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UFC Fight Night 217 ‘Strickland vs. Imavov’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live UFC Fight Night 217 coverage will begin Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Johnson (-345), Flick (+285)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Argueta (-600), Aguirre (+425)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Keith Shillan scores the round:Jack Dankoff scores the round:The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING RE…

UFC Fight Night 217 Prelims: Basharat Stays Undefeated Against Mendonca

STILL UNDEFEATED! 🙌

❄️🐆 @JavidBasharat moves to a shiny 14-0 to kick off 2023 in style for the Bash Bros! #UFCVegas67 pic.twitter.com/e0yub9RE5H

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) January 14, 2023

The UFC Fight Night 217 featured prelim delivered as two undefeated fighters in Javid Basharat and Mateus Mendonca clashed.

Mendonca (10-1) was able to show a varied attack by dragging Basharat (14-0) to the floor and looking to grapple in the back-and-forth opening round. As the fight went on, Basharat emerged as the fresher fighter as he was able to survive the submission threats and rain down some damaging punches while on top. While Mendonca would have his moments, it wound up being too little too late against "The Snow Leopard."

After 15 minutes, the judges awarded the fight to Basharat with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28. Alhassan Crumbles Ribeiro Middleweights Claudio Ribeiro and Abdul Razak Alhassan didn't need 15 mi…

Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev Targeted for UFC 286 in London

A lightweight clash pitting Justin Gaethje against Rafael Fiziev has been targeted for UFC 286.

Promotion broadcast partner ESPN reported on Saturday that the bout has nearly been finalized. UFC 286 takes place at the O2 Arena in London on March 18. A headliner for the event has not been confirmed, but it is rumored to be a welterweight championship trilogy between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.

Gaethje will be making his first appearance since suffering a first-round submission loss to Charles Oliveira in a 155-pound title tilt at UFC 274 last May. The former World Series of Fighting champ is 6-4 in the Las Vegas-based promotion, with victories over the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone and Edson Barboza.

The 29-year-old Fiziev has compiled a six-bout Octagon winning streak to establish himself as one of the rising contenders in the lightweight division. Most recently, the Tiger Muay Thai standout scored a fifth-round…

Chingiz Allazov Claims Kickboxing Gold at One on Prime Video 6 With Nasty KO

#ONEFightNight6 Highlight Video: Chingiz Allazov Destroys Superbon Singha Mawynn https://t.co/xkgcxOgecR pic.twitter.com/vtmlJjKtB1

— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) January 14, 2023 One Championship put on its first combat sports event of 2023 with One on Prime Video 6, which featured three title fights.

The main event for the featherweight kickboxing championship saw defending titleholder Superbon Singha Mawynn take on grand prix winner Chingiz Allazov. It was Allazov that set the pace early and showed he was here to fight by keeping up constant pressure. The second round would see Allazov knock down Mawynn twice with heavy punches and then destroy the champion with a clean overhand right. The official end came at 1:03 of Round 2.

The co-main event was a flyweight kickboxing bout between Superlek Kiatmookao and Daniel Puertas for the vacant title. While it was Puertas pushing the action forward early, Kiatmookao was able t…

Chute Boxe’s Allan Nascimento Targets Spot in Flyweight Top 15 by End of 2023

[embedded content] UFC 125-pounder Allan Nascimento may not have had the most traditional path to the UFC, but he intends on making his stay count.

The 31-year-old nicknamed “Puro Osso” trains at the vaunted Chute Boxe camp helmed by coach Diego Lima, famously dying his hair blonde in support of teammate Charles Oliveira in the past. Nascimento (19-6) will be squaring off against fellow Dana White's Contender Series vet Carlos Hernandez (8-1) at UFC Fight Night 217 on Jan. 14. A submission specialist by trade, with 13 of his 19 career victories coming by tapout, he is well-prepared for an opponent that celebrates all of his own finishes by sub. Nascimento spoke to Sherdog about his upcoming matchup, and also discussed what has brought him to this point.

“Carlos Hernandez is my next opponent,” Nascimento stated. “He’s on a great winning streak. He won his Contender Series bout as well as his UFC debut. I feel he’s a complete fighter. He’s very dangero…

UFC Fight Night 217 Weigh-in Results: Strickland Has 10-Pound Edge; 1 Fight Nixed

Sean Strickland hits the scale at 204 pounds ⚖️

[ #UFCVegas67 | TOMORROW | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/EsXN9OoecM

— UFC (@ufc) January 13, 2023 After an extended break, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns for its first mixed martial arts event of the year.

