In our ‘Five MMA Fights To Watch’ This August we take a look around the globe at yet more super fights, super cards and compelling bouts that are happening during this month…
Jose Torres vs. Abdiel Velazquez – Titan FC 40
Two time IMMAF amateur world champion Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres looks to add a first professional MMA title to his resume as he faces off against Abdiel Velazquez for Titan FC Interim-Flyweight strap this Friday (August 5) at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
24-year old Torres has continued the blistering form which saw the Illnois native win 25 amateur fights in a row. He is 2-0 since making the jump to the professional ranks, defeating Travis Taylor on his professional debut, then scoring a lopsided victory against 17-fight veteran Reynaldo Walter Duarte at Titan FC 38 earning him a shot at Flyweight gold.
Florida native Velazquez will enter the Titan FC cage looking to earn his third win in a row since dropping a unanimous decision to Jarred Brook in October 2015. The 23-year old who scored the biggest win of his pro career when he defeated Alexis Vila last month at Titan FC 39 will be chumping at the bit to derail the Torres hype train and be crowned interim champion as well.
Brendan Loughnane vs. Eden Newton – Tanko Fighting Championships
In a Lightweight grudge match, 26-year-old Brendan Loughnane takes on fellow Mancunian Eden Newton for the right to be called the ‘King of Manchester’.
The fight which will serve as the main event of debuting combat sports event TANKO, will see the return of No. 6 ranked European Lightweight Loughnane.
Tough striker Eden Newton, who is currently riding a four-fight win streak having finished all of his opponents, will look to overcome the odds at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester later this month and claim ultimate bragging rights over one of the UK’s best.
Andrew Leone vs. Adriano Moraes – ONE Championship: Heroes of the World
Flyweights go to war in the main event of ONE Championship 45th show which takes places on Saturday, August 13th 2016 at the Cotai Arena at The Venetian in Macao, China.
Adriano Moraes is considered one of Brazil’s most dangerous Flyweights, with a high-level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His tricky style saw him crowned the ONE Flyweight champion when he scored a second round guillotine submission win over Geje Eustaquio at the top Asian promotions Rise of the Kingdom show in September 2014. Unfortunately the 27-year old would then drop a split decision to undefeated Kazakhstan sensation, Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov in November 2015.
Since his setback the man they call “Black Diamond” has rebounded with a brabo choke submission over Eugene Toquero in March and will look to make it back-to-back wins.
26-year old Leone originally from New York, now trains out of Bali Muay Thai & MMA will also enter the ONE championship cage knowing that a fourth consecutive win will earn him a shot at the Flyweight title. Leone used his wrestling to beat standouts Geje Eustaquio, Kyung Ho Kang and Soo Chul Kim.
Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC 202
In a battle of the hard hitters, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Glover Teixeira clash in the co-main event of a stacked UFC 202 for the right to fight Light-Heavyweight champion Daniel Corimer.
No. 2 ranked 205lber Johnson will look to continue the sensational form that has seen the Blackzilian rack-up 11 wins in his last 12, defeating the likes of Antonio Rogerio Nigueira, Alexander Gustafsson and most recently Ryan Bader. Another win for “Rumble” will surely earn him a chance at revenge against the only man to beat him in the last four-years, champion DC.
His opponent, Brazil’s Teixeira who is currently ranked at No. 3 in the UFC’s stacked 205lb division has also been in a rich vain of form as of late. Since suffering back-to-back loses to former title holder Jon Jones and Phil Davis, Teixeira has beaten Ovince St. Preux, Patrick Cummins and Rashad Evans.
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 2 – UFC 202
The main event of UFC 202 will see possibly the biggest rematch in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as brash Irishman, Featherweight kingpin Conor McGregor looks to avenge his sole loss inside the Octagon against Stockton bad boy Nate Diaz.
No. 5 ranked Lightweight Diaz will look to build upon the momentum that has seen him become one of the most talked about fighters in mixed martial arts.
The 170lb grudge match will has been building since March, when Diaz scored an emphatic second round submission victory over McGregor on just 11 days notice at UFC 196.
Despite a loss, Dubliner McGregor goes into this bout as a slight favourite after dominating the first seven minutes of their previous encounter. A win for the SBGi trained fighter will solidify his position at the summit of MMA’s multi-billion dollar mountain. Alas, a second defeat will only add further fuel to the fire of MMA’s apparent Anti-Christ Diaz.
