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Egyptian heavyweight faces Chris Barnett in his third fight since suspension Hamdy Abdelwahab is a man in a hurry. Three years ago, he made history as the first Egyptian to set foot in a UFC octagon, but instead of building momentum, two suspensions kept him on the sidelines for much of the past three years. Now, his message to the UFC is clear: give me fights. His debut victory over Don’Tale Mayes in July 2022 was overturned because of a failed drug test. He returned to action earlier this year, beating Jamal Pogues via unanimous decision in Riyadh in February before losing by the same verdict to Mohammed Usman in Baku in June. Abdelwahab, 32, is slated to fight again at the end of the month, taking on Chris Barnett on the undercard of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Despite his calm demeanour, Abdelwahab is champing at the bit, ready to reignite and race up the heavyweight rankings. InterviewGane primed for redemption as he targets Aspinall’s UFC title in Abu Dhabi Read More  “As long as I carry no injuries, I want to be active, I can fight anyone. Whoever they want to put me up against, I’m down for it. I’m never going to turn down a fight, they [the UFC] know me. Short notice, long notice, I don’t care.” Abdelwahab tells The National. No doubt the lengthy suspension has harmed Abdelwahab’s career. A decorated wrestler, he is 6-1 in MMA, with one no-contest. That result – on his UFC debut no less – is a blemish on his record he is eager to consign as a footnote to his career rather than have it define it. He admits he is yet to reach the levels he displayed before his ban, but can feel his confidence returning with each fight. “First fight after the suspension was the worst,” Abdelwahab said. “Second fight I started coming back step by step. I think I’m ready for this one. “People have to understand I was away for [nearly] three years. I trained, but it’s not the same as being in a UFC cage. But now I’m coming back. “Once you step one time, two times, three times in a cage again, you feel the confidence [start] to come back. I lost a lot because I was away too long. So I’m getting back, hopefully.” Abdelwahab is preparing for his encounter against Barnett training alongside fellow heavyweight Ciryl Gane, who takes on champion Tom Aspinall in the headline bout at UFC 321. Friendly, affable and soft-spoken, Abdelwahab switches to beast mode during training drills at Tripl3 MMA gym in Dubai. You have to when you’re rolling and sparring with “killers”. “The training has been really good. We’ve been training since the last fight; we didn’t stop. And the camp is perfect, especially when Ciryl joined us four weeks ago. The training camp is the best for me. It’s perfect. “I train with killers: Ciryl, Reug Reug [One FC heavyweight champion], Ramzi [Yahia], Milano [Nahar], all the Tripl3 family. It’s been really good. They’re taking good care of us and we’re ready.” ‘I’m confident for this fight’: Ciryl Gane focused on UFC heavyweight crown before Tom Aspinall bout in Abu Dhabi Abdelwahab’s opponent is one of the most colourful characters in MMA. Barnett is a fan favourite, celebrating any KO victories with a front flip that belies his hefty frame. The American has not fought since losing to Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 308, also in Abu Dhabi, last year. Despite the playful nickname of “Huggy Bear”, Abdelwahab is under no illusions of the threat Barnett (23-9) poses. “I have much respect for him. I train for anyone I fight as the toughest [opponent] I’ve ever faced. I get ready 100 per cent. I train, I prepare, I put [together] a plan, and stick to the plan. It’s going to be a good fight.” When asked for a prediction on the outcome, Abdelwahab interrupts: “Get the finish.” The UFC will hold its first event in Qatar next month. Despite the quick turnaround, Abdelwahab says he is keen to fight on that card too. “I would love to be in Qatar. Qatar is in November, so I would love to be there. From this arena to that arena, right away. I just want more fights. “I’m sparring two times a week right now, so I’m ready. As long as I have no injuries, I can fight every week.”

