Tag: UFC 254

UFC 254 free fight: Khabib Nurmagomedov taps out Conor McGregor

Ahead of his main event at UFC 254, relive Khabib Nurmagomedov’s finish of Conor McGregor at UFC 229.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] settled his grudge with [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] in dominant fashion.

In a lead-up that turned ugly, lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) defended his title against former featherweight and lightweight champ McGregor in the UFC 229 main event in what resulted in the highest selling pay-per-view in UFC history.

McGregor showed a good early sign when he stuffed Nurmagomedov’s first takedown attempt, but Nurmagomedov was able to impose his will, eventually landing a takedown and controlling the rest of the round.

In Round 2, Nurmagomedov was able to get McGregor back down to the mat and inflicted damage with ground and pound. But in Round 3, McGregor became the first man to win a round against Nurmagomedov and was able to keep the full five minutes on the feet.

Just when it looked like the momentum was shifting, Nurmagomedov took McGregor down again in Round 4 and put the finishing touches with a neck crank that forced McGregor to tap.

Nurmagomedov returns Oct. 24 when he takes on interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje (22-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the UFC 254 main event at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Before he faces Gaethje, relive Nurmagomedov’s finish of McGregor in the video above.

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Cynthia Calvillo out of UFC 254, promotion in search of replacement opponent for Lauren Murphy

Cynthia Calvillo will no longer compete at UFC 254 and the promotion is in search of replacement opponent for Lauren Murphy.

[autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] won’t be stepping into the octagon later this month.

The UFC women’s flyweight contender has been pulled from her bout against [autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] at UFC 254 on Oct. 24 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Calvillo (9-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) was removed from the bout due to undisclosed reasons. The UFC currently is in search for a replacement opponent for Murphy.

MMA Junkie confirmed the news with a person with knowledge of the matchup following an initial report from UFC broadcast partner ESPN.

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Murphy (13-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) currently is on a three-fight winning streak. She most recently fought in June at UFC on ESPN 11 and took a unanimous decision from Roxanne Modafferi. The 37-year-old currently is ranked fourth in the UFC’s official rankings.

The UFC 254 lineup includes:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Walt Harris vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Lauren Murphy vs. TBA
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Phil Hawes vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Alex Oliveira vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung
  • Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood
  • Sergey Morozov vs.  Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Alexander Yakovlev

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With Rafael dos Anjos out, Islam Makhachev won’t compete at UFC 254

Islam Makhachev won’t fight this month, as attempts to find him a replacement foe at UFC 254 didn’t pan out.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] won’t be fighting this month.

The UFC was unable to find the lightweight competitor a short-notice replacement opponent for UFC 254 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Yahoo Sports  broke the news Thursday.

Makhachev (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) was scheduled to fight former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, but last week the Brazilian was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Makhachev last fought in September 2019 at UFC 242 where he outpointed Davi Ramos. The American Kickboxing Academy product is currently on a six-fight winning streak. His lone defeat came in 2015 to Adriano Martins.

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Makhachev is ranked No. 12 in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings.

Below is the updated UFC 254 lineup:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Walt Harris vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lauren Murphy
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Phil Hawes vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Alex Oliveira vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung
  • Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood
  • Sergey Morozov vs.  Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Alexander Yakovlev

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Video: An inside look at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC 254 training camp in Dubai

Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has given a behind-the-scenes look at his training camp for UFC 254.

UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is giving behind-the-scenes views at his training camp for UFC 254.

Nurmagomedov defends his title against interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje on Oct. 24 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and “The Eagle” has been spending some time in Dubai in preparation for the bout.

He recently launched Episode 1 of his training camp in Dubai on his YouTube channel, where he’s seen with his teammates Islam Makhachev, Tagir Ulanbekov, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov and coach Javier Mendez.

You can watch the first episode of Nurmagomedov’s camp diary in the video above.

 

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Rafael dos Anjos announces UFC 254 withdrawal after positive COVID-19 test

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos won’t be competing at UFC 254 against Islam Makhachev.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] won’t be competing Oct. 24 against [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag].

