MMA News

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Paddy Pimblett Has A Problem With Ilia Topuria’s Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Is Not McGregor!’

    Paddy Pimblett Has A Problem With Ilia Topuria’s Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Is Not McGregor!’

    Paddy Pimblett has downplayed Ilia Topuria’s chances of challenging Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title.

    Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, has expressed interest in moving up to 155 pounds after defending his title against Max Holloway last time out.

    Assessing the situation, Pimblett remarked that despite Topuria’s recent victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway, he doesn’t believe the Spaniard has done enough to earn a shot at Makhachev’s lightweight belt. While “El Matador” has stated he’s open to a rematch with Volkanovski, his preference is to move up and challenge Makhachev.

    “I can’t see Ilia fighting Islam,” Pimblett said on the Blood Red podcast. “He’s only defended the belt once. Normally, you need to defend the belt like three times, and he’s not that big of a star to jump. He’s not (Conor) McGregor to just jump right up and fight for the other belt.

    “So I can’t personally see that happening, but we’ll see what happens. I heard Ilia’s headlining the UFC 314 event against Volk, but you don’t know anything until it’s finalized with the UFC. I have been told this and that the last few weeks, last few months, but we’ll just see what happens.”

    Pimblett and Topuria have a history of animosity, dating back to an altercation in London in March 2022. Their feud escalated further during the UFC 282 pre-fight press conference in December 2022, where security had to intervene due to their heated exchanges.

    As for Pimblett, he is targeting a return to the Octagon at UFC 314, with rumors suggesting a potential matchup against Michael Chandler.

  • Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

    Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

    Daniel Cormier was cageside as Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for the second time, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis shifted his focus to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who was in Strickland’s corner. While he expressed interest in a future showdown with “Poatan,” he made it clear that his immediate priority is Khamzat Chimaev.

    And Cormier supports that, believing the South African has more work to do at 185 pounds.

    “Dricus Du Plessis is the man,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “In the Octagon, he called out Pereira. I told Pereira after the fight, I go, ‘He wants you, Pereira.’ Pereira goes, ‘He’s just too small.’ Seriously. Pereira goes, ‘This man is just too small.’ Alex is huge, though. I mean, he looked massive compared to Dricus.

    “I love that Dricus has these big goals. I just think he still has work at middleweight before he thinks about going up — Khamzat Chimaev being problem No. 1.”

    Cormier admitted that he was once skeptical of Du Plessis, but after UFC 312, he has no doubts about the South African’s legitimacy.

    “Watching Dricus today, I don’t know that Chimaev just drives across the mat and takes him down,” Cormier said. “He’s so good at what he does. He’s the man. Dricus Du Plessis is the man, and once again, he proved that it’s going to be very difficult to take the belt off him.

    “I know Chimaev has a massive following, and people like him. He’s been dominant, but I just don’t know that he has ever seen anyone like Du Plessis.”

    Cormier concluded by acknowledging Du Plessis’ ability to dictate fights on his own terms.

    “I’m done questioning him,” Cormier said. “I’m done ever saying that what he does isn’t what’s done by the best fighter in the world, because he is proving over and over again that he is just that.

    “The way Du Plessis fights makes you fight him the way that he wants to fight. He makes you stop, he makes you wait, because when you try to attack him, he’s so good at changing speed, changing direction, and hitting you from odd angles that you can’t really get a bead on him.”

  • Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira ‘Will Never Be The Same’ After UFC 313 Headliner

    Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira ‘Will Never Be The Same’ After UFC 313 Headliner

    Magomed Ankalaev is determined to make a statement when he challenges UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8. He isn’t just aiming for a victory — he wants to change Pereira’s career forever.

    Ankalaev enters the fight on a 13-fight undefeated streak. His last three bouts were a recent unanimous decision win against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October and a knockout victory over Johnny Walker at the start of 2024 after going to a no contest against the Brazilian months prior.

    On Sunday, the Russian took to X to issue a warning to Pereira.

    “This guy keep traveling and he forget he will be fighting for his life March 8,” he wrote. “He will never be the same after this fight. [Dana White], mark my word.”

    Ankalaev’s comment appears to be a jab at Pereira’s frequent travels, specifically referencing his recent trip to Sydney to support Sean Strickland at UFC 312. Pereira was in the corner for Strickland’s lackluster loss to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.

    The upcoming challenger also criticized Pereira’s growing social media presence, likening him to a “TikTok chick.”

