think Roberts has all the tools he needs to win this fight, but do not expect Miller to get steam-rolled here. I think Miller will have his moments, but I think you’re going to see Roberts take another step in the right development direction, and defeat Jim Miller.

Prediction: Roosevelt Roberts by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – Round 3

UFC on ESPN 11 Outlook

The UFC is putting on one helluva show this Saturday night. In addition the five main card fights, the prelims have some really intriguing matchups. Clay Guida, Tecia Torres, Roxanne Modafferi, and undefeated submission ace, Max Rohskopf, are just some of the names on the under card. While the UFC’s card last week caught a lot of criticism, the fans shouldn’t be saying a negative word about this one.

With Khabib and Gaethje’s Lightweight Championship Fight Set, Who Should Tony Ferguson Fight To Regain His Title Shot?

by
Tony Ferguson, UFC

UFC 249 was a monumental event.  With an already exciting selection of preliminary fights that featured the return of Fabricio Werdum and Anthony Pettis, the main card was one for the ages.  After impressive TKOs by both Calvin Kattar and Francis Ngannou, a controversial title defense by Henry Cejudo and a tenacious striking battle between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, UFC 249 ended on a jaw-dropping note.  With the surprise announcement of Cejudo’s retirement and the revelation of George Saint Pierre’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame, it’s fair to argue that this might have been the best sporting event of 2020 with half a year still left to go.

But looking back at this event that took place a little over a month ago, there’s still one, big, looming question that’s left to be answered coming out of the main card: Who does Tony Ferguson fight next to earn a shot at the title?  What’s important to remember here is that Ferguson has been trying to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov since 2015.  Their scheduled bout on April 18th this year, was the fifth time the two lightweight superstars were set to fight each other.  And for the fifth time in five years, it was cancelled once again.  Furthermore, Ferguson’s latest fight against Khabib was announced on November 25th, which means for about four months straight, Ferguson was immersed in his training camp to prepare for his fight against Khabib.  However, when he was tasked to fight Gaethje instead, Ferguson had to adapt his training camp quickly to prepare for a fighter who is the complete opposite of Khabib.  Gaethje is an incredibly talented wrestler; but almost everyone knew he was going into this fight standing up, something Khabib hardly ever does on the contrary.  Essentially, Ferguson has still yet to get a chance to fight Khabib for the title, and when the opportunity finally arrived with Gaethje, he had about three weeks to prepare for it.

Although this was downright unfair for Ferguson (who’s been fighting for this opportunity for years), Tony’s not new to this position and is going to have to fight another contender outside of Khabib and Gaethje before he gets another real shot at the title.  A rematch against Gaethje is certainly a must, whether he’s the new champion or not.  But because that won’t be Ferguson’s next fight, he’s going to need to battle one of the other contenders to get his chance.  But which candidate makes for the best fit?

1) The best challenger for Ferguson’s next fight, is Dustin Poirier.  There’s a lot of reasons why this fight makes sense.  First off, Poirier is right behind Ferguson in the lightweight rankings and hasn’t fought since September.  After losing badly to Khabib, Poirier needs to jump back into the win column to be considered a true contender and has been scheduled to fight Dan Hooker on June 27th to put that to the test (ESPN).  A lot rests on this fight: If he loses this bout, Poirier’s chances to fight Ferguson next would drop significantly.  But because Poirier is the favorite to win, it would make plenty of sense to schedule a fight with Ferguson next if he comes away victorious to determine who fights for the belt.  Moreover, Poirier is one of the best lightweight strikers in the division who happens to be in the prime of his career at age 31 (ESPN).  Prior to fighting Khabib, Poirier was on a deadly four fight winning streak where he knocked out Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez before he bashed Max Holloway for the Interim UFC Lightweight Championship (ESPN).  Before Khabib mauled him on the ground in Abu Dhabi, Poirier was the talk of the town (ESPN).  Coincidently, this was also the case for Ferguson prior to fighting Gaethje.  Both of these lightweights are easily two of the best fighters in the division and both need a big fight in order to position themselves as the next contender for the belt.  And alongside the fact that Ferguson has never fought Poirier before, this matchup makes for the best fit to solidify his spot as the next Lightweight Championship contender.