After an injury to Kelvin Gastelum, the makeshift main event for UFC Fight Night 217 is a light heavyweight bout between Sean Strickland and Nassourdine Imavov. While the marquee fighters didn't have any issue making weight, with Strickland coming in at 204 pounds and Imavov at 194, there was still some drama during the weigh-in proceedings. Sijara Eubanks' flyweight bout against Priscila Cachoeira was canceled after Eubanks pulled out due to "weight management issues."

Strickland (25-5) is headlining his second Fight Night event in a row, and will hope this time it goes better than his split decision defeat to Jared Cannonier last time out. "Tarzan…

Report: James Krause Revealed as Agent for Offshore Book, Hailed as MMA ‘Insider Trading’

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter James Krause is about to find himself in a heap of trouble.

According to a report from the UFC’s broadcast partner of ESPN on Thursday, the investigation into Krause has borne some fruit. ESPN staff members were informed that Krause has worked since 2019 as an agent for ABCBetting.ag, a sportsbook and casino in Antigua. Krause’s role, as it has been described, was one that would have him work as the go-between from the offshore book and prospective bettors. Recruiting in those that would be willing to be on events – most likely, fights – would be one major duty, one that would likely accompany him with a share of the action.

Those individuals stated that Krause offered them a line of credit and login credentials to access the site, one stationed in Antigua but based on Costa Rica. They allegedly paid Krause directly after placing wagers on the site, and he offered them “kickbacks” should they recruit othe…

PFL Launches 2023 Europe Tournament Season, Finals Set for Dec. 8

Europe’s New League is 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙔 𝙏𝙊 𝙂𝙊

2️⃣ Regular Season Events1️⃣ Playoff Event1️⃣ ChampionshipWith 100k Prize on the Line💰 🏆

PFL Europe starts on March 25th, 2023

For more information on PFL Europe:https://t.co/mPplP5QN9Q pic.twitter.com/3dJUkDEfRa

— PFL (@PFLMMA) January 12, 2023 The Professional Fighters League’s European Vacation will begin in March.

According to a press release sent out on Thursday from the league, PFL Europe will commence its inaugural season on March 25. Separate from the Challenger Series or the standard six-division tournament brackets, the PFL is bringing in regional talent from Europe in a qualifying tournament of sorts. The victors of the four unannounced weight classes will each earn $100,000 should they prevail in their bracket, and they may also claim a place in the following year’s million-dollar tourney. The first event will be held at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England.<…

Bellator Paris Return on May 12 Headlined by Mousasi vs. Edwards

.@BellatorMMA’s return to @Accor_Arena is booked for May 12 featuring a wealth of European talent.

Former champion Gegard @Mousasi_MMA will return against @FabianEdwards24 in the main event, while @MansourBarnaoui faces @SidOutlaw in a LWGP quarterfinal. https://t.co/5e1Zz4dHHx pic.twitter.com/0nG36XANHF

— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) January 12, 2023 Bellator MMA is officially going back to France this year.

Via press release on Thursday, the organization announced that its return trip to Paris on 2023 will take place on May 12. Posting up once more in the Accor Arena, Bellator will bring a tournament quarterfinal and a middleweight headliner that has major championship implications to the currently unnumbered event. The main event sees ex-champ Gegard Mousasi (49-8-2) seek his 50th pro victory against the resurgent Brit Fabian Edwards (11-2). In the second-to-last tilt, Sidney Outlaw (16-5) battles Mansour …

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson Headlines Bellator 292 in San Jose

The first two matchups of the Bellator lightweight grand prix are set for Bellator 292.

Shortly after the 155-pound field was revealed by Scott Coker, the promotion announced that Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Benson Henderson will serve as the headliner for the March 10 event in San Jose, Calif. Tofiq Musayev will square off against Alexadr Shabliy in another quarterfinal pairing. All lightweight grand prix bouts will be contested over five rounds.

