<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two heavyweights who weighed a combined 531 pounds just swang and banged at <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> 271.</li><li>When the UFC gets it right, the UFC gets it right.</li></ul><p>They weighed a combined 531 pounds, are renowned for their ability to separate lesser men from their senses, and collided Saturday at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc-271" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC 271</a> in a heavyweight scrap that was never going to disappoint.</p><p>When the UFC gets it right, the market-leading <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> promotion gets it right.</p><p>And when it came to the matchmaking in the fight between Houston favorite <keyword id="13147789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="derrick-lewis" source="Orion">Derrick Lewis</keyword> and heavy-hitting <keyword id="13147788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tai-tuivasa" source="Orion">Tai Tuivasa</keyword>, boy, did the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> get it right.</p><p>Tuivasa entered the Octagon to unconventional music, choosing Cyndi Lauper's smash hit from the 1980s, "Girls just want to have fun."</p><p>Because that's what Tuivasa does best. He likes drinking beer from cowboy boots, from sneakers, and even suggested this week <a href="https://www.insider.com/tai-tuivasa-proposes-drinking-beer-from-rival-derrick-lewis-cup-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he'd drink it from his opponent's jockstrap</a>.</p><p>He closed the distance in the opening round, engaging Lewis in a clinch, so as to deny the home fighter — competing in front of his own crowd at the Toyota Center — the space required to throw one of his merciless bombs.</p><p>Eventually, referee Dan Miragliotta had seen enough and broke the action as it had stalled, and though another clinch was initiated, there was suddenly a great explosion of strikes as both big men went at it.</p><p>Lewis dazed Tuivasa in the second with an uppercut but the move of the night was one swung from the Australian, who nailed his American adversary with an elbow so disgusting, it sent him crashing to the canvas.</p><p>He was unconscious before he even hit the deck. There was no need to count — it was over.</p><p>Lewis, a fighter who has hung around the top five in the division for years, was laid out by a new kid on the block who is continually evolving as a fighter.</p><p>Tuivasa had done it.</p><p><strong>Watch it here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1492725866438221825">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote><p><strong>And the aftermath here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1492726552135495684">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote><p>With victory, Tuivasa advanced his pro MMA record to 14 wins (13 knockouts and one decision) against three losses.</p><p>It is unclear who he will fight next, but bouts against the likes of Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane would provide the right kind of examination, to determine an eventual contender for Francis Ngannou's heavyweight crown.</p>

A new UFC heavyweight contender announces himself with a horrific elbow strike KO at UFC 271

<ul class="summary-list"><li>No one:</li><li>Absolutely no one:</li></ul><p>Fight weeks in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mixed martial arts</a> can generate all sorts of headlines.</p><p>Usually, these involve dehydrated athletes who collapse at the scales, last-minute coronavirus-induced postponements of a match, and skirmishes involving two fighters who cannot help but go at it mere days before they do so for pay.</p><p>But one new thing is emerging <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> star <keyword id="13147788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tai-tuivasa" source="Orion">Tai Tuivasa</keyword> suggesting he drink beer from his rival's jockstrap.</p><p>You read that right. But in the weird, wild world of pro <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword>, it kind of makes sense.</p><p>You see, <keyword id="13147789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="derrick-lewis" source="Orion">Derrick Lewis</keyword> knocked out Chris Daukaus at the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> Fight Night show in December 2021 and celebrated by throwing his cup at the crowd.</p><p>Tuivasa fights Lewis this weekend and wouldn't seem to mind seeing him throw his cup once again.</p><p>"He can throw it to me when I win, and I'll do a cuppy out of his ball guard, then. I'm keen," he said, <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/02/tai-tuivasa-has-simple-plan-at-ufc-263-land-the-hardest-punch-drink-beer-out-of-a-ball-guard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to MMA Junkie</a>.</p><p>Though a cuppy is new, heavy-hitting Tuivasa is renowned for his shoeys.</p><p>This is an act in which he grabs his shoe — or a stranger's shoe, cowboy boot, or sneaker — fills it with beer and downs the liquid as fast as he can.</p><p>This doesn't always work out well for the Australian heavyweight, as a fan once gave him a shoe to drink beer from at a UFC event but mixed hot sauce into the brew without Tuivasa's knowledge.</p><p>Tuivasa did not look like he enjoyed that drink, but when you live by the shoey, you might die by the shoey, too.</p><div type="image" title="Somebody sneaked hot sauce into Tuivasa's shoey once, and Tai did not look pleased." height="1492" width="2000" msid="89487952" hostid="261"></div><h2>Tuivasa competes at the upcoming UFC 271 event Saturday</h2><p>Behavior like this has established Tuivasa as a fan-favorite status amongst the UFC audience.</p><p>That he has won by knockout in every one of his last four fights, including wins over Stefan Struve on Fight Island and Greg Hardy and Augusto Sakai in Vegas, only adds to his appeal.</p><p>A bout against Lewis, who is also a thunderous puncher, promises fireworks.</p><p>"It's a very exciting fight for me," Tuivasa said. "It's either I'm going to get my head taken off, or I'm going to take his head off, so that's why I fight.</p><p>"That's what excites me, and I'm looking forward to putting a show on."</p><h2>Lewis is not impressed with Tuivasa's desire to drink from his cup, though</h2><div type="image" title="Derrick Lewis." height="1347" width="2000" msid="89487953" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/2/9/22925880/tai-tuivasa-proposes-shoey-out-of-derrick-lewis-cup-with-ufc-271-win-lewis-responds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to MMA Fighting</a>, Lewis had a relatable response to Tuivasa's unique brand of nonsense.</p><p>"This guy is nasty, man," Lewis said.</p><p>"I can't do that. I don't know. USADA needs to be knocking at his door all the time. He's gotta be taking something to help his immune system. That is just nasty."</p><p>Lewis was even more perplexed when asked if he would do a cuppy with any other athlete on the UFC roster. "Man, what the hell? Nobody," he said.</p><p>"I wouldn't like to drink out of nobody's cup. We're all fighters, so I'm pretty sure everybody's got musty nuts."</p><p>UFC 271 takes place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and is headlined by the middleweight championship rematch between titleholder Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.</p><p>Tuivasa and Lewis fight in the penultimate bout of the night.</p>

A UFC heavyweight wants to drink beer from his rival's jockstrap for no good reason at all

UFC boss Dana White said one of his fighters suffered 'a mental breakdown' in the middle of a bout

