Certainly, the heavyweight main event between UFC’s #3-ranked Ciryl Gane taking on the #5 ranked Alexander Volkov is getting the headlines. However, the stakes in Japan are just as high, if not higher, this weekend at RIZIN 29.

After being rescheduled for this Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic, RIZIN 29 will air on pay-per-view live from Osaka. The co-main event of the evening will feature Takafumi Otsuka (28-18-1) taking on Yamashita Hiroki (8-8). Then, to cap the night off, Yuto Hokamura (13-9-2) will fight Kuya Ito (10-8-1) in the main event for a spot in the Grand Prix Quarterfinals.

Takafumi Otsuka vs. Yamashita Hiroki

Otsuka began his professional fighting career losing by rear-naked choke back in 2006. The path for the Japanese native never eased up as he would also lose his second fight as a pro. Following that adversity, Otsuka went on a 7-fight unbeaten streak (with 1 No Contest result included). As a 2017 RIZIN Bantamweight GP semi-finalist, thanks to that experience, Otsuka is a legitimate player in the RIZIN 2021 Grand Prix.

2017 RIZIN Bantamweight GP semi finalist @Takafumi_otsuka will be making his return this Sunday!!

Watch and see which 4 will make it to the quarter finals on @LIVENowglobal🔻https://t.co/KpLGcymEmD#RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN29 pic.twitter.com/UEHPHMhqsF

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 25, 2021

Otsuka lost a unanimous decision to Ryo Okada at Shooto 2021 Vol.2. Prior to that loss, Otsuka would mostly alternate wins and losses in different organizations. However, with his wrestling skills, the 34-year old Otsuka has rounded his MMA skills out. With the ability to keep the fight where he wants it to stay, he is a definite problem at 134lbs.

Hiroki is known for his fast hands and the shocking power that comes behind the speed. Specifically, the Japanese heavy-handed athlete has five KO/TKOs to his record. Additionally, Hiroki is looking to expand his last win into a streak to cement his name in the RIZIN promotion.

Recently, “Shian” who might want to change his nickname to “27” demonstrated his power with a 27-second left-hook knockout against Kazuma Sone. After Hiroki’s last performance at RIZIN 27, fans are ready to see the swiftness of his technique grace the ring again.

RIZIN 29 Main Event: Yuto Hokamura vs. Kuya Ito

The 24-year old Ito is young but has been fighting since 2013. Nearing a decade of combat experience at such a young age will pay dividends as the Japanese native continues to carve out his combat sports career.

The 5 foot 5 bantamweight will look to build on his previous win against Hiroki Yamashita last September. It is always a treat to see a professional fighter come back from the jaws of defeat, and Ito is definitely familiar with that sensation. In particular, Ito lost his first four professional fights and then picked up a majority draw before tasting the sweetness of victory.

Hometown favorite @Kintarou0319 squares off against Kuya Ito for a spot in the Grand Prix Quarterfinals!

Buy the PPV https://t.co/hNAvHYEwuJhttps://t.co/7ooYs4ytGe#RIZIN #RIZINFF #RIZIN29 pic.twitter.com/urbNiJFeGt

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 25, 2021

Despite Rough Beginnings, Ito Is Ready For RIZIN 29 Showcase

Having gone 0-4 in a 4-year stretch just highlights the bulletproof mentality and of course, Ito’s commitment to MMA. With a new lease on his career and much more consistency, the Japanese native has a huge opportunity to seize at RIZIN 29 this Sunday.

Hokamura is well-known in the world of Asian MMA. With a solid foundation in kickboxing, Hokamura’s foray into MMA was less rocky than Ito’s initial start. Even though the 28-year old Japanese native lost his last fight in the promotion by split decision, his record isn’t an accurate reflection of the skillset he brings into the ring. Prior to his loss to Kenta Takizawa, Hokamura delivered at the RIZIN 21 show against Kenji Kato–and he did so in style.

With a chance to make a statement against Ito, there will be a lot of attention on this fight as most understand how consequential it is to the tournament. Despite momentum being different in each corner, Ito is not looking past Hokamura. Either way, fans will find out which fighters advance to the quarter-finals of the 2021 RIZIN Bantamweight GP come Sunday.

