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PFL Signs Eagle FC Heavyweight King Rizvan Kuniev, Two Other Regional Champions

Professional Fighters League has added champions from three regional promotions to its roster.

The promotion announced on Tuesday that it has signed Eagle FC heavyweight champ Rizvan Kuniev, Standout Fighting Tournament lightweight title holder Manoel Sousa and Jungle Fights welterweight king Quemeul Ottoni. The Ottoni signing was recently reported by Sherdog.com. It is unclear when the three new signings will make their respective promotional debuts.

“We are excited to add these elite fighters to our global roster,” PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo said. “The PFL will put these athletes on the global stage.”

Russia’s Kuniev will bring an 11-fight winning streak into his PFL debut. After a third-round technical knockout victory against Edivan Santos on Dana White’s Contender Series failed to net a UFC contract in September 2021, Kuniev captured the Eagle FC belt with a first-round submission of Anthony Hamilton this past March. Read more about PFL Signs Eagle FC Heavyweight King Rizvan Kuniev, Two Other Regional Champions

Still the Only Man to Defeat Alex Pereira, Quemuel Ottoni Excited for PFL Debut in 2023

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After welcoming Alex Pereira to mixed martial arts with a rear-naked choke victory at Jungle Fight 82 in 2015, Quemuel Ottoni followed a totally different path than the current UFC middleweight champion.

While “Poatan” decided to focus on his kickboxing career and won Glory belt in two divisions, Ottoni kept on the MMA track, capturing the Jungle Fight welterweight title seven years after defeating Pereira. Now, Ottoni is excited to compete at 170 pounds for Professional Fighters League in 2023.

“I've waited a long time to have my chance to fight in the United States, where everything happens, and I'll finally have that chance,” he told Sherdog.com.

Quemuel considers the point system of PFL the best for his style.

"I love the point system of PFL [because it is] based on meritocracy. The most impressive wins get more points, and that's really good for an offensive fighter like me,” he said. “I´m working harder than ever to br…

Alex Morono Steps in to Face Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282

Alex Morono has agreed to meet Santiago Ponzinibbio on less than a week’s notice at UFC 282.

Ponzinibbio needed a new opponent after Robbie Lawler withdrew from Saturday’s card due to an undisclosed injury. The new booking was first reported by David Van Auken on Twitter. UFC 282 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a light heavyweight championship clash between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev. Morono vs. Ponzinibbio will be contested at a 180-pound catchweight.

Morono, 32, is in the midst of a four-bout UFC winning streak. The Fortis MMA representative last appeared at UFC 277, where he outpointed Matthew Semelsberger on July 30. Morono has also earned victories over Mickey Gall, David Zwada and Donald Cerrone during his current winning streak. “The Great White” is 11-4 with one no contest over the course of his tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Ponzinibbio, meanwhile, has lost three of his last f…

Ex-Bantamweight Champ T.J. Dillashaw Informs UFC of Retirement

After one last failed run at Ultimate Fighting Championship gold, T.J. Dillashaw has elected to hang up the four-ounce gloves.

Dillashaw recently informed the UFC of his retirement, and the Twitter account UFC Roster Watch confirmed his removal from the promotion’s roster on Monday. Micheal Wonsover was first to report the news via Twitter. Dillashaw’s agent, Tiki Ghosn, later cofirmed the fighter’s retirement to ESPN.

Dillashaw is coming off a loss to Aljamain Sterling in a bantamweight title bout at UFC 280 on Oct. 22. After falling to Sterling via second-round technical knockout, Dillashaw revealed that he entered the bout with a shoulder injury. Rather than pull out of the contest, the Californian essentially fought Sterling with one arm because he didn’t want to wait on a title shot. Dillashaw underwent shoulder surgery on Nov. 10 and could require more procedures, according to ESPN.

“Yeah it popped out right away. I’ve got to apolog…

Robbie Lawler Withdraws from UFC 282 Due to Injury

Former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has pulled out of UFC 282 due to an undisclosed injury.