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10164779" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tai-tuivasa">Tai Tuivasa</keyword> scored a thumping knockout win Saturday at the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> 254 event on <keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>, Abu Dhabi.</li><li>A combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> cult hero because he drinks beer out of his shoes, Tuivasa beat Stefan Struve, who is also known as "Skyscraper" because at 7-foot he's tall even for a tall guy.</li><li>Tuivasa sent the "Skyscraper" tumbling down with a barrage of brutal blows in the final seconds of the first round for a much-needed win.</li><li>Watch the highlight-reel knockout below.</li></ul><p>FIGHT ISLAND — The UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa scored a brutal, buzzer-beating knockout over an opponent 10 inches taller than he is on Saturday, October 24.</p><p>Stefan Struve is nicknamed "Skyscraper" because at 7-foot he's tall even for a tall guy.</p><p>But at the behind-closed-doors UFC 254 event inside the purpose-built Flash Forum on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Tuivasa sent Struve tumbling down.</p><p>The 27-year-old negated Struve's height advantage by pressing him against the fence of the Octagon and clobbering him with confidence-wilting punch combinations which included body shots and an uppercut.</p><p>Tuivasa is a cult hero in combat sports because he drinks beer out of his shoes, but the Australian was under pressure to win so he could correct a three-fight skid having lost to Junior dos Santos, Blagoy Ivanov, and Sergey Spivak.</p><p><strong>Watch the finish here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA  (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1320059463156510720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote><p>"It's been a while," said Tuivasa after his first win since 2018. "It's good to be back."</p><p>Victory advanced Tuivasa's pro MMA record to 10 wins (nine knockouts and one decision) against three losses.</p><p>"It's addictive, it's something you can't get it anywhere else. It's been a while for me, so it's good to be back, very good to be back.</p><p>"I felt pressure, but I trusted my team. I put in the work, I put my head down and my ass up this year, so I just credit that to my team.</p><p>"That was the plan … take it easy man and stop trying to get in there and get that money real quick. If I take my time, it comes, it comes.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">"He's a big boy, I had to butter that body up when I was in there and I knew the rest would come."</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-miranda-maverick-stuns-on-ufc-debut-5-minute-bludgeoning-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 23-year-old American won her UFC debut when she cut her opponent so badly the doctor stopped the bout after 5 minutes</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-joel-alvarez-cuddled-his-opponent-after-3-minute-win-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A fast-rising submission specialist cuddled his UFC opponent after dominating him with elite jiu jitsu</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/georges-st-pierre-is-ideal-opponent-for-khabib-nurmagomedov-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Georges St. Pierre would be the ideal opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov to retire on, his trainer Javier Mendez said</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/justin-gaethje-amps-conor-mcgregor-rivalry-ahead-of-nurmagomedov-fight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Gaethje trashed Conor McGregor by saying he avoided a fight when he called him a 's--- father [and] human'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-on-difference-between-russian-us-wrestling-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov says there's a difference between Russian and American wrestling, and it's all to do with relentlessness</a></p>

A UFC heavyweight scored a brutal, buzzer-beating knockout over an opponent 10 inches taller than he is

<ul class="summary-list"><li>One of the world's best MMA prospects, Cameron Saaiman, returns to the Octagon on March 4.</li><li>Saaiman will compete against bantamweight fighter Mana Martinez.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/cameron-saaiman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameron Saaiman</a> will return to the Octagon on March 4 for a bantamweight bout against Mana Martinez, a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> official told Insider on Wednesday.</p><p>Saaiman said last week on Instagram that he expected to compete at UFC 285 — a pay-per-view show taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and one of the promotion's biggest events of 2023.</p><p>Confirmation of Saaiman and Martinez's 135-pound contest next month means there's a total of 14 bouts on the fight card. There are, as things stand right now, no plans to add more to UFC 285.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwwO6iNxsE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwwO6iNxsE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwwO6iNxsE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Cameron Saaiman (@cameronsaaiman)</a></p></div></blockquote> <p>Saaiman is one of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a>'s rising stars and a breakout performer from last year's Contender Series, earning an instant UFC deal <a href="https://www.insider.com/contender-series-video-highlights-results-saaiman-gomes-win-ufc-contracts-2022-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after his hook shot bounced his opponent off the cage</a>.</p><p>UFC boss <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> was so impressed with Saaiman that he told Insider and other reporters backstage that the youngster should be called "The Future."</p><p>In his UFC debut at UFC 282 in December in Las Vegas, Saaiman again impressed with a third-round standing knockout win over Steven Koslow.</p><p>He now returns to the fight capital of the world to put his unbeaten record on the line against Martinez, who could provide a stern striking challenge due to his pro record of 10 wins (eight knockouts and two decisions) against three losses.</p><h2>UFC 285 is one of the UFC's biggest events of the year</h2><div type="image" title="Jon Jones." height="1333" width="2000" msid="97561595" hostid="261" sizebytes="105938"></div><p>UFC 285 has shaped up to become one of the year's biggest combat sports events as it profiles UFC's rising stars, contenders, and champions.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/jon-jones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon Jones</a>, one of the consensus GOATs of the sport, returns to the UFC after almost three years. He leaves the light heavyweight division to challenge <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ciyrl-gane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ciryl Gane</a> for the heavyweight championship.</p><p>Should Jones prevail, he'd become a two-weight champion and fortify his legacy as one of the best MMA fighters to ever do it.</p><p>Gane, though, is a formidable contender, with an athletic style that has helped him earn strong knockout wins over Junior dos Santos, Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa.</p><p>Earlier in the evening, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her flyweight crown against Alexa Grasso, Jalin Turner fights Dan Hooker at lightweight, and Geoff Neal competes against rising welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov.</p><p>Elsewhere, blue chip prospect Ian Garry fights Song Kenan at welterweight, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bo-nickal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bo Nickal</a>, who has been dubbed a potential American version of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a>, makes his long-awaited UFC debut against Jamie Pickett after two dominant Contender Series wins last year.</p><p>The event will be broadcast as an ESPN pay-per-view.</p>

