ONE Championship continues to add to its U.S. return on Friday, September 6. At ONE 168: Denver, strawweight hopefuls Hiroba Minowa vs Sanjar Zakirov showdown inside Ball Arena. Minowa hit a rough patch against the division’s elite with three consecutive losses to Jarred Brooks, Bokang Masunyane, and Gustavo Balart. All three losses came by way of decision. However, the learning experience against the top end of the division paid off when the Japanese talent returned in July. He was able to get back in the win column at ONE Fight Night 23 with a split decision win over Jeremy Miado to keep moving forward as the #4-ranked strawweight contender. The ranking will be a target Zakirov will be trying to hit to extend his perfect ONE record to 4-0. The 21-year-old “Tornado” has been perfect on ONE Friday Fights in three outings. Two of the three victories have come by way of TKO, showing his finishing prowess in the process. Now, the Uzbek athlete steps into the spotlight on Prime Video for his shot against the upper echelon. As both men try to impress, the strawweight division will have to take notice of whoever walks out of Denver with their arm raised high. The MMA battle will significantly impact the division moving forward and joins a stellar lineup of martial arts action in Denver. ONE 168 will be one of the year’s best lineups across the board. ONE 168: Denver airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, September 6. Tickets to attend the star-studded event are available via Ticketmaster.

Nathaniel Wood is in a good place, mentally and physically, as he prepares for his return to the Octagon in Manchester at UFC 304. This Saturday, he faces Daniel Pineda in the final preliminary card matchup, bringing a renewed perspective to the fight. Much of this renewed outlook comes from his new role as a father. Wood's daughter, Arla, born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and recently diagnosed with a hole in her heart, has transformed his priorities. “She’s really changed my outlook on life,” says Wood, reflecting on the profound impact his daughter has had on him. “When she was born, my immediate instinct was to protect her at all costs. I can’t explain it; it was just an instant, overwhelming love.” Wood's focus now is to thrive in his sport, not just for personal glory but to provide the best possible life for his daughter. He aims to achieve success in the Octagon, save wisely, and ensure a stable future for his family. Beyond his fight career, Wood has also become an advocate for mental health. After a victory over Charles Jourdain, he openly discussed his struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which resonated with many fans. Despite initial fears of being perceived as jumping on the mental health bandwagon, Wood has only received positive feedback. This has encouraged him to continue speaking out and helping others feel less alone in their struggles. However, Wood’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Last year in Abu Dhabi, anxiety overshadowed his fight preparation, leading to a less than optimal performance. “I just didn’t want to be there,” he admits. “I was mentally checked out and struggling with intrusive thoughts. It was a dark time, but it taught me the importance of being in the right mindset.” This weekend, fighting in Manchester brings Wood comfort and motivation. Unlike his coach Brad Pickett, who enjoyed fighting abroad, Wood prefers the familiarity and support of being close to home. With a supportive crowd expected this Saturday, Wood is eager to perform well and continue his path towards making Arla proud. “This fight means everything to me. It’s the first one with my daughter in my life, and I want to win for her. I love competing and proving I’m one of the best in the world. It’s not just business; it’s personal.” Don’t miss a moment of UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2, live from Co-Op Live in Manchester, England. Prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT, while the main card kicks off live on PPV at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

New Fighters step in for UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2, happening this Saturday, July 27, at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Ravena Oliveira is no longer fighting Shauna Bannon in the strawweight bout. Stepping in for Oliveira is UFC newcomer Alice Ardelean, who enters the octagon with a five-fight win streak, securing her last three victories by first-round stoppage. Ramon Taveras will not be competing against Caolan Loughran in the bantamweight bout. Jake Hadley will replace Taveras in the matchup. Make sure you catch every moment of UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2, live from Co-Op Live in Manchester, England. The prelims start at 8pm ET/5pm PT, with the main card beginning live on PPV at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Here are the most recent UFC rankings updates for all divisions. See which fighters have risen or fallen following UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs Jandiroba, and which positions are up for grabs before the significant event in Manchester for UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2. After the APEX event last Saturday, there were alterations in five divisions: women’s pound-for-pound, flyweight, bantamweight, strawweight, and women’s flyweight. Women Pound for Pound The main event at the APEX on Saturday featured a significant strawweight bout between Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba. Jandiroba emerged victorious by submitting Lemos with an armbar in the second round. Following this win, Jandiroba has secured the 13th spot in the women's pound-for-pound rankings, while Lemos has dropped to 15th place. Additionally, Kayla Harrison has advanced to the 12th position. Flyweight Following his second-round TKO victory over Cody Durden last weekend, Bruno Silva has secured the No. 14 spot in the flyweight rankings. Bantamweight Two weeks after his 18-second knockout against Da’Mon Blackshear in Denver, Montel Jackson is now ranked No. 15, causing Pedro Munhoz to drop out of the rankings.  Women's Flyweight Casey O’Neill has moved down to the 15th position in the women’s flyweight rankings. She is scheduled to fight Tereza Bleda at UFC 305 in Perth next month.  Women's Strawweight After the Saturday fight, Jandiroba has climbed two positions to reach No. 3 in the rankings, whereas Lemos has dropped two spots and is currently ranked No. 5.  UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2 This Saturday in Manchester, England, a stacked card features two title fights along with some thrilling matchups set to bring the excitement. Welterweight champion Leon Edwards defends his title against former foe Belal Muhammad in the main event. Their initial encounter in March 2021 ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke, setting the stage for their anticipated rematch. The co-main event sees a rematch between interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes. Their previous bout lasted only 15 seconds as Aspinall sustained a knee injury. Blaydes enters the fight following a notable victory over Jailton Almedia earlier this year in Miami. Fans are eagerly anticipating the showdown between King Green and Paddy Pimblett. Green, ranked No. 15, faces the undefeated Octagon favorite Pimblett, who is on a seven-fight win streak, including a victory over Tony Ferguson in December. The main card kicks off with a featherweight clash between No. 6 Arnold Allen and No. 10 Giga Chikadze. With the division's new champion, Ilia Topuria, this matchup holds significance in determining contenders for the title. Following this, the flyweight division may see a new title challenger emerge from the matchup between No. 6 Muhammad Mokaev and No. 8 Manel Kape. Mokaev boasts an undefeated record of 12-0, 1 NC, while Kape is on a four-fight win streak, securing his last victory at UFC 293 in Sydney last year.

I’ve run martial arts schools for many years. Like most school owners during the days before Google and Bing, I depended on listings in the White Pages, which I augmented with paid ads in the Yellow Pages. To stay near the top, I used the alphabet, making sure my dojo names started with “Burk” or “American.” When coupled with the occasional display ad in a local publication, this strategy worked well for decades. The phone would ring regularly with calls from interested parties, and those leads often turned into new enrollments. THEN CAME THE INTERNET. At first people interested in learning martial arts would use search engines to find local schools and proceed to check them out — which was fine because everyone was on a level playing field. That didn’t last long, however. One day, I woke up and found that, according to the search engines, my academy’s ranking in our city had dropped from the top of the first page to a position with virtually no visibility. That left us completely out of the running. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was. I’d been asleep at the wheel, oblivious to the low ranking that had been secretly hampering us. Over time, the phone calls slowed even more, and fewer walk-ins were showing up. I had no choice but to go on the offensive. STEP 1: I took a hard look at our web- site, which a former student had built years before. Although it seemed fine to me, I quickly learned that it had become outdated and was decidedly not user-friendly. In my defense, not one student or parent ever walked into my office and said, “Sensei, our website sucks.” If anyone had, I would have listened. Nonetheless, I should have identified the deficiency before it became a serious problem.  I asked the original web developer for help. She moved my site from its private hosting platform to a commercial hosting service. As soon as the migration was finished, I knew I liked it because it was very modern and user-friendly, which meant I could post content without needing to ask someone else to squeeze it into their busy schedule. I also liked the fact that the hosting was still free. (Even so, I plan to upgrade to a paid account soon because more options are available and the annoying pop- ups will end.)  A third benefit of the switch is that people can view my site on their smartphone or tablet. No longer is a laptop or desktop needed to use all the site’s features. A fourth benefit is that the new platform is designed for search engine optimization, or SEO.  