Latest news with #lightheavyweight
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Du Plessis Sends a Clear Message About Moving Up to Light Heavyweight Division
Du Plessis Sends a Clear Message About Moving Up to Light Heavyweight Division originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Middleweight champion focused on defending his crown before considering a jump to light heavyweight The countdown is on for UFC 319, set to take over the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, in just a couple weeks. The main event will pit two undefeated UFC stars against each other in an intriguing clash of styles — Dricus Du Plessis defending his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev on August 16. With such high stakes, it's no surprise that speculation is already swirling about what could be next for Du Plessis should he leave the Windy City victorious. In a clip shared by Championship Rounds and during an interview with the Chicago Sports Network, Du Plessis addressed the idea of moving up to light heavyweight. 'Yes, the long term goal is to move up, I'm still young in my career. I believe in at least three title defenses before you move up in weight, and then of course the division needs to be cleared out before you move on to the next division.' He doubled down on the fact that the middleweight class still has plenty to offer, pointing to a top five that's constantly shuffling with new talent as a sign of its health and excitement. Reports this week revealed that Du Plessis walks around at approximately 230 pounds, further fueling discussion about a potential future at light heavyweight. For Du Plessis, that dynamic roster is a key reason to stay put — for now. But before any potential title defenses or weight class shifts, the South African standout has a serious test ahead. On August 16, he meets one of the sport's most relentless contenders in Chimaev, a matchup that could shape not only his career trajectory but the middleweight division itself. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Video: Headliners Carlos Ulberg, Dominick Reyes face off to launch UFC Perth promotion
+ We're still seven weeks out from the UFC's return to Australia, but already the anticipation is starting to build. A former light heavyweight title challenger looking to complete a resurgence headlines UFC Perth against a rising standout from nearby New Zealand, and Thursday the promotion brought the fighters together "Down Under" to get face to face. Dominick Reyes (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) takes on Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) on Sept. 27 at RAC Arena in Perth in Western Australia. The light heavyweight bout will be the main event. Check out the fighters' Thursday faceoff and comments about their first meeting below. Reyes knocked out Nikita Kryvlov in the first round in April for his third straight win, which kept in the rearview mirror a four-fight skid and a series of health issues that threatened to end his fighting career. The rut began with a highly debated decision loss to Jon Jones in a light heavyweight title fight many thought Reyes won in 2020. Ulberg picked up a close decision win against ex-champ Jan Blachowicz in March. Ulberg has one of the best current streaks in the promotion and is undefeated in his most recent eight trips to the octagon. Ulberg trains with former UFC champion Israel Adesanya at City Kickboxing in New Zealand. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Perth main event video: Carlos Ulberg, Dominick Reyes face off
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2 confirmed as UFC 320 ends with title double-header
UFC CEO Dana White has announced that Magomed Ankalaev's rematch against Alex Pereira will headline UFC 320 in Las Vegas. Ankalaev will defend the light-heavyweight title he won against Pereira – at the same venue during UFC 313 in March – while the Brazilian will look to become champion of the division for the second time, after three previous successful defences of the title he won in late 2023. 'Alright, UFC 320, 4 October, T-Mobile [Arena], Las Vegas, the champ Magomed Ankalaev defends his belt against Alex Pereira,' said White in a video uploaded to social media. 'The co-main event for that fight will be Merab [Dvalishvili] versus Cory Sandhagen. Merab is on a 13-fight win streak, Sandhagen is ranked No 3,' added White. That co-main event will see Dvalishvili and Sandhagen face off for the bantamweight title, with the Georgian defending the belt he won in September of last year. Sandhagen is ranked fourth in the division, though Dvalishvili has recently defended his title against both Sean O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov, who are ranked No 1 and 2 respectively. 