News – Five Rounds with Emma

Raged UK MMA returns to the MECA Swindon 25 July 2026 – full fight card

Raged UK MMA is set to return to the MECA Swindon this Saturday, 25 July 2026 for their second event this year.

If the last event was anything to go by, then you will be in for a night of non-stop action.

FULL FIGHT CARD (NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER & SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

AMATEUR FIGHTS 3 X3-MINUTE ROUNDS

Featherweight bout

Nil Sopi v Charlie Walden

Catchweight bout

Arsen Slavchev v Max Betts

Lightweight bout

Mirullah Ahmed vs Mohammed Sharif

Catchweight bout

Idris Dema v Kieran Kirby

Heavyweight bout

Ricky Boylan v Patrick Plumber

Welterweight bout

Brad Davy v Adam Stewart

Catchweight bout

Austin Rollason v Logan Brown

Featherweight bout

Ellis Teal v Yuuki Sakamoto

Featherweight bout

Matthew Oliver v Xabi Aguilera

Lightweight bout

Seb Olah v Rich Nottingham

Welterweight bout

Boldizar Kecskes v Liam Geraghty

Lightweight bout

Apkan Nzimah v Shay Steel

Featherweight bout

Hadi Khan v Lorenzo Ercoles

Bantamweight bout

Caolan Kennedy v Jack White

Female Featherweight bout

Naomi Olubodun v Corrine Ingman

Welterweight bout

Fedor Dorogbid v Lake Palmer

Featherweight bout

Wisam Farhan v Sol Pollett

VACANT AMATEUR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

Joseph Kelleher v Joe Wood

VACANT AMATEUR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

Leon Hill v Nico Cavilla

PRO MMA FIGHT 3 X 5 MINUTE ROUNDS

Iyvin v Abdilla v Adam Raja

Tickets available via www.raged.uk or all fighters.

Live on PPV fightworld.tv

Raged UK MMA Swindon MECA- Full Results 21 March 2026

Raged UK 24: Swindon War Night Recap

The cage doors shut at Raged UK 24 inside the MECA Swindon, and what followed wasn’t just a fight card; it was a proving ground.

This was fighters fighting. No fluff. No easy nights.

The main event delivered exactly what you want when everything’s on the line. Armands Gruznovs didn’t just win; he dragged Hany Musleh into deep water and drowned him with a third-round rear-naked choke. That’s grit. That’s composure. That’s a man who knows how to close.

Then you’ve got Emma Jefferson stepping up and taking the flyweight strap the hard way, three rounds, no shortcuts. Lottie Matthews pushed her, but Jefferson stayed sharp and walked out with gold. That’s championship mentality.

Elsewhere, finishes came fast and violent. Dan Lucas wasted no time gaining a first-round submission; statement made. The mat belonged to the hunters all night: choke after choke, fighters snatching necks like it was second nature. No hesitation. No mercy.

This card had a theme: if you made a mistake, you paid for it.

Takeaways

Grappling ruled the night; if your ground game wasn’t tight, you got exposed.
Prospects are coming through fast and fearless with no respect for records, just action.
Raged UK is still breeding real fighters who are hungry, raw, and dangerous.

Swindon didn’t just host fights it witnessed careers ignite.