That surely will bring in more traffic, I figured.  Once the bugs were worked out, I posted a large eye-catching photo at the top of the home page, where the old site used to feature collections of photos. I began swapping out the main photo regularly because search algorithms rank pages with activity more highly than they do static pages.  To make the text more accessible, we switched to a larger font and concentrated on using sentences that were shorter and easier to under- stand. Nobody wants to tackle long paragraphs while reading on a cell- phone. In essence, the central message became “martial arts training in a family-friendly environment — call now or come in and start today!” Of course, our phone number and email address are prominently displayed right there. It’s essential to make it easy for prospective stu- dents to initiate contact, especially when you consider that most people will make a decision to dial before they get past the lead photo and highlighted information.  For those who might want additional info, I added a few sentences about the benefits of training with us. Then I inserted a graphic that includes other perks we provide, like tournaments, training camps and seminars.  The website ranking and traffic started to improve noticeably.  STEP 2: Several months later, my son Jeremy, who works in social media, came to visit. In a discussion of web- site ranking, he said that I needed to do a better job with our dojo’s Face- book page and that I needed to have a YouTube channel, both of which should have links to the site. When I confessed to disliking social media, he asked why. I said, “I don’t know.”  Pulling no punches, Jeremy replied, “Dad, either you’re lazy or you’re just being stubborn — or both.” He argued that doing a better job on our school’s social media would improve our ranking and overall visibility even more. I promised to work on it.  Soon afterward, I asked the person who started our Facebook page a few years back to change a setting to allow followers to post comments. (Another one of my errors was that when the page was created, I didn’t want to see or hear anything from anyone. Even though that mood passed, I got what I wanted: a pretty unsocial social media page.)  Next, I asked him to give administrative access to two other trusted instructors. That way, we could work together to make more frequent posts. We went from posting once every few weeks to posting almost every day, including weekends and holidays. I set some ground rules such as not listing names with photos when the subject is a minor. Instead, we post a photo with a caption like, “This fine martial artist earned Student of the Month honors.” We also emphasize dojo-related news and announcements while avoiding posts that are polarizing or that have no business being on a business page. We do, however, put up information about promotions, tournaments, class activities and dojo road trips. Example: When high-schoolers take their senior trip to Washington, D.C., we encourage their parents to send photos of the students doing a side kick in front of the Washington Monument or the Library of Congress, which we promptly post.  Much to my surprise, creating content for social media turned out to be fun. It’s also funny — mostly because when I’m working on the posts, people think I’m goofing around. In reality, it’s a lot of work, but it’s work that needs to be done. The payoff for the time investment is that my dojo’s Facebook page has grown tremendously, and that translates to better traffic for the site because the URL or the school is listed on the Face- book page.  STEP 3: The next task was to conquer YouTube. I asked one of our black belts to bring his video camera and record some classes: drills, sessions on the heavy bag, workouts with the body shield, cardio training and so on. After some simple editing, he created a YouTube channel for the dojo and posted the videos. Next, I crafted a belt-tying video and a couple more that pertained to kata training and had them posted. We put up several others that feature our demo team in action. The number of views was a surprise to all of us. People seem to enjoy the clips. MAKING IMPROVEMENTS to our website and Facebook page, coupled with creating a YouTube channel, have been a good defense against getting run out of business. There certainly are other things that can be done, but these have been a good start. They worked for my business, and they can work for yours, too. Final word: If you’re not a do-it- yourself kind of person when it comes to technology or if you’re just too busy running your school, there is still hope. Plenty of companies are waiting to help with this, and chances are the cost will be less than what you used to pay for those Yellow Pages ads. A great place to start your search for such a company is in the pages of MASuccess, the leading trade journal for the martial arts industry. Floyd Burk is a San Diego–based 10th-degree black belt with 50 years of experience in the arts. To contact him, visit Independent Karate Schools of America at iksa.com .

