UFC Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:41:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Jorge Masvidal Might End His Career After UFC 287 https://sportzbonanza.com/jorge-masvidal-might-end-his-career-after-ufc-287/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:12:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=20701 Jorge Masvidal meets with the press in 2022Jorge Masvidal knows that his current three-fight losing streak doesn’t look good. This is why he is thinking about calling it quits if it becomes a four-fight losing streak after UFC 287. Masvidal, one of the fan favorites, is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 on Saturday’s co-headlining fight in Miami. During an […]

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Jorge Masvidal knows that his current three-fight losing streak doesn’t look good. This is why he is thinking about calling it quits if it becomes a four-fight losing streak after UFC 287.

Masvidal, one of the fan favorites, is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 on Saturday’s co-headlining fight in Miami. During an appearance on UFC 287 Countdown earlier this week, the 38-year-old admitted that he might end his career if he doesn’t come out as a winner from the octagon.

“This could be the last one,” Masvidal said. “If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits. But a win against Gilbert means that things are headed in the right direction. So if I roll the dice and do everything right, I’m going for it all.”

Despite thinking about retirement, Masvidal believes he is still able to compete at a high level. 

“I think I’m at my best right now – my mental (game), my physical – and now I’ve got to go out there and prove it,” he added. “I’ve got my back up against the wall.”

Jorge Masvidal has a 35 -16 record in MMA, including 12-9 in UFC. His most recent fight came more than a year ago at UFC 272 when he lost to Colby Covington via unanimous decision. Prior to that, he lost two UFC Welterweight Championship fights against Kamaru Usman.

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Conor McGregor Won’t Fight in the UFC for at Least 6 More Months https://sportzbonanza.com/conor-mcgregor-wont-fight-in-the-ufc-for-at-least-6-more-months/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 06:45:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19230 Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards in 2017It will be a while before we see UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor back in the octagon. The UFC President Dana White recently told the media that McGregor wouldn’t fight for at least six more months. McGregor has been out since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a fight against Dustin […]

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It will be a while before we see UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor back in the octagon. The UFC President Dana White recently told the media that McGregor wouldn’t fight for at least six more months.

McGregor has been out since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier. And while the 34-year-old champion has fully recovered since then and is in fight shape, other circumstances are preventing him from returning to UFC.

According to White, the delay is a result of McGregor not being part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool. He is required to be in the USADA program for at least six months before being able to fight in UFC.

After White’s announcement, McGregor went on Twitter to tell everyone he’s “feeling crazy confident.” He also promised he’ll have “multiple fights” before the remake of the action flick Road House, in which McGregor plays one of the roles, hits the theaters. The movie is currently set to be released at some point in 2023.

Conor McGregor claimed he was retired from MMA multiple times in the past several years but would quickly change his mind. His last two fights came in 2021, both losses to Poirier. McGregor is currently on a 22-6 record.

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Henry Cejudo Eyeing a Shot for UFC History in Return From Retirement https://sportzbonanza.com/henry-cejudo-eyeing-a-shot-for-ufc-history-in-return-from-retirement/ Tue, 19 Jul 2022 11:37:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18790 Henry Cejudo of the United States speaks to the media after his bantamweight title fight against Dominick Cruz of the United States in 2020As predicted, Henry Cejudo’s mixed martial arts retirement in 2020 didn’t hold up. The former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion is gearing up for a return to the octagon and has his eyes on UFC history, according to a recent interview with ESPN. Cejudo told the media outlet that the main reason why he is […]

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As predicted, Henry Cejudo’s mixed martial arts retirement in 2020 didn’t hold up. The former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion is gearing up for a return to the octagon and has his eyes on UFC history, according to a recent interview with ESPN.

Cejudo told the media outlet that the main reason why he is ending his retirement is that he could fight Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title. This would give him a shot to become the only UFC fighter to hold titles in three different divisions.

Unfortunately for Cejudo, the UFC has other plans, at least for the time being. They want the 35-year-old champion to fight in bantamweight before moving divisions. And the Olympic Gold medalist seems to be open to taking a long way.

