MMA News

Author: Aakrit Sharma

  • What Do Alex Pereira’s Catchphrase ‘Chama’ & Nickname ‘Poatan’ Mean?

    What Do Alex Pereira’s Catchphrase ‘Chama’ & Nickname ‘Poatan’ Mean?

    Since making his UFC debut in November 2021, Alex Pereira has quickly become a two-division champ, and accordingly, one of the promotion’s biggest stars. Despite not speaking English, he’s captivated the fans with his stoic personality, consistency, and fighting style.

    Most recently, Pereira did the unthinkable by defending his light heavyweight championship against Jiří Procházka on short notice, to save UFC 303. This is an even more impressive feat considering he headlined UFC 300 just a couple of months prior.

    Pereira’s influence can be judged by the massive popularization of his nickname ‘Poatan’ and the catchphrase ‘chama’. Here’s what these terms mean, to help you understand your favorite UFC fighter better…

    What Does Alex Pereira Mean By Chama?

    Following his UFC 303, Pereira was asked about the meaning of ‘chama’ by Joe Rogan. Here’s what he said according to the UFC’s translator:

    “It could be anything. Positive or negative, you know. You can say, hey, let’s go to the gym [happily] and I say, chama! Or I could say, let’s go to the gym [reluctantly], and I say, man, chama! So, it could mean a lot of things.”

    A more reasonable explanation from the UFC light heavyweight champion came in an episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, though. Translated by his coach, here’s how Pereira described the term ‘chama’:

    “So, chama is like, let’s go. He says, like, you know how Shannon Briggs created Lets Go Champ. Our mantra, the literal translation for chama in Portuguese means to call chama, somebody or also flame, right? But to chama, like, let’s go, come with me, follow us, let’s do it.”

    So, it is safe to assume that Pereira means to call upon his fans and inspire them when he uses the phrase.

    Why Is Alex Pereira Called ‘Poatan’?

    Although Pereira is commonly called ‘Poatan’, his nickname is a combination of two words – Po and Atan. In the native Tupi language of Brazil, Po translates to hands and Atan refers to something hard like stones. So, ‘Poatan’ means stone hands which is undeniably a great nickname for someone with explosive knockout power.

    Glory Kickboxing, the promotion where Pereira achieved early success and became a double champ, also revealed why he picked ‘Poatan’ as his nickname. As per the UFC star, he cherishes being a 100% native Brazilian and learning Tupi brought him close to his roots and heritage.

    For now, fans worldwide are eagerly waiting for Pereira’s next fight in the UFC. Should he defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev or aim for a super fight against heavyweights Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall?

    Read More: Michael Bisping Brands Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Boxing Match A ‘Farce’, Berates Paul For ‘Cherry Picking’ Opponents

  • Does Conor McGregor Own BKFC?

    Does Conor McGregor Own BKFC?

    Conor McGregor was furious at Mike Perry for losing to Jake Paul in boxing and surprisingly fired the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “King of Violence”, following the fight.

    Perry, in return, brought up his BKFC ownership and claimed to be immune from McGregor’s threats. However, the Irishman discarded “Platinum” coming from his position as part-owner of the BKFC and doubled down on firing him.

    The sequence of events have naturally made fans curious about the state of the owners of the BKFC. Here’s whether McGregor owns the entire promotion and actually has the power to fire fighters like Perry…

    Conor McGregor’s Part-Ownership Of The BKFC Explained

    On April 28, 2024, McGregor announced on his social media accounts that he and McGregor Sports and Entertainment have become part-owners of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    The Irishman founded McGregor Sports and Entertainment in 2014, where his wife Dee Devlin works as the Director. The company was mentioned on banners during the promotions of Mayweather vs. McGregor as well.

    However, Triller continues to be the majority shareholder of the BKFC even with McGregor and his company jumping in.

    Who Owns The BKFC Apart From Conor McGregor?

    As of July 2024, the BKFC is owned by the promotion’s president David Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.

    Triller is an American platform for sharing videos and social networking. Perry claims to be a co-owner of the BKFC because he has shares in Triller but these claims were outright rejected by the “Mystic Mac”. In a now-deleted post on X, the former UFC champ said that Perry’s shares in Triller aren’t enough to make him a BKFC co-owner.

    How Much Is The BKFC Worth?

    In April 2024, Rolling Stone reported that the BKFC was valued at $411 million. This is a huge jump from making $500,000 in revenue in 2018, as the promotion has clearly acquired a host of new fans in the last few years.

    For now, it is unknown how much of the BKFC is owned by Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.

    By defeating the likes of Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Perry has helped legitimize BKFC. Following his loss to Paul, is the former UFC contender really done for in the BKFC or will we see him returning to the promotion soon? Despite part-owner Conor McGregor’s social media outburst, the latter is almost a certainty.

    Read More: Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

  • When Is Conor McGregor Fighting Again? UFC Return Date & Potential Opponent

    When Is Conor McGregor Fighting Again? UFC Return Date & Potential Opponent

    Within just three years after making his UFC debut, Conor McGregor arguably become the most popular mixed martial artist in the world. He defeated notable featherweight contenders Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier and secured the division’s title by knocking out long-time champ José Aldo in just 13 seconds.

    McGregor then moved up weight classes to deliver the iconic rivalry with Nate Diaz. After avenging his first UFC loss, the Irishman beat Eddie Alvarez to become the first double champ in UFC history.

    “The Notorious” has lost three out of his last four UFC fights, though. With fans eager to see him back in the win column, here’s everything about when McGregor might fight again.

    When will Conor McGregor return to the UFC?

    While taking part in an event on July 18, 2024, McGregor responded positively to a reporter asking whether he’ll return to the UFC on December 14, 2024.

    “That sounds good to me!”

    For now, the official UFC schedule for 2024 is only updated up until UFC 308, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024. However, there are speculations that December 14, 2024, is the scheduled date for UFC 310.

    Ariel Helwani also suggested that the UFC might book McGregor vs. Chandler for UFC 310 in December. In an interview with ESPN MMA, the former UFC double champ himself admitted his return to be scheduled for the end of 2024.

    So, for now, “Mystic Mac” is most likely to return to the UFC on December 14, 2024 at UFC 310.

    Who is Conor McGregor’s next fight?

    Michael Chandler is most likely to be McGregor’s next fight in the UFC. The lightweights coached the TUF Season 31 and were scheduled to fight at UFC 303.

    Their fight was indefinitely postponed due to Conor McGregor and the UFC not being able to agree on a return date. While replacements were considered and offered to Chandler, he seems adamant about fighting “The Notorious”.

    Why was McGregor vs. Chandler cancelled at UFC 303?

    McGregor vs. Chandler was cancelled because the former had to pull out due to an injured toe. The injury wasn’t severe and McGregor even claimed to have fully recovered from it through a now-deleted X post.