Bellator 292 takes place at the SAP Center in San Jose, and the evening’s main card airs on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Nurmagomedov is unbeaten in 16 professional outings. He claimed the lightweight throne at Bellator 288, when he took a five-round unanimous decision against Patricky Freire on Nov. 18. The American Kickboxing Academy product has finished 13 of his 16 victories inside the distance.

Henderson, a former UFC lightweight champ, is coming off back-to-back victories over …

Dana White Won’t Face Punishment from Endeavor, UFC for NYE Slapping Incident

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If you thought Dana White might disappear from the public eye for a while after being caught on camera slapping his wife on New Year’s Eve, that won’t be the case.

The UFC president fielded questions during UFC Fight Night 217 media day on Thursday, primarily focusing on the incident that has dominated headlines for the past couple weeks. During that session, White indicated that he won’t face punishment from the UFC or parent company Endeavor for the altercation that saw both he and his wife slap each other while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. According to White, a more significant punishment is facing the scorn and criticism of his actions that night for the years to come.

“What should the repercussions be? You tell me. I take 30 days off? How does that hurt me?” White said (video via MMAFighting.com) “I told you guys when we were going through COVID, COVID could last 10 years, I could sit it out and — you know what I m…

KSW to Make Debut in Czech Republic on Feb. 25

Polish promotion Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki will break new ground when it debuts in the Czech Republic next month.

KSW 79 will take place on Feb. 25 at the Home Credit Arena in Liberec, Czech Republic. Heavyweight champion Philip De Fries will defend his belt in the main event, while Glory Kickboxing veteran Arek Wrzosek and ex-UFC competitor Viktor Pesta are also expected to compete on the card. Opponents for all three heavyweight will be announced in the coming days.

KSW 79 marks the first time the promotion will hold an event outside of Poland since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a release, the Czech Republic is “the first of several new territories KSW will enter throughout 2023 and 2024.”

Previously, KSW has held events in locations such as Ireland, Croatia and the United Kingdom.

Eight-Man Field Announced for Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix

The field is set for Bellator MMA’s upcoming lightweight grand prix.

Bellator president Scott Coker announced the participants during an appearance on "The MMA Hour” on Wednesday. They are as follows: Usman Nurmagomedov, A.J. McKee, Tofiq Musayev, Alexandr Shabliy, Patricky Freire, Mansour Barnaoui, Benson Henderson and Sidney Outlaw.

The tournament will begin on March 10 in San Jose, Calif., but matchups were not revealed. Reigning 155-pound champion Nurmagomedov headlines the field, which also includes former lightweight king Freire and ex-featherweight champ McKee. McKee has been vocal about wanting to face Nurmagomedov in the opening round of the bracket.

“It’s gonna be a fantastic tournament. If you look at our lightweight division, it’s really stacked,” Coker said. “I’m excited for these guys to all get it on.”

As with previous tournaments, the winner will receive a $1 million payout.

“There’s a lot riding on the line, and I…

PFL Signs Saudi Arabian Featherweight Abdullah Al-Qahtani

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Professional Fighters League has added Saudi Arabian featherweight Abdullah Al-Qahtani to its roster for the 2023 season.

The signing was announced in a release on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Al-Qahtani will compete for both the PFL and Brave Combat Federation as part of a dual promotional agreement. Al-Qahtani is next slated to face Denis Jarkic at Brave CF 69 in Serbia on Feb. 18.

“The Professional Fighters League is committed to growing the sport of MMA and the PFL globally," PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a release. “We are excited about emerging top fighters coming out of the Middle East and our plan to further develop the sport in the region.”

Known as “The Reaper,” Al-Qahtani has compiled a 5-1 record while competing primarily for Brave CF. Most recently, he suffered a split-decision defeat to Ilyor Bakhtiyar Uulu at a Brave CF event on Sept. 30.

Conan Silveira to Release First Book During UFC 283 Fight Week

A former champion of the Extreme Fighting organization and now the head coach at American Top Team, Conan Silveira will be releasing a book during UFC 283 fight week.

Settled in the United States since the late 1980s, the co-founder of the most respected MMA academy in the world uses his professional experience in “Mestre de Você” — translated to “Master of You” in English — to propagate concepts that can be applied in any area of life.

In the book, Conan recalls his hard path in the United States. His first job in North America was as a dishwasher at a hotel, where he worked for up to 17 hours a day. He also reveals many other difficult obstacles he faced inside and outside of the cage and how important they were to building him as a person and professional.

