Tag: TA block

UFC Fight Night 216 video: Jared Cannonier, Sean Strickland make weight for main event

The final UFC headliner of 2022 is official after Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland made weight for UFC Fight Night 216.

LAS VEGAS – The final UFC headliner of 2022 is official after [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] and [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] made weight on Friday.

Ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 216 main event, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+, middleweight contenders Cannonier (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and Strickland (25-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) had to step on the scale at weigh-ins and hit the contracted mark.

Both men were successful in doing do, with Cannonier registering at 185.5 pounds, while Strickland was 186 pounds – albeit in a drained manner as he said “I’m going to go up to 205” after what appeared to be a tough cut.

All aside, however, it was a drama-free prelude to the fight that will close the promotion’s schedule for this year, and you can watch the video above.

UFC Fight Night 216 represents an important moment for both men. Cannonier looks to rebound from his title-fight loss to then-champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 276 in July, while Strickland also aims to return to the win column after being knocked out by Alex Pereira on the same summer fight card.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 216.

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Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze headed to UFC 286 in London

Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze appears to be the first official addition to UFC 286, the promotion’s return to London.

A middleweight contender fight is nearing finalization as the the first fight booked for UFC 286 in London.

Former UFC middleweight title challenger [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] will meet surging Georgian [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag]. The event takes place March 18 at O2 Arena with the main card on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Dolidze confirmed the matchup on his Instagram page Thursday after UFC broadcast partner ESPN was first to report the news.

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Vettori (18-5-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) looks to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss over Robert Whittaker in September. Vettori is 6-2 in his most recent eight, though 1-2 in his past three. Prior to the Whittaker loss, he defeated Paulo Costa to bounce back from a failed title bid against Israel Adesanya.

Dolidze (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) has emerged as a potential dark horse of the 185-pound division. He rides a four-fight winning streak into UFC 286, which includes a unanimous decision win over Laureno Staropoli, as well as knockouts of Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes, and most recently Jack Hermansson.

No other bouts have been announced for UFC 286 at this time.

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UFC rebooks Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac to headline February card

Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac is back on the books after a November cancellation.

[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] is officially back on the books approximately one month after it was canceled.

The UFC announced Thursday that Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) vs. Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will headline its Feb. 4 event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card originally was planned for Seoul, South Korea, but the promotion pivoted away for unknown reasons.

The heavyweight matchup was set to be the UFC Fight Night 215 main event. However, Lewis fell ill, and the bout was canceled in the middle of the show.

Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) looks to get back into the win column after he dropped his last two outings against Tai Tuivasa in February and Sergei Pavlovich in July. Lewis’ last victory came against Chris Daukaus in December, a vicious one-round, record-setting knockout finish.

Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is a winner of his two previous bouts, picking up stoppage wins over Greg Hardy in March and Augusto Sakai in August. He enters the first main event of his UFC tenure in his 10th appearance.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 4 includes:

  • Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac
  • Devin Clark vs. Da Un Jung
  • Doo Ho Choi vs. Kyle Nelson
  • Mandy Bohm vs. Ji Yeon Kim
  • Adam Fugitt vs. Yusaku Kinoshita
  • Jesus Santos Aguilar vs. Tatsuro Taira
  • Loma Lookboonmee vs. Elise Reed
  • Denis Tiuliulin vs. Jun Yong Park

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UFC 282 ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs highlights and photo gallery

Check out video of the final staredowns and photo gallery from UFC 282 ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC 282 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.

The weigh-ins took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena. T-Mobile Arena hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 12 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.

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UFC 282 video: Paddy Pimblett, Jared Gordon make weight for co-headliner

Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon are set for the UFC 282 co-headliner after both men made weight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jared Gordon [/autotag] are set for the UFC 282 co-headliner after both men made weight on Friday.

Lightweights Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Gordon (19-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will get the spotlight of a co-main event on Saturday’s pay-per-view when they meet at T-Mobile Arena. Prelims air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.

First, however, they had to step on the scale at Friday’s official weigh-ins, which took place at the UFC Apex. Pimblett was 156 pounds, while Gordon was 155.5.