    The UFC appears to have a stacked schedule until UFC 308 in October 2024. This has stopped them from instantly re-booking the highly-anticipated matchup. As a result, fans should not expect “Mystic Mac” and “Iron” to battle it out anytime before the end of the year.

    Read More: Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

  • Belal Muhammad On Why Five-Round UFC 304 Main Event Favors Him: ‘He Literally Threw 60 Strikes Against Colby & Gassed Out!’

    Belal Muhammad On Why Five-Round UFC 304 Main Event Favors Him: ‘He Literally Threw 60 Strikes Against Colby & Gassed Out!’

    Belal Muhammad will challenge Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship in the main event of UFC 304 on July 28, 2024. The former is riding an impressive nine-fight win streak and has defeated the likes of Gilbert Burns, Stephen Thompson, and Vicente Luque.

    Muhammad’s primary weapon has been his wrestling. However, he also showcased his striking prowess by knocking out Sean Brady. On the flip side, Edwards is considered one of the best strikers in the UFC and he’s nullified Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington’s wrestling in his two title defenses.

    “Remember the Name” and “Rocky” fought previously in March 2021 but the fight was ruled a no-contest due to an eye poke. Here’s how Muhammad plans to win the rematch and why he’s confident about doing so…

    Belal Muhammad Claims Leon Edwards Doesn’t Have The Tools And Cardio To Beat Him

    Muhammad appeared on the Weighing In podcast hosted by “Big” John McCarthy and Josh “The Punk” Thomson recently. While discussing his next fight, he outright discarded Edwards’ cardio by using the Covington bout as an example. The champion landed 57 significant strikes and had around 90 seconds of control time.

    “It’s still only one round. So people could say, make their excuses, but, there’s not even need for me to make excuses because it was only one round there’s still four more rounds to go.”

    The challenger seems unbothered by Edwards succeeding on the feet in the first round of their previous fight. He claims to have the advantage in a five-round battle.

    “Remember The Name” then also took a sly dig at “Rocky” for not being aggressive enough against an opponent who disrespected his family.

    Muhammad is riding high on confidence ahead of his first chance at winning UFC gold. He isn’t worried about anything that Edwards brings to the Octagon and plans to shut the kingpin’s gameplan down over five rounds.

    “Bro, he literally threw 60 strikes against Colby and gassed out in the fifth round. I’m looking at this guy, like bro, you’re a dominant striker, this guy disrespected your family, your father, and you still went out there and only threw 60 strikes against a guy with, you know, cardio kickboxing striking. It is hilarious that they call this guy the sniper, the killer, this and that. But when I look at his fights, when I look at his matches, I don’t really see nothing that I can’t walk through.”

    Muhammad has been out of action since May 2023, waiting for his title shot. However, he’s been training with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, convincing many fans that his wrestling has improved drastically.

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Honest About Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s Chances To Get UFC Gold: ‘He’s Fought A Lot Of Guys You’ve Never Heard Of…’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Honest About Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s Chances To Get UFC Gold: ‘He’s Fought A Lot Of Guys You’ve Never Heard Of…’

    Following a solid UFC debut against Kevin Holland, Michael Page lost to Ian Garry at UFC 303 via unanimous decision. Despite having success on the feet, he could not stop a couple of Garry’s takedowns and was controlled for over seven minutes.

    The fight was close with Garry decisively winning the first and Page bouncing back in the second. MVP started strong in the third but a late takedown helped “Machado” get the judges’ nod.

    Here’s what Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, thinks of MVP’s future in the UFC welterweight division and whether he can be the champion one day…

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Expects Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Improve His Resume In The UFC

    Zahabi recently talked about MVP’s potential to become the UFC welterweight champion on his YouTube channel. Although he claimed Page to be the better striker in the Garry fight, he is skeptical about the Bellator star’s ability to handle other high-level opponents.

    “I think MVP looked good in the striking. The third round was close. I gave the first round, obviously to Ian. Second round, I gave it to MVP. Third round, I had MVP and then Ian Garry came out with the double leg.”

    While looking at Page’s record, Zahabi highlighted that many of his opponents in Bellator can’t be compared to the top-ranked UFC welterweights. Apart from Holland and Douglas Lima, his most notable win is over Paul Daley. According to GSP’s coach, Lima won the rematch against “Venom”, which is why he isn’t impressed by the latter’s resume.

    “It was a close fight but those are just higher level competitors. And It Was the First Time We see Him Against higher level competitors. The THing is MVP’s Had a lot of fights in his career but he’s fought a lot of guys you’ve never heard of. He’s fought a lot of guys you’ve never heard of.”

    The coach said that most of Page’s opponents won’t make it to the top 15 in the UFC welterweight division. As a result, “Venom” might be overwhelmed by the competition in the promotion.

    Zahabi gave Page his props for the impressive win over Holland and advised him to continue fighting the top 15 ranked UFC welterweights. He didn’t sound confident about MVP winning gold at 170 pounds, though.

    Read More: Jon Anik Explains Why Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 1 Is Not Good Indicator Of UFC 304 Rematch: ‘Largely, I Have To Throw Out Most Of The First Fight…’

  • Renato Moicano & Gilbert Burns Break Down Ilia Topuria’s Next Title Defense: ‘What’s He Gonna Do To Max Holloway? Let’s Be Honest!’

    Renato Moicano & Gilbert Burns Break Down Ilia Topuria’s Next Title Defense: ‘What’s He Gonna Do To Max Holloway? Let’s Be Honest!’

    Ilia Topuria shocked the world by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 298. Rumors suggest that his first title defense will be against Max Holloway.

    Although Holloway has lost thrice to Volkanovski, his brand is at an all-time high after his last-second KO win over lightweight Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. He looked flawless in the Octagon that night, and even called out Topuria following the victory.

    Here’s how a fight between Topuria and Holloway could go down according to other UFC fighters like Renato Moicano and Gilbert Burns…

    Renato Moicano & Gilbert Burns Discuss Whether Ilia Topuria Has The Tools To Beat Max Holloway

    Moicano and Burns discussed Topuria vs. Holloway on the Show Me The Money podcast on YouTube recently. The former UFC welterweight title challenger looked back at the events he’s shared with “Blessed” and appreciated the latter’s hard work and skillset.

    Burns remembered watching Holloway grapple against elite wrestlers ahead of his fight against “The Korean Zombie” at UFC Singapore. He was amazed by the featherweight’s well-roundedness, strength, and physique.

    “He was there, for like a month. oh guys, a high super strong dude. He looks like a 55er, he’s small, but he’s big, he’s very strong dude. I saw him wrestle the good wrestlers, he grappling. Both guys got cardio, both guys got good grappling, they super high level so I gotta, gotta kind of study that fight before.”

    “Durinho” isn’t overlooking Topuria though. He acknowledged that the UFC featherweight kingpin is technically gifted too and has the cardio to match Holloway’s pace.