FULL RESULTS

AMATEUR FIGHTS

Elias Rafik Def Seb Smart via RNC 1:57 round 1

Zaw Myo Paing Def Connor Harding via RNC 1:18 round 1

Tom Finch Def Jake Lee via Americana 1:07 round 2

Logan Brown Def Sameer Abbas via GNP/TKO 1:38 round 2

Luther Randell Def Bradley Davy via GNP/TKO 1:29 round 2

Max Cragg Def Kadyn Hopkins via Guillotine 1:28 round 1

Joel Iyen Def Martyn Lawrance via RNC 1:59 round 1

Abdulwhahid Aden Def Rich Nottingham via Split Decision

Simon Miles Def Joshua Shaw via RNC 1:46 round 2

Bill Cockie Def Matty Iwon via Triangle 1:56 round 2

Joe Matthews Def Hojiabar via RNC 1:35 round 1

Sebastian Olah Def Mohammed Sharif via Unanimous Decision

Leon Hill Def Matt Brice via RNC 0:41 round 1

Wisan Farhan Def Corey Bethal via Unanimous Decision

Lorenzo Ercoles Def Charlie Gregson via Triangle 1.11 round 2

Lewis Newman Def Roman Bodymore via RNC 1:58 round 2

Arkan Falah Ayoub Def Xabi Aguilers via RNC 1:42 round 1

WELTERWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR

Nico Cavilla Def Jack Thorne via RNC 1:15 round 2

VACANT MEN’S AMATEUR SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT

Dan Lucas Def Ben Bates via Arm Triangle 1:19 round 1

VACANT MEN’S AMATEUR FLYWEIGHT BOUT

Neo Lyne Def Sebastian Boydon via Split Decision

VACANT FEMALE AMATEUR FLYWEIGHT BOUT

Emma Jefferson Def Lottie Matthews via Unanimous Decision

PROFESSIONAL MMA MAIN EVENT

Armands Gruznovs Def Hany Musleh via RNC 1:58 round 3

New women’s amateur flyweight champion – Emma Jefferson

New men’s amateur flyweight champion – Neo Lyne

New men’s amateur super featherweight champion – Dan Lucas

Next event is Saturday 25 July 2026 at Swindon MECA.

Number one amateur welterweight contender – Nico Cavilla

Raged UK MMA: Full Results from October 2025 Event

Saturday, 25 October, Raged UK MMA held their third event of 2025. Boasting 17 amateur fights and 3 amateur title fights, this was one event not to be missed.

Raged UK MMA team photo -Credit Team Photographer

The venue was packed, and if the crowd was anything to go by, then we were all in for a treat; after all, amateurs are the future of the sport.

Full results

Dahen Shahab def Christos Dumbuya via beginning of round 2 as unable to continue

Lorenzo Ercoles def Abudulwhahid Aiden via Unanimous decision

Tyler Hawson def Kai Catwell-Rocca via RNc 1:11 round 3

Ben Bates def Shay Steel via TKO 2:37 round 1

Falah “Akran” Ayoub def Mirulleh Ahmadil via Unanimous decision

Askan Salehi def Joe Sligh via Unanimous decision

Mohhamad Sharif def Adam Stewart via GNP 2:38 round 1

Ryan Brinkley def Gerald Synod via GNP 1:08 round 1

A-Jay Harrhy def Lewis Champman via Unanimous decision

Mikolaji Ivanchuk def Job Salomao Rigon via Unanimous decision

Nico Cavilla def Jakub Szymanczyk via Unanimous decision

George Bartlett def Rich Nottingham via Medical Stoppage round 3

Lottie Matthews def Tilly Churrazo via Unanimous decision

Cole Marr def Matthew Oliver via KO in 0:09 seconds, round 1

Vacant amateur super featherweight belt

Shoriful Islam def Kayden Rudman via Armbar 2:35 round 2

Vacant amatuer bantamweight belt

Aaron Palmer def Charlie Gregson via TKO 0:11 seconds round one

Vacant amatuer lightweight belt

Felipe Albuguerque def Tate Groves via D’arce choke

I’m bringing back FOTN whoih goes to:

Lottie Matthews vs Tilly Churrazo

Five Rounds with EMMA is BACK!

We had taken 18 months out of the writing aspect of the sport we cover, MMA. We have branched out into some new opportunities, and we still come together to say NOW IS THE TIME TO GO BACK TO WRITING IN AND ABOUT MMA!

After taking 18 months off the writing aspect of MMA, we have stayed passionate about MMA – well, I started this site in 2012 about MMA and the fighters that were in the sport but as yet not in the UFC, so I have a history of MMA fighters before some would say made it!

I have a new contributing writer on board who is fantastic and amazing with his words, hailing from America we have Terrell Sylvester who has done previous work with Combat Sports UK (Anteriorwright1 on FB) check him out there then make sure to come back to Five Rounds with Emma. As we will be full of content before you can say ‘where the fu*k did she come from and who the fu@k is she’.

That statement is true, though I started writing for other outlets to get my foot in the door, so to speak. After two years, my good friend and the one who believed in me from the start and to this day onwards, Jonathan Millard, you may know him as ‘The voice of the Vale’ since he is a ring announcer for boxing & some MMA shows, if it were not for him, I don’t know what i’d be doing by now. He encouraged me to carry on in the sport even though those early days (5 years worth) were when I had abuse aimed at me via social media platforms, this was by men in other outlets in the industry. Then one male person took it upon himself to write a whole status about me on FB ( he didn’t have the nerve to tag me -pussy), and the amount of abuse from grown men left under that status was appalling and soul-destroying. It wasn’t until my good friend and fighter, who I have watched his career from the start, called me up to say what was going on – in the end, it came down to ME being in a predominantly male space and making more waves than him – jealousy!!! For 5 years, I endured abuse like this daily.

Move on to 2020 that person was not around in fact he was in jail for domestic abuse for the second time so no wonder he thought he could bully me!!

As COVID hit, the whole world had to make changes, and those changes forced us on Five Rounds with Emma to re-evaluate how we could contribute to the MMA scene. TIKTOK found the answer when we were ordered to stay at home, so video content grew massively, and so did Zoom calls.

Today, we will incorporate our writing with videos (if needed) on our YouTube channel, Five Rounds with Emma. Also, we will embed the code in the writing here, so you don’t have to search the Internet for the specific content we have shown.

I thank all my loyal fans who have stayed with me from the beginning and through all the times to now. The sport needs fans, and I love engaging with each and every one of you on social media. You can find me on ‘X’ (although I don’t really post there any more), Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and TIKTOK, plus don’t forget this website for news, results, press releases, and exclusive interviews.

THANK YOU

Five Rounds with Emma

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Raged UK MMA: Night of Champions Overview

The ‘Night of Champions’ held by Raged UK MMA on 2 September 2023 at The MECA in Swindon electrified the atmosphere with 20 intense bouts, crowning six new champions. The event highlighted the vibrant local MMA community, spurring interest and potential future collaborations while showcasing thrilling combat sports talent that captivated audiences.

The atmosphere was electric at The MECA in Swindon on 2 September 2023, as Raged UK MMA held its much-anticipated ‘Night of Champions’. This Swindon MMA event was a spectacle of skill and determination, drawing an enthusiastic crowd eager to witness the crowning of six new MMA champions. With a fight card boasting 20 intense MMA bouts, the event was a testament to the high calibre of combat sports talent present, leaving attendees and fans on the edge of their seats. As the night unfolded, the energy in the arena was palpable, showcasing why live MMA events continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Join us as we delve into the highlights and unforgettable moments of this truly electrifying evening.

Electrifying Atmosphere at MECA Swindon

On 2 September 2023, the MECA in Swindon became the epicentre of combat sports excitement. The ‘Night of Champions’ event, organised by Raged UK MMA, transformed the venue into a cauldron of adrenaline and anticipation.

Overview of the Night of Champions

The ‘Night of Champions’ lived up to its name, delivering an unforgettable experience for MMA enthusiasts. The event showcased 20 intense bouts, each contributing to the electric atmosphere.

Raged UK MMA curated a diverse fight card featuring seasoned veterans and promising newcomers. This mix ensured a night of unpredictable and thrilling matchups.

The crowd’s energy was palpable from the opening bell to the final knockout. Cheers, gasps, and thunderous applause punctuated each significant moment in the octagon.

The Buzz Around the Swindon MMA Event

Swindon’s MMA community had been excitedly buzzing in the weeks leading up to the event. Social media platforms were ablaze with discussions, predictions, and fighter interviews.

Local businesses joined in the hype, with gyms offering special training sessions and restaurants creating fight-night specials. This community involvement amplified the event’s significance beyond just a sporting spectacle.

The ‘Night of Champions’ also attracted attention from MMA fans across the UK. Many travelled to Swindon, turning the event into a celebration of British combat sports.

Highlights from the Fight Card

The ‘Night of Champions’ delivered on its promise of high-octane action. From technical grappling exchanges to explosive knockouts, the event had it all. Let’s dive into some standout moments with fans on their feet.

Six New MMA Champions Crowned

The ‘Night of Champions’ lived up to its name, with six new champions emerging victorious. Each title fight delivered intense action and unforgettable moments.

Ryan Southern defeated Laszio Berecki via rear-naked choke at 1:35 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Featherweight Champion.

Avarias ‘Chowie’ Gaciauskas defeated Stephen Todman via Guillotine at 2:29 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Middleweight Champion.

