This Morning’s MMA News In Short: Alex Pereira’s kickboxing rival earns UFC contract

Alex Pereira. Photo via YouTube

Get updated with the latest news from the world of combat sports. Frontkick will provide the morning’s MMA news in short!

White is all for Nunes returning to the UFC

UFC CEO Dana White is all for former two-division Amanda Nunes returning to the promotion.

“She looks great,” White said. ”Looks like she’s still in shape. So you know where her head is at, and I love that about here. There’s a lot of things I love about her, I love that about her. She’s keeping an eye on who wins the title next and I think she’s teasing that she might be interested in coming back.”

“I love Amanda Nunes. I have an incredible relationship with her. I would absolutely love to see her come back.”

Smith: Oezdemir could get title shot next

Former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith are not so sure that Magomed Ankalaev will be the next fighter to challenge Alex Pereira for the belt.

“They’re not rushing Ankalaev into a title fight for a reason,” Smith said at the The Bohnfire podcast. “I think if that fight lays an egg and Volkan Oezdemir goes in there and finishes Carlos Ulberg, I think Volkan Oezdemir has a great case to make for a title shot.”

“If (Aleksandar) Rakic wins, I think Rakic goes right into a title shot because Alex Pereira’s already shown a little bit of interest in Rakic.”

Pereira’s rival earns UFC contract

Artem Vakhitov is a two-time Glory light heavyweight champion. He’s also the last man to defeat Pereira in kickboxing. On Tuesday, he got signed to the UFC after maintaining his 100 percent finishing rate with a brutal first-round stoppage against Islem Masraf.

DWCS 75 results:

• Artem Vakhitov def. Islem Masraf via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:23
• Kody Steele def. Chasen Blair via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:07
• Mario Pinto def. Lucas Camacho via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:43
• Islam Dulatov def. Vanilto Antunes via knockout (elbow) – Round 1, 2:44
• Sean Gauci def. Anthony Drilich via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

THE RIGHT HAND FROM ARTEM VAKHITOV 💥 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/9f379qJMX0

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 9, 2024

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