    “What’s he gonna do to Max Holloway, let’s be honest. Max Holloway, he’s this crazy, he’s just a little bit old.”

    Moicano, on the other hand, isn’t riding on the Topuria hype train. He thinks that “El Matador” cannot harm the former champ on the feet or the ground. The lightweight contender admitted that he picked Volkanovski to beat Topuria too, but he is still not confident about the champ’s ability to get past “Blessed”.

    Read More: Chael Sonnen Laughs Off Daniel Cormier’s Claim About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘Is He Drunk?!’

  • Dana White Dubs Ronda Rousey The ‘Greatest Athlete’ He’s Ever Worked With, Names His Top 3 Favorite UFC Fighters Of All Time

    Dana White Dubs Ronda Rousey The ‘Greatest Athlete’ He’s Ever Worked With, Names His Top 3 Favorite UFC Fighters Of All Time

    Ronda Rousey elevated into a superstar during her iconic UFC run between 2013 and 2015. She became one of the biggest draws in the promotion by defending the UFC women’s bantamweight title five times against top competition like Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, and Liz Carmouche.

    Rousey’s loss to Holly Holm was a huge upset, though. It was followed by her absence from the sport for over a year, and upon her return, she suffered another loss to Amanda Nunes.

    While MMA fans are still divided over Rousey’s abrupt retirement after the loss to Nunes, Dana White has all the praise in the world for her…

    Dana White Explains How Ronda Rousey’s Greatness Led To Her Downfall In The UFC

    White recently appeared on The Big Podcast by Shaquille O’Neal and revealed his top three favorite UFC fighters to work with. Off the top of his head, he named Chuck Liddell and Rousey and then unsurprisingly mentioned Conor McGregor.

    “My two all-time favorites, the two people that were the best ever to deal with and that I absolutely love, Chuck Liddell, Ronda Rousey. Ronda Rousey is the greatest athlete I’ve ever worked with, by 100 miles, okay. And then, Conor McGregor has been a great athlete to work with for me.

    However, the UFC President highlighted that “Rowdy” has been his favorite athlete to work with by far. He appreciated the former UFC champ’s willingness to do big things in life and take on any responsibilities thrown at her.

    White remembered that Rousey never backed down from a challenge. While the rest of the women’s bantamweight fighters were solely training to beat the champ, she took part in various ventures that helped the company.

    When asked what made “Rowdy” special, here’s what he had to say:

    “She ended up becoming so big and so popular that she took on so many different things at the same time. Meanwhile, all the other women in the division are just training to beat Ronda. Exactly, right, you break Ronda down and you just figure out how to beat Ronda. Ronda took everything on her back and carried it and she would never say no to anything.”

    The UFC CEO then claimed that Rousey’s aim to keep achieving also affected her career. Had she been more focused on just fighting like the rest of her competitors, she might’ve been able to extend her remarkable title defense streak further.

    Like countless MMA enthusiasts, White credited Rousey for popularizing women’s MMA and opening his eyes to its true potential.

    Read More: Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

  • Former UFC Champ Lays Down How Khamzat Chimaev Can Fight The Winner of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Over Sean Strickland

    Former UFC Champ Lays Down How Khamzat Chimaev Can Fight The Winner of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Over Sean Strickland

    Khamzat Chimaev burst onto the scene by winning two UFC fights in different weight divisions within 10 days. However, the hype train that began in 2020 has derailed a bit due to his inconsistency.

    Despite defeating credible opponents like Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, “Borz” has yet to fight for the title at welterweight or middleweight. He was scheduled to take on Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia last month, and winning the bout would have most likely solidified his first title shot.

    Unfortunately, illness once again struck the Chechen star, forcing him to withdraw on late notice. Despite that, though, Chimaev still recently called for a title shot upon his return.

    Michael Bisping recently reviewed Chimaev’s career and dismissed any chances of a championship fight next. However, the former UFC champ did reveal the one way through which the prospect can fight the winner of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya.

    Bisping Explains How Chimaev Can Pass Strickland, Whittaker For UFC Middleweight Title Shot

    Bisping discussed Chimaev’s demands for a title shot upon his return on his official YouTube channel. Although “The Count” praised the Russian fighter for dominating Usman and being explosive in the Octagon, he highlighted that it isn’t enough for him to pass Whittaker and ex-middleweight king Sean Strickland in the title race.

    Bisping also pointed out Chimaev’s inconsistency and how the UFC hasn’t been in proper touch with him. He fought four times in 2020 to gain a ton of hype in MMA circles but has only fought thrice since then. “Borz” has pulled out of bouts several times due to illness or other reasons, which has naturally hurt his brand.

    “So, there’s no judgment against him for that, but the reality is for Khamzat Chimaev, the man doesn’t fight too frequently. Had one fight in 2023, two in 2022, and one in 2021. So, that’s an issue for the UFC and, certainly lately, he’s kind of been, I don’t want to say unreliable, but he’s pulled out a couple of times, okay?”

    Having said that, the former UFC middleweight champ is certain that Chimaev is still one fight away from getting a chance at gold. At the numbered event in Abu Dhabi this October, Bisping believes he should aim to secure a rescheduled clash with the #3-ranked Whittaker.

    Chimaev’s high-pace style slowed him down in the later rounds against Burns and Usman. For Bisping, a three-round battle with “Bobby Knuckles” at UFC 308 would be favorable because the Australian might have the edge in a five-round battle, as they were set for in Riyadh.

    “The man is something special. Of course, the cardio issues as the fights get longer. That is the big question, can he do that over five rounds? But Robert Whittaker, if he fought in Abu Dhabi, that would only be three rounds. And that would actually help Khamzat Chimaev.”

    “The Count” believes that a win over Whittaker would also allow Chimaev to pass Strickland for a title opportunity due to recency.

    “Rebooking Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker. The fight we all wanted to see, the fight that made sense, and the fight that would, I’ll be honest, set up the next number one contender. And that’s a shame for Sean Strickland.”

  • Alex Pereira Says He Made More With Just 6% Of His UFC 303 Paycheck Than 14 Years Spent Working At Tire Shop

    Alex Pereira Says He Made More With Just 6% Of His UFC 303 Paycheck Than 14 Years Spent Working At Tire Shop

    Since making his UFC debut in November 2021, Alex Pereira has won the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight championships separately. Of his nine fights, five have been for a title, and he’s won four via knockouts.

    “Poatan” has become a massive star in MMA for his exciting striking style and consistency. After headlining UFC 300, he stepped in on short notice to defend his UFC light heavyweight belt against Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. He won almost effortlessly via KO in the second and saved the event after McGregor had pulled out.

    Here’s how being one of the UFC’s most reliable champions in recent years has benefited Pereira financially…

    Alex Pereira Reveals How He Convinced Dana White For A $303,000 Bonus After UFC 303 Victory

    In an interview on his official YouTube channel, the UFC light heavyweight champion admitted he received a $303,000 bonus for winning at UFC 303.