Lawler was slated to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on Saturday’s main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The promotion is seeking a replacement opponent for Ponzinibbio. ESPN was first to report the news. UFC 282 is headlined by a light heavyweight title tilt between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev.

The 40-year-old Lawler is just 1-5 in his last six promotional appearances, with his lone victory coming against Nick Diaz in September 2021. Most recently, “Ruthless” suffered a second-round technical knockout loss to Bryan Barberena at UFC 276 on July 2.

Ponzinibbio, meanwhile, has lost three of his last four bouts and is coming off a split-decision defeat to Michel Pereira at UFC Fight Night 206 in his lone appearance of 2022.

Demetrious Johnson-Adriano Moraes Trilogy to Headline One’s U.S. Debut in Colorado

A flyweight (135-pound) championship trilogy bout pitting Demetrious Johnson against Adriano Moraes will serve as the headliner for One Championship’s United States debut.

The Singapore-based promotion announced on Monday that Johnson vs. Moraes 3 will take place on May 5 at 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo., as the featured bout on the One on Prime Video 10 card. The card will air in primetime on Prime Video in the United States.

“This is a monumental day in the history of One Championship as we announce our U.S. on-ground debut in Colorado on Friday, May 5,” One CEO Chatri Sityodtong said in a release. “We are very grateful for the support of the state athletic commission and look forward to putting on an unforgettable show for our passionate fanbase in the U.S. and watching around the world.”

Johnson and Moraes initially squared off at One on TNT 1 in April 2021, when Moraes became the first person to finish “Mighty Mouse” with a second-…

Scott Holtzman Reflects on Retirement After UFC Orlando: ’It’s Been a Hell of a Ride’

Scott Holtzman is calling it a career at 39 years old.

The Knoxville, Tenn., native left his gloves in the Octagon following a split-decision loss to Clay Guida at UFC on ESPN 42, signaling the end of a professional MMA tenure that began in 2012. “Hot Sauce” went 7-6 in UFC competition after making his promotional debut in 2015 but ended his career with successive losses to Guida, Mateusz Gamrot and Beneil Dariush.

“It’s bittersweet, man,” Holtzman said at a post-fight press conference (via MMAFighting.com). “I was coming off two bad losses in a row to what turns out to be really good guys. All my losses, killers. I got into the UFC when I was 30 years old. I was just a guy from Tennessee, an athlete. I started being pretty good at fighting and just rode the wave. All of a sudden I’m up here in the UFC with these world champions and jiu-jitsu black belts and Division I wrestlers. I’m just a kid from Tennessee. It’s been a hell of a ride. I’ve had…

Video: Nate Diaz Presented with Stockton’s ‘Key to the City’

Nate Diaz is a big deal in his hometown.

The longtime UFC star was presented a key to the city for Stockton, Calif., by Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln at a Stockton Kings game — the G-League affiliate of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings —on Sunday.

“We want to thank you for the grit and determination that you display every time you step into a fight,” Lincoln said during the ceremony. “And I want you to know that that grit and determination is built into the very fabric of the city that you represent.”

The 37-year-old Diaz has frequently referenced Stockon during his rise to stardom in the UFC. Diaz completed his contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion with a submission of Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September and officially became a free agent last week.

“I want say it’s an honor, thank you very much to Stockton, California, for rocking with me,” Diaz said. “I’ve been rocking with Stockton this whole time ... I’m going to be forever rocking St…

‘Wonderboy’ Encourages UFC Matchmakers to Give Him More Fights vs. Strikers

Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland had a sort of gentlemen’s agreement heading into their headlining bout at UFC on ESPN 42.

It resulted in one of the year’s most entertaining bouts, as Thompson and Holland engaged in a standup-friendly affair that resulted in a technical knockout victory for “Wonderboy” after four rounds. While Holland landed a pair of takedowns in the contest, on both occasions he elected to let his opponent up rather than rack up top control time. That was a theme for the entire fight.

“It was kind of one of those unwritten rules that we had going into this fight,” Thompson said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I know later on in rounds he was shooting, I know he had a busted hand, but I think I fell down in the first round and he let me back up. He told me in the first round, he’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not taking you down.’ I’m like, ‘All right, man. Sounds good to me.’”