'Another fight on that card is Jiri Prochazka versus Khalil Rountree. I don't need to say anything else, for those of you that know, you know,' added White at the end of his video. That pair are ranked No 2 and 4 respectively in the light-heavyweight division, with the victor likely to face the winner of the championship bout between Ankalaev and Pereira. In a similar video, White also announced that Tom Aspinall will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 321, where he'll defend his heavyweight title against former interim champion Ciryl Gane. That event will take place in Abu Dhabi on 25 October. The promotion's next pay-per-view event comes on 17 August, when Dricus du Plessis faces Khamzat Chimaev in his third defence of the middleweight belt.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
UFC star reveals the savage act that ruined his dream of playing in the NRL
Kneeing an opponent during an on-field brawl ended his NRL hopes while an acting career as Batman still remains a pipe dream, but for now Carlos Ulberg has firmly set his sights on snaring the UFC 's light heavyweight crown. Ulberg will be the star attraction when he headlines Perth 's UFC Fight Night on September 28 at RAC Arena. The 34-year-old Kiwi, the third-ranked challenger in the division following an eight-fight winning streak, is looking to continue his hot run when he faces American Dominick Reyes (15-4) in Perth. Ulberg (13-1) has enjoyed a hugely successful UFC career to date, but before that harboured dreams of becoming an NRL star. Those hopes were shattered when all hell broke loose during a Fox Memorial Cup game in New Zealand while he was playing for the Otahuhu Leopards. 'We're coming to the end of the game and a fight breaks out. The whole team is fighting,' said Ulberg, who played as a second rower, winger or centre. 'People are dropping left, right and centre, and it's a televised game. 'I'm throwing knees at one of the guys and just got him in a clinch, and the camera zooms in on me. 'So everything's kind of put on me, and I get sent to the judiciary and got banned for eight weeks.' Just 22 at the time, Ulberg made the decision to quit the sport and take up fighting. 'That was the end of my career in rugby league,' he said. 'I put everything into that season and then it got taken away from me. I went straight to the boxing gym the very next week. 'I grew up around boxing. My family were boxers. My dad was a boxer - represented Samoa, New Zealand, so it was in the family.' The UFC quickly caught Ulberg's eye and he believes he is just one victory away from earning a title shot against current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. 'I have big dreams,' Ulberg said. An eight-fight winning streak has elevated Ulberg to title contention 'Being the champion is just one mountain, and there's going to be the next one. So I'm forever climbing them.' One of those big challenges Ulberg would love to tackle down the track is acting - something he dabbled in during his younger years. 'I want to be Batman one day. Bruce Wayne,' Ulberg said with a laugh. The Kiwi is no stranger to being in front of the camera, appearing on reality TV show Game of Bros in 2018, and also working as a male model and stripper. But for now, Ulberg wants to put on a show in Perth in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd.
The Independent
06-08-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Artur Beterbiev's next opponent named as Deon Nicholson with Dmitry Bivol trilogy delayed
Artur Beterbiev is due to face Deon Nicholson next, with his trilogy fight against Dmitry Bivol escaping him for now. In October, Beterbiev won a razor-close fight with Bivol to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, handing his fellow Russian a first professional loss. Then, in February, Bivol returned the favour, winning another tense fight to take all the belts from Beterbiev, who suffered his first pro defeat. Bivol, 34, later relinquished the WBC title to prioritise a third clash with Beterbiev, 40, over a defence against mandatory challenger David Benavidez. However, Bivol vs Beterbiev 3 will not be next anyway. The Ring, the magazine owned by Saudi boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh, has reported that Beterbiev will face Nicholson in Riyadh on 22 November. That bout is due to take place on the same card as Benavidez's fight with Anthony Yarde, in which Benavidez will defend the WBC light-heavyweight belt, having been elevated from interim champion after Bivol gave up the official strap. Beterbiev will enter his contest against Nicholson with a pro record of 21-1 (20 KOs), with Bivol being his only opponent not to suffer a stoppage by the veteran. Meanwhile, Nicholson has a record of 22-1 (18 KOs). The 34-year-old American beat Devonne Williams last time out, stopping him in the fourth round in June.
