Oleksandr Usyk cemented himself as boxing's top heavyweight as he beat Tyson Fury for the second ...

Oleksandr Usyk cemented himself as boxing's top heavyweight as he beat Tyson Fury for the second time.Usyk defeated Fury via unanimous decision in their highly anticipated rematch to retain the WBA, WBC, and WBO heavyweight titles Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.All three judges scored the fight 116-112 in Usyk's favor.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Usyk was too quick and sharp for Fury as the Ukrainian defended his unified crown for the first time since a split-decision victory over "The Gypsy King" in a May undisputed title bout. Usyk won the rematch more decisively than the first fight, thriving in the second half of the match and outstriking Fury 179-144 in total punches."It's a great fighter. It's a great opponent," Usyk said of Fury afterward. "It's a great 24 rounds. Unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much."Fury left the ring and did not conduct a postfight interview, though he <a href="https://x.com/SkySportsBoxing/status/1870617647790141924">said</a> backstage he thought he won "by at least three rounds." Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, called the scoring "nuts" and said he was "really disappointed.""I don't get it," Warren said. "But is what it is, and we'll have to see what happens in the future for Tyson."IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois went into the ring to confront Usyk after the fight. Dubois, who's scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, said he wants a rematch with Usyk after he faces Parker. Dubois suffered a ninth-round knockout loss to Usyk in August 2023 in a fight for the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles."I want my revenge, Usyk," Dubois said to him. "Well done tonight. ... Let's go. Make it happen."Usyk asked Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, to book a rematch with Dubois."Next fight, no problem," Usyk said of potentially facing Dubois again if he beats Parker. "Now, I'm gonna go home and have a rest. But I'm ready."Usyk and Fury were very competitive in the first half of the rematch. In fact, Fury was ahead 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 after five rounds. But Usyk took six of the last seven rounds on two judges' scorecards - and all seven on the third judge's scorecard - to secure the decision.Usyk stayed busier and landed the more impactful punches throughout the bout. He snapped Fury's head back in the fourth round and landed several hard lefts in the 12th. Usyk connected with solid shots to the body and did a good job of pushing Fury back against the ropes to land offense.With the win, Usyk's professional boxing record now sits at 23-0 with 14 knockouts. The 37-year-old has been the heavyweight champion since beating Anthony Joshua in 2021; this was his fourth title defense - counting the first Fury fight - overall. Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000 by beating Fury in May but was forced to vacate the IBF title after that victory.Fury, who suffered the first loss of his career in the first Usyk fight, falls to 34-2-1 with 24 knockouts. Fury, who forfeited the WBC belt in May, is a former two-time heavyweight champion.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 21: Oleksandr Usyk punches Tyson Fury during the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight titles' fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2, Reignited card at Kingdom Arena on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Usyk beats Fury again to retain unified heavyweight title

A pivotal flyweight fight between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape is in the works to headline UFC F...

A pivotal flyweight fight between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape is in the works to headline UFC Fight Night on March 1 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, sources told <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/12/21/24326668/brandon-royval-vs-manel-kape-targeted-for-ufc-fight-night-main-event-on-march-1">MMA Fighting's Damon Martin</a>.Contracts have reportedly not yet been issued.<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DD2ZkccP5qp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=8737ee69-1f35-4a17-b59d-26e4f55fbe81">Royval</a> and <a href="https://x.com/ManelKape/status/1870293223719219221">Kape</a> acknowledged the matchup on social media. They're ranked No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, in the 125-pound division.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Royval is coming off split-decision victories over Tatsuro Taira and former champion Brandon Moreno in back-to-back main events earlier this year. The 32-year-old is 5-1 in his past six Octagon appearances dating back to 2022, with his lone loss in that stretch coming in a December 2023 title fight with current champ Alexandre Pantoja.Kape put on a show at the final UFC event of the year last Saturday in Tampa, dominating Bruno Silva en route to a third-round TKO. The 31-year-old got back on track after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Muhammad Mokaev in July. Kape is also 5-1 in his past six fights.With Royval and Kape expected to meet in March, that leaves Kai Kara-France as the likely next challenger for Pantoja, who defended his belt against Kai Asakura at UFC 310 earlier in December.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: Manel Kape of Angola prepares to face Bruno Silva of Brazil in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on December 14, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

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Report: UFC targeting Royval-Kape for March 1 main event

One of the biggest rematches in boxing is good to go for Saturday.  Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury...

One of the biggest rematches in boxing is good to go for Saturday.Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury made weight Friday before they square off for Usyk's WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Usyk and Fury weighed in at 226 and 281 pounds, respectively. Both fighters wore full clothing on the scales, with Fury donning a thick leather jacket.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
THE GYPSY KING HITS THE SCALE ⚖️<a href="https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tyson_Fury</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UsykFury2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UsykFury2</a> <a href="https://t.co/bxHWmbouD7">pic.twitter.com/bxHWmbouD7</a>— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/trboxing/status/1870188226058592434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Usyk defeated Fury by split decision in May to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000. The rematch was made official less than a month later. Usyk was later stripped of the IBF title, but the Ukrainian still holds three of the four major belts and is one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world.Fury returns to the ring following the first loss of his decorated career. "The Gypsy King" will enter with a 34-1-1 record, while Usyk is a perfect 22-0 as a professional.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 20: Tyson Fury 2 weighs in during the weigh-in as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2 on December 20, 2024 in Riyadh, .

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Usyk, Fury make weight ahead of rematch

Colby Covington disagrees with the doctor's stoppage in his loss to Joaquin Buckley last weekend ...

Colby Covington disagrees with the doctor's stoppage in his loss to Joaquin Buckley last weekend at UFC Tampa.The former interim welterweight champion lost the main-event bout via third-round TKO after the cageside doctor recommended that referee Dan Miragliotta end the fight due to a cut on Covington's right eyelid."Dude, that was a bullshit stoppage," Covington said Wednesday on his Twitch channel, according to <a href="https://x.com/HappyPunch/status/1869519932192673835/video/1">Happy Punch</a>. "Let's be honest. I was still in the fight. I was getting takedowns. (Buckley) was getting slower. None of his punches did any significant damage like drop me or hurt me."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He added: "Let me go out on my shield, though. It's a bullshit stoppage. Fake stoppage. Another f-----g cheat job."Covington stepped in slightly less than a month's notice for UFC Tampa, replacing Ian Machado Garry, who was removed from a matchup against Buckley to compete at UFC 310 a week earlier. It was Covington's first fight since December 2023 and his second straight loss.Covington, 36, has fallen out of the title picture at 170 pounds, now sitting at No. 9 in the rankings. A former three-time title challenger, Covington is 1-3 in his last four Octagon appearances and holds just one victory in the past four years."Chaos," however, remains confident that he'll turn his career around."I want to prove people wrong," Covington said.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: Colby Covington looks on against Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on December 14, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

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Covington contests UFC Tampa stoppage: 'Let me go out on my shield'

LAS VEGAS - UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpet...

LAS VEGAS - UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpet about being nominated for the Fighting Spirit Award after saving his parents from a house fire earlier this year, what it was like to wrap the BMF belt around Max Holloway at UFC 300, and more.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full interview with UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman, who says getting to wrap the BMF belt around Max Holloway at UFC 300 was "the biggest night of my life" outside of competing. <a href="https://t.co/mxoMpVxZKg">pic.twitter.com/mxoMpVxZKg</a>— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickBaldwinMMA/status/1866012566650319142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a>
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Watch: Coleman talks aftermath of house fire, BMF moment at UFC 300

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria could be moving on from the division for good.  Topuria s...

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria could be moving on from the division for good.Topuria said he wants to move up to lightweight in his next fight and face former champion Charles Oliveira.“We need to talk about it (with the UFC) and take a look at my future, but for me, it's very clear how I want to do it," Topuria told Spanish radio program <a href="https://x.com/partidazocope/status/1866254003492761900">El Partidazo de COPE</a>, according to <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/12/ufc-news-ilia-topuria-hints-vacating-title-charles-oliveira-lightweight">MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn</a>. "I'd like to move up to the next weight class. And since Islam (Makhachev) is the champion (and is) fighting in January (against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311), and he won't be ready for April or May, I'd like to fight against the No. 1 contender right now, who's Charles Oliveira."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>When asked if the change in weight classes means he could vacate the 145-pound title, Topuria nodded."Maybe there's a change coming," Topuria said. "Yes, very likely (you saw my last fight at featherweight)."The 27-year-old Georgian-Spaniard captured the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February, and he defended it for the first time with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.Topuria was expected to defend his belt next in a rematch against Volkanovski sometime in 2025."El Matador" has competed at 155 pounds in the UFC once before, knocking out Jai Herbert in his fourth Octagon bout back in March 2022.Oliveira, ranked No. 2 in the lightweight division, is expected to challenge the winner of Makhachev-Tsarukyan, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26:Ilia Topuria of Spain prepares to face Max Holloway in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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UFC champ Topuria 'likely' done at featherweight, eyes Oliveira

LAS VEGAS - UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpe...

LAS VEGAS - UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpet about November's PFL Championship event, newly crowned women's flyweight titleholder Dakota Ditcheva emerging as a potential superstar, and more.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full interview with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture (<a href="https://twitter.com/Randy_Couture?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Randy_Couture</a>), who believes "the sky's the limit" for PFL women's flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva. <a href="https://t.co/5gBPIurWYC">pic.twitter.com/5gBPIurWYC</a>— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickBaldwinMMA/status/1866009391151157291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a>
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Watch: Couture says 'sky's the limit' for PFL champ Ditcheva

LAS VEGAS - UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards r...

LAS VEGAS - UFC featherweight contender Josh Emmett spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpet about why he didn't compete this year, his knockout win over Bryce Mitchell last December, when he plans to return to the Octagon, Ilia Topuria's title reign, and more.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full interview with featherweight contender Josh Emmett (<a href="https://twitter.com/JoshEmmettUFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoshEmmettUFC</a>), who called last year's win over Bryce Mitchell the "scariest knockout in UFC history." <a href="https://t.co/svuFssNa7L">pic.twitter.com/svuFssNa7L</a>— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickBaldwinMMA/status/1866002578750009467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a>
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Watch: Emmett calls Mitchell win 'scariest KO in UFC history'

LAS VEGAS - Alexandre Pantoja retained the UFC flyweight title for the third time Saturday, submi...

LAS VEGAS - Alexandre Pantoja retained the UFC flyweight title for the third time Saturday, submitting former Rizin Fighting Federation champion Kai Asakura with a rear-naked choke in the second round of the UFC 310 main event at T-Mobile Arena.In the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov handed Ian Machado Garry the first loss of his career, beating the Irishman by unanimous decision to set up a welterweight title fight against Belal Muhammad.Here are four takeaways from the final pay-per-view card of 2024.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Flyweight division runs through Pantoja until further notice</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/cropped_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759642/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188814531.jpg?ts=1733696054 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's time to put some respect on Pantoja's name.Pantoja has been putting in work quickly but quietly, and now he's tied with Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev for the most title defenses among the current UFC champions (three). Pantoja is not one of the loudest or most popular fighters out there, but he continues to show why he's one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. And on Saturday, he cemented himself as the UFC's top flyweight.For the first time, Pantoja looked like a dominant champion. Before his fight with Asakura, he struggled to gain the MMA world's respect. Pantoja squeaked by Brandon Moreno to win the title and then beat Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg on the scorecards in his first two defenses. The Erceg fight was particularly close and not at all convincing that Pantoja's title reign was ironclad.But at UFC 310, the champ had no moments of adversity. No moments where it looked like he was slowing down or his opponent was in control. No moments where it looked like he could lose. Instead, it was clinical. One-sided. A damn fine performance - and an epic submission to boot.It might be a tad premature to say Pantoja is peerless with Kai Kara-France waiting in the wings, but he's well on his way to putting a gap between him and every other flyweight on the roster. The 125-pound division goes through South Florida - by way of Brazil - and it doesn't look like that'll change anytime soon.<h3>Rakhmonov is human, but it doesn't matter</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/cropped_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759644/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188814865.jpg?ts=1733696095 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Rakhmonov remained the No. 1 contender for the UFC welterweight title, dismantling Garry over five rounds in a highly anticipated battle of undefeated fighters. But it didn't look like his previous 18 performances in the MMA cage. That's because Rakhmonov - long considered the future of the division - went the distance for the first time in his career.On Saturday, Rakhmonov finally met his match - at least enough not to be able to score a finish. Some will argue he looked human against Geoff Neal, but he still ended that fight with a nasty choke. He really did look human against Garry, who neutralized much of Rakhmonov's offense, won two rounds on the judges' scorecards, and came the closest to a finish. Garry stymied the boogeyman that fans had gotten used to seeing - and, as the Irishman said postfight, that's a testament to how talented he is.But the part that matters is Rakhmonov still won.Sure, he might have gone from destroying everyone to edging out a decision (a la Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns), but Rakhmonov is still 19-0 and still undefeated - just now with a 94.7% finish rate instead of 100%. Hard to complain about that.He's human, but he might be the best welterweight on the planet anyway. Now it's up to Belal Muhammad to prove otherwise.<h3>Judges strike again</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/cropped_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759645/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188809677.jpg?ts=1733696103 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steve Marcus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The resurgence of Alexander Volkov as a genuine heavyweight title contender has been a treat to witness. And it's a shame the judges ruined what should've been the biggest moment of his career.Volkov came into his rematch with Ciryl Gane as a heavy underdog and having lost to him in 2021, but he made it a completely different fight than before. Volkov outstruck and outgrappled Gane en route to <a href="https://mmadecisions.com/decision/15157/Ciryl-Gane-vs-Alexander-Volkov">what most people felt</a> should've been a decision victory - but judges Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo gifted Gane the win instead.Volkov was furious afterward, which is understandable for a fighter who was on a five-fight winning streak, might've gotten a title shot had he beaten Gane, and will now get only half his pay.Volkov has always seemed to lose the big fights just like he (officially) did Saturday, but don't let the scorecards fool you: Volkov was the winner this time, and the UFC should treat him as such. For a guy who has been nothing more than a gatekeeper for most of his Octagon career, it's pretty remarkable that he legitimately might be one of the four best heavyweights on the planet.<h3>Topuria-Evloev is inevitable</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/cropped_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steve Marcus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Whether it's now or later, Movsar Evloev has to fight Ilia Topuria. It's as simple as that.Topuria, the UFC featherweight champion, and Evloev, the No. 5-ranked contender, came onto the scene around the same time and were once considered the two best prospects in the division. In fact, they were scheduled to fight in January 2022 but it never happened. Now they are two of the best fighters in the division. (And Topuria is one of the best in the world, period.)Evloev could challenge Topuria after his victory over former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310, and no one would bat an eye. Unfortunately for Evloev, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are also in the mix, so a title shot might not come right away. But a matchup between Topuria and Evloev - who are a combined 35-0 in pro MMA - feels inevitable, and it would be awesome.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/29367547/related

UFC 310 takeaways: Pantoja finally shows dominance

LAS VEGAS - Alexander Volkov believes he was robbed of a win at UFC 310.  The heavyweight contend...

LAS VEGAS - Alexander Volkov believes he was robbed of a win at UFC 310.The heavyweight contender tore into the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and the two judges who gave Ciryl Gane a split-decision victory in their rematch Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Volkov said he was "100% sure" he had won."It was a bullshit decision for sure," Volkov told reporters, including theScore, at the UFC 310 postfight press conference. "I'm not accepting this. I'm absolutely sure that I won the fight. I did much more than Gane in all the fight. I don't see any damage from him to me, and I don't understand why he won the fight."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The matchup was competitive, but Volkov did have the edge on paper: He topped Gane 105-48 in total strikes, landed more takedowns, and amassed more control time on the ground.Gane won the first round on all three judges' scorecards, Volkov unanimously took the third, and two of three judges - Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo - awarded Gane the second round, resulting in the split-decision verdict. Nineteen of 20 media members who submitted scorecards to <a href="https://mmadecisions.com/decision/15157/Ciryl-Gane-vs-Alexander-Volkov">MMADecisions.com</a> scored the fight for Volkov.Volkov said he believes he at least won Rounds 2 and 3."My coaches said maybe the first round was close enough," Volkov said. "But I was more active, I did more pressure on him. For sure I get the second round and third round. I did more damage to him for sure."Gane defeated Volkov by a lopsided unanimous decision in their first fight in June 2021. The rematch was a pivotal fight for the heavyweight division, with the winner potentially in line for a title shot depending on champion Jon Jones' next move. Gane and Volkov were ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively coming in.Volkov said he plans to appeal the decision but isn't confident the result will be overturned.The 36-year-old Russian added that he wants to see Byrd, who has an extensive history of controversial scorecards across MMA and boxing, held accountable."If you can't professionally do your job, you shouldn't do it," Volkov said.Volkov said he bears no ill will toward Gane after the controversial decision - just the judges and the NSAC."I saw (Gane's) team and they didn't expect this. They didn't expect the decision," Volkov said. "He was upset. So my respect to Ciryl Gane. He wasn't like a guy who just walked out from the cage after the decision, because he didn't feel this, too. So nothing bad to my opponent. I just don't accept with the commission. I can't agree with this."Volkov's five-fight winning streak ended Saturday with his first loss since facing current interim champ Tom Aspinall in 2022.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Alexander Volkov of Russia looks on prior to a heavyweight fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Volkov blasts judges for 'bullshit decision' vs. Gane

LAS VEGAS - UFC CEO Dana White wants to see Chris Weidman, Anthony Smith, and Clay Guida all hang...

LAS VEGAS - UFC CEO Dana White wants to see Chris Weidman, Anthony Smith, and Clay Guida all hang up their gloves after the three veterans came up short at UFC 310."They should all retire tonight," White told reporters, including theScore, at Saturday's postfight press conference at T-Mobile Arena.Weidman, a former middleweight champion, suffered a second-round TKO loss to Eryk Anders. Smith, a former light heavyweight title challenger, succumbed to ground-and-pound in a second-round defeat to Dominick Reyes in the featured preliminary bout. And Guida, who has the fourth-most fights in UFC history, was submitted by Chase Hooper in the first round.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Smith <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3153411" href="https://thescore.com/news/3153411">said in the Octagon</a> he was "probably" going to retire after the loss to Reyes, but Weidman and Guida have yet to comment publicly since their defeats.Weidman was looking to put together his first winning streak since he held the 185-pound title in 2015. Instead, the 40-year-old is 1-3 in his last four fights dating back to 2021. Weidman is 1-2 since coming back from a gruesome leg break.Smith, 36, is riding a two-fight skid and holds a 2-5 record dating back to 2022. He's ranked No. 13 in the 205-pound division.Guida has lost three in a row for the first time in his 63-fight professional career. The 43-year-old lightweight fell to 18-19 in the UFC with the defeat to Hooper, breaking the record for the most losses in Octagon history.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Chris Weidman of the United States looks on prior to a catchweight {195lbs} fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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White wants Weidman, Smith, Guida to retire after UFC 310 losses

LAS VEGAS - Ian Machado Garry is taking home a moral victory after UFC 310.  The welterweight con...

LAS VEGAS - Ian Machado Garry is taking home a moral victory after UFC 310.The welterweight contender suffered his first career loss in Saturday's co-main event, dropping a unanimous decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov in a title-eliminator bout.But Garry - who took Rakhmonov to the judges for the first time - said he feels like he won.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I do not feel like I lost today," Garry told reporters, including theScore, at the UFC 310 postfight press conference. "My hand might not have gotten raised, but I came out and I fought a giant. I came out and I fought the boogeyman. And I showed that he's f-----g human."Garry accepted the fight on three weeks' notice after 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from a title defense against Rakhmonov due to an infection.Garry was competitive for all 25 minutes and even scared the undefeated Kazakh fighter with a deep rear-naked choke attempt in the fifth round.Garry said he believes he "nearly f-----g finished" Rakhmonov and "had more success than he did.""I went out there and I stopped almost everything," Garry said. "There was no point where he looked like he was gonna finish the fight. I put him in two submissions. I took his back, I had fun. I showed that I can hang with the single best in the division and I proved tonight, on short notice, that I can absolutely be a champion. And I can do it for five rounds, and there's no holes in my game."There was nothing that man brought for me tonight. He won by opinion, and that's OK. That is OK. I can live with that. I'm very happy with my performance tonight."Rakhmonov and Garry were ranked No. 3 and No. 7 in the division coming in, respectively.Garry said he expects to eventually complete a trilogy with Rakhmonov."I believe that he is better than everybody else, and I believe that I am better than everybody else," Garry said. "We are going to see each other multiple times in our career. I do not believe we are gonna see each other one more time, I think it might be twice. I think he's that good, and I know I'm that good."He added: "I will be back and I will beat that man, I promise you that. And I am so excited for that day."

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Ian Machado Garry of Ireland enters the Octagon in a welterweight bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Garry happy with UFC 310 performance: 'I do not feel like I lost'

LAS VEGAS - In a battle of undefeated welterweights, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Machado Garry...

LAS VEGAS - In a battle of undefeated welterweights, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) in the UFC 310 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.Garry suffered his first loss in 16 professional fights. Rakhmonov went the distance for the first time in 19 pro bouts.Rakhmonov will challenge Belal Muhammad for the 170-pound title next. He was scheduled to face Muhammad at Saturday's event, but Muhammad withdrew due to an infection and was replaced by Garry on three weeks' notice.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>UFC CEO Dana White billed Rakhmonov-Garry as a No. 1 contender bout going in. Muhammad and Rakhmonov squared off in the Octagon after the fight:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad faced off with Shavkat Rakhmonov in the Octagon after Rakhmonov's win at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a> 👀 <a href="https://t.co/cLJVygbBZD">pic.twitter.com/cLJVygbBZD</a>— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1865635566261260454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>All three judges gave Rakhmonov the first, second and fourth rounds, while Garry won the third and fifth.It was a grueling fight from start to finish, with Rakhmonov taking an early lead by clinching Garry against the fence. Garry had more volume on the feet than Rakhmonov in the third, landing solid kicks and jabs. Rakhmonov finally secured his first takedown in the fourth and controlled Garry throughout the round.Garry needed a finish in the fifth to win the fight, and he nearly pulled it off: He took Rakhmonov's back 40 seconds into the round and wrapped up a rear-naked choke that appeared to be tight. Rakhmonov eventually escaped the submission and got on top of Garry, where he spent the next few moments. The fight ended after a brief exchange on the feet.With the victory, Rakhmonov is now 7-0 in the UFC. The 30-year-old Kazakh fighter hadn't stepped into the Octagon since submitting Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson in December 2023.Garry falls to 8-1 in the promotion with the defeat. The 27-year-old Irishman was scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley in the UFC Tampa main event next weekend before agreeing to step in against Rakhmonov. Garry will finish his 2024 campaign with a 2-1 record.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Shavkat Rakhmonov of Kazakhstan punches Ian Machado Garry of Ireland in the third round of a welterweight fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Rakhmonov beats Garry by decision in No. 1 contender bout

LAS VEGAS - Alexandre Pantoja put Kai Asakura to sleep with a rear-naked choke at the 2:05 mark o...

LAS VEGAS - Alexandre Pantoja put Kai Asakura to sleep with a rear-naked choke at the 2:05 mark of the second round to retain the UFC flyweight championship in the UFC 310 main event Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.It marked Pantoja's third defense of the 125-pound title over the last 12 months.The Brazilian is now tied with Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez for the most wins in UFC flyweight history (13). He's also tied with Johnson and Deiveson Figueiredo for the most finishes in UFC flyweight history (7).<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>After the victory, Pantoja challenged Johnson - one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time who retired earlier this year - to come back and fight him."I'm the GOAT here," Pantoja said in his postfight interview. "If you want to prove you're the GOAT, come back."Pantoja welcomed Asakura to the Octagon for the first time. Asakura, a former two-time Rizin FF bantamweight champion in Japan, signed with the UFC earlier this year and was granted a rare opportunity to fight for the title in his debut.Pantoja and Asakura set a frantic pace in the first round. Pantoja tagged Asakura with a left hand and got on top early. Asakura eventually made it back to his feet and landed some good shots of his own.In the second round, Pantoja jumped on Asakura's back and dragged him to the mat. Pantoja locked in a rear-naked choke after a few adjustments, choking Asakura unconscious.Pantoja is now riding a seven-fight winning streak and remains unbeaten since 2020. The 34-year-old captured the title against Brandon Moreno in July 2023 and defended it against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg in December 2023 and May 2024, respectively.Asakura suffered the first submission loss of his career, ending the 31-year-old's two-fight winning streak. He was coming off a knockout win over former Bellator champion Juan Archuleta in December 2023.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: (R-L) Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil submits Kai Asakura of Japan in the UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Pantoja chokes out Asakura to retain UFC flyweight title

LAS VEGAS - Ciryl Gane defeated Alexander Volkov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a he...

LAS VEGAS - Ciryl Gane defeated Alexander Volkov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a heavyweight rematch at UFC 310 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.Gane previously defeated Volkov in June 2021 in a lopsided, five-round decision.The second meeting was much more competitive, with Gane edging out Volkov 43-39 in significant strikes but Volkov outlanding Gane 105-48 in total strikes.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Additionally, Gane scored two takedowns for three minutes of control time on the ground and Volkov earned three takedowns for four minutes of control time.The fight came down to the second round. Gane took the first round on all three judges' scorecards, while Volkov unanimously won the third. Gane took the second round on two scorecards.Social media was not fond of the judges' decision:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Cyril Gane did not win that fight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a>— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCampbell/status/1865619527674790291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WOW the judges gave it to Gane by split decision!!! Terrible decision! What were the judges thinking?! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a>— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMAdamMartin/status/1865619587452055934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Gane left the Octagon before being brought back to do his postfight interview with UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. The Frenchman said he broke his toe during the fight.UFC CEO Dana White went over to talk to Volkov after the fight.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dana White sought out an aggravated Alexander Volkov outside the cage after his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a> loss to Ciryl Gane Full results: <a href="https://t.co/1JWLp5STcx">https://t.co/1JWLp5STcx</a> <a href="https://t.co/hAn5Lvyd30">pic.twitter.com/hAn5Lvyd30</a>— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMAJunkie/status/1865620971677430045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Volkov relied on his grappling more than usual against Gane, taking him down in the first and third rounds. Gane and Volkov both connected with solid strikes on the feet, but Volkov appeared to land the more impactful shots, including a spinning backfist in the second round.Gane has now won two fights in a row, while Volkov's five-fight winning streak is over.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: (L-R) Ciryl Gane of France punches Alexander Volkov of Russia in a heavyweight bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Gane ekes out controversial split decision in rematch vs. Volkov

Dricus Du Plessis will defend the UFC middleweight title in a rematch with former champion Sean S...

Dricus Du Plessis will defend the UFC middleweight title in a rematch with former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 312 on Feb. 8 in Sydney, Australia, the promotion announced Saturday.Strawweight champ Zhang Weili will face Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event.Du Plessis beat Strickland by split decision at UFC 297 in January to claim the 185-pound title. He's coming off a fourth-round submission win over ex-champ Israel Adesanya in his first title defense at UFC 305 in August. The 30-year-old South African is undefeated in the Octagon and riding a 10-fight winning streak overall.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Strickland rebounded from the loss to Du Plessis with a split-decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. The 33-year-old is 4-1 in his last five appearances.Zhang is making the third defense of her second reign as 115-pound champion. The 35-year-old Chinese fighter regained the belt with a submission of Carla Esparza two years ago and went on to defeat Amanda Lemos and Yan Xiaonan in August 2023 and April 2024, respectively.Suarez will finally get a crack at UFC gold after starting her run in the promotion with seven straight wins. She's ranked No. 1 in the division and is undefeated as a pro at 10-0.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa prepares to fight Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the Middleweight championship fight during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia.

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Du Plessis-Strickland 2, Zhang-Suarez set for UFC 312

LAS VEGAS - Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith is likely hanging up the ...

LAS VEGAS - Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith is likely hanging up the gloves.Smith said after a second-round TKO loss to Dominick Reyes at UFC 310 on Saturday night that it was "probably" his last fight."I don't know," Smith said in his postfight interview when asked if he had made his final walk to the Octagon. "Probably. But it's been a long road, man. I want to think on it. But probably."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Smith came into UFC 310 with a heavy heart after his longtime coach and friend, Scott Morton, died in November. Smith was emotional as he entered the cage and said it was hard to compete without Morton in his corner."I don't even give a f--k about the fight," Smith said. "I don't know how many times I can do this. Scott was my best friend. ... I couldn't even control (my emotions) walking in here. I gotta do some thinking. I don't know how many times I can do this without him."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Anthony Smith was emotional after his loss to Dominick Reyes at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a> <a href="https://t.co/MTGjl3so2Y">pic.twitter.com/MTGjl3so2Y</a>— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1865593714720014508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Smith, 36, has fought 58 times as a professional and has been in the UFC since 2016. "Lionheart" is riding a two-fight skid and has lost three of his past four bouts.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Anthony Smith is interviewed by Joe Rogan after a light heavyweight bout against Dominick Reyes during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Anthony Smith 'probably' retiring after UFC 310 loss

LAS VEGAS - Featherweight contender Movsar Evloev moved one step closer to a title shot at UFC 31...

LAS VEGAS - Featherweight contender Movsar Evloev moved one step closer to a title shot at UFC 310, defeating former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.The 30-year-old Russian remained undefeated with the victory, lifting his professional record to 19-0.Meanwhile, Sterling falls to 1-1 since moving up to 145 pounds earlier this year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Evloev and Sterling put on a grappling-heavy fight, each displaying a high-level skill set. Evloev completed four of five takedown attempts, while Sterling converted six of eight. Evloev and Sterling amassed more than six minutes of control time each.UFC Hall of Famer and Evloev's countryman, Khabib Nurmagomedov, weighed in on X, saying he believes Evloev should be next in line to challenge Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
19:0 in MMA and 9:0 in UFC I think <a href="https://twitter.com/MovsarUFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MovsarUFC</a> deserves title shot.— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamKhabib/status/1865579190751207862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Evloev is now 9-0 since making his UFC debut in 2019. Evloev is the first fighter in UFC history to win his first nine fights all by decision, according to <a href="https://x.com/MikeBohn/status/1865579064200679868">MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn</a>.Sterling was coming off a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 in April. "Funk Master" moved up in weight after dropping the bantamweight title to Sean O'Malley in August 2023.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Movsar Evloev of Russia grapples with Aljamain Sterling in a featherweight bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Evloev outgrapples Sterling for decision win at UFC 310

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 310 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event...

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks for the UFC 310 main-card bouts ahead of Saturday's event in Las Vegas.<h3>Flyweight championship</h3>Alexandre Pantoja (28-5) vs. Kai Asakura (21-4)Japanese star Kai Asakura has a chance to do what no other man or woman has done in the 31-year history of the UFC: defeat an established champion and win a title in their debut.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Asakura, who signed with the UFC earlier this year after a lengthy stint in the Rizin Fighting Federation where he held the bantamweight championship twice, will make his first walk to the Octagon against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in the UFC 310 main event. It'll also be Asakura's first time competing on North American soil.There's a reason no one has won a title in his first UFC fight, though, and Asakura will need to overcome +205 odds (according to theScore Bet) and a gutsy fighter in Pantoja to be the first.Pantoja has settled into his championship role quite nicely since unseating Brandon Moreno a year-and-a-half ago, defending the belt against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg before agreeing to welcome Asakura to the big stage. The American Top Team product doesn't get a ton of love from the MMA community, but he's turned into one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.Pantoja has elite-level wrestling and grappling, boasting four submissions in 12 UFC wins, and he has solid knockout power for the 125-pound division. Perhaps the Brazilian's best attributes are his chin, toughness, and heart: He can take a punch, and he'll outlast just about anyone.Asakura is a much flashier fighter than Pantoja. He's a striking fan's delight, perhaps best known for his devastating knees. (In fact, the 31-year-old ended his past two fights with a knee to the body.) Asakura is very aggressive on the feet and has earned 13 knockouts in 21 pro wins.Though Asakura's power gives him the ability to beat anyone in the flyweight division and makes him a live underdog, my hunch is Pantoja will come out victorious because of his well-rounded skill set. If Pantoja's smart, he'll try to take Asakura to the ground as much as possible and make it a gritty fight. And I think he'll be able to do that.The pick: Pantoja, unanimous decision<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/cropped_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759302/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188615126.jpg?ts=1733535351 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Welterweight bout</h3>Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) vs. Ian Machado Garry (15-0)In a battle of undefeated fighters, Shavkat Rakhmonov will put his title shot on the line against Ian Machado Garry to determine the next opponent for welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.What makes this fight so intriguing - and ultimately the people's main event - is the many different ways it could play out.While Rakhmonov's biggest strength in this matchup likely comes on the ground and Garry's likely comes on the feet, it wouldn't be fair to outright call this a grappler versus striker fight. It's not nearly that straightforward. Rakhmonov has shown a lot of skill in the stand-up department throughout his six UFC bouts, and though Garry has only one submission victory to his name, the Irishman relied on his grappling to get past Michael "Venom" Page last time out.In other words, don't be too surprised at any outcome.That said, I've long considered Rakhmonov the future of the welterweight division, and I don't think Garry is the man to take his "0." Garry might prove to be Rakhmonov's toughest test to date, but I think Rakhmonov's sensational grappling and all-around MMA game will be too much for him to handle. Rakhmonov will pull away from Garry in the second half of the fight and keep his 100% finish rate intact.The pick: Rakhmonov, fourth-round submission<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/cropped_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759303/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188615424.jpg?ts=1733535387 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure><h3>Heavyweight bout</h3>Ciryl Gane (12-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (38-10)Three years after their first fight, Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov meet again with a title shot potentially on the line.Gane cruised past Volkov in their June 2021 main event en route to becoming the interim heavyweight champion and eventually challenging Francis Ngannou for the title. The Frenchman has had mixed success since the win over Volkov, going 3-2, while Volkov has re-emerged as a top contender by winning five of his past six. That said, I think history repeats itself at UFC 310.As good as Volkov has looked in his past few Octagon appearances, and as much as he'll try to tell you it's a different matchup than back in 2021, I don't see the rematch playing out all that differently. It might be more competitive than before, but I still think Gane will have the edge on the feet and outwork Volkov for the win.The pick: Gane, unanimous decision<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/cropped_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759304/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188615665.jpg?ts=1733535410 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</figcaption></figure>Other main-card predictions: Bryce Mitchell def. Kron Gracie by decision; Dooho Choi def. Nate Landwehr by TKO

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UFC 310 predictions: Will Asakura win title in his debut?

LAS VEGAS - Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards r...

LAS VEGAS - Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick spoke with theScore on the World MMA Awards red carpet about Themba Gorimbo's UFC 310 bout against Vicente Luque, what Francis Ngannou plans to do next, and more.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full interview with Xtreme Couture's Eric Nicksick (<a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_XCMMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eric_XCMMA</a>) on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldMMAAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldMMAAwards</a> red carpet. Nicksick discusses Themba Gorimbo's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC310?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC310</a> bout against Vicente Luque and what's next for Francis Ngannou: <a href="https://t.co/1NfN8ZkYPn">pic.twitter.com/1NfN8ZkYPn</a>— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickBaldwinMMA/status/1865192441101664687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

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Watch: Coach Nicksick says Ngannou has 'slim options' for next fight

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