2) Outside of Dustin, the next best challenger is none other than Connor McGregor.  Yes, the man just retired.  But this is also the third time he’s done so, making the legitimacy of his retirement rather questionable and uncertain at only 31 years old (ESPN).  However, if UFC President Dana White can reel in Connor back into the octagon, this is the fight that could propel either of these lightweight superstars towards the title shot they’ve been waiting for.  McGregor is one of the deadliest strikers we’ve ever seen in UFC history and would be the greatest challenger to Ferguson outside of Gaethje.  We’re talking about a fighter who not only took down Max Holloway but also TKO’d the likes of Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, Jose Aldo, Eddie Alvarez and most recently, Donald Cerrone (ESPN).  That being said, the reason why McGregor’s second to Poirier is because he has shied away from fighting Ferguson when the occasion has presented itself, even most recently when he was offered to fill in for Khabib.  In addition, Connor wants to fight Gaethje or Khabib, and one victory over Cerrone, won’t propel him towards the fight he wants.  Although it’s a long shot, this certainly makes for an excellent lightweight bout that would grant Ferguson the chance at redemption.  And if you want a “Showtime” kind of fight, this is it right here.

Outside of these two contenders, the rest don’t really qualify for a match up with Ferguson.  If Dan Hooker does defeat Poirier, he would certainly rise as a potential challenger.  But even then, Hooker has still a lot more to prove, considering he squeaked by with a split decision victory in his last fight against Paul Felder (ESPN).  Moreover, Ferguson is a totally different monster than Poirier and Hooker hasn’t shown a whole lot of signs that he can last three vicious rounds against “El Cucuy.”  Lastly, you could make an argument for Charles Oliveira, who’s won his last seven fights over the course of the last two years (ESPN).  But during this stretch, the most dangerous opponents Oliveira’s had, consist of Jim Miller and Kevin Lee, two lightweights that haven’t even cracked ESPN’s Top 10 rankings (ESPN).  Although Oliveira’s on the rise, putting him up against Ferguson is certainly a mismatch.

At the end of it all, Ferguson is still one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC and deserves a fair title shot that he can fully prepare for.  Ferguson vs Khabib has been the fight UFC fans have wanted to see for a very long time, with many believing he was the greatest threat towards Khabib’s reign and legacy.  We’re talking about a man who won 12 fights in a row dating all the way back to 2013 before his loss to Gaethje; a man who bashed Anthony Pettis and forced a doctor’s stoppage with Donald Cerrone at UFC 238 (ESPN).  At age 36, Ferguson still remains to be one of the most feared lightweights to ever set foot in this division (ESPN).  But to earn his chance at the belt, he’s going to have to bounce back stronger than ever.  And fighting Poirier or McGregor next, will confirm once and for all, whether Tony Ferguson deserves another shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship Belt.

UFC: Ian Heinisch out; Kyle Daukaus to fight Brendan Allen at UFC on ESPN 12

by

The UFC‘s June 27th card has seen it’s first fighter fall. UFC middleweight, Ian Heinisch (14-3), was scheduled to fight Brendan Allen (14-3), but an injury has forced Heinisch off the card. Heinisch just competed back at UFC 250 on June 6th, but he wanted a quick turn around. With Heinisch out, the UFC turned to a veteran of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series to be the replacement.

UFC dream realized for Daukaus

Brendan Allen will be staying on the card, and he will be fighting Kyle Daukaus (9-0), who will be making his official debut in the UFC. Daukaus is a wizard on the ground, winning eight of his nine fights by submission. Daukaus was the Cage Fury Fighting Championships middleweight champion, and he will get to step right into a UFC main card. This fight is incredibly facinating on paper due to the fact that both men carry eight submissions wins into the Octagon on June 27th.

For Allen, it’s a big change in styles. Heinisch is the kind of guy who is going to go right after you on the feet, where as Daukaus is the kind of guy who wants the fight to be on the ground immediately. Allen was going to have a very short camp to prepare for Heinisch, and now he has an even shorter camp to prepare for Daukaus at UFC on ESPN 12. There are not a lot of highlights of Daukaus out there, but if you want to learn more about him, check out the video below done by Cage Fury detailing Daukaus and his brother, Christopher.

With Reebok deal set to expire, who will be the next exclusive apparel company for the UFC?

by
UFC, Dana White

Back in December of 2014, the UFC agreed to a landmark deal that made Reebok the exclusive athletic wear provider of the UFC. The six-year deal was a huge step for the company that was seeking to fall more in-line with mainstream sports. However, over the past six years, the deal has received plenty of criticism from pundits and fighters. Many fighters said that they lost out on a ton of money from sponsors when the Reebok deal went into effect. The deal is expiring in December, and the world is starting to wonder what are the next steps for the UFC. Will they resign with Reebok or will they go in a new direction?

UFC President, Dana White, has hinted that the company would not be resigning with Reebok following the termination of the Reebok deal over the past couple of months. Then, White seemingly confirmed that when he announced on “The Schmozone Podcast” that the company would be moving in a different direction. “The Schmo” asked White if the UFC would sign with one of three companies: Nike, Under Armour, or Venom. White seemed hesitant to answer at first, but then replied, “Yes, it will be one of the three.”