“These dudes are not on my level—none of those dudes are at my level. And they all know it,” Cejudo told ESPN. “So if I have to go down to 135 pounds [and win back] my belt to challenge Alexander Volkanovski, that’s what I have to do.”

Cejudo had his last fight at UFC 240 in May 2020, when he defeated Dominick Cruz via TKO to retain UFC Bantamweight Championship. He retired immediately after the fight, leaving MMA with a 16-2 record at the time.

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Former UFC Star to Make Professional Wrestling Debut https://sportzbonanza.com/former-ufc-star-to-make-professional-wrestling-debut/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 07:06:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16993 Former UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos has decided to take the plunge into the world of professional wrestling, with his debut set to take place today for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This career move comes after Dos Santos was released by the UFC earlier in the year. Dos Santos is expected to appear in a […]

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Former UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos has decided to take the plunge into the world of professional wrestling, with his debut set to take place today for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This career move comes after Dos Santos was released by the UFC earlier in the year.

Dos Santos is expected to appear in a tag team match, partnering up with wrestlers Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky against the team of wrestling legend Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and MMA fighter Jake Hager, who fights for Bellator.

In addition to making his AEW debut, “Cigano” is also considering taking a leap into boxing: “Let’s see,” Dos Santos said. “I’ve been having some good conversations, even on boxing. Boxing, I think, would be the perfect way for me to go. I’m a boxing guy, everybody knows that. I’ve never had an official pro boxing fight. Maybe this is the time.”

Dos Santos held the UFC Heavyweight Title in 2011 and 2012, having defeated the likes of Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, and Frank Mir. Unfortunately, four consecutive defeats in his last four matches saw Dos Santos cut from the UFC lineup.

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Stipe Miocic on UFC Heavyweight Interim Title Fight Snub: “It Does Bother Me” https://sportzbonanza.com/stipe-miocic-on-ufc-heavyweight-interim-title-fight-snub-it-does-bother-me/ Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:09:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16341 Stipe Miocic attending a baseball game in 2016.Stipe Miocic wasn’t on the shortlist of candidates for the UFC’s heavyweight interim title fight. And it’s safe to say that this didn’t sit well with the two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. Speaking with ESPN on the subject, Miocic admitted that he was bothered by the snub even though he might have said no to the […]

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Stipe Miocic wasn’t on the shortlist of candidates for the UFC’s heavyweight interim title fight. And it’s safe to say that this didn’t sit well with the two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Speaking with ESPN on the subject, Miocic admitted that he was bothered by the snub even though he might have said no to the offer. 

“It does bother me, because I just wish they would have at least came to me,” Miocic told the media outlet on Wednesday. “Even if I wasn’t able do it, I would have just loved to be given the opportunity. I think I deserved it.”

Miocic’s most recent stint as UFC Heavyweight Champion ended in March when he was defeated by Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 via KO in the second round. Many believed that the 39-year-old American would get a shot to win the title back soon, but UFC had other plans.

The promotion selected Derrick Lewis as Ngannou’s next opponent and scheduled the bout between the two on August 7th at UFC 265. After Ngannou decided to skip the challenge for unknown reasons, UFC created an interim title fight between Lewis and Ciryl Gane.

Gane ended up getting the win with a TKO in the third round and is next in line to face Ngannou for an opportunity to be an undisputed heavyweight champion.

But this won’t discourage Miocic from pleading his case to UFC President Dana White and attempting to get a shot for the third title. 

“I just have to sit down and have a conversation with him [White],” Miocic shared with ESPN. “And everything will fall into place.”

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Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards Agree to a Fight at UFC 262 https://sportzbonanza.com/nate-diaz-and-leon-edwards-agree-to-a-fight-at-ufc-262/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:27:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16010 After taking a lengthy break from the octagon, popular MMA fighter Nate Diaz is finally returning to UFC. According to multiple sources, Diaz agreed to fight Leon Edwards at UFC 262 on May 15th. Reportedly, Diaz and Edwards have yet to formally ink the contract for the event, but both fighters verbally agreed to the […]

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After taking a lengthy break from the octagon, popular MMA fighter Nate Diaz is finally returning to UFC. According to multiple sources, Diaz agreed to fight Leon Edwards at UFC 262 on May 15th.