'The Future' of MMA returns to the Octagon for one of the UFC's biggest shows of the year on March 4

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jack Della Maddalena clobbered his opponent Danny Roberts to the floor in the first round.</li><li>Muslim Salikhov scored a flashy win of his own in the very next fight.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — Rising welterweight fighter Jack Della Maddalena clobbered his way to a first-round finish over Danny Roberts during <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a UFC Fight Night event</a> Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas.</p><p>Della Maddalena and Roberts fought a 170-pound three-rounder that lasted a mere three minutes and 24 seconds because the Australian produced a striking masterclass.</p><p>The 26-year-old landed 41 of 68 strikes attempted for an accuracy rate of 60% while limiting Roberts to a mere five strikes landed from 33 (15%).</p><p>For Della Maddalena, that works out as a shot thrown every three seconds — and considering the way he fought, each one was thrown with bad intentions.</p><p>It was not long before Roberts eventually wilted.</p><p><strong>Watch the finish right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1594089474840924160">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Victory advanced Della Maddalena's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro MMA</a> record to 13 wins (11 knockouts, one submission, and one decision) against two defeats.</p><h2>Muslim Salikhov finished Andre Fialho with a spinning wheel kick and punches</h2><div type="image" title="Muslim Salikhov kicks Andre Fialho." height="1272" width="2000" msid="95631667" hostid="261" sizebytes="135354"></div><p>Della Maddalena wasn't the only main card fighter to score a finish Saturday, though, as Muslim Salikhov also dug deep into his box of tricks to bamboozle Andre Fialho in their welterweight tussle.</p><p>Fialho started the fight in good form because of uppercuts and hard lefts that appeared to daze Salikhov by injuring his eye.</p><p>Salikhov got revenge in the second round as his power became a difference-maker in the bout, landing 50 of 72 strikes (70% accuracy).</p><p>A succession of spinning kicks and unrelenting strikes from Salikhov forced the referee to end the fight in the third, as Fialho could seemingly take no more.</p><p><strong>Watch the finish right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1594095393414868993">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Victory advanced Salikhov's pro MMA record to 19 wins (13 knockouts, two submissions, and four decisions) against three losses.</p><p>Earlier in the show, a 25-year-old UFC fighter called <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-highlights-natalia-silva-finishes-tereza-bleda-kick-to-jaw-2022-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Natalia Silva scored an incredible third-round knockout with a spinning back kick</a> to her opponent Tereza Bleda's jaw.</p><p>The show's main event, a heavyweight contest between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac, was canceled at the last minute, according to an official statement from ring announcer Joe Martinez.</p><p>Insider understood it is because Lewis fell unwell on the day with a non-COVID and non-weight-cutting issue.</p><h2>UFC returns with its next event December 3</h2><p>The UFC has a week away for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning with a December 3 event in Orlando.</p><p>Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland headline that 15-fight card, which also features Rafael dos Anjos, Tai Tuivasa, and Derek Brunson in separate bouts.</p>

