Few legends can even claim the longevity that Lawler can, and even fewer saw gold and continually build the kind of resume that Lawler now leaves with. For those who missed the fights this past weekend, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler fought for the very last time at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He knocked out Niko Price in just 38 seconds to cement his legacy with a final win. It has been 21 years since Lawler first touched down in a UFC Octagon, defeating Aaron Riley on May 10th, 2022, in Bossier City, Louisiana.

As Ruthless hangs up the gloves, it’s a fitting time to look back at his greatest accomplishments and what made the career of Robbie Lawler so special.

The Phenom Years

In the late 1990s, MMA was far from polished. It was a crude mix of martial artists from individual disciplines, somewhat scrambling to fill the holes in their game enough to cover their bases. In 1998, the UFC was just introducing new weight classes into the mix including an official 170lb title, which was won by the division’s first champion and pioneer, Pat Miletich.

Just a year before winning the title, Miletich had formed “Miletich Fighting Systems”, an organization recognized as one of the earliest elite training camps in mixed martial arts. In 2000, Miletich would come across a young 16-year-old Lawler, fresh off of an impressive high school wrestling career and brought him into the gym. His intuition was proven correct when Lawler TKO/KO’d all four of his first opponents after debuting in 2001.

A 4-0 record may not seem much today, but in 2002 it opened the door to the UFC for Lawler. While his first fight would go to a decision, he got back on his finishing streak by ending his second and third UFC bouts before a third round even started. He was an absolute phenom, a solid wrestler with KO power in every strike, but as he moved towards the highest level, losses to already veterans Pete Spratt and Evan Tanner, as well as a then-unknown 20-year-old Nick Diaz, would take him out of the promotion almost as fast as he entered.

Pride and Strikeforce

Robbie Lawler would float around outside of the UFC for about eight years, the most significant accomplishment being the EliteXC Middleweight Championship won in 2007.

However, within his legendary career, two other promotions names appear – Robbie Lawler fought at PRIDE 32 on October 21, 2006, and knocked out Joey Villasenor. Other than an unlikely potential Nick Diaz return, Robbie Lawler may be the last fighter to compete in the UFC who also fought in PRIDE FC.

The second promotion of note is Strikeforce, once the biggest competitor to the UFC in the West, which was ultimately absorbed. Lawler fought for the promotion from 2009 to 2012, climbing as high as a Strikeforce Middleweight title shot opposite Jacare Souza. Although he did not win the belt, Lawler gave fans some of the most iconic strike force fights against Jake Shields, Melvin Manhood, Souza, and Tim Kennedy.

UFC Championship

Lawler returned to the UFC in 2013, right around the absorption of Strikeforce. He went on an early three-fight win streak, now at 170lbs over Josh Koscheck, Bobby Voelker, and Rory MacDonald, which earned him a shot at the welterweight title recently vacated by Georges St. Pierre.

Although Lawler still had a surging fanbase, the story going into the fight was largely circling around his opponent, Johnny Hendricks, who the majority already believed the best in the world after giving St. Pierre the fight of his life. No longer the Prodigal 20-year-old, Lawler had already been cut from the UFC once, he went into the first Hendricks fight as a 2-1 underdog and lost. Yet, the fight was so close it arguably came down to a single takedown that cemented the UD score for Hendricks.

In an attempt to build himself back up and earn a rematch, Lawler knocked out Jake Ellenberger and ended Matt Brown’s then 7-fight win streak in a Fight Night headliner. This time, when given a shot at Hendricks and the title, Lawler would come out on top in an equally close fight that ended in a split decision. Johnny Hendricks would fail to ever regain the momentum he had had after this loss, and what could have been a great trilogy ended with the two going 1-1.

However, Lawler would then go on to the greatest title fight in UFC history. He had already beaten Rory MacDonald once in 2013, yet Oddsmakers backed the Canadian at UFC 189 with Lawler coming in as high as the +145 underdog. For the first four and a half rounds, it would seem they were right, with both men going back and forth in a bloody battle of wills, but MacDonald clearly ahead on the scorecards. A minute into the final round, Robbie Lawler, with half of his lip hanging off of his face, dropped MacDonald with a flush strike to an already broken nose, follow up shots prompted the ref to step in and retain Lawler’s title. The fight was dubbed fight go the year in 2015, and went on to be inducted into the Fight Wing go the UFC Hall of Fame earlier this year. Fans to this day maintain it is the greatest UFC fight of all time.

While a fight like is hard to top, Lawler’s next defense came as close as it possibly could. A five-round war with Carlos Condit, the former Interim belt holder, also won fight of the night honours.

One of the Most Exciting Legacies in History

Robbie Lawler would never regain his UFC title after losing to Tyron Woodley in his next fight. He was KO’d at UFC 201 in July 2016. However, he would continue to fight the elite of the UFC’s welterweight division for the remainder of his career, including a hard-fought victory over the also legendary Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and avenge his early defeat by TKO’ing Nick Diaz 21 years later.

Over his career, Robbie Lawler earned Fight of the Night honors in the UFC five times, and was the Fighter of the Year for both 2014 and 2015. His title win over Johnny Hendricks in 2014 and defense against Rory MacDonald in 2015 both became Fight of the Year winners, the latter of which inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded numerous accomplishments by the MMA community, including the 2013 comeback of the year for his return to the UFC and knockouts of the year over Koscheck and Manhoef, to name just a few, by various MMA Media.

Lawler has fought a plethora of MMA’s biggest names, from the pioneers of the sport to former champions and today’s contenders, including but not limited to: Nick Diaz (x2), “Mayhem” Miller, Frank Trigg, “Ninja” Rua, Jake Shields, Melvin Manhoef, “Jacare” Souza, Tim Kennedy, Josh Koscheck, Rory MacDonald (x2), Johnny Hendricks (x2), Jake Ellenberger, Matt Brown, Carlos Condit, Tyron Woodley, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone,” Rafael Dos Anjos, Ben Askren, and Colby Covington.