Check out the video above to see Pimblett and Gordon make weight for UFC 282.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.

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UFC 282 video: Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev make weight for vacant title bout

The stage is set for a new light heavyweight champion to be crowned after Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev made weight for the UFC 282 headliner.

LAS VEGAS – The stage is set for a new light heavyweight champion to be crowned after [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] made weight for the UFC 282 main event.

After Jiri Prochazka was forced to relinquish the belt due to injury, former champ Blachowicz (29-9 MMA, 12-6 UFC) and surging contender Ankalaev (18-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will clash for the vacant strap in Saturday’s pay-per-view headliner at T-Mobile Arena. Prelims air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.

Before they step in the octagon, though, the pair had to step on the scale at official weigh-ins. There were no issues, because Blachowicz hit 204.5 pounds, while Ankalaev registered at 205.

Check out the video above to see Blachowicz and Ankalaev make weight for UFC 282.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.

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UFC 282 video: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev first faceoff for vacant title fight

Following the UFC 282 pre-fight press conference, Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev finally faced off for their vacant UFC title bout.

LAS VEGAS – The days are winding down until a new UFC light heavyweight champion is crowned, and as the UFC 282 headliner approaches, [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] finally had their first staredown.

Following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, which took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Blachowicz (29-9 MMA, 12-6 UFC) and Ankalaev (18-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) officially crossed paths for the first time during fight week and had a staredown.

Both men were respectful as they came face-to-face, and you can watch the video above.

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Blachowicz and Ankalaev are fighting for vacant gold after Jiri Prochazka suffered a serious should injury that forced him to relinquish the strap. It’s expected he will get a title shot once healthy, but for now, he’s forced to watch two others compete for gold.

UFC 282 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282 and check out the full pre-fight news conference video below.

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Video: Watch Thursday’s Bellator 289 ceremonial weigh-ins live on MMA Junkie at 2 p.m. ET

Check out a live video stream of the Bellator 289 ceremonial weigh-ins.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator 289 ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Thursday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place at the Cabaret Theater at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. The on-site Mohegan Sun Arena hosts Friday’s event, which has a main card on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In addition to the video stream above, you can check out the early and official Bellator 289 weigh-in results from earlier in the day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 289.

Knockout artists Sabah Homasi, Brennan Ward set to fight at Bellator 290

Bellator 290 adds a fight between Sabah Homasi and Brennan Ward, two of the most violent strikers in the promotion’s welterweight history.

Two of the most violent finishers in Bellator welterweight history have been booked to fight each other.

[autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] and [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] in recent weeks advocated to square off, and the promotion obliged as they’ve been booked to fight Feb. 4 at Bellator 290. Three people, including a Bellator official, informed MMA Junkie of the booking.

Bellator 290 takes place at Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif., with the main card on CBS after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Reinvented under the Bellator banner, Homasi (17-10 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) has won six of his past eight bouts and is on a two-fight winning streak. Both of the back-to-back victories came by first-round stoppage. In 17 wins, Homasi has 14 finishes.

Ward (16-6 MMA, 11-6 BMMA) returned in February after nearly five years away from MMA competition due to an ongoing battle with drug addiction. At Bellator 274, Ward was successful in his comeback bout when he defeated Brandon Bell by second-round TKO. In June, he defeated Kassius Kayne by second-round TKO at Bellator 282.

In addition, a welterweight bout between [autotag]Ethan Hughes[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Yusuf Karakaya[/autotag] (1-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) has been added to the prelims. Hughes signed a multifight deal with Bellator in 2021 after he pulled off one of the biggest betting upsets of the year when he defeated former Olympian Mahmoud Sebie by TKO at Bellator 271.

With the additions, the Bellator 290 lineup includes:

  • Champion Ryan Bader vs. Fedor Emelianenko – for heavyweight title
  • Champion Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero – for light heavyweight title
  • Sabah Homasi vs. Brennan Ward
  • Ethan Hughes vs. Yusuf Karakaya