All articles tagged with #middleweight division
Brendan Allen seeks revenge against Chris Curtis in the main event of UFC Vegas 90, with a six-fight win streak in the UFC middleweight division. The preview show also discusses weight misses by fighters like Alexander Hernandez and Cynthia Calvillo, the return of former champion Germaine de Randamie, and answers viewer questions.
Paulo Costa dismisses the idea of revisiting a fight with Khamzat Chimaev, focusing instead on his upcoming bout with Robert Whittaker at UFC 298. Costa criticizes Chimaev's lack of wins over top middleweight contenders and expresses confidence in defeating Whittaker to secure a title shot. He believes a victory over Whittaker will propel him to the top of the division and position him as the next contender for the middleweight belt.
Dricus Du Plessis' victory at UFC 297 could pave the way for the UFC to hold an event in Africa, with a potential matchup against former champion Israel Adesanya. Raquel Pennington won the women's bantamweight title, and Julianna Peña is expected to be her next challenger. Movsar Evloev's undefeated streak continues, and he may face the winner of Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling.
UFC Vegas 82's main event between Brendan Allen and Paul Craig could potentially determine a future challenger in the middleweight division. Allen, riding a five-fight win streak, has been calling for a rematch with Sean Strickland and a shot at the title. Craig, a former light heavyweight, has successfully dropped down to middleweight and could climb the rankings with a win over Allen. In other main card action, Michael Morales faces Jake Matthews, Chase Hooper takes on Jordan Leavitt, Payton Talbott debuts against Nick Aguirre, Luana Pinheiro fights Amanda Ribas, and Myktybek Orolbai faces Uros Medic.
UFC President Dana White is impressed with Khamzat Chimaev's performance against Kamaru Usman and wants to keep the "unbelievably talented" fighter more active. Chimaev's win over Usman earned him a title shot against UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Despite a potential hand injury, White hopes there won't be any issues in booking the title fight.
UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik discusses the potential impact of Israel Adesanya's recent loss on his legacy, stating that it is a setback for his career. Anik also addresses the debate surrounding an immediate rematch for Adesanya, suggesting that he does not deserve one at this stage. He raises questions about the toll of Adesanya's busy championship schedule and speculates on his future, including the possibility of taking time off and returning for a championship fight after the belt is contested.
Daniel Cormier believes that Israel Adesanya should not receive an immediate rematch against Sean Strickland for the middleweight title after his loss at UFC 293. Cormier argues that the division needs to move on and give other deserving contenders, such as Dricus Du Plessis, Jared Cannonier, and the winner of the upcoming Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa matchup, a chance to fight Strickland. Despite Adesanya's name value, Cormier believes fresh matchups are needed in the division.
Israel Adesanya is "rooting" for Khamzat Chimaev in his upcoming fight against Paulo Costa at UFC 294, as he sees Chimaev as new blood and a potential fresh matchup for himself. Adesanya warns Chimaev that facing Costa won't be an easy fight, despite Adesanya making it look easy in their previous bout. Adesanya is keeping an eye on the middleweight division and may even consider facing Chimaev before the end of 2023.
Chael Sonnen believes that Israel Adesanya's interaction with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 shows his intense drive as a champion. Adesanya called out Du Plessis, an up-and-coming fighter, and engaged in a verbal exchange with him after Du Plessis secured a title shot by defeating Robert Whittaker. Sonnen sees Adesanya's focus on competition and his ability to control his career as unique among other big stars in the UFC. Adesanya has expressed his desire to fight Du Plessis next, rather than having a trilogy with Whittaker.
Bo Nickal secured a devastating knockout victory over Val Woodburn in just 38 seconds at UFC 290, showcasing his striking skills without needing a takedown. With a flawless 5-0 professional record, Nickal is ready for a step up in competition and is willing to face anyone the UFC offers. The middleweight division is on notice as Nickal continues to impress with his performances.
Marvin Vettori suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Jared Cannonier at UFC on ESPN 46, which dealt a blow to his title aspirations. Vettori didn't have much to offer Cannonier after a solid first round, and it remains to be seen what's next for him in the middleweight division.
The MMA Fighting Rankings Show debates the top 5 options for Israel Adesanya's next fight in the UFC middleweight division after his win over Alex Pereira, as well as Jorge Masvidal's top 3 career highlights. Listeners can tune in to the podcast on various platforms.