Latest news with #lightweight
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Davis reaches PFL finals but Hadley loses
Britain's Alfie Davis reached the final of the PFL lightweight tournament with a unanimous decision win against Brent Primus in Wichita, 33, was the busier striker in a back-and-forth contest, sealing a 29-28 victory on all three judges' scorecards at the Intrust Bank sees Davis compete for his first world title and the chance to win £395,000 ($500,000) in prize will face Russia's Gadzhi Rabadanov in the PFL Finals on 15 August at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North was disappointment for fellow Briton Jake Hadley, however, who was outclassed by Brazil's Marcirley Alves in the bantamweight 28, was on the back foot throughout as Alves dominated with his striking, landing a number of thudding combinations. Davis edges entertaining contest The PFL has been a breeding ground for success for Britons in recent years with Brendan Loughnane winning the featherweight title in 2022 and Dakota Ditcheva securing women's flyweight gold last will have the chance to become Britain's first PFL lightweight champion after delivering the more eye-catching moments in an entertaining contest with Primus. Primus, who was last year's beaten finalist, edged the first round, controlling the action on the ground but Davis came alive in the unleashed a selection of eye-catching strikes, hurting Primus with knees to the body and catching the American with a couple of spinning back the crowd showing their appreciation, Davis danced in the middle of the cage as the final seconds of the round ticked continued to land in the final round and despite being taken down, reversed the position to end the fight on top, before celebrating victory with his team. Hadley, who parted ways with the UFC last year after his contract expired, failed to join Davis as he was overpowered by started strongly and never looked back, landing a number of combinations to the body with Hadley using his jab in vain to disrupt the Brazilian exerted more control in the second round, dropping Hadley with a straight right and opening a cut below his left continued to struggle with Alves' power and the Brazilian stamped his authority on the contest by landing a takedown in the final the prelims, Ireland's Darragh Kelly extended the unbeaten start to his career to eight by submitting American lightweight Mike Hamel in the third some clean shots from Hamel, Kelly was the better striker throughout before securing a rear-naked choke with two minutes remaining to end the Fabian Edwards faces American Josh Silveira in the middleweight semi-finals at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois on 27 Briton Simeon Powell fights Brazil's Antonio Carlos Jr in the light-heavyweight semi-finals on the same card.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in UFC on ABC 8 debut
Tofiq Musaev enters his UFC on ABC 8 debut with a more decorated resume than most newcomers, but he knows stepping into the octagon is something unto itself. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who won the 2019 Rizin FF lightweight grand prix and has beaten the likes of Patricky Freire, Johnny Case and Sidney Outlaw, will test himself against the 155-pound roster in the UFC starting with Saturday's matchup against Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement "It's a dream of all fighters to be fighting in the UFC," Musayev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "It's a different level of course. I feel very lucky that I'm ere. I have fought in different organizations but this is a unique one. I have prepared well and I am going to represent my country with pride. I have prepared specifically for my opponent." Although Musayev has proven himself to be high level, there's speculation about whether, at 35, he's coming into the shark tank of the UFC's lightweight division too late to rise to the top. Only time will tell, but he intends to give it his best shot. "Age is just a number for me," Musayev said. "If anyone thinks otherwise, they shouldn't even be competing in the UFC." Advertisement "I'm focused on my opponent and later on I will focus on the next steps. This fight will determine what the next fights will be." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: RIZIN vet Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in debut
Forbes
5 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Ilia Topuria Wants To Fight Paddy Pimblett: 'I Hate Him'
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26:Ilia Topuria of Spain prepares to face Max Holloway in ... More the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Ilia Topuria competes for the vacant UFC lightweight title in the main event of the upcoming UFC 317 pay-per-view card. While Topuria does not hold that title, the never-lacking-in-confidence former UFC featherweight champ seems to have concluded that he will beat ex-UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira in their June 28 matchup and that he will walk away from T-Mobile Arena as the 155-pound titleholder. With his customary cocksureness, Topuria is already looking at a potential opponent for his first lightweight title defense. That fighter is Paddy Pimblett. LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: (L-R) Ilia Topuria of Spain circles Jai Herbert of England in a ... More lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at O2 Arena on March 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Not one to forget a slight, Topuria and Pimblett have had beef since 2021, when Pimblett got into an online argument with UFC fighter Guram Kutateladze, who hails from the country of Georgia. During that back-and-forth, Pimblett posted a since-deleted remark, "Lad how stupid are these Georgians man, no wonder the Russians terrorise their lives.'" That remark led to a confrontation in the fighter hotel in London in March 2022, where a punch and a bottle of hand sanitizer were thrown. "It didn't happen because he called me something yesterday. It comes from a long time ago," Topuria explained at the time on The MMA Hour. "He was arguing with one of my close friends once on Twitter, and he posted [something] "And to see how someone is joking about that, it makes my blood boil," Topuria continued. "So I texted with him, I don't remember what I tweeted, and when they gave me the fight in London, he text me like three weeks ago, like, 'I can't wait to see you in London. We'll see if you have the balls to tell me everything you texted me on Twitter.' Bulls—t." "Can you imagine if I started to make some jokes about the war, where their children are dying, where people are suffering?" Topuria continued. "You can't talk about that. So this is why. "The same situation [happened to us], we were living in Georgia in 2008," Topuria added. "The same situation. I was living there, and a lot of guys from my class, my friends, I saw all of them out there, their parents were dying in the war, and crazy situations — I can't even explain how the situation was at that time. [It bothers me] when I hear someone joking about that." Topuria and Pimblett fought on that London card with Topuria knocking out Jai Herbert