Early on, that seemed to favor Holland, who s…

Management: Kevin Holland Broke Hand in First Round of UFC Orlando Main Event

Kevin Holland wasn’t at 100 percent for the majority of his UFC on ESPN 42 headlining clash against Stephen Thompson.

Holland’s management team, KO Reps, revealed that the fighter broke his hand in the first round of the bout. Not surprisingly, that was his most effective period, as he staggered “Wonderboy” with a right hand early. As time wore on, however, Holland didn’t throw the right nearly as much, and Thompson took control en route to a fourth-round technical knockout victory.

. @Trailblaze2top broke his right hand landing a cross in the first round.Hand is very swollen. Being transported to the hospital. Congrats to @WonderboyMMA and team. #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/axGM1tzRpp

— KOreps (@ko_reps) December 4, 2022 “[Kevin Holland] broke his right hand landing a cross in the first round,” the statement read. “Hand is very swollen. Being transported to the hospital. Congrats to [Stephen Thompson] and team.”

ESPN …

UFC on ESPN 42 Bonuses: ‘Wonderboy’ vs. Holland Easy Choice for ‘Fight of the Night’

Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland put on a show in the UFC on ESPN 42 headliner.

The welterweight combatants were rewarded for their efforts, as they received “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 apiece on Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. In a bout that was contested almost entirely on the feet, “Wonderboy” pulled away thanks to a versatile striking arsenal, ultimately forcing Holland’s corner to stop the fight after four entertaining rounds.

Elsewhere, surging heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich pocketed a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award thanks to a quick finish of Tai Tuivasa in a featured bout. Pavlovich overwhelmed his Australian adversary with powerful punches to secure his fifth consecutive KO/TKO victory just 54 seconds into Round 1.

Finally, a creative finish earned Roman Dolidze the evening’s other $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check. The 34-year-old Georgian used a calf slicer to immobilize opponent Jack Hermanss…

Stephen Thompson Silences Kevin Holland in Spectacular UFC on ESP 42 Headliner

Stephen Thompson’s zest and zeal for the martial arts came through in one of the best performances of his career.

“Wonderboy” weathered brushes with adversity, kept his head above water and maintained his position as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s premier welterweights, as he forced a corner stoppage against Kevin Holland in their UFC on ESPN 42 headliner on Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Holland (23-9, 10-6 UFC) and his handlers called it a night in between the fourth and fifth rounds.

In a clear contender for “Fight of the Year,” Holland made the first significant move when he staggered the South Carolinian with an overhand right in the first round and followed up with knee strikes and standing elbows. Thompson (17-6-1, 12-6-1 UFC) recovered, seized the reins in Round 2 and never looked back. He managed distance beautifully, darted in to range with punches and cut loose with a dazzling array of leg attacks, from h…

Stephen Thompson Silences Kevin Holland in Spectacular UFC on ESPN 42 Headliner

Stephen Thompson’s zest and zeal for the martial arts came through in one of the best performances of his career.

UFC on ESPN 42 ‘Thompson vs. Holland’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Sherdog's live UFC on ESPN 42 “Thompson vs. Holland” coverage will begin Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Jauregui (-305), Nunes (+255)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:

Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round: The Official Result BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marshall (-155), Rojo (+135)Round 1 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 2 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round:Round 3 Sherdog Scores Jay Pettry scores the round:Tristen Critchfield scores the round:Tyler Treese scores the round…

UFC on ESPN 42 Prelims: Angela Hill Outclasses Emily Ducote to Unanimous Decision

Angela Hill has rarely looked better under Ultimate Fighting Championship employ.

Non-stop output from distance and a destructive clinch spurred “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20 alum to a unanimous decision over fellow former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Emily Ducote in the featured UFC on ESPN 42 prelim on Saturday at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Hill (15-12, 10-12 UFC) drew 30-27 nods from all three judges.