The post RIZIN 29 Main and Co-Main Event Breakdown appeared first on Cageside Press.

Wade (18-6) has really cut his teeth within the PFL promotion. After a UFC stint from 2014-2017, the featherweight is now a PFL mainstay and has not looked back. With nine fights under the promotion, it’s safe to say that he’s been making requisite developments along the way. However, against the extremely talented striker Ospanov (11-3), he will need to be cautious of unorthodox strikes coming from odd angles.

Before the card kicks off, let’s take a closer look at the featherweight battle between Wade and Ospanov.

Featherweights taking care of pre-fight business!#2021PFL4 Thursday, June 10th
6pm ET ESPN+
10pm ET ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/4kQTSUWNNA

— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 6, 2021

Chris Wade Pre-Fight Notables

• Use of kicks as range-finders early in fights (evident in his fight with Akhmed Aliev in 2019)
• Effective head and arm-throw technique
• In southpaw stance, utilizes heavy body kicks
• In orthodox stance, utilizes inside leg kicks
• Never submitted or finished professionally (career spanning from 2010-present)
• Quick scrambles and tight guillotine and rear-naked chokes

Unquestionably, Wade is durable and a crafty tactician inside the cage. Additionally, it will be intriguing to see how the “Long Island Killer” handles the wild striking techniques of Ospanov. Wade does possess the characteristics essential to combating a heavy striking game-plan. In particular, the 33-year old American is an opportunist with his submissions, and at times Ospanov can overextend in striking exchanges. If that happens to occur that is one viable path to victory for Wade this Thursday at PFL 4.

Arman Ospanov Pre-Fight Notables

• Primarily southpaw striker, with a wide variety of shot selection
• Lulls opponents in with keeping hands below the chin
• Sharp feints and fake entries
• Effective at jabbing to the body and exiting safely
• Powerful step-in lead elbows
• Effective takedown defense (demonstrated in his get-up against Lom-Ali Eskijew at ACA 95: Moscow)
• Rarely sets feet, and remains a moving target
• Rangy and possesses fast-twitch flying knees
• Ability to change stances in the middle of striking exchanges

Since Ospanov’s movement is agile and quick, this will be a challenge for Wade because much of his game relies on closing the distance and slowing the fight down. Essentially, Ospanov is the opposite and prefers range so that he can land devastating strikes like elbows and knees. As an eight-point striker, Ospanov is dangerous in all three levels of striking distance (1.Close Range, 2. Mid Range 3. Outside Range). In the end, he will definitely give Wade a stiff challenge.

The fight will be determined by who enacts their game plan more effectively. At first, that seems like a vague statement, but it really couldn’t be further from the truth. If Wade can get the fight to the ground, it’s by no means a lock but should he can keep Ospanov down, then it will be his fight for the taking. However, after seeing the frenetic scrambling of the Kazakhstan native in his fight against Eskijew, certainly, that won’t be an easy feat to accomplish.

The post PFL 4: Chris Wade vs. Arman Ospanov — A Closer Look appeared first on Cageside Press.

The former UFC title challenger, DREAM champion, and Strikeforce champion signed a multi-fight deal with the Glory Kickboxing promotion. ESPN was the first to report that Overeem officially put pen to paper and will once again tie up his kickboxing laces. A debut opponent has not been made official yet.

Just over a decade ago, Overeem left the confines of the kickboxing ring to pursue other athletic endeavors like MMA.

Overeem left the kickboxing world on top. Specifically, he departed as the K-1 World Grand Prix champion. Years later, the heavyweight still appears to have a burning desire to compete.

Overeem became a free agent following his release from the UFC earlier this year.

Alistair Overeem Drops MMA Gloves And Picks Up A Pair Of Glory Gloves

In a tweet by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, Overeem can be seen dropping his MMA gloves in the video. The video ends with Overeem strapping on kickboxing gloves and walking away.

Alistair Overeem is returning to his kickboxing roots.@Alistairovereem has signed a multi-fight deal with Glory Kickboxing, his management team told ESPN this AM. 

His @GLORY_WS debut isn’t set yet, but it is expected to come later this year.