Gustavo Balart has his first chance at ONE Championship gold on Friday, August 2, in Bangkok at ONE Fight Night 24. The Cuban wrestling star has ridden a four-bout winning streak into a meeting against Jarred Brooks for the ONE Interim Strawweight World Championship at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video. His journey to this main event moment did not come without hardships. “Since I was a child, I always dreamed of being an MMA fighter and going to the United States to fight, just like I used to watch on TV.  When I came back from the Olympics [in 2012], I knew it was my moment, and I decided to dedicate 100 percent of my time to mixed martial arts,” Balart told ONE.     “I came to the U.S. looking for more opportunities for myself and my family because in Cuba, the economic situation is very difficult, and I knew that my dream of becoming an MMA fighter would have never worked there.”  For Balart, his dedication has seen him separate from his family. He is fueled to continue his winning ways to reunite with his wife and children in the United States. “My dad came to the U.S. with me.  My wife, my mom, and my three daughters are still in Cuba. My grandma and the rest of my family are there too. I wish my family could be here with me. That is my dream. Having them here with me would make me fully happy,” Balart stated. “The more success I have, the more money I can earn to bring my family here to give them the life they deserve. I want my daughters to receive a proper education and my dad and my mom to have a comfortable life here in the U.S.”  Balart has been away from his family for nearly a decade. However, while mentally taxing for “El Gladiador,” the thoughts of his family continue to serve as constant inspiration when the weight of the world bears down on his shoulders. “I have been here in the U.S. without my family for eight years. I came here in 2016. It has been a huge sacrifice for me. I have my family in my mind every second of the day,” the Cuban remarked. “Thinking of my daughters is what gives me strength to go on. They are the reason why I get up and fight even if I feel that I can no longer do it. I think having my family here with me would be the best thing I could achieve.” “They depend on what I do at that moment. They depend on my effort.  During the fight when I am tired, during the difficult moments, I think of them. I think of how important it is that I win the fight for them.” Just because the strawweight contender is away from his family does not mean he is an absent father. Balart is a constant presence in their lives and does his best to stay in contact on a daily basis. The dream of reuniting can become closer to reality if he can secure the ONE Interim Strawweight World Title and ascend to the top of the ONE mountain. “I talk to my daughters every single day. I like to say good night to them and ask about their days at school. I am not there physically, but I make sure they know I am there for them. I like to check on their behavior, how school is going, and how they feel,” Balart said. “When they are here with me, I will make sure they get a great education. I will try to get all that time I was not there with them back.  I will show them how much I love them and teach them what I learned from my parents.” ONE Fight Night 24 airs live and free on Prime Video on Friday, August 2, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Patchy Mix returns to Paris to defend his title against Brazilian contender Leandro Higo in the headline bout at the Adidas Arena The co-main event will feature France’s Baissangour Chamsoudinov after recently announcing he has re-signed with PFL, who will face off against Sweden’s Oliver Enkamp  Tickets for Bellator Champions Series Paris are on sale at 10:00 am CEST Thursday, July 25 at  adidasarena.com   and   ticketmaster.fr   The Professional Fighters League (PFL), today announced that  Bellator Champions Series Paris  will see the return of Bellator Bantamweight World Champion  Patchy “No Love” Mix  (20-1) as he looks to defend his title against Brazilian challenger  Leandro “Pitbull” Higo  (23-6) in the headline event at the Adidas Arena on November 16.  Patchy Mix aims to solidify his status as the greatest MMA athlete in the world at 135 pounds and go 2-0 in Paris this year following his split decision win over Magomed Magomedov in May. Leandro Higo is coming off a win over James Gallagher at  Bellator Champions Series Belfast  in March 2024, and seeks to lay claim to the title this November. The co-main event will be a hugely anticipated affair for French fans as undefeated  Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov  (8-0) returns to action on home soil after defeating local rival Cédric Doumbé in controversial fashion earlier this year. His fight at Welterweight will be the first since re-signing with PFL and will take place against seasoned Swedish fighter  Oliver Enkamp  (11-4). “We are back in the French capital to put on another incredible show for the people of Paris, and we can’t wait for our debut in the Adidas Arena. To bring the fireworks, we’re returning with one of the best bantamweights of all time in our World Champion Patchy Mix, who looks to stay undefeated in Paris with his title fight against challenger Leandro Higo in what will be a showcase of elite mixed martial arts.”   