Tag: UFC 281

VIDEO: UFC 281 ‘Countdown’ for Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler

Watch the “Countdown” segment ahead of the anticipated UFC 281 showdown between Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 281 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the featured bout preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the lightweight showdown between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]. Fireworks is all but guaranteed as both men hope a victory will earn them another shot at the 155-pound title.

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

UFC free fight: Michael Chandler knocks out Tony Ferguson with brutal front kick

Ahead of his showdown against Dustin Poirier, relive Michael Chandler’s knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] delivered one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history against Tony Ferguson.

Chandler’s explosive power was on full display when he faced Ferguson at UFC 274 in May.

Round 1 saw Chandler getting dropped by a Ferguson left hook in the opening minutes. Ferguson tried to swarm Chandler, but Chandler was able to recover. Ferguson kept throwing heat, but Chandler surprised him with a perfectly timed double-leg takedown. Ferguson cut Chandler with an elbow from bottom, and continuously threw up submission attempts.

Just when it looked like the Ferguson of old was shining through, he was blasted with a front kick by Chandler just 17 seconds into Round 2 which knocked him out cold. In 32 professional fights, Ferguson had never had his lights shut out like that.

Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) returns to action on Nov. 12 when he faces former interim champion [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) on the main card of UFC 281, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Before he faces Poirier, relive Chandler’s finish of Ferguson in the video above.

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Rose Namajunas: Hard to count out Carla Esparza, but ‘I’m definitely leaning more toward’ Zhang Weili at UFC 281

Rose Namajunas has a vested interest in the upcoming strawweight title fight at UFC 281.

Former UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] has a vested interest in the upcoming title fight.

Namajunas (11-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) recently lost her 115-pound title to [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] by split decision in a lackluster affair this past May. The fight had little to no action, but Esparza was slightly more active to secure the win.

Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will now make her first title defense against former champ [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on Nov. 12 at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden. Esparza is a betting underdog once again, and while Namajunas thinks the champion is being underestimated, she understands why.

“I think a lot of people are definitely sleeping on Carla,” Namajunas told MMA Junkie. “I think people are just going to assume that Weili’s gonna run her over and all this stuff, and rightfully so. I mean, Weili is obviously a machine, and she is a beast. … She definitely represented a very scary opponent that I was facing.”

Although Namajunas, who’s held the belt twice, lost to Esparza both times and beat Weili twice, she thinks a new champ will be crowned at UFC 281.

“I’m definitely leaning more toward Weili at this point, but it’s really hard for me to necessarily count Carla out,” Namajunas said. “I hope that the fight isn’t anything like my fight with Carla last time. There’s either a chance that it will be kind of similar to that, like kind of boring where they’re both just point fighting. Or one person gets the other person to come out of their game plan in a devastating fashion and maybe finishes the other person. I’m hoping for it to be an exciting fight, though.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Dustin Poirier before Michael Chandler fight at UFC 281: ‘I’ve never lost two in a row, and I don’t plan on starting now’

Dustin Poirier has shown incredible consistency throughout his career, and he’s not about to let that change at UFC 281.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] has shown incredible consistency throughout his career, and he’s not about to let that change at UFC 281.

Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) will look to rebound from his title fight loss to Charles Oliveira when he meets [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden.

In 35 professional fights, Poirier never has lost two straight.

“The division is always changing,” Poirier told Yahoo Sports. “You know, lightweight has been top heavy for a while. We have a new champion now that opens things up, new matchups, new opportunities. But I’ve always put pressure on myself every fight, especially coming off of a loss. I’ve been fighting for 15 years, and I’ve never lost two fights in a row, and I don’t plan on starting now. I’ve always tried to put together my game and learn from losses, go back to the drawing board.

“And I’ve had plenty of time after this last fight in December to work on things to try to get better, to focus, and it’s more about proving it to myself. I want to go out there and show growth, show new wrinkles and tighten up things that I thought I was doing sloppy. So it’s always personal pressure. You know, it’s not about the division to me. It’s about me being able to look in the mirror after the fight.”

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Poirier has fallen short twice in his pursuit of UFC gold. But with the division crowning a new champion in Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, he’s not ruling out the possibility of another title shot in the near future.

