Latest news with #NigerianNightmare
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Atlanta predictions, odds, full card picks: What does Kamaru Usman have left?
Kamaru Usman is back and ready to make one final run to the welterweight title. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) ATLANTA — The last time the UFC visited the state of Georgia, for 2019's UFC 236 pay-per-view, the world witnessed two of the greatest fights of all time — back-to-back. That's a big ask to replicate for UFC Atlanta this Saturday. Still, the Fight Night event marks the return of a big name when former welterweight champion and erstwhile pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman takes on surging contender Joaquin Buckley. Usman can snap a three-fight skid in what will be his first fight since October 2023, while Buckley hunts for his seventh straight win and first over an ex-champion. Advertisement The co-main event also features a former champion, as two-time strawweight titlist Rose Namajunas makes her first appearance of 2025 against Miranda Maverick. Overall, UFC Atlanta delivers solid name value throughout and has pretty fan-friendly matchups. 👑 UFC Atlanta's lineup Crown grade: B-. 👑 Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM. Joaquin Buckley is on the ascent through the 170-pound ranks. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / Reuters) 170 pounds: Kamaru Usman (+225) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-285) We've reached that weird spot with Usman. You know the one. The spot where a legendary fighter has lost more than they've won in recent memory, but the losses were against the highest caliber of opposition possible. Then, to add further question marks, they took a year-and-a-half-long layoff. Advertisement Who exactly is going to show up against Buckley on Saturday night? A 38-year-old "Nigerian Nightmare," that's who. If one thing has been most telling about where Usman is at this stage, and for this matchup specifically, it's the Leon Edwards trilogy fight. As forgotten as it may have become, the former champion had plenty of success in that fight. However, that was mostly due to his clinch work; his speed and takedown success declined significantly from the previous fight. Much didn't change against Khamzat Chimaev in the following fight at middleweight, and Usman's late success was arguably more thanks to Chimaev slowing down after he completely dominated the first round. Although Usman is historically a significantly better striker than Colby Covington, Buckley's last win against "Chaos" really told us all we need to know about this Usman clash and how it will go. Buckley is a powerhouse in every facet of the game, so if Usman can't get on top, this should look very similar to the Covington fight — maybe just with less "panic wrestling." Pick: Buckley 125 pounds: Rose Namajunas (-250) vs. Miranda Maverick (+200) It's a bold prediction out of the gate to have Usman fall to Buckley. Why? Because when Usman and Namajunas fight on the same event, they've produced incredible performances to go undefeated in those three instances together. Advertisement Unfortunately for the duo, the streak will be snapped, but not for "Thug." Namajunas, 32, isn't the same fighter she was when she was at her best in the strawweight division. Regardless, she's still supremely talented and a top 10 flyweight capable of turning back rising stars like Tracy Cortez. In Maverick, Namajunas will have the opportunity to do the same thing. Erin Blanchfield didn't necessarily crack the code on how to beat and best nullify Namajunas, but she utilized the blueprint and did her best to smother and wrestle her way to a victory. That's not to say Namajunas has a wrestling deficiency. Quite the opposite. It's just that when relentlessly pressured and not given space to breathe, she suffers the most. Maverick is a well-rounded fighter who is happy to fight anywhere, but with the familiarity both have with each other, having trained together, Namajunas will be further prepared for any tricks or approaches that can be taken. She's a good wrestler in her own right, but Maverick isn't the caliber of a controlling force like, let's say, a Blanchfield or Namajunas' old rival, Carla Esparza. Advertisement Expect the former champion to comfortably pick apart Maverick en route to a decision win. Pick: Namajunas 185 pounds: Edmen Shahbazyan (-185) vs. Andre Petroski (+150) Edmen Shahbazyan appears to be on the matchmaking trajectory he should have stayed on from the start of his UFC career in 2018. Unlike Usman, we know what we're getting with Shahbazyan. The guy is nonstop violence from the moment the bell sounds, seeking the knockout however it may come. Petroski has been a bit of the anti-Shahbazyan in that regard as of late, with his last five wins via decision. Unfortunately for Petroski, his three losses have all been via knockout, and the recent two were highlights for Michel Pereira and Jacob Malkoun. Advertisement Shahbazyan is just too much of an aggressive force, which is the type of fighter Petroski should fold under. Pick: Shahbazyan Cody Garbrandt is still trying to salvage any semblance of his former championship self. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images) 135 pounds: Cody Garbrandt (+165) vs. Raoni Barcelos (-200) From brutal losses to injuries, Cody Garbrandt has seen better days since his time as the UFC bantamweight champion in 2017. Garbrandt last fought when he famously kicked off the UFC 300 event against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in April 2024. Unfortunately for "No Love," he met his demise via a second-round rear-naked choke on the night before a booking against Miles Johns fell through in October. Garbrandt withdrew, and now he's in Atlanta with a chance to rebound against the Brazilian veteran, Raoni Barcelos. Advertisement Barcelos, 38, hasn't exactly been a model of activity, but his last time out was a major highlight because of its upset nature, handing super prospect Payton Talbott his first loss. Barcelos is just a technically savvy machine who never quite goes away. Garbrant will need to put him away and has the power to shut anyone's lights out, especially one of the older bantamweights on the roster, if not the oldest. This is one of those matchups where the image of Garbrandt getting his hand raised shouldn't feel too fantastical. It's just a case of Barcelos having more ways to win and a more diversified approaches to win. Pick: Barcelos 185 pounds: Mansur Abdul-Malik (-800) vs. Cody Brundage (+550) I'm going against the Cody's at UFC Atlanta, but for good reason. Advertisement Cody Brundage is going to have his work cut out for him, much more than Garbrandt. The entire MMA world knows that Mansur Abdul-Malik is just a truck, and he's run over anyone in his way. At 27, Abdul-Malik is the danger at middleweight, and Brundage is about to get hurt. The 11-fight UFC vet is going to need to survive some of the damage headed his way, then work his way to a submission on the mat. Possible, sure. Likely? Not at all. Pick: Abdul-Malik 205 pounds: Alonzo Menifield (+500) vs. Oumar Sy (-700) Alonzo Menifield has quietly been in the UFC for the better part of the past decade, and finds himself now in a bit of a sacrificial litmus test. Advertisement Oumar Sy is a cannon, somewhat similarly to Abdul-Malik. And while it feels like the comparisons between those fights are present, Menifield presents much more of a threat with his power than Brundage, which makes the odds a surprise. Menifield has a puncher's chance against anyone, but before his latest victory over a short-notice Julius Walker in Seattle, Menifield took serious damage in losses to Carlos Ulberg and Azamat Murzakanov. This fight could be a bunch of little car crashes with clinch breaks between them before an inevitable knockout. Career-wise, Sy just has much more left to give than Menifield, and we'll see that encapsulated when they collide. Pick: Sy If you remember Kris Moutinho, you know ball. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images) Preliminary Notes OK, everyone. Kris Moutinho is back, and he's one of the biggest underdogs you'll ever see in a professional sports contest. Advertisement In a double short-notice bantamweight banger, Moutinho meets Georgia's Malcolm Wellmaker. The undefeated 9-0 Wellmaker is rightfully a bright prospect in the division. Over the years, however, one thing I've learned many a time is how, outside of extreme exceptions, no prospect should ever be as large of a favorite as -2000. This fight has the perfect storyline for the MMA Gods to exploit with a ridiculous upset. Moutinho infamously gets pummeled out of the UFC by Sean O'Malley and Guido Cannetti before rattling off five straight finishes to get another shot in the promotion — and he wins it as a colossal underdog? Yeah. Let's get crazy. As for other notables, I have to shout out Ricky Simon after scoring one of the best knockouts of 2025 when he fought in February. Quick picks: Advertisement Rodolfo Bellato (-425) def. Paul Craig (+325) Michael Chiesa (-350) def. Court McGee (+275) Kris Moutinho (+1000) def. Malcolm Wellmaker (-2000) Jose Ochoa (-190) def. Cody Durden (+155) Ricky Simon (-525) def. Cameron Smotherman (+380) Ange Loosa (-135) def. Phil Rowe (+110) Vanessa Demopoulos (+400) def. Jamey-Lyn Horth (-550)
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kamaru Usman stuns audience with a brutal take on former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad ahead of the former's UFC Atlanta showdown
