Three Great MMA Fights Coming In The Month of June

Photo By: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

June is already here and Bellator and the UFC have some killer fights coming up in the month of June. The first two are from the biggest MMA promotion’s first PPV in Asia since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The other fight is a matchup between Bellator Middleweights in a championship bout.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Weili Zhang UFC 275

Former UFC Strawweight champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Weili Zhang will face off in the UFC Octagon at UFC 275 in the rematch of their epic championship bout which has been called the greatest Women’s MMA fight of all time where Zhang inflicted so much damage on Jedrzejczyk that she had a giant hematoma on her head the size of a small Nerf football. It was a major fight for the Division which was only about 6 years old at the time. And got a lot of people that weren’t into the idea of Women’s MMA to actually enjoy female MMA. Zhang has been training with Henry Cejudo in recent camps. It is also rumored that former champion Rose Namajunas has reached out to Jedrzejczyk to help prepare her for the showdown at UFC 275.

Valentina Schevchenko vs. Taila Santos UFC 275

The second fight we’re excited for is a matchup between Flyweight Champion Valentina Schevchenko and Taila Santos for the Flyweight title. Schevchenko has shown mastery in the UFC cage throughout her UFC career with her only two losses of her career coming against Female MMA G.O.A.T. former two division champ Amanda Nunes. Schevchenko’s striking is next level and we think this is a great matchup for the fans as Santos is also a striker growing up in a house with a father who was a Muay Thai coach, she is riding a four fight win streak with wins over ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann, Submission specialist Gillian Robertson and UFC veterans Roxanne Modafferi, and Joanne Wood.

Gegard Mousasi vs Johnny Eblen Bellator 282

Former Strikeforce and UFC veteran Gegard Mousasi will return to the Bellator Cage in a few weeks at Bellator 282 live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. In his last appearance in the Bellator cage Mousasi faced off against a then Undefeated Austin Vanderford and made quick work of the heavily tatted in his second successful title defense which extended Mousasi’s win streak to four wins in a row. Since entering Bellator, Mousasi has an impressive 7-1 promotional record. His opponent Johnny Eblen, much like Vanderford, is undefeated. Mousasi will look to put an end to Eblens run to the top of the Bellator Middleweight division.

Fighter Profile: Gegard Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi is one of the most Underrated fighters on the Bellator roster and in MMA as a whole. On Friday night he made a successful second title defense at Bellator Dublin when he faced off against a then undefeated Austin Vanderford. Mousasi now holds an impressive 49-7-2 record. The Kickboxer and Judo Black Belt has shown that he is at his best in the Bellator Cage where he has faced some of the most talented fighters outside of The UFC, the two time Bellator and former Strikeforce champ has shown amazing striking prowess with 28 Knockout and 12 Submission victories.

Mousasi was born August 1, 1985 in Tehran, Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. He spent time in a refugee camp before moving to Leiden Netherlands where he gained a passion for martial arts first in Judo and later in Boxing. Mousasi became an amatuer boxing champion with an impressive 12-1 record nine of those fights coming by way of knockout. He’d eventually find his way into Kickboxing with a perfect 5-0 record under both K-1 and Muay Thai rules He’d then turn his focus to Mixed Martial Arts where he could combine his skill in striking and judo.

Mousasi made his MMA debut in April 2003 when he faced off against Daniel Spek winning by TKO (Punches.) He’d then face Xander Nel winning by TKO (punches.) He’d then face Gilson Ferreira and this would be a draw for the young fighter who now held a 2-0-1 record. Mousasi would then focus his efforts on Niko Puhakka winning by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in September of 2004. He’d fight in various promotions before ending up in Pride, he’d then also fight for Dream winning the Middleweight Grand Prix 2008 winning the belt by Submission (Triangle Choke.) He’d also fight for Strikeforce capturing the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

When the UFC purchased Strikeforce Mousasi would move to the UFC with 19 other Strikeforce athletes. Mousasi would make his UFC debut against Ilir Latifi winning by Unanimous Decision in April of 2013. He’d then face Lyoto Machida losing by Unanimous Decision. Mark Muñoz would be next for Mousasi he’d win by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) He’d fight for the promotion for 4 more years with a record of 9-3 for the promotion. He’d then Join Bellator where he’d win the Middleweight world title with one successful title defense the first time and two title defenses.

We can’t wait to see who faces Mousasi next when he defends his title for a third time. We hope the MMA veteran can stay atop the fight game as long as possible.

Great Fights Coming Your Way In 2022!

What's ahead for Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya and every other UFC champion — UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Gegard Mousasi vs. Austin Vanderford

Bellator Middleweight World Champion Gegard Mousasi faces undefeated, number one contender Austin Vanderford in the main event of Bellator Dublin on February 25th live from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Mousasi is making his second title defense of his second reign as Bellator Middleweight Champion. He’s riding a three fight win streak including victories over Lyoto Machida, Douglas Lima, and John Salter. The Middleweight champ has a lengthy fight record in the sport’s two biggest promotions. He will be facing Austin Vanderford who last fought Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259 Cyborg vs. Smith 2. Vanderford is originally from Alaska and is currently fighting out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek FL.

Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush

Islam Makhachev is hailed by some as the second coming of former Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Some even say that even though Makhachev is not undefeated like his mentor Nurmagomedov, he is a better fighter. Mackachev is riding a nine fight win streak and before his loss to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 he was riding an impressive twelve fight win streak. Makhachev hopes that with a win over Beneil Dariush he will get closer to a title fight than ever before. Dariush Is also riding a win streak of his own winning his last seven fights including victories over prominent Lightweights like Tony Ferguson. Dariush is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is also a Black Belt in Muay Thai so it’ll be interesting which weapons in his arsenal he will pull out when he faces Makhachev.

Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker 2

Israel Adesanya will return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 271 to make his fourth title defense against Robert Whittaker who he won the Middleweight title against at UFC 243 in October of 2019 by KO. Adesanya has been absolutely unstoppable at Middleweight winning every contest he has ever fought at 185. His only loss in MMA came as a result of a move up to attempt to become a double champion by taking then Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Błachowicz’s title. Robert Whittaker has been on a three fight win streak since losing his title to Adesanya including victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum. Before losing to Adesanya, Whittaker was on an impressive nine fight win streak including wins over Derek Brunson, Ronaldo Souza, and Yoel Romero.

Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane

UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou will face off against Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane in January at UFC 270 in a five round championship unifying fight. Nagannou is coming off his title win at UFC 260 when he beat Heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic. Ngannou is on a five fight win streak and he hopes to make it six when he faces the undefeated interim champ Gane. Gane was Ngannou’s former training partner, and whatever Ngannou’s former coach is doing for his athletes is working incredibly well as Gane has climbed to the top of the division rather quickly with victories over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Volkov, and Derrick Lewis with the last fight against Lewis earning him the UFC interim Heavyweight title. It’ll be interesting to see how these two do when they step into the UFC Octagon.