Fights come collectively quick lately, and when you blink, you may simply miss them. In Struggle Roundup, we deliver you the most recent reported matchups to maintain you updated with what’s on the horizon.
All bouts featured have been formally introduced or confirmed with MMA Combating’s Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, and Damon Martin through sources with data of the matchups.
Volkan Oezdemir vs. Azamat Murzakanov
One-time UFC title challenger Volkan Oezdemir (18-7) makes his first look of 2023 when he faces the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov (13-0) at UFC Paris on Sept. 2, the promotion introduced Wednesday.
Oezdemir has seen blended outcomes since failing to defeat Daniel Cormier for the UFC mild heavyweight championship in 2018, going simply 3-5 because the defeat. He defeated Paul Craig through unanimous determination final July to cease a shedding streak, however misplaced a call to Nikita Krylov the next October at UFC 280. Within the MMA Combating World Rankings, Oezdemir nonetheless holds on to the No. 14 spot.
A 2021 Dana White Contender Collection signing, Murzakanov has impressed in his first three UFC appearances with wins over Dustin Jacoby, Devin Clark, and Tafon Nchukwi. Murzakanov’s wins over Clark and Nchukwi each got here through third-round knockout.
Kevin Lee vs. Rinat Fakhredtinov
Kevin Lee is again.
The one-time interim UFC title challenger returns on July 1 at UFC Vegas 76 the place he meets Rinat Fakhretdinov (20-1) in a welterweight bout. MMA Underground was first to report the matchup.
This marks Lee’s first battle within the UFC since parting methods with the promotion in November 2021. Lee was launched following a unanimous determination loss to Daniel Rodriguez, his fourth loss in 5 fights. Throughout his first run with the promotion, Lee was a top-ranked light-weight contender, although he struggled to make the lower all the way down to 155 kilos, lacking the mark twice. At UFC 216, he fought Tony Ferguson for an interim light-weight title, however misplaced by third-round submission.
Lee (19-7) most lately fought for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion in March 2022, the place he defeated longtime UFC veteran Diego Sanchez.
Fakhretdinov is 2-0 within the UFC thus far, with determination wins over Bryan Battle and Andreas Michailidis. The Russian veteran has gained 19 straight fights since struggling his lone loss in his second professional bout 10 years in the past.
Terrance McKinney vs. Nazim Sadykhov
Terrance McKinney (13-5) has to cease an opponent on a serious win streak if he needs to get again within the win column.
“T. Wrecks” is about to battle light-weight prospect Nazim Sadykhov (8-1) at UFC Vegas 77 on July 15. The bout was first introduced by McKinney through social media.
In 5 UFC outings, McKinney has alternated between thrills and spills. He debuted with a seven-second knockout of Matt Frevola and adopted that with a first-round submission of Fares Ziam, earlier than being out-slugged by the granite-chinned Drew Dober in a March 2022 bout. McKinney rebounded with one other first-round end, submitting Erick Gonzalez, earlier than ending up on the receiving finish of a spectacular Ismael Bonfim flying knee knockout in his most up-to-date outing at UFC 283.
Sadykhov, a 2022 Contender Collection signing, made a profitable UFC debut this previous February with a physician stoppage TKO of Evan Elder. The 29-year-old Azerbaijan native is unbeaten since dropping his professional debut in 2018.
Josh Fremd vs. Jamie Pickett
Josh Fremd (10-4) fights a hungry Jamie Pickett (13-9) subsequent.
The middleweights are scheduled for UFC Vegas 77, which takes place Aug. 12. Fremd’s administration was first to announce the battle.
Fremd earned his first UFC win in three tries this previous March when he submitted Sedrique Dumas through guillotine choke. Eight of his 10 wins have come by the use of knockout or submission.
It is a must-win battle for Pickett, who has misplaced three straight fights and is simply 2-5 contained in the octagon. He has not scored a win since defeating Joseph Holmes in January 2022.
