Khabilov vs dos Anjos Scrapped, dos Anjos Now Meets Nurmagomedov at UFC on Fox 11

Khabilov vs dos Anjos Scrapped, dos Anjos Now Meets Nurmagomedov at UFC of Fox 11
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

A lightweight bout between highly touted Russian prospect Rustam Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and high-flying Rafael dos Anjos (20-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) has been scrapped from UFC 170 later this month, with dos Anjos now meeting undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov (21-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) at UFC on FOX 11 in April.

UFC on Fox is slated for April 19th, and will take place at the Amway Center in Orlando Florida, home to the Orlando Magic, and the host of the 2012 NBA all-star game. The event’s main card airs on FOX in the US following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

In a bout which could determine the next UFC lightweight title contender, Brazilian dos Anjos looks to extend his win streak to 6 having defeated Kamel Shalorus, Anthony Njokuani, Mark Bocek, Evan Dunham, and Donal Cerrone in succession. A Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, dos Anjos has finished 8 of his opponents by way of submisison including the UKs Terry Etim at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi to earn submission of the night.

Nurmagomedov enters the bout with dos Anjos having struggle to find an opponent in recent week, with rumoured bouts against Gil Melendez and Nick Diaz failing to materialise. Unbeaten in 21 professional fights, Nurmagomedov was voted '2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year' by the staff at Kingdom MMA after an impressive year, which saw the former Sambo world champion pick up impressive victories over Thiago Tavares in Brazil at the start of the year. Nurmagomedov then followed that up with victories over Abel Trujillo - where he set a lightweight record for most takedowns in a single fight, and a dominating victory over Pat Healy.

With the Addition of Rafael dos Anjos vs Khabib Numagomedov, UFC on FOX 11 is as follows:

Travis Browne vs Fabricio Werdum
Liz Carmouche vs Meisha Tate
Edson Barboza vs Donald Cerrone
Rafael dos Anjos vs Khabib Numagomedov
Pat Healy vs Jorge Masvidal
Yoel Romero vs Brad Tavares

Fighter vs Writer - UFC on FOX 10 - Nurmagomedov vs Heather

Fighter vs Writer: Khabib Nurmagomedov - UFC on FOX 10 

by Ben Heather @benheather

Welcome to another Kingdom MMA fighter vs writer challenge.

For this challenge we challenge some of the biggest names from the world of MMA to give us their picks and fight outcomes for specific MMA events. Then they will be challenged by one of our writers, who will make their own predictions. Previously we have challenged the likes of Luke Barnatt, Jim Alers, Mike Wilkinson, Phil Harris, Cathal Pendred, JoJo Calderwood and Dustin Poirier. Last time out at UFC 168, JoJo Calderwood defeated Sam on his first attempt at a fighter vs writer, so this time I will be trying to regain our pride.

This weeks opponent needs no introduction. He is one of the biggest names in the Lightweight division and is currently ranked #7 in the UFC official rankings. He is the man nobody wants to fight, with all the top stars supposedly turning fights down with him and the lesser ranked fighters trying to call him out to make a name for themselves. He is of course our breakthrough fighter of 2013, the one, the only, "The Eagle" Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The Scoring
If you predict the correct winner of the fight you will get one point and if you predict the correct method of victory you will get an extra point. However, if the fight ends in a stoppage and you predict the round as well the method you could earn a third bonus point. If the fight goes the distance you can only earn a maximum of two points.

The Predictions

Benson Henderson vs Josh Thomson

Khabib's Prediction: Josh Thomson

Heather: I really am looking forward to this fight, it has been the first main event which really excites me in 2014. Thomson finally made it back to the UFC last year and certainly made an impact becoming the first man to knock out Nate Diaz.... Something that Henderson couldn't do when he fought Nate although he did everything but, in a dominant display.

I think Benson will be looking to get back in the win column and prove to the world once again that he is an exciting fighter, now he has lost his title. People have said that he shouldn't have won all the fights in the UFC and i agree they were all very close fights but at this level of MMA that's what I want to see and I think we will see that again on Saturday night. However, I think it will be Benson who gets his arm raised as the smarter fighter. Thomson may take some risks in the fight and I think Benson will be able to exploit these when it happens.

Prediction: Benson Henderson - Unanimous Decision

Gabriel Gonzaga vs Stipe Miocic

Khabib's Prediction: Stipe Miocic

Heather: Stipe has to keep this fight standing if he is going to win the fight, I think if he keeps it standing he will be able to showcase his strikes and start to breakdown Gonzaga before finishing him later in the fight.

That being said, Gonzaga does have one punch KO power and some amazing kicks. Certainly if this fight goes to the ground then Gonzaga will be in his element and in my opinion certainly has the edge at this part of the fight. The only problem is, the only time I see Gonzaga hitting the mat is just after Stipe lands his power punches and finishes the fight

Prediction: Stipe Miocic - TKO Round 3

Donald Cerrone vs Adriano Martins

Khabib's Prediction: Donald Cerrone

Heather: For me going in to this fight I don't know too much about Martins other than his finish against Cruickshank in his UFC debut but I feel the jump in opponent between Daron and the cowboy will be too much for him. Cerrone is one of the best lightweight fighters in the world..... on his day and proved that in his last fight he is back. I think he will carry on his good form in this fight and pick up the win.