Ryan Lockyer defeated Sam Cooper via rear-naked choke 1:41 of round one to become the Raged UK Amateur Welterweight Champion.

John Watson defeated Jamal Vincent via Unanimous Decision to become the Raged UK Amateur Lightweight Champion.

Lewis ‘The Foot’ Long defeated Ashley Griffiths via Rear naked choke 0:31 of round one to become the Raged UK Welterweight Champion.

Craig Rawlins defeated Matt Holland via Guillotine 2:15 of round one to become the Raged UK Middleweight Champion.

The Impact of Live MMA Events

Live MMA events like the ‘Night of Champions’ are crucial to the sport’s growth and development. They provide a platform for athletes to showcase their skills, inspire the next generation of fighters, and unite communities through shared passion.

Engaging the Local Combat Sports Community

The ‘Night of Champions’ event significantly impacted Swindon’s combat sports community. Local gyms reported a surge in new memberships in the days following the event, with many citing the inspirational performances they witnessed.

The event also provided valuable exposure for local fighters. Several Swindon-based athletes were featured on the card, giving them a chance to compete in front of their hometown crowd and gain recognition.

Promoting Future Swindon MMA Events

The success of the ‘Night of Champions’ set the stage for future MMA events in Swindon. Raged UK MMA has already hinted at plans to return to The MECA in early 2024.

Local businesses have expressed interest in increased sponsorship opportunities, recognising the economic boost such events bring to the area. This support could lead to even bigger and better events in the future.

The buzz generated by the ‘Night of Champions’ has also caught the attention of larger MMA promotions. There are whispers of potential collaborations that could bring international talent to Swindon, further elevating the town’s status in the MMA world.

Raged UK MMA – Night of Champions

Raged UK MMA 16 returns to The MECA in Swindon on Saturday 2nd September 2023 where they will be making six new champions

Raged UK MMA 16 returns to The MECA in Swindon on Saturday, 2nd September 2023, where they will be making six new champions and, therefore, titled “Night of Champions”.

Boasting a massive fight card of 20 fights, Raged UK MMA 16 will be guaranteed to see a beautiful night of violence and what appears to be the best fight card set to date, with promoter Gary Turland going above and beyond to make sure the fight fans in Swindon will be talking about this card for years to come.

As with previous Raged events, if you cannot make the event in person,Fightworld TV hosts a live PPV to watch as the action unfolds.

Events LIVE – Pay Per View

FIGHTCARD AND RUNNING ORDER

Doors open 6pm

First fight 6.15pm

Tickets on the door: Standard £35/Seated £45

RAGED UK MMA September 3rd 2022 Full Results

Saturday, 3rd September 2022, RAGED UK MMA hosted their 15th event back at the MECA, Swindon, where it all began in 2009.

Saturday, 3rd September 2022, RAGED UK MMA hosted their 15^th event back at the MECA, Swindon, where it all began in 2009.

Swindon fight fans were in for a great night of beautiful violence with a staggering 20 fights.

As with previous events, RAGED UK MMA held a live PPV on Fightworld TV for all of those who could not attend in person.

RAGED UK MMA had 15 Amateur fights to get the crowd started and, of course, for us [Media] to see the NEW athletes who will be making big statements in the near future. Two of last night’s amateur competitors won THE VACANT AMATEUR SUPER WELTERWEIGHT BELT and THE AMATUER LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT BELT.

The 5 remaining bouts were The Professional Fights, with the final fight of action for THE VACANT PROFESSIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT BELT.

Complete Raged UK MMA Fight Results

AMATEUR BOUTS

Fight 1: Amateur 3×3 Heavyweight

Sam Marshall def Jordan Everett via TKO (GnP) 00:59 into the 3rd Round.

