A fight between lightweight contenders Tony Ferguson and Beneil Dariush is being targeted for UFC 262 in May, ONE Championship announced the quarterfinal matchups for their Atomweight World Grand Prix, and much, much more — Fightful has all the latest fight announcements in one article.
Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush in the works for UFC 262 in May
Lightweight contenders Tony Ferguson and Beneil Dariush are being targeted for a matchup at UFC 262 on May 15, first reported by MMAJunkie’s Danny Segura, John Morgan, and Mike Bohn. The promotion has yet to officially announce or confirm the event or the bout. Ferguson will look to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career against Dariush, he was defeated by Charles Oliveira via a unanimous decision at UFC 256 in his last outing. Dariush is on the opposite end of the spectrum, riding a six-fight winning streak, and is coming off of a split-decision victory over Carlos Diego Ferreira in their rematch at UFC Vegas 18.
The message from @beneildariush after #UFCVegas18 was simple: put some respect on his name — pic.twitter.com/9nITzAQRJn
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 7, 2021
Julian Marquez replaces Zak Cummings, faces Sam Alvey at UFC on ABC 2 in April
UFC middleweights Julian Marquez and Sam Alvey will face off at UFC on ABC 2 on April 10, the promotion confirmed via a press release, and Marquez himself announced via his Instagram. Marquez replaces his teammate Zak Cummings who was forced out of the bout with Alvey for undisclosed reasons. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum is coming off of a third-round comeback submission victory over Maki Pitolo at UFC 258, but it was his post-fight callout of pop star Miley Cyrus to be his Valentine that garnered the headlines from the performance. Alvey on the other hand is 0-4-1 in his last five fights, most recently going to a split draw with Da Un Jung at UFC 254.
“Miley Cyrus, will you be my Valentine?”@JMarquezMMA used his mic time for an unconventional callout — #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/lWdwMRpoNS
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 14, 2021
One Championship announces quarterfinal matchups for Atomweight World Grand Prix in May
One Championship has officially announced the quarterfinal matchups for their Atomweight World Grand Prix which kicks off on May 28 at ONE: EMPOWER and will feature an all-female card. The promotion unveiled the tournament bracket via their social media accounts, featuring opening round fights with Itsuki Hirata taking on Alyse Anderson and Seo Hee Ham facing off against Denice Zamboanga.
Our quarterfinal matchups for the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix! —— Who makes it to the next round? — @_itsuki_h_ @PhogatRitu #WeAreONE #ONEChampionship pic.twitter.com/rW44NBsoRf
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) March 12, 2021
Seung Woo Choi set to take on Julian Erosa at UFC event in June
After signing a new four-fight deal with the UFC, featherweight Seun Woo Choi will take on the surging Julian Erosa at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event on June 19, first reported by MMA reporter John Hyon Ko. Choi will look to make it three wins in a row against Erosa, last defeating Youssef Zalal via a unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 18. Erosa will try to extend his own winning streak to four against Choi, finishing his last three opponents, most recently Nate Landwehr via a first-round TKO from a flying knee at UFC Vegas 19.
JULIAN EROSA FLYING KNEE!! — #UFCVegas19 pic.twitter.com/KfQbD8GxrD
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) February 20, 2021
Youssef Zalal vs. Sean Woodson targeted for UFC event in June
A featherweight matchup between Youssef Zalal and Sean Woodson has been targeted for a-yet-to-be-announced UFC Fight Night event on June 5, first reported by MMAJunkie’s Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. Zalal is 3-2 in his five Octagon appearances, dropping his last two fights and most recently losing a unanimous decision to Seung Woo Choi at UFC Vegas 18. Woodson is 2-1 in his stint with the promotion, losing his last outing to Julian Erosa via a third-round submission due to a D’Arce choke at UFC Vegas 4.
Montel Jackson vs. Jesse Strader added to UFC Vegas 22 on March 20
Bantamweight Jesse Strader will make his Octagon debut at next weekend’s UFC Vegas 22 event when he takes on Montel Jackson, first reported by MMA Island. Strader is 5-1 as a professional and most recently knocked out Isaiah Batin-Gonzalez in the first round at Combate 41 in August 2019. Jackson is 3-1 in his last four fights, dropping his last outing to Brett Johns via a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Island 2.
