Jan Blachowicz Returns, Faces Carlos Ulberg at UFC London on March 22

Your first bouts for #UFCLondon are signed!

🇵🇱 Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg 🇳🇿🇵🇱 Marcin Tybura vs Mick Parkin 🇬🇧

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🎟️ Get early access to tickets: https://t.co/slZM2gosSA pic.twitter.com/aYyqHyYs2e — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 10, 2024

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz will return to action against the streaking Carlos Ulberg at UFC London on March 22.

Additionally, Marcin Tybura will lock horns with Mick Parkin in a heavyweight clash on the same card. The promotion announced both bouts on Tuesday. A main event has not been confirmed for UFC London, which takes place at the O2 Arena.

Blachowicz will be competing for the first time since July 2023, when he fell to Alex -Pereira-224511">Alex Pereira via split decision at UFC 291. The Polish veteran was slated to face Aleksandar Rakic in a rematch at UFC 297 in January, but a shoulder injury that required two separate surgeries forced him t…

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Dricus Du Plessis Preferred Chimaev Over Strickland Rematch for Next Title Defense

If Dricus Du Plessis had gotten his way, he would have been defending his middleweight crown against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 312.

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Over the weekend, it was announced that Du Plessis would face Sean Strickland in a championship rematch on Feb. 8 in Sydney, Australia. Du Plessis claimed the 185-pound belt with a split-decision triumph over Strickland at UFC 297 this past January.

“Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Whittaker,” Du Plessis wrote on social media. “I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy. He was promised the fight, so Strickland it is.”

Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Withaker. I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision like I said I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the …

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UFC 312 Update: Heavyweights Justin Tafa, Tallison Teixeira to Meet in Sydney

A heavyweight tilt pitting Justin Tafa against Tallison Teixeira has been added to the UFC 312 lineup.

The Las Vegas-based promotion recently announced the booking. UFC 312 takes place on Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, and is headlined by a middleweight title rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

Tafa fought just once in 2024, dropping a unanimous decision to Karl Williams at UFC on ESPN 53 in March. That ended a four-bout unbeaten streak for the 30-year-old Aussie, who scored knockout wins over Austen Lane, Parker Porter and Harry Hunsucker during that run.

Teixeira was supposed to make his Octagon debut against Lukasz Brzeseki at UFC 310 but was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury. The 6-foot-7 Brazilian owns a 7-0 mark as a professional, including a first-round knockout of Arthur Lopes on Dana White's Contender Series this past September.

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Robert Whittaker Expects Similar Outcome in Du Plessis-Strickland Rematch

Robert Whittaker believes Dricus du Plessis will beat Sean Strickland in their rematch at #UFC312

He also favors Khamzat Chimaev in a fight against either of them:

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“Stopping that first takedown is so crazy… how do you stop that?”

🎥 @MMArcadePodcastpic.twitter.com/aBPpEHlvNE

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 9, 2024 Robert Whittaker doesn’t see anyone stopping Khamzat Chimaev’s takedowns.

Chimaev submitted “Bobby Knuckles” in the first round of their UFC 308 co-main event clash at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this past October. While the matchup was expected to be a title eliminator, former champ Sean Strickland received the next title shot against Dricus Du Plessis, as was promised by UFC CEO Dana White.

Strickland lost his title via controversial split decision against Du Plessis at UFC 297 this past January in Canada. “Tarzan” bounced back with a split-decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in …

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Gilbert Burns Praises Jamahal Hill’s ‚Marketing Strategy‘ for Alex Pereira Rematch

Alex Pereira just threw a pair of gloves at Jamahal Hill and wanted to fight him 😳😳😳

🎥 @full_send_mma #UFC #MMA

pic.twitter.com/creDmXLPWS — Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 5, 2024

Gilbert Burns recently had an interesting conversation with Jamahal Hill.

After the confrontation between Hill and Alex Pereira made the rounds on social media, Burns was helping teammate Vicente Luque with his weight cut at the UFC Performance Institute when “Sweet Dreams” made an appearance. On his YouTube channel, Burns revealed what Hill told him.

"When the food has been in the pan for a long time and it will become hard, you have to add water to cook it. That's what I did,” Burns said, relaying Hill’s words. “I’m going to beat Jiri [Prochazka] and get my revenge before [Magomed] Ankalaev, who will be [observing] Ramadan. I don't care what people think, everyone's talking about me after that.

Burns also praised the way Hill handled…

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UFC 310 Changed Ian Garry’s Perspective on Muhammad-Rakhmonov Title Bout

Ian Garry has a changed opinion of Shavkat Rakhmonov after their fight at UFC 310.

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Garry took on Rakhmonov in a clash of undefeated welterweight contenders in the co-headliner at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Rakhmonov was a -400 favorite on some sportsbooks going into the fight, he faced the toughest test of his career against “The Future.” While the Kazakh roped in a unanimous decision win, he had to go the distance for the first time in 19 career outings.

Rakhmonov was originally scheduled to challenge Belal Muhammad for the title at UFC 310 before the champ was forced out with an injury. “Nomad” is now most likely to get a title shot next after his win over Garry. Garry initially thought Rakhmonov would get the better of Muhammad in a potential fight before trading leather with the Kazakh. However, the Irishman now believes Muhammad can beat Rakhmonov provided “Remember the Name” doesn’t compromise his defense.

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Ilia Topuria Reveals Plans to Move Up to Lightweight, Retire by Age 30

Ilia Topuria doesn’t want to drag out his MMA career.

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Topuria recently shared some significant career plans during an interview on the Spanish radio show El Partidazo de COPE. The UFC featherweight champ firstly revealed that he is most likely done with the 145-pound division. Topuria also confirmed that he plans to move up to lightweight.

Ilia Topuria says he's moving up to lightweight 😳

Interviewer: "Is it possible that we have already seen your last featherweight fight?"

Ilia: "Yes, for sure."

Interviewer: "You are moving to lightweight"

*Ilia nods*

(via. @partidazocope)pic.twitter.com/1i5V4PIb79

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 9, 2024

Lightweight champ Islam Makhachev puts his belt on the line against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The winner of that fight is unlikely to return by April or May, which is Topuria’s preferred timel…

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