    “Then he said, “I gave you bonus of the fight” Then I said to him, “$303,000?” Then he laughed and said, “No, $50,000” and I was like, “At the interview they asked you, I don’t understand english and I understood it was $303,000. Then he laughed again and said, “Okay fine, $303,000 for you” then I thanked him.”

    Pereira remembered not getting a $300,000 bonus for winning the UFC 300 main event. So, when asked about the bonuses for UFC 303 by the press, he intentionally claimed to think that the amount was $303,000.

    After the fight, “Poatan” mentioned the $303,000 bonus to Dana White again and this time around, the UFC CEO paid up.

    Pereira then disclosed that just 6% of his UFC 303 paycheck would be equal to all the money he had earned over the 14 years as a mechanic.

    “It was good money, I worked 14 years in the tire shop. The money I earned in 14 years, 0.06 of the money I won in UFC 303 covered the 14 years I worked in the tire shop.”

    Will “Poatan” return against Magomed Ankalaev who many believe to be his toughest test at LHW or fight the likes of Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall at heavyweight for an even bigger paycheck?

    READ MORE: Dan Hooker Gets His UFC 305 Perth Date Against Mateusz Gamrot

  • Classy Alex Pereira Refuses To Pick Against ‘Good Heart’ Israel Adesanya Despite Heated Rivalry: ‘I’m Here, Cheering For Him’

    Classy Alex Pereira Refuses To Pick Against ‘Good Heart’ Israel Adesanya Despite Heated Rivalry: ‘I’m Here, Cheering For Him’

    It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya have one of the most iconic and popular rivalries in mixed martial arts history. They first crossed paths in GLORY as kickboxers and then fought twice in the UFC.

    Although “Poatan” has three wins over “Izzy” including MMA and kickboxing, the latter often brags about getting the last laugh. In April 2023, Adesanya knocked out Pereira at UFC 287 to reclaim his UFC middleweight championship.

    Since then, the Brazilian has become the light heavyweight champion with two title defenses to his name. He is also expected to move up to heavyweight in the near future. Adesanya, on the other end, lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland via decision and is gearing up for his return against current champ Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

    Alex Pereira Sends His Support To Misunderstood Israel Adesanya

    Pereira was recently asked about Adesanya picking him to lose against Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka in an interview uploaded on his official YouTube channel. The UFC light heavyweight champion claimed to be unbothered and reiterated that he’s still backing his rival to win against DDP.

    “They asked me about Adesanya and Du Plessis, I said I don’t see Adesanya losing. Just because he said that about me doesn’t mean I’ll say it back.”

    “Poatan” went on to appreciate Adesanya as a person and vowed to keep cheering for “The Last Stylebender” even if he doesn’t reciprocate in kind.

    Pereira also suggested the former UFC middleweight champion should continue fighting, referring to Adesanya’s vague claim that he would fight again in 2027 after the Strickland loss.

    “i’m here, supporting him, I already fought him, not going to say he should lose. I’m not mad at him, no grudges. Like I said if one day it’s possible to train with him.”

    At 34, Izzy can certainly bounce back from losses like before and go on a new title run at middleweight. From the looks of it, his long-time opponent will be happy to see such a scenario.

    “[People Claim] He’s this, he’s bad” and what not. The people who truly know him that I had contact with, talk good about him. [Adesanya] Has a good heart, a lot of the times it’s just marketing. I believe that, I can see he is a good person.

    “so that’s why I’m here, cheering for him. If he doesn’t cheer for me, that’s not my problem. But I’m here, cheering for him.”

    Despite the animosity in the past, it won’t be a surprise if the two kickboxing greats end up training together soon.

    Read More: Conor McGregor Gives ‘Ecstatic’ Reaction To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Alleged Tax Debt In Russia: ‘Typical Rat Behavior!’

  • Alex Pereira Not Willing To Take On Tom Aspinall Due To Interim Title Status: ‘It Doesn’t Interest Me In This Moment’

    Alex Pereira Not Willing To Take On Tom Aspinall Due To Interim Title Status: ‘It Doesn’t Interest Me In This Moment’

    Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight championship against Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. He now holds three title wins in the division and tons of fans, including MMA fighters, are excited to see him at heavyweight.

    In the biggest weight division, Pereira can take on the likes of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. While Jones is adamant about fighting Stipe Miocic next, Aspinall is scheduled to defend his interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    With uncertainty surrounding Pereira’s heavyweight debut, here’s what he thinks of a fight with Aspinall…

    Alex Pereira Dismisses Tom Aspinall As An Opponent Due To His Interim UFC Heavyweight Belt

    Pereira discussed his heavyweight debut in the UFC on his official YouTube channel recently. He instantly clarified that heavyweight isn’t his priority at the moment, teasing that he aims to defend his light heavyweight belt again.

    “What I got to say is, it doesn’t interest me in this moment to fight him. To be honest, heavyweight isn’t my objective, it isn’t my main focus. Tom Aspinall, not talking about fighter, I’m talking positions. I think I’m in another position now, sincerely for me it doesn’t make sense to dispute the interim belt.

    “Poatan” then cited that Aspinall’s interim UFC heavyweight belt as the reason why he isn’t interested in the fight. He prefers waiting to fight for the real belt over disputing the interim one.

    The Brazilian didn’t discredit Aspinall’s Octagon skills, though. He appreciated the interim champ’s technical prowess and athleticism. So, their highly-anticipated matchup could become a reality if Jones is stripped or the Britisher unifies the title anytime soon.

    “I am not belittling him, I respect him a lot. I think he is an incredible athlete, a guy that is very dangerous technical. I’m just talking about the interim belt, there is no point for me. So, I discard, there is no possibility to fight him now. If he was champion and said that, of course we would be promotion the fight. “

    Read More: Former Glory Champion & Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Training With Henry Cejudo: ‘Chama, We Comin’!’

  • Ronda Rousey On Not Getting Closure With MMA Fans: ‘I Don’t Think I Would Be Serving The Sport Or Division In The Right Way…’

    It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Ronda Rousey is one of the most popular mixed martial artists ever. After defending her Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title, she bagged the title in the UFC as well and racked up five consecutive defenses.

    However, it all came crashing down when Rousey lost her title to Holly Holm via a crushing first round KO. She then returned to the Octagon after almost a year, and lost to Amanda Nunes via KO in the first again.

    “Rowdy” hasn’t fought in the UFC since then and eventually signed up with the WWE which has been a bone of contention among fans to date. The former champion has opened up on situations that led to her retirement and why she avoided coming back after just two losses…

    Ronda Rousey Opens Up On Struggles With Concussions That Led To UFC Retirement

    Rousey recently appeared on the SHAK MMA YouTube channel and addressed her rather unexpected retirement from MMA. Tons of fans discredited her entire legacy due to this while others accused her of running away from top talents.

