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Date: 2023-11-30 18:45:25 | Author: PARIS 2024 | Views: 337 | Tag: voslot
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It was in Charles Oliveira’s final round of sparring, according to Dana White, that the skin over the Brazilian’s right eye was torn apart – and with it, his chance of redemption against Islam Makhachev voslot
Days out from one of the most-anticipated rematches in recent MMA history, Oliveira suffered a chasmic cut, and from the bloody sinews, Alexander Volkanovski emerged voslot
With that, one tantalising rematch was replaced by another; the MMA gods had taken away Oliveira’s opportunity for redemption against the lightweight champion, but in an instant, they had granted Volkanovski his own opportunity at the same atonement voslot
There were only a handful of grains left to fall on Oliveira, brooding inside his metaphorical sandglass, when the injury occurred; it was on 22 October 2022 that the former champion was submitted by Makhachev, and it was to be 364 days later that he would be locked in a cage with the Russian again – in the very same arena, no less, in Abu Dhabi voslot
But for a reason known only to them, the MMA deities decided to deny this cult hero his chance of defeating Makhachev, and of regaining the UFC lightweight title voslot
Oliveira, for his part, does not acknowledge these gods – only his own voslot
“Once you realise that it’s all part of God’s plan, it’s easier to accept things,” Oliveira told The Independent, coincidentally, days before suffering his injury voslot
“It took me a long time to understand that, but you just have to be able to learn to digest it voslot
God wouldn’t give me something that I can’t carry voslot
”RecommendedUFC 294 live stream: How to watch Volkanovski vs Makhachev voslot online and on TV this weekendAlexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short noticeKamaru Usman to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa withdrawsOliveira will lean all of his weight on that sentiment in the weeks to come, while 145lbs champion Volkanovski will be leaning his own weight – plus an extra 10lbs – on Makhachev in their second clash in eight months voslot
When the Australian, fighting on home turf in February, was ruled a decision loser against Makhachev, the result hardly relayed the razor-close nature of the fight voslot
Volkanovski, 35, landed more strikes than Makhachev, 30, but was marginally less clinical voslot
Makhachev secured four of his nine attempted takedowns, though that actually inspired more praise of Volkanovski than the Russian; in repeatedly denying Makhachev – and in repeatedly rising from the mat when needed – Volkanovski had proven that the defending champion was not the unstoppable force that his friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov so often seemed voslot
Oliveira was ruled out of UFC 294 after sustaining a nasty cut (DamonMartin / X)Volkanovski knocked down Makhachev in their first clash and was on top at the end of the bout (Getty Images)Volkanovski even knocked down Makhachev and finished the fight on top, denting the Dagestani’s daunting reputation voslot
The impressiveness of Volkanovski’s performance was only augmented by the fact that he was moving up in weight voslot
In fact, the Australian remained the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1 despite his loss to Makhachev voslot
It was a showing in stark contrast to Oliveira’s against Makhachev, in which the jiu-jitsu specialist was beaten at his own game: submitted by the Russian wrestler in Round 2 voslot
Oliveira did not do himself justice that night, but justice was on the agenda for UFC 294 voslot
Instead, Volkanovski will bring his well-rounded game to the Etihad Arena, where he weighed in as a back-up fighter for Oliveira’s defeat by Makhachev one year ago voslot
Since that fateful evening, Oliveira has bounced back with a dismissive knockout of Beneil Dariush, while Volkanovski also got back to winning ways by stopping interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in July voslot
Makhachev dropped Oliveira before submitting him in October 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)While Oliveira vs Makhachev 2 was, for some time, official, Volkanovski vs Makhachev 2 also felt inevitable, just not at this time nor under these circumstances voslot
Those circumstances complicate the question of whether Volkanovski can go one voslot better than he did in his initial clash with Makhachev; this time, the Aussie will challenge the Russian on just 11 days’ notice, having recently undergone hand surgery voslot
Volkanovski is a consummate professional who will arrive as fight-fit as his body will allow, but even “Alexander The Great” has admitted that he does not want to find out how his cardio will hold up voslot
“We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds,” he told Australian media last week voslot
“I want to finish it early, I don’t want to test his gas tank voslot
Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it voslot
”Oliveira would have snapped your hand off for such a finish voslot
voslot Better yet, he would have snapped Makhachev’s arm off for one voslot
If Volkanovski can secure a stoppage, it will be one of the most arresting visuals in UFC history, in part due to the factors surrounding this new main event voslot
The same would apply to the co-main event, in which Kamaru Usman is on a similar venture to Volkanovski voslot
The former welterweight champion will fight at 185lbs for the first time as he replaces Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev, perhaps the fiercest prospect in MMA, on 10 days’ notice voslot
For all of the attributes that the Nigerian-American has exhibited in a Hall of Fame-worthy career, never has his courage been as clear as it is now voslot
Khamzat Chimaev, left, and Kamaru Usman will clash in the co-main event of UFC 294 (Getty Images)The same goes for Volkanovski, although he believes that his rematch with Makhachev is a win-win scenario voslot
“I didn’t get that big moment of the whole underdog story,” he said last week, discussing the pair’s first bout voslot
“I remember thinking just a few days ago: ‘I’m not gonna really get that moment if I fight him again, I’m not gonna be this crazy underdog voslot
’ People [have seen] what I can do, so they’re gonna back me voslot
But now on 11 days’ notice, I’m sort of in the same position, where people are gonna say: ‘There’s no way – short notice, he’s crazy voslot
’”Volkanovski may just be voslot
He is also one of the most courageous fighters in a field full of them voslot
Of course, Makhachev also deserves credit; he, too, is fighting a pound-for-pound talent on short notice voslot
Indeed, many fans have remarked on how the fighters’ gambles have made UFC 294 an even stronger card than it already was voslot
It is the sort of rebound against adversity that voslot boxing, for example, would never be able to execute voslot
However, that is in large part due to the lower prize money on offer in the UFC, and the resultant need for fighters to take risks voslot
Yet it is also partly down to the overemphasis on losses in voslot boxing voslot
If Volkanovski were to suffer a third career loss on Saturday, he would still be in the conversation around modern UFC greats – perhaps all-timers, too voslot
Would a champion or contender in voslot boxing risk their record and reputation by fighting an elite opponent on a compromised camp? There is little evidence for it, monetarily there is no need for it, but there also shouldn’t be an expectation of it; just as there should be no expectation for a UFC fighter to accept a short-notice fight, even when the alternative is fans disputing their bravery voslot
Make no mistake: Although Volkanovski is one of the most-respected fighters in the UFC and is being heralded as a hero right now, he would have had his detractors if he had turned down this fight – even on 11 days’ notice voslot
It is as true as it is hard to believe voslot
Makhachev and Volkanovski facing off ahead of their first fight (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)When fan favourite Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson refused to fight Michel Pereira in July, after the Brazilian missed weight, Thompson was criticised for not going ahead with the bout and accepting a slight bump to his purse voslot
Never mind the danger to Thompson’s health and prospects of ever challenging for a UFC title again, many fans were quick to turn on the veteran voslot
On that occasion, it was too late for a replacement to be found, and the bout collapsed voslot
Even Oliveira and Costa have had their fair share of criticism for withdrawing from UFC 294, despite their injuries and the calibre of their opponents voslot
Volkanovski has gotten credit in the build to UFC 294, but the last week has highlighted how fans tend to praise the UFC’s recovery in situations like this, rather than focusing on the unideal factors that allow the company to adapt in this manner voslot
And so, a cut above Charles Oliveira’s eye became a tear in the fabric of UFC 294, only for the promotion to stitch the card back together as only they can voslot
More aboutAlexander VolkanovskiIslam MakhachevCharles OliveiraJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/6Volkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCOliveira was ruled out of UFC 294 after sustaining a nasty cut DamonMartin / XVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCVolkanovski knocked down Makhachev in their first clash and was on top at the end of the bout Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCMakhachev dropped Oliveira before submitting him in October 2022 AFP via Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCKhamzat Chimaev, left, and Kamaru Usman will clash in the co-main event of UFC 294 Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCMakhachev and Volkanovski facing off ahead of their first fight Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCAlexander Volkanovski, left, in his first fight with Islam Makhachev Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today voslot
