<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Aliaskhab Khizriev Archives - Cageside Press</title>
	<atom:link href="https://cagesidepress.com/tag/aliaskhab-khizriev/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link></link>
	<description>Cageside Press - Everything MMA!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:26:08 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5</generator>

<image>
	<url>https://cagesidepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-cagesidepress512-3-32x32.png</url>
	<title>Aliaskhab Khizriev Archives - Cageside Press</title>
	<link></link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
	<item>
		<title>What&#8217;s Next: UFC Vegas 85 Winners</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/06/whats-next-ufc-vegas-85-winners/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jamie Theodosi]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:26:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charlie Radtke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makhmud Muradov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nassourdine Imavov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natalia Silva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RENATO MOICANO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 235]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=182229</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The UFC returned to the Apex for the second time this year this past Saturday, with another Fight Night Event. Middleweights, Nassourdine Imavov and Roman Dolidze faced off in the UFC Vegas 85 main event. Despite only being used since 2020, the UFC Apex has now hosted 14% of UFC events, ever. This marked Imavov&#8217;s [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/06/whats-next-ufc-vegas-85-winners/" data-wpel-link="internal">What&#8217;s Next: UFC Vegas 85 Winners</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The UFC returned to the Apex for the second time this year this past Saturday, with another Fight Night Event. Middleweights, Nassourdine Imavov and Roman Dolidze faced off in the UFC Vegas 85 main event.</p>
<p>Despite only being used since 2020, the UFC Apex has now hosted 14% of UFC events, ever. This marked Imavov&#8217;s fourth fight in the Apex and Dolidze&#8217;s fifth.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s take a look what could be next for the winners on the night.</p>
<h2>Nassourdine Imavov</h2>
<p>The &#8220;Russian Sniper&#8221; returned to the win column with a majority decision win over the dangerous, Roman Dolidze.</p>
<p>His prior bout with Chris Curtis came to an unfortunate end, as the referee stopped the contest after an accidental clash of heads. The 27-year-old was then scheduled to fight Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 294, but he withdrew from the bout.</p>
<p>The MMA Factory product currently sits rank 11th in the 185lb division, but will likely take the Georgian&#8217;s rank 8 spot after the win.</p>
<p>The top of the middleweight division has been somewhat stagnating for what seems to be a while now. Fortunately, the majority of the fighters making up the top 8 are booked into fights. Jared Cannonier, who is currently ranked fourth, doesn&#8217;t have a dance partner.</p>
<p>It could make sense for Imavov&#8217;s next fight to be against &#8220;The Killer Gorilla,&#8221; as Cannonier will likely need another win before he fights for middleweight gold again.</p>
<p><em>Imavov&#8217;s Next Fight: Jared Cannonier</em></p>
<h2>Renato Moicano</h2>
<p>After a largely comprehensive performance from &#8220;Money&#8221; Moicano, one of the most bizarre, yet entertaining Octagon interviews ensued.</p>
<p>As advertised, Moicano vs Dober got messy throughout their 15 minute brawl at UFC Vegas 85. As soon as this fight was announced, it was being marked on the majority of people&#8217;s calendars, due to the fan favourite style of both lightweights.</p>
<p>The Brazilian had an extended time away from the Octagon as his most recent fight was back in November of 2022, where he impressively beat Brad Riddell in the first round of their UFC 281 bout.</p>
<p>He was then scheduled to fight Arman Tsarukyan in April last year, but he withdrew because of injury. The infectious 34-year-old finally returned this weekend, and ground out a tough win over the dogged, Dober.</p>
<p>A few days after his hard fought victory, Moicano has made it clear on social media that he wants Beneil Dariush next. That fight could make sense, depending on what Dariush&#8217;s next move is, following his loss to Arman Tsarukyan back in December.</p>
<p><em>Moicano&#8217;s Next Fight: Beneil Dariush</em></p>
<h2>Randy Brown</h2>
<p>&#8220;Rudeboy&#8221; Randy Brown successfully rode the momentum of his last fight, coming in and knocking out Muslim Salikhov in the first round at UFC Vegas 85.</p>
<p>This win over Salikhov marked just his third win by TKO during his eight year UFC tenure. Despite that, the 33-year-old has put on a run of impressive performances throughout his 17 fight UFC career, and may now be ready for a fight inside the top 15.</p>
<p><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/07/26/ufc-291-michael-chiesa/" data-wpel-link="internal">Michael Chiesa</a> is currently occupying rank 14, and that is a fight that could make a whole lot of sense. Failing that, even the rank 15, Rinat Fakhretdinov could be a valid dance partner for the &#8220;Rudeboy&#8221;.</p>
<p><em>Brown&#8217;s Next Fight: Michael Chiesa</em></p>
<h2>Natalia Silva</h2>
<p>The insanely impressive Natalia Silva extended her win streak to 11 this weekend, with her highest rank win thus far, coming against Viviane Araujo.</p>
<p>The Pingo d&#8217;Agua native has undoubtedly highlighted herself as a future title contender, and there won&#8217;t be many UFC flyweights putting their names in the hat to fight the striking specialist.</p>
<p>Despite having to fight the majority of the fight on her back foot, she was at no stage in danger of losing her win streak.</p>
<p>The name Maycee Barber has been thrown out there by some fans, however, she is currently scheduled to fight Katlyn Chookagian in March. Unfortunately for Silva, everyone ahead of her in the rankings is already booked.</p>
<p>Depending on how quickly the 27-year-old wants to return, she may find herself having to fight down the rankings to stay as active as possible. The only fighter beneath her that could make sense, is Tracy Cortez.</p>
<p><em>Natalia Silva&#8217;s Next Fight: Tracy Cortez</em></p>
<h2>Aliaskhab Khizriev and Makhmud Muradov</h2>
