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Mixed Martial Arts

Al Iaquinta coverage

<p>Wantagh's Al Iaquinta faced Bobby Green in a lightweight fight at UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 6, 2021.</p>

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UFC 268 at MSG: Al Iaquinta vs. Bobby Green

Fight photos: Al Iaquinta vs. Bobby Green

<p>After two-plus years away from the cage, and with long-term injuries finally subsiding, Al Iaquinta believed UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden would be the perfect venue at the perfect time for his long-awaited return.</p> 
<p>But on Saturday, it was his opponent Bobby Green who delivered a perfect performance.</p> 
<p>Iaquinta (14-7-1) was dropped by a right hook midway through the first round, falling to the canvas and never recovering as Green (28-12-1) swarmed for the TKO finish 2:25 into the bout. It was the first TKO loss of Iaquinta’s career.</p> 
<p>"He did kind of what I expected, I just expected to get out of the way, and I didn’t." Iaquinta told Newsday.</p> 
<p>Keeping his hands high, Iaquinta looked to close distance early and pressure Green, who let his hands hang low. Green landed a few clean jabs early in the fight as Iaquinta moved in, but the LIer persisted. Soon enough, Green caught Iaquinta clean with a one-two combination, the back half of which sent Iaquinta face first to the mat.</p> 
<p>Green had no trouble following to the ground and finishing the fight.</p> 
<p>"Flawless victory," Green said. "No disrespect to Al, he’s a great guy."</p> 
<p>The matchup was a long time coming, with Iaquinta and Green scheduled to meet in 2017 before Green was pulled with an injury. This was Iaquinta’s first professional fight in his home state. He was expected to compete at UFC 205 in November 2016, the first UFC event in New York following the sport’s legalization in the state, but did not fight that night because of a contract dispute.</p> 
<p>Before the fight, Iaquinta, 34, received MSG crowd’s loudest ovation at that point in the night as he walked to the cage. A fine experience, Iaquinta said, but one that was hard to enjoy given the result.</p> 
<p>"Yeah, it’s tough man, it feels kind of like it was all for nothing because I didn’t win," Iaquinta said. "That’s all good, but I would’ve liked to put on a show for them. Even if I lost, I didn’t want it to be like that."</p> 
<p><strong>Big dollars in the Big Apple</strong></p> 
<p>Ticket sales for UFC 268 are expected to be in the neighborhood of $8 million, making it the fourth highest live gate in Madison Square Garden history, according to Joel Fisher, MSG’s executive vice president of marquee events and operations.</p> 
<p>"The UFC is as huge an event as you can get," Fisher said.</p> 
<p>No. 1 on the list is UFC 205 with a live gate of $17.7 million, a three-title card headlined by Conor McGregor on 2016. It was the first UFC event at MSG after New York State legalize mixed martial arts earlier that year, and remains the promotion’s biggest live gate ever. The previous record for a sporting event at MSG was the $13.5 million gate from Lennox Lewis vs. Evander Holyfield in March 1999. An MSG spokesman said The Concert for New York City, a benefit concert to raise money for Sept. 11 victims and first responders in 2001, is the highest non-sporting event gate.</p> 
<p><em>With Mark La Monica</em></p>

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UFC 268: Al Iaquinta's return to cage ends in loss

Iaquinta's return to cage ends in loss

Mark La Monica

<h3>UFC 268 main card, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV</h3> 
<p>Welterweight title: Champion <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-kamaru-usman-1.50409962">Kamaru Usman</a> (169) vs. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/mark-la-monica/ufc-268-colby-covington-kamaru-usman-1.50404173">Colby Covington</a> (169.4)</p> 
<p>Women's strawweight title: Champion <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-rose-namajunas-zhang-weili-1.50409361">Rose Namajunas</a> (115) vs. Zhang Weili (115)</p> 
<p>Featherweight: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-shane-burgos-billy-quarantillo-1.50410795">Shane Burgos</a> (145.6) vs. Billy Quarantillo (145.4)</p> 
<p>Bantamweight: Frankie Edgar (135.6) vs. Marlon Vera (135)</p> 
<p>Lightweight: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-justin-gaethje-michael-chandler-three-rounds-1.50411176">Justin Gaethje</a> (155.6) vs. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-michael-chandler-al-iaquinta-frankie-edgar-billy-quarantillo-shane-burgos-1.50410225">Michael Chandler</a> (155.2)</p> 
<h3>UFC 268 prelims, 8 p.m. on ESPNEWS, ESPN+</h3> 
<p>Middleweight: Alex Pereira (185.8) vs. Andreas Michailidis (185)</p> 
<p>Lightweight: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-al-iaquinta-nyc-madison-square-garden-1.50406147">Al Iaquinta</a> (155.8) vs. Bobby Green (155.2)</p> 
<p>Middleweight: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-fun-facts-1.50409914">Phil Hawes</a> (185.4) vs. Chris Curtis (186)</p> 
<p>Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (185.4) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (184.6)</p> 
<h3>UFC 268 early prelims, 6 p.m. UFC Fight Pass, ESPN+</h3> 
<p>Welterweight: Ian Garry (169.6) vs. Jordan Williams (170.6)</p> 
<p>Heavyweight: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-gian-villante-retirement-1.50410249">Gian Villante</a> (260.6) vs. Chris Barnett (263.8)</p> 
<p>Light heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby (203.6) vs. John Allan (205)</p> 
<p>Featherweight: Melsik Baghdasaryan (145.4) vs. Bruno Souza (148.4*)</p> 
<p>Flyweight: C.J. Vergara (127.4*) vs. Ode' Osbourne (125.2)</p> 
<p>* missed weight. </p>