Said Peter Murray, CEO of PFL . He continues:  “And we know Paris will welcome back one of the biggest prospects in all of MMA, France’s own Baissangour Chamsoudinov. At just 22 years old, with a perfect record of 8-0, and having already headlined in Paris, this man is a phenom who will be one to watch for years to come. But he’s up against an experienced athlete in Oliver Enkamp who will look to spoil the party for the French, so we’re excited to see who comes out on top. ”Bellator Champions Series Paris  will stream live in France and in the U.K. on DAZN beginning at 5pm CEST / 4pm BST, and will stream in the U.S. on Max at 11 am ET. The 2024  Bellator Champions Series  schedule is as follows:- Saturday, September 7 –  Bellator Champions Series San Diego  – Pechanga Arena Saturday, September 14 –  Bellator Champions Series London  – OVO Arena Wembley Saturday, November 16 –  Bellator Champions Series Paris  – Adidas Arena Tuesday, December 31 –  Bellator Champions Series  – TBD  Updated Bellator Champions Series Paris Main Card DAZN (France & U.K.) | Max (U.S.) Saturday, November 16 - 4pm BST / 11am ET Bantamweight World Title Bout: C- Patchy Mix  (20-1) vs.  Leandro Higo  (23-6) Welterweight Bout:  Baissaingour Chamsoudinov  (8-0) vs.  Oliver Enkamp  (11-4)

BRAVE Combat Federation’s debut event in China has a huge headliner. BRAVE CF 84, scheduled to take place on August 9 in Zhengzhou, in association with WLF (YFU), will be headlined by a matchup between Bibidzdzina Gavashelishvili and Erasyl Shukataev in what is bound to be a pivotal fight in the Flyweight division.  Bidzina, who has already cemented his place as one of the top Flyweights in BRAVE CF, enters the fight following an impressive win over Muhammad Idrisov at BRAVE CF 72. Although he was initially scheduled to fight Luthando Biko at BRAVE CF 82, the bout was cancelled due to Biko's injury. Bidzina quickly secured the main event spot for BRAVE CF 84, and a victory here could position him for a shot at the inaugural BRAVE CF Flyweight title. Erasyl Shukataev, on the other hand, will be making his BRAVE CF debut. The Kazakh fighter arrives with a four-fight winning streak, with three of those victories coming in the first round. With 10 finishes in his 11 career wins, Shukataev aims to disrupt Bidzina's title aspirations and establish himself as a top contender in the Flyweight division. The co-main event features a high-stakes Bantamweight clash between China’s Eqiyuebu and Serbia’s Borislav Nikolic. Eqiyuebu, on a four-fight winning streak, all by finishes, is one of the top names in the WLF (YFU) roster. He aims to make a global impression at BRAVE CF 84 and will look for bragging rights within the WLF (YFU) vs BRAVE CF portion of the card. Borislav Nikolic, meanwhile, is a BRAVE CF mainstay and looks to build on his knockout win over Ali Guliev at BRAVE CF 74. This will be Nikolic's fifth appearance in the BRAVE CF cage, and a win over Eqiyuebu could elevate him in the Bantamweight title conversation. BRAVE CF 84 will cement BRAVE CF’s position as the industry leader in Asia in terms of audience reach and relevance within the sub-regions. Having previously hosted events in Bahrain, UAE, India, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan, BRAVE CF continues to expand its footprint across the Middle East, South Asia, South-East Asia, Far-East Asia, and Central Asia and the event in China will be another major milestone.

It's fight week in Manchester! Cage Warriors 175 returns to the North West with a stacked card, just days removed from our first $50,000 PrizeFighter and the perfect primer for UFC 304! The best of UK, Europe and beyond are set to collide Manchester's BEC Arena, as a new generation of stars look to shine on the biggest stage of their careers! Topping the bill is a classic grappler versus striker bout, pitting defending middleweight champion Dario Bellandi against promotional newcomer Robin Roos. Elsewhere on the bill, one of the biggest European MMA bouts of the year goes down when former CW 'champ-champ' and UFC veteran Mason 'The Dragon' Jones takes on one of Italy's hottest unbeaten prospects, Michael Pagani. The final CW 175 card is as follows… Cage Warriors 175: Manchester | LIVE on  UFC Fight Pass Main Card – 12:30 (PT) | 15:30 (ET) | 20:30 (BST) | 21:30 (CEST) Middleweight Title Robin Roos vs Dario Bellandi (c) Lightweight Michael Pagani vs Mason Jones Catchweight (161lbs) Yan Blasco vs Adam Cullen Welterweight Oli Santalahti vs Stefano Paterno Lightweight Adam Shelley vs Ieuan Davies Lightweight Emanuele Sabatino vs Matthew Camilleri Prelims – 09:30 (PT) | 12:30 (ET) | 17:30 (BST) | 18:30 (CEST) Middleweight Craig Rawlins vs George Smith Flyweight Raz Bring vs Connor Wilson Flyweight Florian Doskja vs Christian Tebbett Welterweight Manuel Del Valle vs Mariusz Mikołajewski Flyweight Davide Scarano vs Fran Breen Featherweight Giuseppe Mastrogiacomo vs Hossein Mousavi Bantamweight Kevin Cesari vs Jack Axworthy Early Prelims – 07:00 (PT) | 10:00 (ET) | 15:00 (BST) | 16:00 (CEST) Featherweight Jack Claffey vs Kallum Parker Featherweight Matteo Martignoni vs Damon Donald Middleweight Leon Naumann vs Naglis Kanišauskas Flyweight Dylan Hazan vs Elves Oliveira Catchweight (165 lbs) Teddy Stringer vs Maicon Kobayashi Lightweight Simone Patrizi vs Diego Dikson Cage Warriors 175: Manchester will air live on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners.

