After a tough defeat at UFC Fight Night 243, Benoit Saint Denis issues a statement addressing his fans and reflecting on his performance. The French fighter suffered a Round 2 doctor's stoppage TKO loss to Renato Moicano and credits a slow start for his downfall. Despite the loss, Saint Denis is grateful for the support and proud to represent France in the octagon.
French fighter Fares Ziam electrified the Paris crowd with a third-round knockout against Matt Frevola at a UFC event in his hometown. The brutal knee strike was quickly dubbed a Knockout of the Year contender and marked Ziam's first finish in the UFC. After apologizing for the extra punches thrown, Ziam reflected on the importance of enjoying the moment and making the most of fighting in front of a home crowd.
Ailin Perez proved her dominance in the octagon once again as she secured her fourth consecutive win at UFC Fight Night 243. The fighter defeated Darya Zheleznyakova via a submission in a highly anticipated matchup. Fans eagerly await to see what the future holds for Perez as she continues to climb the ranks in the world of MMA.
Ailin Perez's weight cut had no impact on her impressive performance at UFC Paris over the weekend. Despite struggling on the scales, Perez secured a first-round head-and-arm choke submission victory over Darya Zheleznyakova. However, it was Perez's twerking celebration that stole the show, as she directly twerked on her defeated opponent's face. The video of her celebration has since gone viral and Perez continues to impress with a 4-1 record in the UFC.
Valentina Shevchenko is stepping back into the octagon to reclaim her UFC flyweight belt against Alexa Grasso, who handed her a controversial draw in their last encounter. In a recent interview, Shevchenko revealed her game plan for the fight, which involves exploiting Grasso's apparent vulnerability. However, Grasso believes that this strategy is flawed and that it could be what stands in the way of Shevchenko's victory. With a history of counterpunching, will Shevchenko's wait-and-see approach work against a dominant opponent like Grasso?
Mackenzie Dern made history at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas by becoming the first female fighter to win a fight by leglock submission. The highly touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner executed a kneebar in the second round against Hannah Cifers, showcasing improved striking skills throughout the early standup battle. Dern's victory comes after her first loss as a professional last October and solidifies her as a force to be reckoned with in the division.
When South African MMA fighter Dricus Du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 on Saturday night, the group of MMA enthusiasts led by popular podcaster Joe Rogan had mixed reactions. While fans celebrated Du Plessis' incredible victory, Rogan and his pals seemed shocked and disappointed with 'Stylebender' losing his middleweight title. Their commentary during the fight was filled with exclamations and concerns for Adesanya's well-being, giving viewers a unique perspective on the intense matchup.
Boxer Ryan Garcia made a bold prediction and bet $500,000 on Dricus Du Plessis to defeat Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Despite not sharing any receipts of the bet, Garcia confidently celebrates his win and calls out those who doubted him. This adds to ongoing speculations about Garcia's interest in UFC and possible retirement from boxing.
Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa continues to struggle inside the Octagon, as his losing streak extends to four with a defeat to Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Tuivasa, who was previously ranked #3 in the division, has now suffered consecutive losses to Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov, and now Rozenstruik. Despite the disappointment, Tuivasa remains determined to bounce back and continue fighting.
After being counted out by many, Dricus Du Plessis shocked the world by winning the UFC 305 fight against Israel Adesanya. With a strategic game plan and incredible heart, Du Plessis proved that he was not someone to be underestimated. He also took the opportunity to call out former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub, who had predicted Adesanya's easy win against him, with a tweet that quickly went viral.