“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” The maxim of Benjamin Franklin echoes through time. As United States’ minister in France, Franklin brought the French into the war against the British in 1778. Three years later, America had won its War of Independence from colonial rule. They are words Ciryl Gane adheres to. Franklin’s words are as prescient now as they were then. French flair is being called on to curtail the rampant rule of the British. Gane, the modern-day cavalier, answering the call to stop the unrelenting war machine Tom Aspinall. A seven-month training camp is excessive by any standard, but one Gane believes necessary for overcoming the formidable challenge of Aspinall. The Englishman puts his UFC heavyweight championship belt on the line against Gane in the main event at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25. “We started training in March,” a jovial but utterly exhausted Gane tells The National after a workout at Tripl3 Gym in Dubai, where he has set up camp to fine-tune his preparations for fight night. “We have had a lot of sparring partners, a lot of different skillsets. We’ve had a boxing guy, a kickboxing guy from Glory, UFC guys. Today we’ve been with guys with a high-level ground game. I’ve brought in an Olympic wrestler to help with training. [As a team] We’ve really grown up in every department, not only on the wrestling game and the ground game, but everywhere.” Gane knows the perils of being undercooked when facing the best only too well. In 2023, he agreed to fight Jon Jones, already the greatest light heavyweight in MMA history, for the vacant heavyweight championship. Gane took the fight at short notice. Jones had been absent from the octagon for over three years and was stepping up a division. Ring rust didn’t come into the equation – Jones submitted Gane via guillotine choke in a shade over two minutes to become a two-weight world champion. “Unfortunately, I made a mistake against Jon Jones. Not only during the fight, I accepted it [the fight] only four weeks [notice], so I was not properly prepared. I tried to do my best, but my preparation was nowhere near long enough.” Many would have been scarred by the manner of the defeat. For Gane, it was a learning curve. “I learnt a lot from this fight. I learnt not just about this sport, but also about the lifestyle, the mindset – everything changed for me after this fight. I grew up.” What changed specifically? “The mindset, definitely. I learnt to do this for me. I have a target: get the belt. I’m not focused on outside things, like social media, people talking about me. I focus on my family, my friends, my team, my goals and training, training, training.” Twice Gane has fought for the undisputed heavyweight title and came up short both times. He was dominated by Francis Ngannou for most of the five rounds at UFC 270 before tapping out to Jones at UFC 285. Both Ngannou and Jones are out of the picture now, Ngannou signing on with the Professional Fighters’ League soon after beating Gane and Jones retiring earlier this year. Filling the void now is the obscenely talented Aspinall, who was anointed the division’s undisputed champion following Jones’ decision to call it a day. Aspinall’s attributes are many; bulk, speed, dynamite in both hands and one of the most accomplished ground games in the sport. There are few chinks in his armour, and those in the know predict a dominant run as the division’s top dog for the Englishman. But the threat Gane poses cannot be dismissed. The Frenchman is unique in that he has the build of a heavyweight but moves like a middleweight. A bulldozing ballerina, if you like. If Aspinall has the edge on the ground and arguably with his fists, Gane’s elite-level kickboxing background makes him just as much of a threat on the feet. “Aspinall is really well-rounded. I have said for a long time that Tom Aspinall is the new generation. When I arrived [in the UFC] I was the new generation also. How I’m going to win this fight? I’m not going to give away my game plan. He’s got his strengths, I’ve got mine. I’m really only focused on mine and I’m going to do my best to win this fight.” When asked the areas he feels he does have the advantage over Aspinall, whose record stands at 15 wins against three losses, Gane replies: “Everybody knows my strengths: I can move really well, I can manage distance, my striking is high level and so I’m going to manage all this during the fight.” Since losing to Jones, Gane has wins over Serghei Spivac and Alexander Volkov. The latter was fiercely disputed, with many observers believing Volkov came out on the wrong side of a split decision. UFC president Dana White even apologised to the Russian after the fight. Gane claimed to have suffered broken toes in the opening round, and was so disappointed with his performance he initially refused his post-fight interview before being coerced back into the octagon. But as he is put through a brutal regimen in Dubai, grappling with the likes of Reug Reug, the ONE FC heavyweight champion, among others, it is clear no stone is being left unturned as he prepares for his third crack at undisputed UFC gold. Though confident he has the tools to take Aspinall down, Gane (13 wins, 2 losses) does not see the fight as his last shot at redemption. “Now or never? No, no. I am 35, still young,” he jokes. Aspinall is no stranger to Abu Dhabi; his first two fights with the world’s lead MMA promotion were in the UAE capital, both victories. For Gane, UFC 321 will be his debut on these shores. He says he has been surprised by the warm reception he has received, and he plans to put on a show for his fans on October 25. For Gane, UFC 321

