Latest news with #HeavyweightDivision
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ESPN 70 pre-event facts: Steve Garcia can take KO streak into all-time territory
The UFC returns to Nashville for the seventh time in company history Saturday with UFC on ESPN 70, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena with a full card that airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+. Heavyweight occupy the headlining position on the card, with former title challenger and all-time octagon knockout king Derrick Lewis (28-12 MMA, 19-10 UFC) set to clash against Tallison Teixeira (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who jumps into the Frey in his sophomore promotional appearance. Advertisement For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the lineup, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts for UFC on ESPN 70. Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira Derrick Lewis Lewis competes in his 30th UFC heavyweight bout, the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (42). Lewis' 19 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Andre Arlovski (23). Lewis' 15 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history. Lewis' 15 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied for fourth-most in company history behind Charles Oliveira (20), Jim Miller (17) and Donald Cerrone (16). Advertisement Lewis' 15 knockout victories in UFC competition are most in company history. Lewis' 15 knockout victories in UFC competition stemming from punches are the most in company history. Lewis' eight knockouts stemming from ground strikes in UFC competition are tied with Cain Velasquez for most in company history. Lewis' eight fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are tied with Stefan Struve for second-most in divisional history behind Stipe Miocic (nine). Tallison Teixeira Teixeira has earned all eight of his career victories by first-round stoppage. Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim Stephen Thompson's (17-8-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Thiago Alves (13), Jake Ellenberger (11) and Matt Brown (11). Advertisement Thompson's eight fight-night bonuses for UFC welterweight fights are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Chris Lytle (10), Vicente Luque (nine) and Brown (nine). Gabriel Bonfim (17-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned 16 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. That includes three of his four UFC wins. Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia Calvin Kattar's (23-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since January 2022. Steve Garcia's (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Movsar Evloev (eight), Lerone Murphy (eight) and Melquizael Costa (five). Advertisement Garcia has earned all 14 of his career stoppage victories by knockout. That includes all six of his UFC wins. Garcia's five-fight UFC knockout streak is tied for fourth-longest in company history behind Chuck Liddell (seven), Don Frye (six) and Sergei Pavlovich (six). Garcia's five-fight UFC stoppage streak is longest among active fighters in the company. Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos Junior Tafa (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) drops to the UFC light heavyweight division after spending his previous five octagon appearances at heavyweight. Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis Chris Curtis (31-12 MMA, 5-4 UFC) drops to the UFC welterweight division after spending his previous 10 octagon appearances at middleweight. Advertisement Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani Jake Matthews (20-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) makes his 22nd octagon appearance, the most by any Australian-born fighter in company history. Matthews is 10-4 since he moved up to the UFC welterweight division in November 2017. Chidi Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is 3-0 since he dropped to the UFC welterweight division in March 2024. Njokuani's 16-second victory at UFC Fight Night 200 marked the second-fastest debut in UFC middleweight history behind Marc Weir's 10-second win at UFC 38. Lauren Murphy vs. Eduarda Moura Lauren Murphy (16-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Jan. 21, 2023. The 903-day layoff is longest of her more than 15-year career. Advertisement Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Valter Walker Kennedy Nzechukwu (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is 2-0 since he moved up to the heavyweight division in October. Nzechukwu earned a knockout at UFC 259 despite a -64 deficit in significant strikes landed, the biggest statistical comeback for a light heavyweight bout and third overall in UFC history. Valter Walker (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is one of four heavyweights in UFC history to earn a submission victory by heel hook. He accomplished the feat at UFC 305. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC on ESPN 70 pre-event facts: Steve Garcia's KO streak an all-timer
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Dana White loses patience with Jon Jones and teases imminent title stripping as Tom Aspinall UFC fight hangs in balance