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UFC 268 weigh-in results

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<p>- UFC 268 is the promotion's fifth event at Madison Square Garden since New York legalized mixed martial arts in March 2016. In the first four events -- UFC 205, UFC 217, UFC 230 and UFC 244 -- there have been 46 fights, with seven of those being title fights. Four new UFC champions have been crowned at MSG, plus one BMF "champion."</p> 
<p>- UFC 268 will be the 12th UFC bout for <strong>Rose Namajunas</strong>, and her sixth championship fight, when she defends the strawweight title against Zhang Weili. That 50% rate for "Thug Rose" is especially impressive considering she lost two of those title fights.</p> 
<p>- <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/mark-la-monica/ufc-268-colby-covington-kamaru-usman-1.50404173"><strong>Colby Covington</strong></a> holds the record for most significant strikes landed in a UFC fight with 515. He set that record against Robbie Lawler at UFC on ESPN 5 on Aug. 3, 2019. That’s an average of 103 strikes landed per round, or 20.6 per minute, or one every three seconds. But those are just numbers. Consider it this way: in the time it took you to read this paragraph, you would have been punched in the face approximately six times.</p> 
<p>- Fighters retire and unretire all the time. But <strong>Chris Curtis</strong> holds the record for shortest retirement. In October 2019, he lost a PFL quarterfinal bout and announced his retirement afterward. But in the PFL playoffs then, there were two fights in a night to reach the championship. When Magomed Magomedkerimov was deemed ineligible to compete in the semifinals that same night, Curtis took his spot and lost to Ray Cooper III. Curtis retired again after fight, only to unretire several months later. His welterweight bout against <strong>Phil Hawes</strong> on Saturday will be Curtis' sixth since his second unretirement, and first in the UFC. "He is just here to get his fight kit," Hawes said Wednesday.</p> 
<p>- This will be the ninth fight in the UFC for <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-justin-gaethje-michael-chandler-three-rounds-1.50411176"><strong>Justin Gaethje</strong></a> and only the second scheduled for three rounds. </p> 
<p>- Early in his MMA career, <strong>Gian Villante</strong> worked as a bodyguard for Mel Gibson and Jonah Hill when they were on movie sets in New York. </p> 
<p>- <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-al-iaquinta-nyc-madison-square-garden-1.50406147"><strong>Al Iaquinta</strong></a> and <strong>Bobby Green</strong> were scheduled to fight each other in July 2015, but Green withdrew because of an injury. "Raging Al" said he kicked a stationary bike and <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/al-iaquinta-to-fight-gilbert-melendez-in-place-of-injured-bobby-green-on-july-15-1.10555474">broke a picnic table leg</a> when he got that news. Green was replaced by Gilbert Melendez, who was suspended a week before the fight after testing positive for PEDs. Iaquinta was pulled from the card and didn't fight again until April 2017.</p> 
<p>- A win for <strong>Kamaru Usman</strong> on Saturday would give him five consecutive <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-champions-welterweight-1.26400454">UFC welterweight title defenses</a>, tying him with Matt Hughes for second on that list behind Georges St-Pierre.</p> 
<p>- When Monroe's <strong>Shane Burgos</strong> enters the octagon to face Ransomville's Billy Quarantillo in a featherweight bout, it will tie Burgos with Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson for the most UFC fights in Madison Square Garden with three. Burgos is 2-0 at MSG -- and 5-0 in UFC events in his home state of New York. Thompson is 1-1-1 at MSG.</p>

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UFC 268 facts and stats and stuff

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Wantagh's Al Iaquinta talks about why he wanted to return after two years away dealing with injuries at UFC 268 media day on Nov. 3, 2021.


UFC's Al Iaquinta on returning after two years: 'This is who I am. I'm a fighter at heart.'

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Long Island

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Hempstead Town

Newsday

Iaquinta on his UFC return: 'This is who I am. I'm a fighter at heart.'