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A unique blend of spectacle and sport, the BMF title encapsulates the bravado, audacity, and sheer fighting spirit that define the UFC. Yet, despite its high-profile debut, many fans consider the BMF title as just another marketing gimmick by the UFC. And although it’s not recognized as an official UFC championship, it’s still highly sought after by fighters in the promotion.

Today, we take a deep dive into the past, present, and future of the UFC’s BMF title.

Order UFC 291 on ESPN+ now to watch this Saturday night’s BMF Title fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

Origins of the BMF Title

The genesis of the BMF title traces back to UFC 244 on November 2, 2019, when the UFC decided to crown the “Baddest Mother F***er” in the sport. And ultimately, it was an occasion that came about by pure chance.

In fact, it was fan-favorite fighter Nate Diaz was largely responsible for imagining the BMF title. After defeating Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, Diaz took to the mic and claimed that he was the “baddest mother f***er in the game,” before challenging the cage-side Jorge Masvidal to a fight in the future.

UFC president Dana White admitted that the promotion wasn’t really considering Diaz vs. Masvidal but attention from fans and media swayed their opinion.

“When Nate did his interview that night, he basically said ‘this is for the baddest mother(expletive) in the game,” White said. “So, you know, this is one of those fights that, after that interview, started to build a life of its own through the fans and the media. We didn’t seriously start talking about this fight until maybe a couple weeks later in a matchmaking meeting.”

It was at this point that a ‘crazy’ idea popped into White’s head.

“I said to my guys, ‘Listen, tell me if I’m crazy, but what if we think about actually having a ‘baddest mother(expletive) in the game belt,’ and my guys loved it, and we started talking about it, and we went into the design team at the UFC. We started to design it,” White said.

The First BMF Title Fight

The grand stage for the first-ever UFC BMF title fight was none other than the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The inaugural BMF title fight pitted two of the most charismatic fighters in the UFC against each other – the street-fighter-turned-professional, Jorge Masvidal, and the gritty, never-back-down brawler, Nate Diaz. The stakes were high, the crowd was electric, and the world was watching as these two warriors stepped into the Octagon.

The fight was an intense exchange of powerful blows and stinging shots, demonstrating the tenacity and resilience of both fighters. Masvidal, determined to etch his name in UFC history, opened up a nasty gash over Diaz’s right eye with an elbow and a kick in the first round. Despite the severe cut, Diaz showed his indomitable spirit, refusing to back down and returning fire with stinging shots of his own.

However, the fight was not destined to reach its natural conclusion. Before the fourth round could commence, the fight was abruptly halted due to a doctor’s stoppage. Diaz’s eye injury was deemed too severe to continue, and Masvidal was declared the winner by third-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage).

In the aftermath of the fight, both fighters expressed their dissatisfaction with the anticlimactic ending. Masvidal, despite being crowned the inaugural BMF champion, sported a disappointed face, knowing that the fight’s conclusion was not the decisive victory he had envisioned. On the other hand, Diaz, ever the warrior, was ready to continue the fight and seemed surprised by the doctor’s decision to stop the bout.

“I told Nate right now, I swear we’re running it back,” Masvidal said after being awarded the UFC BMF title. “Let’s run it back. I don’t like to leave the ring like this with my opponent conscious. There’s only one way to do it and that’s to baptize them. I didn’t get to baptize Nate.

“We’re going to run it back. Don’t worry, it’s going to happen again.”

Post the victory, Masvidal held the BMF title until an unforeseen event in 2023. On May 16, Masvidal announced his retirement from mixed martial arts at UFC 287, leaving the BMF title vacant.

This marked the end of the first chapter of the BMF title, a chapter filled with courage, controversy, and, above all, the spirit of fighting.

The Return of the BMF Title

The retirement of Jorge Masvidal marked the end of an era, leaving a void in the world of UFC. The BMF title, once proudly held by Masvidal, was now without a holder. Yet, as is often the case in the ever-evolving world of mixed martial arts, where one chapter ends, another begins. And so it was with the return of the BMF title.

In a surprising turn of events, the UFC announced the return of the BMF title in 2023. The stage for this resurrection would be UFC 291, set to take place in Salt Lake City on July 29, 2023.

Order UFC 291 on ESPN+ now to watch this Saturday night’s BMF Title fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

The contenders vying for the title are no strangers to one another – Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, two fighters whose history and rivalry only add to the drama and anticipation of the upcoming bout. Their first clash in 2018 was a spectacle of sheer skill and grit, a fight that ended with Poirier claiming a fourth-round TKO victory and subsequently being regarded as one of the very best fights of the year — if not the best.

And that’s exactly why the UFC decided to attach the BMF title to this fight.

“Every Tuesday we’re in there [the war room], and as we were putting that card together for Utah, we thought that Poirier and Gaethje is such an awesome fight,” White said. “Masvidal retired, so we put the BMF [up for grabs].”

“You have no idea how many of these fighters want to fight for the BMF title,” White commented. “They all want to fight for that belt. It’s fun, it’s different, so we’ll do it again.

“When you think about doing it in the first place, [Masvidal and Diaz] were the two right guys, and so are these — these are the two right guys [for the second BMF title fight]. Whether that thing is in play, or not in play, that fight is what it is. Everybody wants that belt, so what the hell?”

Their upcoming fight is not just about the BMF title; it’s about revenge, legacy, and redemption. Gaethje, the hard-hitting lightweight, is seeking revenge for his previous loss to Poirier. Poirier, on the other hand, is looking to reinforce his dominance and add another high-profile victory to his illustrious career. With the BMF title up for grabs, the stakes are high for both fighters.

As the MMA community eagerly awaits this epic rematch, one thing is clear – the return of the BMF title has injected a new sense of excitement and anticipation into what was already a highly-anticipated rematch. But many fans could also argue that Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 can stand on its own legs, and doesn’t need a gimmick attached to it to help promote the fight.

The Legacy and Future of the BMF Title

The BMF title, despite its relatively short history, has already left a lasting mark on the UFC. It encapsulates the spirit of what it means to be a fighter, a champion, and indeed, the “Baddest Mother F***er.” It’s an honor that extends beyond records and rankings, instead celebrating the fighter’s spirit, tenacity, and audacity.

