Jailton Almeida to Fight Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 in Early 2024

Jailton Almeida is readying for a return to The Octagon in early 2024…

The 32-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist will face Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299, according to ESPN, in what many are calling a big heavyweight battle.

Jailton AlmeidaThe fight is expected to take place in the first quarter of next year.

Sources say the bout has been signed, though the UFC has yet to make it official. UFC 299 does not have a set official date or location yet, but it will take place in March.

ESPN has Blaydes ranked No. 5 and Almeida ranked No. 8 in the world at heavyweight. The two were supposed to fight on November 4 in the main event of UFC Sao Paulo, but Blaydes withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Derrick Lewis.

Blaydes (17-4, 1 NC) is coming off a knockout loss to Sergei Pavlovich in April. The Chicago-area native was on a three-fight winning streak prior to that bout. Blaydes, 32, has lost only to power punchers Pavlovich, Francis Ngannou and Lewis in his seven-year UFC career.

Almeida (20-2) has won 15 in a row, including his first six in the UFC. The Brazil native is coming off a unanimous decision win over Lewis last month. He had never gone to a decision before in his 11-year career.

UFC 299 will be headlined by a bantamweight championship fight between champion Sean O’Malley and challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera.

Also on the card, former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos will take on Mateusz Gamrot, the promotion announced Tuesday.

MMA Fighting first reported the news.

Vicente Luque to Fight Ian Garry at UFC 296

Vicente Luque is set to face an up-and-comer…

The 31-year-old Brazilian-Chilean American mixed martial artist will face rising UFC star Ian Garry at UFC 296 on December 16 in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White announced early Sunday on social media.

Vicente LuqueBoth fighters have been teammates at Kill Cliff FC, and each is trying to get into the welterweight title conversation.

Luque (22-9-1) beat former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision on August 12. Training out of Florida, he has won five of his past seven fights. Luque has the second-most finishes in UFC welterweight history (13).

Garry (13-0) is 6-0 in UFC and coming off a dominant, unanimous decision win over Neil Magny at UFC 292 on August 19. The Ireland native is the former Cage Warriors welterweight champion. Garry, 25, is regarded as one of the best young fighters in the world and Ireland’s best chance at a UFC championship since Conor McGregor.

UFC 296 is shaping up to be one of the deepest cards of the year, headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Leon Edwards and former interim titleholder Colby Covington. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against Brandon Royval.

Vicente Luque Defeats Rafael dos Anjos in First Fight Since Brain Bleed

Vicente Luque has made a triumphant return to the Octagon

The 31-year-old Brazilian-Chilean professional mixed martial artist pulled out his first victory since suffering a brain hemorrhage in a knockout loss in 2022.

Vicente LuqueLuque defeated Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in the welterweight main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Luque smartly used strategic grappling, wrestling and clinching against the cage to outwork dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion.

“I came back stronger than ever,” Luque said in his postfight interview. “I beat a former champion in his game.”

On August 6, 2022, Luque was knocked out by Geoff Neal and was later diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) needed extra medical documentation in order for Luque to be cleared to compete. He was licensed two weeks ago.

“For me, it’s a miracle to be here,” Luque said. “A lot of people know what happened to me a year ago. I never feared anything, but I feared not being able to do this again.”

Coming in, ESPN had dos Anjos ranked No. 10 in the world at lightweight. He made his return to welterweight in his last bout.

dos Anjos had success early, landing some hard straight left hands from the southpaw stance and a big Superman elbow. Luque was able to recover, counter a takedown attempt and land some hard ground-and-pound while dos Anjos was on his hands and knees.

Luque’s grappling and wrestling success continued throughout the fight, so much so that dos Anjos’ corner removed the fighter’s ankle sleeves after the third round because they felt Luque was using them to take dos Anjos down. Luque was active with submission attempts throughout and bloodied dos Anjos with punches, too.

“In the first round, I was afraid of getting hit,” Luque said. “It had been a year without fighting. I didn’t know how I would react.”

Luque landed a career-high eight takedowns, the second-most dos Anjos had allowed. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, a high-level wrestler, had 12 against dos Anjos in 2018.

Luque (22-9-1) snapped a two-fight losing streak. The Brazilian-Chilean fighter, who trains out of Florida, has won five of seven overall. Luque said he hopes to now be back in the title mix. He was +500 to win via decision, according to Caesars Sportsbook.

Dos Anjos (32-15) beat Bryan Barberena in his welterweight return last December via second-round submission. The Brazilian-born fighter had won three of his past four bouts. Dos Anjos, 38, held the UFC lightweight title in 2015 and 2016.

Rafael dos Anjos to Fight Vicente Luque in UFC Fight Night Headliner This Summer

Rafael dos Anjos has lined up his next opponent…

The the 38-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former UFC lightweight champion has agreed to a welterweight fight against Vicente Luque this summer.

Rafael dos Anjosdos Anjos and Luque’s fight will headline UFC Fight Night on July 15, sources have confirmed with ESPN.

The card doesn’t have an official location, but it is likely to be in Las Vegas.

MMA Fighting was the first to report the news.

Dos Anjos (32-14) has won three of his past four fights. He returned to welterweight with a second-round submission win over Bryan Barberena back in December.

Dos Anjos held the UFC lightweight title in 2015 and 2016 and has the longest fight time in UFC history, more than eight hours in the Octagon.

Luque (21-9-1) is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak. Before that skid, the New Jersey-born Brazilian MMA fighter who lives and trains in Florida had won four in a row. Luque, 31, has the second most finishes in UFC welterweight history (13).

Rafael dos Anjos In Talks to Fight Rafael Fiziev in “UFC Fight Night” This Summer

Rafael dos Anjos could be heading back to the Octagon this summer…

The UFC is targeting a lightweight main event between the 37-year-old Brazilian American professional mixed martial artist and Rafael Fiziev on July 9, according to ESPN.

Rafael dos AnjosContracts haven’t been signed yet, but the UFC is close to finalizing the 155-pound fight.

It will headline UFC Fight Night at a location to be determined.

This will be the third time the UFC has booked this particular matchup. The fight was supposed to happen at a UFC Fight Night event in February but was postponed to March. It fell through again in March after Fiziev tested positive for COVID-19.

Dos Anjos (31-13) ended up fighting Renato Moicano in March and won via unanimous decision.

The former lightweight champ has won his past two via decision, against Moicano and Paul Felder.

Fiziev (11-1), of Kyrgyzstan, is quickly rising up the lightweight rankings thanks to a five-fight win streak. Most recently, he knocked out Brad Riddell in December.

Dos Anjos and Fiziev are Nos. 6 and 10 in the UFC’s official rankings.

Renato Moicano Replacing Rafael Fiziev for This Weekend’s Bout Against Rafael dos Anjos

Renato Moicano is stepping up for a battle royale…

The 32-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist will step in on just four days’ notice to battle Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC 272 on Saturday, according to ESPN sources.

Renato MoicanThe fight has been reportedly verbally agreed to and both sides are awaiting contracts.

dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion, originally was scheduled to fight Rafael Fiziev this weekend, but Fiziev withdrew Monday due to being sick with COVID-19. dos Anjos wanted to remain on the card and UFC was able to come to an agreement with Moicano.

The new fight will be contested at a catchweight of 160 pounds over five rounds.

A few other names, including top lightweight contender Islam Makhachev, were in discussions to replace Fiziev but Moicano won out.

dos Anjos tweeted that he called Makhachev’s bluff and Makhachev “folded.” Makhachev beat Bobby Green in the UFC Fight Night main event just three days ago.

Moicano is in Brazil and still waiting to find out when he’ll be able to travel to Las Vegas, per his manager, Oren Hodak of KO Reps. Fighters traditionally arrive Tuesday of fight week if the card is on Saturday.

dos Anjos (30-13) has not fought since a split-decision win over Paul Felder in November 2020. That was the Brazil-born fighter’s return to the lightweight division from welterweight. dos Anjos was the UFC lightweight champion in 2015 and 2016 and has one of the toughest strengths of schedule in the promotion’s history.

