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Eric Albarracin Discusses UFC Returns of Jon Jones, Henry Cejudo

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Within the span of a couple months, both Jon Jones and Henry Cejudo will return to the Octagon following extended layoffs.

As the wrestling coach of the Fight Ready team, Eric Albarracin was able to observe the daily routines of the two former UFC champions as they prepare to make their highly-anticipated comebacks. Jones will face Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight crown at UFC 285 on Saturday, while Cejudo will lock horns with Aljamain Sterling for bantamweight gold at UFC 288 on May 6. Albarracin discussed the prospects for Jones and Cejudo in a recent interview with Sherdog.com.

“Any athlete who goes three years without competing should be an underdog if they return to fight for a belt, but Cejudo and Jones are probably the only exceptions,” he said. One is the only ‘Triple C’ in the history of combat sports, and the other is the GOAT. They don’t fight only for the belt, but to make history.”

After Jones spent a po…

Luke Rockhold vs. Mike Perry, Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes Booked for BKFC 41

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship will be bringing some new star power to the ring in the near future.

Promotion president Dave Feldman revealed Wednesday on ”The MMA Hour” that BKFC will feature Luke Rockhold vs. Mike Perry and Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes on the April 29 card at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo. Rockhold and Alvarez are new free-agent signings for the promotion. While the majority of BKFC events are available through the app for a monthly subscription fee, BKFC 41 will air on pay-per-view for $49.99.

“We have to do it, obviously, to be able to pay for these guys,” Feldman said.

Rockhold returned from a three-year absence at UFC 279, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa. The former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion announced his retirement after the bout. He later walked back that decision after being granted his release from the UFC. The 38-year-old Californian lost four of his last f…

Hailey Cowan: Ovarian Cyst Rupture Led to Exit from UFC Fight Night 220

A serious condition led to Hailey Cowan withdrawing from her Ultimate Fighting Championship debut last weekend.

While the promotion initially announced that an illness forced Cowan to pull out of a proposed bantamweight clash against Ailin Perez at UFC Fight Night 220, the Dana White’s Contender Series alum offered further details regarding her withdrawal in a social media post.

“I had an ovarian cyst rupture [on] the night before weigh-ins,” Cowan wrote on Instagram. “I lost a lot of blood and the doctors pulled me. I was on weight and ready to go. Super unfortunate but we will rebook ASAP. Apologies to the fans and my opponent but this was beyond my control.”

The 31-year-old Cowan earned a UFC contract after taking a split decision over Claudia Leite on the Contender Series last August. The Waco, Texas, native is 7-2 over the course of a career that includes stints in Invicta FC and Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Darren Till Reveals He Was Granted UFC Release

Darren Till and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have parted ways — though it may not be for good.

The former welterweight title challenger revealed on Twitter that he was granted his release from the Las Vegas-based promotion at his own request. Twitter account UFC Roster Watch initially brought word that Till was removed from the UFC roster.

“What’s happening everyone? Me, Dana [and] Hunter are still cool as f—k,” Till wrote. “I asked UFC [to] remove me just [to] sort some other s—t for the foreseeable [future]. They happily agreed to release me out of contract, which I appreciate.

“I’m not going anywhere. Got big plans to execute [and] I’ll be back.”

What’s happening everyone,Me, Dana & Hunter are still cool as fuck.I asked UFC 2 remove me just 2 sort some other shit for the foreseeable,They happily agreed to release me out of contract which I appreciate.I’m not going anywhere, got big plans to execute &am…

UFC Leads Endeavor-Owned Sports Properties to 20% Revenue Increase in 2022

The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to be a major source of profit for parent company Endeavor.

Endeavor held an earnings report call on Tuesday, where it revealed that its owned sports properties — led by the UFC — generated 1.3 billion in revenue in 2022, which is $224.1 million more (20 percent) than 2021. According to a summary posted by Endeavor, “growth for the year was driven by increased media rights fees at UFC, as well as greater sponsorship, licensing, commercial PPV and event related revenue from more UFC events with live audiences.” Other sports properties owned by the company include Professional Bull Riders and 10 minor league baseball franchises.