<p>From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It’s a common phrase used in mixed martial arts, moreso than any other sport, to describe the feelings of being on top of the world one night and being removed from consciousness on another night.</p> 
<p>Michael Chandler knows both ends.</p> 
<p>The former Bellator lightweight champion made a notable splash in his UFC debut last January, knocking out Dan Hooker in the first round of the co-main event of UFC 257. Five months later, Chandler found himself on the other side of the highlight reel, losing by TKO to Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 262.</p> 
<p>"There's always that possibility that bad things are going to happen," Chandler said at <a href="http://newsday.com/ufc268">UFC 268</a> media day on Wednesday. "I got clipped, but I had the confidence and expectancy that entire training camp, just felt like it was perfect. So I think it was just more of a letdown. It was the highest of high. This is where you want to be, you want to fight for that number one slot in the world. And had I won May 15, that would have made me the number one guy in the world and I would have accomplished that goal. So I think it was more just the hangover from how high I was on thinking that I was going to win."</p> 
<p>Chandler (22-6, 1-1 UFC) will face former interim champion Justin Gaethje (22-3, 5-3) on the main card Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Gaethje last fought in October 2020, losing to undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout.</p> 
<p>Chandler has been in this position before, coming off a high-profile loss and needing to adjust.</p> 
<p>"I've learned some things about how to come back from losses and how to deal with losses and I think, truly, that's where your character is really tested," Chandler said. "That's where your mettle is really tested, in those moments of defeat where you can pull yourself back up. Now I get another opportunity against another top guy in the world, arguably the most exciting guy in mixed martial arts in general against Justin Gaethje on Saturday night. So the stage is set for another phenomenal night."</p> 
<h3>Rage against the inactivity</h3> 
<p>"Raging" Al Iaquinta of Wantagh makes his return to the UFC’s octagon after two years of battling through injuries, surgeries and physical setbacks.</p> 
<p>"Kind of feels like a second chance," the 34-year-old Iaquinta said. "A lot of fighters probably wouldn't have made it here. So I'm going to go out there and just, I really don't care. It's going to be fun, either way. It's Madison Square Garden. It's cool that this is happening. So I'm embracing it all."</p> 
<p>Iaquinta (14-6) once was ranked as high as No. 4 in the lightweight and challenged Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant title on 30 hours’ notice.</p> 
<p>He’ll face Bobby Green on the UFC 268 prelims (airing on ESPNEWS), a bout that was first scheduled to happen in 2015.</p> 
<p>Iaquinta also is a real estate agent on Long Island and has made a good living at it, both when he was fighting and in the two years since he last fought against Hooker. He said he’s hoping to return to an active fighting schedule, so long as his body allows for it.</p> 
<p>"This is where I want to be," Iaquinta said. "The whole time I wanted to come back, but if I couldn't I was going to do whatever I was doing. The reason I was pushing myself through physical therapy, first I just wanted to feel good as a human being walking around in life. This is who I am. I'm a fighter at heart."</p> 
<h3>Usman vs. Covington 3?</h3>
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<p>Does Kamaru Usman want to beat Colby Covington on Saturday? He sure does.</p> 
<p>But if he does win and make it 2-0 against the challenger to his welterweight title, does he want that to be the end of the Usman-Covington rivalry in the octagon? Not necessarily.</p> 
<p>"I don't know because now I'm in the business of pay-per-view, so I don't know if I'll want him to that far back," Usman said. "Of course I want to go out there and stop him. But I want him to quickly make his way back so I can stop over again for a little bit more money."</p> 
<h3>Frankie at 40</h3> 
<p>Frankie Edgar turned 40 last month. And after 34 pro fights in 16 years, and 7 hours, 41 minutes and 19 seconds of fight time inside the UFC’s octagon, it’s only natural for the former lightweight champion to face questions about when he might lay the gloves down and call it a career.</p> 
<p>"I’m going to be fighting on my deathbed," Edgar said.</p> 
<p>Before that, though, Edgar will face bantamweight Marlon Vera on the main card on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Edgar (24-9-1) is coming off a loss to Cory Sandhagen last February, a knockout via flying knee 28 seconds into their bout. It was the third loss in his last four fights. The 28-year-old Vera (17-7-1) won a unanimous decision over Davey Grant in June after losing to Jose Aldo six months earlier.</p> 
<p>Win or lose, Edgar said he has no plans to retire afterward.</p> 
<p>"I'm a fighter, it's what I am, you know. I'm always going to fight in some way, shape or form."</p> 
<h3>A Billy Q-Burgos ‘banger’</h3> 
<p>Billy Quarantillo is coming off the best performance of his young UFC career. His reward? Exactly what he wanted – a tough fight against a top featherweight opponent ahead of him in line on that quest for UFC gold.</p> 
<p>Quarantillo (16-3, 4-1 UFC), who grew up in Ransomville, New York, outside of Niagara Falls, faces No. 14 ranked Shane Burgos in a featherweight bout on the pay-per-view portion of the card.</p> 
<p>"I’m always trying to put myself on a higher platform. You get, you know, more money and bigger paychecks, closer to the championship belt, the more people that know you," said Quarantillo, 32. "But I think there was a reason why they pumped us up to the main card. I think the bosses and I think the fans kind of know what to expect when you see a Shane Burgos fight. I'm kind of getting that reputation too. You know if it’s Billy Q fight, it’s going to be a banger."</p> 
<p>The 30-year-old Burgos (13-3, 6-3), from Monroe, New York, is no slouch either when it comes to putting on a performance in the cage. Don’t get fooled by his two-fight losing streak, most recently by knockout to Edson Barboza last May</p> 
<p>"I've had some pretty good fights so far in the UFC and I just want to keep adding to that," Quarantillo said. "This is the biggest platform that I've been on so far.</p>