👇 pic.twitter.com/1HdIkhf8U0

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 8, 2021

The 41-year old Dutchman holds a kickboxing record of 10-4 but his MMA record far exceeds those numbers. In particular, Overeem’s MMA record is 47-19, and he has always proved to be a puzzling striker. “The Demolition Man” last competed in February which resulted in a TKO loss against Alexander Volkov.

While the news came out of left-field, undoubtedly fans have an appetite to see Overeem once again compete in the sport of kickboxing.

The post Alistair Overeem Signs With Glory Kickboxing After UFC Release appeared first on Cageside Press.

Taking place this Saturday, Poland will once again put the country on the MMA map with another violent event. One with fans back in the building. While the card is filled with thrilling fights, today the focus is on the co-main and main event of the evening.

First, in the co-main event, Salahdine Parnasse (14-1-1) will take on Filip Pejić (15-4-2) in a featherweight bout. Then the main event will feature the former World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski (14-7) against Łukasz Jurkowski (17-11). Despite being in the twilight of their career given their respective ages, these two fighters always bring it inside the KSW gauntlet.

2⃣ KSW Legends
2⃣ KSW Icons
Only 2⃣ Days!

🌍 @PudzianOfficial 💪
🎙️ @Jurasmma 🥋

Have you bought your tickets 🎟️ or PPV 🖥️ yet!? #KSW61 pic.twitter.com/08oFHNTLI9

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) June 3, 2021

KSW 61 Co-Main Event – Salahdine Parnasse vs. Filip Pejić

Parnasse recently endured a title loss against Daniel Torres by a rare forearm strike knockout. No doubt the ex-champ is eager to bounce back with a statement performance. The former title holder took his first loss in the bout, and it happened on the big stage. Still, with this being his seventh fight in the Polish organization, he is emerging as a staple threat in the featherweight division. With a win this weekend, the French contender will be on his way to a path to the title.

Conversely, Pejić is coming off a win. A win over Parnasse, seen by many as one of the top featherweight talents outside North America, would certainly put him in the title conversation. The 28-year old Croatian last competed at KSW 56: Polska vs. Chorwacja. In particular, Pejić finished his opponent with punches in just 12-seconds into the first round. If Parnasse doesn’t avoid the power of Pejić early, then he will fall into the heavy striking battles that Pejić likes to participate in.

KSW 61 Main Event – Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Łukasz Jurkowski

Despite their older age, these two fighters throw heavy leather. In fact, Pudzianowski is on a two-fight win streak and picked up two emphatic wins in that span. First, against Erko Jun where he starched the Bosnian native. Following the destruction at KSW 51: Croatia, Pudzianowski once again put his raw power on display when he dispatched Nikola Milanović in a single round with punches.

Prior to being paired with Pudzianowski, Jurkowski cemented his name in the KSW promotion after taking out Stjepan Bekavac in less than two minutes by TKO. While the fight ended with a knee injury, the bout was ultimately scored a TKO finish for Jurkowski. Specifically, the fight at KSW 48: Szymański vs. Parnasse highlighted Jurkowski’s readiness for a marginal step up in competition.

Jurkowski is moving up in weight here, after competing at light heavyweight last time out.

KSW 61 airs live this Saturday, June 5 on KSWTV.com

The post KSW 61: To Fight or Not To Fight — Main Card Toppers appeared first on Cageside Press.

The UFC is taking a weekend off, but UFC Fight Pass will still deliver action for fight fans. In particular, this segment will examine three fights to watch out for prior to the CFFC card going down.

First, a couple of bantamweight gunslingers are on deck as Andrew Salas (6-5) takes on Kris Moutinho (8-4). Then, the night will feature Kings MMA prospect Laura Gallardo (3-1) squaring up with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship standout Helen Peralta (3-1). Third and finally, we take a closer look at the co-main event between the unbeaten Eddy Torres (3-0) looking to halt Ohio Combat League veteran Yohe Rojas (2-1).

Andrew Salas vs. Kris Moutinho

This will be the second fight with the CFFC for Salas. The 33-year old has competed in Bellator along with just about every other promotion under the sun. Despite his record not being the most sterling, Salas is a seasoned fighter and dangerous in the opening minutes of the fight. While Salas is currently on a two-fight losing streak, he has a big chance in front of him this Friday, and not to mention an even bigger audience watching.