    “I never wanna hurt someone in my life like I want to hurt Alex,” he stated. “He is a fake humble boy.”

    “I’ve been climbing mountains, chopping wood, swimming in freezing lakes, and Alex has been dancing and making videos like a TikTok chick,” he added.

  • Dana White ‘Glad’ UFC Legend Dominick Cruz ‘Finally Hung It Up’ After Latest Injury Setback

    Dana White ‘Glad’ UFC Legend Dominick Cruz ‘Finally Hung It Up’ After Latest Injury Setback

    UFC CEO Dana White is pleased to see Dominick Cruz step away from the sport after a long and accomplished career.

    Cruz, a former champion in both WEC and UFC, last fought in August 2022, suffering a knockout loss to Marlon Vera. He had planned a farewell fight against Rob Font this month but another serious injury — his second dislocated shoulder in a matter of months — forced him to withdraw and ultimately retire.

    The 39-year-old officially announced his retirement in a heartfelt social media post. White shared his thoughts on Cruz’s decision during the UFC 312 post-event press conference.

    “I’m blown away that he hung in there as long as he did,” White said. “Who’s been more injured than this guy in his career? It’s fascinating. And the mental drive to just want to keep coming back and trying again and again after so many surgeries and so many injuries — you’ve got to give it to him. But I’m glad that he finally hung it up.”

    White also praised Cruz’s transition into broadcasting, emphasizing his value to the sport beyond fighting.

    “When you have the type of experience and type of career he’s had, and you can sit in the booth and talk fights, it’s awesome,” White added. “He’ll have a great career after his career.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis has a suggestion for Sean Strickland’s next fight following his loss at UFC 312.

    Strickland’s rematch with Du Plessis ended in a decisive unanimous decision defeat. The former champion endured significant damage, including a broken nose, as blood streamed down his face during the main event.

    Now, the question is: what’s next for the polarizing American?

    The answer is clear in the reigning champ’s mind. He believes Strickland should face Israel Adesanya in a rematch.

    “I know what’s going to happen next,” Du Plessis said during his UFC 312 post-fight press conference. “I can almost guarantee you what’s happening next: Is there any bets that he’s fighting Adesanya next? I just thought of that. … I think the Adesanya rematch will be amazing. That’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a Fight Night main event. I know it.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is coming off a second-round knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia.

    Strickland’s reign as UFC middleweight champion was brief. He defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023 but lost the belt in his first defense against Du Plessis, who later went on to defeat Adesanya as well.

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Khamzat Chimaev ‘Deserves A Hiding’ Before Alex Pereira Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis: Khamzat Chimaev ‘Deserves A Hiding’ Before Alex Pereira Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for the second time with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis turned his attention to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who was in Strickland’s corner. While he expressed interest in a future showdown with “Poatan,” he made it clear that his immediate focus is on Khamzat Chimaev.

    “I have the utmost respect for Alex Pereira,” Du Plessis said. “I think he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I respect everything he’s accomplished in such a short time in the UFC — coming from another sport and achieving what he has. But yes, I want to share the octagon with that man. I want to beat a guy — I’ve beaten [Israel] Adesanya, who has beaten him. I know I can beat him, and at 205 [pounds], one hundred percent.”

    The likelihood of a fight with the UFC light heavyweight king happening soon is slim, as Pereira is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev next month in the main event of UFC 313.

    For now, Du Plessis is content with a fight against the undefeated Chimaev.

    “Khamzat’s first,” Du Plessis said. “I told [Pereira], ‘Please beat Ankalaev.’ No hate against Ankalaev — I just want to beat Alex Pereira. It’s nothing personal against Ankalaev, it’s just Pereira. He’s already a legend in this sport, and it would be amazing to beat him for my legacy. I want to be the greatest to ever do this. But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that this belt — the middleweight title — has no questions left about who the greatest middleweight is.

    “I know you have Anderson Silva — in my mind, he is the GOAT of this division—and you have Adesanya, who has done incredible things. But it’s not just about how many times you defend. It’s about who you fight, how you defend it, and what period of time you’ve done it in. I want to make sure that there’s no question that I am the best middleweight before moving up. So I’m not rushing to fight Alex Pereira next. No, no, no. I want Khamzat next. I think he deserves a hiding.”