Moicano (16-4-1) has won two straight and three of his past four, with the lone loss during that span coming to Fiziev. Training out of American Top Team in Florida, he is coming off an impressive, second-round submission win over Alexander Hernandez at UFC 271 on February 12 in Houston.

Rafael dos Anjos’ Fight Against Rafael Fiziev Moved to UFC 272 in March

Rafael dos Anjos’ return is being postponed slightly…

The 37-year-old Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former UFC lightweight champion will now face off against Rafael Fiziev in the lightweight co-main event of UFC 272 on March 5 in Las Vegas, according to ESPN.

Rafael dos Anjosdos Anjos was initially scheduled to take on Fiziev for the UFC Fight Night headliner on February 19 in Las Vegas.

Fiziev reportedly had a visa delay, leading to the change. dos Anjos vs. Fiziev will remain a five-round fight, per sources.

The new UFC Fight Night main event on February 19 will be a five-round light heavyweight bout between Johnny Walker and Jamahal Hill, sources said.

Walker vs. Hill was initially scheduled as the UFC Fight Night co-main event.

dos Anjos (30-13) has not fought since a split-decision win over Paul Felder in November 2020.

The Brazilian-born fighter, who lives in California, moved back to lightweight for that bout after three years at welterweight. dos Anjos had dropped four of five fights against top 170-pound fighters before moving back down to 155, where he was the UFC champ in 2015 and 2016.

Fiziev (11-1) has won five in a row after dropping his UFC debut in 2019. The Kazakhstan-born fighter of Kyrgyzstani descent has won two of his last three fights via knockout, the most recent a third-round spinning wheel kick finish of Brad Riddell in December. Fiziev, 28, is considered one of the top young strikers in MMA.

UFC 272 will be headlined by a welterweight grudge match between former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, owner of the mythical BMF title.

Rafael dos Anjos to Fight Kevin Lee in UFC Fight Night: Rochester

Rafael dos Anjos is returning to the octagon

The 34-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist will face Kevin Lee in a battle of top welterweights at UFC Fight Night: Rochester on May 18, according to ESPN.

Rafael dos Anjos

dos Anjos is a former UFClightweight champion who claimed the belt in 2015 in a victory against Anthony Pettis. He followed that with a win against Donald “Cowboy” Cerronebut is 4-3 in his past seven fights.

dos Anjos, who moved up to welterweight in 2017, will look to rebound from two consecutive losses, unanimous-decision defeats to Colby Covingtonand Kamaru Usman, respectively.

This will mark Lee’s first fight at welterweight after spending his career in the lightweight division. He has won six of his past eight but is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to Al Iaquintain December.

Alvarez to Fight Conor McGregor to Retain His UFC Lightweight Title

Eddie Alvarez is preparing for a highly anticipated Big Apple bout…

The 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican mixed martial artist and current UFC Lightweight Champion will face off against Conor McGregor in the lightweight championship headline UFC 205 bout on November 12 at Madison Square Garden.

Eddie Alvarez

UFC officials confirmed the 155-pound title fight to ESPN on Monday. The UFC 205 pay-per-view is historic because it marks the promotion’s first trip to New York since a 1997 ban on professional mixed martial arts was lifted earlier this year.

McGregor (20-3), the current featherweight champion, will attempt to join BJ Penn and Randy Couture as the only fighters in UFC history to win titles in multiple weight classes. Per UFC president Dana White, McGregor will retain his featherweight championship through UFC 205, meaning he has the chance to become the first ever to hold those belts simultaneously.

“This is the fight the fans wanted, and I’m excited that our very first event at Madison Square Garden will be headlined by Eddie Alvarez defending the lightweight title against Conor McGregor,” White told ESPN. “This card has three world title fights and is the best card in UFC history.”

Alvarez (28-4) won the title in a first-round knockout over Rafael dos Anjos in July. The Philadelphia native also has held a 155-pound title in Bellator MMA. Alvarez publicly campaigned for a fight against McGregor, even though White briefly targeted a bout between Alvarez and Khabib Nurmagomedov.