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Dustin Poirier Happy to ‘Right the Ship’ at UFC 299, Still Harbors Championship Dreams

Based on his own lofty standards, UFC 299 wasn’t the typical Dustin Poirier fight.

After all, the American Top Team product has faced Conor McGregor three times, fought for undisputed lightweight gold twice and headlined numerous cards over the course of his career. While Benoit St. Denis entered UFC 299 as a rising star on a five-bout finishing streak, he didn’t necessarily fit the profile of the usual Poirier opponent.

“It was kind of a timing thing and the situation of the lightweight division. There wasn’t any big names to fight,” Poirier explained at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I wanted to fight, especially coming off a loss. Nothing was big that they could put together.

“But this guy is on a streak and has a lot of momentum. When they offered it to me, that’s why we did it. There was nothing else at the time, and I honor what I do, man. Eddie Alvarez gave me a shot when he was a former champion and I was an up-and-comer…

Dana White: UFC 299 Headliner Was ‘Biggest Bantamweight Fight of All-Time’

When it comes to the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bantamweight division, it didn’t get any bigger than UFC 299.

That’s according to UFC CEO Dana White, who began Saturday’s post-fight press conference by praising Miami as a host city.

“The gate was $14.14 million. It was a sellout, 19,165 people. The highest-grossing event ever at the arena,” White said. “We broke our own record, and it is the fourth-highest grossing UFC event of all-time. Miami is on fire. This place is unbelievable. What they’ve done in this state and in this city in the last 10 years is phenomenal.”

In the evening’s featured bout, Sean O'Malley made his first successful bantamweight title defense with a lopsided five-round verdict against Marlon Vera at the Kaseya Center. About the only thing missing from the performance for “Suga” was a finish of his Ecuadorean rival. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, however. O’Malley bloodied and battered his opponent, o…

Kyler Phillips: MMA Lab Bantamweights Won’t Avoid Fighting Each Other

According to Kyler Phillips, bantamweights from the MMA Lab won’t avoid fighting one another if the situation calls for it.

Phillips took on veteran Pedro Munhoz on the UFC 299 preliminary card at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday. “Matrix” put on a striking clinic to earn a unanimous decision victory, extending his winning streak to three and his promotional record to 6-1.

Phillips trains at the MMA Lab in Phoenix, which is home to a number of talented bantamweight fighters, including reigning champ Sean O’Malley. Top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili had previously irked UFC CEO Dana White by refusing a title shot during the reign of good friend and Serra-Longo Fight Team training partner Aljamain Sterling. However, Phillips claims that MMA Lab bantamweights are not averse to the idea of competing against each other. Phillips also notes that with the sheer number of surging bantamweight prospects training at the gym, some of them wil…

Joanna Jedrzejczyk to Become Second Woman Enshrined in UFC Hall of Fame

Joanna Jedrzejczyk will become the second female fighter ever to be inducted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame when she enters the Modern Era wing this summer.

It was announced during the UFC 299 broadcast that Jedrzejczyk will join Ronda Rousey in the Hall of Fame during the International Fight Week in June. Jedrzejczyk was also in attendance at the Kaseya Center in Miami for the event, supporting fellow polish fighter Mateusz Gamrot, who picked up a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Rafael dos Anjos.

“Joanna is one of the greatest athletes in combat sports history,” UFC CEO Dana White said in a release. “Joanna is an amazing person who has been an incredible champion, ambassador, and role model for women’s MMA, as well as an absolute killer inside the Octagon. She fought the best of the best in her division and never backed down from an opponent. Joanna is one of the toughest athletes we’ve ever seen, and it will be an hon…

After Impressive Debut, Robelis Despaigne Seeks Quick Turnaround at UFC 300

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

Robelis Despaigne is in a rush to attain championship gold after a stellar promotional debut at UFC 299 at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday.

After starting his career with four first-round knockouts, Despaigne’s UFC contract was announced during the broadcast of his last outing at Fury FC 84 this past December. The former taekwondo Olympic medalist announced his arrival to the promotion by brutally knocking out Josh Parisian while moving backwards 18 seconds into the opening round of their UFC 299 clash. The Cuban star’s last four outings now have a combined fight time of 37 seconds.