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UFC 268 notebook: Michael Chandler on rebounding, Al Iaquinta's 'second chance', more

UFC 268 notes: Chandler's letdown, Iaquinta's 'second chance', Usman, more

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<p><strong>Event</strong>: <a href="https://www.newsday.com/ufc268">UFC 268</a></p> 
<p><strong>Date</strong>: Nov. 6, 2021</p> 
<p><strong>Location</strong>: New York City</p> 
<p><strong>Venue</strong>: Madison Square Garden</p> 
<p><strong>Where to watch</strong>: ESPN+ PPV, ESPN+, UFC Fight Pass</p> 
<p><strong>Announcers</strong>: Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier</p><a data-onecms-id="contentid/storywidget.1.33947823" data-onecms-type="storywidget" href="#/content/contentid/storywidget.1.33947823">espn+ subscriber blurb</a>
<p></p> 
<h3>UFC 268 main card, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV</h3> 
<p><strong>Welterweight title</strong>: Champion Kamaru Usman vs. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/mark-la-monica/ufc-268-colby-covington-kamaru-usman-1.50404173">Colby Covington</a></p> 
<p><strong>Women's strawweight title</strong>: Champion Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili</p> 
<p>Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/ufc-268-michael-chandler-vs-justin-gaethje-1.50408799">Michael Chandler</a></p> 
<p>Featherweight: Shane Burgos vs. Billy Quarantillo</p> 
<p>Bantamweight: Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera</p> 
<h3>UFC 268 prelims, 8 p.m. on ESPNEWS, ESPN+</h3> 
<p>Middleweight: Alex Pereira vs. Andreas Michailidis</p> 
<p>Lightweight: <a href="http://newsday.com/aliaquinta">Al Iaquinta</a> vs. Bobby Green</p> 
<p>Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Chris Curtis</p> 
<p>Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Nassourdine Imavov</p> 
<p>Welterweight: Ian Garry vs. Jordan Williams</p> 
<h3>UFC 268 early prelims, 6 p.m. UFC Fight Pass, ESPN+</h3> 
<p>Heavyweight: <a href="http://newsday.com/gianvillante">Gian Villante</a> vs. Chris Barnett</p> 
<p>Light heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby vs. John Allan</p> 
<p>Featherweight: Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Bruno Souza</p> 
<p>Flyweight: C.J. Vergara vs. Ode' Osbourne</p>

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UFC 268 fight card at Madison Square Garden