Fight 2: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Stephen Todman def Jay Kerley via TKO 00:09 into the 1st Round

Fight 3: Amateur 3×3 Middleweight

Ceri Choron def Brad Livingstone via TKO (GnP) 00:50 into the 2nd Round

Fight 4: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Dan Bassett def Adam Kahlil via KO 1:53 into the 3rd Round

Fight 5: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Dion Miles def Jon Hadley via TKO (GnP) 1:45 into the 1st Round

Fight 6: Amateur 3×3 Welterweight

Sam Cooper def Jon Hunt via Submission (Triangle) 02:55 in the 1st Round

Fight 7: Amateur 3×3 Middleweight

Nathan Halton def Joe Wood via Unanimous Decision

Fight 8: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Marian Sandu def Paddy Portsmouth via Submission (RNC) 01:31 in the 2nd Round

Fight 9: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Raheem Joseph def George Birbeck via Submission (Kimura) 01:38 in the 1st Round

Fight 10: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Rich Lukacs def Jacob Phibbs via Split Decision

Fight 11: Amateur 3×3 Welterweight

Charlie Phillips def Richard Nottingham via Doctor Stoppage (Cut to Forehead) 01:16 in the 1st Round

Fight 12: Amateur 3×3 Catchweight

Jordan Walters def Ben Bates via Fighter Injury (Broken Thumb) 01:08 in the 1st Round

Fight 13: Amateur 3×3 Lightweight

Ollie Wilde def Louie Cooke via Split Decision

Fight 14: Amateur 3×3 Vacant Raged Super Welterweight Title Fight

Tyler James def John Watson via TKO (Punches) 01:21 in the 1st Round

NEW SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION – TYLER JAMES REPPING [EVOLVE, TORQUAY]

Fight 15: Amateur 3×3 Raged Light Featherweight Title Fight

Ieuan Mackenzie def Ruslan Vrabje (c) via Submission (RNC) 02:59 in the 1st Round

#ANDNEW LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION – IEUAN MACKENZIE REPPING [CELTIC PRIDE MARTIAL ARTS, WALES]

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

Fight 16: Pro 3×5 Lightweight

Grant Ogbourne def Finley Mitchell via TKO (GnP) 01:59 in Round 1

Fight 17: Pro 3×5 Heavyweight

Luke Newland def Rob Peters via TKO (GnP) 01:25 in Round 1

Fight 18: Pro 3×5 Middleweight

Craig Rawlins def Adam Chetnik via TKO (GnP) 01:34 in Round 1

Fight 19: Pro 3×5 Catchweight

Chris Astley def Tyler Thomas via TKO (GnP) 03:15 in Round 1

Fight 20: Pro 3×5 Vacant Raged Lightweight Title Fight

Oscar Ownsworth def Bernie Gomm via TKO (GnP) 04:48 in the 1st Round

#ANDNEW LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION – OSCAR OWNSWORTH REPPING [AVT LEEDS]

RESULTS COMPILED BY GEORGE GOUGH

FOTN/SOTN/KO/TKO – BY GEORGE GOUGH

Please message Mark at Point 5 Photography on FaceBook or his website if you want to purchase a print of tonight’s fights.

I’ve decided to bring back ‘Honorary Fights’ of the night/Sub and KO/TKO

All these picks were by my colleauge George Gough for which I also fully support.

Sub of the Night goes to Raheem Joseph [Sweatbox/Bristol] for a slick Kimura

KO of the night goes to Dan Bassett [Evolve, Torquay] for a great KO

Fight of the Night goes to Nathan Halton Vs Joe Wood [Fightworx Academy, Torquay and [Range, Glos]

Now for a very special mention and this goes to Grant Ogbourne [Bristol], who was having his first professional fight after being an amateur for the last 4 years and having the WHOLE crowd on their feet with the 1969, Neil Diamond classic ‘Sweet Caroline’.

BKFC 27 – Michael “Venom” Page makes his bare knuckle debut against Mike “Platinum” Perry

BKFC make their UK debut on Saturday, August 20th, as they take over London’s Wembley Arena with a massive headline bout, as local hero Michael “Venom” Page takes on former UFC fighter Mike “Platinum” Perry.

Bellator MMA has undoubtedly done BKFC a massive favour by lending “MVP” to BKFC for this event. The knockout artist has considerable drawing power and ticket selling ability, given his brash style and outgoing personality.

Not only this, but by lending Page to BKFC for their London event, they will have undoubtedly made things harder for PFL, as they head to London on Saturday too for their first card in the city, with fans now being forced to pick between the pair.

Style wise, little is known about what Page could bring to the ring on Saturday. The Londoner has never fought without gloves before but has previously boxed with a pro record of 2-0, both wins coming by knockout. “Venom” has also shown one punch knockout power inside the cage, luring opponents onto his sniper like a right cross, sending them to the mat, but MMA and bare knuckle boxing are two very different beasts.