At 35 years old, Despaigne is in a hurry to reach a title shot. He has called for a quick turnaround matchup for UFC 300, which goes down on April 13. Additionally, “The Bad Boy” believes he might be four or five outings away from a potential championship opportunity.

“He wants to take step by step but h…

UFC 299 Bonuses: Poirier vs. St. Denis Gets FOTN, All Finishers Receive $50K

A total of seven $50,000 bonuses were handed out by the promotion at the conclusion of UFC 299.

The co-main event clash between Dustin Poirier and Benoit St. Denis was an easy choice for “Fight of the Night,” which sent both lightweights home with an additional $50,000. After St. Denis dominated the opening frame with his grappling, Poirier rallied to score a resounding knockout victory at the 2:32 mark of Round 2.

Elsewhere, reigning bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley was the only fighter on the card to receive a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check despite not securing a finish. However, “Suga” was dominant for five rounds against Marlon Vera in the evening’s headliner, avenging a 2020 defeat to his Ecuadorean rival in his first successful title defense.

Finally, the other four fighters who finished their opponents at UFC 299 received $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonuses. This includes Jack Della Maddalena, Curtis Blaydes, Michel Pereira and Robelis …

Sean O’Malley Routs Marlon Vera, Retains Bantamweight Title at UFC 299

This might well be remembered as Sean O’Malley masterpiece.

The 29-year-old MMA Lab product avenged the only blemish on his resume and did so with near-flawless precision, as he retained his undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Marlon Vera in the UFC 299 headliner on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Scores were 50-45, 50-45 and 50-44, all for O’Malley (18-1, 10-1 UFC).

Vera (23-9-1, 15-8 UFC)—who had beaten “Suga Sean” in their first encounter in August 2020—had no recourse for the champion’s hand speed, footwork and distance management in the rematch. O’Malley blasted him with one-twos, switched stances almost instinctively and peppered him with jabs from both hands. He connected with a concussive knee strike in the second round that may have knocked out every other bantamweight in the world; the notoriously durable Vera ate it without so much as a buckle. Nevertheless, the Ecuadorian was…

UFC 299 ‘O’Malley vs. Vera 2’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Strap in fight fans, as Sherdog guides you through the exhilarating action in store with UFC 299 “O’Malley vs. Vera 2,” airing live from the electrifying Kaseya Center in Miami. This is your front-row seat to a night of epic fights set to unfold on March 9.

The main event features a bantamweight rematch, which took over three years in the making as Sean O'Malley, the 135-pound king, locks horns with Marlon Vera in the marquee attraction. Before that, Dustin Poirier and Benoit St. Denis engage in a bout that has all the makings of a blockbuster clash. Meanwhile, the card also features the Ultimate Fighting Championship debut of multi-combat sport star Michael Page, who will take on Kevin Holland.

Don't miss a moment of the excitement: Join us for the prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the main card on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET. Stick with Sherdog for live play-by-play updates, ensuring you won't miss a beat as UFC 299 unfolds in all its glory. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUT…

UFC 299 Prelims: Curtis Blaydes Slows Jailton Almeida’s Heavyweight Roll in Miami

Curtis Blaydes capitalized on an opponent’s overconfidence and lack of vision.

The Elevation Fight Team standout reasserted himself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division, as he took out Jailton Almeida with punches in the second round of their featured UFC 299 prelim on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. Blaydes (18-4, 13-4 UFC) pulled the plug 36 seconds into Round 2, authoring his fourth win in five appearances.

Almeida (20-3, 6-1 UFC) executed repeated takedowns and mat returns in the first round but did nothing to accrue damage in what turned out to be a meaningless exercise. Blaydes sprawled on an attempted takedown to start the middle stanza and let fly with rapid-fire hammerfists while the Brazilian stubbornly clung to his leg. Eventually, the shots took their intended toll and prompted referee Mike Beltran to intervene.

The loss was Almeida’s first since Jan. 28, 2018 and halted his run of consecutive victories at…

UFC 300 Update: Renato ‘Moicano,’ Jalin Turner to Clash in Las Vegas on April 13

The UFC 300 lineup appears to be complete with the addition of a lightweight bout between Renato Carneiro and Jalin Turner.

The promotion announced the pairing during the UFC 299 broadcast on Saturday night. UFC 300 takes place on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship tilt pitting Alex Pereira against Jamahal Hill. Carneiro vs. Turner is slated for the preliminary portion of the card.

