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Brett Okamoto
When UFC announced in February that the Feather Champion Ulli tepriaria He decided to release his title to move on the weight class lightly, there were many unanswered questions around both divisions. A quick move forward for almost two months and many of these questions remain.
After the decision to bomb Topriarie, it will take some time for some time. Lightweight is a question of a million dollars, whether Topria will receive an immediate title shot or have to earn one by facing another light candidate. Topurie said at a press conference last month that UFC had promised him that his next match would have a title, but UFC has not yet announced Toporic other fighting or another match for his light champion. Islam Makhachev.
Former light champion Charles Oliveira He’s running for a shot against Makhachev. How is the former interim champion Justin Slave. Arman TsarukyanHe withdrew the day before the January fight at the UFC 311 with Makhachev for recruitment, is still in the game. In addition, Makhachev is supposed to move to Welterweight, either in the near future or somewhere along the road.
As UFC CEO Dana White said about the situation at a recent press conference, “Much S — is happening right now …”
Fortunately we they are You are going to get answers to feathers. Former champion Alexander Volkanovski cheeks Diego Lopes For the £ 145 championship at UFC 314 on Saturday evening in Miami (ESPN+ PPV, 10 et, with preliminary animals on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ V 8 et), and this is just one of several feather matches on the card. Topurie’s departure threw both divisions into a little chaos, but at least in feathers we know questions and when they will be answered.
How much is Volkanovski?
Volkanovski passed from one of the safest betting in MMA to the question marks within two years. He is only 36 years old and almost defeated Makhacheva in a light struggle for the title in 2023, but was also discarded in performances and revealed that he was Work on his mental health.
Before this match against Lopes, 30, Volkanovski’s back is against the wall. His fans could worry about further losses and his health. This is the most doubt that Volkanovski faced in his 14 -year -old UFC career. He said ESPN that he stopped drinking alcohol before the start of this camp and was before the attachment with his weight loss. His trust certainly seems intact.
“I want to prove that I can defeat this new school (fighters),” Volkanovski said. “I still have the people, believe me. Lopes is young, hungry, at the moment on the tears. (I want) go out and do it and (have fans) to be like,” Oh wow, Volk still has it. “
Sorting this division £ 145 starts with Volkanovski. He was king until he hit Topria. Now that Topria moves on, who is supposed to say that the throne should not belong to Volkanovski? In order to get there, the hard historical trend must overcome: fighters 35 and older are 0-17 In the UFC title, it fights for £ 155 and lighter.
How much is it Patricio Pitbull Did they leave?
The best fighter in the world on any weight class is often a UFC champion. UFC has the highest talent and deepest weight class. Sometimes, however, there is a debate – and for years it is a pit bull.
Pitbull was in Bellator MMA long-dominating feather champion and in 2019 he also won his light title Michael Chandlerreceive Paddy pimblett Co-Main of UFC 314 events. Every long-time MMA fan would like to see Volkanovski’s Pitbull struggle during their relevant UFC and Bellator governments. Therefore, it was no surprise that Pitbull’s first contribution on the social media was after ensuring his release from Bellator at the beginning of this year was: “Hi, @alexvolkanovski.“
PitBull Faces Yair Rodriguez Saturday. If he wins impressively, there is a very good chance of ejecting to the top of the ranking and the title shot.
However, he is 37 years old and was first discarded in 2023 Chihiro suzuki In Super Rizin 2. Like Volkanovski, Pitbull is at a unique point in his career, where he has something to prove. But if he can, he can skip the line. And the line is not even super long. In principle, it goes to one other candidate …
UFC gets behind MOVSAR EVLOEV?
This candidate is an EVLOEV, which is 19-0 and 9-0 in UFC, including a unanimous Lopes decision two years ago. In fact, each of the matches of the EVLOEV victory in UFC came by decision.
Here is a good way to summarize Evloev’s position in UFC: White referred to his victory Arnold Allen In January 2024 as “the least fun fight he had ever seen”. Since then, Movsar has said that he will not start the title shot and will start his record to 100-0, if this is needed to win the championship. You get a picture.
Volkanovski and Lopes said they wanted to fight EVLOEV and the UFC cannot deny it forever. His journey was long, but to culminate in an opportunity for the title, nothing but perfection is needed.
What kind of rise could Aaron pico be on?
Pico is heading to UFC. It was not officially announced, but the news is coming and the biggest obstacles were clarified.
Pico, 28, signed with Bellator in 2014, three years before MMA debuted. The young freestyle Wrestling phenomenon was one of the most promising prospects in the history of MMA, but lost three of his first seven Bellator fighting. He won nine out of 10 from the gross start and was in the queue to fight for the title Bellator before the promotion ended this year’s operation.
He has been fighting for his professional career for eight and 17 years, and Pico’s real ceiling remains a mystery. He has all the talent in the world, but moving to UFC will be a step in competition. If it turns out to be a championship caliber, its shares could pass through the roof. Do you want to talk about the shock in this division? Pico’s move to UFC could be the biggest wild card of the year.
Who else could change the landscape of this division in 2025?
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Jean Silva Drops Charles Jourdain with Warm Under
Jean Silva eliminates Charles Jourdain with an incredible UFC 303.
Jean Silva was thrown an opportunity to face Bryce Mitchell on UFC 314 in an extremely fast turn from your first round knockout Melik Baghdasaryan in February. Youssef Zalalwhich is on its second run in UFC after it decreased in 2021 is also his step. Just beat the game always Calvin Cats In February he gets to 4-0 because a year ago UFC entered.
And finally, Lerone Murphy is undefeated and will be ranked among the 10 best after Saturday’s main victory against the event Josh Emmett. Murphy, who is quietly on the eight combat -winning lanes, is not much flash, but it seems that there are more than enough fabric to create some problems for the top of the division.