Conversely, Moutinho is looking to string together a couple of wins after a successful outing at CES 61: Gotti III vs. Alley against Ashiek Ajim. Specifically, the American was able to overwhelm Ajim with pressure and ultimately scored a nasty TKO in the second round. With Salas having his back against the wall, this is a great bantamweight encounter to help the winner emerge with more heat behind them.

Laura Gallardo vs. Helen Peralta

In one of the most intriguing fights of the night, the former Bare Knuckle boxing standout Peralta will look to apply her trade and take on a very game opponent in Gallardo. With each fighter boasting the same professional record, certainly, there’s some underlying pressure to perform big. Additionally, it’s important to note that Peralta has not lost since 2018, and that was to one of the fastest rising female prospects in UFC fighter Kay Hansen. Overall, Peralta has seen a lot of different looks, and it will be exciting to see what she does under the CFFC banner.

Gallardo on the other hand is more polished on the ground but still packs a punch. In particular, the 5″1″ strawweight has an extensive amateur career, where she showcased power, but submission skills too. For example, Gallardo managed to secure an arm-bar victory early on in her career, and always has those skills to fall back on should her striking come up short in a fight.

Eddy Torres vs. Yohe Rojas – CFFC 96: Jones vs. Cleveland Co-Main

In the co-main event, the unbeaten Eddy Torres will look to keep his record intact against Yohe Rojas. However, Rojas is nasty on the ground, and the prospect showed how quickly he can end a fight when he took out Andre Small last January at Ohio Combat League. In addition, Rojas started as an amateur and amassed a 7-0 record before running into trouble. Since the 30-year old featherweight has only taken one loss professionally, there will be added pressure to take the “O” away.

With three straight wins with CFFC, there is little doubt that Torres won’t come into this fight with bad intentions. Torres scored two arm-bars back-to-back in his first two CFFC appearances. In the end, this is a consequential bout for the young Torres as the stresses of keeping a perfect professional record can wear on a fighter throughout time. Although, from what we have seen so far, Torres is well-rounded and able to get the job done despite where the fight may wind up.

CFFC 96 takes place Friday, May 28 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The card airs live on UFC Fight Pass.

The post CFFC 96: Jones vs. Cleveland — Three Fights To Look Out For appeared first on Cageside Press.

In particular, this segment will examine three fights from the preliminary action set to take place, and give fans a better idea of what style each fighter will bring into the cage. First, the highly anticipated prospect Alandria Brown (0-0) is set to make her LFA debut against fellow debutante, the formidable Shania Arredondo (0-0). Second, a welterweight bout goes down between Corey Davis (5-3) and Thomas Powell (4-5). Then, a closer look at another 170lbs bout featuring L.J. Portée (2-2) and Ray Waters (0-0) will top the preliminaries. The event will take place at the Sanford Pentagon Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Alandria Brown vs. Shania Arrendondo

Despite it being the promotional debut for both athletes, they each have amateur records and have familiarity in a fight setting. While Brown is coming back from inactivity and a loss, it seems the 26-year old is making the requisite training adjustments in order to train and compete with a higher caliber of opponent. The Tennessee-native scored her first amateur win after beating Rebecca Andrew in a dominant unanimous decision in 2019.

.@LFAfighting is excited to announce that we have signed talented women's prospect @AlandriaMMA. 🇺🇸

@AlandriaMMA will be joining our stacked women's #strawweight division!#MMA#LFANation@UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/3HrBRRxqe6

— LFA (@LFAfighting) May 10, 2021

Similarly, Arrendondo has not competed since 2019. However, she is a potent finisher and is apt on the ground and standing. During her tenure as an amateur, she amassed a very impressive 3-0 streak before losing her last bout. Without a doubt, Arrendondo is an exciting watch because of her ability to end fights with her hands.

LFA 107: Corey Davis vs. Thomas Powell

Davis is no stranger to the cage, at one point the athlete fought in Bellator and he’s a known finisher. At times, some might interpret his style as too aggressive but that’s definitely been an ingredient to his success. While Davis struggled under the LFA banner prior, he is looking to erase those memories and create new ones this Friday.