<p>Due to the unfortunate circumstance of this fight being declared a no contest, just 11 seconds into the first round, this fight should be re-booked.</p>
<p><em>Aliaskhab Khizriev and Makhmud Muradov: Rebook this fight for a later date</em></p>
<h2>Charles Radtke</h2>
<p>Opening up the UFC Vegas 85 main card with an emphatic win was the controversial Charles Radtke. Due to his on-mic antics in Australia at UFC 293, the fans were locked into this fight for their own reasons.</p>
<p>Radtke found a home for a blistering left hook late into round one, knocking Urbina out. What followed was a light-hearted yet strange Octagon interview with Cormier. That wasn&#8217;t the strangest part of &#8220;Chuck Buffalo&#8217;s&#8221; night though.</p>
<p>In his post fight press conference with the media, Radtke stated that he wanted payment for the post-fight media appearance he is contractually obliged to do, which resulted in an awkward silence and subsequently, no questions asked by the media.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old is clearly happy to lean into the heel persona he has created for himself, however, he may want to slow down with it. During his Octagon interview, he asked where Leon Edwards was at and proceeded to timidly call him out. Although it was likely a joke, it didn&#8217;t result in any laughs from the fans.</p>
<p>If a Brit is what he&#8217;s looking for, then why not Sam Patterson? Coming off the back of a first round submission of Yohan Lainesse and in his more natural weight class, Patterson could be a fun next fight for Radtke.</p>
<p><em>Radtke&#8217;s Next Fight: Sam Patterson</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/06/whats-next-ufc-vegas-85-winners/" data-wpel-link="internal">What&#8217;s Next: UFC Vegas 85 Winners</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>UFC Vegas 85: Aliaskhab Khizriev Continues Run of Bad Luck, Pokes Makhmud Muradov in No Contest</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/03/ufc-vegas-85-aliaskhab-khizriev-pokes-makhmud-muradov/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Val Dewar]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:54:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makhmud Muradov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC Fight Night 235]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=182106</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Undefeated Dagestani wrestler Aliaskhab Khizriev wanted  to defend his perfect record in his second UFC fight against Makhmud Muradov at UFC Vegas 85. Inactivity has plagued Khizriev since signing with the UFC in 2020. He has had five fights canceled for one reason or another since then, and it took him two years and four [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/03/ufc-vegas-85-aliaskhab-khizriev-pokes-makhmud-muradov/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 85: Aliaskhab Khizriev Continues Run of Bad Luck, Pokes Makhmud Muradov in No Contest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Undefeated Dagestani wrestler Aliaskhab Khizriev wanted  to defend his perfect record in his second UFC fight against Makhmud Muradov at <a href="http://ufc.com" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">UFC</a> Vegas 85.</p>
<p>Inactivity has plagued Khizriev since signing with the UFC in 2020. He has had five fights canceled for one reason or another since then, and it took him two years and four cancellations just to get to his debut, in which he dominated and finished Denis Tiuliulin. Two years later, he takes on a once-hyped prospect in Muradov who had his train derailed with two straight losses in 2022. A win in 2023 over veteran <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2023/03/18/ufc-286-gunnar-nelson-submits-bryan-barberena-in-first-round-with-slick-armbar/" data-wpel-link="internal">Bryan Barbarena</a> got him back on track, and taking the &#8216;zero&#8217; of Khizriev would put him right back in the limelight. But neither fighter was happy when they left the UFC Apex on Saturday.</p>
<p>Aliaskhab Khizriev opened the fight pressing forward in his southpaw stance, throwing hands right away. However, on the way to begin his combination he poked Muradov in the eye with his lead hand. It was a bad one; the doctor was heard informing referee Herb Dean that Muradov&#8217;s cornea was scratched. The fight barely got started before it was over, continuing Khizriev&#8217;s run of bad luck which rivals fighters like Alex Perez.</p>
<p>The only things that can be said now are that hopefully Moradov is okay and hopefully they are able to rematch soon, so both of their careers can move past this incident.</p>
<p><strong><em>Official Result: </em><em>Aliaskhab Khizriev vs Makhmud Muradov ends in No Contest (eye poke), Round 1, 0:11</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2024/02/03/ufc-vegas-85-aliaskhab-khizriev-pokes-makhmud-muradov/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Vegas 85: Aliaskhab Khizriev Continues Run of Bad Luck, Pokes Makhmud Muradov in No Contest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>UFC Columbus: Aliaskhab Khizriev Submits Denis Tiuliulin, Signals Move to 170</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/26/ufc-columbus-aliaskhab-khizriev-vs-denis-tiuliulin/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/26/ufc-columbus-aliaskhab-khizriev-vs-denis-tiuliulin/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Mar 2022 22:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denis Tiuliulin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC on ESPN 33]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=130791</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>With middleweight Aliaskhab Khizriev&#8217;s original opponent Abusupiyan Magomedov pulling out of UFC Columbus, the UFC signed Russian Denis Tiuliulin to step in on short notice. Having last competed for UAE Warriors a year ago, Tiuliulin was taking a considerable step up, with little time to prepare. It proved to be too tall of a task [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/26/ufc-columbus-aliaskhab-khizriev-vs-denis-tiuliulin/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Columbus: Aliaskhab Khizriev Submits Denis Tiuliulin, Signals Move to 170</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With middleweight Aliaskhab Khizriev&#8217;s original opponent Abusupiyan Magomedov pulling out of UFC Columbus, the UFC signed Russian Denis Tiuliulin to step in on short notice.</p>
<p>Having last competed for UAE Warriors a year ago, Tiuliulin was taking a considerable step up, with little time to prepare.</p>
<p>It proved to be too tall of a task for Tiuliulin.</p>
