Martial Arts News

Before Kamaru Usman stepped up, the opportunity was supposed to belong to Jared Cannonier.

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In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Cannonier revealed that he was offered the fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, but an injury suffered shortly thereafter prevented him from accepting the bout. Ultimately, Chimaev defeated Usman via majority decision in Saturday’s co-main event in Abu Dhabi.

“I got the call to step in to fight Chimaev,” Cannonier said. “But unfortunately, before I could tell my manager to tell the UFC yes, I had injured myself. So I wasn’t able to take that fight on 10 days. They called me on the 10th. They called me, offered me that fight – before they offered it to Usman, they offered it to me. So it would have been me. It could have easily been me.”

Cannonier has won four of his last five UFC appearances, a run that includes a split-decision triumph over current middleweight champion Sean Strickland. That would have m…

Well, it looks like @SStricklandMMA is ready for a matchup with Khamzat! #UFC294

Didn’t hold back and we wouldn’t expect him to. #ExtraRounds from the @PBR Teams Championship. pic.twitter.com/uuQPRVkOzD

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) October 22, 2023

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As one might expect, Sean Strickland is quite outspoken on the subject of the UFC middleweight division’s new No. 1 contender.

Khamzat Chimaev made his 185-pound debut at UFC 294, where he defeated ex-welterweight king Kamaru Usman in Saturday’s co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Even though he hasn’t beaten anyone in the middleweight rankings, the victory was presumably enough to assure Chimaev of a title shot. At least, that’s what UFC CEO Dana White promised ahead of the fight.

In an interview on the UFC Fight Pass “Extra Rounds” show, Strickland questioned Chimaev’s credentials as a No. 1 contender in his new weight class. Of course, that doesn’t mean…

This bout has been called to a stop.

Victor Henry is unable to continue after an unintentional foul and the fight has been ruled a no contest #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/UWhaeyzMFu

— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023

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Javid Basharat does not agree with his UFC 294 outing against Victor Henry being ruled a no contest.

On a night that had its fair share of odd outcomes, the bantamweight matchup between Basharat and Henry was the first match to end abruptly.

While Round 1 was quite competitive, Basharat seemed to edge it out in terms of volume and significant strikes landed. As the second round began, Basharat threw an inside leg kick that seemingly landed on Henry's groin, which sent the American crashing to the canvas in agony.

While referee Lukasz Boscacki gave the veteran the entire five minutes to recover, the agony Henry was in rendered him unable to continue. Ultimately, the referee declared the fight a no-contest 15 s…

Khamzat Chimaev might not have been at 100% for the majority of his fight against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 294 co-main event.

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After a dominant opening stanza, Chimaev held on for a hard-fought majority decision triumph over the former welterweight champion at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. After the victory, “Borz” told ESPN that he believes he broke his hand in the opening frame.

"First round, I think I broke my hand and finger," Chimaev said. "I couldn't punch hard with right hand. My right hand is a big weapon. When you can't use it, it's hard to work.”

Chimaev, who was making his 185-pound debut, is expected to receive a title shot against Sean Strickland by virtue of his win over Usman. First, the undefeated fighter will have to make sure his hand is good to go.

"I will check my hand," Chimaev said. "If it's good, I'm gonna try to lift the weights and be ready for the next one."

The bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker has been called a no contest after Walker was deemed unable to continue due to an illegal knee from Ankalaev. #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/Mvy6NwaDso

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 21, 2023

Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev didn’t really have a chance to get going at UFC 294.

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The light heavyweight bout ended in a no contest at the 3:13 mark of Round 1 when the cageside physician determined Walker couldn’t continue after absorbing an illegal knee from his opponent. It was a controversial decision, especially because it seemed like Walker was ready to continue. However, the Brazilian apparently didn’t respond adequately to the doctor’s verbal examination.

“The guy’s inexperienced,” UFC CEO Dana White said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I think there’s a lot of things that probably happened. I guess he asked him ‘where are you right now?’ and his response was ‘I…

Dillon Danis is officially a free agent.

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The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has been released from his Bellator MMA contract. Multiple outlets confirmed the news following an initial report from Ariel Helwani.

The 30-year-old competed under the Bellator banner just twice, earning first-round submission victories on both occasions. He last competed on June 14, 2019, when he tapped out Max Humphrey with an armbar at Bellator 222. Injuries prevented Danis from fighting again within the California-based promotion.