    “Started doing, you know, Judo, at a young age, and kept getting concussions, regularly. And, you know, multiple times a year, and not being allowed to speak up or say anything about it, and um, as a fighter, you’re just not supposed to show any weakness or talk about things like that.”

    “Rowdy” highlighted the ignorance towards cumulative neurological injury in sports, especially mixed martial arts. She claimed that all fighters deal with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as they take shots to the head, but the pace varies.

    Rousey revealed her that she dealt with her first concussion at six. This naturally worsened as she fought in Strikeforce, UFC, and other MMA promotions. So, she hung up the gloves when she could no longer fight without risking long-term neurological injuries.

    “You’ll never know when you take one hit too many until many decades later, but I also, I don’t think that I would be serving the sport or the division in the right way if I stuck around too long and I got to a point where I knew that I literally could not be taking those head in the packs and continue to compete at that same level.”

    The former Olympic Judo medalist clarified that she didn’t want to represent women MMA when not at her best. She was silent about her concussions to not affect her transition to WWE and other projects, but has no reason to hold back any more.

  • Former UFC Champ Warns Sean Strickland Against Avoiding Robert Whittaker Fight: ‘You Can’t Feel So Entitled’

    Former UFC Champ Warns Sean Strickland Against Avoiding Robert Whittaker Fight: ‘You Can’t Feel So Entitled’

    After losing the UFC middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis, Sean Strickland bounced back by defeating Paulo Costa at UFC 302 this past June. Since then, he’s been adamant about sitting out and fighting the winner of Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, Perth.

    However, Costa fought Strickland following a loss to Robert Whittaker. “The Reaper” has since beaten Khamzat Chimaev’s short-notice replacement Ikram Aliskerov easily to build his own case for another title shot.

    Many believe that Strickland vs. Whittaker is the perfect title eliminator fight in the UFC middleweight division. Michael Bisping agrees and recently advised “Tarzan” to change his stance on turning down such a matchup…

    Michael Bisping Reminds Sean Strickland About Downsides Of Waiting On The Sidelines

    Bisping recently discussed Strickland’s latest motorcycle accident and next fight on his YouTube channel. He laid down situations in which waiting for a title shot instead of fighting Whittaker could affect the former champ’s ability to reclaim gold.

    In the eyes of “The Count,” Strickland wouldn’t want a world where Du Plessis vs. Adesanya is razor close and results in a rematch. If, in the meantime, “The Reaper” racks up another dominant win, he’ll be more likely to get a title shot.

    “You can’t sit around. You can’t feel so entitled. You have to go out there, stake your case, continue to apply your craft, get better with every single training camp. Make the statement that you are the uncrowned champion.”

    Bisping looked at Whittaker’s impressive record as a middleweight, which contains three losses to only current or then-future champions. Because he walked out of the Aliskerov fight without damage, the Australian could feasibly return to the Octagon quickly and be the undisputed title challenger.

    It is worth noting that the former British UFC middleweight champion isn’t critical of Strickland’s principles. After the razor-close decision loss to the current titleholder and a win since, he can rightly claim a second shot.

    Nevertheless, Bisping maintained that it is still risky due to factors outside of his control.

    “You do not want to wait on the sidelines. I mean, for example, let’s say Dricus beats Izzy. That’s a big if, but let’s just say he does. What if Dricus gets injured? What if that fight is so grueling, he tears a knee, he busts his eye up, he’s got a broken jaw. He’s coming back, but it’s going to be six to nine months. Is he still going to continue to wait on the sidelines?”

    Overall, “The Count” only demands Strickland to not sit on the sidelines and do what he does best. Get inside the Octagon consistently, improve with every fight, and not let anyone else steal his claim at the title.

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Nate Diaz Can Easily Return To UFC, Unlike Ronda Rousey: ‘She Had To Be A Main Event’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Nate Diaz Can Easily Return To UFC, Unlike Ronda Rousey: ‘She Had To Be A Main Event’

    Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal exceeded the expectations of many when they headlined a boxing event at Honda Center, Anaheim, this weekend. The constant back and forth between the MMA veterans made for an entertaining fight, and rumors around their return to the UFC have already caught fire.

    Diaz last fought in the UFC in September 2022, defeating Tony Ferguson via submission. He then fought Jake Paul in August 2023 but lost via decision. After beating Masvidal on the scorecards, he called out Paul and the top UFC welterweights, teasing a return to the promotion.

    Tons of fans believed the Ferguson fight was a send-off for Diaz by the UFC. However, Chael Sonnen thinks that returning for another run is feasible for the Stockton native because, well, he’s not Ronda Rousey…

    Chael Sonnen Lays Down The Plan For Nate Diaz To Fight Dustin Poirier In UFC Return

    Sonnen discussed Diaz’s return to the UFC on his official YouTube channel recently. He started by giving context about UFC contracts and why a star like Rousey could never return properly after losing the belt.

    “I maintain for you, one of the things that cost Ronda Rousey her career was not that she was falling down in the first round over and over, it was that her contract was so big, she had to be a main event and it had to be of a pay-per-view just to justify the numbers. And main events of pay-per-views were world title fights, which means as good as Ronda was, and she was very good. She was very good, we just found out how exceptional Amanda Nunes was.”

    As per “The American Gangster”, athletes like Rousey get massive contracts that can only be justified with main-event or title fights. So, Rousey struggled to find a place in the UFC when she could no longer fare well against the top women fighters.

    The former UFC title challenger then explained how things are different for Diaz. He usually fights in co-main or main events but has the star power to draw viewers without a belt. A great example is his latest boxing bout with Masvidal.

    “Nate’s position is going to be different and it’s got to be done. In fact, Jon Anik, one of the Diaz boys’ biggest supporters, knows the same thing to be true that I just said, and has made his suggestion, which is Dustin Poirier. Bring Nate in, get him in there with Dustin, solves every possible problem.”

    Sonnen claimed that Dana White intends to organize multiple fights whenever he gives fighters a contract. Diaz seems open to fighting several times upon his UFC return which could make negotiations easier.

    “The American Gangster” believes Dustin Poirier, who is potentially looking for an intriguing retirement bout, to be Diaz’s best option upon returning to the Octagon. Amidst the optimism, he also cited that renegotiating a new UFC contract and then choosing your opponent can naturally get complicated.

    Hence, Diaz, who’s already 39, might want to hit while the iron is still hot.

    Read More: Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

  • Chael Sonnen Urges Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, & Others To ‘Speak Up’ Amid Islam Makhachev vs. Michael Chandler Rumors

    Chael Sonnen Urges Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, & Others To ‘Speak Up’ Amid Islam Makhachev vs. Michael Chandler Rumors

    The UFC matchmakers have been on a run since Conor McGregor pulled out of his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. After successfully securing new main and co-main events, their next challenge is to either reschedule the original headliner or get Chandler to return against someone else.