  • Dana White Reveals ‘Fascinating’ Revelation He Had While Watching Sean Strickland At UFC 312

    Dana White Reveals ‘Fascinating’ Revelation He Had While Watching Sean Strickland At UFC 312

    Sean Strickland’s loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 was a decisive unanimous decision. During the main event, the former champion endured significant damage, including a broken nose, as blood streamed down his face.

    Despite the adversity, though, he persevered and refused to quit.

    UFC CEO Dana White praised Strickland’s toughness and mental focus after the fight while also sharing an interesting observation about his demeanor inside the octagon.

    “Sean is usually really good at shutting people down, like Izzy (Adesanya),” White told reporters. “When he fought Izzy, Izzy couldn’t get into a rhythm, and Sean was in his face, pressuring him the whole time. It feels like that’s what Dricus did to him.

    “I’ll tell you something fascinating that I noticed tonight for the first time. I don’t know why. We’ll see if you notice this. So, Sean Strickland — the way he acts leading up to fights, right? Normally, when you have people who act the way he does, you see signs of it in a fight. But who is more focused, professional, and solid in a fight than he is? When he gets hurt, there’s no sticking out the tongue, no, ‘No, no, that didn’t hurt me.’ The guy stays focused and keeps coming forward.

    “There’s never any hint of how he acts outside the octagon when he’s in there. Absolute professional the whole time. It’s actually fascinating. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that with a guy who acts the way he does leading up to fights.”

    Strickland’s UFC record has taken a downturn since his middleweight title win in September 2023. He is now 1-2 in his last three fights, with both losses coming in title bouts against Du Plessis.

    “I’ve never seen a guy so solid and professional,” White added. “He gets his nose broken, snaps it back into place, and keeps fighting. He gets hit with some nasty shots, but when he does, he doesn’t shake his head or do the goofy things that guys like Mayorga did. You can go into any combat sport, and you’ve seen it. But nobody is more professional during the fight than this guy is. It’s fascinating.”

  • UFC Analyst Rips Sean Strickland After UFC 312 Performance: ‘He’s Not Who He Says He Is’

    UFC Analyst Rips Sean Strickland After UFC 312 Performance: ‘He’s Not Who He Says He Is’

    Sean Strickland’s pre-fight promises of a brutal, all-out war with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 ultimately fell flat when they met in their rematch.

    This is becoming a trend, as Strickland has a history of talking up his willingness to fight to the death — only for his bouts to be marked more by decisions than finishes. That pattern frustrated veteran analyst and coach Din Thomas, who expressed disappointment after Strickland’s latest performance.

    “We just have to admit it now. We have to admit it: Sean Strickland is not who he says he is,” Thomas said on the UFC 312 post-fight show (h/t MMA Fighting). “He’s not who he says he is. We want him to be something. He wants to be something, but he’s not that guy.

    “He’s not the guy who’s going to go to the death! To the death! He didn’t go to the death. He didn’t even go deep. I’m not saying he’s not a great fighter. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve to be where he’s at. But he’s not who he says he is. We’ve got to admit that.”

    Strickland’s rematch with Du Plessis mirrored their first fight, ending in another loss for the American. However, this time, his performance was noticeably less aggressive. Rather than pushing for a finish, he relied on his jab and attempted to outwork the South African on the feet.

    Between rounds, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, repeatedly urged him to be more active, emphasizing the need for a finish in the final round. Despite the advice, the challenger’s approach remained largely unchanged, leading to another setback.

  • Sean Strickland Reveals Extent Of Damage From Dricus Du Plessis Punch At UFC 312: ‘Broke My Nose In Like Six Places’

    Sean Strickland Reveals Extent Of Damage From Dricus Du Plessis Punch At UFC 312: ‘Broke My Nose In Like Six Places’

    Following his unanimous decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 in Sydney, Sean Strickland took to Instagram to reflect on the fight and give credit to the reigning middleweight champion.

    In his first public statement since the bout, Strickland detailed the significant damage to his nose, which he admitted played a role in the fight’s outcome. He revealed that his nose was broken in six places but remained optimistic about the injury.

    “Dricus, f*cking hat’s off,” Strickland said in a video on his Instagram account. “Hell of a fight. Broke my nose in like six places. Silver lining — my nose is so broken it’s easy to reset. That was a new experience.”

    Despite previously feeling “robbed” in their first encounter at UFC 297, which Du Plessis won by split decision, Strickland took a more positive approach to this loss. He found satisfaction in pushing through adversity and acknowledged that others face far greater struggles in life.