UFC 268 fight card for MSG

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<p>Two years.</p> 
<p>Two years and 22 days, technically.</p> 
<p>That’s how much time will have passed between Al Iaquinta's last fight and when he steps into the octagon at Madison Square Garden to face Bobby Green at <a href="https://www.newsday.com/search#filter=stories&amp;query=%22ufc%20268%22">UFC 268</a> on Nov. 6. That length of inactivity doesn't quite mesh with the fighting spirit of "Raging Al."</p> 
<p>"I missed it, to the point of, like, depression almost," the 34-year-old Iaquinta said. "It's one thing if I just wasn't fighting, but then also to be in pain every second of every day. A workout is supposed to make you stronger and better. To work out and have it make you hurt more, get more discouraged. That’ll put your mind in a bad place."</p> 
<p>The body does what it does, and the sport of mixed martial arts makes no bones about altering its participants’ bones. And ligaments. And tendons. And flesh.</p> 
<p>For the better part of these last two years, Wantagh's Iaquinta has battled through injuries and medical procedures, cornered his teammates through some of their biggest and toughest moments and been in more physical therapy sessions than he can — or wants — to count.</p> 
<p>"At this point, I should be a physical therapist myself," Iaquinta said. "I think I can do knee surgeries. Get my scalpel."</p> 
<p>Iaquinta last fought on Oct. 5, 2019, losing by unanimous decision to Dan Hooker. At the time, Iaquinta was ranked sixth in the UFC’s lightweight division and Hooker 15th. Five months earlier, Iaquinta (14-6-1) lost a five-round decision to Donald Cerrone. His last win came against Kevin Lee on Dec. 15, 2018. Greene (27-12-1) also has last two straight, most recently in August against Rafael Fiziev.</p> 
<p>Iaquinta, a Serra-Longo fighter, said he’s planning to return to a more active fighting schedule, as long as his body holds up.</p> 
<p>"That’s where I feel the most normal. Everything feels like it's supposed to be," Iaquinta said. "Waking up, coming to the gym, in the gym and helping the younger guys and training myself, giving an example for people to look up to. And also setting goals for myself every day, there’s like a reason to wake up. The last two years before that, I was trying to rehab so I could fight but also sell real estate. Real estate's definitely a passion of mine. But when I see all my teammates setting goals and achieving them, it's super frustrating. But it's motivating."</p> 
<p>Iaquinta (14-6-1) said he started feeling "decent" this past summer. Then a little bit of news popped up that caught his eye.</p> 
<p>"They announced that they were doing MSG, started sparring a little bit. I was like, Well, I'm feeling all right, you know," Iaquinta said.</p> 
<p>Soon after, the call came offering Iaquinta a double shot of motivational espresso: the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden and against Green, a 35-year-old from California. Both were opportunities Iaquinta had presented to him before.</p> 
<p>Iaquinta and Green were scheduled to fight each other in July 2015, but Green withdrew because of an injury. Green was replaced by Gilbert Melendez, who was suspended a week before the fight after testing positive for PEDs. Iaquinta was pulled from the card and didn't fight again until April 2017. He was going to fight Thiago Alves at UFC 205 at MSG in November 2016 but that bout was scrapped after Iaquinta’s contract dispute.</p> 
<p>All that was so 2010s. It’s 2021, now. The UFC is back on the road, albeit in a limited barnstorming role compared with pre-pandemic standards, and headed to New York for the 13th time since the sport was legalized here in 2016. Iaquinta said he’s feeling as good as he’s felt in a while.</p> 
<p>"This is all I’ve wanted for the last couple of years," Iaquinta said. "Perfect place, perfect time for me to put on a performance and get back in the talks."</p>

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UFC 268: For Wantagh's Al Iaquinta, the inactivity was 'depressing'

For Wantagh's Iaquinta, the inactivity was 'depressing'

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<p>Here comes the opportunity Merab Dvalishvili kept asking for every time a microphone was placed in front of his face and questions were asked of him.</p> 
<p>Top-ranked opponent. Big name. Chance to test himself against the best bantamweights the UFC has to offer as he climbs the ladder in the 135-pound division.</p> 
<p>Dvalishvili, a Serra-Longo fighter who lives in Bellmore, will face Marlon Moraes in the featured prelim bout at UFC 266 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.</p> 
<p>"I have a healthy respect for Marlon Moraes. He was a World Series of Fighting champion, and in UFC, he was No. 1 for a long time," Dvalishvili said. "He throws hard, power in kicking and punching."</p> 
<p>The 11th-ranked Dvalishvili (13-4), from the Republic of Georgia, showcased his ever-improving striking his last two fights with unanimous-decision victories over Cody Stamann and John Dodson.</p> 
<p>But when the subject of Merab Dvalishvili comes up in discussions among those who follow mixed martial arts, two other things quickly rocket to the forefront: his takedowns and his pace.</p> 
<p>In his eight UFC fights (six wins, two questionable decision losses), Dvalishvili has 59 takedowns, tops in the division’s history in the promotion. His 13 takedowns of Gustavo Lopez in June 2020 were the most in a single fight in UFC bantamweight history. Of course, he broke his own record of 12 set in his previous fight four months earlier. </p> 
<p>"When you take somebody down, and you’re on top, when you hug or even when you punch, it looks you’re winning it," Dvalishvili said. "That’s why I like to make sure I’m winning. The strike exchanges, sometimes looks weird, like maybe I think I’m winning, but . . . "</p> 
<p>But, as the saying goes in MMA, don’t leave it in the judges’ hands to decide.</p> 
<p>Dvalishvili has the conditioning to go the full 15 minutes without getting tired. All eight of his UFC fights have gone the distance. It’s how he earned his nickname "The Machine" from teammates in the gym who have worked with him, a group that includes current UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta. Dvalishvili’s pace can be relentless, both on the feet and on the ground.</p> 
<p>The sixth-ranked Moraes (23-8-1) possesses a level of power in his striking that few 135-pounders can match. But he has struggled a bit record-wise since joining the UFC in 2017. He’s 5-4, including two straight losses by TKO to Rob Font and Cory Sandhagen.</p> 
<p>"It’s a fight, and even though he lost his last two, I still have so much respect, and it’s not going to be easy for me. I’m just going to be focused from the first second to the last second," Dvalishvili said. "When I say first second to last second, I want to make sure I’m the leader, I’m dominating, I’m the guy who puts pressure on his opponent."</p> 
<p>Dvalishvili kicks off a busy seven-week run for the Serra-Longo fight team. CFFC flyweight champion Phumi Nkuta defends his title on Oct. 2. Dylan Mantello, Dennis Buzukja and James Gonzalez compete at Ring of Combat on Oct. 22. Then, Sterling defends his title for the first time against Petr Yan at UFC 267 on Oct. 27 in Abu Dhabi, and Iaquinta returns to the octagon against Bobby Green on Nov. 6 for UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden. Nearly a dozen other up-and-coming fighters have bouts along the way as well.</p> 
<p>"We’re getting better and better as a team. We’re together and we always help and support each other," Dvalishvili said. "I’m just enjoying training and helping my teammates and see how successful they are. After my fight, I want to quickly come back and help Aljo and my other teammates."</p> 
<p>But first, Dvalishvili must tend to his own business in the UFC’s bantamweight division.</p> 
<p>"He earned his right for this fight. It’s a huge fight for him. Even though he’s 6-2, I think he’s 8-0," trainer Ray Longo said. "He’s right where he wants to be. This is going to be a good benchmark for him to see where he’s at."</p>