“All 21 UFC events with live audiences sold out, continuing a 29 event sell out streak since returning from the pandemic. UFC posted its best sponsorship year ever in 2022, unlocking new categories and inventory to reach a fan base that grew double digits over 2021 in the U.S,” Ende…

Sergei Pavlovich Slated to Be Backup Fighter for UFC 285 Main Event

With big-ticket main events, it’s always good to have a backup plan.

According to ESPN, Sergei Pavlovich will serve in as the alternate fighter for the Jon Jones-Ciryl Gane headliner at UFC 285 on Saturday. Pavlovich will weigh-in on Friday and must hit the heavyweight mark to be eligible to step in should something happen to either Jones or Gane. UFC president Dana White confirmed during the UFC Fight Night 220 post-fight press conference that the heavyweight title bout would have an alternate but he did not name the fighter who would serve in that role.

Pavlovich is currently scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on April 22. The 30-year-old Russian owns a 17-1 career mark, with his lone setback coming against Alistair Overeem in his Octagon debut. Since then, Pavlovich has won five consecutive UFC bouts — all via first-round KO/TKO.

UFC 285 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and features t…

Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann Rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 221 on March 11

Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann are going to try again in a couple weeks.

After the light heavyweight bout that was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 220 fell through on the day of the event, Krylov vs. Spann has been rebooked for UFC Fight Night 221 on March 11. Promotion broadcast partner ESPN confirmed the reschedule bout following an initial report from Igor Lazorin.

UFC Fight Night 221 takes place at the Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and is headlined by a bantamweight clash pitting Petr Yan against Merab Dvalishvili. Krylov vs. Spann will now be a three-round contest.

Prior to falling ill just hours before the UFC Fight Night 220 main event, Krylov had posted back-to-back victories over Alexander Gustafsson and Volkan Oezdemir in the Octagon. “The Miner” is 10-7 over the course of two UFC stints.

Spann, meanwhile, has been victorious in three of his last four promotional appearances. During that stretch, “Superman” has s…

Jon Jones Disputes Notion That Ciryl Gane is ‘Most Technical Kickboxer’ He’s Fought

While Ciryl Gane has been lauded for his heavyweight striking skills, Jon Jones believes he’s seen better.

Jones took to Twitter to discuss Gane’s striking acumen ahead of their fight for the vacant heavyweight title in Saturday’s UFC 285 main event. “Bones” pointed to Thiago Santos, who he defeated via split decision at UFC 239, as a superior kickboxer to the Frenchman.

“Man I just finished watching my Thiago Santos fight again. I think it’s crazy that you guys consider Gane the most technical kickboxer I’ve ever faced,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “Everything Thiago did have bad intentions on it. Dude had lightning speed, power, explosiveness. Crazy versatility.

“Gane’s last three opponents had terrible defense. Those guys couldn’t stop a kick if their life depended on it. He’s fought flat footed boxers his last three fights.”

Man I just finished watching my Thiago Santos fight again. I think it’s crazy that you guys consid…

Alex Davis Defends Decision to Halt Andrade-Lineker Bout, Expects Eventual Trilogy

Four months after their first encounter ended in a no contest due to an illegal knee, the second battle between Fabricio Andrade and John Lineker at One on Prime Video 7 was definitely worth the price of admission.

Just like the first meeting, Andrade used his superior muay thai and reach advantage to control the distance, eventually hurting Andrade badly enough to cause manager/cornerman Alex Davis to stop the fight before the final round. With the victory, Andrade captured the undisputed One bantamweight title. Despite the high stakes involved, Davis doesn’t regret his decision.

“I would be a criminal if I allowed my fighter to return with both eyes closed,” Davis told Sherdog.com. “It was hard to do, especially with it being a title fight, but I had to take that decision. Safety comes first.”