Page will also have to contend with the brazen style of Perry, a fighter who only has forward gears and will try to take the bout into his wheelhouse, bringing Page into a brawl at every possible opportunity.

The American is no slouch, having won his last BKFC bout against Julian “Let Me Bang Bro” Lane (a former TUF contestant) and winning 11 of his 14 MMA bouts by KO.

This is the perfect fight to headline BKFC’s UK debut, a well known home town fighter against a well known American brawler, in what could potentially be a fantastic scrap.

On a slightly sour note, Paige Van Zant, who was scheduled to fight in Saturday’s co-main event, will no longer be on the card.

The former UFC fighter who has recently ventured into bare knuckle boxing and pro wrestling revealed that the decision not to fight wasn’t hers and that she was pulled from the fight with Charisa Sigala earlier this week for undisclosed reasons, stating she was disappointed to not be able to compete.

The rest of the BKFC card looks to have some fun fights, with notable names like Tyler Goodjohn, who made a name for himself in BKB with his aggressive style competing on the undercard, and former Cage Warriors lightweight champion and UFC fighter, Chris Fishgold, also making his first appearance for BKFC.

BKFC 27 can be watched via BKFC’s APP with a monthly subscription for $4.99, allowing fans to watch every fight the promotion puts on.

UFC 278 preview

Salt Lake City plays host to UFC 278 on Saturday night, as Kamaru Usman looks to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards in a rematch that has taken seven years to come around.

By Kieran Cobley

Salt Lake City plays host to UFC 278 on Saturday night, as Kamaru Usman looks to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards in a rematch that has taken seven years to come around.

Usman comes into the bout on a 19 fight win streak and is in the process of lapping the 170lbs division, having already had rematches with Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, with his main event bout with Edwards being his third rematch in as many years.

For Edwards, UFC 278 sees his long wait for a title fight end after the Birmingham based fighter went through hell and high water to get his shot, racking up a nine fight win streak (not including his no contest with Belal Muhammed) and being taken out of the rankings for his refusal to fight a then un-ranked, Khamzat Chimaev.

The two last squared off in 2015, but both men have evolved since, and you can take a more in-depth preview of their upcoming bout here.

In the co-main event, Paulo Costa will look to show the UFC were right to let him return to the middleweight division after the fiasco with Marvin Vettori as the Brazilian takes on former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

Costa’s shenanigans with his last fight, where he notified the UFC that he wouldn’t be attempting to make 185lbs or the then agreed 195lbs, forced the fight into a light heavyweight bout, were highly unprofessional and were rightly criticised by fans and media alike. Now Costa needs to show that he can make 185lbs and keep his name in the division; otherwise, another forced move to 205lbs could be on the cards.

Meanwhile, Rockhold will try to show that he can still beat top quality opponents despite a weakened chin. The former middleweight champion has lost three of his last four bouts by knockout, showing he is susceptible to a heavy punch.

In what could be a title eliminator for the bantamweight division, Merab Dvalishvili squares off with Jose Aldo, the former featherweight king of the UFC.

Dvalishvili is currently riding a five fight winning streak, utilising his heavy wrestling offence to grind out wins over his opponents by sapping their gas tanks. Nowhere is this better illustrated than by his record of 13 takedowns in a fight when he beat Gustavo Lopez back in 2020.

Aldo has looked impressive since moving to 135lbs, and his notorious leg kicks still give his opponents problems to deal with. “The King of Rio” is known for his knockout ability with 16 wins by KO/TKO, and that would look to be his best chance at winning on Saturday, especially if he can avoid hitting the mat with “The Machine.”

Further down the card, Miranda “The” Maverick is in action as she takes on Shanna Young in a flyweight contest to open the ESPN+ prelims. In contrast, Marcin Tybura takes on Alexander Romanov in a heavyweight bout in the evening’s featured prelim.

The action gets underway from 11pm on UfC Fight Pass, with the main card kicking off at 3am.