“The strategy was to look for those openings, and I’m pretty sure I did that tonight” – Jesse Strader#CombateFresno pic.twitter.com/rUdtrkAM4B
— Combate Americas (@combateamericas) August 3, 2019
Joel Alvarez vs. Christo Giagos in the works for UFC 262 in May
A lightweight showdown between Joel Alvarez and Christo Giagos is in the works for UFC 262 on May 15, first reported by Milenio’s Carlos Contreras Legaspi. Alvarez has won three fights in a row and the Spanish prospect also recently signed a new four-fight deal with the promotion. He last defeated Alexander Yakovlev via a first-round submission due to an armbar at UFC 254. Giagos on the other hand is 3-1 in his last four Octagon appearances, beating Carlton Minus by a unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 17.
Joel Alvarez gets the party started with a first-round armbar
He’s now 18-2 with all of his wins coming by way of finish, 16 by submission #UFC254
(– @ufc)pic.twitter.com/kdBiwmrJjh
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 24, 2020
Tanner Boser vs. Ilir Latifi targeted for UFC event in June
Heavyweights Tanner Boser and Ilir Latifi are set to collide at a yet-to-be-announced UFC Fight Night event on June 5, first reported by MMA Empire. Boser will try to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC Vegas 13, while Latifi will try to snap a three-fight losing streak which was highlighted by a unanimous decision loss to Derrick Lewis at UFC 247.
Jamal Herring vs. Carl Frampton WBO junior lightweight title fight announced for April 3
WBO junior lightweight champion Jamal Herring will make his next title defense against former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton on April 3 from The Rotunda Caesars Palace Bluewater in Dubai, Top Rank Boxing officially announced the matchup via their social media accounts. Herring is 22-2 overall as a professional and won his last fight via a DQ against Jonathan Oquendo in September 2020, while Frampton who is 28-2 last defeated Darren Traynor via a seventh-round TKO in August 2020.
— MARK THE CALENDAR —
One of the most anticipated title showdowns in the Junior Lightweight division goes down in just over 3 weeks away in Dubai. —#HerringFrampton APRIL 3 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/s2vwB03fsT
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 11, 2021
Kay Hansen out, Montserrat Ruiz in to face Cheyanne Buys at UFC Vegas 22
Mexico’s Montserrat Ruiz will fill in for Kay Hansen who forced to withdraw from her bout against Cheyanne Buys at next weekend’s UFC Vegas 22 event due to undisclosed reasons, first reported by Milenio’s Carlos Contreras Legaspi. Ruiz is a former Invicta FC veteran, winning her last bout against Janaisa Morandin via a first-round submission due to a scarf hold armlock at Invicta FC 41, makes her Octagon debut against Buys who is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over Hillarie Rose on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Cheyanne Buys se ve poderosa y dominante #DWCS pic.twitter.com/cq9ZqPzYnG
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) August 19, 2020
Luigi Vendramini vs. Fares Ziam targeted for UFC 263 in June
Lightweight prospects Luigi Vendramini and Fares Ziam are set to battle at UFC 263 on June 12, first reported by MMAJunkie’s Farah Hannoun and Nolan King. The promotion has yet to officially announce the event or matchup. Vendramini is coming off of a first-round TKO victory over Jessin Ayari at UFC Fight Island 4, while Ziam will look to build off of a unanimous decision victory over Jamie Mullarkey at UFC Fight Island 6.
After quick victory at #UFCFightIsland4, Luigi Vendramini says he was prepared to find ‘normal work’ if he ended up losing.
Watch full video: https://t.co/W5N3Oqp4DY pic.twitter.com/nhvcA1OOx7
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 4, 2020
Justin Tafa faces Jared Vanderaa at UFC event in May
Heavyweights Justin Tafa and Jared Vanderra are being targeted for a bout at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event on May 22, first reported by MMAFighting’s Mike Heck. Tafa is 1-2 in his early UFC run and lost his last outing via a split-decision against Carlos Felipe at UFC Fight Island 7. Vanderaa has split his two Octagon appearances and will try to bounce back from a second-round TKO defeat to Sergey Spivak at UFC Vegas 19.
Danilo Marques vs. Ed Herman targeted for UFC event in June
A light heavyweight matchup between Danilo Marques and Ed Herman is being targeted for a UFC event on June 26, first reported by Combate’s Evelyn Rodrigues. Marques is a Demian Maia disciple and has showcased his jiu-jitsu skills in his first two Octagon victories, submitting Mike Rodriguez via a rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC Vegas 18 in his last outing. Herman is riding a three-fight winning streak and also is coming off of a submission win over Mike Rodriguez, except his came in the third round and by way of a kimura at UFC Vegas 10.
The first submission of the night courtesy of Danilo Marques. #UFCVegas18
(via @espnmma)pic.twitter.com/URCr0bW3X9
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 7, 2021
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