<p>Tiuliulin struck first with a heavy right hand. It didn&#8217;t faze Khizriev, who was making his own debut after winning on <em>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series </em>back in 2020<em>,</em> and soon after he dropped levels and got the fight down. Tiuliulin scooted against the cage and tried to get back to his feet. Khizriev had good pressure on the hips and interlaced the legs of Tiuliulin keeping him grounded. Eventually, Tiuliulin got to his knees and got back to his feet. Tiuliulin pressed the action and was drawing Khizriev into a slugfest. Both landed heavily in the pocket and to close the round both failed on a takedown attempt.</p>
<p>Khizriev fired right away in round two with a head kick and flying knee. He gave Tiuliulin what he wanted, standing in front of him and trading. Khizriev won the exchanges getting off his punches/kicks and landing big shots just letting everything go. Having Tiuliulin in trouble on the feet Khizriev shot in on the leg, shifted to the back and sunk in the rear-naked choke. Tiuliulin didn&#8217;t tap but instead went to sleep.</p>
<p>After the fight, Khizriev suggested that he was carrying too much weight on him — and signaled a move to 170lbs.</p>
<p><em><strong>Official Result: Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Denis Tiuliulin by Submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:15</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/26/ufc-columbus-aliaskhab-khizriev-vs-denis-tiuliulin/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC Columbus: Aliaskhab Khizriev Submits Denis Tiuliulin, Signals Move to 170</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/26/ufc-columbus-aliaskhab-khizriev-vs-denis-tiuliulin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Welcome to the UFC: Denis Tiuliulin</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/25/welcome-to-the-ufc-denis-tiuliulin/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/25/welcome-to-the-ufc-denis-tiuliulin/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Mar 2022 00:56:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denis Tiuliulin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC on ESPN 33]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=130530</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>UFC Columbus (UFC on ESPN 33) is going down this Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The card is headlined by heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus. Aliaskhab Khizriev (13-0) is finally making his UFC debut after winning his contract on the contender series in 2020. Khizriev was supposed to fight Abusupiyan Magomedov [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/25/welcome-to-the-ufc-denis-tiuliulin/" data-wpel-link="internal">Welcome to the UFC: Denis Tiuliulin</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>UFC Columbus (UFC on ESPN 33) is going down this Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The card is headlined by heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Chris Daukaus. Aliaskhab Khizriev (13-0) is finally making his UFC debut after winning his contract on the contender series in 2020. Khizriev was supposed to fight Abusupiyan Magomedov but he&#8217;s out, and now Denis Tiuliulin is making his UFC debut on short notice.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Denis Tiuliulin</strong><br />
Standing at 6’1″<br />
Fighting at 185 lbs (middleweight)<br />
33-years-old<br />
Fighting out of Moscow, Russia<br />
Training out of Evolve Gym<br />
A pro record of 10-5<br />
8 KO/TKOs</p>
<h3>What to expect from Tiuliulin in the UFC:</h3>
<p>This signing was unexpected and surprising. When Magomedov withdrew everyone expected maybe a US-based regional guy to make his debut. But instead, a 33-year-old Russian got the call-up. A lot of that is probably due to his knockout win last year for UAE Warriors. This signing isn&#8217;t as bad as I thought going into the tape study. He&#8217;s not at all a contender but can bring excitement into the cage.</p>
<p>Tiuliulin is beatable in all areas but in the key is to take him down. He doesn&#8217;t have bad initial takedown defense but the more he has to defend, the easier he eventually does go down. Tiuliulin struggles more off his back and it&#8217;s because his guard is easy to pass; as well, almost every time he&#8217;s taken down he gives up his back. His fight against a really good prospect in Ikram Aliskerov is what gave out the blueprint. Aliskerov a solid wrestler was able to take him down and dominate on top to get the eventual finish.</p>
<p>Where Tiuliulin excels is in exchanges getting hit and returning. That&#8217;s why after almost every Tiuliulin win, his face is busted up. He draws guys into the pocket and in exchanges he&#8217;s the more dangerous striker. He hits hard and his chin can take a lot of damage resulting in him getting those finishes. Tiuliulin isn&#8217;t the most technical but he does throw a one-two just crashing into the pocket. His head sits on the center-line so that&#8217;s why you will see him being so aggressive and getting into the pocket.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d be confident in saying Tiuliulin will never be in the top 15 and probably not even the top 25. I do see him getting a few wins inside the octagon though. He will be a guy to test younger fighters on the come-up to gauge just how good they are. Tiuliulin is no walk in the park so to get past him you have to be above mid-level.</p>
<h3>How he matches up with Khizriev:</h3>
<p>Khizriev is going to come out aggressive and will ground Tiuliulin as soon as possible. Khizriev has solid wrestling, smothering top control, excellent ground and pound, and a submission base. That&#8217;s just a very bad match-up for Tiuliulin. Khizriev is -800 for a reason and he probably gets it done in under two rounds.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/25/welcome-to-the-ufc-denis-tiuliulin/" data-wpel-link="internal">Welcome to the UFC: Denis Tiuliulin</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2022/03/25/welcome-to-the-ufc-denis-tiuliulin/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>UFC: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev Set For August 28</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/29/alessio-di-chirico-vs-aliaskhab-khizriev-set-for-august-28-ufc-card/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/29/alessio-di-chirico-vs-aliaskhab-khizriev-set-for-august-28-ufc-card/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Behunin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2021 20:35:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[MMA News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alessio Di Chirico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=106437</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A UFC veteran will welcome an octagon newcomer to the promotion in August. MMA Fighting was the first to report the news that Alessio Di Chirico will fight the debuting Aliaskhab Khizriev on August 28 at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event. Di Chirico would confirm the booking on his Instagram story. Both fighters were supposed to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/29/alessio-di-chirico-vs-aliaskhab-khizriev-set-for-august-28-ufc-card/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev Set For August 28</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A UFC veteran will welcome an octagon newcomer to the promotion in August.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/29/22555821/alessio-di-chirico-undefeated-newcomer-aliaskhab-khizriev-ufc-vegas-36" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">MMA Fighting</a> was the first to report the news that Alessio Di Chirico will fight the debuting Aliaskhab Khizriev on August 28 at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event. Di Chirico would confirm the booking on his Instagram story.</p>
<p>Both fighters were supposed to fight earlier this year. Di Chirico was scheduled to fight earlier this month in June but pulled out with an undisclosed injury, and Khizriew was scheduled to fight in April, but COVID protocols halted his UFC debut.</p>
<p>Di Chirico (13-5) got back into the win column on the first UFC card of the year. The Italian fighter fought for his job when he faced Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Katta. He knocked Buckley out in this first round with a head kick and received a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. Before his loss, Di Chirico was on a three-fight losing streak, the first losing streak of his career.</p>
<p>Khizriev (13-0) received a UFC contract last year when he choked out Henrique Shiguemoto in 50 seconds last season on <em>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series</em>. The Russian fighter has eight finishes in his 13 wins. There is a lot of hype behind Khizriev, and win over a very tough Di Chirico will open many eyes.</p>
<p>No location, venue, or broadcast details have yet to be announced by the promotion for UFC’s August 28 event.</p>
<p>The August 28 fight card now includes the following reported bouts:</p>
<ul>
<li>Gerald Meerschaert vs. Makhmud Muradov</li>
<li>Ketlen Vieira vs. Sara McMann</li>
<li>Kevin Croom vs. Marcelo Rojo</li>
<li>Pat Sabatini vs. Jamall Emmers</li>
<li>Joselyne Edwards vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos</li>
<li>Mario Bautista vs. Guido Cannetti</li>
<li>Dustin Jacoby vs. Askar Mozharov</li>
<li>Tracy Cortez vs. JJ Aldrich</li>
<li>Alessio Di Chirico vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev</li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/29/alessio-di-chirico-vs-aliaskhab-khizriev-set-for-august-28-ufc-card/" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC: Alessio Di Chirico vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev Set For August 28</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/29/alessio-di-chirico-vs-aliaskhab-khizriev-set-for-august-28-ufc-card/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 6 Results</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/08/dana-whites-contender-series-season-4-week-6-results/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/08/dana-whites-contender-series-season-4-week-6-results/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2020 22:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Contender Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results & Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Al Matavao]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cameron Church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drako Rodriguez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DWTNCS 32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Henrique Shiguemoto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Khadzhimurat Bestaev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leomana Martinez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phil Hawes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sherrard Blackledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tafon Nchukwi]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=80203</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series returns in week six with a rather interesting night of fights. For starters, keen-eyed observers will recognize Tafon Nchukwi as the man who beat developmental deal holder William Knight late last year. Just a week ago, in the fifth installment of DWCS 2020, Knight earned himself a shot at the UFC [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/08/dana-whites-contender-series-season-4-week-6-results/" data-wpel-link="internal">Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 6 Results</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dana White&#8217;s Contender Series returns in week six with a rather interesting night of fights. For starters, keen-eyed observers will recognize Tafon Nchukwi as the man who beat developmental deal holder <a href="http://cagesidepress.com/tag/william-knight/" data-wpel-link="internal">William Knight</a> late last year.</p>
<p>Just a week ago, in the fifth installment of DWCS 2020, Knight earned himself a shot at the UFC proper. Now, it&#8217;s Nchukwi&#8217;s turn — despite being just 3-0 and not having fought since defeating Knight.</p>
<p>Jackson-Wink MMA product Phil Hawes will also compete Tuesday night. &#8220;Megatron&#8221; appeared on the Contender Series back in 2017, and while he came up short there, he hasn&#8217;t lost since, putting together three straight wins split between Bellator MMA and Brave CF.</p>
<p>Undefeated prospects are always worth keeping an eye on, especially when they&#8217;ve hit double digits. That&#8217;s the case for Aliaskhab Khizriev, with a 12-0 record entering the night. While the level of competition Khizriev faced early in his career was underwhelming, his last victory came against a name UFC fans will be very, very familiar with: Rousimar Palhares. Khizriev not only escaped with his leg intact, but managed to finish the Brazilian within a minute via ground and pound. That step up in competition coupled with an unblemished record have many observers high on his chances at a strong future in the UFC.</p>
<p><em>As always, the action gets underway at 8PM ET, live on ESPN+ (UFC Fight Pass internationally). Check back for results as the night unfolds.</em></p>