Belal Muhammad (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) and Kamaru Usman (Photo by Per Haljestam-Imagn Images) Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is in need of a blatant win after his last three debacles against welterweight contender Leon Edwards and middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev. While the fighter is returning to the division after a failed attempt against a middleweight fighter, Usman, in a recent press meet ahead of his UFC Atlanta bout against Joaquin Buckley, shockingly turned down a fight against one of the top contenders of the division and former champion , Belal Muhammad . Kamaru Usman denies possibility of facing Belal Muhammad anytime soon, explains speculated beef with the fighter Belal Muhammad, the former welterweight champion, recently lost his belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, which resulted in Islam Makhachev's move up to the division, with the intention of eyeing a second championship belt. Belal, who faced defeat for the first time in the last six years, seems to be getting back to work, with his recent training clips going viral. Even though there has been no official confirmation about his next opponent, sources within the promotion have confirmed Shavkat Rakhmonov to be his next potential opponent. Amid all the speculation, Kamaru Usman, who is preparing for a comeback against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025, turned heads with his unapologetic comment on Belal at a recent press meet. Usman and Belal aren't exactly friends owing to their on-set brawl while filming an episode of Pound-4-Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. The bitterness was reflected in the recent statement made by Usman. 'When Belal Muhammad was champion, there was a reason to fight him. He had a title.' The fighter stated, 'Let's be honest here. We are not the best of friends. But I don't wish him any bad.' Usman reflected on the relationship shared between the two fighters, while analysing the kind of profit he would make from a bout between the two, 'But what do you have to offer me? You are gonna give me a side deal? You gonna throw me a little extra cash on the side? If you are willing to do that, maybe. But who knows?' Usman, however, negated the existence of any bad blood between the two fighters, citing the example of Colby Covington, with whom the Nigerian Nightmare shared a full-on rivalry both inside and outside the Octagon. Belal becoming the champion and his voice being a little louder than usual was more on the lines of being annoying for Usman, and not a reason for an actual rivalry between the two. The Nigerian fighter, towards the end of his statement, however, agreed that a scenario where both fighters are eyeing the belt is an ideal situation for the fighters to face each other. Also read: 'Chill for few weeks' - Sean O'Malley reveals his plans for Octagon return after a second defeat in his year-long rivalry against Merab Dvalishvili Kamaru Usman is now preparing for his upcoming fight against Joaquin Buckley to reestablish himself within the division. There has been no response from Belal on this comment yet.
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers star Cyriel Dessers ‘adds £1.5million onto price tag' with timely goal on international duty for Nigeria
Read on to see the goal in full NICE ONE, CYRIEL Rangers star Cyriel Dessers 'adds £1.5million onto price tag' with timely goal on international duty for Nigeria IT's not often that a team's top goalscorer is one of the players fans want sold ahead of a new season. But such is the enigma of Cyriel Dessers, that it's the case for many a Rangers supporter. 3 Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for Nigeria in their game against Ghana Credit: PREMIER SPORTS 3 He then jumped into the crowd to celebrate Credit: PREMIER SPORTS 3 And was mobbed by fans Credit: PREMIER SPORTS And he may just have added to his transfer value with a timely goal on international duty for Nigeria. The 30-year-old striker hit the net for the Super Eagles in the 14th minute of their Unity Cup clash against Ghana. Dessers hit 29 goals across all competitions for Gers this season but he is somewhat of a pariah amongst the Ibrox faithful. The £4.5m signing from Cremonese has a tendency to miss so-called big chances, but is often praised for his work rate. With new ownership due to takeover at Ibrox this summer, there's a chance each and every player will have a for-sale sign attached to them. Dessers has a contract that runs until 2027 and after his international exploits, Gers fans reckon his price tag will have increased. He opened the scoring after 14 minutes after being handed a start in the match at the Brentford Community