Reportedly, Diaz and Edwards have yet to formally ink the contract for the event, but both fighters verbally agreed to the bout.

Diaz vs. Edwards is expected to be the first five-round fight in UFC history that doesn’t have a belt on the line. It will serve as one of UFC 262’s main bouts alongside the UFC Lightweight Championship matchup between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.

While the UFC still hasn’t made the news official, Diaz already confirmed the fight on his social media on Tuesday.

The bout against Edwards will be the first for Nate Diaz since the loss against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 in late 2019. Diaz and Masvidal clashed for the symbolic UFC BMF Belt, with Masvidal ending the fight in the third round via TKO.

Diaz has a 20-12 record in MMA, winning five fights via knockout and 11 by submission. He has second-most Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Submission of the Night achievements in UFC history.

Leon Edwards, on the other hand, will face Diaz with nine straight undefeated bouts under his belt.  His last fight against Belal Muhammad in March was ruled Non-Contest due to an accidental eye poke.

Edwards has an 18-3 record in MMA, with most of his wins coming via decision.

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Jan Blachowicz Beats Undefeated Israel Adesanya, Retains UFC Light Heavyweight Belt https://sportzbonanza.com/jan-blachowicz-beats-undefeated-israel-adesanya-retains-ufc-light-heavyweight-belt/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 06:23:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15821 Jan Blachowicz’s reign as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion won’t be as short as some predicted. Despite being the underdog against the undefeated challenger Israel Adesanya in the main fight of the UFC 259 on Saturday night, Blachowicz managed to rise to the occasion and keep his belt with a unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-45, […]

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Jan Blachowicz’s reign as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion won’t be as short as some predicted. Despite being the underdog against the undefeated challenger Israel Adesanya in the main fight of the UFC 259 on Saturday night, Blachowicz managed to rise to the occasion and keep his belt with a unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-45, 49-45).

Adesanya, who is currently the UFC Middleweight champion, was fighting in the Light Heavyweight for the first time against Blachowicz. His aim was to become just the fifth fighter in the history of the promotion to hold belts in two divisions simultaneously.

Still, going against the bigger Blachowicz proved to be a challenge that Adesanya couldn’t overcome, although the 31-year-old Nigerian downplayed the impact of the size difference after the fight.

“I wouldn’t say size because I can hurt big dudes,” said Adesanya. “I think it was just his defense. He was really tight with his defense and smart with his defense.”

With this win, Blachowicz continued with a surprisingly dominant run in UFC in recent years. He won nine out of his 10 last bouts and is currently on a five-fight winning streak.

“Everybody is different. I just found a way how to be the best,” said Blachowicz. “No question, I’m the best. I’m the best in the world.”

Adesanya, on the other hand, suffered his first professional loss. He was previously 20-0 in MMA, including having a 9-0 record since his UFC debut in early 2018.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Denies UFC Comeback Rumors https://sportzbonanza.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-denies-ufc-comeback-rumors/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 06:11:24 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15498 Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov once again had to deny the frequent and escalating rumors about his return to MMA. In a recent interview with Sport24, Nurmagomedov said that he will remain retired despite recent statements by UFC President Dana White. White recently sparked the imagination of MMA fans by saying that Nurmagomedov might […]

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Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov once again had to deny the frequent and escalating rumors about his return to MMA. In a recent interview with Sport24, Nurmagomedov said that he will remain retired despite recent statements by UFC President Dana White.

White recently sparked the imagination of MMA fans by saying that Nurmagomedov might reconsider his retirement if his potential challengers, including Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, show “something spectacular” in their next fights. Nurmagomedov and White had a chat about the topic during their meeting at UFC Fight Island 8 last week.