Before re-entering the promotion, Davis scored two spectacular wins in a row. First, against a fellow prospect in Jesse Free who he finished with punches. Then, solidified his name once again when he caught Jack Freriks in a rear-naked choke and put together a two-fight win streak.

The 25-year old Powell is coming off a loss but comes into the LFA:107 event with tons of experience. For the most part, Powell has juggled wins and losses, but when he wins, it’s usually with his hands and violently. Additionally, in 2019, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania representative showed his ability to regulate his conditioning through three hard rounds when he toppled Chase Gamble in a unanimous decision victory at Ring of Combat 70.

LFA 107 Featured Preliminary –  L.J. Portée vs. Ray Waters

Since Portée’s debut under the LFA banner in 2018, he has come a long way. Initially, the welterweight fighter had noticeable problems with opponents who could maintain top control on the mat. The 26-year old appears to have shored up his weaknesses, and the MMA world will certainly find out come fight night. Additionally, Portée has looked impressive recently, when he earned his last win by TKO against Larry Wheeler in just 14-seconds at CCW: Ragnarok. 

The unbeaten Ray Waters has looked scary inside the cage. The 3-0 prospect took out Mathew Daws with punches in the first round in his last fight. Waters managed to get a fight before LFA among most promotions were stifled by a worldwide pandemic. The American welterweight made a successful debut at LFA: 59 in 2019. Then, followed it up with another victory inside the promotion against Steve Vasquez at LFA 72.

With a fight like this, looking away may have you missing the finishing sequence considering the power and craftiness of both athletes fighting in the featured preliminary fight.

LFA 107 airs live this Friday, May 14 on UFC Fight Pass.

The post LFA 107: Kirk vs. Swain — Three Preliminary Show Stoppers appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bellator 258 takes place inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. In the main event, bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta will look to defend his title. In his way is rising contender and former UFC standout Sergio Pettis. Then, after the bantamweight title fight, the co-main event will feature the return of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. The former UFC title challenger will take on Jose Augusto. Despite Johnson’s initial opponent Yoel Romero failing his pre-fight medical evaluations, Johnson will remain on the card and compete in the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament.

Three Fights At Bellator 258 Going Under The Radar

The first fight this segment will shine a light on is the featherweight fight between unbeaten Weber Almeida (4-0) and Johnny Soto (3-1). Then, the undefeated prospect Johnny Eblen (7-0) intends to expand his record to 8-0 if he should get past Daniel Madrid (18-6) in a pivotal middleweight affair. Following the first two featured fights, the under-the-radar “main event” will see the massive favorite and standout wrestler Logan Storley (11-1) taking on Omar Hussein (8-2).

Weber Almeida vs. Johnny Soto – Featherweight

Almeida’s time under the Bellator name has been nothing short of outstanding. Specifically, the 33-year old managed to finish all three fights he’s had with the promotion. In fact, at Bellator 244 the Brazilian showed how devastating his counter striking is. Specifically, when he took out Salim Mukhidinov with a slick pull, counter right-hook in the first round. Despite activity often getting in the way of the top prospect, when he’s competing he’s a challenging puzzle to decipher on the feet.

Conversely, Soto enters his Bellator debut on a high note, sporting a three-fight win streak. Prior to competing in Bellator, the 28-year old cut his teeth competing on the California regional circuit. In particular, Soto collected his last three wins at California Cage Wars. Soto’s ability to ‘club and sub’ or slowly break an opponent down is one of his strong suits. In his last time out, the featherweight was able to attack Jesus Mondragon until his foe exposed his neck which he promptly snatched and scored a rear-naked choke. Since each fighter has a clear path to victory, it will be an important fight to determine the next featherweight on the come-up.

Johnny Eblen vs. Daniel Madrid – Bellator 258 – Middleweight

As Eblen expanded his record to seven wins at the Bellator 250 show in May, it was clear after the unanimous decision against Taylor Johnson that he would be a hard fight for anyone. Consequently, the heavy-hitter remains unbeaten as a professional. Even though his record shows three unanimous decisions in a row, don’t let that fool you, because Eblen packs power. With a current streak of ten, and training out of American Top Team, Eblen is a serious threat and versatile inside of the cage. Overall, the middleweight secured three wins by strikes when he was competing in Shamrock FC in 2018.