<p>For his part, Aliaskhab Khizriev wasted no time taking down Henrique Shiguemoto, and quickly took the back, locking in the rear-naked choke. Claiming the win in under a minute, the middleweight (who has also fought at welterweight) couldn&#8217;t have done much more to secure a UFC deal.</p>
<p>Drako Rodriguez clearly got the memo. Securing his own submission win with a triangle, he put away Mana Martinez in under three minutes. Martinez was locked up tight enough that he went to sleep before he could tap.</p>
<p>Phil Hawes got it as well. A big right hand sealed the deal, knocking down Khadzhi Bestaev with follow-up strikes a mere formality.</p>
<p>Church vs. Blackledge wound up being the first fight on week six of the Contender Series to leave the opening round. Blackledge&#8217;s takedowns were the story early. That, and low blows. Early in the second, the action was halted by by a low knee on Church. A second knee went upstairs, adding insult to injury. Or just more injury. Church opted not to take the full time allotted for recovery, and was soon in danger again. However, this time it was Church landing low, with a kick to the cup. When the action resumed, Blackledge earned another takedown, working in some shots to the body and head. Blackledge would press hard in the third, and while he couldn&#8217;t get the finish, he controlled to the bell, earning the decision win.</p>
<p>Nchukwi vs. Matavao was about the clearest example of power vs. speed you&#8217;ll find in modern MMA. Nchukwi frankly dwarfed his opponent, landing by far the more powerful strikes. But Matavao was willing to throw, and when he did, he threw a lot. He was rocked early, however, and grazed by a kick later in the round. That or the follow-up punch opened up a small cut.</p>
<p>Nchukwi didn&#8217;t take much time in the second, flooring Matavao early with a heavy head kick. Matavao was down for a while after that kick, but did recover and sit up under his own power.</p>
<h3>Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 6 Results</h3>
<p>Tafon Nchukwi def. Al Matavao by knockout (head kick), Round 2, 2:01<br />
Sherrard Blackledge def. Cameron Church by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)<br />
Phil Hawes def. Khadzhi Bestaev by TKO, Round 1, 1:18<br />
Drako Rodriguez def. Mana Martinez by technical submission (triangle choke), Round 1, 2:22<br />
Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Henrique Shiguemoto by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 0:50</p>
<p><em><strong>Contracts: Aliaskhab Khizriev, Drako Rodriguez, Phil Hawes, Tafon Nchukwi. Sherrard Blackledge invited back for a second fight this November.</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/08/dana-whites-contender-series-season-4-week-6-results/" data-wpel-link="internal">Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4, Week 6 Results</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/08/dana-whites-contender-series-season-4-week-6-results/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>DWCS 2020 Week 6 Breakdown and Predictions</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/07/dwcs-2019-week-6-breakdown-and-predictions/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/07/dwcs-2019-week-6-breakdown-and-predictions/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2020 22:39:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Contender Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prospects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Al Matavao]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cameron Church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contender series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drako Martinez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DWCS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DWTNCS 32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Henrique Shiguemoto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Khadzhimurat Bestaev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leomana Martinez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phil Hawes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sherrard Blackledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tafon Nchukwi]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=79734</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This week&#8217;s Cotender Series outing features Tafon Nchukwi, in a fight that a lot of MMA fans will be very curious to see. If you&#8217;re not fully familiar with Nchukwi, consider this: Just a week ago, William Knight, who was on a developmental deal with the UFC, fought his way into the promotion with a [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/07/dwcs-2019-week-6-breakdown-and-predictions/" data-wpel-link="internal">DWCS 2020 Week 6 Breakdown and Predictions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This week&#8217;s Cotender Series outing features Tafon Nchukwi, in a fight that a lot of MMA fans will be very curious to see. If you&#8217;re not fully familiar with Nchukwi, consider this: Just a week ago, <a href="http://cagesidepress.com/tag/william-knight/" data-wpel-link="internal">William Knight</a>, who was on a developmental deal with the UFC, fought his way into the promotion with a win on DWCS. Knight improved 8-1, and that lone loss happens to be to Nchukwi, on the first fight of Knight&#8217;s developmental deal.</p>
<p>Thing is, Tafon has not fought since that win, which came last November. Still, big things are expected of the light heavyweight, with the 205lb division badly in need of fresh blood.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s just one of five compelling bouts this week, so let&#8217;s get right to our preview and predictions.</p>
<h3>Light Heavyweight: Tafon Nchukwi vs. Al Matavao</h3>
<h4>Tale of the Tape</h4>
<div style="width: 40%; padding: 0 10px 0 0; float: left;"><strong>Tafon Nchukwi</strong><br />
25-years-old<br />
6&#8217;0″<br />
Team Llyod Irvin<br />
Hyattsville, Maryland, US but from Bamenda, Cameroon<br />
3-0</div>
<div style="width: 40%; padding: 0 10px 0 0; float: right;"><strong>Al Matavao</strong><br />
26-years-old<br />
5&#8217;8&#8243;<br />
Legacy Jiu-Jitsu<br />
Nu&#8217;uuli, Alaska<br />
8-2</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
<h4>Pros and Cons</h4>
<div style="width: 40%; padding: 0 10px 0 0; float: left;">
<p><strong>Tafon Nchukwi</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Pros</span></p>
<ul>
<li>Good clinch work</li>
<li>Good elbows</li>
<li>Physically strong</li>
<li>Excellent muay thai</li>
<li>Good knees</li>
</ul>
<p>Cons</p>