Davis’ only regret is that Lineker arrived in Thailand just one week before the rematch, which was held at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in …

Brendan Allen Explains Callout List After UFC Fight Night 220 Victory

Brendan Allen unveiled a fairly lengthy callout list following his submission victory against Andre Muniz in the makeshift UFC Fight Night 220 main event.

The former Dana White’s Contender Series alum first mentioned rematches against Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis, the only two men to defeat him thus far during his 9-2 run in the UFC. If those aren’t possible, “All In” also targeted bouts against either Jack Hermansson or Dricus Du Plessis. At the post-fight press conference, Allen explained his reasoning behind the opponent wish list.

“At this point, I’m not really trying to chase anything. I’m a super competitive guy. I like Sean and Chris, I think they’re very good guys. We talked for 40 minutes at the UFC PI in the cafeteria,” Allen said. “That’s just business and there’s a lot of eyes if I fought Strickland again, especially me coming off a win and him having fought the champion before, so that sets a statement.

“I understand how thi…

Roberto Soldic, Zebaztian Kadestam to Clash at One on Prime Video 10 on May 5

Former KSW two-division champion Roberto Soldic will fight on U.S. soil for the first time when he locks horns with Zebaztian Kadestam at One on Prime Video 10 on May 5.

Promotion officials initially confirmed the 185-pound booking to ESPN. One on Prime Video 10 takes place at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo., and is headlined by a flyweight (135-pound) title trilogy clash between Demetrious Johnson and Adriano Moraes. The event marks One’s U.S. debut and airs on Prime Video.

Soldic’s promotional debut at One on Prime Video 5 ended prematurely when opponent Murad Ramazanov landed a low blow in the opening round of their Dec. 2 matchup. The 28-year-old Croatian entered the bout on a seven-fight winning streak that included victories over the likes of Dricus Du Plessis and Mamed Khalidov.

Sweden’s Kadestam is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts under the One banner. Most recently, “The Bandit” scored a 57-second stoppage of Iuri Lapicus at…

Ante Delija vs. Yorgan De Castro Headlines PFL 2 on April 7

2022 Professional Fighters League heavyweight champion Ante Delija will begin his attempt for a repeat when he faces Yorgan De Castro in the PFL 2 headliner on April 7.

The promotion announced the card for its second regular season event — which features heavyweights and women’s featherweights — on Monday. In the co-main event, 2022 women’s lightweight winner Larissa Pacheco will square off against ex-Bellator champ Julia Budd at 145 pounds. Two more heavyweight bouts round out the main draw: Bruno Cappelozza vs. Matheus Scheffel and Renan Ferreira vs. Rizvan Kuniev.

Seven bouts were announced for the preliminary portion of the card: Denis Goltsov vs. Michal Andryszak; Martina Jindrova vs. Amber Leibrock; Olena Kolesnyk vs. Aspen Ladd; Marcelo Nunes vs. TBA; Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Yoko Higashi; Amanda Leve vs. Karolina Sobek and Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. TBA.

PFL 2 takes place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN…

Bryan Barberena Replaces Daniel Rodriguez, Meets Gunnar Nelson at UFC 286

Gunnar Nelson has a new opponent at UFC 286.

The promotion recently announced that Bryan Barberena will replace Daniel Rodriguez and face the Iceland native in a welterweight bout on March 18 at the O2 Arena in London. A reason for Rodriguez’s withdrawl was not given. UFC 286 is headlined by a welterweight title rematch between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.

Barberena had a three-bout winning streak snapped in his last outing, as he suffered a second-round submission loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on ESPN 42 on Dec. 3. Prior to that, “Bam Bam” had earned successive victories over the likes of Darian Weeks, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler.

Nelson returned following an absence that lasted more than two years at UFC Fight Night 204, where he defeated Takashi Sato via unanimous decision in March 2022.