    “Iron” last fought in November 2022, and after waiting for McGregor for almost two years, he might be looking at alternatives. With that, he recently teased that a fight with Islam Makhachev is in the works, but there’s not a lot of optimism around it due to the challenger’s inactivity and record.

    Chael Sonnen, though, would be glad to see Chandler fight for the UFC lightweight championship. However, he also expects other stars in the promotion to build a case for themselves…

    Sonnen Lists Exciting Matchups For Islam Makhachev, Including Max Holloway & Charles Oliveira

    “The American Gangster” discussed the possibility of Makhachev vs. Chandler happening in a video on his official YouTube channel.

    He advised “Iron” to accept the fight without second thoughts but also urged other fighters to make the most of the current lack of contenders at 155 pounds.

    Arman Tsarukyan is out untlil October due to a suspension for punching a fan while walking out at UFC 300. Thanks to a win over Oliveira on the same night, he would appear to be the only obvious contender in the division.

    “This perfect storm, if you will, it has created an opportunity, not to be unmatched by the fact that no other 155-pounder seems to have a problem with it,” Sonnen said. “Like, I read something like Ilia Topuria says that Max Holloway won’t be available so they’re looking for another opponent. Let that go and move down a different road.

    “That would be a fine example. Like, Max, as the BMF champ, challenge Islam or to speak up, or to get in the way of Chandler, would just be one of the many potential examples,” Sonnen added.

    The BMF champ looked at his best against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 as he scored an iconic last-second KO. “Do Bronx,” meanwhile isn’t out of the title picture as well, according to Sonnen, due to the close nature of his split decision defeat to Tsarukyan.

    “Charles Oliveira, coming off of a loss, same as Chandler, who was in an elimination match with Tsarukyan, which was razor thin,” Sonnen stated. “And somebody somewhere in the world wants to see Charles Oliveira take on Islam. Like, it’d be a really good time for Charles to speak up. And I don’t have to go through each and every 155-pounder.”

    Makhachev has also repeatedly shown interest in fighting Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Theorizes Conor McGregor Uncertainty Is Delaying Confirmation Of Merab Dvalishvili Title Fight At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Theorizes Conor McGregor Uncertainty Is Delaying Confirmation Of Merab Dvalishvili Title Fight At The Sphere

    A fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight championship is all but confirmed. The fighters have been targeting each other online for months and have repeatedly suggested that they might main event the Riyadh Season Noche UFC event.

    O’Malley last defended his title in March against Marlon “Chito” Vera in dominant fashion. Dvalishvili on the other hand, secured his title shot by beating Henry Cejudo in February for his tenth consecutive win in the UFC.

    With both fighters and fans worldwide awaiting an official announcement regarding their matchup, O’Malley’s coach has speculated the reason behind the delay from the UFC.

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Blames McGregor vs. Chandler For Delay In Dvalishvili Fight Confirmation

    During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow on O’Malley’s official YouTube channel, he and Tim Welch discussed whether the UFC has an interest in adding McGregor vs. Chandler to the UFC 306 card at the Sphere. If true, this can naturally lead to other major fights being shifted to different events.

    “Sugar” highlighted that Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is also rumored to be an option for the September 14 card. Yet again, the return of the Irishman can impact when and where this fight happens.

    “The Sphere, and Dana keeps saying it’s going to be something f*****g crazy, and then you got Conor-Chandler maybe going around, you got Max-Ilia, you got me and Merab. You got f*****g some pretty big fights to possibly make, but honest to god, I have not heard from the UFC,” O’Malley said.

    The champ’s coach agreed that the UFC could be eager to organize McGregor vs. Chandler at UFC 306. Because the Dubliner’s commitment has been called into question lately, Welch thinks that the UFC hasn’t been able to confirm the other fights on the card.

    “It’s probably a tough thing for the UFC. It’s like, they want to let you know. If they knew, I’m sure they’d let you know right away. But when you’re dealing with someone like Conor McGregor, who’s just, one day he probably wants it, one day he doesn’t, one day he’s just booger sugared up, one day he’s this. They’re probably waiting on that.”

    During his iconic run to becoming a double UFC champion, McGregor was known for fighting consistently and not pulling out despite injuries. However, his returns to the Octagon since fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring have been the exact opposite.

    With nine weeks remaining before the Riyadh Season Noche UFC event, both O’Malley and his coach expect the official announcement for the Merab Dvalishvili fight to arrive as soon as possible should the promotion decide the bantamweight gold will be on the line at the Sphere.

  • Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Michael Chandler was expected to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. “Iron” has been out of the Octagon for almost two years now, and he has mostly been adamant about fighting McGregor in his return.

    However, Chandler recently surprised fans by announcing on X that he’s been offered to fight Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but never rejected the claim about the offer.

    Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes that Chandler can actually get a title shot despite being out of action since November 2022. He has crucial advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion, though…

    Chael Sonnen Tells Michael Chandler Not To Miss A Fight With Islam Makhachev For Conor McGregor

    On his official YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” discussed Chandler’s future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed. He reiterated his theory that the Dubliner might not ever return after pulling out of UFC 303.

    In the mind of Sonnen, offering Makhachev could be the UFC’s way to indirectly tell Chandler that he won’t ever get to fight the former two-division champion.

    On these grounds, Sonnen thinks Chandler should now consider alternatives. Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title is certainly an exciting opportunity, and it could be more fruitful than waiting for “The Notorious.”

    “If Michael Chandler is offered Islam Makhachev, there is a message being delivered to him, that he has got to be able to hear,” Sonnen said. “The words, ‘We cannot get you Conor McGregor. We are not going to get you Conor McGregor.’”

    The retired UFC middleweight warned “Iron” not to overestimate his current options. He pointed out that fighting Makhachev won’t decrease Chandler’s chances of fighting McGregor in the future.

    “Don’t make that mistake. You’ve got to get the matches you can get when you can get them. You’ve got to win the matches you can win when you can win them. You’ve got to sign the matches you can sign when you can sign them. In front of everything else, get the fight and get it into the ring.”

    Arman Tsarukyan, seemingly the only UFC lightweight with a solid case for a title shot, is out until October at least after being handed a suspension for the punch he threw at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains How He’ll Deal With Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Uniqueness’ At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya Explains How He’ll Deal With Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Uniqueness’ At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya is returning to the Octagon to face Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 305 in Perth. Last September, he lost the title to Sean Strickland in a huge upset and awaits to finally settle his rivalry with “Stillknocks.”

    On his rather quick path to becoming the kingpin, Du Plessis defeated the likes of Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. With his unusual grappling style and striking, which were initially doubted heavily by many MMA enthusiasts, he’s become a hard nut to crack in the middleweight division.