“I feel like my track record and my work speaks for itself,” Poirier said. “I don’t need to get on a platform and beg for a title shot. I’m gonna go out there and fight next weekend and let the cards fall where they may.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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VIDEO: Whoa! Zhang Weili shows off incredible strength by lifting Francis Ngannou onto her shoulder

“I can’t believe that Zhang Weili just picked me up like I wasn’t 293lbs,” Francis Ngannou wrote. How do you think Carla Esparza feels?

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] is looking super strong ahead of her title fight at UFC 281.

Ex-champ Weili (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) challenges strawweight champion Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the co-main event Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In Esparza, Weili will be facing a standout wrestler, and it appears she’s ready for it. Despite being warned against it, Weili lifted [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] up with ease and hoisted him over her shoulder at the UFC Performance Institute, surprising the heavyweight champ with her strength.

You can watch the video below, courtesy of Ngannou’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkgaSKsqktN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“I can’t believe that @zhangweilimma just picked me up like I wasn’t 293lbs 😳

I didn’t want her to do it I was scared of her hurting her back and was trying to explain this to her….then found myself suddenly up in the air.

Her strength ratio is through the roof 📈”

What do you think Esparza’s reaction was when she watched this? 😳

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Israel Adesanya: ‘F*ck the belt,’ just beating Alex Pereira at UFC 281 is ‘what matters’

A switch has flipped for Israel Adesanya heading into his UFC 281 title fight with nemesis Alex Pereira.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] is excited by the challenge of facing [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) will look to notch his sixth title defense when he takes on Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the main event of UFC 281 on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Having lost to Pereira twice in kickboxing, including once by knockout, Adesanya is motivated to avenge those losses.

“Beating him, that’s what matters,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Like, the belt? F*ck the belt. Just beating him, a killer like him, that’s what matters.”

According to Tipico Sportsbook, Adesanya is just a slight favorite at -175, with Pereira a +135 underdog.

Adesanya’s losses to Pereira came over five years. “The Last Stylebender” has moved past those setbacks and vows that Pereira is in for a different challenge in MMA.

“We’ve dusted that off, we’ve cut it off, and I can see what I did wrong,” Adesanya said. “So, it’s not gonna be like last time. This is a different fighter you’re facing, and now I’ve become another fighter. I’ve re-birthed myself. I’ve re-birthed it, and I just feel like I want to have fun. That’s the goal. But this fight, I’m gonna have fun. That’s the ultimate goal. And when I have fun, I’m the best in the world.”

You can watch the full episode of Adesanya’s VLOG in the video below:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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UFC free fight: Alex Pereira knocks out Sean Strickland with patented left hook

Ahead of his title fight against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, relive Alex Pereira’s knockout of Sean Strickland at UFC 276.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] used the same left hook that knocked out [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] to knock out Sean Strickland.

Pereira drew a big step up in competition this past July at UFC 276 where he was matched up with streaking contender Strickland.

Strickland had Pereira backpedaling to start, but the former Glory champion was sharp on the counter with his jabs and kicks. Strickland continued pressing forward with strikes, but midway through Round 1, he was met by a blistering left hand and a follow-up right, which put him out.

Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) returns to action on Nov. 12 when he challenges middleweight champion Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC 281, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Before he faces Adesanya, relive Pereira’s finish of Strickland in the video above.

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Coach Mike Brown expects much improved Poirier at UFC 281: ‘It’s the best Dustin we’ve ever seen’

American Top Team head coach Mike Brown is confident that Dustin Poirier will get his hand raised against Michael Chandler.

ABU DHABI – American Top Team head coach [autotag]Mike Brown[/autotag] likes what he’s seen from [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] ahead of UFC 281.

Brown believes the best version of Poirier has yet to be seen by fans, but he expects that to change on Nov. 12 when Poirier is scheduled to take on former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler on the UFC 281 pay-per-view main card in New York.

Despite Poirier being 13 years into his professional career, Brown sees improvement in his game

“Anytime things don’t go your way, you’re extra motivated, and this is the type of thing that motivates Dustin. And to be honest, I’ve never seen him so motivated,” Brown told MMA Junkie. “He’s training super hard, and he can’t wait to fight.

