Contender Series Weigh-in Results: All Fighters Official for Week 3

All 10 fighters slated to compete on Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series made weight ahead of their bouts on Monday.

The Contender Series takes place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and features a middleweight clash pitting Andrey Pulyaev (185) against Liam Anderson (185). The card airs on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Pulyaev will take a four-fight finishing streak into the matchup with Anderson. Most recently, the 26-year-old Russian scored a 77-second KO of Weldon Silva de Oliveira at Shlemenko Fighting Championship 9 in February. He has finished all but one of his eight career triumphs inside the distance.

A native of Rochester, New York, Anderson has also finished his last four professional fights. Three of those victories have occurred under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner, including a head kick KO of Maurice Morris on Feb. 23.

Contender Series Weigh-in Results:Andrey Pulyaev (185) vs. Liam Anderson (185)Bogdan Grad (145.5) vs…
Read more
  • 0

Donn Davis Addresses Possibility of PFL Adding More Weight Classes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 2024 Professional Fighters League season saw a new weight class open up, and as a direct result, a star was born in the women’s flyweight division.

Advertisement

When the company announced the women’s flyweight division as part of its regular season in 2024, much attention was paid to newcomer Dakota Ditcheva, the 2023 PFL Europe champion. Now part of the global season, fans wanted to see how Ditcheva would transition to tougher challenges on the global roster, with more media and attention surrounding her. So far, it’s been nothing but success for both sides. That success has given Donn Davis and the PFL team an opportunity to consider adding more weight classes in the near future.

There has been no denying the success of Ditcheva in her 2024 regular season and playoff run. She would make quick work in all three of her fights this year, picking up first-round finishes against Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in the regular season, then d…

Read more
  • 0

Donn Davis Details ‚Huge Sense of Pride‘ in Opportunities PFL Provides

[embedded content]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the business of the Professional Fighters League continuing to grow and expand, the decision makers have plenty to hang their hat on.

With the launch of PFL MENA in 2024 and the announcement of PFL Africa coming in 2025 to add to the already established PFL Europe, the visions of Donn Davis, Peter Murray, and Co. continue to be met. During the PFL semifinals event in Washington, D.C., this past weekend, Davis spoke to the media covering a litany of topics, including his pride in the success of the PFL thus far.

Speaking to Sherdog.com in his scrum, Davis was asked about all the success and opportunities that the PFL offers in a variety of ways. Not only did he speak glowingly of the avenues the company has available but also how it is relatable to everyday people who are fighting to improve.

“Look, ‘What do you fight for?’ is on the steps to the cage,” Davis said. “Fighters are certainly fighting to advance their caree…

Read more
  • 0

Jiri Prochazka Plans Middleweight Move Based on Latest Title Picture

[embedded content]

Jiri Prochazka is plotting a move to middleweight after Dricus Du Plessis’ first title defense.

Advertisement

Prochazka claims to have been considering the move leading up to Du Plessis’ UFC 305 main-event clash against former champ Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia on Aug. 17. According to “BJP,” he would have stayed put at light heavyweight if Adesanya dethroned Du Plessis, as he has the same management as the Nigerian-born Kiwi. However, “Stillknocks” successfully defended his title with a fourth-round submission win in an entertaining title bout, hastening Prochazka’s planned move to 185 pounds.

However, Prochazka notes that the potential move isn’t due to him having a size or power disadvantage at light heavyweight. While the Czech has no problems staying a top contender at 205 pounds, he just wants to challenge himself in another weight class.

“I’ve been considering that if Adesanya wins, I’ll stay in the light heavyweight divisio…

Read more
  • 0

Alex Pereira Speculates That Israel Adesanya Might Have Been Injured at UFC 305

It’s weird how this guy knows me…it’s like we’ve spent hours studying eachother’s moves and fought multiple times or sumn’. I mean that. 🫡 https://t.co/Up7U8DyT2Q

— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) August 25, 2024

Israel Adesanya claims Alex Pereira knows him all too well, which is no surprise considering the number of times they have traded leather throughout their stellar careers.

Advertisement

Adesanya attempted to reclaim the middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis in the main event at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on Aug. 17. Both fighters went to war in a bout that showed glimpses of both Adesanya’s most elite form and Du Plessis’ usual awkward brawling style. The South African eventually defended his title with a fourth-round submission win over Adesanya.

Adesanya’s former foe, Pereira, was keeping a keen eye on the fight and even mentioned a potential move back down to middleweight to challenge “Stillknocks” upon its conclu…

Read more
  • 0

Dana White Awards Additional $50K Bonus to Cong Wang for Spectacular UFC Debut

Cong Wang was a late addition to the list of bonus winners at UFC on ESPN 62.

Advertisement

Wang set a high standard for the night in the first preliminary bout of the card against Victoria Leonardo at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. “The Joker,” who has appeared at the face-offs dressed as her moniker, took just 62 seconds to shut the lights out on Leonardo with a blistering right hand.

Wang understandably expected a $50,000 bonus for the highlight-reel finish, which was also the fastest by a debutant in UFC flyweight history. However, the undefeated Chinese standout was surprised to see her name missing from the list of bonus winners, which initially included “Performance of the Night” bonuses for Gerald Meerschaert and Michael Morales and “Fight of the Night” for Caio Borralho and Jared Cannonier. Wang expressed her disappointment on social media, promising an even flashier finish in her next performance, which got the attention of Dana White.

