All articles tagged with #featherweight
Charles Oliveira says he can still make 145 pounds and hasn’t ruled out returning to featherweight for a title shot, even as he focuses on a lightweight title run and a possible legacy-boosting matchup with Conor McGregor; he notes dropping to welterweight would be easier, but prefers a featherweight path if the opportunity arises.
Brandon Figueroa stopped Nick Ball in the 12th round in Liverpool to win Ball’s WBA featherweight world title after an evenly fought 11 rounds; a flush left from Figueroa followed by a finishing flurry ended Ball’s reign, giving Figueroa a three-weight world title. Ball’s first pro loss snapped his 24-fight unbeaten run and sparked chaos in the crowd as celebrations continued, with questions about Ball’s next move, including possible rematches or other big bouts.
Brandon Figueroa outlasted Nick Ball in a gripping 12-round battle in Liverpool, landing a dramatic late left hook that dropped Ball and forced the referee to stop the bout, giving Figueroa the WBA featherweight title. The win improves Figueroa’s record to 27-2-1 with 20 KOs, while Ball falls to 23-1-1 with 13 KOs. The fight was closely contested earlier, with Ball having moments of cleaner punching, but Figueroa’s relentless pressure and finishing punch sealed the championship in the final round.
UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar says Alexander Volkanovski is defying age at 37 and should consider retiring as the featherweight champion to protect his health and legacy, even as he remains the sport’s top talent after reclaiming and defending the title, while acknowledging the ongoing GOAT debate and possible future tests against younger contenders like Evloev and Murphy.
Volkanovski battled through a seriously injured shoulder—coach Joe Lopez said they didn’t think he’d fight four weeks out—to win a five-round decision over Diego Lopes and defend the UFC featherweight title, becoming the oldest champion to do so at 37. Lopes threatened moments but Volkanovski stayed composed and on top, with Evloev and Murphy lined up as potential next challengers and Volkanovski signaling openness to additional bouts, possibly extending his run for several more years.
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes in a five‑round rematch at UFC 325 to defend the featherweight title. Lopes acknowledged mistakes but offered no excuses, praising Volkanovski and signaling possible future moves, with discussions hinted at potential opponents like Jean Silva or Yair Rodriguez.
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski dismissed Jean Silva’s bold challenge after UFC 325, suggesting Silva is angry about Volkanovski’s training partnership with Rafael “Ruffy” and denying any personal feud. Volkanovski says he planned to train with Ruffy anyway and will defend the belt against whoever UFC books next, with Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy as top contenders, while Silva remains hopeful for a title shot.
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision in UFC 325 to defend his featherweight title in a closely watched rematch, marking the first defense of his second reign, with fighters reacting to the win on social media.
Australian UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 325 in Sydney, extending his control of the division.
Diego Lopes heads to Sydney for UFC 325 to challenge Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch of UFC 314, aiming to reverse last year’s setback and possibly secure his final title shot. He stresses that staying relaxed and enjoying the fight could unlock his power, while focusing on cutting off the cage and not letting Volkanovski gain a late rally—the very issue that doomed him in the fifth round of their first encounter, where Volkanovski dominated and finished strong (Volkanovski 43/61 vs Lopes 14/59, 70% to 23%). Lopes must avoid repeating the patient approach that backfired and seize momentum early if he wants to upset Volkanovski and win the belt.
Brian Ortega, a former two-time UFC title challenger, withdrew from UFC 326 due to injuries, delaying his planned move from featherweight to lightweight; Renato Moicano’s rumored replacement fight was scrapped, and Ortega said he needs time to rest and rehab, with no surgeries planned.
MMA Fighting provides UFC 325 results and live blogs from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, led by a featherweight title rematch as Alexander Volkanovski defends against Diego Lopes, with Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main and a full slate of prelims and early prelims.
At UFC 325 in Sydney, Alexander Volkanovski defends the featherweight title against Diego Lopes; Lopes says the rematch could be his last chance at 145 pounds and hints at moving up to lightweight, while Volkanovski dispels retirement rumors ahead of the bout.
Ahead of UFC 325 in Sydney, Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch that could add a sliver to his legacy. Analysts debate how much a second win over Lopes proves, and who should be next for the champion—Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy are among the contenders—while Lopes’s shot at redress adds an unusual wrinkle to the title picture.
Alexander Volkanovski says he’d welcome a drop to 145 pounds for Arman Tsarukyan if the shot at the featherweight title is possible, while he focuses on a rematch with Diego Lopes at UFC 325. He also flagged Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as the toughest current contenders, teased Tsarukyan as a fun and legacy-worthy challenge, and noted Tsarukyan’s wrestling and striking would be a compelling test. Volkanovski even hinted at doing a ‘Cooking with Volk’ segment with Tsarukyan and acknowledged Jean Silva as a potential future title threat, though he believes the immediate picture still centers on Evloev or Murphy.