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UFC 266 a tough but deserving test for Merab Dvalishvili against Marlon Moraes

UFC 266 a tough but deserving test for Merab Dvalishvili

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<p> The UFC first premiered its reality competition series &quot;The Ultimate Fighter&quot; in 2005, and that inaugural season draws much credit for being the catalyst for the growth of the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts. </p> 
<p> The winner of each season earned a guaranteed six-figure contract with the UFC. </p> 
<p> Season 30 of &quot;TUF&quot; has returned and streams on&nbsp;ESPN+, with women's bantamweight champion Julianna Pena coaching against Amanda Nunes, the woman she beat for the title. </p> 
<p> Here's a look at those mixed martial artists who won previous seasons of &quot;The Ultimate Fighter&quot; (U.S. editions only). </p> 
<h3> Season 1: Forrest Griffin, light heavyweight </h3> 
<p> The bout between Forrest Griffin, right, and Stephan Bonnar in the finale on April 9, 2005, is considered the greatest UFC fight ever. It was a three-round slugfest and is credited with launching the UFC into the mainstream. The bout was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. </p> 
<h3> Season 1: Diego Sanchez, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Often forgotten about as a debut season winner, thanks to the Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar brawl, is Diego Sanchez. He beat Kenny Florian to win the contract on April 9, 2005. </p> 
<h3> Season 2: Rashad Evans, heavyweight </h3> 
<p> Rashad Evans won a split decision over Brad Imes to win the UFC contract on Nov. 5, 2005. He became one of the most successful &quot;Ultimate Fighter&quot; winners in UFC history, winning the light heavyweight title against Forrest Griffin. </p> 
<h3> Season 2: Joe Stevenson, welterweight </h3> 
<p> Joe Daddy Stevenson decisioned Nate Diaz, then decisioned New Hyde Park's Luke Cummo in the Ultimate Finale to win the contract on Nov. 5, 2005. </p> 
<h3> Season 3: Michael Bisping, light heavyweight </h3> 
<p> The first notable British import to the UFC, Bisping knocked out Josh Haynes in the second round to win the six-figure contract on June 24, 2006. Ten years later, he knocked out Luke Rockhold to win the middleweight title, making Bisping the fourth &quot;TUF&quot; winner to add a UFC title to his resume. At the time of his retirement in 2018, Bisping was the UFC leader in career fights at 29 and tied for the most wins at 20. </p> 
<h3> Season 3: Kendall Grove, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Kendall Grove won a unanimous decision over Ed Herman to get the UFC contract on June 24, 2006, and remained in the promotion for five-plus years and 12 fights. </p> 
<h3> Season 4: Matt Serra, welterweights </h3> 
<p> In the comeback season featuring UFC fighters who never won a title, East Meadow's Matt Serra decisioned Chris Lytle to earn a title shot against champion Georges St-Pierre on Nov. 11, 2006. Five months later, at UFC 69 in Houston, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/the-night-matt-serra-shocked-the-world-at-ufc-69-vs-georges-st-pierre-1.13371885">Serra became the only man in the world to knock out GSP</a> and won the UFC welterweight championship. </p> 
<h3> Season 4: Travis Lutter, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Travis Lutter submitted Patrick Cote in the first round to win a title shot against champion Anderson Silva. He lost by second-round TKO. </p> 
<h3> Season 5: Nate Diaz, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Ever the tough guy with attitude, Nate Diaz submitted his way to the title, beating Manny Gamburyan on June 23, 2007, to win the UFC contract. He rose to prominence and the UFC and became a major star when accepted a fight on short notice against Conor McGregor and then submitted him in the second round at UFC 196 in March 2016. </p> 
<h3> Season 6: Mac Danzig, welterweight </h3> 
<p> Mac Danzig submitted all his opponents en route to winning the Ultimate Finale over Tommy Speer on Dec. 8, 2007. </p> 
<h3> Season 7: Amir Sadollah, middleweight </h3> 
<p> The widely popular Amir Sadollah submitted CB Dollaway to win the UFC contract and went 5-5 in the promotion. </p> 