Stadium. Dessers took up a position inside the Ghana penalty box as Sodiq Ismaila charged down the right flank and swung a ball into the area. The Rangers forward took a touch with his chest, composed himself and then rolled the ball with his right foot past Benjamin Asare and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. After jumping into the crowd to celebrate, Rangers fans on social media began to speculate about the impact of the goal on Dessers' market value. Rangers icon Paul Gascoigne makes surprise Match of the Day appearance as footie greats pay tribute to Gary Lineker One fan said: "Can debate his merits and shortcomings all season, he gets goals, but I think we should sell him, and not for all the frustrations over the season, but because his value will never be higher than right now. "Sell and reinvest, isn't that the model?" Another said: "Should make a bit of profit this summer on the big man." And in a similar vein, this fan said: "The Nigerian Nightmare adding money onto his value." One fan went a step further by placing an actual figure on it. They said: "Another £1.5 million added onto the price tag." Another fan suggested it would be a lesser amount he'd added to his value with the strike, but nonetheless reached the same conclusion that he should be sold this summer. They said: "Extra million on the transfer fee. One of those high earners that the 49ers will trim off the wage bill." Nigeria would go on to win the game 2-1. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Security Would Have To Be There'
Kamaru Usman returns from a year and a half away from the sport in June to take on Joaquin Buckley in a battle for welterweight contender status. And while we could be witnessing a changing of the guard from one generation to the next, there's unfinished business between Usman and current 170 pound champion Belal Muhammad. While the footage has never been released, Usman and Muhammad reportedly got into a brawl on the set of Kamaru's Pound 4 Pound podcast last year. In a new interview with ESPN, 'The Nigerian Nightmare discussed the incident and his feelings towards 'Remember The Name.' Advertisement 'There's allegedly a lot of speculation, you know?' he said of the podcast fist fight. 'A lot of things being said.' 'Belal is a guy that was always around and I never really paid attention to because I was doing what I needed to do,' Usman said. 'I was always fighting the next guy up, next guy up. I didn't really pay attention to Belal. But now that I'm forced to actually look at Belal, he's not bad. He's just good everywhere. And that's been working for him. So he's not bad. I'm never in any way discrediting that.' 'Once I was forced to pay attention to him, I started to kinda see the antics that go on outside of the cage, and I was never that guy. If I was champion and the next guy up was barking at me, then of course I would respond and then we get in there and we'd settle it. But Belal just seems to be a different type of champion who is willing to make memes and get on Twitter because he wants the attention. He craves that attention.' 'Even if you're a guy that's not in his division, he's willing to have that back and forth with you,' Usman continued. 'And for me, I just find it a little bit distasteful and I wasn't a part of it. Then he became champion, and he started to come at me with that energy. It was like, 'Oh, you have a problem with me? Well, if you have a problem, I don't really play on the internet. Let's talk it out.' And so we invited him on a podcast and ... it went how it went.' Advertisement 'That's all I can say. Eventually, hopefully, we'll release that podcast because he was only there for like maybe ten minutes. It wasn't really long. And then it was over and he left.' While Usman has a reputation for being a chill dude, he said there would have to be security on hand to keep things from popping off if the two ran into each other again. 'Probably, yeah,' he told ESPN. 'I'm very level headed, especially when I'm outside of the cage. But for the last two years, I haven't been in the thick of it.' 'When you're in the thick of it, you're on alert all the time. Me and George St-Pierre, we had this conversation where he expressed that to me. He's like, 'When you're in it, you're always this defensive guy.' And I hadn't been that for a while, but now that I'm back in the thick of it, yeah. They probably have to have security back there with us.' Advertisement Belal Muhammad defends his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10th. Kamaru Usman fight Joaquin Buckley in the main event of a June 14th Fight Night in Atlanta. What happens after that depends on who wins and who loses ... or if there's enough security around to stop something from going down outside the cage. More from