The title’s legacy, though currently defined by the likes of Jorge Masvidal, is set to enter a new chapter with the Poirier vs. Gaethje rematch. Whichever fighter emerges victorious will not only claim the title but also help shape its future. Will it continue to be a one-off special attraction, or could it become a recurring accolade, a title that the winner will seek to defend? Only time will tell.

What is certain, however, is that the BMF title has captured the imagination of fighters and fans alike. Its return has reinvigorated interest in the sport and brought a new level of anticipation to UFC 291.

As Poirier and Gaethje prepare to square off in the Octagon, the world will be watching, eager to see who will be crowned the next “Baddest Mother F***er.”

The post The History and Future of the UFC’s BMF Title appeared first on The Body Lock.

But Nickal is not just a wrestler. He is also an up-and-coming mixed martial artist who has signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He made his professional MMA debut in June 2022, scoring a first-round knockout victory over John Noland at Jorge Masvidal’s iKon FC 3. He followed that up with a first-round submission win over Zachary Borrego at Dana White’s Contender Series 49 in August and then again secured another win on the Contender Series, beating Donovan Beard by first-round submission.

Now Nickal is ready to make his UFC debut against Jamie Pickett at UFC 285 on March 4, 2023. Nickal vs. Pickett will be part of the pay-per-view main card and the only way to watch is by ordering the official ESPN+ PPV live stream.

This is a fight that you should not miss for several reasons.

First of all, Nickal is an exciting fighter who brings a lot of intensity and aggression to the cage. He does not shy away from striking exchanges and has shown impressive power and accuracy with his punches and kicks. He also has a killer instinct when he gets his opponents to the ground, where he unleashes vicious ground-and-pound and looks for submissions.

Secondly, Nickal is a confident fighter who does not back down from any challenge. He has called out some of the top names in the middleweight division, including Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya whom he criticized for their grappling skills. He believes he has what it takes to beat anyone in his weight class and become a UFC champion. Nickal is in the news this week after calling for a megafight with Khamzat Chimaev.

Thirdly, Nickal is a potential star who could attract a lot of fans and attention to the sport. He has a charismatic personality and a loyal fan base from his wrestling days. He also recently signed an endorsement deal with Betr, a sports betting platform that provides exclusive content and coverage of his MMA career. He could be one of the next big things in MMA if he lives up to his hype.

Finally, Nickal is facing a tough opponent who will test him in his UFC debut. Jamie Pickett is an experienced fighter who has been competing professionally since 2011. He has fought six times in the UFC so far, winning two fights by decision. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Denis Tiuliulin at UFC 279 last year.

Pickett is a well-rounded fighter who can strike and grapple effectively. He has good size and reach for the middleweight division and will try to use them to keep Nickal at bay. He also has decent takedown defense and submission skills that could pose problems for Nickal’s wrestling game.

Nickal vs. Pickett is an intriguing matchup that could produce fireworks at UFC 285. Fans are expecting a dominant performance from Nickal but stranger things have happened in mixed martial arts.

Don’t miss this fight on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Order the UFC 285 fight card on ESPN+ PPV to watch every fight live including the return of Jon Jones.

The post Why you should be excited for Bo Nickal’s debut at UFC 285 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Needless to say, it seems as though Nickal proved himself as a mixed-martial artist, showing fairly sharp striking, an intimidating wrestling base, and a surprisingly technical submission game; all of which in the staggeringly quick time frame of 52 seconds.

Nickal had already garnered some hype leading up to this, being the main event of his debut Contender Series card and having garnered a reputation as a phenomenal wrestler during his collegiate career at Penn State. Immediately following this, Nickal was slated to appear on the main card of UFC 282 opposite Jamie Pickett, an established name in his division. This was a luxury that most would only dream of, to be a main card opener of a pay-per-view, however, Nickal was forced to pull out due to an injury. The fight has since been rescheduled to open next week’s pay-per-view card at UFC 285, this time on a card that’s arguably even more stacked.

• Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett is part of the UFC 285 PPV main card
• Order the ESPN+ PPV now to watch every fight live this weekend

This opens the question, with the recent fast-tracking of stars like Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira, what path is Nickal’s career going to take and, should he see continuous success in the octagon, how quickly can we see him in the title picture?

This would’ve been a relatively foolish question until a couple of months ago. It was rare for a fighter with a 3-0 record to even make it to the UFC, let alone start off on a main card and already appear in talks of how he fits in as a contender. However, the recent success of Alex Pereira, a 6-1 kickboxing specialist, defeating one of the most established champions in the history of the company in Israel Adesanya has opened discourse regarding the importance of records in championship fights.

As well as this, the pushing that many recent stars like Khamzat Chimaev, Sean O’Malley, and Paddy Pimblett have illustrated, at least to an extent, that the UFC plays favorites in choosing fighters who they deem more marketable. Bo Nickal fits into this category remarkably, bringing in a vast audience of American collegiate wrestling fans who’ve watched him throughout his career. The fighter already has over 280,000 followers on Instagram and, at the young age of 27, this will only continue to grow.

With that being said, what can we expect to see out of his career? With a win against Jamie Pickett, depending on how quickly and in what fashion it is in, it’s very likely that Nickal will remain exclusively as a pay-per-view fighter and most likely would remain on the main card at the very least. In fact, it’s very arguable that he’s only two or three decent wins away from a main event spot and, at that point, title contention would largely be a product of the ebbs and flow of the middleweight division.

All-in-all, it is very likely that Nickal’s performance this upcoming weekend will assert his standing in the company and middleweight division, regardless of how shallow his record is as of right now. In a division filled with grappling specialists, it’s easy to see that Nickal will find at least some level of success at 185 lbs, especially when considering how the UFC will handle his matchmaking and marketability like other stars.

Nonetheless, Nickal is one of the most interesting prospects in the entire UFC. His last performance in Dana White’s Contender Series showed not only a rapid development of fighting fundamentals but also a natural instinct for combat and a keen ability to pull the trigger to score a finish. It’ll be fascinating to watch how not only his career develops, but his skills as a fighter as well, because, as of right now, his potential seems limitless.