Fight Card

Main Card

Kamaru Usman vs Leon Edwards – welterweight title fight

Paulo Costa vs Luke Rockhold – middleweight bout

Jose Aldo vs Merab Dvalishvil – bantamweight bout

Wu Yunan vs Lucie Pudilova – women’s bantamweight bout

Tyson Pedro vs Harry Hunsucker – light heavyweight bout

Preliminary Card

Marcin Tybura vs Alexander Romanov – heavyweight bout

Leonardo Santos vs Jared Gordon – lightweight bout

Sean Woodson vs Luis Suldana – featherweight bout

Miranda Maverick vs Shanna Young – women’s flyweight bout

A.J. Fletcher vs Ange Loosa – welterweight bout

Amir Albazi vs Francisco Figueiredo – flyweight bout

Aori Qilieng vs Jay Perrin – bantamweight bout

Daniel Lacerda vs Victor Altamirano – flywweight bout

Usman vs Edwards II: Repeat or revenge?

UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20th, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is headlined by the long awaited rematch between current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1, 9 KO, 1 Sub) and top contender Leon Edwards (19-3, 6 KO, 3 Sub, 1 NC).

By Kieran Cobley

UFC 278 takes place this Saturday, August 20th,in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is headlined by the long awaited rematch between current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-1, 9 KO, 1 Sub) and top contender Leon Edwards (19-3, 6 KO, 3 Sub, 1 NC).

“The pair first met in 2015, with “The Nigerian Nightmare” scoring a unanimous decision win over Birmingham native Edwards.

But seven years have passed since then, and both men have evolved during that time.

Usman’s reputation of being “boring” fighter who merely goes for decision wins has been shattered, with the TUF 21 winner utilising his wrestling background to take fighters to the mat and keep them there. That was how Usman successfully navigated his first bout with Edwards, securing six takedowns on his way to getting the nod from the judges.

That Usman is long gone. The Usman of 2022 is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, a fighter who can slam you, tie you in a tight clinch, or simply beat the brakes off you with his new found love of striking.

In three of his last five fights, Usman has scored knockout victories over the man opposite him in the Octagon, with those men being very notable: former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, and last but not least, the BMF of the UFC, Jorge Masvidal.

This ferocity in striking, brought on from working with Trever Wittman in fight camp while training in Sanford MMA in Florida for the rest of the year, has made Usman lethal. Stepping into his boxing range is like putting your head in the mouth of a lion; nothing good can come of it.

Psychologically, Usman will feel good coming into this bout after seeing his brother, Mohammed, win the TUF Heavyweight final two weeks ago and coming into this fight on a run of 19 consecutive wins.

Edwards’ rise to the top of the welterweight division is nothing to sneer at. Since losing to Usman, the Team Renegade talisman has won nine bouts, with a no contest with Belal Muhammed in the mix too.

While Usman was regarded as being boring due to his heavy wrestling style, fans were equally unimpressed with Edwards, seeing him as a point fighter who lacked finishing ability in a division full of fighters who could get the win within the distance.

It was perhaps this fan resentment that caused Edwards to have to wait for so long for his shot; after all, he did have a more legitimate shout for a title fight than Covington or Masvidal did, with the pair getting rematches not long after being soundly beaten by Usman. At the same time, Edwards was forced to consistently hold onto his position at the top of the rankings.

There was also the issue of Edwards being removed from the rankings for not accepting a fight with the then un-ranked Khamzat Chimaev, instead opting to wait it out for either a title shot or a fight with a notable ranked contender, for instance, Nate Diaz, who Edwards beat easily.

That has to be put to the back of Edwards’ head now, and he needs to focus on Usman, a new Usman, a more dangerous Usman. If Edwards underestimates Usman and still believes him to be the same fighter he was in their first meeting, he will be in deep trouble.

There is no obvious way for Edwards to win this fight; slipping in an out of range against Usman is an impossible task given the man’s abilities and movement skills.

The bookies are certainly in favour of Usman in this fight, making him a heavy favourite with odds of ¼ to win and 11/5 to win by either submission or KO.

However, miracles can happen in MMA; Derrick Lewis’ come from behind KO against Aleksander Volkov, Matt Serra’s underdog win against George Saint-Pierre, and JuliannPena’s KO win against the double champ, Amanda Nunes.

A win for Edwards would undoubtedly be one of the most significant underdogs wins ever, but this is one hell of an uphill battle.

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Complete Raged UK MMA Fight Results

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