“Moicano” has been victorious in four of his last five bouts in UFC competition. Most recently, the Brazilian earned a unanimous decision triumph over Drew Dober at UFC Fight Night 235 on Feb. 3.

Turner last appeared at UFC on ESPN 52, where he snapped a two-fight skid with a first-round knockout of Bobby Green this past December. “The Tarantula” is 7-4 during his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion, with all of his victories coming inside the distance.

Joanne Wood Announces Retirement Following Victory at UFC 299

Left it all out in the Octagon 👏

Joanne Wood retires from MMA on top, securing the split decision win at #UFC299 💪 pic.twitter.com/u0b0GcixAm

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 9, 2024

If this truly is goodbye, Joanne Wood went out on a high note.

The Scottish muay thai stylist announced her retirement following a split-decision triumph against Maryna Moroz in the opening bout at UFC 299 on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The 38-year-old Wood leaves the sport with a 17-8 career career that included a 17-bout stint in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

“Jojo” left a lasting impression in the late stages of her swan song, as she wobbled Moroz with a spinning backfist and aggresively pursued the finish until the final horn. While that moment didn’t arrive, Wood did avenge a first-round submission loss to Moroz that occurred at UFC Fight Night 64 on April 11, 2015.

"It’s hard to get to the UFC, never mind stay in the UF…

Featherweight, Middleweight Cast Revealed for ‘The Ultimate Fighter 32’

Featherweights and middleweights will take center stage when “The Ultimate Fighter 32” debuts later this year.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced the roster for the long-running reality series on Saturday, touting it in a release as “the most international cast ever assembled for the show, with 14 nations being represented by 16 rising prospects.”

The 12-episode season of “TUF 32” will air on ESPN beginning on June 4 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will also be available to stream on demand via ESPN+. Reigning flyweight queen Alexa Grasso and rival Valentina Shevchenko will serve as opposing coaches on the show. Grasso and Shevchenko are expected to meet in a trilogy bout at the conclusion of “TUF 32,” but a date for that championship fight has not been announced.

FeatherweightsEdwin Cooper Jr. | Albuquerque, N.M.Nathan Fletcher | Liverpool, EnglandZygimantas Ramaska | Ukmergė, LithuaniaRoedie Roets | Polokwane, South AfricaBekhzod Usm…

Sanjeet Budhwar Knocks Out Abdul Azim Bidakhshi in Matrix Fight Night 14 Headliner

Former Matrix Fight Night featherweight champion Sanjeet Budhwar (11-2) recorded his 11th professional victory at MFN 14, as he knocked out Afghanistan’s Abdul Azim Badakhshi (14-4) in their main event meeting on Saturday at the Noida Indoor Stadium, in Uttar Pradesh, India.

The opening minutes of the first frame saw both competitors feel each other out, with Badakhshi looking to control the center while keeping his foe on the end of creative spinning-kick attacks and punches. Budhwar, on the other hand, seemed content staying on the outside while making his reads, clearly looking for counter shots. However, the round soon came to a halt, first due to a groin strike by Badakhshi followed by an accidental eye poke by the Afghan with 10 seconds left in the first stanza.

Following a check-up on Budhwar by the ringside physicians and an eight-minute gap in action, the athletes resumed directly in Round 2. Budhwar managed to control the center of the…

Warlley Alves vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov Added to UFC Fight Night Event On May 18

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Report: Rani Yahya to Face Victor Henry at UFC on ESPN 55 on April 27

Bantamweights Rani Yahya and Victor Henry will lock horns at UFC on ESPN 55 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on April 27.

The news was first reported by Eurosport NL’s Marcel Dorff on X (formerly known as Twitter). UFC on ESPN 55 will be headlined by a flyweight clash between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape.

Yahya (28-11) has gone 2-1 in his last three Octagon outings and is coming off a Round 1 knockout loss at the hands of Montel Jackson in April last year. The loss snapped a two-fight winning streak for the 39-year-old Brazilian, which included a unanimous decision win over Kyung Ho Kang and a Round 2 submission victory over Ray Rodriguez in 2021.