The UFC & Nike

The one the jumps off the page as an early favorite to me would be Nike. Nike has a history with UFC athletes having sponsored Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Junior dos Santos in the past. Nike is known as the premier outfitter in American sports. Nike is the primary outfitter for the NFL, MLB, and the NBA. It would only make sense for the UFC to try to ink a deal with Nike to join the stable of sport leagues. It would seemingly legitimize the UFC even more than it already is. If I had to place a bet at this stage, I would say that Nike is the safest bet to replace Reebok in 2021.

The UFC & Under Armour

Under Armour is one that is fascinating for a number of reasons. UA is known as one of the biggest athletic apparel companies in the world, yet, the company isn’t the primary sponsor for any major sport league. UA is a major sponsor in the college ranks, but no professional league uses Under Armour as their primary sponsor. Under Armour sponsored UFC Hall of Famer, Georges St. Pierre, so they have experience with the sport. Maybe UA makes a big push to become the primary sponsor for the UFC. They will definitely be in the running, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them become the sponsor.

The Underdog

The suggestion that caught me off guard was Venom. Venom has a long history with combat sports including sponsoring many UFC fighters over the years. They are a company that exclusively provides combat sports/workout apparel. Venom is currently the primary sponsor for the world’s best pound for pound boxer, Vasiliy Lomachenko. With the history in combat sports, it doesn’t surprise me to hear their name mentioned, but I’m not sure it’s entirely realistic. I could be 100% wrong, but in the end, I think the UFC will go a little more mainstream with their pick. I’m sure we will get our answer in the coming months on who will be taking over for Reebok in 2021. You can catch White’s full appearance on “The Schmozone Podcast” below.

UFC: Nunes Retirement Talk Causes Annoyed Response From Dana White

by
UFC, Dana White

The UFC has a number of current star fighters who might not return for future fights, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, but another name joining that list for different reasons could be Amanda Nunes… The same Amanda Nunes that’s currently the champion in both the women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight divisions, meaning her retirement would put the UFC in a bad spot in multiple places.

After all, Nunes just defended her featherweight title at UFC 250 and is the largest draw on the women’s side of the sport right now, surpassing others such as Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg during her eleven fight winning streak. And the featherweight division which Nunes recently defended her crown in is less appealing without her in it, lacking the same star power in the rest of the rankings.

So it’s safe to say that when Dana White learned of Nunes’ talk about possibly retiring at this point, he wasn’t happy.

“I will kill her… I literally just told Sean [Shelby] and Mick [Maynard] in the last meeting, ‘Let’s get this division built for her. Let’s build this division for her, and let’s start figuring this out. And now she’s talking about retiring?” White said on the Schmozone Podcast.

There’s not a comparable talent on the featherweight roster to Nunes. Cris Cyborg was just about the only name favored over Nunes at 145 lbs, but she would end up knocked out within the first round against Nunes and is now in Bellator rather than the UFC. Felicia Spencer was able to survive five rounds without getting finished, but still lost her recent title challenge by unanimous decision.

That leaves a big question: who would replace Nunes as the face of both the women’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight divisions if she does go through with her possible ideas about retiring?

The answer isn’t clear to the fans and it doesn’t seem like it’s clear to Dana White, either.

“You know how I always say, ‘If you’re talking about retiring, you probably should.’ Unless you’re where she’s at. In this time, when I got guys crying about money, one of our female fighters, who could go on and keep doing this for a long time, is saying, ‘Maybe I retire now.’ She’s got plenty of money and she can do it,” White continued.

It hasn’t been a good few months for the UFC when it comes to the business side. The league is already suffering financially from lost ticket sales, and at the same time, it could lose talents such as McGregor, Jones, Jorge Masvidal, and now Nunes. The bantamweight belt is still vacant, and it looks like Henry Cejudo will remain retired.

The UFC has always had something of a star power problem, where the league doesn’t create as many marketable star athletes as others such as the NFL and NBA, but that problem could get a lot worse this year depending on how things go. And depending on what happens, this specific situation could cast doubt on the future of an entire division.

UFC: Chris Weidman returns against Omari Akhmedov on Aug. 8th

by

Former UFC middleweight champion, Chris Weidman (14-5), will be making his first appearance in 2020 on August 8th. The former champion will be taking on rising middleweight contender, Omari Akhmedov (20-4-1). The fight will be on the same card that is being headlined by heavyweights, Derrick Lewis and Alexey Oleinik.

