Latest news with #PerformanceoftheNight
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Steven Nguyen Makes History, Becomes First UFC Fighter To…
Last Updated: Steven "The Ninja" Nguyen broke the UFC single-fight knockdown record, defeating Mohammad Yahya by TKO at UFC Fight Night. In a performance that will be replayed for years to come, Steven 'The Ninja" Nguyen unleashed a barrage of strikes so ferocious that he shattered the UFC's single-fight knockdown record in front of an electric Abu Dhabi crowd. Over two rounds of non-stop action, Nguyen dropped hometown hopeful Mohammad Yahya six times before a ringside doctor waved off the contest on medical grounds, earning a spectacular TKO victory at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder. From the moment the featherweights touched gloves, Nguyen signalled he was hunting for a finish. Yahya—making his UFC featherweight debut following a move down from lightweight—charged in aggressively, only to be caught flush by Nguyen's pinpoint left hand and sent crashing to the canvas just ten seconds into the opening bell. Rather than let up, Nguyen swarmed, rifling crisp combinations that blitzed Yahya back to his stool time and again. By the end of Round 1, Nguyen had already logged five knockdowns, a display of power and precision that left the arena buzzing and his opponent's face swelling ominously on the left side. Round 2 opened with a glimmer of hope for Yahya—he landed a thunderous right that briefly buckled Nguyen's knees. The moment lingered, but Nguyen shook it off like a true warrior, responding immediately with a crushing follow-up that floored Yahya for the sixth Even with blood trickling from a growing hematoma under his eye, Yahya refused to stay down, firing back with heart before weathering one final Nguyen onslaught as the seconds ticked away. Between rounds, ringside physicians examined Yahya's battered orbital and concerned by the extent of the swelling and risk to vision, prudently halted the bout before Round 3 commenced. Thus concluded a savage showcase that not only marked Nguyen's first UFC victory but also earned him a well-deserved Performance of the Night bonus—adding $50,000 to his payday alongside his burgeoning legend. A former Dana White's Contender Series standout, Nguyen arrived in Abu Dhabi armed with world-class boxing, an unyielding gas tank and an unshakeable confidence forged through adversity. His dismantling of Yahya wasn't just about raw power; it was a masterclass in timing, footwork, and opportunistic striking, as he baited his foe into rushing and capitalised with counter-punch precision that seemed almost choreographed. Yahya, to his credit, showcased a warrior's resilience. Despite absorbing more knockdowns than any UFC fighter in history, he rose with grit each time, igniting cheers as fans admired his toughness even amid the onslaught. As cameras flashed and Nguyen celebrated with his team, plans are afoot for his next assignment. Will he challenge a ranked featherweight or test himself against a top contender hungry for redemption? One thing is certain: Steven Nguyen has arrived with a vengeance, and fight fans worldwide will be clamouring to see where 'The Ninja" strikes next. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: News sports Steven Nguyen Makes History, Becomes First UFC Fighter To… Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ABC 9
Shara Magomedov and Marc-Andre Barriault meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 9 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 2-3 UFC main cards, 2025: 70-53-1 Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault UFC on ABC 9 preview Magomedov (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will look to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career, which came by unanimous decision against Michael Page in February. Prior to his first career setback, "Bullet" won his first four UFC fights, including stoppages of Antonio Trocoli and Armen Petrosyan, while earning two Performance of the Night and a Fight of the Night bonus. ... Barriault (17-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC) aims to stay in the winners circle as he enters on the heels of a first-round knockout of Bruno Silva. That result in May snapped a three-fight skid, successfully turning the page on what was a very rough 2024 campaign. Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault UFC on ABC 9 expert pick, prediction Filling out the main card is a middleweight attraction between Shara Magomedov and Marc-Andre Barriault. Despite getting beaten in a lackluster affair his last time out, the glazing of Magomedov is still going strong as far as the betting line is concerned. Don't get me wrong: Magomedov has shown some improvements since stepping on the UFC scene and has been reportedly taking training more seriously this time around, so I suppose we should leave some room to be surprised. That said, Magomedov might not need to improve all that much if he wants to pass this test. Although I'd happily take Barriault over Magomedov if this fight were a few years ago, I'm not sure I can take a chance on the Canadian underdog after he's lost his once-vaunted durability. I would love to be wrong here, but the official pick is Magomedov by knockout in Round 1. Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault UFC on ABC 9 odds The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the hyped product, listing Magomedov -600 and Barriault +425 via FanDuel. Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault UFC on ABC 9 start time, how to watch Magomedov and Barriault are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ABC and streams on ESPN+.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Marc-Andre Barriault admits he wasn't initially thrilled UFC offered Shara Magomedov
ABU DHABI – Marc-Andre Barriault was offered Shara Magomedov just days after potentially saving his UFC job. Barriault (17-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC) takes on rising middleweight contender Shara Magomedov (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on Saturday's UFC on ABC 9 main card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+). Barriault snapped a three-fight losing skid with a brutal knockout of Bruno Silva at UFC 315 in May, which led to a Performance of the Night bonus and a new contract. "The fight in Montreal was one of the best highlights of my career for sure," Barriault told MMA Junkie during Wednesday's UFC on ABC 9 media day. "As soon as I got back home, less than 48 hours I was on the phone with my manager. All good news for sure, but I was kind of like, 'OK, I need to jump back right away,' but it's OK. "At this point in my career, I just want to make the most of it. I've been here for six years now so, I feel like I'm at my peak right now, and I'm super happy that the UFC gave me this opportunity to come and fight this guy for sure." However, drawing the dangerous Magomedov less than a week after his career-highlight win left the Canadian a little confused. "I'm not gonna lie, at first, I was like, 'OK, why they offer me this guy?,'" Barriault said. "Stylistically, I was not super excited at first, but the more I was thinking about the matchup, the fight and also all the confidence I gained after my last fight, I was like, 'OK Marc, you belong here, you can fight with anybody in this division.' I have what it takes to be here." Magomedov is coming off his first-career loss to Michael Page in February, but Barriault won't put too much stock into that. He plans on bringing the fight to him. "People try to do the mirror effect with him," Barriault said. "He tries to draw you into his style, into his game. To play the range, the distance game, the bouncing. I'm a striker, but we are both different strikers. Me, I like to close the range, fight in the inside, dirty boxing, but I have a couple of good weapons also in my sleeve to play. But, I just want to be smart, do my thing, and I think everything is going to be fine."