    Here’s how Adesanya, one of the most celebrated strikers ever, plans to counter Du Plessis’ unique style at UFC 305…

    Israel Adesanya Aims To Stick To His Classic Style To Beat Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305

    Adesanya recently appeared in an interview uploaded on The Sias du Plessis Show YouTube channel. The former two-time UFC middleweight champion seemed unbothered by his next opponent’s unpredictable style and physicality.

    “The Last Stylebender” remembered his KO win over Alex Pereira, who appeared to hold a size advantage over all middleweights in the UFC. Accordingly, Du Plessis’ size and unorthodox style on fight night won’t compel Adesanya to change his strategy.

    “I fought the largest middleweight, Alex Pereira, and I knocked him out,” Adesanya said. “How am I gonna deal with Dricus’ uniqueness? It’s just be unique myself. Be unique to who I am. Never again will I ever stray away from my style or my flow just because I wanna do something different or pander or anything like that.”

    Adesanya also revealed that he plans to fight like his usual self at UFC 305. Fans can expect him to maintain distance and attempt to piece up Du Plessis from the outside with clean strikes if this is true.

    “I’m always gonna stick to my style and stick to what I do best, which is beating people up in fantastic fashion. And, yeah, I’ve done that my whole career, and I wanna get back to that,” Adesanya added. “I’m not really worried about the outcome. It’s more about the journey.”

    The Nigerian-New Zealander repeatedly mentioned that he wants to enjoy the process rather than worry about the outcome of his fight with Du Plessis.

    Will this mindset, accompanied by his classic striking style, be enough to reclaim gold at UFC 305? Only time will tell.

  • ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    Conor McGregor has fought through injuries throughout his career and had never pulled out of a scheduled matchup until UFC 303. While past opponents and some rivals have taken sly digs at the Irishman, others have recognized the risks of fighting with a broken toe.

    By the time McGregor returns, he’d have been out of the Octagon for over three years. The former two-division champion lost three out of his last four fights, and it is hard to see the win over Cerrone as a feather in his cap.

    Naturally, “The Notorious” aims to be fully prepared for his return. Getting back in the win column will instantly open up a ton of exciting fights for the Dubliner.

    For now, though, plenty of focus remains on McGregor’s decision to pull out of UFC 303. But Dan Hardy has a different view to many critics when it comes to the UFC 303 drama and McGregor’s injury…

    Hardy Claims Conor McGregor Respects Michael Chandler Enough Not To Fight Him With A Broken Toe

    Hardy recently appeared on the From The Stands YouTube channel and talked about the postponed fight between McGregor and Chandler.

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger instantly pointed out that the McGregor we’ve long known would never pull out of a fight that he thinks is winnable despite an injury.

    “We know what Conor’s like, he’s not going to pull out of a fight that he feels like he can win, even if he is injured. I think this shows that he’s got a lot of respect for Michael Chandler and he knows that he needs to be on his A game because, I mean, he wants to get back on track, right? He wants to be back in the win column.”

    ”The Outlaw” also reviewed the importance of toes for McGregor to make the most of his wide striking stance.

    “What we know about McGregor is that, you know, he is, you know, he’s very much about footwork, especially the best versions of McGregor, (it) requires him to be mobile. And he’s got a long stance, which means he uses the big toe and the little toe just as much as one another to keep himself mobile.”

    McGregor mostly gained acclaim for his consistency and willingness to fight during his rise to stardom. In contrast, he now has everything he ever wanted from the sport. On top of that, losing three fights in a row will naturally hurt his brand.

    “You know, you can’t really say anything negative about him because we know that (he) would take fights on short notice if you felt capable of competing. And I really want the best version of McGregor because ultimately we might be counting on one hand the amount of times we see him fight again.”

    All these factors compel Hardy to side with McGregor for taking his time leading into the Chandler fight.

  • Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

    Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

    For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles.

    At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours to weigh in, rehydrate, and, well, also figure out his in-fight strategy. Their goal was to fight on instincts which, to be fair, worked pretty well.

    Showing his durability, “50k” survived Lopes’ explosive striking and constricting ground game in the first two rounds and outstruck the Brazilian in the third. A last-minute adjustment suggested by coach Nicksick worked against him, though, and may have cost him the UFC 303 co-main event.

    Eric Nicksick Looks Back At Mistake That Likely Cost Dan Ige A Round Against Diego Lopes At UFC 303

    Nicksick and Ige appeared on the UFC 303 recap episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast uploaded on the DraftKings YouTube channel. Remembering the fight, Nicksick admitted that he shouldn’t have asked Ige to throw a head kick.

    “To be honest with you, I’ve been having a little bit of sleepless nights because I f****d up going into round. In round two, I called for the same side head kick. Something that I thought, because no one’s ever seen Dan throw it.”

    Nicksick expected the side head kick to surprise Lopes as Ige had only recently added the move to his arsenal. “50k” followed these instructions two minutes into the second round. The kick landed but also helped Lopes secure a takedown.

    “It was the same side high when Dan went southpaw. And he threw it, and the shin bone landed on this dude’s head but we got taken down. And I looked over at Kai and I’m like, I just f****d us. Dude, my gut, I was like, I just f****d this man, my heart hurt.”

    Despite the takedown and three minutes of control time, Ige constantly fought off his back and prevented his opponent from submitting him.

    Unfortunately, due to the takedown, the round was scored by the judges for Lopes. And despite comfortably winning the third round, Ige lost a unanimous decision 29-28 on all scorecards.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Teammate & PFL Star Sadibou Sy Honest About Him Taking Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou cut ties with the UFC in Jan. 2023 and went on to box Tyson Fury in October later that year. Contrary to popular belief, he survived the ten rounds and knocked down Fury in the third.

    After a remarkable boxing debut, Ngannou fought former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This time around, the MMA star suffered a crushing KO loss.

    “The Predator” is yet to return to boxing or fight for the PFL. The definitive loss to Joshua has compelled many to question Ngannou’s career choices, but here’s what his teammate Sadibou Sy thinks of it.

    Sadibou Sy Praises Francis Ngannou For Trying To Achieve Greatness By Fighting Anthony Joshua

    In an interview posted on the InsideFighting YouTube channel, Sy gave his two cents on Ngannou’s boxing career. He outright claimed that despite the loss, his teammate did the unthinkable and a loss doesn’t take away any of his greatbess.

    “So, for me, I would say this. Like, after the fact, when you have the results, saying, like, yeah he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that. Like, he did something unbelievable and something that’s never been done before. For me, just because he didn’t win against Anthony Joshua, doesn’t take that away.”

    Sy also pointed out that Ngannou earned the Joshua fight due to his impressive performance against Fury. He beat the reigning WBC heavyweight champion in the eyes of many and wasn’t a huge underdog going into his second boxing fight.