Former UFC middleweight champ’s back is against the wall

Chris Weidman has fallen under some serious hard times over the last few years. Weidman was at one point 13-0, and was considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Since then, Weidman has gone 1-5 being knocked out in all five of his losses. It is important to note that in four of those five losses, Weidman was doing very well in every fight before getting caught. The last time we saw Weidman was in October against Dominick Reyes at UFC on ESPN 6. Weidman decided to move up to light heavyweight to restart his career. However, Reyes smashed Weidman and finished him within the first two minutes. After that loss, Weidman has decided to return to the division where he was once the champion, hoping for one more run.

Akhmedov looking for his biggest win yet

Akhmedov had a very impressive 2019. The Russian went 3-0 including a win over Ian Heinisch. As a result, Akhmedov jumped up to being the 11th ranked middleweight in the world. A win over Weidman would be massive for Akhmedov’s career. Sure, Weidman isn’t the guy he was five years ago, but he’s still got a big name in the sport. If Akhmedov is able to defeat Weidman, you will likely see him make another jump in the rankings. He might be gearing up for a top five opponent if he’s able to win on August 8th. It’s a big fight for both men. For Weidman, if he’s not able to pick up the win, one has to wonder if he’ll walk away from the sport. For Akhmedov, it would be the biggest win of his UFC career which could vault him towards the top five.

UFC: Yoel Romero-Uriah Hall targeted for August

by

The UFC held their match making meeting on Tuesday, and the fight news is coming fast and furious. The UFC is targeting Yoel Romero (13-5) and Uriah Hall (15-9) for an event in August per ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Yoel Romero, the UFC’s ageless fighter

There is no doubting the greatness of Yoel Romero. Yes, you might look at Romero’s record over the past three years and wonder, but Romero is at the very top of the middleweight division. Romero is just 1-4 in his last five fights, but those four losses were all razor close decision losses to the top three middleweights in the UFC. If we are being honest, I believe he won the second Robert Whittaker fight which would have made him the middleweight champion. Romero is a freak of nature. At 43-years-old, Romero doesn’t seem to age at all. Romero is coming off of a loss to current champion, Israel Adesanya. This seems to be a good reset fight for Romero. On paper, Romero is going to be a massive favorite, and this should be the kind of fight that can kick start his journey back to a title shot.

Uriah Hall’s Golden Opportunity

This is a golden opportunity for Uriah Hall. There was nobody in the history of the “Ultimate Fighter” who had more hype than Hall did coming off of his season in 2013/ Everyone, including myself, thought he would become the next big superstar in the UFC. However, since leaving the TUF house, Hall is 8-7 in his UFC career. He had a highlight reel win against Gegard Mousasi, but outside of that, he’s lost every opportunity he’s had going up against the top guys in the division. Hall has won two straight fights, but if he’s able to pull off a victory against Yoel Romero, it would make a huge statement. Hall is currently ranked tenth, but a win over Romero might get him inside the top five. He could possibly be just two wins away from a shot at the title.

UFC: Derrick Lewis-Alexey Oleinik to headline August 8th Fight Night

by

One of the more popular figures in the UFC will be making his return on August 8th. Per ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the always-entertaining, Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis (23-7, 1 NC), will be making his return in a headlining fight against top-15 heavyweight, Alexey Oleinik.

The Black Beast is looking for another UFC title shot

Derrick Lewis became a sensation after his come from behind knockout of Alexander Volkov at UFC 229. The most watched UFC PPV in history featured Lewis knocking out Volkov with just seconds remaining in the fight, after he had been losing the entire time. Lewis’ post-fight interviewing skills are legendary, and a star was born that night. Lewis went from the Volkov fight to fighting for the title against Daniel Cormier. Lewis lost that fight then he lost again to former champion, Junior dos Santos. Since that loss, Lewis has bounced back with back-to-back victories over Blagoy Ivanov and Ilir Latifi. Lewis is currently ranked as the fourth best heavyweight in the UFC, and a victory on August 8th would put him in the title conversation once again.

Seasoned and Tested

Probably the most seasoned fighter in the UFC is heavyweight, Alexey Oleinik. At 42-years-old, Oleinik has fought 73 times professionally to a record of 59-13-1. Oleinik hit a bump in the road in 2019 after losing fights to Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris. Oleinik has bounced back strong in 2020. Oleinik has fought and won twice this year against Maurice Green and former heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum. A win over Lewis would be massive for Oleinik. Oleinik is currently ranked as the 11th best heavyweight in the UFC, but a win over Lewis would vault him closer to the top five.