An up-and-coming fighter beat his UFC opponent to the floor with an impressive first-round drubbing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Natalia Silva scored the knockout of the night Saturday when she finished Tereza Bleda.</li><li>Silva KO'd Bleda with a spinning back to the jaw which has to be seen to be believed.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — Natalia Silva ended Tereza Bleda's night early with a spinning back kick to the jaw Saturday at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a UFC Fight Night event</a> on ESPN+.</p><p>The women's flyweight match kicked off a 12-fight card at the Apex TV studio in Las Vegas, and it was a fight Silva impressed in thanks to the sharp striking she displayed through the three-round fight.</p><p>Silva did not have it all her own way, though. Bleda had the edge in the opening round thanks to a takedown and triangle attempt from the bottom position.</p><p>Silva started to show her striking variety in the second, landing 37 strikes from 51 attempts in that round alone.</p><p>Then, in the third, the Brazilian secured her highlight-reel finish as she landed a flashy, spinning back kick flush on Bleda's face, who looked dazed and confused after the impact.</p><p>Silva hit her with afters and, before long, Bleda's mouthguard flew out of her mouth and the referee stepped in to call the fight off. It was all over.</p><h2>'A thing of beauty'</h2><div type="image" title="Silva landed a spinning back kick to Bleda's jaw." height="1362" width="2000" msid="95631450" hostid="261" sizebytes="113006"></div><p>UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping called the shot "a thing of beauty … timed perfectly" when he spoke to her through a translator once the official result was announced.</p><p>And it was. It rarely gets better than this for an athlete making her second appearance in the big show.</p><p><strong>Watch the knockout right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1594035686969315330">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Victory advanced Silva's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro MMA</a> record to 14 wins (four knockouts, seven submissions, and two decisions) against five defeats.</p><h2>Hiestand, Demopoulos, and Turcios win by decision</h2><p>Elsewhere on the card, Brady Hiestand, Vanessa Demopoulos, and Ricky Turcios posted victories of their own, all via unanimous decision over separate opponents.</p><p>Hiestand outpointed Fernie Garcia in a bantamweight bout, Demopoulos triumphed over Maria Oliveira at strawweight, and Turcios edged Kevin Natividad at 135-pounds after overcoming a violent flying knee.</p><p><strong>Watch the epic knee strike right here:</strong></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—MMA mania (@mmamania) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1594054704606380034">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote><p>Also on the prelims, Miles Johns defeated Vince Morales by scores of 30-27 and 29-28 (x2), and out-pointed Maryna Moroz.</p><p>The show's main event, a heavyweight contest between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac, was canceled at the last minute, according to an official statement from ring announcer Joe Martinez.</p><p>Insider understood it is because Lewis fell unwell on the day with a non-COVID and non-weight-cutting issue.</p><p>The UFC has a week away for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning with a December 3 event in Orlando.</p><p>Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland headline that 15-fight card which also features Rafael dos Anjos, Tai Tuivasa, and Derek Brunson in separate bouts.</p>

25-year-old UFC fighter scores incredible 3rd-round knockout with a spinning back kick to her opponent's jaw