I…

Read more
  • 0

Caio Borralho: Performance Against Jared Cannonier Will ‚Take Me to the Belt‘

Caio Borralho knows he’s on the precipice of big things in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division.

Advertisement

The Fighting Nerds product earned the most signifcant victory of his career to date in the UFC on ESPN 62 headliner, as he weathered a game effort from Jared Cannonier to capture a unanimous decision triumph on Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Borralho nearly finished the contest in the fifth round to put a stamp on his seventh consecutive promotional triumph. The Brazilian known as “The Natural” came away quite pleased with his performance against a former middleweight title challenger.

“I wasn’t there to grapple. I was there to bring fire and be comfortable in the danger, because Jared’s a very dangerous opponent,” Borralho said at the post-fight press conference. “My jab was was on point, my calf kicks were on point, and I just did the job. I almost got the finish.

“I think the ref should have finished it, shou…
Read more
  • 0

Michael Morales Hopes to Become UFC Champion Within Two Years

Michael Morales called out Ian Garry — along with a few other names — after a statement win over Neil Magny at UFC on ESPN 62.

Advertisement

Moraels faced his biggest step up in competition so far in Magny, who is widely considered the welterweight gatekeeper. The Ecuadorian dropped Magny with a spinning elbow before finishing him off with brutal ground-and-pound with less than half a minute to go in the first round. Morales maintained his undefeated record while also earning a “Performance of the Night” $50,000 bonus.

While Morales subsequently called out veterans Michael Chiesa and Vicente Luque, his callout of Garry stands out the most.

“Whenever there’s a fight and they want me to fight, I will be ready to go,” Morales said during a post-fight media scrum. “I will always be ready to fight. I want to fight in December. But as far as names are concerned, I think there’s a couple of names out there. I think [Vicente] Luque is somebody that is an opportuni…

Read more
  • 0

Cong Wang Targets Rematch Against Former Kickboxing Foe Valentina Shevchenko

Cong Wang believes she can beat Valentina Shevchenko yet again after a highlight-reel finish to start off her Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

Advertisement

Wang started off the preliminary action opposite Victoria Leonardo at UFC on ESPN 62 on Saturday. “The Joker,” who dressed up as her moniker during pre-fight face-offs, took just 62 seconds to shut the lights out on Leonardo with a vicious right hand. This also marked the fastest finish in history for a UFC women’s flyweight debutant.

The undefeated Chinese standout subsequently called out Casey O’Neill in a bid to fast track her way to the rankings.

“Just looking at the rankings. I think it’s a good fight,” Wang said during a post-fight media scrum. “I just want to jump in the rankings and get my title shot.”

Wang also holds a unanimous decision victory in kickboxing over former UFC champ Shevchenko in 2015 under the Kunlun Fight banner. The former 32-year-old Wushu champion, Asian Games …

Read more
  • 0

UFC on ESPN 62 Bonuses: Four Take Home $50K

Four fighters walked away with $50,000 bonuses in a night filled with finishes at UFC on ESPN 62 on Saturday.

Veteran middleweight contender Jared Cannonier and up-and-coming Brazilian Caio Borralho (17-1) delivered as advertised in the UFC Vegas 96 headliner at The Apex in Las Vegas. While Borralho took the lead in the first round, Cannonier regained some momentum as the fight progressed. Both fighters rocked each other, going toe-to-toe in a barnburner that had many online scorecards tied at two rounds each way going into Round 5. Borralho knocked down Cannonier (17-8) a final time in the last stanza to seal a unanimous decision victory. Both fighters were awarded $50,000 for their “Fight of the Night” performance.

Meanwhile, middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert (37-17) received a “Performance of the Night” bonus for his come-from-behind upset of Edmen Shahbazyan (13-5). “GM 3” was dominated by Shahbazyan for the better part of two rounds before he turned the tab…

Read more
  • 0

Surging Caio Borralho Wears Down Jared Cannonier in UFC on ESPN 62 Headliner

Caio Borralho broke down the door to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight elite.

A potent jab, punishing leg kicks and powerful punching combinations carried the Fighting Nerds star to a unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier in the UFC on ESPN 62 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Borralho (17-1, 7-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with 49-45, 49-45 and 48-46 marks from the cageside judiciary, as he posted his 14th consecutive win.

Advertisement

Cannonier (17-8, 10-8 UFC) made him earn it and kept the fight competitive for four-plus rounds. The MMA Lab mainstay unleashed multi-punch volleys of his own and did visible damage to the Brazilian, opening a sickle-shaped cut underneath Borralho’s right eye in the fourth round. However, much of his good work was erased in the fifth. There, Borralho sent him crashing to the canvas with a crisp one-two, piled on with elbow-infused ground-and-pound and framed an arm-triangle choke in the waning se…
Read more
  • 0

UFC on ESPN 62 ‘Cannonier vs. Borralho’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 62 coverage will begin Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wang (-1000), Leonardo (+650)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Advertisement

Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ramaska (+135), Fletcher (-155)Round 1 The fight was canceled on Saturday afternoon, with Fletcher forced out of the match due to an undisclosed medical issue. News of the bout's cancelation was first reported on the broadcast. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-192), Nunes (+160)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: Round 2 Sherdog S…
Read more
  • 0