The post Bo Nickal: A Rising Star in UFC’s Middleweight Division appeared first on The Body Lock.

Yet, it’s not the absolute offense that many of the other eastern European Sambo fighters have come to exemplify. He does not suffocate his opponents with wrestling pressure, he does not have a particularly special output when it comes to striking. Rakhmonov is a patient fighter, there are times when his striking does not look the swiftest, or he will get pressed up against the cage, but often unbeknownst to the average viewer and his opponents, he will put himself in these situations to set traps.

As Rakhmonov prepares to meet his highest-ranked and likely his most dangerous opponent Geoff Neal at UFC 285, it’s a perfect opportunity to dive deep into what makes Rakhmonov so different.

Striking Tactics

Rakhmonov has a wide range of striking abilities and skills. He is a good kicker and a good puncher, from all varying degrees of range. He has a postured stance with his base spread so as to not be particularly vulnerable to low kicks, but also keeps him mobile. Often Rakhmonov starts off his fights with a 0 risk factor, he will feint and move but very much avoid committing to anything or even taking the risk of throwing an unstudied counter. He will move away without a thought of maintaining enough range to make them pay, just to analyze the potential holes that are there for the next time. Likewise, he will throw just enough of his own strikes on the lead to get reads on how his opponents react in each of those situations, if he taps their lead leg with a low kick and they immediately look to throw the counter cross, that could very likely be their undoing later in the fight.

Once Rakhmonov is confident in his reads, he starts working his way through kicking range, primarily to the body with any malice, but will still land on the leg to give alternating looks and maintain control of range. He stands relatively upright, so committing to low kicks is something that he has to be particularly wary of, and does not do too often. When he goes to the body, his shifting lead body kick is a favorite as it allows him to lean away as he lands and keep that distance. He also likes to circle his opponent away from his power side and into his right leg turning sidekick.

Eventually opening up with punches behind his kicks and on counters from earlier reads, Rakhmonov slowly gains the ability to force his opponent backward. While he does rush, he only does so when he has forced his opponent onto the back foot, behind the black lines of the mat, and most importantly in a position where even if they do throw back, they’re off-balanced and the backward movement renders the strikes weak. The ramming knee to the body is one of his more consistent choices of weapon.

Wrestling on the Cage

There is a lot to be said about Shavkat Rakhmonov’s wrestling game. He is a master of sports in Combat Sambo, so he is well-versed in takedowns and control of all kinds. However, the largest part of his game that is unique to him is how he wrestled, not just on the fence but with his back to it. Unlike other dominant Sambo fighters, Rakhmonov is particularly willing to be put against the cage. This is because he has become a master of timing and weight reading and he has two diverging paths from here.

Many of his takedowns in the UFC have so far come from this position. If his opponent clinches up and engages in the greco-roman style upper body battle, at some point they will typically shorten their stance as they try to pull him off the cage in some sort of takedown or grind up into his chin with their head to win out the positioning battle. It’s with this shift of weight from driving into the hips to posturing, that Rakhmonov often hits his more judo-style takedowns, like Uchimatas and Ouchis. As the stance becomes shorter, and the weight rises, Rakhmonov will either kick inside and elevate the hips, or step around and corkscrew into an outside trip. The high momentum of this style of throwing does leave some fighters on their back as their opponents roll with the momentum but so far Rakhmonov has based out and maintained control pretty much every time.

If his opponents commit to a level change takedown on the cage, like a single leg or double leg penetration, the guillotine becomes the path. The cage, at some point, forces his opponents to release the drive into the hips. Once they have clasped behind the leg(s), they have to turn the corner or come up to finish. Rakhmonov’s timing in wrapping the neck inside that change of direction is key, and he has already done it twice in the UFC. Against Neil Magny, he was not clinched against the cage, but as Magny tried to sit up from the bottom position and reverse with a sort of double leg/body lock drive, Rakhmonov tied up as he came up and forward and completed the choke in his guard.

Standing Ground and Pound

Rakhmonov may be the very best ground-and-pound fighter when it comes to doing so from his feet. More than anyone in the UFC, he tends to choose a standing position more than not. What he does is base down in a sort of sumo squat position, essentially using just hip pressure to stack his opponent so they can’t get the feet on the hips or wrap up part of his upper body. From here he can punch with the full extent of his arms, and even if they do catch a wrist, at best they’ve stopped one arm for a moment or two. If or when they can shift back enough to get a leg inside, Rakhmonov will use a single knee cut it across. It is similar to if he was going towards a knee staple, but only just enough to move it out of the way and not actually to pin a leg down. His style of ground and pound in this way is dependent on him being too far to get a hold of and stick to. While this could result in them eventually getting enough space to scramble back to their feet, Rakhmonov never puts himself in any danger and gets the most out of each strike he drops down.

The Future of Welterweight

Rakhmonov has been hailed as a future champion in the welterweight division, high praise for such a stacked weight class. It’s not only his physical ability, and diverse technical skillset built by years of combat Sambo and amateur MMA but the tactical decision-making he is able to – and does make with such a foundation. To the naked eye, it is often difficult to see what he is doing, he will fly back from strikes that look nowhere near him but he is analyzing, he will get put on the fence but more than not it’s to his ultimate benefit and he won’t follow his dazed opponent to the mat, but why would he when he has mastered the art of standing ground and pound in a way few even consider. Five fights into any UFC career, it’s hard to say if someone will be a belt holder, but Rakhmonov is one of the few that have already garnered the confidence of a lot of fans, and he is most definitely one of the top prospects in any division.

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In college, Bo Nickal competed for Penn State under renowned head coach, Cael Sanderson. Learning under a coach who was 159-0 in college and is considered one of, if not the best college wrestler to have ever competed, Bo Nickal went on to be a 4-time All-American, 3-time National Champion, and have a combined record of 135-5 while being 61-0 over his final two seasons at Penn State. These accolades cannot go understated, particularly knowing Penn State is in the most difficult wrestling conference there is – the Big Ten – coupled with the fact that one mishap against the elite-level competition that he faced can result in an unexpected loss. But Bo did not let that happen once he established himself as one of the top wrestlers in the country, ultimately earning the Dan Hodge Trophy his senior season distinguishing him as the nation’s best collegiate wrestler.