After his defeat to UFC middleweight Ian Heinisch in 2018, Madrid hasn’t looked back. Overall, the 37-year old has been putting in the training and his work ethic is hard to deny. Madrid will make his second Bellator appearance this Friday and will come into this fight on a five-fight win streak.

Logan Storley vs. Omar Hussein – Bellator 258 – Welterweight

In the “main event” of fights going under the radar, wrestling standout Storley will look to erase his recent loss to Ukraine’s Yaroslav Amosov. The four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler had problems with Amosov stuffing his takedowns last fight. However, surely a wrestler of Storley’s pedigree will work on adjustments for the future. If Storley can implement a wrestling-heavy style, this is his fight to walk away with, but UAE Warrior’s staple Hussein is a tough customer.

Despite not being a prominent finisher, Hussein is a tricky puzzle to deal with at welterweight. The Palestinian native’s cardio is one of his best weapons. Perhaps, after the time spent training with Team Alpha Male, the 24-year old will look for the finish more often in competition. Although, since he’s well-rounded, Hussein’s grappling will be key to not being out-positioned in wrestling scrambles. Additionally, if Hussein can establish the range and stuff takedowns like Amosov did, it will be a long night for the highly favored wrestler.

The post Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis – A Trio Of Fights Going Under The Radar appeared first on Cageside Press.

In particular, the May 7 PFL card will be headlined by a familiar name as the former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum fights Renan Ferreira. Additionally, the card will feature one of the winners of the previous PFL season. That will see Olympic gold medalist in Judo Kayla Harrison return to action. The decorated Olympian is looking to start her PFL season off strong and take home her second million-dollar prize.

PFL: Werdum vs. Ferreira – Three Fights That Demand More Detail

Prior to the action kicking off, here is a closer look at a trio of fights that need more attention. First, a pivotal scrap at 155lbs between Cindy Dandois (16-5) and Kaitlin Young (11-10-1) is on deck. Then, a closer look at the heavyweight slobber knocker between UFC alum Justin Willis (8-2) putting his record on the line against Denis Goltsov (25-6). In an effort to save the best for last, we will conclude this segment with an examination of UFC champion Kamaru Usman’s brother, Mohammed Usman (7-1), who is looking to fend off fellow heavyweight Brandon Sayles (5-1) in the main event of going under the radar.

The company is already preparing fighters by placing them in a safety bubble ahead of their scheduled fights. 

.@Umohammed97 checks in at @thehealthrover testing pod ahead of his #2021PFL3 debut! pic.twitter.com/RjRhez83w4

— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 1, 2021

Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young – 155lbs

Following two decision loss results, Dandois understood it was time for a change. Seemingly, the 36-year old fighting since 2009 flipped a switch after the split-decision loss to Iony Razafiarison. After the close loss, the Belgium-born fighter went on a four-fight win streak. Interestingly, Dandois hasn’t fought since 2019, where she had probably the best year of her entire career. Not only did she rack up four wins, but she also was able to finish each fight by submission (3 subs in the first round, 1 sub in the second round).

https://twitter.com/DandoisCindy/status/1386865572282044416

On the other hand, Young doesn’t have the momentum Dandois has, but her tenacity has won her many fights that she was counted out in. When she lost to Pam Sorenson at Invicta FC 36, many were curious if the 35-year old could right the ship and mount another title run. With one win, and possibly another on the way, there is no doubt that Young has the tools and willpower to control the fight, but she will need to weary of Dandois and her ability to submit opponents when they have a false sense of security on the mat.

Justin Willis vs. Denis Goltsov – PFL: Werdum vs. Ferreira Under The Radar Co-Main 265lbs

Prior to getting clipped by a right hook and finished by Ali Isaev from ground and pound, Goltzof was riding high with a six-fight win streak. Overall, the Russian fighter’s record is downright impressive because of his versatility. The 30-year old heavyweight is young for the division and he has ten professional wins by TKO/knockout and ten wins by submission. Since the Russian’s finishing abilities are so diverse, a tentative game plan might be necessary to find a strategy to outwit “The Russian Bogatyr”.