Prediction: Donald Cerrone - Sub Round 2

Darren Elkins vs Jeremy Stephens

Khabib's Prediction: Jeremy Stephens 

Heather: I like the underdog in this fight, Elkins has beaten some really tough opponents but came unstuck against Chad Mendes, who is arguably the best featherweight in the world not called Jose Aldo. So that result was nothing to be ashamed by. He then bounced back defeating the highly regard Hatsu Hioki in August and I think he will pick up the win again on Saturday night before looking to the top 10 for his next opponent.

Stephens looks to have got his career back on track with back to back wins since dropping to featherweight following three losses in a row to end his career at lightweight. Last time out he scored a highlight reel knock out over Rony Jason which really put him on the map in the featherweight division but I think Elkins

Prediction: Darren Elkins - Unanimous Decision


So that's our predictions for the fights, we will be live tweeting on Saturday night as always and we will keep you all informed as to how the challenge is going with latest scores throughout the main card.

Thanks again to Khabib for providing us with his picks for this weekends fights and it just leaves me to say.... May the best man win!!

Kingdom MMA 2013 Awards: Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Kingdom MMA Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Award 2013: Khabib Nurmagomedov
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

2013 has seen some real quality fighters rise through the rankings to solidify themselves as serious contenders, and even champions in their respective weight divisions going into 2014.

Emanuel Newton went 4-0 in 2013 for Bellator defeating King Mo twice on route to winning the promotions interim Lightheavyweight title. Nick Newell and Justin Gaethje rose to the forefront of WSOFs lightweight division, going 5-0 between them, finishing all of their opponents in the process.

It was an international affair in the UFC with Irish featherweight Conor McGregor picking up two fantastic wins since making his debut, while on his way to becoming one of the sports biggest and most popular personalities, and Canadian Alexis Davis announcing herself to the world with dominating UFC wins over Rosi Sexton and Liz Carmouche, as well as a win over Shanya Bazler.

For the staff at Kingdom MMA though there was another international fighter worthy of the top honours as Breakthrough fighter of the Year – Russian, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

2013 has seen the Russian run through every opponent he has faced, set a lightweight record for most takedowns in a single fight along the way, particularly impressive when you consider he did that against one-time NAIA All-American collegiate wrestler, Abel Trujilo.

Starting the year with the brutal destruction of veteran Thiago Tavares in Brazil, Nurmagomedov then beat the aforementioned Trujilo, before rounding out his year with a dominating victory over then top 10 lightweight, Pat Healy.

At just 25 years old Nurmagomedov is 21-0 in his professional MMA career, and already looks like a future champion. Nurmagomedov is expected to face Gilbert Melendez at UFC 170 and a win over the former champ would thrust the Russian firmly in the title picture.

Khabib Nurmagomdev has impressed in 2013, and don’t be surprised if he doesn’t remain undefeated in 2014 too. Khabib is a well-deserved winner of Kingdom MMAs Breakthrough fighter of the year award.

Healy vs Nurmagomedov Set for UFC 165

Healy vs Nurmagomedov Set for UFC 165
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

An intriguing lightweight match between Pat Healy(29-16 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (20-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has been added to UFC 165, which takes place September 21st in Canada.

Healy who is ranked in the UFC Lightweight top 10 rankings, return to the octagon following a 90 day suspension following a positive drug test (majunana) after beating Jim Miller in a fight that earned Healy fighter of the night honours as we as sub of the night honours.

Healy who holds notable wins over Carlos Condit, and Brits Dan Hardy, & Paul Daley, entered the UFC on a 6-1 win streak in Strikeforce which was enough to earn Healy a lightwight title shot against Gilbert Melendez, which Melendez withdrew from due to injury on two occasions before both men joined The UFC when Strikeforce closed its doors.

His opponent, Russian import Nurmagomedov enters the bout having never been beaten in 20 professional MMA fights. Nurmagomedov, a combat Sambo champion made his UFC debut in January 2012 and his picked up wins over Kamal Shalorus, Gleison Tibau, Thiago Tavares, and Abel Truijillo. In his most recent fight at UFC 160 Nurmagomedov set a new UFC record for the number of takedowns landed in a single fight - 21 out of 27 attempts.

Although unconfirmed it is likely Healy vs Nurmagomedov will likely feature high on the main card, with the winner likely to enter the lightweight title picture.

UFC 165 takes place on September 21st at The Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with the main card fighting 2 title fights, with Jon Jones defending the light-heavyweight title against Alexander Gustaffason, and Reneo Barao defending his title between Eddie Wineland.

Stay tuned to kingdomMMA.co.uk for more on UFC 165