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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
UFC’s CBO Hunter Campbell’s mysterious trip to Dagestan last month continues to fuel speculation. When photos surfaced online showing the Dana White’s trusted man alongside Islam Makhachev & rest Team Khabib, the MMA world took notice. Many fans and insiders believed something big was brewing—perhaps even the signing of a superfight between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Last week at UFC Atlanta, fans witnessed one of the most significant career-saving moments in recent memory. Welterweight GOAT Kamaru Usman returned to the win column after three consecutive losses, marking a pivotal moment in his storied career. The Nigerian Nightmare hadn’t secured a victory since 2021, and after nearly 20 months away from the Octagon, the 38-year-old made a thunderous comeback—using his wrestling and calculated strategy to dominate 31-year-old Joaquin Buckley.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
The Dagestanis’ deep bond with horses goes beyond mere tradition—and Islam Makhachev is no exception. Like many of his MMA peers from the region, the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion has often shared his passion for horses in public. Around the time of UFC 311, Makhachev opened up about how he transformed his success inside the Octagon into a dream lifestyle.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
UFC middleweight star Khamzat Chimaev is now just two months away from the biggest fight of his career. At UFC 319, he’ll headline against reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, a fighter known for his unorthodox yet incredibly effective style. Both men remain undefeated in the UFC, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. UFC 319 is not only a highly anticipated title bout but also marks the promotion’s long-awaited return to Chicago.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
“Who’s [Belal Muhammad]? Is it…?” said Kamaru Usman during the UFC post-fight press conference when asked about Belal Muhammad’s callout. “…Who is it… next… I forget it.” ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ fired verbal shots from the State Farm Arena, taking aim at the ‘Remember the Name’—ironically casting doubt on his relevance, as if to say fans barely remember him at all. On a stacked UFC Atlanta card, the 38-year-old welterweight legend made his return to action after a 10-month layoff.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Since last year, Joe Rogan’s political stance has become more prominent, evolving alongside his well-known passion for MMA. Once seen as someone who stayed away from direct political alignment, the podcaster is now one of the most visible supporters of certain political figures—an evolution that hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans and critics alike. Not long ago, Rogan held a very different position.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
“Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch,” Conor McGregor posted on social media back in 2018, shortly after being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov in their legendary showdown at UFC 229. The bout carved its name into MMA folklore—etched forever in the minds of fight fans around the world. Yet, despite the buildup and anticipation, a rematch never came to pass. It left not only the fans craving closure but also lingered in the Irishman’s own psyche.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Today, Dana White & Co. successfully delivered yet another action-packed card in their fifth stop in Atlanta. Fans at State Farm Arena witnessed the return of veteran Kamaru Usman, who got back in the win column at 38 years old with a commanding performance. UFC women’s star Rose Namajunas also made a strong statement, bouncing back from her last defeat with a composed and effective showing. But the night’s biggest storyline belonged to rising Peruvian flyweight contender Jose Ochoa.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Following a successful event in Atlanta, the UFC is now setting its sights on its next global expansion—this time into the ‘The Land of Fire’. On June 21, the promotion will debut in Azerbaijan, holding fights inside Baku’s iconic Crystal Hall. But just as anticipation began to rise around Dana White’s historic move into new territory, mounting political tensions between Israel and Iran cast a shadow over the upcoming event.
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1 week ago | 
essentiallysports.com | Ishan Yadav |Jyotsna Rai
Remember back in 2022, when Dana White & Co. were preparing for their highly anticipated London event at the O2 Arena? They booked Tom Aspinall versus Alexander Volkov as the main event—but that wasn’t what stole the spotlight. Just days before the fight, media attention swerved sharply toward an explosive altercation between two of the UFC’s rising stars: Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. The spark? A resurfaced tweet from the Brit, referencing the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