Source :Lovin.co

PATRICE EVRA has secretly been plotting an MMA debut over the last TEN YEARS – and could have French royalty in his corner. Evra retired from football in 2019 after a glittering career that saw him win FIVE Prem titles with Manchester United and a Champions League. But, after hanging up his boots, the former France international has moved into a punditry and even reality TV. He starred in the Netflix series Inside – hosted by KSI’s YouTube group The Sidemen. And in perhaps his most shocking post-career move of all – Evra has signed with the Professional Fighters League to make his MMA debut. Evra has trained in kickboxing for the last decade to help build towards his stunning and brutal switch of sports. PFL Managing Director James Frewin told SunSport: “Patrice has been looking at finding the right place to make his MMA debut for a while since he finished his football career. “He’s always wanted to take on a different challenge. He’s always been training behind the scenes for the last ten years in combat, with a focus on kickboxing. “And, he’s a busy guy. He’s a very successful entrepreneur. So, he and I were introduced in Dubai, about ten weeks ago, he shared his vision and his passion for this project. “And it just so happened we had the right platform. We operate in the right way and we had a date in Paris that made sense which is Friday, May 23rd.” Source : https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/34765163/patrice-evra-mma-debut-man-utd-france-cage/

Thousands Welcome Newly Crowned MMA World Champion Reug Reug To Senegal In Epic Homecoming Newly crowned ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane enjoyed a homecoming fit for a king when he recently returned to his native Senegal. On November 8, in the main event of ONE 169, the 32-year-old superstar earned a hard-fought, five-round decision over Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin to claim the heavyweight MMA crown and hand the Russian the first defeat of his career. Winning together 🏆⁠⁠Watch the full ONE 169 event replay:⁠🇺🇸🇨🇦 on Prime 👉 https://t.co/tIDb3L7un9🌍 on https://t.co/eBUfsOlZOd (geo-restrictions may apply) pic.twitter.com/WCGOMzUzqA— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 14, 2024 With the victory, “Reug Reug” solidified himself as one of MMA’s most dangerous men and etched his name in the history books as Africa’s first ONE World Champion. Just days after his big win in Bangkok, Thailand, Kane made his way back to Senegal, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of fans dying to get a glimpse of the hulking heavyweight and celebrate his monumental accomplishment. A Hero’s Welcome Home 🇸🇳🤯 The entire country of Senegal came out to celebrate new ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane! Keep it locked to our social channels for more highlights of this epic homecoming! Watch the full ONE 169 event replay:⁠🇺🇸🇨🇦 on Prime… pic.twitter.com/Ggw3THxhg0— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 16, 2024 Throngs of Senegalese fans, press, a band and dancers, as well as Ministry of Sports representative Mr. Cheikh Fall were present at Blaise Diagne International Airport to welcome “Reug Reug,” but that was only the beginning of his epic homecoming. The party continued into the streets of Dakar, with thousands more fans chanting and cheering as he made his way through the city, creating a truly unforgettable scene. A massive celebratory event followed as several of Senegal’s most prominent figures expressed their gratitude for “Reug Reug” and his accomplishments. For his part, the ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion spoke about how thankful he is for the unending support of his country and just how special his victory at ONE 169 was: “I am very happy for all the Senegalese people. It is a victory for Senegal. I am very happy for my team. I can’t thank them enough for their support. “It is a victory for Senegal. I went to fight for Senegal. It was not easy, but God gave us the victory. We are very grateful to God.” Cemented in art 🎨 All for the new ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion, Senegal’s own Reug Reug! 🇸🇳 Art by hkaart06 pic.twitter.com/akA6dxhj02— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) November 17, 2024 Get your tickets now for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri via ePlus! Source : https://www.onefc.com/news/thousands-welcome-newly-crowned-mma-world-champion-reug-reug-to-senegal-in-epic-homecoming/

