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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Who puts friendship above championship glory? Look no further than UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who remains one of the most respected figures in the sport. Currently riding a phenomenal 12-fight win streak, the Georgian native has conquered elite names like José Aldo and Henry Cejudo in the stacked and unforgiving bantamweight division—often regarded as one of the most competitive alongside lightweight.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Just one week out from UFC 316 in New Jersey, the promotion made a scheduled stop at the UFC Apex for UFC Vegas 107. But the night ended in chaos, as the highly anticipated women’s flyweight headliner unraveled at the last minute. Originally set to feature a main event showdown between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber, the card took a dramatic turn moments before the opening bell. A “last-minute medical emergency” reportedly prevented the 27-year-old ‘The Future’ from competing.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Since UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov burst onto the scene in 2012, few could have predicted that his arrival was only the beginning—a glimpse of the wave to come. The Caucasus Mountains, already renowned for producing some of the world’s most disciplined wrestlers, would soon give rise to a new generation of elite mixed martial artists destined to take over the sport’s biggest stage.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Before Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s rivalry took over as the most iconic feud in MMA, the title belonged to Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. Their legendary beef began backstage at UFC 121 in 2010, where a seemingly harmless exchange sparked what would become one of the most heated rivalries in the sport’s history.
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4 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
“Bet against me. Tell me it’s going to fail. I love every minute of it. The doubters fuel the drive,” once declared UFC President Dana White, a quote that perfectly captures the mindset behind his relentless journey. White has been the engine powering the UFC’s transformation for more than three decades. What began as a struggling promotion drowning in debt has evolved, under his leadership, into a global MMA juggernaut. Faced with critics at every turn, Dana White didn’t just prove them wrong.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
With just under a month to go until his own birthday, UFC megastar Conor McGregor took time to celebrate someone very special—his sister, Erin McGregor. Born on June 1, 1981, Erin is seven years older than the Irishman. From the earliest days of his career, Erin—alongside his longtime partner Dee Devlin—has been a pillar of support, standing by ‘The Notorious’ through both triumphs and trials. Even during his most controversial moments, Erin’s loyalty never wavered.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Deepali Verma
Riding the momentum of a three-fight win streak, former UFC title challenger Dominick Reyes—widely known as ‘The Devastator’—is proving he’s far from finished at 35. Now, with a renewed deal signed with Dana White & Co., Reyes is officially entering the next chapter of his UFC journey. The last time Reyes extended his contract was in 2020, just ahead of his iconic title clash with Jon Jones. That agreement reportedly covered seven fights.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
“They are some tough-ass fing people,” Joe Rogan said. “If you think right now about the amount of top-flight talent that comes from Eastern Europe with Russia, Dagestan, and Chechnya, f—ing A, man.” Rogan’s observation rings true. Across combat sports—from kickboxing and MMA to boxing—fighters from Russia and neighboring regions have firmly established themselves among the elite.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
With UFC 316 just around the corner, much of the spotlight is focused on the blockbuster main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley 2.0. But don’t sleep on the co-main event—set to erupt inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey—which is rapidly gaining serious momentum of its own. What began as a relatively low-hype matchup is now shaping into one of the most compelling storylines on the card.
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5 days ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav
It’s fair to say that Jon Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight kingpin, has become one of the most hated figures in the sport today, largely due to his repeated avoiding of interim champ Tom Aspinall. Rather than focusing on the highly anticipated unification bout, ‘Bones’ has diverted his attention to side ventures, including filming reality show and hosting seminars in Thailand, much to the frustration of fans.