Crazy Godinez vs. Sam Hughes
Crazy Godinez (10-3) and Sam Hughes (8-5) get their likelihood to climb the strawweight ranks once they collide at a UFC Struggle Evening occasion on Sept. 16, which is anticipated to happen at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The bout was first reported by ESPN Deportes.
Godinez has been one of many UFC’s busiest fighters since debuting in 2021, preventing eight instances in a bit of over two years. She has competed at each 115 and 125 kilos and has gained 4 of her previous 5 fights.
Hughes has additionally earned a popularity for preventing on brief discover, sometimes to her detriment. Nevertheless, she has gained three of her previous 4 fights, most lately upsetting the undefeated Jaqueline Amorim at UFC 287.
Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva
Cody Durden (15-4-1) and Bruno Silva (13-5-2) are placing their three-fight win streaks on the road.
The up-and-coming flyweight contenders are set to fulfill at a UFC APEX occasion on Sept. 23. Durden and Silva each introduced the matchup on social media.
Durden bounced again from a fast submission loss to Muhammad Mokaev by defeating Charles Johnson, Carlos Mota, and J.P. Buys in a row. His most up-to-date win was a unanimous determination nod over Johnson at UFC Vegas 72.
Silva had a poor begin to his UFC profession, going winless with two losses and a no-contest earlier than hitting his stride in his previous three outings. “Bulldog” has completed his previous three opponents, Tyson Nam, Victor Rodriguez, and Buys.
Danny Sabatello vs. Magomed MagomedovLorenz Larkin vs. Andrey Koreshkov 2
Bellator and RIZIN’s second crossover card has added two extra high-profile fights.
Bantamweight contenders Danny Sabatello (14-2) and Magomed Magomedov (19-3), and welterweight contenders Lorenz Larkin (25-7, 2 NC) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (26-4) have been booked for Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2, which takes place July 29 at Saitama Tremendous Enviornment in Saitama, Japan.
Sabatello lately scored a second-round submission of Marcos Breno at Bellator 294 to rebound from a Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix semifinal loss to Raufeon Stots. He’s now 4-1 contained in the Bellator cage.
Magemodov has misplaced two of his previous three fights, sandwiching a submission of Enrique Barzola between losses to Patchy Combine and Stots.
The Larkin-Koreshkov bout marks a rematch between the 2 from Bellator 229 in October 2019. Larkin defeated Koreshkov through cut up determination.
“The Monsoon” has been flying beneath the radar throughout an eight-fight unbeaten streak, which incorporates fights at 170 kilos, 185 kilos, and a pair of catchweights. Other than a no-contest in opposition to Mukhamed Berkhamov, Larkin has overwhelmed his previous seven opponents, together with Berkhamov through an unbelievable first-round elbow knockout of their rematch at Bellator 290.
Koreshkov is a former Bellator welterweight champion. “Spartan” has gained 4 straight fights competing for Bellator and different promotions in Russia.
Bellator 298
Bellator’s lately introduced a number of pivotal matchups for its August occasion.
Former interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky (11-3, 1 NC) rematches Steve Mowry (10-0-1, 1 NC) within the co-main occasion of Bellator 298, which takes place at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Aug. 11. The 2 beforehand fought at Bellator 284 in August 2022, additionally in Sioux Falls, with their first assembly ending in a no-contest on account of Mowry being unable to proceed on account of an unintentional eye poke.
Each fighters have fought as soon as since then, with Moldavsky shedding through first-round knockout loss to Linton Vassell, and Mowry battling Ali Isaev to a draw.
Three different bouts have been made official for Aug. 11, which may be seen under.
Dalton Rosta (8-0) vs. Aaron Jeffery (13-4)
Sidney Outlaw (16-5) vs. Islam Mamedov (22-2-1)
Lucas Brennan (8-0) vs. Weber Almeida (7-1)
Bellator 298 is headlined by a welterweight contest between former interim champion Logan Storley and Brennan Ward.