According to a statement issued on Twitter on Thursday, dos Anjos (29-13 MMA, 18-11 UFC) was withdrawn from his UFC 254 bout after testing positive for COVID-19.

Dos Anjos’ statement reads as follows:

“Life is like those things that we don’t understand now, but that will be revealed in the future. I left the comfort zone in the United States to come to Rio de Janeiro and restart my career. The stay was the best possible, feeling the warmth of my wonderful city, breathing the smell that only the ocean here has, and sharing the joy of the priceless smiles of my people even hidden behind the masks. Being able to be taken care of by the health professionals who are the best in the world and who I trust with my eyes closed, experiencing the training with the best coaches and other professionals who struggle every day to achieve their dreams. I came to rescue my dream of becoming a champion again, and that goal was achieved. Sharing my experiences with the Nova Uniao team and learning many details to improve my game and close the gaps in the future, none of this was in vain. Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete on the 24th. COVID-19 caught me big time and the doctors cut me out. But soon I will be back victorious inside the Octagon! Nothing can take away the blessing that is upon us. God will provide.”

Dos Anjos, 35, has not competed since a January unanimous decision loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC on ESPN+ 24. After an eight-fight stint at welterweight, which saw him split his outings at four wins and four losses, dos Anjos was scheduled to return to lightweight against Makhachev (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC).

The UFC has not publicly acknowledged dos Anjos’ statement, nor has a replacement opponent be named at this time.

With the change, the UFC 254 lineup now includes:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – for UFC lightweight title
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Walt Harris vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Islam Makhachev vs. TBA
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lauren Murphy
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Phil Hawes vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Alex Oliveira vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung
  • Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Alexander Yakovlev

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UFC books Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood for UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi

Fresh off his win this past weekend, Casey Kenney will make a quick turnaround when he faces Nathaniel Wood at UFC 254.

[autotag]Casey Kenney[/autotag] asked for a quick turnaround, and that’s exactly what he’ll get.

After battering Heili Alateng for three rounds at UFC on ESPN 16 this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, Kenney will compete once again on “Fight Island” when he faces [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] on Oct. 24 at UFC 254.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with multiple people with knowledge of the situation following an initial report from MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant.

Since joining the UFC roster in March 2019, Kenney (15-2-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has won four of his past five and two straight over Louis Smolka and Alateng. He will enter his fourth fight in 2020, with his lone loss coming to Merab Dvalishvili in February.

Wood (17-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC), a former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion, rebounded from his first UFC loss to John Dodson in February, with a unanimous decision win over newcomer John Castaneda at UFC on ESPN 14 in July.

With the addition, the UFC 254 lineup includes:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – for lightweight title
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Walt Harris vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Islam Makhachev
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lauren Murphy
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Phil Hawes vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Alex Oliveira vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung
  • Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
  • Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood

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With Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos out, Alex Oliveira steps in to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 254

Alex Oliveira will step in on short notice to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 254.

[autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] continues to live up to his “Cowboy” moniker.

[autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag] has been forced out of UFC 254 and Oliveira (21-8-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC) will step in on short notice to face [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. MMA Junkie confirmed the replacement with multiple people with knowledge of the booking following an initial report from Ag Fight.

After dropping three straight for the first time in his career, Oliveira rebounded with back-to-back wins over Max Griffin at UFC 248 and most recently Peter Sobotta at UFC on ESPN 14 in July.

Rakhmonov will finally get to make his octagon debut after his first three UFC fights were canceled. The undefeated Kazakhstani fighter last competed in June 2019, when he defended his M-1 Challenge welterweight title by stopping Tiago Varejao in the first round. All 12 of his pro wins have come via finish.

With the change, the UFC 254 lineup includes:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – for lightweight title
  • Jared Cannonier vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Walt Harris vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Islam Makhachev
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lauren Murphy
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
  • Phil Hawes vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Stefan Struve vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Alex Oliveira vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
  • Sam Alvey vs. Da Un Jung
  • Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

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Tony Ferguson explains why UFC 254 fights vs. Poirier, Chandler fell through: ‘(Expletive) you. Pay me’

Tony Ferguson explains why fights against Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler didn’t happen at UFC 254.

[autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] isn’t happy with the way his UFC 254 negotiations transpired.

At multiple news conferences throughout recent months, UFC president Dana White said Ferguson (25-4 MMA, 15-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] would serve as the co-main event to the UFC lightweight title unifier between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje on Oct. 24.

However, that fight never came to fruition. In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, Ferguson voiced his frustrations with the negotiations and revealed why the Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) fight didn’t happen.

“I’m going to be real,” Ferguson said. “I don’t know what their plans were before or after, but I was already ready. I was already counting on it. Seriously, I planned around it. I’m not much of a planner, so I was already going ahead of it but then Dana wanted to speak for me. He wanted to go out there and be like, ‘Tony is going to take this fight.’ Like, bro, we’re not friends. I never said we were friends.

“It’s just business, right? I’m there when you need me and then obviously when you don’t. Seriously, man. I’m a contractor. I do my thing. I love him and I love UFC and stuff like that, but I’m just a piece of meat out there. Do you know what I mean?”

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When negotiations between Poirier and the UFC went awry, former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler was inserted into the mix instead.

Ultimately a fight against Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was not finalized, because Ferguson was unhappy with being offered a UFC newcomer for an unsatisfactory amount of money.

“The UFC kept delaying telling us the (Poirier) fight was confirmed,” Ferguson said. “It was like, the minute they asked, I’m still training for Dustin, for the Chandler thing. Now, they’re bringing in a new dude, who I have no (expletive) clue who he is. I’m not trying to (expletive) on him from a marketing standpoint but the dude has less than 100k (followers) on Twitter. You’re going to try to get him more notoriety by throwing him against me and throw him on the Khabib card. I get that but don’t pay the (expletive) more than us. He has zero time in the UFC. I don’t know about roids and all that stuff. I don’t get into that (expletive) with everybody.”

Eventually, Ferguson warmed up to the idea of beginning his journey back to a UFC title shot with a fight against Chandler. Still, the money wasn’t up to par, Ferguson said.

“I got to the point where I’m like, ‘You know what? I want to fight. Chandler, you want your welcome? You want to do this (expletive)? Yeah? Let’s put it on paper. UFC, let’s make the money right. Let’s make it interesting.’ I draw pay-per-view buys,” Ferguson said. “They wanted value. I created value. Here I am.”

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Despite failed UFC 254 negotiations and sending most of White’s calls to voicemail, Ferguson is willing to accept a fight if it’s offered for the right money. He has his sights set on a number of different opponents, including Gaethje, Nurmagomedov, Poirier, and Chandler.

“Everybody wants me to fight Khabib right?” Ferguson said. “But I’ve got to earn my right back. OK, cool. Who’s it going to be? Dustin? Or is it going to be Chandler? I don’t give a (expletive). I said it was a tournament. Now we’re adding in people. Alright, cool. Here we go again. Today marks the celebration, right? Khabib and (Conor) McGregor. That (expletive) wouldn’t have happened unless they stripped my belt. So, (expletive) you. Pay me instead of this (expletive) clown.

“Like I said, Chandler, I have nothing against you – and Dustin, I have nothing against you. But I ain’t trying to help no one no more. Justin Gaethje, you’re (expletive) welcome you have a belt, son. I guarantee you I’m going to tell you to go get my belt because your ass is going to get (expletive) whipped. I’m coming for it. So both you and (expletive) fathead, this is a message for both of you knuckleheads. It’s my mat and my time.”

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Michael Chandler has hunch first UFC fight will be vs. Tony Ferguson

Michael Chandler believes the way things are shaking out around the top of the lightweight division, a fight with Tony Ferguson could be in the cards.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] already has a potential winning lottery ticket in hand: A spot in the UFC 254 main event, should anything happen between now and Oct. 24 that causes either UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov or interim titleholder Justin Gaethje to drop out of the fight.

No doubt, anyone who’s followed this sport awhile understands there’s a real chance the former Bellator lightweight champ can end up in the fight; you also know the chances are probable that a pair as professional as Nurmagomedov and Gaethje are getting into the cage on fight night no matter what.