in the first round of their lightweight bout. Meanwhile, Pimblett defeated Kazula Vargas via submission. Both men earned "Performance of the Night" bonuses for their wins. LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 8: Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett held back by security during a shouting ... More match at the UFC 282 pre-fight press conference on December 8, 2022, at the MGM Garden Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Topuria and Pimblett reignited their feud in December 2022 when they shared a stage for the UFC 282 press conference. During that press conference, Pimblett said to Topuria, 'Are you talking English? English? Speak English for the people, lad, not German or Spanish like you're from, you mongrel. You pretend to be Georgian, but you're not. You were born in Germany, and you live in Spain. You were born in Germany, and you live in Spain. You're a little mongrel. That's what you are. You're a little mongrel.' Those words did not sit well with Topuria, as he stood and threatened Pimblett during the event before things seemed to cool down, at least at the time. Both men fought on the PPV card on that event, with Topuria opening the main card with a submission win over Bryce Mitchell. Meanwhile, Pimblett defeated Jared Gordon via decision in the co-main event that night. Topuria earned a "Performance of the Night" bonus for his stoppage. Since UFC 282, Topuria has won, defended, and relinquished the UFC featherweight crown. Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to claim that title and then knocked out Max Holloway in defense of the belt. ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26: Ilia Topuria of Spain reacts after a knockout victory ... More against Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) As for Pimblett, he is the No. 8 ranked UFC lightweight. His most recent win is an April 2025 TKO victory over Michael Chandler. MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 29: UFC fighter Ilia Topuria during press conference after WOW 17 at Madrid ... More Arena on March 29, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images) 'Honestly, if I could choose a fight, I would fight him because I hate him,'told ESPN Deportes in Spanish (via MMA Junkie) "He's a pain in the ass. I'd love to give that fight to the fans, because for a long time, I believe that in the UFC, you haven't seen a real fight. Two people who really want to fight each other, and what better way than to fight in front of everyone and put on a show? I know what's going to happen, and it won't be good for him." Pimblett does not have a fight scheduled. Topuria faces Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 for the vacant UFC lightweight title.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WBO President Announces The Two Contenders To Fight For Vacant WBO Lightweight Title
WBO President Announces The Two Contenders To Fight For Vacant WBO Lightweight Title originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After Keyshawn Davis missed weight by 4.3 pounds, the boxer was stripped of his WBO title. Advertisement He was supposed to defend against Edwin de Los Santos at his hometown in Norfolk, Virginia's Scope Arena. Due to this development, the lightweight title became vacant, and therefore, the WBO had to choose suitable opponents to occupy that space. This left the WBO with no other choice but to officially order a contest between Sam Noakes and Abdullah Mason to occupy the vacant lightweight title. Gustavo Olivieri, president of the World Boxing Organization, went on his X account to share the development: 'Re: WBO Lightweight Division WBO Championships Committee has ordered negotiations between #1 Sam Noakes & #2 Abdullah Mason, for the vacant WBO lightweight Title. Advertisement The official negotiation order shall be notified & published shortly. Parties have 20 days to reach an agreement. #WBO,' posted Gustavo Olivieri on his X account. Abdullah Mason (21 years old) has been on a good trajectory as he was recently posted on the list of young and hungry fighters that Turki Alalshikh would like to feature on the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford undercard to make the show that will be aired on Netflix a night filled with good young prospects. Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) is no stranger to praise from the WBO president, as he received the same praise in a recent post on the WBO president's X account before this opportunity came knocking. 'Abdullah Mason looks better every time out; sharper, smarter, more dangerous. He's evolving into a serious force... En route to a world #WBO world lightweight title,' posted Gustavo Olivieri. Advertisement His opponent, Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs), is currently ranked at No. 9 by the Ring, just one place above Abdullah Mason. At 27 years old, he currently holds the British and Commonwealth lightweight title. This title fight would be a good addition to the Canelo-Crawford card set for September 13th in Las Vegas. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Didn't want to' – Ilia Topuria explains reason for major career change ahead of UFC 317 clash with Charles Oliveira
ILIA TOPURIA has revealed why he ditched the UFC featherweight title. The Georgian-born Spaniard vacated the 145lbs belt he ripped from Alexander Volkanovski 's clutches in February to pursue lightweight gold. 4 4 4 The 28-year-old departed the division after a sole, but emphatic, title defence against fan favourite Max Holloway last October. Topuria left featherweight with a wealth of contenders, all of whom he'd have to face after cutting more than a STONE of bodyweight, champing at the bit to face him. And the difficulty of the gruelling 40lbs weight cut ultimately proved to be the catalyst for a permanent return to lightweight. He told ESPN Deportes: 'In that moment [when cutting weight], I'm so low. "I feel terrible… I didn't want to suffer anymore… "It's like living in the desert, and I wanted to live on the beach.' Topuria has looked to have put on a considerable amount of muscle mass on his frame ahead of his crack at the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 later this month. The fight will be his first since his departure from his long-time trainers Jorge and Augustin Climent and decision to make Madrid his permanent training base. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 The split was an amicable one, with Jorge telling Submission Radio: "You feel, always, this is not good for the sentimental feeling, but this [is] life. 'We go with him on the journey and now he grow, and he wants to fly away, you know? Ilia Topuria went OFF on Conor McGregor in response to his tweet "We are very proud to [go as far as we did] with him. We are very proud for everything he [has done]. "Of course, we are a little sad, but I want everything in his life [to] continue going well. "I want all good for him and his brother, and I think that they do the same for us. 'I don't know what can be in the future. We have our own [direction right now] We love him. We love his brother. "We know he's going to [beat] everybody that [he fights] because he's the best.