Oumar Kane takes on undefeated Russian Anatoly Malykhin in main event at ONE 169 in Bangkok this Saturday The Middle East is now a well established hub for combat sports. Last month, Abu Dhabi hosted UFC 308, where Ilia Topuria successfully defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway in the main event. Before that, Francis Ngannou made a successful return to mixed martial arts when he downed the giant Renan Ferreira in a heavyweight clash dubbed ‘The Battle of the Giants’ in Riyadh. Many fighters choose to make the UAE their home or set up camp here in preparation for an upcoming event. Khamzat Chimaev, who beat Robert Whittaker in the co-main event at UFC 308, now resides and fights out of the UAE. Former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker himself trained in Dubai in preparation for the bout. Senegalese heavyweight Oumar Kane is another who now calls Dubai home. More commonly know as “Reug Reug” (which means someone who’s invisible) has been practising the art of ‘Laamb’, a type of wresting popular in his homeland, since he was six. He trains at the TRIPL3 MMA gym in Jumeirah Lake Towers. “I’ve been living on and off in Dubai since 2021. But more permanently for the last couple years in order to focus on my training 100 per cent,” he told The National. “I went to train in the US for a few months and then went back to Senegal. After that I came to Dubai, training in a few different gyms until my managers found my current coaches Milano and Ramzi of TRIPL3 MMA – and we have done five fights together already.” https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7SB2QstFC0/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1316&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com&rp=%2Fsport%2Fcombat-sports%2F2024%2F11%2F05%2Freug-reug-ready-to-bring-one-heavyweight-title-back-to-senegal-and-dubai%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1182%7D Reug Reug, 32, is preparing for his next bout, where he takes on Anatoly Malykhin in the main event at ONE 169 in Bangkok on Saturday for the Russian’s heavyweight title. “I feel good, I’ve had a long camp and every camp I get better. I feel very confident on bringing the belt to Senegal and Dubai.” Reug Reug said. Malykhin, 36, boasts a perfect record of 14 wins and also holds the ONE organisation’s light heavyweight and middleweight belts. Despite his underdog status, Reug Reug, who has six wins against one loss in his MMA career, is confident he has the tools to dethrone the Russian. “I’m still very new to MMA, every fight I am a new version of myself and I’m adding new skills to my game. Wherever it goes I’ll be a problem for Anatoly,” he said. Asked what it would mean to inflict a first defeat of Malykhin’s pro career, Reug Reug responded: “I’m focused on my own goals and legacy, beating Malykhin is just part of it. That’s it.”

A true clash of titans is headed to ONE 169: Atlanta, as historic three-division MMA king Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin will put his ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title on the line against Senegalese sensation “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. The blockbuster U.S. primetime event will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 8, 2024. Boasting an undefeated 13-0 professional record with a 100 percent finishing rate, Malykhin has firmly established himself as one of MMA’s top pound-for-pound fighters and a terrifying puncher. The Russian superstar captured the interim heavyweight MMA crown in February 2022 with a highlight-reel stoppage of Kirill Grishenko. Later that year, he achieved two-division glory, knocking out the previously undefeated Reinier de Ridder to claim the ONE Light Heavyweight MMA World Title. Then in June 2023 at ONE Friday Fights 22, “Sladkiy” dominated Arjan Bhullar to become the undisputed ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion in spectacular fashion. Most recently, Malykhin finished De Ridder once again at ONE 166: Qatar to capture the ONE Middleweight MMA World Title and become an unprecedented ruler of three weight classes. “Reug Reug,” meanwhile, has won three straight fights to earn his crack at the baddest man in ONE. An explosively powerful athlete with top-end wrestling skills, the 31-year-old’s current streak has seen him defeat Batradz Gazzaev, Jasur Mirzamukhamedov, and then Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida in a three-round barnburner. Now, with the nation of Senegal behind him, Kane will look to back up the hype and dethrone one of the organization’s most dominant World Champions. But for Malykhin, a win over “Reug Reug” would further cement his legacy in the sport of mixed martial arts. Given each man’s show-stopping power and willingness to trade bombs at close range, fans should buckle up for white-knuckle action for as long as it lasts.