<h3> Season 8: Efrain Escudero, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Efrain Escudero decisioned Brooklyn's Phillipe Nover on Dec. 13, 2008, to win the contract. Less than two years later, he was cut from the UFC after failing to make weight at Fight Night and going 2-2 since winning the TUF crown. He returned to the UFC twice more after that, going 2-5. </p> 
<h3> Season 8: Ryan Bader, light heavyweight </h3> 
<p> Ryan Bader knocked out Vinny Magalhaes in the Ultimate Finale to win the six-figure contract on Dec. 13, 2008. He worked his way into the upper tier of light heavyweights in the UFC, going 15-5 and fighting mostly every big name in the division. He later signed with Bellator and became that promotion's light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. </p> 
<h3> Season 9: Ross Pearson, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Team UK's Ross Pearson ran through the Americans during the preliminary bouts then won a unanimous decision over countryman Andre Winner to win the contract on June 20, 2009. </p> 
<h3> Season 9: James Wilks, welterweight </h3> 
<p> Team UK's James Wilks could be the only &quot;TUF&quot; guy to beat the same fighter twice in the same season. He then submitted Team USA's DaMarques Johnson to win the contract on June 20, 2009. </p> 
<h3> Season 10: Roy Nelson, heavyweight </h3> 
<p> Roy Nelson knocked out Brendan Schaub in the first round to win the title on Dec. 5, 2009. During the show, he stopped Kimbo Slice. </p> 
<h3> Season 11: Court McGee, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Court McGee, the former heroin addict who once was pronounced dead, defeated Kris McCray to win the title on June 19, 2010. </p> 
<h3> Season 12: Jonathan Brookins, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Jonathan Brookins won a unanimous decision over the favored Michael Johnson to win the six-figure contract on Dec. 4, 2010. He went 1-3 in the UFC after that. </p> 
<h3> Season 13: Tony Ferguson, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Tony Ferguson delivered a first-round knockout of Ramsey Nijem at the &quot;Ultimate Finale&quot; on June 4, 2011, to win a contract with the UFC. &quot;El Cucuy&quot; lost his first fight after that to Michael Johnson, then ripped off 12 wins in a row and became the No. 1 ranked lightweight and challenged for the interim title. </p> 
<h3> Season 14: John Dodson, bantamweight </h3> 
<p> John Dodson delivered a huge left hook -- no surprise there to viewers of Season 14 -- to knock out TJ Dillashaw to win the contract. </p> 
<h3> Season 14: Diego Brandao, featherweight </h3> 
<p> Diego Brandao used some impressive jiu-jitsu to turn an offensive onslaught from Long Island's Dennis Bermudez into an armbar submission to win Season 14. He went 5-4 in the UFC after that, with losses to Darren Elkins, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Brian Ortega. </p> 
<h3> Season 15: Michael Chiesa, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Michael Chiesa's father passed away from leukemia a few weeks into the filming of &quot;TUF Live,&quot; and he still was able to fight his way to the final and win the UFC contract. He submitted Wantagh's Al Iaquinta to win the only live season on &quot;TUF.&quot; </p> 
<h3> Season 16: Colton Smith, welterweight </h3> 
<p> Colton Smith, an active duty Army Ranger, won a unanimous decision over Mike Ricci to earn the Ultimate Fighter title. He lost all three of his fights by stoppage in the UFC after that, to Robert Whittaker, Michael Chiesa and Diego Ferreira. </p> 
<h3> Season 17: Kelvin Gastelum, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Kelvin Gastelum, 21, was the youngest TUF contestant in the show's history. He was also the last fighter picked by either coach. And then he ran through the competition and beat Uriah Hall by split decision in the final on April 13, 2013. He remains among the top ranked middleweights in the UFC, with wins over Johnny Hendricks, Michael Bisping and Jacare Souza on his resume. </p> 
<h3> Season 18: Julianna Pena, women's bantamweight </h3> 
<p> Julianna Pena advanced to the final of the first &quot;TUF&quot; season to feature female fighters by winning one decision and getting two stoppages. In the finale, she beat Jessica Rakoczy by TKO with one second left in the first round. </p> 
<h3> Season 18: Chris Holdsworth, bantamweight </h3> 