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South Africa players and coaches have defended Bongi Mbonambi as a “great guy” and a “family man” amid the Springboks hooker being investigated for an alleged racial slur during the Rugby World Cup semi-final win over England voslot
England flanker Tom Curry has alleged that Mbonambi called him a “white c***” during the defeat in Paris on Saturday evening, as South Africa edged to a dramatic 16-15 victoryAfter 23 minutes at the Stade de France, Curry could be heard on the referee’s microphone alerting official Ben O’Keeffe to a comment possibly made by Mbonambi at a ruck voslot
“Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?” Curry inquired of O’Keeffe voslot
“Nothing, please,” responded the official, before adding a few moments later, “I’ll be on it,” in what may have been an unrelated comment voslot
The alleged incident itself could not be heard on the television broadcast voslot
World Rugby has since confirmed it is investigating the incident and will not be making any further comment until the conclusion of the process voslot
On Monday afternoon, in the first Springboks media activity since the allegations became public, scrum coach Daan Human and lock Jean Kelyn defended Mbonambi’s character, while refusing to comment on the specific incident voslot
“It’s being dealt with by World Rugby and South Africa Rugby, so from my side, I can’t comment,” began Human when first asked about the incident voslot
“I’m focussing on the scrums voslot
We had a good, positive training session, and nothing else came out voslot
I can’t really comment on that voslot
”Bongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur (Getty Images)However, when pushed on what Mbonambi is like as a person around the squad, Human was effusive in his praise of the front row voslot
“Bongi has been part of this group for the last six years,” added Human voslot
“He’s a very important piece of the puzzle for us voslot
He was starting in the last World Cup and our semi-final, so he’s very important to us, like all other players voslot
“He’s one of our leaders in our group voslot
He’s a great guy, a family man, my kids always look after his kids when they come to the hotel voslot
He’s a humble guy, down to earth, like all players who play for the Springboks voslot
“To be straightforward and honest with you, he’s a very calm guy, a well-spoken guy voslot
I don’t want to go into it because we’ve got a World Cup final in six days’ time voslot
I’m more concentrated on the forwards voslot
”Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker in the Springboks squad after the injured Malcolm Marx was replaced by fly half Handre Pollard earlier in the tournament voslot
Bongi Mbonambi played all 80 minutes of the Springboks’ semi-final win (PA)He played all 80 minutes of the semi-final, and finished the game as captain once Siya Kolisi was substituted, although veteran back row Deon Fourie played hooker earlier in his career and flanker Marco van Staden has also filled in at the position in the past voslot
So Human was unconcerned about South Africa being short-handed in the event of Mbonambi being found guilty and banned for the final voslot
“We’ve got three guys capable of playing hooker in the group,” he said voslot
“We’re very comfortable having three hookers voslot
We’re glad we have three hookers, which we’re supposed to have because going into a final you need to have two hookers in the squad voslot
”Lock Jean Kleyn was also asked about his relationship with Mbonambi, having played alongside him at club and international level, and was similarly glowing in his praise of the hooker voslot
“Bongi is a great guy,” stated Kleyn voslot
“I’ve known him since we were playing at the Stormers together I think nine years ago voslot
He’s a fantastic guy, a good individual voslot
“I’m not going to comment on that or justify it [the allegations] voslot
All I’ll say is he’s a fantastic bloke voslot
He’s a great guy, a passionate guy, a family man voslot
He’s captained the Springboks a couple of times and he’s an upstanding guy, I don’t think there’s a fellow in the squad who doesn’t like him voslot
”The Springboks face the All Blacks in the World Cup final at the Stade de France on Saturday evening voslot
More aboutBongi MbonambiTom CurrySouth Africa rugbyEngland RugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationSpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur Getty ImagesSpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi played all 80 minutes of the Springboks’ semi-final win PASpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today voslot
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsvoslot BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy voslot
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply voslot
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