“He’s in fight shape now and ready to peak. He’s been ready to go for like two weeks. I think it’s the best Dustin we’ve ever seen. He’s doing everything right. It’s a motivated guy who’s got the right opponent in front of him that motivates him, who’s an exciting fight, a challenging fight, a guy who’s been a world champion in other (promotions). It’s a fight that the fans want to see. I don’t think there’s a lot that gets Dustin excited, and this is one that will.”

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Poirier is coming off a submission loss in a championship fight against Charles Oliveira back in December. The defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak.

Not only does Brown expect his fighter to get his hand raised, but he also expects a potential Fight of the Year candidate given Chandler’s fighting style.

“This is a dangerous guy who’s got a lot of hype, well deserved, and an exciting fighter,” Brown said. “Every scrap (Dustin Poirier) puts on is an exciting Fight of the Year, Fight of the Week, Fight of the Month, whatever. It’s always one of those candidates, one of the best fights you’re going to see. He’s got the right dance partner, so it’s going to be fireworks. That’s all the stuff that gets him in the gym and eager to train.”

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Dustin Poirier’s UFC 281 charity goal provides Thanksgiving meals, Christmas gifts for those in need

For UFC 281, Dustin Poirier’s The Good Fight Foundation will provide 500 Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts for those in need.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] once again will use his platform of a big UFC fight to benefit the less fortunate.

Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC), a former interim UFC lightweight champion, is set to return to the octagon after 11 months when he meets Michael Chandler in the featured bout at UFC 281, which takes place Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

Over the past several years, Poirier and The Good Fight Foundation have set up charitable goals before and after his fights. He frequently has auctioned his fight-worn gear and donated the proceeds to a cause close to him, and that trend continues for his UFC 281 fight.

Poirier and The Good Fight Foundation will supply 500 portions of food at its 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Family Meal Pick Up in Lafayette, La., which will include one ham, a can of yams, a can of green beans, bread rolls and an aluminum pan for preparation. The items will be supplied on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additionally, The Good Fight Foundation has teamed with The Hub Lafayette, which provides housing for families in need of shelter, to provide Christmas gifts for those in need. Once Poirier’s fight is complete, he will auction his gear with the proceeds being pushed toward supplying more items for the Christmas drive.

Poirier has used his fight career to help elevate The Good Fight Foundation. He’s attached charity goals to each of his fights since its formation, with his philanthropic efforts including building water wells to repair a ruined water supply at an orphanage and school in Uganda, building a playground for special needs children, supplying backpacks for more than 500 schoolchildren, providing transportation and tutoring for struggling youth through The Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana, and more.

Poirier’s efforts have not gone unnoticed in the MMA community. In September 2021, Poirier was honored at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony with the inaugural “Forrest Griffin Community Award” to acknowledge his work.

More information on Poirier’s past and future charitable acts can be found at TheGoodFightGroup.com.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Phil Hawes: Israel Adesanya is ‘crazy enough to shoot a double’ on Alex Pereira at UFC 281

Phil Hawes wouldn’t be surprised if we saw wrestling from Israel Adesanya against Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – [autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag] thinks we might get a new look from [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

The UFC middleweight contender thinks Adesanya, who’s arguably the best striker in MMA, might show some wrestling in his upcoming title defense against [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 281 on Nov. 12.

Adesanya and Pereira have fought twice before, but in kickboxing, not MMA. Adesanya lost both – one by decision and the other by knockout. That’s why Hawes (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) wouldn’t be surprised if we see a grappling-based approach from the champion.

“I feel like we may see a new champion, but I feel like Izzy is crazy enough to shoot a double,” Hawes told MMA Junkie. “He’s been in MMA longer than Pereira and I think he’s an entertainer, so he might pull out something crazy, shoot some doubles …

“I think in a couple of fights, he tried to do a triangle, so he has some grappling experience – probably more than Pereira. Pereira is tough, though. We’ll see. I’ll be tuning in.”

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Hawes returns to the cage Oct. 29 to face Roman Dolidze at UFC Fight Night 213. He’s coming off a TKO win over Deron Winn in June and is ready to build momentum toward a title run.

The 33-year-old expects to be fighting for gold in 2023 if all goes according to plan.

“(I’ll be a) 2023 UFC champ,” Hawes said. “It’s on my window. It’s on my wall. It’s everywhere I be, everywhere I’m at: UFC champion in 2023. Let’s do it.”

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