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword> has returned to full <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> training and is looking great.</li><li>That's according to the former two-weight <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> champ's head coach, John Kavanagh.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> has got "the all-clear" for <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma">MMA</a> training and is "looking great" ahead of an expected return to the UFC, according to the former two-weight <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc">UFC</a> champion's head coach, John Kavanagh, who <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/62166550" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the BBC</a> that the ultimate fighter is "healthy, happy, and it's great to have him back."</p><p id="ufPcwl">The greatest box office attraction in MMA history, McGregor has not fought since suffering back-to-back losses to American fighter <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dustin-poirier">Dustin Poirier</a>.</p><p>In the third and most recent installment of his rivalry with Poirier, McGregor lost by doctor stoppage after snapping his leg at the end of the first round.</p><div type="image" title="Dustin Poirier dominated Conor McGregor when the fight was on the ground." height="1000" width="1500" msid="92990550" hostid="261" sizebytes="99604"></div><p>Negative headlines have plagued McGregor in the months since as Khabib Nurmagomedov called him "evil" for an <a href="https://www.insider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-called-ufc-rival-conor-mcgregor-evil-2021-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insensitive tweet he made about the Russian athlete's dead father</a>.</p><p>Later in 2021, he <a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-appeared-to-throw-drink-at-machine-gun-kelly-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threw a drink at Machine Gun Kelly on the VMAs</a> red carpet, then called him a "little vanilla boy."</p><p>An Italian DJ then <a href="https://www.insider.com/francesco-facchinetti-accused-conor-mcgregor-of-punching-him-for-nothing-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused McGregor of punching him "for nothing" and breaking his nose</a> at a party in Rome.</p><p>Finally, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-police-appear-to-pull-over-conor-mcgregor-185000-bentley-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video footage from March appeared to show police pull McGregor over</a> in his $185,000 Bentley.</p><p>In numerous Instagram posts of late, McGregor has looked stronger and more muscly than he had in his last fights, suggesting he might be considering a bout at a higher weight class — like welterweight, rather than lightweight.</p><h2>Additional weight has not hampered McGregor's progress, according to Kavanagh</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgKTKdituoQ" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>Kavanagh has already wrestled with McGregor and "felt it."</p><p>He said: "When that silverback arm goes around your neck there's a bit of an extra squeeze there, so he's very, very strong at the moment."</p><p>It is unclear who McGregor could face in the Octagon next, but he has previously been linked with fights involving Poirier for a fourth time, <a href="https://www.insider.com/jorge-masvidal-wants-conor-mcgregor-bout-before-he-overdoses-2022-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jorge Masvidal</a>, Justin <a href="https://www.insider.com/gaethje-chandler-and-oliveira-want-conor-mcgregors-comeback-fight-2022-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Michael Chandler</a>.</p><p id="sz7mhI">"When we get to the stage of looking at weight classes and opponents there's nobody more professional than Conor at making weight," said Kavanagh. "It will all be done properly."</p><div type="image" title="Conor McGregor." height="1380" width="2000" msid="92990551" hostid="261" sizebytes="99024"></div><h2>Numerous big events have been announced already by the UFC</h2><p>Should McGregor return this year then he'd join an already intriguing schedule.</p><p><strong>Highlights of the upcoming event list include: </strong></p><ul><li>Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes on July 30</li><li>Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2 on August 20</li><li>Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa on September 3</li><li>Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz on September 10, <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/34268530/ufc-finalizing-khamzat-chimaev-nate-diaz-bout-ufc-279-sept-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as reported by ESPN</a></li><li>Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev on October 22</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-responded-to-conor-mcgregors-troll-posts-brutal-fashion-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McGregor has recently been at war against novice boxer Jake Paul</a> on social media, as well.</p><p>It is a bout Paul has clamored for, for years.</p>

Conor McGregor has got 'the all-clear' for MMA training and is 'looking great,' his coach John Kavanagh says

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword> hailed <keyword id="13155191" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="israel-adesanya" source="Orion">Israel Adesanya</keyword> on Twitter this week.</li><li>It was not long before the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> middleweight champion returned the praise.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> hailed <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/israel-adesanya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel Adesanya</a> as "one of the true remaining high-level fighter/performer athletes."</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> middleweight champion Adesanya returns Saturday to the Octagon where he will defend his strap in a rematch against 185-pound rival <keyword id="13155192" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="robert-whittaker" source="Orion">Robert Whittaker</keyword> at the UFC 271 event in Houston.</p><p>Ahead of the weekend bout, McGregor praised Adesanya on Twitter.</p><p>"Can't wait to see Izzy Style back in the Octagon this weekend," the former two-weight UFC champ told his 9 million followers on the app. "Don't just fight, perform!"</p><p>Responding at the UFC 271 media day scrum, Adesanya said: "I appreciate Conor and what he's done for the game.</p><p>"Whether you like him or not, he fucking raised the bar, for everyone. I look to do the same before I'm done with this game!</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1491707923688566784">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote><p>The bout got its final approval when both athletes successfully made weight Friday, scaling 184-pounds.</p><p>They fought for the first time in 2019 at UFC 243 with Adesanya destroying Whittaker in the second round.</p><p>The 32-year-old Stylebender cautiously kickboxed from range but adjusted his gameplan when he realized Whittaker was there for the taking, and so he closed the distance before busting him up with heavy counter strikes.</p><p>Whittaker feels like he's evolved since then, and is a completely different fighter. "It's a new Rob Whittaker, Rob Whittaker 2.0," the 31-year-old Reaper <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/ufc-271-robert-whittaker-staying-calm-collected-ahead-of-israel-adesanya-rematch-191139463.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports this week</a>.</p><p>"In this fight, I think you're just going to see me. I'll be doing my thing, fighting the way I fight. That's the main thing I want to get across. I want to get in there and do what I trained for and just fight my own fight."</p><p>Adesanya and Whittaker fight for the second time in the main event of UFC 271, but the weekend card has many other intriguing matches.</p><p>Heavy-hitting heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa collide in the penultimate bout, after rivals Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson fight at middleweight.</p><p>There are 15 matches in total on the card, which will be broadcast on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. The final five matches can only be seen if the pay-per-view is purchased.</p>