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC prospect Islam Dulatov sees MMA career as more important than runway modeling
Islam Dulatov makes his priorities known following his UFC 318 win. NEW ORLEANS – Islam Dulatov let the world know what his priority is. Despite being a successful runway model for top brands such as Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and Hugo Boss, Dulatov (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) wants to focus on a different stage and bright lights. The welterweight prospect said his UFC career will now take priority over modeling following his successful debut. "I have some shoots coming up and all this stuff, a lot of things coming up, but for me, it's more important what's next for me in the UFC," Dulatov said to MMA Junkie and other reporters backstage after UFC 318. "I'll go back to the gym, start a fight camp again and fight someone again." Dulatov made his UFC debut Saturday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans when he knocked out Adam Fugitt (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in the first round of their contest and won a $50,000 Performance of the Night award for his efforts. "I think it doesn't compare to reality because it's better than what I had in mind," Dulatov said. "It's an unbelievable feeling, really. I trained so hard for this. Almost over 10 years of my life, so yeah." Dulatov promises to be a serious threat at 170 pounds. However, he wants to take his time on his way up the ladder and doesn't want to rush anything now that he's made it to the UFC. "I'll be honest with you guys, I want to take my time for this," Dulatov said. "I made big steps in each fight, and it will take as long as it takes. I waited so long for this opportunity to fight in the UFC, two years or something like that. I want to fight for the title. I'm on my prime, and we'll get there soon."
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Results: Derrick Lewis makes a spectacule of himself
When it comes to Derrick Lewis, you can expect fireworks when the horn sounds and even more after the fight ends. Lewis, a UFC heavyweight contender, scoring a 35-second finish of Tallison Teixeira in the main event of UFC Nashville this past weekend. The card aired live on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+ from the Bridgestone Arena. Advertisement MORE: Dana White already working on UFC White House 2026 event After the finish, Lewis promptly removed his shorts and pretended to urinate like a dog on the corner of his fallen opponent. Things continued to get weird during the post-fight interview. Lewis also took a phone call from President Donald Trump via UFC CEO Dana White immediately after the finish. In other action, Gabriel Bonfim bested Stephen Thompson in a thrilling three-round co-main event. Bonfim won by split decision. Steve Garcia, Morgan Charriere, Vitor Petrino and Tuco Tokkos were other main card winners. Charriere and Nate Landwehr earned "Fight of the Night" while Valter Walker and Fatima Kline took home "Performance of the Night" bonuses. Advertisement The attendance was announced at 17,007 with a total gate of just under $2.2 million. UFC Nashville Results Derrick Lewis def. Tallison Teixeira via TKO (strikes) at :35 of Round 1 Gabriel Bonfim def. Stephen Thompson via split decision Steve Garcia def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision Morgan Charriere def. Nate Landwehr via KO (strike) at :27 of Round 3 Vitor Petrino def. Austen Lane via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:16 of Round 1 Tuco Tokkos def. Junior Tafa via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:25 of Round 2 Chris Curtis def. Max Griffin via split decision Jake Matthews def. Chidi Njoukani via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:09 of Round 1 Eduarda Moura def. Lauren Murphy via unanimous decision Valter Walker def. Kennedy Nwzechukwu via submission (inverted heel hook) at :54 of Round 1 Mike Davis def. Mitch Ramirez via TKO (flying knee/strikes) at 4:08 of Round 2 Fatima Kline def. Melissa Martinez via TKO (head kick/strikes) at 2:36 of Round 3 MORE COMBAT SPORTS NEWS:
