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UFC Fight Night 184 results: Alexander Volkov pieces up Alistair Overeem for TKO

When you put a pair of fearsome finishers like Alexander Volkov and Alistair Overeem into the smaller of the UFC’s two cages, the fight isn’t likely to go the distance.

That was the case Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 184. That turned out to be great news for Volkov (48-18 MMA, 13-7 UFC) and a bad night for Overeem (32-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC).

Volkov, a former Bellator heavyweight champion, had the most impressive victory of his UFC run and quite simply pieced up Overeem before finishing him with a TKO at the 2:06 mark of Round 2.

“I feel great. I feel really excited,” Volkov said. “It is my time.”

Volkov simply looked the sharper of the two from the outset. His low kicks and body kicks were on point and kept Overeem from building any momentum. When Overeem did manage to throw, they were single shots, and while a few of them landed, that wasn’t going to get the job done.

Volkov forced Overeem to cover up with a wicked flurry late in the opening round. While Overeem escaped the first round, there was an air of finality hovering at the UFC Apex. Volkov wasted little time going to work in the second round, each punch and kick landing hard, and it became obvious it was a matter of when, not if. A final left by Volkov sent Overeem awkwardly tumbling forward on hands and knees to the mat, and referee Jason Herzog waved things off before Overeem took any more damage.

With his 22nd career KO/TKO win, Volkov has now win two in a row and three of his past four. Overeem, in his 15th career KO/TKO loss, had a two-fight winning streak snapped.

The heavyweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 184 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

Complete UFC Fight Night 184 results:

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-fight-night-184-results-alexander-volkov-tko-knockout-alistair-overeem

UFC Fight Night 184 bonuses: Alexander Volkov’s finish of Alistair Overeem earns ‘POTN’

The UFC’s first Las Vegas event of 2021 is in the books, and as is the case no matter where in the world the promotion may be, four fighters walked away with an extra $50,000 after putting in impressive work.

The UFC went with a “Fight of the Night” award and two “Performance of the Night” awards after UFC Fight Night 184. Earning $50,000 apiece for their efforts were Beneil Dariush and Diego Ferreira, who took “Fight of the Night,” as well as Alexander Volkov and Cory Sandhagen, who each won “Performance of the Night” awards.

UFC Fight Night 184 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streamed on ESPN+.

Without further ado, a closer look at each of the evening’s award winners:

‘Performance of the Night’: Alexander Volkov

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (R-L) Alexander Volkov of Russia punches Alistair Overeem of the Netherlands in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

In case there was any doubt, now there can be no denying: Volkov (33-8 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is on the short list of top contenders for the UFC heavyweight title.

The former Bellator champion earned the most impressive victory of his UFC stint on Saturday night when he picked apart Alistair Overeem, who entered the fight the winner of four out of his past five fights, in Saturday night’s main event.

That’s two straight wins for Volkov. And in earning “Performance of the Night,” he now his three post-fight awards in his UFC career.

‘Performance of the Night’: Cory Sandhagen

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: Cory Sandhagen lands a flying knee to knock out Frankie Edgar in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

For the second time in as many fights, Sandhagen (14-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) finished a major name as he continues climbing the bantamweight ranks.

Last time, it was Marlon Moraes. This time, he needed just 28 seconds to knock former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar cold with a vicious flying knee.

That’s certainly good for “Performance of the Night.” Like Volkov, this marked the third post-fight bonus of Sandhagen’s UFC career.

‘Fight of the Night’: Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Beneil Dariush of Iran kicks Diego Ferreira of Brazil in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on February 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

The lightweight main-card rematch between Dariush and Ferreira was one circled by those in the know as a fight which could steal the show.

And that the two competitor did. In just a superlative display of all-around MMA, the duo shined both in the standup and on the mat.

After 15 minutes of excellent action, Dariush had just a little more to offer, and he sealed his second win over Ferreira, this time via split decision.

Both take home well-earned $50K bonuses. Dariush earned his fifth career post-fight bonus, while Ferreira took home his fourth.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-184-bonuses-alexander-volkov-knockout-cory-sandhagen-beneil-dariush

Cory Sandhagen on title picture: T.J. Dillashaw cutting line would be ‘disrespectful to the sport’

LAS VEGAS – Cory Sandhagen has called next.

In the UFC Fight Night 184 co-main event Saturday, Sandhagen (14-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) toppled a former UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, with a 28-second body-stiffening flying knee knockout.

At UFC 259 on March 6, UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan will make his first title defense against Aljamain Sterling. Sandhagen wants the winner. With his win over Edgar, Sandhagen thinks he’s done enough to claim dibs against whoever holds the belt on the morning of March 7.

“I think I’m better than Yan,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie on Saturday. “If he wins, I want Yan. Same with Sterling, too, though. I’m a different animal. You guys have seen in the last two fights.”