• Bo Nickal makes his UFC debut this Saturday, March 4.
• Order UFC 285 now on ESPN+ PPV to watch every fight live this weekend.

Knowing Bo’s wrestling is unmatched, an intelligent MMA fan would immediately state that there is more to the sport than wrestling alone. Understanding this, Bo, being the extremely pragmatic and disciplined athlete that he is, took time to find proper coaching, learn the dynamics of MMA, and begin his training, all of which took place at the renowned American Top Team gym. This team is headed by well-respected coach, Mike Brown, and the gym is known for being one of the largest and well-versed in all of MMA, a vital feature for someone of Bo’s level to be around given the multitude of differing opponents he has access to in order to learn and get better.

Being the elite athlete he is with world-class skills in wrestling, Bo took very quickly to MMA. In his first fight on a smaller circuit, he won by KO in the first round, a first-round submission victory for his second professional fight taking place on DWCS, and another first-round KO victory for his third professional fight on DWCS, earning him a contract to fight in the organization.

While having just three professional fights may seem incredibly small, the fact that Bo has 140 D1 wrestling bouts and has competed in Olympic-caliber tournaments as well gives him what is likely far more experience than many fighters on the roster. Moreover, as he has stated himself, he has, over four years in college, competed in arenas filled with thousands of fans, both in the Big 10 Championships as well as the NCAA Championships, which gives him the advantage of dealing with the pressure and executing when the stage is at its biggest.

Because of the elite athlete that he is, the immense one-to-one competition experience he has, and most importantly, the world-class wrestler that he is, it all makes Bo the top prospect in all of MMA.

Bo Nickal makes his UFC debut on the UFC 285 main card this Saturday, March 4. Order the event now on ESPN+ PPV to watch every fight live this weekend.

The post Bo Nickal: College Success to MMA Hype appeared first on The Body Lock.

This article will focus on his historic MMA career while touching on outside factors that have tainted his legacy — all before he makes his return at UFC 285 this Saturday, March 4, airing live on ESPN+ PPV.

Before Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history, he cut his teeth on the wrestling mats where he won an NJCAA national title at Iowa Central Community college. Jones transitioned to MMA in 2008 where he made his professional debut for FFP. He won his first six fights inside the distance, largely relying on a substantial wrestling advantage. Then, still in 2008, Jones joined the UFC. Jones won his first UFC fight via decision, the first decision of his young career. Then, in only his second UFC and eighth professional fight, Jones was matched up against future UFC Hall of Famer, Stephan Bonnar. Jones landed 7 of 10 takedowns in the fight en route to a unanimous decision win. If he wasn’t on the UFC’s radar at this point, this win put him on the radar and fast track as a budding superstar.

Jones continued his career over the next two years racking up a 4-1 record, including a win over now-Bellator champion Ryan Bader. Jones’ only loss came via a controversial DQ due to illegal elbows against Matt Hamill in 2009. After Jones’ win over Bader, he got his first title fight. Jones faced Shogun Rua at UFC 128. “Bones” continued with his wrestle-centric style and landed three of three takedowns while landing 102 total strikes in only 2.5 rounds before finally finding the TKO finish in round 3. At only 23 years old Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history. This was not the only milestone he’d reach or record he’d break during his UFC tenure; but, as stated above, his career is riddled with controversy and drama as well as triumph.

After Jones won the title at 23 in 2011, he defended his belt 8 consecutive times, breaking the previous light heavyweight record. Following a title defense over Daniel Cormier in 2015 Jones was stripped of his title and removed from the UFC rankings after he was arrested for hit-and-run charges. Then, over a year later, Jones rejoined the UFC and won the interim belt over OSP but was stripped of the gold again after testing positive for a banned substance. Over a year later again, Jones reentered the cage and won the belt again after beating Daniel Cormier. However, he was stripped of the championship again following another failed drug test. In December of 2018, Jones returned yet again to the UFC and won the vacant title over Gustafsson in a fight that will go down in history. Following Jones regaining the belt for the 4th time, he defended it 3 more times. Each defense was a closer contested fight than the previous defenses in Jones’ career. He’s attributed his struggles during these defenses to apathy and disinterest in the competition. Then, in 2020, Jones vacated the title and walked away from the UFC.

After over three years away from the UFC, Jones again is set to make his return to the octagon. However, for the first time in his tumultuous career, he will be returning in a new division: heavyweight. Jones’ career has been formed by his wrestling, range kickboxing, and ability to force opponents to fight his fight. He has typically been the bigger, more athletic, and stronger man in the cage. Come March 4, those previously assumed advantages are no longer automatic. He is set to take on one of the most athletic, skilled, and well-rounded fighters on the entire roster: Ciryl Gane.

Some people hate him for his out-of-the-cage history. Yet, some people still love him for his in-the-cage dominance. One thing is for sure, whenever Jon Jones crawls into the octagon, the whole MMA world watches.

Jon Jones makes his return this Saturday, March 4, against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 285. The only way to watch the fight live in the United States is on ESPN+. Order the PPV now.

The post Jon Jones: The rise, fall, and resurrection of a UFC legend appeared first on The Body Lock.

This is what makes UFC flyweight champion, Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko so interesting because few have been so successful in so many individual martial arts and combat sports as she.

Attributing much of her success to traveling the world looking to compete in any combat opportunity she could find, Shevchenko boasts a pro record and Russian master of sports in boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. On top of this, she black belts in traditional martial arts taekwondo, and Judo, and this all comes before her world championships in MMA.

As she is set to defend her world title once again at UFC 285 against Alexa Grasso on Saturday, March 4, it’s time to take a look at the background of the UFC’s flyweight queen.

• Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso is the UFC 285 co-main event.
• Order UFC 285 on ESPN+ PPV to watch every fight live this weekend.

Born and Raised as a Martial Artist

Valentina Shevchenko was born in Frunze, Kirghizia USSR in 1988 to Elena Shevchenko, a multiple-time Muay Thai champion in Kyrgyzstan. Between her and a father in the pacific fleet of the soviet navy, Shevchenko learned discipline and ambition early on. By the age of five, she was training in Taekwondo under her sister and mother.

