By MMA Junkie Staff
January 4, 2021 9:10 pm

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Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/video-vote-lfa-best-fight-2020-mma-highlights

If you’re an astute observer of the international scene, Jiri Prochazka (27-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is undoubtedly already on your radar following an incredible 11-1 run under the Rizin FF banner in Japan, where he racked up stoppage wins over the likes of big-show veterans C.B. Dollaway, Kazuyuki Fujita, Brandon Halsey, Jake Heun, Satoshi Ishii, Muhammed Lawal, Fabio Maldonado and even current Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.

If you’re the kind of fan that only watches UFC, surely he at least got on your radar with a second-round stoppage of former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at this past July’s UFC 251.

Either way, there’s no denying that this 28-year-old Czech fighter is a force to be reckoned with and one that is unquestionably coming into his prime.

Prochazka is currently ranked No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, but he’ll have an early change to take a big step up when he faces No. 3 Dominick Reyes on Feb. 27. With Jan Blachowicz putting his UFC 205-pound title on the line just one week later, Prochazka could conceivably line up for the winner later in the year, so a summer title shot isn’t out of the question – though much will depend on the result of the Polish champ against “The Last Stylebender.”

And listen, long-reigning champ Jon Jones saying he’s got no desire to come back to 205 pounds just opens up the title picture even more. Truthfully, I think Prochazka has the ability to compete with any of the previously mentioned names – but it all starts with Reyes. A victory there, and the sky is the limit.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-news-predictions-champions-end-of-year-stipe-moicic-khabib-nurmagomedov

Santiago Ponzinibbio has a new opponent for his return fight.

Muslim Salikhov has been forced out of UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16 due to COVID-19 related health issues and Li Jingliang (17-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) will step in to face Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie, but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

Winner of seven straight, Ponzinibbio hasn’t competed since a fourth-round knockout of Neil Magny in November 2018. The Argentine has been dealing with an array of health issues that have kept him sidelined and will finally make his long-awaited return in the UFC’s first event of the year.

In his most recent outing this past March, Jingliang saw his three-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Neil Magny at UFC 248. Prior to that, Jingliang picked up a decision over Daichi Abe and stoppages over David Zawada and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Jingliang was scheduled to face Dwight Grant at UFC 256, but the fight was scrapped after Grant tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week.

With the addition, the latest lineup for UFC Fight Night on Jan. 16 includes:

• Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
• Mike Grundy vs. Nik Lentz
• Jacob Kilburn vs. Austin Lingo
• Carlos Felipe vs. Justin Tafa
• Punahele Soriano vs. Dusko Todorovic
• Bethe Correia vs. Wu Yanan
• Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese
• Ramazan Emeev vs. David Zawada
• Phil Hawes vs. Nassourdine Imavov
• Joaquin Buckley vs. Alessio Di Chirico
• Li Jingliang vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/muslim-salikhov-out-santiago-ponzinibbio-vs-li-jingliang-ufc-fight-night-january-16-booking

By MMA Junkie Staff
January 4, 2021 10:00 am

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Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/video-vote-lfa-best-knockout-2020-mma-highlights-ko

Khamzat Chimaev hands down had to be the no-brainer choice for MMA Junkie’s 2020 “Newcomer of the Year.”

Although there was plenty of fresh blood thriving in the UFC in 2020, no fighter made a bigger splash than Chimaev (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC). The 26-year-old became a rising star in the MMA world and managed to land on the UFC’s official welterweight rankings in just a span of five months.

Chimaev made his UFC debut on short notice at UFC on ESPN 13 in Abu Dhabi, smashing veteran and former BAMMA middleweight champion John Phillips to then submit him with a D’arce choke in the second round.

Phillips had more than 30 professional fights while Chimaev had just six. It was a big jump in experience for a UFC debut. And yet, Chimaev fought composed and dominated Phillips all the way to the finish.

But a successful UFC debut wasn’t enough as Chimaev, in Khabib Nurmagomedov-esque English, let everybody know he wanted more.

“I want to fight next week, today, tomorrow, doesn’t matter – I’m so hungry,” he said. “I wait here. If you have fight, give me fight. I’m going to be champion here.”

And just as he requested, UFC president Dana White booked him in a welterweight fight against newcomer Rhys McKee 10 days later at UFC on ESPN 14. It was a one-sided beatdown, and Chimaev was swinging the hammer. Chimaev broke the record for quickest turnaround between non-tournament UFC wins, finishing McKee in the first round.

Later in September, Chimaev moved back up to 185 pounds and fought long-time veteran Gerald Meerschaert. The fight ended in just 17 seconds as Chimaev knocked out Meerschaert with a sharp right hand.

The UFC tried to get Chimaev a fourth fight in 2020, throwing him in the headlining act of UFC Fight Night 183 against top-five welterweight contender Leon Edwards. However, the fight fell through as Edwards dropped out with COVID-19.

There’s no denying Chimaev’s performances and wins were beyond impressive, but his charisma and trash talk shining through was what made him a quick fan favorite. “Borz” had around 50,000 Instagram followers prior to his UFC debut, and he now finishes the year with about 1.2 million. He’s easily among the most popular UFC fighters today.

Chimaev was the new sensation of 2020, and that’s why he’s MMA Junkie’s “Newcomer of the Year.”

Honorable mention

Jamahal Hill

Jamahal Hill should be 3-0 in his start with the UFC, but the devil’s lettuce got him in trouble.

Hill (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) defeated Darko Stosic, Klidson Abreu and former UFC interim title challenger Ovince Saint Preux in his 2020 run, but unfortunately his Abreu victory was turned into a no contest after testing positive for marijuana.

“Sweet Dreams” looked good in his 2020 start in the UFC and even picked up the attention of former UFC light heavyweight champion and arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA history – Jon Jones.

Brandon Royval

Brandon Royval is one of the many Contender Series products who’s found success in the UFC. He might actually be the most successful Contender Series alumnus of 2020 if you go by rankings. Royval (12-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) sits at No. 6 in the UFC’s official flyweight rankings.

Royval had solid submission wins over notable names such as Tim Elliott and Kai Kara-France. He did lose to Brandon Moreno, but Moreno is arguably the best contender in the division. “Raw Dawg” definitely had a nice 2020.

Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria didn’t make the rankings, but he promises to be a top fighter at featherweight.

“El Matador” outpointed Youssef Zalal and stopped Damon Jackson in brutal fashion in his first year with the UFC. At just 23 years of age and unbeaten in his MMA career, Topuria (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is easily one of the best prospects in the UFC and looks to be a future title contender.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/2020-newcomer-of-year-khamzat-chimaev-ufc