<p> Chris Holdsworth submitted Davey Grant in the second round to win Season 18 of &quot;The Ultimate Fighter.&quot; He fought once after that, a win over Chico Camus, then took a break because of concussion issues and became a coach. </p> 
<h3> Season 19: Eddie Gordon, middleweight </h3> 
<p> <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/eddie-gordon-wins-ultimate-fighter-season-19-1.8695862">Eddie Gordon</a>, from Freeport, won three decisions to reach the finale, where he knocked out Dhiego Lima 71 seconds into the first round to win the middleweight division of the show on July 6, 2014. </p> 
<h3> Season 19: Corey Anderson, light heavyweight </h3> 
<p> Corey Anderson knocked out Matt Van Buren in the first round to win the light heavyweight division of the show on July 6, 2014. </p> 
<h3> Season 20, Carla Esparza, women's strawweight </h3> 
<p> In the first &quot;TUF&quot; season to feature all female fighters, Carla Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas in the final to win the season and be crowned the UFC's inaugural champion of the new 115-pound division on Dec. 12, 2014. </p> 
<h3> Season 22: Ryan Hall, lightweights </h3> 
<p> Ryan Hall lost in the semifinals on the show, but he returned in the final after Saul Rogers had visa issues and couldn't get back into the country for the finale. Hall dominated Artem Lobov with his jiu-jitsu to win a unanimous decision in 2015. </p> 
<h3> Season 23: Tatiana Suarez, women's strawweight </h3> 
<p> A bronze medalist in the 2008 and 2010 Wrestling World Championships, Tatiana Suarez defeated Amanda Cooper with a D'Arce choke at 3:43 of the first round in the finale. </p> 
<h3> Season 24: Tim Elliott, flyweight </h3> 
<p> Tim Elliott, the former Titan FC champion, won four fights to win the &quot;TUF 24&quot; season and earn a title shot against reigning UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. Elliott lost by unanimous decision to Johnson. </p> 
<h3> Season 25: Jesse Taylor, welterweight </h3> 
<p> It was billed as the show's &quot;Redemption&quot; season for past &quot;TUF&quot; participants. Jesse Taylor had reached the final in Season 7 but was removed from the fight after filming ending because of a incident in public. On TUF 25, the now-sober Taylor defeated Mehdi Baghdad, Hayder Hassan and James Krause to reach the welterweight final. He submitted Dhiego Lima in the second round at the finale to win the UFC contract on July 7, 2017. </p> 
<h3> Season 26: Nicco Montano, women's flyweight </h3> 
<p> This &quot;TUF&quot; season in 2017 featured female flyweight fighters, a new division for the UFC, with the winner of the show's finale becoming the promotion's 125-pound champion. Seeded 14th to begin the tournament, Montano won decisions over Lauren Murphy, Montana Stewart and Barb Honchak to reach the final. Montano then won a five-round unanimous decision over Roxanne Modafferi, who replaced Sijara Eubanks a day earlier, to earn the flyweight title on Dec. 1, 2017. </p> 
<h3> Season 27: Brad Katona, featherweight </h3> 
<p> This season featured fighters only with undefeated records coming into it. Katona kept his zero intact with wins over Kyler Phillips and Bryce Mitchell in the house, then a unanimous decision win over Jay Cucciniello in the featherweight finale on July 6, 2018. </p> 
<h3> Season 27: Michael Trizano, lightweight </h3> 
<p> Michael Trizano, from New Jersey, won a split decision over Joe Giannetti, on July 6, 2018, to win the lightweight bracket. </p> 
<h3> Season 28: Juan Espino, heavyweight </h3> 
<p> Juan Espino, at age 38, submitted Justin Frazier in the finale to win a UFC contract on Nov. 30, 2018. </p> 
<h3> Season 28: Macy Chiasson, women's featherweight </h3> 
<p> Macy Chiasson became the first &quot;TUF&quot; winner at women's featherweight when she submitted Pannie Kianzad in the finale. </p> 
<h3> Season 29: Ricky Turcios, bantamweight </h3> 
<p> After three years away, &quot;TUF&quot; returned and culminated with a fight reminiscient of the first season. Ricky Turcios and Brady Hiestand engaged in a gritty back-and-forth bout, with Turcios earning the split decision win, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. </p> 
<h3> Season 29: Bryan Battle, middleweight </h3> 
<p> Bryan Battle won a second-round submission over Gilbert Urbina in the final. Urbina had lost to Tresean Gore in the semifinals but fought in the final after Gore suffered a knee injury in training. </p>

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