At age 12 she transitioned to Muay Thai, knocking out a competitor 10 years her senior within her first year of training under new coach Paval Fedotov who trains her to this day. Around the same time she was introduced to Vale Tudo and kickboxing on top of Muay Thai.

Muay Thai and Kickboxing

Starting in 2003, Shevchenko established herself in the amateur kickboxing and muay Thai circuit. Between 2003-2014 she earned eight gold medals in the IFMA (International Federation of Muay Thai Associations) world championships and the IMFA Royal Cup in 2015.

During that time, Shevchenko would meet a future UFC champion inside the ring. Joanna Jedrzejczyk who would go on to be the most dominant strawweight champion in UFC history lost to Shevchenko in 2006, when Shevchenko was just 18 and Jedrzejczyk 19. The win would push Shevchenko into the tournament final en route to an amateur gold medal. The pair would rematch twice more in amateur competition, Shevchenko winning each, and finally, meet once again in 2018 for the vacant UFC title.

While on the amateur kickboxing circuit, Shevchenko would also defeat future UFC fighter Lina Lansberg who famously headlined a UFC card opposite Cris Cyborg and holds a win over current contender Macy Chiasson.

After going pro, Shevchenko has earned herself the WMC South American Muay Thai championship at 63.5kg while fighting out of Peru, the WMC super Lightweight title, two K-1 Lightweight championships, and both the Kunlun Fight 60kg belt and tournament belt.

Boxing

In 2010, amidst her kickboxing career, Shevchenko took two pro boxing matches. Her first took place against Halanna Dos Santos in Callao, Peru. Shevchenko walked into the ring wearing Thai shorts against the taller and longer boxer and dominated her at her own game, slipping and weaving under Dos Santos’ shots and countering with big counter lefts. After 10 two-minute rounds, Shevchenko was declared the unanimous decision victor.

Her second boxing match took place in Lima, Peru against Nerys Rincon, a Columbian fighter who was 9-3 at the time, with 3 KOs. While Dos Santos managed to make it to the scorecards, Rincon was not as fortunate, as Shevchenko caught her with a technical knockout 2 minutes and 28 seconds into the fourth round.

Master of Sport

The term “master of sports” may be unfamiliar to UFC fans of the west, but it is a title distinct to athletes of Russia, and an important indicator among martial artists in that area of the world. Where wrestling, boxing, Sambo, and other combat arts are popular among the general people, those who excel further in the competition and are deemed deserving by the ministry of sports are awarded a master of sports.

Although her background in Judo and Taekwondo competition is seemingly lost in her storied career Valentina Shevchenko, we do know that training under her elder sister and mother from a young age in traditional arts, Shevchenko earned a master of Sport in both martial arts. This level of ability is even more clear in her head-kick KOs inside the octagon and the smooth throws and trips that she has used to dominate the competition.

While a master of sports isn’t uncommon among elite athletes stemming from Shevchenko’s area of the world, she more than most may fit the actual term. An undefeated pro boxer, with over 90 wins in Muay Thai and kickboxing on top of being arguably the greatest women MMA fighter of all time put Shevchenko in a unique position of truly being a master of sport, specifically a master of combat sport.

Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title in the UFC 285 co-main event against Alexa Grasso on Saturday, March 4. Order the UFC 285 PPV on ESPN+ now to watch every fight live, including Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane.

The post Valentina Shevchenko: A true master of ‘combat’ sport appeared first on The Body Lock.

Fast forward six years, and he’s become an afterthought of the division. More skilled strikers like Sean O’Malley, Cory Sandhagen, Marlon Vera, and Petr Yan have appeared to lap him, and dangerous grapplers like current champion Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvilli never had to deal with him in the first place. People who have beaten him, albeit not without some trouble, like Pedro Munhoz and Rob Font have fallen out of the top five of the division, and, in Garbrandt’s first attempt to compete at flyweight, he was knocked out in the first round against the rising star in Kai Kara-France. So the question has been raised to a large portion of the fanbase: What’s happened to one of the most fascinating fighters to watch on the roster?

• Cody Garbrandt makes his return at UFC 285 vs. Trevin Jones.
• Order UFC 285 now on ESPN+ PPV to watch every fight live this weekend.

Following his win against Dominick Cruz, Garbrandt was pitted against his former teammate and rival T.J. Dillashaw in an extremely anticipated fight. He actually looked fairly great in this fight, knocking Dillashaw down in the first and putting him on shaky legs. However, the second round of this bout revealed one of the biggest deficits in Cody’s game, his unwillingness to leave the pocket. Cody and T.J. entered the pocket to trade and it only took one sharp right hook and some follow-up shots for the air of invincibility in Garbrandt’s striking to dissipate. 

Cody got an immediate rematch after this, given the drama between the two fighters and the fact that the first fight was a major success for the promotion. This fight largely went the same, with the only differences being that Garbrandt scored zero knockdowns and was finished in the first round rather than the second.

Garbrandt took almost a year off after this, and rightfully so. The young fighter had fought eight times in under three years since he had entered the UFC and would get booked opposite of the at-the-time rising star Pedro Munhoz to open the UFC 235 main card. Garbrandt was looking like his old self for the majority of the first round, firing solid low kicks and using crisp head movement to shoot sharp jabs and hooks. However, old habits die hard, and Garbrandt eventually found himself in the pocket, yet again, trading hook after hook with a fighter known for his more than capable chin. By the end of the round, Garbrandt had been dropped by a right hand, with Marc Goddard stepping in to end the fight.

It was at this point that fans began to worry about Garbrandt. There have been far too many cases like that of Chuck Liddell, Renan Barao, and Johnny Hendricks that told the story of fighters with meteoric rises to stardom only to fall once their chins had faded. Cody was starting to look like one of these stars, and so the matchmaking at the UFC had to be careful in who they paired him up against next. 

