UFC Fight Night 282 is set to kick off in Abu Dhabi, with former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev going up against Bogdan Guskov. But seriously, while that’s big, it’s only a small piece of the combat sports action this week. Former UFC fighters are absolutely everywhere, still grinding it out on the regional scene, delivering some wild results, and setting up even bigger matchups in the coming days.
Regional Scene: Ups, Downs, and TKO Finishes
Last week saw a bunch of familiar names stepping back into the cage, and it was a mixed bag for sure. Johnny Case landed a huge TKO win over Tenya Yoshimura at RIZIN LANDMARK 15, showing he still has that knockout power. Mike Mathetha also grabbed a TKO win, taking out Eduardo Ramon at JCK Fight Night 121. And talk about a statement, Jesus Pinedo got a TKO win against Levy Saul Marroquin at PFL Austin, while Julio Arce secured a unanimous decision over Caolan Loughran on the same card. Viacheslav Borshchev even picked up a unanimous decision win in bareknuckle boxing at IBA, proving these vets are willing to try anything.
But it wasn’t all wins. Elias Silverio, Augusto Sakai, Impa Kasanganay, Ashley Yoder, and Joe Giannetti all took losses, some by decision, Kasanganay by knockout. It just goes to show you how tough it is out there. Even Greg Hardy got back in the win column with a TKO over Joseph Holmes at PFC 53. The regional scene is no joke, and these guys are proving it every single week.
This Week’s Battles: Karate Combat Featuring UFC Legends
The action doesn’t stop, especially with a stacked Karate Combat 62 card on July 24 that features a ton of former UFC talent. Seriously, we’re talking about matchups that are going to be absolutely insane. Jose Johnson, who’s sitting at 1-1 since leaving the UFC, is taking on Mateus Santos at Fury FC 122. Then at Karate Combat, we get to see Daniel Lacerda, who has an impressive 3-1 MMA and 1-0 karate record post-UFC, face Andre Ewell, who’s gone 1-1 MMA, 3-1 in exhibition boxing, 1-1 bareknuckle boxing, and 1-2 karate since his UFC exit. Talk about a journeyman, Ewell is out there competing in everything! Lucas Martins, holding a 5-4 MMA and 1-0 karate record since his UFC days, is also fighting Oussama Assli at Karate Combat 62.
But the biggest must-see fight has to be Uriah Hall going head-to-head with Sam Alvey at Karate Combat 62. Hall, with a 1-1 boxing and 2-0 karate record since his last UFC fight in 2022, is still bringing that “Prime Time” energy. And Alvey, with a 1-0 MMA and 4-1 (1 NC) karate record post-UFC, is always down for a brawl. These are two guys who have been in some absolute wars, and seeing them clash in karate is going to be wild. This isn’t just a comeback; it’s a statement from these veterans that they’re still here, still fighting, and still putting on a show.
With so many former UFC stars still making noise in various combat sports this week, every fight feels like it has something on the line. Are these guys just looking for a paycheck, or are they truly trying to reinvent their careers and prove they still belong on top? We’re about to find out. Make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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