    “I’m good. Losing sucks, but we all lose in life,” Strickland said. “I talk to so many people that lose their job, their girlfriend breaks up with them, and they just find themselves in this hole. I love the misery. I love the suffering because when you’re miserable, when you’re in pain and suffering — the moment that’s gone, and it will end—there will be a new day and a better day. Life’s good.”

  • Usman Nurmagomedov: I Was Only ’50 Percent’ In Bellator Title Defense Over Paul Hughes

    Usman Nurmagomedov: I Was Only ’50 Percent’ In Bellator Title Defense Over Paul Hughes

    Usman Nurmagomedov has voiced his dissatisfaction with his latest performance inside the cage.

    Despite successfully defending his Bellator lightweight title against Paul Hughes at the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series event, Nurmagomedov felt he did not showcase his true potential.

    While he remained undefeated with a close majority decision win, the Dagestani admitted he was far from his best that night.

    “I think I can prepare for this fight better,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie. “I know I can be better — more than I was that night. I for sure know I can finish this guy. After this fight, I see a lot of my mistakes. For myself, I know I was 50 percent in that cage. I will be ready for 100 percent. I know I can finish this guy.”

    Nurmagomedov also pointed to a lack of training partners during his camp as a major factor in his underwhelming performance.

    “For training camp, I did it with tough guys — like one or two — but this is not enough,” Nurmagomedov said. “I was alone, and it’s really hard to push yourself when you don’t have your coaches. Everyone was focused on Umar (Nurmagomedov), Islam (Makhachev), Tagir (Ulanbekov) in America.”

    Additionally, he revealed that he had been sick in the weeks leading up to the fight, which further affected his conditioning.

    “Of course, they control me, but it’s different when you’re training at home with your family and your friends. Sometimes, you have to spend a little time with your family, have dinner with your brothers. This made me a little tired and didn’t let me recover properly for the next training session. Also, when I came to Dubai, I was sick two weeks before the fight.”

    Following Nurmagomedov’s close victory, many fans called for an immediate rematch. However, Nurmagomedov dismissed the idea, believing the fight was not as close as some suggest and insisting that Hughes should earn another shot before they meet again.

  • Diego Lopes Believes Alexander Volkanovski Fight At UFC 314 ‘Makes Sense’

    Diego Lopes Believes Alexander Volkanovski Fight At UFC 314 ‘Makes Sense’

    Diego Lopes has shifted his focus beyond Yair Rodriguez and is now eyeing a potential title fight.

    Lopes recently confirmed that he will not be fighting Rodriguez, a bout that was rumored for the UFC Mexico City main event on March 29. Instead, he revealed in an interview that the UFC has other plans for him.

    “The fight with Yair never happened,” Lopes told Submission Radio. “UFC talked to me, ‘OK, now you sit down, you stay here, relax. Maybe we do a big fight for you.’ I’m training, I’m staying ready for one big fight. I need one big fight now. I’m No. 3 in the rankings. I think Max (Holloway) is out of the rankings, but moved to lightweight. I don’t know what’s happening in the division now.”

    With UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria teasing a potential move to lightweight, Lopes has turned his attention to a possible championship fight against Alexander Volkanovski. This comes after the Australian suggested a fight with Lopes at UFC 314 should Topuria vacate the featherweight belt.

    “If (Topuria) moves, I think I’m next for the title to face Volk,” Lopes said. “I think they vacate the belt, no? I don’t know if Ilia would be ready for 145, maybe October, September? I don’t know. Ilia, I think he’ll move to lightweight.”

    Lopes believes a fight against Volkanovski makes the most sense, given the current rankings.

    “I think this makes sense, right? Because I’m No. 3, Alex is No. 1,” Lopes said. “Ilia has moved to lightweight. Who’s the next fight for the title? I don’t have one fight for the title. I think me and Alex makes sense for the fight.

    “April for me is really good timing. This is a great fight — I need it so much,” Lopes continued. “Alex has a lot of experience in the UFC. I think his last 10 fights were five rounds. The guy has a lot of experience, but it’s a good fight for me. I proved myself. I’m ready for the champ.”

  • Jack Della Maddalena Disagrees With Leon Edwards Using Timing As Excuse For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Jack Della Maddalena Disagrees With Leon Edwards Using Timing As Excuse For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Jack Della Maddalena disagrees with Leon Edwards’ claim that the unusual fight time at UFC 304 affected his performance against Belal Muhammad last July.