26 years ago this month world champion--the man, the myth, the superstar-- Joe Lewis graced the cover. Shot by Doug Churchill. READ MORE: A Lesson In Prevention, Courtesy of Joe Lewis Joe Lewis' Okinawan Karate Roots

Rodtang Jitmuangnon is coming back to the United States for ONE 169. On Friday, November 8, the Thai megastar will defend the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in Atlanta. The title defense will be against a familiar face. Jacob Smith will be standing across the Circle from Rodtang, who lost an exciting decision battle to “The Iron Man” at ONE 157 in 2022. Rodtang’s star power has only grown since that time. He made his U.S. debut at ONE Fight Night 10 in May 2023, defeating Edgar Tabares in the second round. In his last outing, Rodtang defeated Denis Puric by unanimous decision in an incredible catchweight kickboxing slugfest. Smith has gone 1-1 since his first bid against the Jitmuangnon star, dropping an exciting decision to Puric and finishing Walter Goncalves inside the first round. He has proven to be in the upper echelon of the division. His long-awaited rematch with Rodtang will have the State Farm Arena rocking. With Rodtang stepping back foot in America, Atlanta will be looking at a golden lineup for ONE 169. The Muay Thai clash adds a fourth World Championship match to the lineup. It joins ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Anatoly Malykhin defending the throne against “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane, the return of ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Christian Lee vs. Alibeg Rasulov, and the trilogy bout between ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai and “Smokin” Jo Nattawut. ONE 169: Atlanta airs live on Friday, November 8, on Prime Video. Tickets are available now via Ticketmaster.

The UFC is set to return to the United Kingdom with a bang as UFC 304 heads to the Co-Op Arena in Manchester on July 27. The co-main event promises to be a thrilling rematch between the UFC Interim Heavyweight World Champion, Tom Aspinall, and the formidable Curtis Blaydes. With Aspinall looking to defend his title on home soil, this bout is poised to be one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes of the year. Tom Aspinall (13-3-0) - UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Hailing from Atherton, Greater Manchester, Tom Aspinall has quickly risen through the heavyweight ranks, showcasing an impressive blend of striking and grappling skills. Known for his quick finishes and dominant performances, Aspinall captured the interim heavyweight title with a spectacular victory, solidifying his status as a top contender in the division. With a record that includes notable wins over Andrei Arlovski, Alexander Volkov, and Marcin Tybura, Aspinall is eager to prove that his victory over Blaydes in their first encounter was no fluke. Curtis Blaydes (17-4-0, 1 NC) - Challenger Curtis "Razor" Blaydes is a seasoned heavyweight contender renowned for his wrestling prowess and ground-and-pound expertise. Despite suffering a setback against Aspinall in their previous bout, Blaydes has rebounded with impressive wins, reestablishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the division. With victories over the likes of Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Blaydes is determined to avenge his loss and claim the interim title. Breakdown of the Bout Striking Aspinall's striking is a key component of his success, characterized by his speed, precision, and ability to mix up his attacks. His footwork and movement are exceptional for a heavyweight, allowing him to avoid significant damage while landing significant strikes. On the other hand, Blaydes has shown improvement in his striking, particularly in his ability to set up takedowns with well-timed punches and kicks. However, Aspinall's superior striking technique and power give him an edge in this department. Grappling and Wrestling Blaydes' wrestling is his bread and butter. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to take down and control opponents, using his powerful ground-and-pound to finish fights or secure dominant positions. Aspinall, though primarily known for his striking, possesses underrated grappling skills and has shown proficiency in submissions. The key to this fight may lie in Aspinall's ability to keep the fight standing and avoid Blaydes' relentless takedown attempts. Cardio and Endurance Both fighters have shown that they can maintain a high pace throughout their bouts. Aspinall's conditioning has been a significant factor in his ability to finish fights early, while Blaydes' wrestling-heavy approach demands exceptional endurance. If the fight goes into the later rounds, it will be interesting to see which fighter can maintain their effectiveness and capitalize on any potential openings. Predictions This rematch promises to be a closely contested battle, with both fighters having made adjustments since their last encounter. Aspinall will likely look to utilize his striking to keep Blaydes at bay, avoiding the takedown while landing significant shots to wear down his opponent. Blaydes, on the other hand, will aim to close the distance, secure takedowns, and impose his will on the ground. Prediction: Aspinall by TKO in the third round. While Blaydes' wrestling is a formidable challenge, Aspinall's striking, speed, and ability to avoid the takedown will ultimately prove decisive. Expect Aspinall to capitalize on an opening and finish the fight with his precise striking, retaining his interim heavyweight title in front of a home crowd.