“I'm an MMA coach. Before that, I was a fighter, a champion and my victories, all of them, were conquered with violence and passion. My sport is violent, but it only makes sen…

Ketlen Vieira: I Believe I’m on the Right Track to Become Champion

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If fight cliches like “to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ” and “iron sharpens iron” have any grounding in reality, Ketlen Vieira is positioning herself well for a run at gold. Since joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2016 as an undefeated but raw bantamweight prospect, “Fenomeno” has already notched wins over two former champions in Miesha Tate and Holly Holm, as well as longtime contenders onetime title challengers Cat Zingano and Sara McMann. While Vieira of course has her sights set on the belt, she regards her journey so far with a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.

“I’m very proud of my trajectory inside the UFC,” the 31-year-old told Sherdog. “It’s not easy, with only two years of MMA experience, to get into the world’s biggest organization and to fight the very best. I was very inexperienced when I came into the UFC. I had very little mileage. But I’ve always put God first. He’s always blessed and mol…

UFC Featherweight Leah Letson Announces Retirement

Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC

Two-time UFC veteran Leah Letson has announced her retirement from mixed martial arts.

The featherweight competitor revealed her decision via Instagram. Letson hasn’t competed since a third-round TKO loss to Felicia Spencer at UFC Fight Night 197 in November 2021.

“After that fight, I feel have nothing more to prove to myself, and most importantly, I simply don't love fighting the way I used to,” Letson wrote in a lengthy post. “Fighting is just as much mental as it is physical; therefore, if you're head isn't in it anymore, fighting can be a real dangerous sport. I have no regrets. Martial arts will always be a part of who I am, but I will no longer be fighting for a living.”

A 30-year-old native of Janesville, Wisc., Letson exits the sport with a 5-2 record. She earned a victory over Elizabeth Phillips at Invicta FC 21 in January 2017 before competing on Season 28 of “The Ultimate Figh…

Bellator MMA Re-Signs A.J. McKee to Exclusive, Multi-Year Contract

A.J. McKee is going to remain a Bellator MMA athlete for the foreseeable future.

The California-based promotion on Tuesday announced that it has re-signed the former featherweight champion to an exclusive, multi-fight contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a release, Bellator president Scott Coker also indictated that McKee’s next move will be to compete in the lightweight grand prix.

“Our top priority has always been to cultivate talent from the ground up, and with A.J. I can proudly say we have witnessed this young man blossom into a bonafide superstar in the Bellator cage,” said Scott Coker. “It’s also our priority to retain top talent, and with A.J. entering the prime of his career, it was important to make sure he continued representing the Bellator brand, much like he did recently in Japan, for the foreseeable future. I am looking forward to A.J.’s next challenge, an appearance in our 2023 Bellator lightweight world grand Prix, wh…

Kings MMA Coach Rafael Cordeiro Gives Timetable for Giga Chikadze’s UFC Return

Kings MMA coach Rafael Cordeiro is expecting a busy campaign in 2023.

In addition to his duties as a renowned MMA coach, Cordeiro is now overseeing multiple affiliate gyms in Brazil.

“I always dreamed about the expansion of Kings MMA in Brazil, and this year I was able to open four branches in Sao Paulo (Campinas, Alphaville and Cotia) and one in Brasilia,” Cordeiro told Sherdog.com.

In a wide-ranging interview, Cordeiro touched on a variety of subjects involving numerous fighters — both past and present. The trainer was disappointed to learn of Kelvin Gastelum’s last-minute withdrawal from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 headliner against Nassourdine Imavov. Though Gastelum no longer trains at Kings MMA, he maintains a good relationship with Cordeiro.

"Oh my God. My conclusion is that this fight shouldn't happen, since this is the second time Gastelum withdrew on fight week. First time was his knee, now his mouth. I'm really upset with…

Aljamain Sterling: Torn Bicep Makes March Date vs. Henry Cejudo Unlikely

Aljamain Sterling’s next banamweight title defense may be delayed due to an injury that has plagued him for months.