Nurmagomedov now decided to set the record straight and share his version of the story.

“I have achieved almost everything in this sport, and there isn’t someone I would like to fight now,” he told Sport24. “A lot of people don’t want to understand my side. I don’t see that yet. I train for myself. If we talk about all my business projects that are planned, fights are not in these plans.”

You can check out the entire interview below.

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in October after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 and defending his UFC lightweight belt for the third time. He walked away with an impressive 29-0 record.

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Deiveson Figueiredo Keeps UFC Flyweight Belt After Thrilling Draw Against Brandon Moreno https://sportzbonanza.com/deiveson-figueiredo-keeps-ufc-flyweight-belt-after-thrilling-draw-against-brandon-moreno/ Wed, 16 Dec 2020 06:33:10 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15156 You don’t often see draws in UFC—but when they happen, they are spectacular. Such was the case with the UFC Flyweight championship fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno that had fans on the edges of their seats over the weekend. Both men entered the fight focused on getting the win, and it showed early […]

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You don’t often see draws in UFC—but when they happen, they are spectacular. Such was the case with the UFC Flyweight championship fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno that had fans on the edges of their seats over the weekend.

Both men entered the fight focused on getting the win, and it showed early on. Figueiredo and Moreno exchanged searing punches, flying kicks, and often produced thrilling moments on the floor.

Each fighter had moments in the bout when they dominated, but it never lasted enough to get the clear advantage for either one. Neither Figueiredo nor Moreno were willing to cave in and let themselves get beat easily, resulting in arguably one of the best UFC fights of the year.

In the end, the fight was scored as a majority draw, with one judge giving Figueiredo a 48-46 advantage while the other two went with 47-47.

Per UFC rules, Figueiredo kept the flyweight belt as the fight produced no winner. But Moreno doesn’t intend to let his opponent get too comfortable with it.

“We need a rematch,” said Moreno after the fight. “We need that rematch. I think so. For myself, for Figueiredo, for the fans, for everybody. For the sport, of course.”

The rematch is certainly in the cards as UFC’s President Dana White all but confirmed it in a post-fight interview: “That’s another fun fight for all of us to look forward to in 2021,” said White.

Figueiredo is now 20-1-1 in MMA overall and 9-1-1 in UFC. Moreno, on the other hand, has a 7-2-2 record in UFC while maintaining a 18-5-2 record overall.

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Conor McGregor Accepts Dustin Poirier Fight But Only if it’s in 2020 https://sportzbonanza.com/conor-mcgregor-accepts-dustin-poirier-fight-but-only-if-its-in-2020/ Sun, 11 Oct 2020 06:11:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14238 Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards in 2017It didn’t take long for Conor McGregor to go back on his UFC retirement. The former featherweight and lightweight champion went on social media on Thursday to confirm that he accepted UFC’s offer to fight Dustin Poirier. The news about a potential McGregor vs. Poirier fight started circling a few weeks ago when UFC president […]

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It didn’t take long for Conor McGregor to go back on his UFC retirement. The former featherweight and lightweight champion went on social media on Thursday to confirm that he accepted UFC’s offer to fight Dustin Poirier.

The news about a potential McGregor vs. Poirier fight started circling a few weeks ago when UFC president Dana White told the media that the organization made a contract offer to both fighters. At the time, Poirier said he would accept the bout while McGregor was reluctant to sign on and instead proposed a charity exhibition event.

McGregor, who announced his retirement from MMA in May, now changed his opinion and is open to fighting under the condition that it happens this year.

“Hello Dusti! I accepted the UFC offer to fight you, but told them it must happen in 2020,” McGregor wrote on Twitter while listing the dates that would work for him including November 21st and December 12th, which are both dates that Poirier prefers.

McGregor also added that he will make a donation of $500K to Poirier’s The Good Fight Foundation.

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier had their last fight in September 2014 at UFC 178 that ended with McGregor’s win via TKO in the first round. Since then, McGregor compiled a 6-2 record while Poirier is at 10-2.