<ul>
<li>Unknown</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="width: 40%; padding: 0 10px 0 0; float: right;">
<p><strong>Al Matavao</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Pros</span></p>
<ul>
<li>Knockout power</li>
<li>Scrappy</li>
<li>Good uppercut</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cons</span></p>
<ul>
<li>Poor TDD</li>
<li>Very wild</li>
<li>Subpar grappling defense</li>
<li>Will overreach with his strikes</li>
<li>Poor cardio</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
<h4>Who has the advantage?</h4>
<p>Striking: Nchukwi<br />
Speed: Nchukwi<br />
Output/Volume: Nchukwi<br />
Knockout Power: Nchukwi<br />
Chin: Nchukwi<br />
Kickboxing: Nchukwi<br />
Footwork: Nchukwi<br />
Wrestling: Neither<br />
Grappling: Neither<br />
Submissions: Neither<br />
Cardio: Nchukwi</p>
<h4>Prediction</h4>
<p>Although Al Matavao has much more pro experience than Tafon Nchukwi, this is a big mismatch in favor of Nchukwi. The fight will most likely stay standing and in every aspect, Tafon has the advantage. What really stands out has got to be the physicality of Nchukwi. Matavao is a very small 205lb&#8217;er standing at 5&#8217;8&#8243;. That makes him even smaller than Kelvin Gastelum. I expect Tafon to bully Al Matavao around on DWCS and put him away quickly.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/07/dwcs-2019-week-6-breakdown-and-predictions/" data-wpel-link="internal">DWCS 2020 Week 6 Breakdown and Predictions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/09/07/dwcs-2019-week-6-breakdown-and-predictions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/22/10-welterweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/22/10-welterweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jan 2020 16:07:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anthony Ivy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christien Savoie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Edson Marques]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Han Seul Kim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Khamzat Chimaev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lowen Tynanes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nassourdine Imavov]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rhys McKee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roberto Soldic]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=62774</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Welterweight has a rather deep talent pool, but we think these ten fighters are ready to jump right in and join the UFC. The welterweight division currently has a three-way dance at the top of the division, with champ Kamaru Usman, &#8220;BMF&#8221; titlist Jorge Masvidal, and the surging Leon Edwards. Tyron Woodley is still in [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/22/10-welterweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Welterweight has a rather deep talent pool, but we think these ten fighters are ready to jump right in and join the UFC.</h2>
<p>The welterweight division currently has a three-way dance at the top of the division, with champ Kamaru Usman, &#8220;BMF&#8221; titlist Jorge Masvidal, and the surging Leon Edwards. Tyron Woodley is still in the mix as well. The 170lb weight class has always been one of the sport&#8217;s deepest, frankly. But there&#8217;s always the need for fresh faces, so here&#8217;s our pick for 10 athletes the UFC can bring in his year.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at last year’s list, featuring current UFC roster members Sean Brady and Takashi Sato signing with the UFC in 2019:</p>
<p><strong>Sean Brady</strong><br />
<strong>Takashi Sato</strong><br />
Joaquin Lopez<br />
Sidney Outlaw<br />
Mounir Lazzez<br />
Chris Curtin<br />
Christien Savoie<br />
Roberto Soldic<br />
Kitt Campbell</p>
<p>Be sure to visit our other installments in this series (linked below):</p>
<p><a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/11/10-heavyweight-prospects-the-ufc-should-sign-in-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a><br />
<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/14/10-light-heavyweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Light Heavyweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a><br />
<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/20/10-middleweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Middleweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a><br />
<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/27/10-lightweights-prospects-the-ufc-should-sign-in-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Lightweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a><br />
<a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/28/10-featherweight-prospects-the-ufc-should-sign-in-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Featherweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/22/10-welterweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2020</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/22/10-welterweight-prospects-ufc-sign-2020/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2019</title>
		<link>https://cagesidepress.com/2019/01/17/10-welterweights-ufc-sign-2019/</link>
					<comments>https://cagesidepress.com/2019/01/17/10-welterweights-ufc-sign-2019/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Bitter]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:32:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aliaskhab Khizriev]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Curtis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christien Savoie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joaquim Silva]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kitt Campbell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mounir Lazzez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roberto Soldic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sean Brady]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sidney Outlaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Takashi Sato]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cagesidepress.com/?p=30799</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As we head into the first major MMA event in 2019, we look outside the UFC at 10 welterweight prospects that should be in the Octagon by year&#8217;s end. Here&#8217;s a look at last year&#8217;s list, with Carlos Pedersoli being the lone name to make his UFC debut last year: Sean Brady Roberto Soldic James [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2019/01/17/10-welterweights-ufc-sign-2019/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2019</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>As we head into the first major MMA event in 2019, we look outside the UFC at 10 welterweight prospects that should be in the Octagon by year&#8217;s end.</h2>
