Sam Alvey again has something to smile at, MMA fans are not smiling after the outcome of Alexander Emelianenko’s last fight, Dustin Poirier predicts McGregor vs. Chandler. It’s your MMA Express Sunday!
Former UFC heavyweight Alexei Oleinik was put down by Oli Thompson’s right-hander
Aleksei Okeinik is a lot of fun, as one of the most well-travelled veterans in heavyweight MMA today. Ezekiel’s signature chokehold is one of the few fighters he’s ever hit; He’s pulled it off twice in the UFC alone. But after witnessing that brief encounter with journeyman worker and fellow UFC vet Ollie Thompson, “The Boa Constrictor,” who calls Florida home, might want to call it a career.
Oli Thompson destroys Alexey Oleynik with a huge right hand in the first round pic.twitter.com/AdWy25dQxR
– Nightmare (Recorder_Hitman) May 26, 2023
Mark Coleman announced the Celebrity Boxing Match
Speaking of things we didn’t want to see: UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman announced that he’s signed to a celebrity boxing match. No opponent is named; The match will take place in October, and will consist of three two-minute rounds.
😞 https://t.co/egWNhq72Y2 pic.twitter.com/Q7PBvpLoqk
– Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) May 26, 2023
At least we know it’s not Jake Paul. Yes, beating aging MMA stars is basically his scheme, but Paul is busy with Nate Diaz.
It is reported that Coleman is 58 years old, and he has had to overcome serious health issues over the years.
Poirier picks the winner in McGregor vs. Chandler
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier weighed in on who he sees winning when he dumped Conor McGregor with Michael Chandler.
Having shared the cage with both men, Poirier is perhaps better suited than anyone to break up a fight. Former interim lightweight champ introduced Chandler in November, and he’s 2-1 in his career series with McGregor — though the second win came via TKO when McGregor broke his leg in the triple-double match rubber.
The world has waited nearly two years for The Notorious to return, which looks like it will be waiting for later this year. And should McGregor get back into shape, Poirier thinks he can stop Chandler.
“I think if Connor comes back anything like he was with his timing and his rhythm, with the injury he had and this long lay-off, and we’re not getting any younger either – if he comes back similar to how he was before he left, I think he’s stopped Michael Chandler,” Pourier predicted recently. In The MMA Hour by Ariel Helwani (h/t MMA fighting).
“If Connor is what he was before the injury and stuff, I think two rounds — I think the fight is over in two rounds.”
Ultimate Warrior 31which features McGregor and Chandler as coaches, premieres May 30.
forged? Alexander Emelianenko’s latest fight looks very fishy
Claims of “rigged” fights in MMA are often made by fans who are unhappy with the outcome of a particular match. Fixing an actual fit is incredibly rare, mainly because (a) it’s extremely difficult to pull off and (b) it’s not lucrative enough to risk jail time.
Of course, things are a little different in Russia, where things like law and order and not invading your neighbor don’t apply. And so we present (h/t Al Zullino) Emelienenko against some Russian vlogger, who apparently takes a TKO win, then backs off and lets the contest continue. Alexander continues to win by submission in a fight that should in no way be counted on his official record.
This is the same card as fighting Oleinik.
So, this just happened in Russia.
TKOs blogger Aleksander Emelianenko steps in and stops the fight. But the blogger says, “Nah, why? Let’s keep going!” , then screenshots and uninstall and submit?
It couldn’t be more fix.
(free @tweet pic.twitter.com/vZMKtwZkgX
– zolino (phre) May 26, 2023
The debut of Ivan Emelianenko
With Fedor and his brother Alexander retiring as a living joke, Emelianenko’s youngest brother, Ivan, made his debut last week. Fighting on the same card as Brother Alexander, his ending looks at least legitimate, if sloppy. Judge for yourself.
Ivan Emelianenko defeated. Alexey Lednev by unanimous decision. Successful MMA debut of the third mysterious brother Emelianenko. pic.twitter.com/6vimXNRsWw
– Nightmare (Recorder_Hitman) May 26, 2023
Nothing finished!
Nothing finished! nothing. You just don’t turn it off!
It looks like Alex Pereira will do whatever it takes to continue his rivalry with Israel Adesanya, despite bumping up his weight to 205 pounds. Including standing on the side of the opponent for the Israeli rugby team Adesanya.
Alex Pereira visited Israel’s rival rugby team Adesanya pic.twitter.com/BxeQF6OipR
– Bloody Elbow (BloodyElbow) May 26, 2023
Sam Alvey returns to win the pole in his heavyweight debut
Sam Alvey has reason to smile again. The former UFC middleweight transitioned to heavyweight over the weekend, competing in a B2FS event broadcast on Fite.tv. “Smile’n” Sam was successful in that debut, getting a third-place TKO.
The victory over Cameron Graham was Alfie’s first since 2018. He finished his UFC career on an unheard of 0-8-1.
😁 @tweet He was successful in his heavyweight debut, receiving a third round TKO on Cam Graham at #B2FS183.
[ Streaming LIVE on #FITE 🔴 https://t.co/2MEwQun58y ] pic.twitter.com/p88Iql9vvY
– FITE (FiteTV) May 28, 2023
Li Kai Wen impresses as part of Road to UFC 2
ONE Championship winner Li Kai Wen delivered a stunning KO as part of Road to UFC 2 on Saturday. If you missed the tournament, the tournament is back, with quarter-final action unfolding over the weekend in Shanghai. catch up with him UFC Fight Pass.
This was one of a number of explosive finishes across the four-ring opening round.
There were some seriously good finishes #RoadtoUFC2 Yet, but this one takes the cake.pic.twitter.com/gzxdFOHDN5
– Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 27, 2023