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> UFC Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:41:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Jorge Masvidal Might End His Career After UFC 287 https://sportzbonanza.com/jorge-masvidal-might-end-his-career-after-ufc-287/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:12:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=20701 Jorge Masvidal meets with the press in 2022Jorge Masvidal knows that his current three-fight losing streak doesn’t look good. This is why he is thinking about calling it quits if it becomes a four-fight losing streak after UFC 287. Masvidal, one of the fan favorites, is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 on Saturday’s co-headlining fight in Miami. During an […]

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Jorge Masvidal knows that his current three-fight losing streak doesn’t look good. This is why he is thinking about calling it quits if it becomes a four-fight losing streak after UFC 287.

Masvidal, one of the fan favorites, is set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 on Saturday’s co-headlining fight in Miami. During an appearance on UFC 287 Countdown earlier this week, the 38-year-old admitted that he might end his career if he doesn’t come out as a winner from the octagon.

“This could be the last one,” Masvidal said. “If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits. But a win against Gilbert means that things are headed in the right direction. So if I roll the dice and do everything right, I’m going for it all.”

Despite thinking about retirement, Masvidal believes he is still able to compete at a high level. 

“I think I’m at my best right now – my mental (game), my physical – and now I’ve got to go out there and prove it,” he added. “I’ve got my back up against the wall.”

Jorge Masvidal has a 35 -16 record in MMA, including 12-9 in UFC. His most recent fight came more than a year ago at UFC 272 when he lost to Colby Covington via unanimous decision. Prior to that, he lost two UFC Welterweight Championship fights against Kamaru Usman.

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Conor McGregor Won’t Fight in the UFC for at Least 6 More Months https://sportzbonanza.com/conor-mcgregor-wont-fight-in-the-ufc-for-at-least-6-more-months/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 06:45:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19230 Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards in 2017It will be a while before we see UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor back in the octagon. The UFC President Dana White recently told the media that McGregor wouldn’t fight for at least six more months. McGregor has been out since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a fight against Dustin […]

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It will be a while before we see UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor back in the octagon. The UFC President Dana White recently told the media that McGregor wouldn’t fight for at least six more months.

McGregor has been out since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier. And while the 34-year-old champion has fully recovered since then and is in fight shape, other circumstances are preventing him from returning to UFC.

According to White, the delay is a result of McGregor not being part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool. He is required to be in the USADA program for at least six months before being able to fight in UFC.

After White’s announcement, McGregor went on Twitter to tell everyone he’s “feeling crazy confident.” He also promised he’ll have “multiple fights” before the remake of the action flick Road House, in which McGregor plays one of the roles, hits the theaters. The movie is currently set to be released at some point in 2023.

Conor McGregor claimed he was retired from MMA multiple times in the past several years but would quickly change his mind. His last two fights came in 2021, both losses to Poirier. McGregor is currently on a 22-6 record.

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Henry Cejudo Eyeing a Shot for UFC History in Return From Retirement https://sportzbonanza.com/henry-cejudo-eyeing-a-shot-for-ufc-history-in-return-from-retirement/ Tue, 19 Jul 2022 11:37:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18790 Henry Cejudo of the United States speaks to the media after his bantamweight title fight against Dominick Cruz of the United States in 2020As predicted, Henry Cejudo’s mixed martial arts retirement in 2020 didn’t hold up. The former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion is gearing up for a return to the octagon and has his eyes on UFC history, according to a recent interview with ESPN. Cejudo told the media outlet that the main reason why he is […]

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As predicted, Henry Cejudo’s mixed martial arts retirement in 2020 didn’t hold up. The former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion is gearing up for a return to the octagon and has his eyes on UFC history, according to a recent interview with ESPN.

Cejudo told the media outlet that the main reason why he is ending his retirement is that he could fight Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title. This would give him a shot to become the only UFC fighter to hold titles in three different divisions.

Unfortunately for Cejudo, the UFC has other plans, at least for the time being. They want the 35-year-old champion to fight in bantamweight before moving divisions. And the Olympic Gold medalist seems to be open to taking a long way.