So that leaves an obvious next question for Chandler: If, as is likely, he doesn’t end up in the UFC 254, who should the recent free agent signing face in his UFC debut?

Through the powers of deductive reasoning, Chandler believes that with Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier looking likely to square off, he has a feeling his first trip to the octagon will see him square off with former interim champ Tony Ferguson.

“There’s been momentum brewing on Poirier’s side,” Chandler said at Thursday’s UFC 254 virtual media day. “Since he lost to Conor, he’s looked nothing but spectacular. Conor McGregor is the biggest draw in the history of combat sports. If that’s who Conor wants to fight, that’s who he’s going to fight. If I’m the guy he wants to fight, then he’s going to fight me.”

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“If those two guys are matched up, that takes out two guys in the top five,” Chandler continued. “Obviously with Khabib and Gaethje lined up, Conor and Poirier, that really only leaves Tony Ferguson. So I’d love the opportunity to fight Tony Ferguson.”

The mere fact that Chandler is the backup plan for Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje indicates the UFC plans on putting him into the deep end of the pool right away, which is just how Chandler wants it.

While a Ferguson fight seems like the most likely option, no matter how things break out, Chandler knows he’s likely to get an opponent he wants.

“I’d love the opportunity to fight anybody in the top five,” Chandler said. “We’ll see what happens but either way if I take my competitor hat off and put my fan hat on, Conor vs. Poirier is a great fight, even though I’d love to fight either of those guys.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov: Fight IQ, cardio discrepancy will lead finish of Justin Gaethje

Khabib Nurmagomedov sheds some light on his UFC 254 gameplan.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] sees two main advantages he has over UFC 254 opponent [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] that will prove to be the X factors en route to victory.

At a virtual UFC 254 pre-fight news conference Thursday, the UFC lightweight champion opened up on the game plan he is hoping to establish against Gaethje and where he sees himself having the biggest advantages.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a chess match, you know?” Nurmagomedov said. “I think my fight IQ is much better than Justin Gaethje’s. He’s just a tough guy. He likes fighting. He likes blood, you know? He’s like a real warrior. But when we talk about fighting IQ, I think my fighting IQ is much better than his, you know?”

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Nurmagomedov, 32, attributed much of Gaethje’s MMA-specific intellect to on-the-spot instructions he receives from his longtime coach, Trevor Wittman. Nurmagomedov praised Wittman, bringing up his corner work in Gaethje’s UFC 249 win against Tony Ferguson.

“I think Justin, he has a very good coach – just my opinion,” Nurmagomedov said. “He has a great coach. If you can watch his last fight with Tony Ferguson, having cornered him, (Wittman) gave him very good advice. I think he has a very good and very great coach. Of course, Justin can fight. He can go deep. He has heart. But if you’re talking about fighting IQ, I think I have much better than him.”

Besides fight-centric intelligence, Nurmagomedov also plans to top Gaethje in the cardio department. Both fighters have been known to find success later in fights, but Nurmagomedov plans to overbear Gaethje so much he struggles when and if the fight reaches that point.

“I’m going to try wrestling with him,” Nurmagomedov said. “If he’s going to defend my takedown one time, I’m going to try second, third, (all the way to) 100 times. Of course, I’m going to box with him and kick with him. It’s going to be kickboxing and wrestling – like, mixed. My goal is to make him tired. I’m going to make him tired. This is my goal. Maybe in Round No. 3 or Round No. 4, my plan is (to) finish him.”

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Since defeating Al Iaquinta to fill the vacant championship at UFC 223 in April 2018, Nurmagomedov has successfully defended his title twice. In October 2018 at UFC 229, Nurmagomedov submitted rival Conor McGregor in Round 4. At UFC 242 in September 2019, Nurmagomedov picked up another submission victory against Dustin Poirier in Round 3.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to fight Ferguson at UFC 249 in April, but was forced to withdraw after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused travel issues. The event was postponed to May and Gaethje stepped in to defeat Ferguson by fifth-round TKO.

UFC 254 takes place Oct. 24 at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

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