Conversely, for Willis, perhaps his best chance at success is a wrestling-centric game plan to wear on the arms and power of Goltsov. Then, later in the fight when an opportunity presents itself, Willis would be more comfortable in the striking exchanges to carry out the necessary damage. Following his decision loss to Curtis Blaydes and the subsequent release from the UFC, certainly fans and pundits are curious to see how he bounces back from career adversity.

PFL: Werdum vs. Ferreira – Under The Radar Main Event – Mohammed Usman vs. Brandon Sayles 265lbs

In 2019, fans witnessed the Usman family power on full display as the African powerhouse slept two of his opponents in a row at Titan FC. Then, at Titan FC 63 Mohammed earned himself a hard-fought unanimous decision victory against Terrance Hodges. Without a doubt, the win illuminated his potential as a mixed martial artist, as he’s no longer just a one-round fighter, but capable of carrying dominance through three rounds on a consistent basis. The 32-year old training out of Fortis MMA is at a good camp, and it seems the heavyweight is steadily making improvements.

However, he has a tall task ahead of him in the 6″5″ package named Sayles. Also, the 39-year old is on a three-fight win streak. The Hawaiian has always packed a punch but hasn’t been active throughout his career. While there are advantages to only having six professional fights, like taking less damage, it’s paramount to see how he adapts to higher-level competition.

In the end, this heavyweight tilt should have it all because both athletes swing for the knockout, and when these two titans throw down, surely the fight world is anxious to see the type of weapons that UFC champion Kamaru Usman’s brother has sharpened while watching his brother ascend to heights that many believed couldn’t be reached.

The third event of the third PFL season goes down Thursday night in Atlantic City, airing on ESPN2/ESPN+ in the U.S.

The post PFL 3: Werdum vs. Ferreira — Three Fights Going Under The Radar appeared first on Cageside Press.

In 2 Days, @LFAfighting title challenger #BatsumberelDagvadorj returns to the @LFAfighting Octagon in the main event of #LFA103! 🇲🇳

Friday, March 26@GrandCasinoOKC#Shawnee, #Oklahoma#MMA#LFANation@UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/Q1Gdnqbabg

— LFA (@LFAfighting) March 25, 2021

Taking place at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma, LFA 103 is expected to feature eight bouts in total. First to mix it up in this trio of underrated bouts is a lightweight affair between promotional newcomer Jacobi Jones (5-1) and Cameron Ansel (0-2), who is looking to rebound after dropping his debut performance in the promotion. Then the unbeaten Josh Quinlan (4-0) puts his “O” on the line when he takes on the heavy-handed Dallas Jennings (3-1). Following those two scraps, we’ll cap things off with a bantamweight clash between Fernie Garcia (8-1) and Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez (4-1).

LFA 103 Lightweight Madness – Jones vs. Ansel

Despite Cameron Ansel’s clear weakness on the ground, having lost both his pro fights via submission, he’s a capable standup fighter and has his back up against the wall. Facing Ansel is Jones who enters the bout with a bit more experience. Not only that, but the 24-year old Jones has shown himself to be well-rounded having notched submissions and TKOs/knockouts to his record. While Ansel’s last fight with Shane Shapiro didn’t last long given it went to the ground, if Cameron can avoid that area of the fight, perhaps he can notch his first win.

Josh Quinlan vs. Dallas Jennings

The unbeaten Quinlan will look to keep his record intact when he takes Jennings, who is currently on a two-fight win streak. With Quinlan’s activity and win streak it’s hard not to see the massive upside to the young prospect, but Jenning’s durability could be a factor in this contest. Across the midwest regional scene, Jennings’ hands have been demanding respect, as he showed in his last fight against Kalel Robinson — finishing his opponent at 1:22 of round one under the Midwest Fight League banner. Overall, this fight has the potential to steal the show, as any time a 10-0 prospect is on the rise, all eyes turn toward them.

