Tag: Alex Da Silva

UFC veterans in MMA and boxing action Jan. 19-21

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC heads to Canada for its first pay-per-view event of 2024.

UFC 297 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, and is headlined by a middleweight title fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

Many other combat sports events are taking place that feature several familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Jan. 19-21.

Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend’s competitors.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

20 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2024

Who of these former UFC fighters could get a second chance with the promotion in 2024?

It’s hard to make it to the UFC.

Thousands of professional fighters try every year – and most fail. For a small percentage, however, they sign their names on the dotted line to fight for the biggest MMA promotion in the world.

Sometimes the opportunity comes a bit too soon. Other times, they’re faced with difficult matchups that time proves were bigger challenges than originally anticipated.

When the pink slip comes and a fighter departs the promotion, there is often a phrase they hear on the way out: “Go get a few more wins, and the UFC will consider bringing you back.”

Easier said than done.

For the vast majority, they won’t be back. However, it’s not impossible. A number of fighters have done it over the years. Just look at former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. He was released from the promotion, built his way back, became a contender, and then won a UFC title.

Current roster members Nicolas Dalby, Dustin Jacoby, Modestas Bukauskas, Kurt Holobaugh, Roosevelt Roberts, and Rhys McKee are among those who have reinforced the possibility.

With the new year upon us, here are 20 former UFC fighters who could return to the promotion in 2024.

Note: Fighters considered for this list had to have competed in at least one UFC bout.

UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle boxing action Aug. 23-27

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC travels to Singapore for UFC Fight Night 225.

The event at Singapore Indoor Stadium features a featherweight clash between former champion [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] and “The Korean Zombie” [autotag]Chan Sung Jung[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and bareknuckle boxing this week from Aug. 23-27.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Amru Magomedov vs. Alex da Silva for vacant lightweight title headlines UAE Warriors 44

A new lightweight champion will be crowned at UAE Warriors 44.

A new lightweight champion will be crowned at UAE Warriors 44.

With lightweight champion Bruno Machado retiring, [autotag]Amru Magomedov[/autotag] (6-0) takes on [autotag]Alex da Silva[/autotag] (22-5) for the vacant title in the main event on Aug. 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Promotion officials informed MMA Junkie of the booking Thursday.

UAE Warriors 44 will be part of a doubleheader at Etihad Arena, with UAE Warriors 43: Arabia taking place on Aug. 25. Both events will stream on UFC Fight Pass.

Magomedov, a training partner of former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Bellator lightweight champ Usman Nurmagomedov, and UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, is coming off a first-round submission of then-unbeaten Renan Oliveira at UAE Warriors 42 in May.

Da Silva, a former UFC fighter, has split his first two appearances with UAE Warriors since he parted ways with the UFC. After a close decision loss to Makkasharip Zaynukov in March, the Brazilian rebounded with a third-round TKO of Ali Mashrapov at UAE Warriors 42.

UFC veterans in MMA, boxing and bareknuckle action March 17-19

Check out which UFC veterans are competing in combat sports events across the globe this weekend.

The UFC is across the pond for a massive pay-per-view in London, UFC 286. The event takes place at The 02, featuring a title welterweight title rematch between [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] and [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag], in what will be their third overall bout against each other.

Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 21 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA boxing this week from March 17-19.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past two weeks (April 18-May 1)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past two weeks.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from April 18-May 1.

Devonte Smith returns vs. Alex da Silva at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 6

Just over one year removed from surgery, Devonte Smith is finally set to return against Alex da Silva on Feb. 6.

Just over one year removed from surgery, [autotag]Devonte Smith[/autotag] is finally booked for his next fight.

Smith (10-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who’s been sidelined due to a torn Achilles tendon, will return at a UFC Fight Night event Feb. 6, when he takes on [autotag]Alex da Silva[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC).

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. The fight was first reported by MMA reporter James Lynch.

Smith hasn’t competed since August 2019, when he suffered an upset knockout loss to Khama Worthy at UFC 241. Smith’s bad luck would continue when he tore his Achilles tendon in practice, undergoing surgery that has kept him on the shelf ever since. Prior to that, Smith had won 10 of his past 11, all by way of finish.

After splitting his first two UFC appearances in a loss to Alexander Yakovlev and a win over Rodrigo Vargas, Brazil’s da Silva dropped a unanimous decision to Brad Riddell at UFC 253 in September.

With the addition, the current lineup for UFC Fight Night 187 includes:

  • Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen
  • Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Marion Reneau
  • Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Marion Reneau
  • Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Wellington Turman
  • Julio Arce vs. Timur Valiev
  • Seungwoo Choi vs. Steven Peterson
  • Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira
  • Alex da Silva vs. Devonte Smith

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Alex da Silva has high hopes for matchup with fellow striker Brad Riddell at UFC 253

Alex da Silva hopes he can start to turn his heads in his matchup with Brad Riddell at UFC 253.

ABU DHABI – Ahead of UFC 253, [autotag]Alex da Silva[/autotag] spoke with reporters Wednesday during media day.

Da Silva (21-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) discussed his lightweight bout with Brad Riddell (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), rebounding from his first UFC loss, being comfortable with the promotion and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

UFC 253 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

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Diego Sanchez returns at UFC 253 to fight Jake Matthews; two other matchups booked

Diego Sanchez is set to make his return to the octagon.

The UFC 253 lineup appears to be nearly complete.

On Tuesday, the promotion announced three more fights, including a welterweight matchup between [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Matthews[/autotag], a featherweight fight between [autotag]Brad Riddell[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex da Silva[/autotag], and a lightweight bout between [autotag]Nate Landwehr[/autotag] and [autotag]Shane Young[/autotag].

The Landwehr (14-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) vs. Young (13-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) booking was first reported by Cageside Press.

The lone member of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Season 1 still competing in the UFC, Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC) has won three of his last four fights. He most recently competed in February, winning via disqualification due to an illegal knee landed by opponent Michel Perreira.

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Matthews (16-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has won five of his last six fights. He’s riding back-to-back wins over Rostem Akman and Emil Meek. His only loss since November 2016 came against Anthony Rocco Martin.

When Riddell (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) takes on da Silva (21-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), he will join City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Shane Young on the card.

With the addition, the UFC 253 lineup includes:

  • Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa – UFC middleweight title
  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Dominick Reyes
  • Donald Cerrone vs. Niko Price
  • Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Xiaonan Yan
  • Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
  • Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Ciryl Gane
  • Heili Alateng vs. Casey Kenney
  • David Dvorak vs. Jordan Espinosa
  • Jake Matthews vs. Diego Sanchez
  • Brad Riddell vs. Alex da Silva
  • Nate Landwehr vs. Shane Young

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