Martial Arts News

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It wasn’t that type of performance that leaves a lasting imprint on the minds of those who witnessed it, but there’s no denying that Aleksandar Rakic was in complete control against Anthony Smith in the UFC Fight Night 175 headliner.

The Austrian contender utilized leg kicks, positional dominance and ground-and-pound to cruise to a clear-cut unaniomus decision over the former light heavyweight No. 1 contender at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

“I [said] in my interviews this week I need to make a statement,” Rakic said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I’m not going to rush a finish, if the finish comes, it comes. If not, my goal is to make a great performance and this is what happened. In the third, I think I dropped him. I followed up, but I knew Anthony’s a tough guy. He can take a beating a…

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Anthony Smith never seemed further removed from his days as a top light heavyweight contender than he did at UFC Fight Night 175.

The former title challenger was largely overwhelmed by Aleksandar Rakic in Saturday’s three-round headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas en route to losing a clear-cut unanimous decision. Rakic battered “Lionheart” with low kicks, and when Smith attempted to initiate grappling exchanges, the Austrian stifled his opponent from top position while staying busy with ground-and-pound. The end result was a bout in which Smith, while he didn’t feel out of his depth, was rarely able to threaten a more powerful opponent.

“The first round I stayed in kicking range at the beginning, which is obviously stupid now. He beat up my lead leg. Then we got in our clinch and grappling exchanges, which I felt …

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Before all is said and done, Neil Magny could very well surpass Georges St. Pierre for the most victories in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division.

Magny moved closer to GSP on Saturday night, as he captured a dominant unanimous decision against former champion Robbie Lawler in the UFC Fight Night 175 co-headliner in Las Vegas. The Elevation Fight Team representative now has 17 triumphs at 170 pounds — just two behind the legendary Canadian. Now he just needs the championship hardware to match St. Pierre.

“It feels great. Leading up to this week I was being put in the category as guys like Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre, and here tonight fighting Robbie Lawler,” Magny said in his post-fight interview. “I’m doing the right things, going in the right direction, it's only a matter of …

3 FIGHTS AND 3 SUBMISSIONS!! @seanbradymma keeps the subs rolling at #UFCVegas8! pic.twitter.com/j41QLDuutE

— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 29, 2020

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If it was indeed Ricardo Lamas’ farewell bout, the featherweight veteran made it one to remember.

Lamas and opponent Bill Algeo received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece for their featured clash at UFC Fight Night 175 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. While Algeo rocked Lamas with a knee in the second frame, the former title challenger recovered to author a dominant final crame and clinch a unanimous decision triumph.

Elsewhere, Sean Brady garnered a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award for a submission of Christian Aguilera in a preliminary welterweight contest. The former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titli…

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Ricardo Lamas knows he is nearing the end of the line in his mixed martial arts career.

The 38-year-old Chicago native used a strong third round to pull away from game short-notice foe Bill Algeo at UFC Fight Night 175, earning a unanimous decision triumph in a featured featherweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday night. “The Bully” set career highs for significant strikes landed (104) and takedowns (five) in the victory.

Lamas wasn’t ready to formally concede that it was his final walk to the Octagon, but if it ends up being a farewell, he’s happy to go out on a high note.

“I walked into this thinking it could maybe be my last fight,” Lamas said after the bout. “I didn’t want to walk away with a loss. I always said I don't want to leave this sport in the dirt. I want to leave with my head held hi…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Aleksandar Rakic may be approaching primetime player status in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division. Crushing leg kicks and stifling positional control spurred the promising Austrian to a unanimous decision over former Cage Fury Fighting Championships and Victory Fighting Championship titleholder Anthony Smith in the UFC Fight Night 175 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27, all for Rakic (13-2, 5-1 UFC), who has rattled off 13 wins in his last 14 outings.