“These dudes are not on my level—none of those dudes are at my level. And they all know it,” Cejudo told ESPN. “So if I have to go down to 135 pounds [and win back] my belt to challenge Alexander Volkanovski, that’s what I have to do.”

Cejudo had his last fight at UFC 240 in May 2020, when he defeated Dominick Cruz via TKO to retain UFC Bantamweight Championship. He retired immediately after the fight, leaving MMA with a 16-2 record at the time.

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Former UFC Star to Make Professional Wrestling Debut https://sportzbonanza.com/former-ufc-star-to-make-professional-wrestling-debut/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 07:06:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16993 Former UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos has decided to take the plunge into the world of professional wrestling, with his debut set to take place today for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This career move comes after Dos Santos was released by the UFC earlier in the year. Dos Santos is expected to appear in a […]

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Former UFC fighter Junior Dos Santos has decided to take the plunge into the world of professional wrestling, with his debut set to take place today for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This career move comes after Dos Santos was released by the UFC earlier in the year.

Dos Santos is expected to appear in a tag team match, partnering up with wrestlers Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky against the team of wrestling legend Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and MMA fighter Jake Hager, who fights for Bellator.

In addition to making his AEW debut, “Cigano” is also considering taking a leap into boxing: “Let’s see,” Dos Santos said. “I’ve been having some good conversations, even on boxing. Boxing, I think, would be the perfect way for me to go. I’m a boxing guy, everybody knows that. I’ve never had an official pro boxing fight. Maybe this is the time.”

Dos Santos held the UFC Heavyweight Title in 2011 and 2012, having defeated the likes of Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, and Frank Mir. Unfortunately, four consecutive defeats in his last four matches saw Dos Santos cut from the UFC lineup.

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Stipe Miocic on UFC Heavyweight Interim Title Fight Snub: “It Does Bother Me” https://sportzbonanza.com/stipe-miocic-on-ufc-heavyweight-interim-title-fight-snub-it-does-bother-me/ Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:09:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16341 Stipe Miocic attending a baseball game in 2016.Stipe Miocic wasn’t on the shortlist of candidates for the UFC’s heavyweight interim title fight. And it’s safe to say that this didn’t sit well with the two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. Speaking with ESPN on the subject, Miocic admitted that he was bothered by the snub even though he might have said no to the […]

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Stipe Miocic wasn’t on the shortlist of candidates for the UFC’s heavyweight interim title fight. And it’s safe to say that this didn’t sit well with the two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.

Speaking with ESPN on the subject, Miocic admitted that he was bothered by the snub even though he might have said no to the offer. 

“It does bother me, because I just wish they would have at least came to me,” Miocic told the media outlet on Wednesday. “Even if I wasn’t able do it, I would have just loved to be given the opportunity. I think I deserved it.”

Miocic’s most recent stint as UFC Heavyweight Champion ended in March when he was defeated by Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 via KO in the second round. Many believed that the 39-year-old American would get a shot to win the title back soon, but UFC had other plans.

The promotion selected Derrick Lewis as Ngannou’s next opponent and scheduled the bout between the two on August 7th at UFC 265. After Ngannou decided to skip the challenge for unknown reasons, UFC created an interim title fight between Lewis and Ciryl Gane.

Gane ended up getting the win with a TKO in the third round and is next in line to face Ngannou for an opportunity to be an undisputed heavyweight champion.

But this won’t discourage Miocic from pleading his case to UFC President Dana White and attempting to get a shot for the third title. 

“I just have to sit down and have a conversation with him [White],” Miocic shared with ESPN. “And everything will fall into place.”

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Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards Agree to a Fight at UFC 262 https://sportzbonanza.com/nate-diaz-and-leon-edwards-agree-to-a-fight-at-ufc-262/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:27:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16010 After taking a lengthy break from the octagon, popular MMA fighter Nate Diaz is finally returning to UFC. According to multiple sources, Diaz agreed to fight Leon Edwards at UFC 262 on May 15th. Reportedly, Diaz and Edwards have yet to formally ink the contract for the event, but both fighters verbally agreed to the […]

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After taking a lengthy break from the octagon, popular MMA fighter Nate Diaz is finally returning to UFC. According to multiple sources, Diaz agreed to fight Leon Edwards at UFC 262 on May 15th.