<p>Here&#8217;s a look at last year&#8217;s list, with Carlos Pedersoli being the lone name to make his <a href="http://cagesidepress.com/category/UFC" data-wpel-link="internal">UFC</a> debut last year:</p>
<ul>
<li>Sean Brady</li>
<li>Roberto Soldic</li>
<li>James Nakashima</li>
<li>Alex Lohore</li>
<li>Tofik Musaev</li>
<li><strong>Carlos Pedersoli</strong></li>
<li>Chris Curtis</li>
<li>Jaleel Willis</li>
<li>Kyler Stewart</li>
<li>Giorgio Pietrini</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Sean Brady</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>26 | 5’9″ | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 9-0 | 4 Finishes | </strong><strong>2 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions (Rear-naked Choke, Guillotine) | Combined Opponents&#8217; record: 39-17 | Best Win – Colton Smith (7-4)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Sean Brady does a bit of Muay Thai under the well-known Rami Ibrahim, and some boxing under Derek Ennis to sharpen up his stand-up. He’s been training Muay Thai since he was 15 which compliments his ground game well. With a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, Brady is fluid on the mat with control, and even though he only has two submissions, he is a major threat on the floor.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Training out of Renzo Gracie Philadelphia, Brady is surrounded by some good training partners such as UFC fighters Paul Felder and Eddie Alvarez. Brady has already beaten decent competition like TUF winner Colton Smith. The Philadelphia native should already be in the UFC so this year as he already has another fight set February 16 for CFFC 72. With that win in the main event on UFC Fight Pass that should be his golden ticket.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Chris &#8220;The Action Man&#8221; Curtis</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>31 | 5’10” | Temecula, California | 19-5 | 10 Finishes | 8</strong><strong> KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions (Tap to Strikes, Armbar) | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 123-75 | Best Win – Nah-Shon Burrell (2-0)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I&#8217;ve always been high on the Action Man and have pushed his case to the UFC hard with my piece <a href="https://mma-today.com/callhimdana-contender-series-winner-chris-curtis" data-wpel-link="external" target="_blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer">#CallHimDana</a>. He competed on the Contender Series last Summer and knocked out Sean Lilley with a hook kick. With all the hard work on the regional scene and a nice knockout in front of Dana White, somehow Curtis wasn&#8217;t awarded a contract that had many fans saying &#8220;what the hell!?&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Curtis has two losses: a controversial one to ex-UFC vet Nah-Shon Burrell (whom he beat in 2010) and surging UFC welterweight, Belal Muhammad. Curtis is on a six-fight win streak including two title defenses for the CES promotion, winning a title on the Canadian scene for the Fight Night Medicine Hat promotion and a title for the Premier MMA Championship promotion. When you talk about a technical striker, Curtis fits that to a tee as his boxing is outstanding. The way he uses head movement is so good and the way he mixes in body shots in with combinations is superb. He&#8217;s everything the UFC should look at in a fighter.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Roberto &#8220;Robocop&#8221; Soldic</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>23 | 5’9&#8243; | Zagreb, Croatia | 15-3 | 14 Finishes | 13 KO/TKO, 1 Submission (Guillotine) | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 153-78 | Best Win – Dricus Du Plessis (12-1)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The welterweight out of Croatia has beaten some stiff competition including Lewis Long (16-5), Borys Mańkowski (19-7-1), and Dricus Du Plessis (12-2), winning five titles in his career including the KSW title. So<span class="TextRun SCXW214535094">ldic is always coming forward and always looking for the finish in a controlled chaos manner. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW214535094">Soldic</span><span class="TextRun SCXW214535094"> has heavy hands and a very accurate head kick, which he has dropped many opponents with. It’s the constant volume he </span><span class="TextRun SCXW214535094">throws paired with his speed that allows him to do so well. Soldic is </span><span class="TextRun SCXW214535094">always</span><span class="TextRun SCXW214535094"> throwing punches behind kicks and visa-versa, showcasing his great striking abilities. He&#8217;s easily one of the best welterweights on the global scene and hopefully his contract with KSW won&#8217;t hold him back. </span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Sidney &#8220;Da Gun&#8221; Outlaw</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>26 | 5&#8217;8&#8243; | Telford, Pennsylvania | 12-3 | 7 Finishes | 1 KO/TKO, 6 Submissions (4 Rear-Naked Chokes, 2 Armbars) | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 88-44 | Best Win – Raush Manfio (11-2)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Sidney Outlaw is always pressing forward and once he gets his hands together, he is most likely getting the fight down. He is a powerful guy and also possesses high fight IQ as he knows when to level-change to complete the takedown. His excellent wrestling and jiu-jitsu complement this.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Outlaw is a veteran of regional jiu-jitsu competitions which has helped develop his stellar ground game. He is the current Ring of Combat and Titan FC champion and fought a very competitive fight with top UFC contender Gregor Gillespie.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Mounir &#8220;The Sniper&#8221; Lazzez</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>31 | 6&#8217;2&#8243; | </strong><strong>Dubai, </strong><strong>United Arab Emirates | 7-0 | 6 Finishes | 6 KO/TKO</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 24-16 | Best Win – Dmitrijs Homjakovs (4-0)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mounir Lazzez is a good talent and a fun one at that but I can&#8217;t say he&#8217;s a high profile fighter, especially at 31 in a killer division. With that said, he would be an exciting addition to the UFC roster, but of course, he has to be more active (only three fights since 2015) and needs to show he can beat a higher level of competition. Lazzez has been wrecking guys, winning six of his seven fights by KO/TKO, capturing a regional title in the process.