MMA Junkie Radio #3586: Guest Eryk Anders, UFC on ABC 9 preview, more
On Episode 3,586, the guys welcome in UFC middleweight Eryk Anders, who takes on Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC on ESPN 72. The fellas also preview UFC on ABC 9, which takes place in Abu Dhabi. Tune in!
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Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Din Thomas: 'It's a disaster' if Khamzat Chimaev wins title at UFC 319
UFC analyst Din Thomas about has concerns about Khamzat Chimaev's reliability as champion if he claims middleweight gold from Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 319 main event. After starting his UFC career by becoming the quickest fighter in modern history to three octagon wins, Chimaev's pace had slowed significantly in recent years, with just five fight since September 2020. His talent has been undeniable, however, and he's now just weeks away from challenging Du Plessis in the Aug. 16 headliner at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). The MMA world is collectively holding its breathe that Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes it to fight night without issue. If that happens and he delivers a winning performance against Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), then Thomas thinks that's where the issues could only begin. "If Khamzat wins it's a disaster," Thomas told MMA Junkie. "You can't tell me a part of you isn't just thinking, 'This fight might not actually happen.' Some of these guys habitual struggle in just making it to the dance. I'm not going to be pessimistic about it and will say he's going to show up. But if he does show up and he's able to win, do we trust him to be able to show up and fight again? That's the thing. "Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement. I hate when it's static and there's no movement in these divisions and in order to be movement in the divisions, the champions have to fight." Only speculation can be placed on what Chimaev's fighting schedule could look like if he claims UFC gold. However, Thomas ultimately thinks that won't be a reality the promotion will face. His analysis of the 185-pound title bout could evolve as UFC 319 gets closer, but as it currently stands, Thomas is predicting Du Plessis to retain the belt. "I think Dricus wins," Thomas said. "I think he beats him and wears him out earlier, actually, and even before the fifth round. It think he could get a stoppage somewhere in the third. Not just weathering the storm, but matching the pace, being a little more efficient in areas and we just start to see Khamzat slow down a little bit and Dricus take over." To hear more from Thomas, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Din Thomas: Khamzat Chimaev title win at UFC 319 would be 'a disaster'
USA Today
2 minutes ago
- USA Today
Din Thomas: 'It's a disaster' if Khamzat Chimaev wins title at UFC 319
UFC analyst Din Thomas about has concerns about Khamzat Chimaev's reliability as champion if he claims middleweight gold from Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 319 main event. After starting his UFC career by becoming the quickest fighter in modern history to three octagon wins, Chimaev's pace had slowed significantly in recent years, with just five fight since September 2020. His talent has been undeniable, however, and he's now just weeks away from challenging Du Plessis in the Aug. 16 headliner at United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). The MMA world is collectively holding its breathe that Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes it to fight night without issue. If that happens and he delivers a winning performance against Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC), then Thomas thinks that's where the issues could only begin. "If Khamzat wins it's a disaster," Thomas told MMA Junkie. "You can't tell me a part of you isn't just thinking, 'This fight might not actually happen.' Some of these guys habitual struggle in just making it to the dance. I'm not going to be pessimistic about it and will say he's going to show up. But if he does show up and he's able to win, do we trust him to be able to show up and fight again? That's the thing. "Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement. I hate when it's static and there's no movement in these divisions and in order to be movement in the divisions, the champions have to fight." Only speculation can be placed on what Chimaev's fighting schedule could look like if he claims UFC gold. However, Thomas ultimately thinks that won't be a reality the promotion will face. His analysis of the 185-pound title bout could evolve as UFC 319 gets closer, but as it currently stands, Thomas is predicting Du Plessis to retain the belt. "I think Dricus wins," Thomas said. "I think he beats him and wears him out earlier, actually, and even before the fifth round. It think he could get a stoppage somewhere in the third. Not just weathering the storm, but matching the pace, being a little more efficient in areas and we just start to see Khamzat slow down a little bit and Dricus take over." To hear more from Thomas, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