After over a year-long layoff, Garbrandt found himself in one of the first post-pandemic fight cards at UFC 250, this time against a fellow star of the same era, Raphael Assuncao. The two had come off of a combined five consecutive losses and so the fight made a lot of sense from a matchmaking standpoint. Garbrandt once again looked like his old self in this fight, landing sharp low kicks and putting his boxing to good work. He danced around the cage with phenomenal footwork to avoid the threat of the takedown and, eventually in the second round, knocked Assuncao out with a single right hand at the buzzer, almost out of a movie. Up until that point, Assuncao had only been knocked out once in 2011, so in a lot of ways this fight showed that Garbrandt still had dynamite in his hands and could still hang with the top tiers of the division, as long as he stayed defensively responsible. In short, Garbrandt was back with a bang.

That was until a year later when he was put back into a main event spot against Rob Font. Garbrandt didn’t even look bad in this fight, showing some of his wrestling background by trying to take Font to the canvas and winning the first round. I’d be lying if I said that he wasn’t outclassed though. Whether it was Font’s granite chin, which would later get proven in his next bouts against Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera, or his boxing style fundamentally being a strong counter against Cody, Garbrandt just didn’t look himself in this fight, eventually being beaten in a unanimous 49-46 decision.

It was at this point that most fans came to the cruel acceptance that Garbrandt simply wasn’t cut out to be a contender in the division that he had previously looked invincible. Font was no slouch, but from an X’s and O’s standpoint, it was Garbrandt’s kind of fight: a striker with limited power who didn’t like to sit in the pocket, but even that proved to be difficult for the former champion. Cody’s career was largely up in the air at this point. The matchmakers had given him multiple chances to remain in the top five of the division, but too many rising stars were entering their prime and Cody’s lack of wins against top contenders essentially forced him out of the top ten. Something needed to change, which made his next career choice understandable to most fans. 

In what seemed like a sudden move to flyweight, Garbrandt was paired up against the always-game Kai Kara-France, a young and powerful striker who had a slow but noticeable rise to the top of the flyweight division. A win would certainly put Garbrandt into the title picture of flyweight and bring his prestige to new and old fans alike. He was always a fairly small bantamweight and so the move felt like a natural progression in his career. After making weight and having a good exchange with Sean O’Malley, a bantamweight contender with a rise similar to Garbrandt, he entered the cage opposite of Kara-France. However, the fight didn’t go as many fans expected.

This was likely the most depressing bout to view as someone who watched the rise of the former champion, as Kara-France largely made short work of Garbrandt, knocking him out in the first round. I wish I could say that Garbrandt looked good in this bout but, in reality, he didn’t. He was outclassed in every aspect of the fight, taking heavy blow after heavy blow until Herb Dean was forced to stop the fight. Garbrandt’s career, at this point, was largely in the hands of the UFC brass, having lost most of his negotiating leverage and star power.

And that brings us to the modern day leading up to UFC 285, where Garbrandt appears on the prelims for the first time since 2015, against a relative no-name in Trevin Jones. With a loss, it is very likely that the former champion will hang up his gloves and move on to different endeavors like boxing or coaching. However, the more interesting question is: What happens if he wins? What place does Garbrandt have in a division filled with some of the best fighters in the sport? Given his recent record, how many fights is he away from getting back into the title picture; that is, if he ever makes it to that point? He’s only 31 years old, which is relatively young for the UFC with champions like Glover Texeira gaining the title well past his athletic prime, and still has time to put together a solid win streak.

As, someone who’s grown up watching Cody, and even rooting for him despite the fact that he outclassed my favorite fighter at the time, Dominick Cruz, a part of me wants him to win. A part of me wants him to put forward a striking masterclass, once again, and show the world how exciting his style could be. But, with that in mind, what’s the point if he does? Even if he gets past Jones and puts together a decent win streak, I still don’t think that he could hang in the upper echelons of the current bantamweight division. If small fighters like Kai Kara-France could knock him out and inconsistent fighters like Rob Font could cruise to win a decision against him, who’s to say what a terminator like Cory Sandhagen or Marlon Vera could do to him, or how much the grinders of the division like Merab Dvalishvili could make him look like an amateur. 

In my opinion, Garbrandt’s rise and fall is a great allegory for the current change of the guard within the UFC. If you were to look at the champions who reigned alongside Garbrandt at the time; Miesha Tate, Jose Aldo, Eddie Alvarez, Tyron Woodley, Michael Bisping, etc. all of them have either retired by now or moved onto different things, with the only exceptions being Max Holloway and Jon Jones. 

The main difference between Garbrandt and these former champions, however, is that Garbrandt is still only 31 years old. On paper, without considering the knockouts he’s been put through, he’s one of the only athletes in his division still in his athletic prime and has plenty of potential. However, I believe that the skill gap in this new generation of fighters could leave Garbrandt in the dust, and this next fight against Trevin Jones will prove if he still has the mental and physical faculties to still hang in the sport, let alone compete against the savages far ahead of him in the current rankings.

Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones will feature on the UFC 285 preliminary card. Order the UFC 285 PPV event on ESPN+ to watch every fight live on Saturday, March 4.

The post Cody Garbrandt: The rise and fall of a former champion appeared first on The Body Lock.

Born on April 24, 1986, in High Ridge, Missouri, Michael Chandler grew up in a family of athletes. He wrestled in high school and went on to compete at the Division I level in college. After a successful wrestling career, Chandler decided to transition to mixed martial arts and began training at the gym in his hometown. He made his professional debut in 2009 and quickly established himself as a top prospect in the lightweight division.

Over the years, Chandler has competed for several prominent organizations, including Bellator MMA and Strikeforce. He is a three-time Bellator lightweight champion and has won numerous awards, including “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year.” With a record of 23 wins and 8 losses, Chandler is known for his exceptional grappling skills, powerful striking, and an unbreakable will to win.

In 2020, Chandler signed with the UFC and made his promotional debut in January 2021. In his first fight, he took on Dan Hooker and delivered a dominant performance, earning a first-round knockout victory. With his impressive debut, Chandler immediately established himself as a top contender in the lightweight division and a potential challenger for the title.