Ducote (12-7, 1-1 UFC) struggled and ultimately failed to make necessary adjustments. Hill piled up points with jabs, leg kicks and combination punching, all while crowding her counterpart with pressure from the center of the cage. She consolidated those efforts with stellar attacks from close-range, burying knees into Ducote’s midsection and firing elbows upstairs.

The setback was Ducote’s first since Nov. 1, 2019.

Guida Stymies Retiring Holtzman Former Strikeforce champion Clay Guida rebounded from his April 23…

Jarred Brooks Dominates Joshua Pacio, Captures Strawweight Crown at ONE 164

The One Championship strawweight division saw its eighth champion crowned in Manila, Philippines, on Saturday.

Jarred Brooks takes the back! 🤼‍♂️ @The_monkeygod#ONE164🇺🇸🇨🇦🇹🇭🇬🇧🇸🇦🇧🇷 Live on ONE YouTube🌍 Live on https://t.co/eBUfsODAFL pic.twitter.com/Lb9jhWHjhx

— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) December 3, 2022

The ONE 164 main event featured a clash for the promotional strawweight championship as titleholder Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks locked horns in a 125-pound tilt. Ultimate Fighting Championship alum Brooks (20-2, 1NC; 4-0 ONE) brought the heat to his foe right out of the gate, attacking his opponent on the feet before shooting for takedowns. Pacio (19-4, 11-4 ONE) stood his ground on the feet but struggled to contain his foe’s attacks on the canvas. Brooks acquired plenty of top control time through the first three stanzas.

The pace decreased in the championship rounds, where both contestants were happy to keep the…

Anatoliy Malykhin Annihilates Reinier de Ridder in ONE on Prime Video 5 Main Event

Reinier de Ridder bit off way more than he could chew.

Anatoliy Malykhin dethroned the Dutch grappler in an epic beatdown, as he took possession of the undisputed One Championship light heavyweight title in the ONE on Prime Video 5 headliner on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. De Ridder (16-1, 7-1 ONE) succumbed to punches 4:35 into Round 1.

Malykhin (11-0, 4-0 ONE)—already the interim ONE heavyweight champion—was utterly merciless with his attack. He cut off takedowns from de Ridder with surprising ease and assaulted him with an unending barrage of power punches to the head and body. Late in the first round, Malykhin floored the Combat Brothers rep with a right hook and followed him to the canvas, where he separated “The Dutch Knight” from his senses with brutal hammerfists.

In the co-main event, 2022 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist Kade Ruotolo retained his ONE submission grap…

ONE on Prime Video 5 ‘De Ridder vs. Malykhin’ Play-by-Play & Results

Sherdog's live ONE on Prime Video 5 “De Ridder vs. Malykhin” coverage kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Round 1 Our first mixed martial arts fight will be overseen by Justin Brown. A quick flurry by Zamboanga drops Lin, who recovers quickly. Lin tries a side kick but it misses. Zamboanga is loading up on her overhand right and keeps throwing it. Zamboanga gets reckless and Lin rocks her with a counterpunch. Lin engages in grappling and the two clinch against the fence. They separate and Lin starts landing kicks from a distance. Zamboanga keeps walking in and throwing combinations to mixed results but some are landing. The round ends with Zamboanga throwing wildly and landing a few punches. 10-9 Zamboanga if it was under the Unified Rules, but the MMA fights are scored as a whole.

Round 2 Zamboanga is confident and is throwing heavy punches. A cut opens above the left eye of Lin. Zamboanga continues to have success with the overhand right and coming in. Lin j…

All Fighters Trained by Coach James Krause Prohibited From Competing in UFC Events

UFC Statement Regarding James Krause pic.twitter.com/MDB2tbVu2J

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) December 2, 2022 Fighter-turned-coach James Krause has gone from a well-respected name to one who can no longer train fighters in a very short amount of time.

