Talen Guzman
talenguzman.bsky.social
Talen Guzman
@talenguzman.bsky.social
Combat sports writer, analyst, and competitor.
Lead MMA/UFC writer for Entain Group/TAB New Zealand.
USA Boxing certified coach.
Mediocre Judoka.
No win for Gianni Vazquez at #UFCVegas113 but he made a great account of himself as a heavy underdog on very short notice. Aggressive in that regionally-dominant kind of way with something to offer everywhere.

I think he'll fit in and grow in the UFC. #MMA
February 7, 2026 at 11:56 PM
It's poetic in a combat sports kind of way that Saint-Denis is finding a career resurgence thanks to a return to vintage savagery and chaos. He's at his worst when he thinks too much, but I guess that tracks with his history. #UFC325 #MMA
February 1, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Finney showing the world what a high school wrestler feels in their first week of MMA sparring. #UFC325 #MMA
February 1, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Three more Road to UFC winners crowned but hard to see any of the lot in ranked fights. Lui and Nakamura share a litany of defensive flaws. Mar Fan continued his trend of underwhelming victories.

Tough roads ahead for them in largely competitive divisions. #UFC325 #MMA
January 31, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Nikita Krylov is a wizened 33 but still has fight left in him. Third buzzer-beating victory of as many #UFC324 fights so far. Appropriately aware and fun call-out of former foe Jan Blachowicz in the aftermath, too. #MMA
January 25, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Alex Perez with the first round finish to cap a rather brutal performance. He hurt Charles Johnson several times, floored him, and generally just beat him pillar to post until referee Jason Herzog stepped in. #UFC324 #MMA
January 25, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Me watching #UFC324 thinking about Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes
January 25, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Another buzzer-beating finish, this time for Josh Hokit. There's room to debate referee Mark Smith's timing to step in but there's little doubt to the final outcome. Denzel Freeman just didn't have anything to offer at #UFC324. #MMA
January 24, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Nasty stuff from Ty Miller to open up #UFC324 and the Paramount+ era. He really couldn't miss tonight. 12 years younger than Adam Fugitt, I wouldn't even call it a passing of the torch as Miller already looks to have a far higher ceiling. #MMA
January 24, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Not the best showing for Naoya Inoue but credit due to David Picasso for a very strong effort. Applied himself well, stayed disciplined, and gave Inoue his most spirited challenge since Donaire in 2019.

The stage is now set for Inoue vs. Nakatani in Japan in 2026. #InouePicasso #boxing
December 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Safe to say that was one of Junto Nakatani's toughest fights. His 122lb debut is successful, but not without some trouble. #boxing #NakataniHernandez
December 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
It's fantastic that Alycia Baumgardner and Leila Beaudoin compete for the FULL 12x3 duration in the #JakeJoshua co-main event. There was never a good reason for women to be fighting for less time. #boxing #BaumgardnerBeaudoin
December 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
A rock placed on his shoe before the fight was rubbed onto his glove in this moment but you people will ignore what's right in front of you. #SilvaWoodley #JakeJoshua #boxing
December 20, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Much ado about a "fix" or secret terms for #JakeJoshua but too much legitimacy lent to this to allow. Official pro bout with full-length rounds.

If Joshua *were* to do something dumb for financial gain here, he'd have federal eyes on him before he got back to the parking lot. #boxing
December 20, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Updated welterweight rankings following #UFCVegas112 but a bit of a strange logjam in the 10-15 ranks.

Neal goes UP despite being 1-3 in his last four (finished in two). Covington shouldn't be ranked, yet remains at #14 without a win since 2022. #MMA
December 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Interesting road to UFC debut at #UFCVegas112 for Lance Gibson Jr.:

• Debuts almost exactly 25 years since his father's last bout in the UFC (Dec. 13, 2000).

• One of his coaches? Julia Budd. She is also his step-mother! They even competed together at Bellator 257 - both were victorious. #MMA
December 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Long career clearly came to a close at #UFC323 for Henry Cejudo. He put up his best effort and didn't waver for a minute but didn't have many answers for the younger man.

Impressive showing from Payton Talbott in many ways. Gritty, fun, and he got better as it went on. #MMA
December 7, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Henry Cejudo just got taken down twice at #UFC323 by Frank Ocean's boyfriend. Amazing timeline we live in. #MMA
December 7, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Merciful stoppage by Herb Dean to save Edson Barboza from more punishment at #UFC323. A scrappy fight, Barboza swung hard early on in an Aldo-like fashion but couldn't hold up to the same force coming back.

For Jalin Turner, a relieving fight after a retirement & 1-4 stretch nearly ended his career
December 7, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Worth noting how big of a puncher Ibo Aslan actually is, too. He hits hard and amended a regular critique of his at #UFC323 (not letting his hands go enough).

It turned into an insane fight but I'm impressed with Iwo Baraniewski's durability and heart in that one. #MMA
December 6, 2025 at 11:57 PM
UNBELIEVABLE fight between Iwo Baraniewski and Ibo Aslan. Back-and-forth, both men stunning each other multiple times, both swinging for the fences. Only 1:29 long and it's all PURE WAR.

Late contender for 2025's Round of the Year. #UFC323 #MMA
December 6, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Quick start and quick finish for Mansur Abdul-Malik at #UFC323. Hard to say anything negative about a dominant performance that lasted only about a minute.

Worth suggesting that such a talent gets moved into more interesting bouts, though. #MMA
December 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Emphatic third round finish for Mairon Santos to tie up a fairly one-sided affair. Now 4-0 in the UFC and looking sharper every time he fights. Good showing for the 25-year-old Brazilian at #UFC323. #MMA
December 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Mairon Santos vs. Muhammad Naimov to open up #UFC323. Besides the weight miss for this one, I think Santos has a bright future in the sport overall. He's skilled and deceptively poised for a young man of only 25 years old. #MMA
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Yeah, it's holiday time at the #UFC323 weigh-in show. #MMA
December 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM