This Week In MMA - April, Week 2

 

Mandatory Credit: Dux Carvajal - ONE Championship & Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC & Zuffa LLC

Take a look back on a week in MMA where former UFC flyweight champion and ONE Championship flyweight Grand Prix victor, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson suffered his first-ever professional knockout loss in mixed martial arts via the knee of Adriano Moraes. Marvin Vettori also extends his winning spree to five fights via a one-sided victory, and Jon Jones believes the UFC will eventually come to their senses and book him opposite reigning heavyweight kingpin, Francis Ngannou.

To kick off the week, reports emerged suggesting that the UFC were attempting to put together a heavyweight title rematch between the above-mentioned, Ngannou and streaking past opposition, Derrick Lewis for a UFC 263 event on July 10th. Turning down the date due to an issue with the timeline, Ngannou balked at the rematch -- with the UFC seemingly straying wide of a pairing of the Cameroonian and former two-time light heavyweight best, Jones.

Attempting to snap his two-fight losing skid in his next Octagon walk, City Kickboxing mainstay, Dan Hooker noted his interest in a potential showdown against former lightweight champion, recent division returner, Rafael dos Anjos upon his return to the UFC.

Targeted for a May 8th. UFC Fight Night event, an eye-catching strawweight showdown between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Amanda Ribas, and former Invicta FC champion, Angela Hill. 

Drawing BMF champion, Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261 on April 24th. in a welterweight title rematch, Kamaru Usman explained how he plans to break the "spirit" of the Floridian this time around, following his UFC 251 unanimous decision win on 'Fight Island' back in July.

Headlining UFC Vegas 23 on Saturday night replacing an injured Darren Till on just twenty-one-day notice, Kevin Holland explained how he planned to be more "focused and zeroed in" against Vettori, following a lackluster performance against Derek Brunson at UFC Vegas 22 three weeks ago.

In the works for Bellator 259 on May 21st. -- an eye-catching middleweight meeting between undefeated grappling standout, Austin Vanderford, and English prospect, Fabian Edwards. 

Returning from a pair of ACL and MCL tears, bantamweight contender, Aspen Ladd is expected to clash with The Ultimate Fighter victor, Macy Chiasson at a UFC Fight Night event on July 24th. The outing will come as Ladd's first since a UFC Fight Night D.C. knockout win over Yana Kunitskaya back in December of 2019.

Poking fun at bantamweight rival Aljamain Sterling, former champion, Petr Yan reacted to a picture of UFC president, Dana White, PRIDE FC executive, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, and former boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- questioning if his rematch with the Uniondale native could come under the PRIDE FC ruleset, which would, of course, allow the use of knees to a grounded opponent. 

Former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm commented on the return of fellow former titleholder, Miesha Tate -- noting her interest in a potential future rematch against the Washington native. Holm attempted the first defence of her bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 196 back in March of 2016, dropping a fifth-round rear-naked choke to Tate.

Rebooked for a UFC Fight Night 189 event on May 8th. -- an intriguing welterweight matchup between division mainstay, Neil Magny, and kickboxing talent, Geoff Neal. Both attempt to return to the winner's circle following a pair of headlining decision losses to Michael Chiesa and Stephen Thompson, respectively.

Coining the phrase, "green panty night" -- Kamaru Usman drew the attention of the above-mentioned, McGregor, who questioned if the welterweight champion, whom he referred to as a "jackass" had always been copying his one-liners. 

Attempting to pry the flyweight championship from Adriano Moraes at ONE on TNT I, Demetrious Johnson suffered a second-round knockout loss, via a knee strike from the Brazilian as he attempted to return to his feet. Despite the altering ruleset utilized by both the UFC and ONE Championship, Johnson explained how he still supports the use of knees to grounded opponents despite the defeat. 

Returning to action at Bellator 258 on May 7th. -- undefeated American Top Team trainee, Valerie 'Master' Loureda draws the debuting, Hannah Guy -- attempting to remain undefeated and extend her winning spree to four straight fights. 

Noting her intentions to fight for the strawweight title by the end of 2021, surging strawweight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Mackenzie Dern wants to secure a couple more wins in the division first -- but believes she can out-grapple anybody within the strawweight ranks, whether that be the champion or an incoming contender.

Ahead of his UFC 261 title rematch with Usman, challenger, Masvidal maintains that a rematch against Nate Diaz is something he can envision happening sometime in the future -- detailing how he has no problem "breaking" the Stockton native's face for the second time. 

Speaking as he prepares for a still elusive heavyweight debut, former 205-pound kingpin, Jon Jones maintains that the UFC will eventually come to their senses and make a highly-anticipated matchup between himself and Francis Ngannou, despite the ongoing financial woes between the organization and him.

In some standout performances from UFC Vegas 23 yesterday evening, Impa Kasanganay, Mateusz Gamrot, Jack Shore, and Daniel Rodriguez all duly impressed.

Extending her winning spree to four consecutively, the previously mentioned, Dern managed to wrap up an impressive armbar prior to the first round klaxon, forcing the tap from the returning Nina Nunes.

Putting hands together expertly over three rounds in the night's co-main event, Arnold Allen notched eight on the trot with a measured and veteran display against Sodiq Yusuff.

Calling for an October title rematch against middleweight best, Israel Adesanya -- Marvin Vettori certainly put his name within title contention conversation via a unanimous decision win over Kevin Holland, utilising a shrewd wrestling-heavy approach from start to finish.