Sandhagen’s only UFC loss was to Sterling at UFC 250, but Sandhagen believes his statement wins since show he’s a much improved fighter.

“I’m a different animal since that fight with Sterling,” he said. “I’m grateful that he got to teach me a lesson. But the next time we fight, I’m going to hurt Aljamain. I want to fight the winner of that fight in July or whenever they want really. But nah, man. I’ve got to be next for the title. There’s no one else even in the conversation, I don’t think – especially after a performance like that.”

Sandhagen dismissed the possibility someone could step in front of him and claim the next 135-pound title shot after UFC 259 – especially former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, who is now eligible to compete again after he served a two-year suspension for EPO.

“I heard Yan doing an interview talking about how he wants to fight T.J. (Dillashaw) after. T.J. is coming off some of the most serious PEDs you can do in the sport,” Sandhagen said. “That seems disrespectful to the sport. I’ve been working. I’ve been working these last two years. I’m ready for the belt.”

As for the win against Edgar (24-9-1 MMA, 18-9-1 UFC), Team Elevation’s Sandhagen was proud of his performance. That said, Sandhagen doesn’t want to see anyone get seriously hurt in a fight, especially not a legend like Edgar.

“I’m glad it was him and not me,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “This isn’t a game. It doesn’t feel good to watch someone crawl up and be all dazed, especially when it’s Frankie Edgar, who everyone loves, including myself.”

Despite his status near the top of the UFC 135-pound division, there’s still much Sandhagen has to learn. Through constant improvement, Sandhagen realized his ceiling is high.

“I don’t really think I still even know that much about this sport, to be honest with you,” Sandhagen said. “I think the better I get, the more I realize how not great I am in certain spots, which is a good thing because I know that comparatively, I’m much better than a lot of people. I always have a learner’s brain. I don’t think I’m anywhere near 100 percent. There’s so much to be learned in this sport. I don’t think it’ll ever end. That will never end.”

UFC Fight Night 184 took place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streamed on ESPN+.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-fight-night-184-cory-sandhagen-dismisses-tj-dillashaw-leapfrog-disrespectful

UFC Fight Night 184 loses Cody Stamann vs. Askar Askar hours before event

Cody Stamann vs. Askar Askar has been removed from UFC Fight Night 184.

The UFC has announced the featherweight fight, which was scheduled for tonight’s main card, has been canceled after Askar (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw after he was not medically cleared to compete.

The cancellation marks the third opponent who withdrew from a UFC Fight Night 184 booking against Stamann (19-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC). Merab Dvalishvili was originally scheduled for the fight but withdrew after catching COVID-19; Stamann was later paired up with Andre Ewell.

Like Dvalishvili, Ewell also withdrew due to a positive COVID-19 test. On less than one week’s notice, Askar stepped in to replace Ewell in what would’ve been his promotional debut.

With the removal the UFC Fight Night 184 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen
Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson
Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez
Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith
Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa
Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal
Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev
Ode Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-fight-night-184-cody-stamann-vs-askar-askar-canceled

Eddie Alvarez hails Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler’s UFC 257 wins: ‘The good guys conquered’

Eddie Alvarez shares a rich history with the majority of the fighters that competed in the main and co-main events of UFC 257.

In a pivotal night for the UFC’s lightweight division, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler reigned supreme Jan. 23 as they positioned themselves at the top of the 155-pound ladder.

Having gone into battle with Conor McGregor and both Poirier and Chandler twice, Alvarez (30-7) admits he was a little surprised with the way things panned out at UFC 257.

Poirier scored an upset finish of McGregor in the night’s headliner, while former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler made quick work of Dan Hooker in the co-main event.

In a night of unexpected results, Alvarez admits there was some personal satisfaction seeing the underdogs cash in with big performances.

“Dustin Poirier putting on them sprints that he puts on, I thought that would be the best way that he could get it done,” Alvarez told MMA Junkie. “I agreed that if he gave Conor the space that Conor can relax and create stuff that he’d have a bad night. But Dustin just fought a beautiful game plan by kicking that leg and then putting a short sprint on him and being able to cause him to panic and put him away.

“And then Mike Chandler coming out and, in your debut, with all that pressure, with all them people saying, ‘You’re not this and you’re not that,’ to be able to go out there and execute the way he did, it was just a beautiful night for MMA. I think a lot of times in this sport, they don’t care if you’re the bad guy or good guy. The fight gods give the winner to whoever the winner is, and the good guys conquered that night. It doesn’t always go that way, but it’s beautiful when it does.”

Alvarez, who has captured lightweight titles in both the UFC and Bellator, is on a quest to add another major title to his resume in ONE Championship. His next outing will see him take on fellow contender Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT 1 on April 7.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-news-eddie-alvarez-hails-dustin-poirier-michael-chandler-ufc-257