Meanwhile, Henry (23-6) made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut back in January 2022 and sports a 2-1 promotional record. “La Mangosta” will enter the Octagon on the heels of a meeting with Javid Basharat at UFC 294 that was ruled a no-contest due to an accidental groin kick landed by Basharat in Round 2. …

Phetjeeja OrMeekhun Unifies 115-Pound Kickboxing Title at ONE Fight Night 20

Phetjeeja and Janet Todd are ON FIRE 🔥

Tune in to Prime Video and Sky Sports NOW to catch the rest of ONE Fight Night 20!#ONEFightNight20 | 🔴 Live Now🇺🇸🇨🇦 Watch Live on Prime 👉 https://t.co/AnbuSRJ3X2🇬🇧🇮🇪 Watch Live on Sky Sports🌍 Live TV broadcast in 190+ countries… pic.twitter.com/iT6qWjptZj

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 9, 2024

Thai star Phetjeeja OrMeekhun unified the ONE Championship atomweight kickboxing title with a five-round unanimous decision win over Janet Todd in the ONE Fight Night 20 main event at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.

Phetjeeja and Todd headlined a nine-fight, all-female card to celebrate International Women’s Day and left it all in the ring. Todd, who entered as the reigning champion, hadn’t fought in over a year, while Phetjeeja, the interim champion, stayed busy with five wins during that span.

Phetjeeja’s activity showed early as the 22-year-old’s timing led the way.…

ONE Fight Night 20 ‘Todd vs. Phetjeeja Play-by-Play & Results

ONE Championship presents ONE Fight Night 20, a celebration of International Women’s Day with an all-female card showcasing top tier-talent from around the globe. The main event pits reigning ONE women’s 115-pound kickboxing champion Janet Todd against interim champ Phetjeeja OrMeekhun.

The event will also feature the final bout of Todd’s illustrious career as she aims to defend her title against the formidable Thai bruiser. The narrative for the main event is set: can Todd retire as the undisputed queen of kickboxing or will Phetjeeja spoil her farewell? Brazilian powerhouse Allycia Hellen Rodrigues occupies the co-main event spot in a bid to defend her ONE 115-pound women’s muay thai world championship against fiery Spanish sensation Cristina Morales.

Stay tuned to Sherdog.com for live play-by-play updates starting at 8 p.m. ET, ensuring you won't miss any action from ONE on Prime Video 20 on March 8. Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 The Official Result …

Anthony Joshua Starches Francis Ngannou in Second Round of Heavyweight Headliner

WHAAAT JOSHUA KILLS NGANNOU! #JoshuaNgannou pic.twitter.com/yMqpWRkoG0

— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra) March 9, 2024 Anthony Joshua reminded the masses that it only takes one shot at the heavyweight division.

To headline the all-day boxing showcase in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua represented the sweet science against the marauding Francis Ngannou. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king acquitted himself extremely well in his pro boxing debut against Tyson Fury in 2023, but the same could not be said when he took on “AJ.” Joshua wasted little time putting the dangerous Ngannou on ice, dropping the MMA fighter twice before completely flattening him with a right hand in the second round.

Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) only needed to score five power punches, according to Compubox numbers, to record three knockdowns in their heavyweight main attraction. Ngannou (0-2, 0 KOs) kept things close to start, jabbing the head and…

Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua Play-by-Play & Round-by-Round Scoring

An epic night of boxing action awaits combat sports enthusiasts as ranked heavyweight boxing stars

are set to collide in an event dubbed “Knockout Chaos.” The heavyweight showdown is set to unfold on March 8 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and promises to be a pivotal moment in the heavyweight boxing landscape, potentially propelling the victor towards a shot at a heavyweight crown next.

Joshua seeks to extend his win streak to four, while Ngannou aims for his maiden triumph since crossing over to the boxing world. Sherdog.com brings live play-by-play updates, ensuring you don’t miss any moment from the “Knockout Chaos” event, with ring walks expected to start at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.