Forbes
33 minutes ago
- Forbes
UFC Vegas 108: Taira Vs. Park Full Fight Card Betting Odds
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: Tatsuro Taira of Japan reacts after his knockout victory against ... More Carlos Hernandez in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The next event on the 2025 UFC schedule takes place on Saturday, August 2, in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex. That fight card, UFC Vegas 108, is headlined by a short-notice main event between Tatsuro Taira and Hyun Sung Park at flyweight. We look at the betting odds for the full UFC Fight Night card. UFC Vegas 108 Main Card Betting Odds Tatsuro Taira (-340) vs. Hyun Sung Park (+280) - Flyweight Chris Duncan (+175) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (-205) - Lightweight Elves Brener (+220) vs. Esteban Ribovics (-260) - Lightweight Nora Cornolle (+150) vs. Karol Rosa (-175) - Women's bantamweight Neil Magny (+170) vs. Elizeu Zaleski (-200) - Welterweight Danny Silva (+330) vs. Kevin Vallejos (-430) - Featherweght UFC Vegas 108 Preliminary Card Nathan Fletcher (+300) vs. Rinya Nakamura (-400) - Bantamweight Tresean Gore (+187) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (-222) - Middleweight Nick Klein (+130) vs. Andrey Pulayev (-150) - Middleweight Felipe Bunes (+360) vs. Rafael Estevam (-460) - Flyweight Piera Rodriguez (-190) vs. Ketlen Souza (+165) - Strawweight *Odds via BetOnline UFC Vegas 108 Main Event: Tatsuro Taira vs. Hyun Sung Park LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 12: Tatsuro Taira of Japan reacts after a flyweight fight against ... More Brandon Royval during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Tatsuro Taira (16-1) rose through the UFC flyweight ranks fairly quickly. He joined the UFC in May 2022 with a record of 10-0, and after winning the Shooto flyweight title. Taira opened his UFC career with a unanimous decision win over Carlos Candelario in May 2022. He followed that with back-to-back submission wins in contests where he earned 'Performance of the Night' bonuses, defeating C.J. Vergara and Jesús Santos Aguilar. Wins over Edgar Chairez and Carlos Hernandez in 2023 followed. In June, Taira got the first true test of his UFC career when he faced Alex Perez in a main event on a UFC Fight Night card at the Apex. At the time, Taira was the No. 13 ranked fighter in the UFC's flyweight division, and Perez, who had fought Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC 125-pound title in 2020, was ranked No. 5. The fight ended when Taira took the back of his opponent in the center of the Octagon and forced him to the mat, putting enormous pressure on Perez's knee and causing an injury that brought the fight to a halt in the second stanza. From all appearances, and judging from his comments after the victory, the move that finished the contest was a designed technique. That win put Taira at No. 5 in the UFC rankings, earning him a shot at former UFC flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval, who entered the October 2024 contest as the No. 1 ranked in the UFC's 125-pound division. Royval and Taira put on a 'Fight of the Night' bonus-winning scrap, but the more experienced Royval took home the split-decision win, handing Taira the first loss of his professional career. The 25-year-old Taira is currently the No. 6 ranked UFC flyweight. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: HyunSung Park of South Korea reacts after a submission victory against ... More Carlos Hernandez in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Hyun Sung Park (10-0) won Road to UFC in early 2023 with a knockout of Seung Guk Choi. He followed that with a knockout of Shannon Ross in late 2023. Park did not compete in 2024 having had fights against Andre Lima and Nyamjargal Tumendemberel cancelled. He returned to the Octagon in March, scoring a first-round submission win over Carlos Hernandez at UFC Vegas 106. I wrote of the 29-year-old at the time, 'HyunSung Park looked excellent at UFC Vegas 106, moving to 3-0 in the UFC's flyweight division. Park used effective striking to hurt Carlos Hernandez against the fence. That striking made Hernandez move to the clinch, but Park showed his overall MMA ability in scoring a takedown, which led to a back take and a rear naked choke sub at 2:26 of Round 1. The 29-year-old Park looks ready for a test in his next outing as he has picked up three finishes in three UFC outings.' He gets that test in a big way and on short notice on Saturday night. Park has only gone the distance once in his MMA career. UFC Vegas 108 comes on the heels of UFC Abu Dhabi, where Reinier de Ridder defeated Robert Whittaker in the middleweight main event. We will have more on the UFC Vegas 108 fight card as fight night nears, including betting odds, picks, predictions and more. As well as full fight card results, reactions and highlights on fight night.