    “He, as a guy, coming in to martial arts and fighting in general, just being here for a couple of years, becoming a UFC champion. Fighting arguably, arguably the best heavyweight out there. In some guys’ opinion, winning that fight. That giving him the opportunity to now face Anthony Joshua. What is he supposed to do? No, I don’t want the big paycheck. No, I don’t want to, like, test myself.”

    Sy respects Ngannou for getting a huge paycheck and testing his mettle against the best fighters in another sport. He doesn’t think the Joshua fight was a mistake by any means and is proud of his teammate’s achievements.

    After making a fortune in boxing, Ngannou is expected to face Renan Ferreira in the PFL next.

  • Dan Ige Reveals He Didn’t Even Know Weight Class For Short-Notice UFC 303 Fight: ‘The Only Thing I Read Was Numbers…’

    Dan Ige stepped in on four hours’ notice to fight Diego Lopes in the co-main event of UFC 303. The fight was a fairly entertaining affair, with Lopes securing the first two and Ige bouncing back in the third.

    On June 13, 2024, Ortega vs. Lopes was announced as the co-main event for UFC 303. Just before the weigh-ins, the bout was shifted to lightweight from featherweight.

    Things took another turn as Ortega pulled out due to illness on fight night. This is when Ige agreed to fight Lopes at a catchweight of 165 pounds – only he didn’t even know that that was the weight limit for the fight.

    Dan Ige Reveals How He Happened To Be On Weight To Fight Diego Lopes At UFC 303

    Ige recently appeared on the Michael Bisping YouTube channel and discussed his initial reaction to fighting on four hours’ notice. His first thought was to eat for energy and get hydrated.

    “I was in the kitchen, just grabbing things, like what am I doing? What do I do with my hands? I was just like, I gotta eat, I gotta fuel. I’m like, starting to grab things. I’m like, what do I, what do I need? I start hydrating because I was like, if I’m gonna fight, need to be hydrated.”

    Amidst these worries, “50k” admits to not even checking the weight mentioned on the contract before signing it. He claims to be more intrigued by the paycheck and the opportunity to do something unprecedented.

    “I didn’t even know I had to weigh in Bisping. I didn’t know how this was working. They told me, they’re like, what do you weigh? I was like, I was 164-165 this morning, somewhere along those lines. So, they sent me the contract, it said 165 for the bout agreement, I didn’t read. Only thing I read was numbers because I was like sweet, the money’s in there, we’re good.”

    Ige then revealed he wasn’t expecting to weigh in officially for the fight. However, his concerns regarding missing weight and its impact on his purse were cleared as he stepped on the scale at 164.5 lbs.

    The new UFC 303 co-main event was announced as soon as the short-notice fighter made weight, and the rest is history.

    Read More: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision

  • Dana White Doesn’t Rule Out Potential Cross-Promotion Fight Involving Francis Ngannou: ‘We’re Obviously Talking About Lots Of Different Options…’

    Dana White has frequently claimed that Francis Ngannou left the UFC to avoid fighting Jon Jones. Naturally, the relationship between the two men soured before “The Predator” left the promotion.

    However, White’s flourishing ties with Turki Alalshikh might open doors for cross-promotion fights in the UFC. After hosting several spectacular boxing and MMA events, Riyadh Season will sponsor the Noche UFC event in The Sphere.

    When asked if Riyadh Season could convince him to work with Ngannou again, the UFC CEO said this during the UFC 303 post-press conference:

    “I think that, what this guy’s [Alalshikh] done in a short amount of time is pretty incredible. So, we’re obviously talking about lots of different options with this guy. And I respect him, I like him, so, we’ll see what the future holds.”

    UFC 306 is the first event in the promotion’s history to have a title partner. With new stakeholders coming into play, Ngannou facing UFC heavyweights like Aspinall and Jones might not be far-fetched.

    Why Riyadh Season was roped in as a sponsor of Noche UFC

    During the UFC 303 post-press conference posted on TheMacLife YouTube channel, White reiterated that he’s spent over $15 million on producing Noche UFC. The UFC CEO then jokingly claimed this to be the reason behind the new sponsors for the event.

    When asked about the factors that led to Riyadh Season becoming the title partner of UFC 306, here’s what he said:

    “I spent $17 million on production and it’s not even September yet.”

    It is worth noting that Riyadh Season featured massive boxing cards like Fury vs. Ngannou, Joshua vs. Ngannou, and Fury vs. Usyk. In early 2024, the Kingdom Arena also hosted the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event.

    While discussing the impact of new sponsors, White admitted to having a good relationship with Turki Alalshikh. He also appreciated the boxing events organized by Riyadh Season.

    “I actually respect Sheikh Turki. He’s a nice guy and we have actually formed a relationship over the last couple of months. I respect what he’s done with boxing. He’s the only guy that could ever pull this off. Making these big fights and the fight was good.”

    READ MORE: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision At UFC 303: ‘I Need To Start Working On These Finishes’

  • Henry Cejudo Still Unconvinced By Alex Pereira Despite UFC 303 KO Win: ‘He’s Not Mentioning Jon Jones Because I Think He Knows…’

    Alex Pereira saved UFC 303 by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round with a vicious head kick. He walked out of the Octagon with minimal damage, and fans are already discussing his next fight.

    At light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is seemingly the only fighter with a case for a title challenge. However, more fans want “Poatan” to move up a weight class and have a super fight with Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.

    Apart from the loss to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has mostly looked invincible in the UFC. Is he really that good or is he yet to be properly tested by a superior grappler? Here’s Henry Cejudo’s two cents on the matter…

    Henry Cejudo Expects Alex Pereira To Fight ‘Well-Rounded Wrestler’ Before Taking On Jon Jones

    In a recent episode uploaded on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, the former UFC champions discussed the UFC 303 main event. “Triple C” congratulated the Brazilian but quickly pointed out how the outcome wasn’t surprising because the fight didn’t go to the ground.

    According to Cejudo, Procházka should’ve avoided a battle on the feet as Pereira will always have an edge there. He also thinks that the UFC light heavyweight champion still needs to beat a remarkable wrestler like Ankalaev to prove his well-roundedness.

    “It’s not until Alex Pereira really fights somebody like Ankalaev where I’m gonna say, ‘okay, this guy is the…’ is he the real deal? 100 percent but, could he get past a well-rounded wrestler? Someone who’s going to bring in the grappling?”

    “Triple C” criticized Pereira’s past opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for trying to strike with him. Like many, he believes that fights with heavyweights Jones and Aspinall will truly test his mettle because of the wrestling.

    “The IQ of the light heavyweight division, dude, I think everybody just wants to strike, Kamaru. I think that’s where everything goes wrong.”

    Cejudo claims that Pereira hasn’t talked about fighting Jones because it won’t be his ideal matchup. This is also why the former UFC double champ is excited to see Pereira vs. Ankalaev at light heavyweight first.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”