Round 1 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Jay Pettry scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round:Jay Pettry scores the round:Mike Fridley scores the round: Round 3 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp sco…

Sanzhar Zakirov Stops Ryosuke Honda, Nails Down Contract at ONE Friday Fights 54

Sanzhar Zakirov emerged victorious and nailed down a One Championship contract with a second-round technical knockout of Ryosuke Honda in their ONE Friday Fights 54 strawweight showcase on Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Zakirov was quick to take the center and begin pushing his foe back with measured attacks to the head and body before landing a knee below the belt, leading to a pause in the action. Zakirov got back to cornering Honda before successfully taking him down to the canvas. However, the South Korean was quick to make his way back to his feet. Nevertheless, a relentless Zakirov managed to lock both his hands behind Honda’s knees a few seconds later and proceeded to slam him to the canvas and take his back. However, Honda managed to safely make it back to his feet once again. Zakirov continued with his forward pressure, landing elbows and punches on his cornered counterpart before once again securing a takedown and unleashing ground-and-pou…

Matheus Nicolau-Manel Kape Rematch Rescheduled as UFC on ESPN 55 Headliner

A key flyweight fight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship will serve as a main attraction in April.

First reported by MMA Mania on Thursday evening, Matheus Nicolau (19-3-1) will run it back with Manel Kape (19-6) atop UFC on ESPN 55 on April 27. The flyweights will handle unfinished business at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, in a bout previously booked in January. News of this pairing has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

> The first fight between Nicolau and Kape came on the main card of UFC Fight Night 187 in 2021. The Brazilian emerged victorious by extremely close split decision, one in which every scoring media member saw Kape winning. Part two was set to take place on UFC Fight Night 234, but Kape exceeded the flyweight limit by nearly four pounds and Nicolau refused the fight.

Beating Kape was part of a four-fight win streak in the Octagon that catapulted Nicolau to the top of the flyweight division. In a title eliminator, Nicol…

Alexa Grasso, Valentina Shevchenko to Coach Season 32 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’

Happy International Women's Day!#TUF32 coaches will be @AlexaGrasso and @BulletValentina premiering June 4th on @ESPN! @UltimateFighter pic.twitter.com/JC4msNmWuY

— danawhite (@danawhite) March 8, 2024 The Ultimate Fighting Championship is giving “The Ultimate Fighter” another go this summer.

The long-running reality show will be entering into its 32nd numbered season, kicking off on June 4, where it will air on ESPN and ESPN+. The two coaches for the show will be women’s flyweight champ Alexa Grasso and former women’s 125-pound queen Valentina Shevchenko. The weight classes they will coach were announced in December, with the two ladies taking charge of featherweight and middleweight teams. It is expected but not official that they will fight for a third time at the conclusion of the season—some have speculated on the Noche UFC event, also known as UFC 306, inside of The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14.

Grasso wrested the belt from the d…

UFC 299 Weigh-in Results: Title Fight Set; 1 Fighter Heavy

[embedded content] The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view with an exciting bantamweight title fight sitting atop the UFC 299 card.

The championship fight between titleholder Sean O'Malley and challenger Marlon Vera is now official after both men successfully made weight. So is the five-round co-main event between Dustin Poirier and Benoit St. Denis. As for the rest of the card, all fighters made weight except for C.J. Vergara, who came in one pound over the flyweight limit for his fight against Asu Almabaev and has received a 30% fine of his purse.

This marks the first attempted title defense for O'Malley (17-1, 1 NC), who knocked out Aljamain Sterling to claim his spot at the top of the 135-pound division. Prior to the championship win, "Sugar" scored wins over Petr Yan, Raulian Paiva and Kris Moutinho. O'Malley's lone professional defeat was to Vera, who finished off the MMA Lab product within a single round of their 2020 fight.…

Bizarre Toe Injury Derails Cedric Doumbe in Anti-Climactic PFL Europe 1 Headliner

A bum big toe knocked a Professional Fighters League hype train right off the rails.

Baissangour Chamsoudinov was awarded a technical knockout over two-time Glory champion Cedric Doumbe in the third round of their PFL Europe 1 headliner on Thursday at Accor Arena in Paris. Referee Marc Goddard called for the stoppage 1:21 into Round 3 after Doumbe (5-1, 1-1 PFL) twice pointed to his ailing left foot.

Chamsoudinov (8-0, 1-0 PFL) controlled much of the first round with repeated takedowns despite his opponent showing surprising resourcefulness on the ground. Doumbe rallied in the second behind a potent jab and improving takedown defense, setting the stage for what many believed would be the decisive final five minutes. Instead, Doumbe called attention to his foot—a small foreign body, perhaps a splinter, was visible—on two occasions, resulting in pauses to the action and the eventual finish.

Meanwhile, two-division Ares Fighting Championship titleho…

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