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Lazzez has the nickname &#8220;<em>The Sniper</em>&#8221; and that couldn&#8217;t be truer &#8211; his accuracy is awesome and once he connects flush, it&#8217;s lights out. He is athletic, quick, and well-rounded. He can get the takedown and work on top, but on the feet, that&#8217;s where he can let loose, he is really at home. He also holds two great head kick knockouts as well. He&#8217;s currently signed with Brave CF so he will get some stiff competition eventually.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Takashi Sato</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>28 | 5&#8217;11&#8221; | Niigata, Japan | 14-2 | 9 Finishes | 7 KO/TKO, 2 Submissions (Rear-Naked Choke, Arm-Triangle)</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; record: 122-61 | Best Win – Matt Vaile (10-1)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">With a high fight IQ and a veteran approach, Sato trains out of Tribe Tokyo MMA with Japanese legend Ryo Chonan as his mentor. You won’t see Sato throw to many combinations nor will you see him be too aggressive. Instead, he will pick his shots. You will see Sato use many weapons in his arsenal like knees, leg kicks, his stinging left hand, and mix in some takedowns. Sato does a good job of getting trips along the fence getting his opponents down. He isn’t much of a submission threat but he does have effective ground and pound with excellent top control. His only loss in his last seven fights is to former UFC fighter Glaico França who is on a six-fight win streak and should be back in the UFC.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Aliaskhab Khizriev</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>28 | 5&#8217;10&#8221; | Makhachkala, Russia | 12-0 | 7 Finishes | 5 KO/TKO, 2 Submissions (Rear-Naked Choke)</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 75-35 | Best Win – Rousimar Palhares (19-8)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Russian, as far as I know, is currently signed with Fight Nights Global, but his last four fights have been for the promotion so he could be a free agent soon.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Aliaskhab Khizriev brings an undefeated 12-0 record to the table with seven finishes and the other five going the distance. Khizriev has heavy hands but is a bit wild on the feet, but ultimately the mat is where he wants to be. He is a strong guy, so the takedowns come naturally to him. Khizriev is a nightmare on top position as his ground and pound is crazy good. He&#8217;s very active with his punches, and if he can posture up, he will let his hands rain down and can do it constantly the whole fight. His last fight was against well-known former UFC fighter Rousimar Palhares, who has a knack for losing to future UFC fighters or at least fighters the UFC is interested in.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Christien &#8220;Tiger&#8221; Savoie</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>26 | 5&#8217;11&#8221; | New Brunswick, Canada | 6-0 | 4 Finishes | 4 KO/TKO</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 9-12 | Best Win– Kris Lee (4-2)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The UFC comes to Canada quite a bit each year and the promotion has already expressed their interest in Savoie. Savoie was contacted to fight on the Contender Series last summer but couldn&#8217;t due to an injury. He&#8217;s making the move back down to 175 after competing at a catchweight of 200 and at 185. Savoie is mainly a grinder who will push the pace in close quarters. He wants to take the fight to the mat where his ground and pound is excellent landing at a solid rate and good shots from a short amount of distance.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Joaquin Lopez</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>30 | 6&#8217;1&#8243; | Santa Rosa, California | 5-0 | 100% Finish rate | 5 KO/TKO</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record: 10-10 | Best Win– Salaiman Ahmadyar (6-0)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Joaquin Lopez was very underrated until he made his LFA debut last September against Team Alpha Male&#8217;s Salaiman Ahmadyar, stopping him early in the first round. Other than Ahmadyar, Lopez hasn&#8217;t fought stiff competition, but has done what&#8217;s expected of a talented up-and-comer and that&#8217;s stop the lesser opponents in the first round.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">There isn&#8217;t too much footage on him but I&#8217;ve seen a bit and I&#8217;m really impressed with his boxing. He&#8217;s got the volume, laser accuracy, timing, speed, angles, and overall he has them hands. I&#8217;m very excited to see how he progresses in his career and I 100-percent expect to see him on the Contender Series this summer.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Kitt &#8220;The Killer&#8221; Campbell</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>24 | 6&#8217;2&#8243; | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | 10-3 | 7 Finishes | 5 KO/TKO, 2 Submissions (Rear-Naked Choke, Triangle)</strong><strong> | Combined Opponents&#8217; Record- 52-22 | Best Win &#8211; Joel Kendrick (7-1-1)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Campbell is well-rounded overall. On the feet, he has power in his hands and is quite explosive and quick. He is good in the clinch throwing relentless knees and lethal elbows too. His wrestling is good as well with solid entrances to his takedowns leading to good follow-throughs. On top, Campbell has good ground-and-pound and is a submission threat. He moves well for a big man. At times, he is stationary but once on the mat, he is fluid with his movement. He&#8217;s still very young and his fun fighting style should draw the UFC in.</p>
<p>Small shout-out to Jared Gooden and Kyle Stewart on LFA 59 on February 1. The winner should get a UFC contract.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cagesidepress.com/2019/01/17/10-welterweights-ufc-sign-2019/" data-wpel-link="internal">10 Welterweight Prospects the UFC Should Sign in 2019</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cagesidepress.com" data-wpel-link="internal">Cageside Press</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://cagesidepress.com/2019/01/17/10-welterweights-ufc-sign-2019/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
