MMA News Today: Ranked UFC LW Names 'Crazy Russian' From Bellator As The 'Best Lightweight In The World', Tui Tuivasa Finally Breaks Silence After Tough UFC 293 Loss, & More
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For September 18, 2023, we’re taking a look at:
Ranked UFC LW Names ‘Crazy Russian’ From Bellator As The ‘Best Lightweight In The World’ Tui Tuivasa Finally Breaks Silence After Tough UFC 293 Loss’One of the Worst Decisions I’ve Seen’ – Daniel Cormier Goes Off On Judge Mike Bell For Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 Scoring
Ranked UFC LW Names ‘Crazy Russian’ From Bellator As The ‘Best Lightweight In The World’
The UFC’s lightweight division has long been seen as a murderers’ row when you look at the top 15 rankings and the fighters on the cusp of it.
In an interview with Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith, #13-ranked Renato Moicano spoke about the strength of the division and how he knows how good it is from the training partners he has at American Top Team.
Naming the other top guys that he gets to work with each and every day, the Brazilian named a fighter outside of the UFC that he believes he could compete at of the division.
“Let me tell you about the lightweight, ATT is a cursing and it’s a blessing at the same time because I can train with the likes of Grant Dawson, Poirier, Gamrot, Tsarukyan and other guys like killers from Bellator. For me, this is one of the best if not the best lightweight of the planet, his name is Alexander Shabliy. Insane motherf*cker, crazy Russian and I train with these guys, I know my level you know.”
Bellator’s Alexander Shabliy is undefeated in four fights with the promotion and is now set to face Patricky “Pitbull” at Bellator 301 in the lightweight Grand Prix semi finals.
Tui Tuivasa Finally Breaks Silence After Tough UFC 293 Loss
After UFC 271, Tai Tuivasa was riding high off of the best win of his career, a knockout victory over Derrick Lewis.
With a five-fight win streak, the Aussie was delivering on being a fan favourite heavyweight and had shaped up into a legitimate contender in the division, but things haven’t gone his way since then.
At UFC 293, his form continued to decline with a third-straight loss, this time at the hands of Alexander Volkov.
Despite having his moments against Ciryl Gane in the first of his three-fight skid, he has now been finished in each of those fights, prompting a lot of fans to call for “Bam Bam” to take some much needed rest before returning.
Tuivasa posted a message to the fans on Twitter now that he has had some time to reflect on the fight, thanking them for their support.
“Walked out to SCAR @missyhigginsmusic I was the one who ended up with the scar kefs. Live to fight another day ALL LOVE TO MY FANS SORRY AUSTRALIA I WENT OUT TRIED MY BEST FELL SHORT LOVE YAHS Great work Volkov was a pleasure”
Walked out to SCAR @missyhigginsmusic I was the one who ended up with the scar 🤦🏽♂️ kefs. Live to fight another day ✊🏽 ALL LOVE TO MY FANS 🙏🏽❤️ SORRY AUSTRALIA I WENT OUT TRIED MY BEST FELL SHORT LOVE YAHS ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Great work Volkov was a pleasure 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TTbHbsaIpr
— Tai BAM BAM Tuivasa (@bambamtuivasa) September 18, 2023
‘One of the Worst Decisions I’ve Seen’ – Daniel Cormier Goes Off On Judge Mike Bell For Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 Scoring
Judging was back in the firing line this weekend at Noche UFC where Alexa Grasso retained her UFC flyweight title due to a split draw.
One judge, Mike Bell, scored the final round as a 10-8 for Grasso, resulting in the draw where a 10-9 verdict would have led to Valentina Shevchenko winning the belt back.
Having given their reactions to the scorecards live on air after the main event, Daniel Cormier wasn’t done addressing the controversy.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Cormier addressed Bell’s scoring of the fight and how his decision should lead to a third between Grasso and Shevchenko.
“It felt to me like Mike Bell, I don’t know what he could have watched to score that round a 10-8 for Alexa Grasso. She won that round, no doubt about it, she won that round, but a 10-8 is just, it is honestly one of the worst scorecards that I’ve seen in a really long time,” Cormier said.
“Gotta run it back. We gotta have these two women fight again. And I feel like every time we match them up, we’re in for a tremendous fight between these two.”
Read more on the story here.
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