More recently, “El Jefe” faced Logan Paul at a Misfits Boxing event on Oct. 6. Danis was disqualified at the 2:55 mark of Round 6 when he attempted a takedown and guillotine choke on his opponent.

Danis received plenty of attention at the beginning of his foray into MMA thanks in large part to his outspoken persona and his association with former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor. Now Danis hopes to join the Irish star in …

Kamaru Usman believes he could have done more in his short-notice middleweight fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.

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Usman put on a gritty performance against Chimaev in the three-round co-main event headlined by a championship rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski. However, Chimaev's dominant wrestling and control in Round 1 seemed to have set Usman back on the scorecards from the very start.

The remaining rounds were extremely close. While Usman seemed to have the striking advantage, Chimaev managed to display his effective grappling skills throughout the bout. In the end, "Borz" improved his impressive mixed martial arts record to 13-0 with a majority decision victory against the former welterweight champion.

Reflecting on his performance during the post-fight interview with Megan Olivi, Usman was quick to criticize his inability to start the fight strong.

“If anything that I can say I take away from tonight …

Alexander Volkanovski was aware of the risk and reward involved in taking on a short-notice fight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.

Unfortunately for the UFC featherweight champion, his eagerness and determination to continuously add accolades to his legacy seems to have cost him this time around. Following a brutal Round 1 knockout loss to Makhachev in their rematch at UFC 294, Volkanovski reflected on his performance and discussed what led him to take on the short-notice bout during the post-fight press conference.

“I don’t want to sit there and obviously make excuses,” Volkanovski said. “You know what I mean? Obviously, I’m a big believer in preparation and stuff like that. But I back myself, so that’s the decision I made. You know what I mean? I’ve probably made decisions… I could’ve made better decisions, but he’s not somebody you should be taking a short notice with. But I needed it. A lot of people will say it’s for the money and all that, b…

Don’t mess with me lil chenchen I send you back home with smack straight in ur big forehead 😂😂 my right arm is working already 🔥🧃🤜🔪 pic.twitter.com/3mN1ATrWsw

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 21, 2023

Paulo Costa didn’t fight as scheduled at UFC 294, but that didn’t prevent him from getting into an altercation with a fans while seated cageside.

The Brazilian video posted a video to social media that shows a fan leaping from the stands at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in hopes of confronting Costa. Security was able to hold both parties back, but not before Costa appears threw a right hand at the onrushing spectator. It is unclear what caused the scuffle.

Costa posted a message directed toward Khamzat Chimaev in the caption of the video.

“Don’t mess with me lil chenchen I send you back home with smack straight in ur big forehead my right arm is working already,” Costa wrote.

“Borrachinha” was supposed t…

Islam Makhachev did not need five rounds this time.

The American Kickboxing Academy superstar retained the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown, as he wrecked Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their UFC 294 headliner on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A short-notice substitution for Charles Oliveira, Volkanovski (26-3, 13-2 UFC) met his end 3:06 into Round 1.

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Makhachev (25-1, 14-1 UFC)—who had beaten the City Kickboxing rep by unanimous decision eight months ago—probed with kicks to all levels, jockeyed for position in the clinch after his first takedown attempt was denied and drifted out into open space. He then fired the head kick above Volkanovski’s guard. Shin met skull with devastating consequences, as the Aussie stumbled backward in a compromised state. Makhachev offered no reprieve, letting go with punches and hammerfists until referee Marc …

Sherdog's live UFC 294 coverage will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-250), Silva (+205)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:

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Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dudakova (-500), Frey (+380)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Ben Duffy scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wood (-340), Naimov (+270)Round…

Muhammad Mokaev moved one step closer to contention in the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight division.

The unbeaten KHK MMA Team export subdued former Titan Fighting Championship titleholder Tim Elliott with an arm-triangle choke in the third round of their featured UFC 294 prelim on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Elliott (19-13-1, 8-11 UFC) bowed out 3:03 into Round 3, suffering his first submission defeat in more than three years.

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Mokaev (11-0, 5-0 UFC) weaved through several harrowing moments—he slammed himself out of a tight triangle choke in the second round—on the canvas, settled in top position and applied his ground-and-pound. He freed himself from a front headlock in Round 3, sprang a reversal and framed the arm-triangle. Before Elliott could counter, the choke was in place.

Meanwhile, a more measured and tactical approach led Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Trevor Peek to a unanimous decision o…