Sterling revealed on his Weekly Scraps podcast that a partially torn bicep will make it difficult to make a proposed bout against the returning Henry Cejudo happen in March. The fight has not been officially confirmed by the promotion, but pay-per-view events are scheduled for March 4 in Las Vegas (UFC 285) and March 18 in London (UFC 286), and the pairing has long been rumored to be in the works.

“You guys are probably wondering if we’re going to fight or not,” Sterling said. “The fight is supposed to be myself and Henry Cejudo. I think that’s all said and done. It’s whether or not I can compete with this torn bicep again. Going through another training camp with a torn bicep, against a guy who is stronger in the wrestling department, who will use his wrestling more with inside leg trips, double legs, high crotches, and trying to run…

Diego Sanchez to Make BKFC Debut vs. Former Boxing Champ Austin Trout on Feb. 17

🔥KnuckleMania 3 Announcement🔥 New Mexico’s very own, Diego Sanchez will face Austin Trout at #KM3 on Fri. Feb 17th! pic.twitter.com/WApwJ8pBNF

— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) January 10, 2023

Ex-UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez will make his first foray into the bare-knuckle realm when he faces former boxing champ Austin Trout on Feb. 17.

BKFC announced the matchup will take place in Albuquerque, N.M., as part of the promotion’s Knucklemania 3 event at Tingley Coliseum. The bout was first reported in late November, but it was not officially confirmed until Tuesday due to initial concerns from the New Mexico State Commission regarding Sanchez’s health. The bout was approved at a hearing on Tuesday. Sanchez vs. Trout is expected to serve as the co-headliner at BKFC Knucklemania 3.

The 41-year-old Sanchez appeared on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and went 19-13 over a 32-bout stint with the Las Vegas…

UFC, Pride Veteran Phil Baroni Charged with Aggravated Femicide in Mexico

Phil Baroni, a veteran of 35 mixed martial arts bouts, has been charged with aggravated femicide in connection with the death of his girlfriend in Mexico on Jan. 1.

The 46-year-old Baroni, who was arrested last week, was charged by a state judge in Mexico on Monday, according to ESPN.

According to a release from the general prosecutor of the State of Nayarit Office, Baroni assaulted the woman and caused “at least 37 injuries” that resulted in her death. Baroni contacted police on Jan. 1 after finding his girlfriend unresponsive. When speaking to authorities, the former fighter claimed that the woman hit her head when he shoved her into the shower during an argument.

Baroni could face 30 to 50 years in prison if he is convicted, per Nayarit penal code. The man known as “The New York Badass” was advised by a public defendant and will be held at Venustiano Carranza State Jail until the trial begins sometime in the next six months. Baroni had r…

California Women’s Caucus Calls for Removal of Dana White as UFC President

We are appalled by the violent conduct of @ufc President Dana White captured on video on NYE. Read our letter to @Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel calling for White's removal here:https://t.co/Px3WU8UGdP pic.twitter.com/o7IFM8ke1J

— California Legislative Women's Caucus (@CaWomensCaucus) January 10, 2023

The California Legislative Women’s Caucaus wants Dana White face serious consequences for slapping his wife during an altercation on New Year’s Eve.

The group, which “represents and advocates on behalf of the diverse interests of women, children and families throughout California” and consists of 17 senators and 32 assemblywomen, sent a letter to UFC parent company Endeavor calling for the removal of White as promotion president. The letter was addressed to Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel.

“As Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor, the UFC’s parent company, you have the authority to decide who leads the UFC, which is one of the world’…

Strickland Replaces Gastelum, Meets Imavov in New UFC Fight Night 217 Main Event

The first Ultimate Fighting Championship event of 2023 has undergone a late change to its headliner.

According to promotion broadcast partner ESPN, Kelvin Gastelum has been forced to withdraw from his UFC fight Night 217 showdown against Nassourdine Imavov due to a mouth injury, and as a result, will be replaced by Sean Strickland on less than one week’s notice. Strickland will be headlining back-to-back UFC cards after dropping a unanimous decision to Jared Cannonier in the promotion’s last event of 2022 on Dec. 17. While both men typically compete at 185 pounds, Strickland vs. Imavov will be contested at 205 pounds but will remain a five-round bout.

UFC Fight Night 217 takes place on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It’s the second significant blow for the card, as a proposed co-main event clash between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov was scrapped due to a Neal injury. That bout has since been rescheduled for UFC 285.

After authori…

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