8/25/24 Notebook: Muhammad Mokaev Inks Deal With Brave CF

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Welcome to the notebook, a quick catchup of all the smaller (but still important) stories from the world of MMA!

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Here are the latest stories we’re following:

UFC

  • Muhammad Mokaev (12-0), an undefeated flyweight who was controversially cut from the UFC roster last month, has inked a deal with Brave CF, per Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. Mokaev competed for Brave CF during the early years of his career, including his 2020 pro debut.
  • The long-awaited UFC debut of Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (8-0) is back on the schedule. The undefeated flyweight from Mongolia is booked to face Carlos Hernandez (9-4) at UFC’s November 2nd show, per Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes. Tumendemberel signed onto the UFC roster last year following a pair of showcase wins on the “Road To UFC” series. He was expected to debut earlier this year against fellow undefeated prospect Andre Lima, although that fight ended up not happening. Hernandez will be trying to avoid a three-fight skid after losses against Tatsuro Taira and Rei Tsuruya.
  • Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey issued an apology this week for a post she shared years ago promoting conspiracy theories around a mass shooting event at U.S. school Sandy Hook Elementary. In the apology, which emerged after a Reddit question-and-answer thread by Rousey was flooded with comments regarding the post, the fighter expressed significant regret about her actions. “I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and the depth of my soul I am so so sorry for the hurt I caused,” she wrote. “I can’t begin to imagine the pain you’ve endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it. I’ve regretted it every day of my life since and will continue to do so until the day I die.”

ONE Championship

  • Danial Williams (6-3) has been paired against Banma Duoji (15-2) for ONE Fight Night 25 on October 4th. Williams will be searching for his first win since 2022 following a four-fight stretch of losses across combat sports in ONE. Among his defeats was a kickboxing title fight against Jon Di Bella and a Muay Thai bout with Superlek. Duoji snapped a two-fight skid last year, spoiling the MMA debut of Walter Goncalves.

RIZIN

  • Six fights were announced for RIZIN 48 at a press conference in Japan recently. The bouts are joining a card which will go down on September 29th from the Saitama Super Arena.
    • After a quick trip over to Bellator, Shinobu Ota (7-3) will try to keep his winning streak going with a fight against veteran Yuki Motoya (35-11). Ota has put together a trio of wins over the past year, including an April performance over former RIZIN champ Juntaro Ushiku. Motoya will be returning to RIZIN for the first time since losing a decision to UFC alum Vince Morales on New Year’s Eve. His last fight was a regional victory over Sho Hiramatsu.
    • Experienced Shoko Sato (35-16-2) will meet Juntaro Ushiku (21-9) at featherweight. Sato, a former ONE Championship fighter, suffered his first RIZIN defeat earlier this year when he dropped a decision to title contender Naoki Inoue. Ushiku has struggled in recent years, having prevailed in just one of his last four fights.
    • 18-year-old prospect Kyoma Akimoto (5-0) will make his RIZIN debut against veteran Kintaro (15-13-2). Akimoto has attained five wins since his 2022 debut, including a trio of victories in the notable regional promotion DEEP Impact. His last fight saw him get past former RIZIN talent Alan Yamaniha with a second-round stoppage. Kintaro snapped a four-fight skid in March with a victory over Daiki Lightyear.
    • South Africa’s Nkazimulo Zulu (15-6), a past training partner of UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis, will meet Jo Arai (13-11-1). Zulu has spent years in the notable South African promotion EFC, recently capturing their 125-pound title with a submission victory. Arai suffered a loss in his RIZIN debut last year, getting an 11-fight streak of wins stopped by Hiroya.
    • RIZIN vet Yusuke Yachi (26-14) will return against Sho Patrick Usami (7-2). Yachi had a three-fight winning streak brought to a close in May when he appeared in Bellator against former Road FC champ Mansour Barnaoui. Usami bounced back from his first RIZIN loss just two months back, stopping Kazuki Tokudome with strikes.
    • Kazakhstan-based talent Karshyga Dautbek (15-3) will appear in RIZIN for the second time, taking on Takeaki Kinoshita (9-7-1). Dautbek had an impressive debut earlier this year, putting Tetsuya Seki away in the first round with strikes. Kinoshita, a veteran of regional promotion DEEP Impact, is coming back to RIZIN after stringing together a trio of wins.