DANA WHITE has seemingly set Jon Jones a deadline to make a decision on fighting Tom Aspinall. The UFC brass have been trying to finalise a showdown between their heavyweight king and his interim counterpart since last November. 4 4 4 White and Co. have even agreed to break their pay structure and give Jones " F**K YOU MONEY" for the mammoth unification bout. Jones, 37, agreed to the multi-million-pound purse on offer but has publicly toyed with the prospect of retirement. White is refusing to give up hope of finalising the bout but insists the UFC won't dance to the beat of Jones' drum much longer. During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, the 55-year-old said: "We'll see how this thing plays out over the next couple of weeks. "If we can't get this fight done, we'll move on quickly. We'll have answers in the next couple weeks." White insists the delay in booking the biggest fight in the history of the UFC's heavyweight division isn't down to Jones being scared of Wigan warrior Aspinall. The UFC's CEO and President added: "Jon Jones has never, ever said, 'I'm afraid to fight this guy. "Or, 'I don't like this fight for me,' or any of that stuff. One time, his coach at the time, back in the day. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 "I don't know if he's still with him or whatever. I think it's the only fight we've ever cancelled. "I had to cancel a show because he wouldn't fight Chael Sonnen, because his coach thought it was a bad idea to take that fight on late notice. Jon Jones Blasts UFC Rival Tom Aspinall In X-Rated Rant "But it had nothing to do with Jon Jones. "Jon Jones has never turned down an opponent here or been afraid to fight anybody." White, for the last few months, has been bullish with his belief that Jones will sign on the dotted line and face Aspinall in a bout SunSport understands is still targeted for November. But it became apparent last week that his confidence in booking the dust-up has waned when he admitted: "You can't make people fight. "If Jon doesn't want to fight, you can't make him fight. "We can try to make him fight, we can throw things at him that inspire him to want to fight. But we'll figure it out. Former pound-for-pound king Jones hasn't set foot inside the octagon since defending his heavweight strap in a Madison Square Garden mauling of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November. Aspinall, meanwhile, has been on the sidelines since defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds at UFC 304 last July.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Oleksandr Usyk ordered to defend titles against Joseph Parker in blow to Daniel Dubois
Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to defend his title against WBO interim champion Joseph Parker, potentially leaving Daniel Dubois out in the cold. IBF champion Dubois and Parker were due to clash in February, with the winner expected to challenge unified title holder Usyk next. However, Dubois withdrew on two days' notice due to illness, and Parker knocked out late replacement Martin Bakole in two rounds. Dubois's father later revealed that his son would seek a fight with Usyk next, rather than a rescheduled meeting with Parker, but the latter – by securing the WBO interim title against Bakole – might have beaten Dubois to a shot at the Ukrainian. An email from WBO chairman and founder Luis Batista Salas, sent to promoters Alex Krassyuk and Frank Warren, read: 'Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between the subject matter's fighters [Usyk and Parker] to discharge the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the Heavyweight Division. 'By virtue of this order, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated expeditiously in compliance with our institutional policy of only one world champion per weight class. The parties have 30 days to reach terms. Failure to do so will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. 'Lastly, the WBO reserves its right to issue any and all further rulings deemed necessary, helpful, and convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies, and intent of the WBO rules, including but not limited to serving those interests that best boxing and the Heavyweight Division.' Usyk vs Parker is not a certainty; it is possible that the 30-day negotiation period could end without a deal being struck. Usyk, 37, last boxed in December, beating Tyson Fury on points for the second time in seven months. With his first win over the Briton, the Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years; with his second, he retained the unified belts, having vacated the IBF title between the two fights. Dubois, 27, won the interim IBF belt before Usyk gave up the regular title, therefore the Briton was elevated to official champion in the aftermath. He retained the gold with a knockout of Anthony Joshua in September, for a third straight win since suffering a stoppage loss to Usyk in 2023. In that fight with Usyk, Dubois dropped the unbeaten southpaw with a low blow that many fans believed was a legal body shot. Dubois appealed the result, but to no avail. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Parker would be a fresh opponent for Usyk. The 33-year-old is riding a six-fight win streak, having last lost in 2022.