Fernie Garcia vs. Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez LFA 103 – Bantamweights Collide 

Other than a loss to Jesse Strader at Combate 41: Frausto vs. Cordoba, Gonzalez has looked impressive. Prior to that setback, he was undefeated as a pro at 4-0. On the other hand, Garcia fights out of Fortis MMA and is on a three-fight win streak. Since both can keep such a furious pace this fight certainly has the potential for excitement. However, those thinking this may go to the scorecards might be correct since Garcia has managed to pull off his last three wins with some help from the judges.

LFA 103 airs live this Friday, March 26 on UFC Fight Pass.

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The event goes down in Lodz, Poland, kicking off at 2PM ET. Topping the big night of fights is a heavyweight tilt that features the 44-year old Mariusz Pudzianowski against the unbeaten fighter from Senegal named Serigne Ousmane Dia — better known, perhaps, as “Bombardier.” The massive super heavyweight weighed in for the main event at 333lbs. However, the first fight that is going under the radar is the curtain opener at less than half that weight, at 145lbs.

With a plethora of new blood added to the Polish promotion, it couldn’t be a more exciting time for fights considering parts of the world are starting to loosen Coronavirus restrictions.

New blood! 👊 Whose KSW debut are you most looking forward to this weekend!? 🤩#KSW59

🇷🇸 @DarkoStosic92 (13-4)
🇩🇪 Konrad Dyrschka (11-1)
🇵🇱 Adrian Bartosinki (9-0)
🇪🇸 Lionel Padilla (8-1)
🇵🇱 Cyprian Wieczorek (0-0)
🇵🇱 Patryk Likus (0-0) pic.twitter.com/acPP4rFtLr

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 16, 2021

Cyprian Wieczorek vs. Patryk Likus – KSW Fire Starter

Despite coming off one loss, Wieczorek is an imposing force inside the cage. Overall, the featherweight fighting out of Team UKS Ronin has built a brilliant amateur record. With thirty-five wins and three losses, it’s amazing that the Polish-born fighter hasn’t already competed in more professional fights. Despite coming in with an extensive amateur background, his opponent is a promotional newcomer. Since Likus only has one professional win, he definitely lacks the mountains of cage time that Wieczorek has. Although on Saturday, all of that will be put aside and the two will determine who is the more proficient fighter.

Lionel Padilla  vs.  Adrian. Bartosiński

With only one loss on his record, Padilla has been running through his competition. Prior to his pairing with Bartosiński, Spain’s Padilla has been on a roll as well. After enduring a speed bump against Max Duarte, Padilla rattled off four consecutive wins. Not only that, but three of them ended in a painful finish (2 TKOs, 1 Sub). On the other hand, Bartosiński is one of the hotter prospects in Poland right now, with an unbeaten record of 9-0. The 25-year old appears to be just getting started on his road to the top. 

#KSW59 Official weighin:

✅ Adrian Bartosiński – 77.6 kg/171 lb
✅ Lionel Padilla – 77.4 kg/171 lb

— KSW (@KSW_MMA) March 19, 2021

Since Bartosiński is sporting a nine-fight win streak, it’s hard to imagine the athlete losing after not tasting defeat in over four years. Granted, while Bartosiński has notched five knockouts in his fighting tenure, his opponent has had more success on the ground. Styles will clash in this one.

Konrad Dyrschka  vs.  Łukasz Rajewski

Rajewski has a kickboxing base but is a fully developed martial artist with fight-ending power and submissions on his record. On a two-fight win streak, the 31-year old showed he was ready for the next step after taking out Bartłomiej Kopera at KSW 54: Gamrot vs. Ziółkowski. Despite having the result go to a split decision in Rajewski’s favor, it was still a great showing of technique and stamina.

Conversely, German-born Dyrschka has just one loss within the promotion at this point and intends to keep it that way at KSW 59. Of Dyrschka’s eleven professional wins, six of them have come by way of knockout or TKO. Overall, Dyrschka loves to stand and trade so the fight will no doubt deliver especially since he’s facing a kickboxer. 

KSW 59 kicks off live on Saturday at 2:00 P.M E.T. Keep it dialed in on Cageside Press for your latest results, news, and stories. Also, don’t forget to check the Cageside Press Youtube channel for your latest fighter interviews, event coverage and more!

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