On Friday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship released a pair of statements – one from UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell to fighters and their teams, and the other in a public release – to further explain the steps taken regarding the irregular betting activity surrounding UFC Fight Night 214. At that November event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Darrick Minner vs. Nuerdanbieke Shayilan saw some unusual betting activity within hours of the match, and Minner succumbed to an injury that led to a quick TKO loss. Sportsbooks turned to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and betting firm U.S. Integrity to review the matter, in which the former suspended the license of Minner’s coach, Kra…

One Championship Partners With Fan Duel to Broadcast Events on FanDuel TV

[embedded content] Betting organizations are lining up to work with MMA promotions, and One Championship has hooked a big one.

Per a press release on Friday, One has announced it will be partnering with FanDuel – based in the U.S. – to stage events on the latter’s proprietary FanDuel TV network. This station is listed on cable and satellite TV, already working with distributors including Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV and several others. The first event of their agreement will be One 164, which takes place on Saturday morning. No live MMA event had ever aired on FanDuel TV to this point.

Chief commercial officer of FanDuel, Mike Raffensperger, spoke of the new arrangement highly, saying, “We’re eager to continue expanding the variety of content we’re offering at FanDuel TV to introduce our audience to emerging sports. We’ve long respected the content the One Championship team is producing and are looking forward to bringing their action to our audience t…

UFC on ESPN 42 Weigh-in Results: 1 Fighter Heavy; 1 Bout Scratched

The first two to the scale, your #UFCOrlando main event is official 👊@WonderboyMMA - 170 pounds ⚖️@Trailblaze2top - 170.5 pounds ⚖️

[ TOMORROW | Prelims 7𝙥𝙢 𝙀𝙏 | Main Card 10pm ET | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/0yQkzyXkqj

— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2022 Editor's note: The article has been updated at 1:15 p.m. ET to reflect one bout's cancelation shortly after the weigh-ins concluded.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to ESPN airwaves for an intriguing middleweight showdown.

Both Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland made weight for their UFC on ESPN 42 main event. However, one undercard fighter missed weight on the card as Philip Rowe came in 2.5 pounds over the welterweight limit for his fight against Niko Price and has been fined 30% of his purse. Following the weigh-in ceremony, one additional match encountered some difficulty: Tracy Cortez, who successfully hit the 125-pound mark, has encountered a medic…

Ontario Gaming Commission to Bar Bets on UFC Cards for Betting Integrity Concerns

Statement from Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on banning betting on UFC: pic.twitter.com/oXgltrcN3D

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) December 1, 2022 Editor's note: The article has been updated at 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 to add the text of the statement from the AGCO.

Canadian fight fans from Kingston to Kenora can no longer bet on Ultimate Fighting Championship events for the foreseeable future.

Per ESPN on Thursday, the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has informed all sportsbooks in the province of Ontario, Canada, that they cannot offer any bets on UFC events going forward. The block has been issued for an indeterminate amount of time, and it is in effect immediately – this means, for example, that no person in Toronto can bet on any fight from UFC on ESPN 42 in Saturday. The AGCO will levy a far stricter ban than the New Jersey Division of Gambling Enforcement issued earlier in the month, wh…

Ontario Gaming Commission to Bar Bets on UFC Cards for Integrity Concerns

Statement from Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on banning betting on UFC: pic.twitter.com/oXgltrcN3D

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) December 1, 2022 Editor's note: The article has been updated at 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 to add the text of the statement from the AGCO.

Canadian fight fans from Kingston to Kenora can no longer bet on Ultimate Fighting Championship events for the foreseeable future.

Steven Koslow Replaces Ronnie Lawrence, Faces Cameron Saaiman at UFC 282

Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC Credit: Getty/UFC

Steven Koslow will replace Ronnie Lawrence and lock horns with Cameron Saaiman at UFC 282.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report the change to the bantamweight bout. UFC 282 takes place on Dec. 10 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by a light heavyweight title tilt between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev.

Koslow will take a 6-0 record into his Octagon debut. The 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Jacksonville member has competed exclusively under the Florida-based Combat Night banner, finishing all six of his opponents via submission inside of a round.

South Africa’s Saaimn is also 6-0 as a professional. The 21-year-old earned a UFC contract on Aug. 23, when he knocked out Josh Wang Kim in the third round of their bout on Dana White’s Contender Series.

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