Reportedly, Diaz and Edwards have yet to formally ink the contract for the event, but both fighters verbally agreed to the bout.

Diaz vs. Edwards is expected to be the first five-round fight in UFC history that doesn’t have a belt on the line. It will serve as one of UFC 262’s main bouts alongside the UFC Lightweight Championship matchup between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.

While the UFC still hasn’t made the news official, Diaz already confirmed the fight on his social media on Tuesday.

The bout against Edwards will be the first for Nate Diaz since the loss against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 in late 2019. Diaz and Masvidal clashed for the symbolic UFC BMF Belt, with Masvidal ending the fight in the third round via TKO.

Diaz has a 20-12 record in MMA, winning five fights via knockout and 11 by submission. He has second-most Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Submission of the Night achievements in UFC history.

Leon Edwards, on the other hand, will face Diaz with nine straight undefeated bouts under his belt.  His last fight against Belal Muhammad in March was ruled Non-Contest due to an accidental eye poke.

Edwards has an 18-3 record in MMA, with most of his wins coming via decision.

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Jan Blachowicz Beats Undefeated Israel Adesanya, Retains UFC Light Heavyweight Belt https://sportzbonanza.com/jan-blachowicz-beats-undefeated-israel-adesanya-retains-ufc-light-heavyweight-belt/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 06:23:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15821 Jan Blachowicz’s reign as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion won’t be as short as some predicted. Despite being the underdog against the undefeated challenger Israel Adesanya in the main fight of the UFC 259 on Saturday night, Blachowicz managed to rise to the occasion and keep his belt with a unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-45, […]

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Jan Blachowicz’s reign as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion won’t be as short as some predicted. Despite being the underdog against the undefeated challenger Israel Adesanya in the main fight of the UFC 259 on Saturday night, Blachowicz managed to rise to the occasion and keep his belt with a unanimous decision win (49-46, 49-45, 49-45).

Adesanya, who is currently the UFC Middleweight champion, was fighting in the Light Heavyweight for the first time against Blachowicz. His aim was to become just the fifth fighter in the history of the promotion to hold belts in two divisions simultaneously.

Still, going against the bigger Blachowicz proved to be a challenge that Adesanya couldn’t overcome, although the 31-year-old Nigerian downplayed the impact of the size difference after the fight.

“I wouldn’t say size because I can hurt big dudes,” said Adesanya. “I think it was just his defense. He was really tight with his defense and smart with his defense.”

With this win, Blachowicz continued with a surprisingly dominant run in UFC in recent years. He won nine out of his 10 last bouts and is currently on a five-fight winning streak.

“Everybody is different. I just found a way how to be the best,” said Blachowicz. “No question, I’m the best. I’m the best in the world.”

Adesanya, on the other hand, suffered his first professional loss. He was previously 20-0 in MMA, including having a 9-0 record since his UFC debut in early 2018.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Denies UFC Comeback Rumors https://sportzbonanza.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-denies-ufc-comeback-rumors/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 06:11:24 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15498 Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov once again had to deny the frequent and escalating rumors about his return to MMA. In a recent interview with Sport24, Nurmagomedov said that he will remain retired despite recent statements by UFC President Dana White. White recently sparked the imagination of MMA fans by saying that Nurmagomedov might […]

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Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov once again had to deny the frequent and escalating rumors about his return to MMA. In a recent interview with Sport24, Nurmagomedov said that he will remain retired despite recent statements by UFC President Dana White.

White recently sparked the imagination of MMA fans by saying that Nurmagomedov might reconsider his retirement if his potential challengers, including Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, show “something spectacular” in their next fights. Nurmagomedov and White had a chat about the topic during their meeting at UFC Fight Island 8 last week.