Conor McGregor hailed Israel Adesanya as 'one of the true remaining high-level fighter/performer athletes'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2944528" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Conor-McGregor">Conor McGregor</keyword> and <keyword id="9478289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dustin-poirier">Dustin Poirier</keyword> are amping up their war of words.</li><li>The <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> fighters headline <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> 264 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 10.</li><li>McGregor said three fights against him for "any man is an early grave."</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dustin-poirier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dustin Poirier</a> have amped up their three-fight rivalry ahead of the final bout in their trilogy July 10 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> fighters have exchanged stoppage wins in their two matches so far, with Poirier earning the most recent victory earlier this year on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.</p><p>The winner next Saturday will not only have bragging rights, but likely be thrust into a UFC lightweight title shot later in the year. As such, the stakes will be high when they're back in the Octagon together.</p><p>And little more than a week away from fight night, the former two-weight UFC champion McGregor and the American fighter Poirier are fanning the flames of their animosity toward one another.</p><p>It all started when McGregor appeared to want to instigate a striking fight, saying that whoever attempted a takedown first, would be "a dusty b----."</p><p>Replying to the ESPN reporter Brett Okomato this week, Poirier said: "How about the first one to get taken down is a dusty b----? This is mixed martial arts. Put it all together. It reeks of insecurity to me."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1410638429835116552">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote><p>On Friday, McGregor said on Twitter: "Three fights against me for any man is an early grave," suggesting that he'll shorten Poirier's life when they fight mid-month.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1410846343543681025">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote><p>McGregor and Poirier headline UFC 264. It is an event that will take place in front of a full capacity crowd - the first time the UFC will fill an arena since March 2020.</p><p>Other MMA matches on the 13-bout card include a welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Stephen Thompson, a heavyweight clash involving Tai Tuivasa and Greg Hardy, and a women's bantamweight bout between Irene Aldana and Yana Kunitskaya.</p>

You Searched For "tai tuivasa" and got 10 results

A new UFC heavyweight contender announces himself with a horrific elbow strike KO at UFC 271

Alan Dawson

A UFC heavyweight wants to drink beer from his rival's jockstrap for no good reason at all

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UFC boss Dana White said one of his fighters suffered 'a mental breakdown' in the middle of a bout

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A UFC heavyweight scored a brutal, buzzer-beating knockout over an opponent 10 inches taller than he is

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'The Future' of MMA returns to the Octagon for one of the UFC's biggest shows of the year on March 4

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An up-and-coming fighter beat his UFC opponent to the floor with an impressive first-round drubbing

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25-year-old UFC fighter scores incredible 3rd-round knockout with a spinning back kick to her opponent's jaw

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Conor McGregor has got 'the all-clear' for MMA training and is 'looking great,' his coach John Kavanagh says

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Conor McGregor hailed Israel Adesanya as 'one of the true remaining high-level fighter/performer athletes'

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Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier are amping up their 3-fight rivalry ahead of the final bout in their trilogy

Alan Dawson