LFA

  • LFA 195 will take place on October 25th from the Dobson Arena in Vail, Colorado, USA. Apart from some pandemic years, LFA has visited Vail once a year since 2018.
  • Here’s a quick rundown of the five other main card fights announced for LFA 194:
    • Former CFFC champion Cedric Gunnison (7-3) will take on Mirafzal Akhtamov (6-0-1) in the co-main event spot. Gunnison lost in his LFA debut earlier this year, dropping a decision to undefeated prospect Nikita Kulshin. Akhtamov is returning to MMA after competing in Karate Combat once earlier this year. He scored a big win in his last MMA outing, stopping Keyth Dawson in just 72 seconds at LFA 172 late last year.
    • Hoping to get some momentum back, Erick Visconti (13-3) will fight Busurmankul Abdibait Uulu (15-4-1). Visconti had his six-fight winning streak stopped in March when he debuted for LFA, getting caught early in a rear naked choke against Joao Pedro Saldanha. Abdibait is coming over to America after a fair amount of experience in the East, earning a title in Eagle FC and most recently notching a win in Naiza FC.
    • In a matchup between strawweight prospects from Brazil, Giovanna Canuto (4-1) and Ershirley Kessy (3-0) will square off. Kessy picked up three wins in her rookie year as a pro, including a pair of first-round finishes. Canuto is coming back after losing a title fight last year, not being favored scorecards against Natasha Kuziutina through five rounds.
    • Experienced regional fighter Jacob Bohn (14-12) will meet Lance Lawrence (8-4) in a featherweight bout. Lawrence is fresh off his first LFA win, a decision in March over Landry Ward. Bohn’s last appearance was an unsuccessful regional title bout against former UFC talent Joe Giannetti, getting submitted in 27 seconds.
    • Heavyweights Matt Adams (3-1) and Saulo Cavalari (1-1) will kick off the main card. Adams scored a big win in his LFA debut just earlier this month, stopping Alex Marro in 42 seconds with punches. Cavalari, a fighter with an extensive background in kickboxing, will be searching for his second MMA victory.

Cage Warriors

  • Along with the recently announced title fight for Cage Warriors 176, a trio of other bouts have been announced for the card:
    • Poland’s Igor Wojtas (11-9) will return to Cage Warriors for a clash against Emerson Oliveira (7-5-1). Wojtas scored a notable win in the promotion earlier this year, beating “Road To UFC” alum Ronal Siahaan on scorecards. He will search for a third consecutive win when he meets Oliveira, who scored a victory on the Brazilian regional scene just two months back.
    • Bantamweight Aaron Towns (0-0) will debut against Richard Kallos (2-2). Towns had a shaky record on the amateur scene, attaining nine wins and eight losses since his first fight back in 2015. Kallos, a fighter who appeared on a Bellator card back in 2019, is returning after a two-fight winning streak was brought to an end in 2021.
    • Returning in hopes of earning another Cage Warriors victory this year, Michael Blair (3-2) will meet Kye Stevens (4-3). After losing his promotional debut to Tariq Pell in just 22 seconds last year, Blair bounced back in April with a decision victory over Dec Dean. Stevens, who will be making his first Cage Warriors appearance, is coming back after suffering a first-round stoppage loss late last year.
  • Cage Warriors is also beginning to add fights for their September 20th show in Manchester, England, which is headlined by a welterweight title clash between James Sheehan and Giannis Bachar.
    • Coming back after a lightning-quick debut, Rhi-Rhi Hudson (1-0) will meet Alish Smith (2-2). Hudson won her pro debut in just 13 seconds last month, putting away Jennifer Trioreau with strikes. Smith will be coming over to Cage Warriors following a pair of victories in the Australian regional promotion HEX Fight Series.
    • Nell Ariano (1-0) will meet light heavyweight newcomer Farshad Nazarnia (0-0). Ariano had a successful pro debut in April, ending the undefeated run of Jamie MacDonald with a second-round stoppage. Nazarnia is turning pro after a solid amateur run, earning seven wins through nine fights.

ICYMI

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Published by Jack Wannan

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