Tatiana Suarez Plans to Earn Title Shot, Wants to Fight ‘All the Great People’

Tatiana Suarez made her long-awaited return at UFC Fight Night 220, where she defeated Montana De La Rosa via second-round submission in a flyweight bout.

The long-term plan, however, is for Suarez to return to 115 pounds, where she established herself as a contender with wins over the likes of Alexa Grasso, Carla Esparza and Nina Nunes. Her career was put on hold due to injuries, and Satruday marked her first bout since June 2019.

“I think they should give me a really good opponent at strawweight and then I’ll earn [a title shot],” Suarez said at the UFC Fight Night 220 post-fight press conference. “I’ve never been given anything in my life. I’ve always earned it, and I don’t mind doing that. I think that builds character. You’ve got to work for the things that you get in your life. I don’t mind doing that because that’s how my mom and my grandma raised me to be. So I’m excited for whoever.”

While Suarez is willing to face anyone in the str…

Yaroslav Amosov Says He’s Best Welterweight in World After Bellator 291 Win

You wouldn’t have known that Yaroslav Amosov had been away for more than a year and a half by watching his performance in the Bellator 291 headliner.

Amosov controlled all aspects of his rematch with Logan Storley on Saturday in Dublin, as he unified the welterweight belt with a lopsided unanimous decision triumph. It was a far more decisive victory than his first meeting with Storley — a split-decision win at Bellator 252 in November 2020. That’s a good reason for that, Amosov said.

“Before this fight, I said this fight was different. I have many kilograms that I cut for my first match with Logan,” Amosov said at the post-fight press conference. “Now I had a very good camp and recovery as well as different training. Every day I train hard and become better. I have the best team with me. He’s a very good fighter, and I knew this. All people who enter the cage are strong, so if you go in the cage, you’re a high-level fighter. It’s not a surprise to…

Dana White Doesn’t Favor Immediate Makhachev-Volkanovski Rematch

Though it’s now a couple weeks in the rearview mirror, the UFC 284 headliner nonetheless remains a hot topic of conversation.

Islam Makhachev captured a hotly contested decision win over Alexander Volkanovski to retain his lightweight crown on Feb. 11 in Perth, Australia. Many observers thought Volkanovski deserved the nod, and praised the 145-pound champ for giving a larger opponent all he could handle for 25 minutes. Because the fight was so close, there have been calls for an immediate rematch — including from Volkanovski himself.

However, UFC president Dana White isn’t among those who thinks an immediate rematch is the right move to make. For one, UFC 284 also produced a ready made featherweight contender in Yair Rodriguez, who defeated Josh Emmett for the interim crown in the evening’s co-main event. While Makhachev doesn’t have his next opponent lined up, White believes it’s probably best for both champions to fight again before considering a…

Yarsolav Amosov Dominates Logan Storley, Unifies Welterweight Title at Bellator 291

Returning after a nearly two-year absence from the cage, Yaroslav Amosov left no doubt that he is one of the top 170-pound fighters in the world.

The destiny of the Bellator MMA welterweight championship was decided on Saturday at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Coming into the main event, Amosov (27-0, 8-0 Bellator) sought to defend his crown for the first time against interim champion Logan Storley (14-2, 9-2 Bellator), who sole loss had been a split decision to Amosov in November 2020. It was Amosov’s first fight in 21 months, a layoff prompted by Russia’s invasion of his native Ukraine that saw the undefeated champ return home to active military service. That long hiatus, combined with the popular perception that Storley had improved considerably since their first meeting, saw the line on Amosov contract from nearly three-to-one to a mere -140 by the time they stepped into the cage.

Amosov proved any doubters wrong, looking superb for 25 straight m…

Brendan Allen Springs Upset on Andre Muniz in UFC Fight Night 220 Main Event

Brendan Allen reasserted himself as a clear and present danger in the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division.

The onetime Legacy Fighting Alliance titleholder submitted Andre Muniz with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 220 headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Muniz (23-5, 5-1 UFC) checked out 4:25 into Round 3, thus ending his run of nine consecutive victories.