Michael Chandler is praised for his relentless drive and determination as a fighter. He is always looking to improve his skills and is never satisfied with just winning. Chandler is known for his exceptional work ethic and his willingness to put in the time and effort required to be the best. He is also known for his charismatic personality and his ability to connect with fans.

Michael Chandler is a force to be reckoned with in the UFC lightweight division. With his impressive skills, relentless determination, and charismatic personality, he is quickly becoming one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the sport.

Here’s the story of Michael Chandler’s UFC career so far:

A remarkable debut

Michael Chandler made his UFC debut against Dan Hooker on January 24, 2021. The fight took place on the main card of UFC 257 and was highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.

From the opening bell, Chandler came out with a high pace, putting pressure on Hooker and looking to finish the fight early. In the first round, he landed a powerful left hook that dropped Hooker and followed up with several ground-and-pound strikes. The referee stepped in to stop the fight, and Chandler was awarded a first-round knockout victory.

The win was a huge statement for Chandler, who showed off his exceptional striking skills and made an immediate impact in the UFC lightweight division. With this win, Chandler positioned himself as a top contender and a potential challenger for the title in the future. The fight was widely praised by fans and analysts as one of the most impressive UFC debuts in recent memory.

Fighting for the title

Michael Chandler fought Charles Oliveira on May 15, 2021, at UFC 262. This was Chandler’s second fight in the UFC and a highly anticipated match-up.

The fight started with both fighters trading strikes, with Oliveira showing his striking prowess and Chandler showcasing his power. However, in the second round, Oliveira caught Chandler with a quick combination that dropped him to the canvas. Oliveira followed up with ground-and-pound strikes, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Charles Oliveira the victory by TKO.

The loss was a setback for Michael Chandler, but it was a highly competitive and exciting fight. Oliveira proved to be a top-level fighter, and the fight demonstrated Chandler’s skills and the excitement that he brings to the Octagon.

Fight of the Year

The main card of UFC 268, held at the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City, kicked off with a bang as Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje stepped into the Octagon to face off. The two top-ranked lightweight fighters brought their best to the cage, delivering an all-time classic fight that will be remembered for years to come.

From the opening bell, Chandler came out guns blazing, landing heavy shots and stunning Gaethje. However, Gaethje was not one to be intimidated, and he began to lay the foundation for his eventual victory with blistering kicks to Chandler’s lead left leg.

The second round saw Gaethje deliver the decisive blow, dropping Chandler with a perfectly placed right uppercut to the chin. Despite being hurt, Chandler managed to survive the follow-up attack and work his way back to his feet. The two-way brutality continued in the third round, with both fighters landing clean shots and exchanging heavy punches.

When the final bell rang, both fighters had left it all in the cage, and the judges’ scorecards were the only thing left to determine the winner. The final scores were 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27, all in favor of Justin Gaethje, who earned a well-deserved unanimous decision victory.

Gaethje was effusive in his praise of Chandler after the fight, declaring that they should have been fighting to the death in a coliseum. This fight was a true testament to the skills, heart, and bravery of both fighters, and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in UFC history.

Knockout of the Year

At UFC 274 in May 2022, Michael Chandler delivered one of the most stunning and memorable knockouts in UFC history against Tony Ferguson. The highly anticipated match-up between two of the sport’s biggest stars did not disappoint as both fighters came out swinging in the first round. Despite being dropped by a left hook from Ferguson early on, Chandler showed resilience and managed to recover. The back-and-forth action continued with Ferguson throwing heavy strikes and attempting submissions, while Chandler utilized his grappling skills to control the pace.

In the second round, Chandler stunned the crowd with a perfectly timed front kick that sent Ferguson crashing to the canvas just 17 seconds into the round. The devastating blow marked the first time in Ferguson’s 32 professional fights that he had been knocked out. Chandler’s explosive power was on full display and cemented his place among the elite fighters in the lightweight division.

A step back against Dustin Poirier

At UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler faced off in a highly-anticipated match that did not disappoint. The two lightweights brought the heat in November 2022, delivering an action-packed fight that saw momentum swing wildly from one fighter to the other.

In the opening round, Chandler started with a flurry of kicks, but was slowed down when Poirier expertly checked one of his leg kicks, causing Chandler’s leg to immediately swell. Poirier then started to gain traction, landing sharp and technical punches, before Chandler fought back with wild punches and takedowns that had Poirier hurt. The round ended with Poirier on the verge of a knockout.

In the second round, Chandler engaged his wrestling roots, taking Poirier down and landing some short punches. However, an elbow from Poirier cut Chandler and he was close to locking in a triangle choke. Despite the damage, Chandler dominated the round.

In the third round, Chandler, visibly fatigued, was slower to engage, eating a few punches from a fresh Poirier. Chandler tried to score a big slam takedown but was quickly taken down by Poirier, who eventually took his back and locked in a rear-naked choke for the tap.

After the fight, Poirier admitted to being nearly finished in the first round, but managed to turn the tide and claim victory.

What’s next?

It has been officially confirmed that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will be the coaches on the 31st season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The two lightweight stars will go head to head in the Octagon once the reality series ends, which will run from May 30th to August 15th on ESPN and ESPN+.

Chandler has been calling for a fight with McGregor for over a year now and he could not be more excited about the opportunity to finally face him. Despite coming off a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November, Chandler is confident in his abilities and vows to take the fight to McGregor. He even went as far as predicting a stoppage in the highly-anticipated clash.

McGregor is a former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion and he holds the fastest finish in UFC title fight history. The Irish-born fighter has not competed since breaking his left leg in a fight with Poirier in July 2021 and will need to be in the US Anti-Doping Agency’s drug testing pool for at least six months and have two negative tests before he can fight.

Although no date or location has been officially announced for the McGregor-Chandler fight, Chandler believes it should take place in September. This would keep the tension from the reality show as close to the fight as possible and make the most sense for McGregor, who is driven by pay-per-view buys.

The UFC world is eagerly awaiting the highly-anticipated clash between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Both fighters bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Octagon, and fans are sure to be in for an exciting and unforgettable fight.

The post Who is Michael Chandler? The story of Conor McGregor’s next opponent appeared first on The Body Lock.