UFC: Calvin Kattar-Dan Ige to headline July 15th card on Fight Island

by
UFC

The UFC‘s July 15th card now has a main event, and it’s a good one. Featherweights, Calvin Kattar (21-4) and Dan Ige (14-2), will be going head to head on Fight Island. The fight was announced last night as the headliner for the UFC‘s rare Wednesday night card.

One step closer for Kattar

Calvin Kattar comes into this contest as the sixth ranked featherweight in the UFC. Since joining the UFC back in 2017, Kattar holds a record of 5-2. His last performance was arguably his best one yet when he knocked out Jeremy Stephens with a brutal elbow at UFC 249. Kattar also gave top contender, Zabit Magomedsharipov, the hardest fight of his UFC career. If Kattar is able to win on July 15th, he might only be a win away from a UFC title shot. Kattar has knockouts in his last three wins, and he’s quickly being known as one of the top guys at 145.

Ige’s Massive Opportunity

Standing across from Kattar will be Dan Ige. Ige comes into the contest as the 11th ranked featherweight in the UFC, but he’s won six consecutive fights. We last saw Ige a month ago when he defeated former top contender, Edson Barboza, by split decision. I personally had the fight for Barboza, but the only people that mattered saw the fight for Ige. With that win, Ige has put himself in position to get one of the top guys in the world. Kattar is a big step up in competition, but if Ige is able to win, he will prove to the UFC that he is truly one of the best guys in the world.

UFC’s Fight Island is on fire

The UFC is bringing some incredible fights to Fight Island. It all starts on July 11th with three title fights, and a stacked card. Then you have Kattar/Ige, Figueiredo/Benavidez 2 for the flyweight title, and Whittaker/Till following. Four cards in 14 days on Fight Island. While the top draws won’t be appearing on Fight Island, the cards are absolutely stacked, and July is turning into one of the more anticipated months in UFC history.

UFC: Curtis Blaydes’ planning on waiting for a title shot if he wins Saturday, but he could be waiting a while

by
Curtis Blaydes, UFC

There is no question that UFC heavyweight, Curtis Blaydes (13-2, 1 NC), is one of the best heavyweights in the world. Blaydes is currently ranked as the third best heavyweight in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Since joining the UFC back in 2016, Blaydes has a very good record of 8-2 with one no contest. Blaydes is going up against the fifth ranked heavyweight this Saturday night in Alexander Volkov (31-7). Blaydes told MMA Junkie if he beats Volkov, he will likely try to sit out until he gets a title shot, but is that smart?

State of the UFC’s heavyweight division

The UFC‘s heavyweight division is in a very weird spot at the moment. Current champion, Stipe Miocic, is scheduled to conclude his trilogy with former champion, Daniel Cormier on August 15th. Cormier has publicly said that this would be his last fight win or lose. One has to wonder what the future would hold for Miocic if he was to win. The champion will turn 38-years-old four days after the title fight with Cormier. If he’s able to beat Cormier, what’s left for him at heavyweight? There is only one true number one contender right now, and Miocic has already defeated him. That number one contender is the frightening, Francis Ngannou. Is the risk of fighting Ngannou worth the reward for Miocic if he’s able to beat Cormier for a second time? The UFC could be looking at a situation where both Miocic and Cormier walk away from the sport after UFC 252. The only man that I could see either guy fighting after the August 15th title fight is Jon Jones.

The Ngannou Problem

If Ngannou is the number one contender and Blaydes is right behind him, Blaydes should just wait to see what happens after August 15th right? I mean if both men retire, Blaydes would have to get the title shot against Ngannou for the vacant heavyweight title, right? Here’s the issue with that. Blaydes has lost twice to Ngannou already, and neither fight was close. In-fact, Blaydes didn’t even last one minute the last time they fought. Even if Blaydes beats Volkov which would be his fourth win in a row, I’m not sure the UFC would be jumping at the chance to book him and Ngannou for the vacant heavyweight title if the 8/15 winner retires. The likely scenario would be that the UFC would throw a lot more money at Jon Jones to make the superfight with Ngannou happen for the heavyweight title, leaving Blaydes on the sidelines.

Blaydes’ Dilemma

Another intriguing possibility to fight Ngannou if the title was to become vacant is Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. I wrote about that being a potential superfight that the UFC could put together this year. Of course, Johnson wouldn’t have the heavyweight resume that Blaydes has, but that fight would sell a lot more, and the UFC is a business at the end of the day. I get where Blaydes is coming from in saying that he wants to wait for a UFC title shot if he wins on Saturday. Unfortunately his two losses to the current number one contender really puts him behind the eight-ball in the title shot pecking order. I think it’s going to be a long time before Blaydes gets a UFC title shot with the way things currently stand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kMf-r3X8lQ