Saturday's planned main event between Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann was canceled after Krylov suffered an illness and was not medically cleared to compete. The news was first reported during the UFC Fight Night 220 broadcast at the start of the main card. Allen (21-5, 9-2 UFC) seized the reins from the start in the makeshift main event and remained the aggressor for the duration. He turned the tide in the middle stanza, where he countered a takedown into top position, applied his ground-and-pound and advanced position. Allen later d…

Phil De Fries Crushes Todd Duffee at KSW 79 for Eighth Straight Title Defense

WOW!! Domination!!!

phildefriesmma finishes ToddDuffee in the first round!! #KSW79 pic.twitter.com/RFLaPOO2B0

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) February 25, 2023

Eleven years from their first meeting, Philip De Fries got one back on Todd Duffee.

In the headliner of KSW 79, the promotion’s first foray into the Czech Republic, KSW heavyweight champ De Fries (23-6, 1 NC; 9-0 KSW) met Duffee (9-4, 1 NC; 0-1 KSW) for a second time. Their first collision, at UFC 155 in December 2012, ended in a first-round TKO win for the American. This time, the result was a complete reversal for De Fries, who showcased his maturation as a mixed martial artist. Right out of the gate, De Fries scored a perfectly-timed takedown over a head kick from Duffee. De Fries then patiently worked to put his opponent in position for a submission attempt, occasionally adding punches to the mix. After taking his foe's back, the British fighter attacked with a neck cran…

UFC Fight Night 220 Bonuses: $50k Handed Out to All Six Finishers

UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC Fight Night 220Credit: Getty/UFC UFC F…

UFC Fight Night 220 ‘Krylov vs. Spann’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live UFC Fight Night 220 coverage will begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aliev (-180), Alves (+155)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Solecki (-520), Deaton (+410)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Edwin Ayala scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS:…

UFC Fight Night 220 Prelims: Unbeaten Trevor Peek Demolishes Erick Gonzalez

KO AT THE BUZZER :exploding_head: #UFCVegas70 pic.twitter.com/Itgpoi5dxS

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 25, 2023

Trevor Peek hits like a truck.

The intriguing but unrefined Agoge Combatives prospect made a successful Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, as he took out Erick Gonzalez with punches in the first round of their featured UFC Fight Night 220 lightweight prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The undefeated Peek (8-0, 1-0 UFC) brought it to an emphatic close 4:59 into Round 1.

Gonzalez (14-8, 0-3 UFC) tried to counter the 2022 Dana White’s Contender Series graduate with takedowns but failed to keep him bottled up for any meaningful period of time. Peek cut loose with sloppy but powerful punches near the end of Round 1—he even mixed in a few standing hammerfists to the head—before he sat down the Combate Global veteran with a clubbing right. Gonzalez ate multiple left hands to the face before r…

Bellator 291 ‘Amosov vs. Storley 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live Bellator 291 coverage will begin Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET. Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:The Official Result Round 1 Sherdog Scores Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Lev Pisarsky scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 S…

Desiree Yanez Wins Contract at PFL Challenger Series 5

Judge's Vote: YanezFan Vote: Yanez

No tiebreaker vote needed... Welcome to the PFL Desiree Yanez!#PFLonFubo pic.twitter.com/xXdHyOm7aq

— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 25, 2023 Eight women's flyweight fighters competed at PFL Challenger Series 2023 Week 5 but only one could earn a contract to compete in the Professional Fighters League's regular season.

The four-fight card was main evented by a 125-pound fight between Kaytlin Neil and Katherine Corogenes. Neil (7-4) looked to fight against the fence but Corogenes (3-2) was able to stay active with punches from the clinch inside the opening frame. Neil would slow down the fight in the second round and open up more on the feet, which led to it being much closer. Corogenes was docked a point for an eye poke in Round 3, which saw Neil close the round by taking the back of her opponent.

After some deliberation, the judges saw the fight in favor of Neil, who received three 29-27 s…

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