Outside of an overhand right he landed early in the second round, Smith (33-16, 8-6 UFC) was ineffective. Rakic chopped at his lower leg with repeated kicks, then punished him when he attempted to alter the direction of the fight with clinches and takedowns. He assumed top position in all three round…

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app. Sherdog's live UFC Fight Night 175 coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. Check out the MMA Forums to discuss the card or enter your comments and predictions below. 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:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result 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:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Brian Knapp scores the round:Tyler Treese scores th…

WATCH OUT @KingImpa showing no Octagon jitters in his debut. #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/Z4HsaxG0Uo

— UFC (@ufc) August 30, 2020

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If first impressions are any indication, Impa Kasanganay has a bright future in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division.

The still-green Gym-O prospect kept his perfect professional record intact and impressed in his promotional debut, as he captured a unanimous decision over fellow Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Maki Pitolo in the featured UFC Fight Night 175 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Kasanganay (8-0, 1-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with identical 30-27 marks from the judges.

It boiled down to horsepower, and Kasanganay had more of it. He moved Pitolo backward and sent spit flying with chopping right hands, mi…

Gamrot is relentless!! #KSW54 pic.twitter.com/eDmXgd7NOZ

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) August 29, 2020

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki might say goodbye to one of its most dominant champions ever very soon.

In the main event of KSW 54, Mateusz Gamrot (17-0, 1 NC) put on a show in yet another successful lightweight title defense, this time at the expense of Marian Ziolkowski (21-8-1). "Gamer" was initially scheduled to clash with Shamil Musaev, but the Russian fighter was forced to pull out of the battle after sustaining a knee injury in training. Ziolkowski, who was supposed to fight Maciej Kazieczko on the same card, tried his best, but it was not enough to dethrone the defending champion. After a close first round, Gamrot displayed his notorious fighting IQ and made some small but significant adjustments that nullified Ziolkowski's arsenal. Eventually, all three judges rewarded "Gamer" with the eighth decision victory on his rec…

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Ion Cutelaba’s rematch with Magomed Ankalaev will have to wait yet again.

The UFC announced in a statement on Saturday that Cutelaba has tested positive for COVID-19, and as a result, his light heavyweight clash with Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night 175 has been postponed.

“Due to a positive COVID-19 test, Ion Cutelaba’s light heavyweight fight against Magomed Ankalaev has been removed from today’s undercard and will be rescheduled for a later date,” the UFC statement read.

It’s the second time a positive COVID-19 test has derailed Cutelaba. The Moldovan fighter also tested positive for the virus prior to UFC 252, which scrapped a proposed matchup with Ankalaev on Aug. 15.

As a result, UFC Fight Night 175 will proceed with 10 bouts. The card takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by…

Brant Moore imposed his will and moved another step closer to a shot at the Legacy Fighting Alliance lightweight championship.

Repeated takedowns, crushing top control and an active submission game carried the surging Team 515 representative to a clear-cut unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 27 finalist Joe Giannetti in the LFA 89 headliner on Friday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Moore (8-1, 4-0 LFA) swept the scorecards with identical 30-27 nods from the judges.

Giannetti (9-3-1, 0-1 LFA) could not stay upright. Moore climbed to dominant positions in all three rounds and bottled up the South Shore Sportfighting product on the mat. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt did his best work in Round 3, where he used a kimura to roll through an attempted takedown, set up shop in side control, dropped elbows and threatened with an arm-triangle choke before achieving full mount.

Moore, 26, has rattled off six consecutive victories.

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BREAKING!

Undefeated Bantamweight Champion Jack Cartwright (8-0) will make the second defence of his title against Gerardo Fanny (9-1) at CW115.

Pure aggression!

The 5th and final title fight to be announced across #THETRILOGY series. pic.twitter.com/p4mvhdKfF9

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) August 28, 2020 A whopping five belts will be on the line across “The Trilogy” of three Cage Warriors Fighting Championship events in September.

A new title clash has been added to the upcoming CW 115 event, per the promotion on Friday. Manchester’s own Jack Cartwright will attempt his second title defense on Sept. 25 against Gerardo Fanny. This championship bout joins another already scheduled on the card at middleweight. CW 115 is the second of three consecutive events across the last week in September.

Cartwright (8-0) won the belt by smashing both Scott Malone and Marko Kovacevic in the first round of the one-night bantamweight tour…