Nurmagomedov now decided to set the record straight and share his version of the story.

“I have achieved almost everything in this sport, and there isn’t someone I would like to fight now,” he told Sport24. “A lot of people don’t want to understand my side. I don’t see that yet. I train for myself. If we talk about all my business projects that are planned, fights are not in these plans.”

You can check out the entire interview below.

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in October after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 and defending his UFC lightweight belt for the third time. He walked away with an impressive 29-0 record.

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Deiveson Figueiredo Keeps UFC Flyweight Belt After Thrilling Draw Against Brandon Moreno https://sportzbonanza.com/deiveson-figueiredo-keeps-ufc-flyweight-belt-after-thrilling-draw-against-brandon-moreno/ Wed, 16 Dec 2020 06:33:10 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15156 You don’t often see draws in UFC—but when they happen, they are spectacular. Such was the case with the UFC Flyweight championship fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno that had fans on the edges of their seats over the weekend. Both men entered the fight focused on getting the win, and it showed early […]

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You don’t often see draws in UFC—but when they happen, they are spectacular. Such was the case with the UFC Flyweight championship fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno that had fans on the edges of their seats over the weekend.

Both men entered the fight focused on getting the win, and it showed early on. Figueiredo and Moreno exchanged searing punches, flying kicks, and often produced thrilling moments on the floor.

Each fighter had moments in the bout when they dominated, but it never lasted enough to get the clear advantage for either one. Neither Figueiredo nor Moreno were willing to cave in and let themselves get beat easily, resulting in arguably one of the best UFC fights of the year.

In the end, the fight was scored as a majority draw, with one judge giving Figueiredo a 48-46 advantage while the other two went with 47-47.

Per UFC rules, Figueiredo kept the flyweight belt as the fight produced no winner. But Moreno doesn’t intend to let his opponent get too comfortable with it.

“We need a rematch,” said Moreno after the fight. “We need that rematch. I think so. For myself, for Figueiredo, for the fans, for everybody. For the sport, of course.”

The rematch is certainly in the cards as UFC’s President Dana White all but confirmed it in a post-fight interview: “That’s another fun fight for all of us to look forward to in 2021,” said White.

Figueiredo is now 20-1-1 in MMA overall and 9-1-1 in UFC. Moreno, on the other hand, has a 7-2-2 record in UFC while maintaining a 18-5-2 record overall.

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Conor McGregor Accepts Dustin Poirier Fight But Only if it’s in 2020 https://sportzbonanza.com/conor-mcgregor-accepts-dustin-poirier-fight-but-only-if-its-in-2020/ Sun, 11 Oct 2020 06:11:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14238 Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards in 2017It didn’t take long for Conor McGregor to go back on his UFC retirement. The former featherweight and lightweight champion went on social media on Thursday to confirm that he accepted UFC’s offer to fight Dustin Poirier. The news about a potential McGregor vs. Poirier fight started circling a few weeks ago when UFC president […]

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It didn’t take long for Conor McGregor to go back on his UFC retirement. The former featherweight and lightweight champion went on social media on Thursday to confirm that he accepted UFC’s offer to fight Dustin Poirier.

The news about a potential McGregor vs. Poirier fight started circling a few weeks ago when UFC president Dana White told the media that the organization made a contract offer to both fighters. At the time, Poirier said he would accept the bout while McGregor was reluctant to sign on and instead proposed a charity exhibition event.

McGregor, who announced his retirement from MMA in May, now changed his opinion and is open to fighting under the condition that it happens this year.

“Hello Dusti! I accepted the UFC offer to fight you, but told them it must happen in 2020,” McGregor wrote on Twitter while listing the dates that would work for him including November 21st and December 12th, which are both dates that Poirier prefers.

McGregor also added that he will make a donation of $500K to Poirier’s The Good Fight Foundation.

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier had their last fight in September 2014 at UFC 178 that ended with McGregor’s win via TKO in the first round. Since then, McGregor compiled a 6-2 record while Poirier is at 10-2.

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