    Edwards, who lost his welterweight title to Muhammad that night, attributed his fatigue and sluggishness to the late-night start time, which was scheduled to accommodate U.S. pay-per-view audiences. However, Della Maddalena believes that excuse takes credit away from Muhammad’s victory.

    “In my opinion, I feel like Leon has always fought like that, so just to blame the timing, I don’t think, is fair on Belal’s part,” Della Maddalena told The Mac Life. “I think Leon has shown that he’s happy sort of not doing too much, using his precise striking just to sit back, and I think Belal pulled off the perfect game plan — just to push the pace, grab a hold of him, make it a bit more ugly.”

    Della Maddalena is set to face Edwards on March 22 in the UFC Fight Night London main event at The O2. As he prepares for the matchup, he plans to employ a similarly aggressive strategy to what Muhammad used.

    “That would be my plan: Put him up against the cage, build upon a pace, keep pushing the pace, and try to make it ugly,” Della Maddalena said. “I think it’s a good game plan for me, and I’m going to go in there and use the blueprint to try and do what Belal did. I’m not going to try and grab ahold of Leon. I’m just going to be trying to get in the pocket, land big shots, and try to beat him down.”

  • Michael Bisping Explains Why Ilia Topuria’s Chances Are High To Beat Islam Makhachev

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Ilia Topuria’s Chances Are High To Beat Islam Makhachev

    Michael Bisping is intrigued by a potential showdown between UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

    The 145-pound titleholder has expressed interest in moving up to challenge Makhachev, who is currently ranked as the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. While acknowledging the Dagestani’s dominance, the former fighter-turned-commentator believes Topuria’s well-rounded skill set could make the fight competitive — despite the size difference.

    “That’s an incredible fight,” Bisping told Submission Radio. “Ilia Topuria, what he’s been able to do, what he’s achieved in such a short space — so impressed. The same with Islam. Islam is incredible. Nobody can sit here and criticize Islam. The fight style that he has, the way that he’s able to use his wrestling to such effectiveness. The striking is always improving and catching up.

    “But on the flip side, Ilia is a smaller guy, though. So you take two guys with great skill sets — the bigger guy is always going to win. But if anyone could make that happen, it’s Ilia Topuria. The man said what he’s going to do right from the beginning, changed his bio to champion of the world. He’s knocked out (Alexander) Volkanovski. He’s knocked out Max Holloway. He’s knocking out everybody, and apparently, he’s even better at wrestling than he is at boxing.”

    Topuria’s stock has skyrocketed following his knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.

    Meanwhile, Makhachev recently secured his fourth lightweight title defense with a quick submission of Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

  • Former UFC Fighter Suggests Sean Strickland’s ‘Constant Sparring’ Is Hurting Him

    Former UFC Fighter Suggests Sean Strickland’s ‘Constant Sparring’ Is Hurting Him

    Sean Strickland is known for his intense and sometimes unorthodox approach to sparring — something that former UFC fighter Matt Brown believes may be holding him back.

    Strickland’s sparring sessions are notoriously intense, pushing his training partners hard while focusing on realistic fight simulations. His sparring habits reflect his personality and approach to fighting as intense, technical, and often entertaining. However, Brown believes the former middleweight champ’s constant sparring could be limiting his growth as a fighter.

    “The problem with the constant sparring — a lot of people talk about the brain damage and stuff like that. I don’t think that’s nearly as big of a deal as people make it out to be,” Brown said on MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “But you don’t evolve quite as much. You’re not compartmentalizing little skills and building on them.

    “For instance, I’ve got a guy fighting pretty soon, and today we literally only worked on his jab and stepping outside because he’s fighting a southpaw—so getting his left foot outside of his [opponent’s]. So guys were sparring against him at about 50 or 60 percent, and his only job was to throw a jab and get outside. You’re not throwing right hands, you’re not throwing kicks, so we’re compartmentalizing these little skills.

    “So now when he goes and spars again, he’s going to have a much better jab — hopefully. If what we did worked, he’s going to get outside better, and all those other things are going to open up. I don’t really see Strickland doing that because he’s just sparring all the time.”

    Brown acknowledges the benefits of Strickland’s heavy sparring approach but argues that it comes at a cost.

    “The advantage is he gets his timing very well, he knows exactly what he’s looking for all the time, he knows himself very well as a fighter, he doesn’t get as nervous,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of advantages. But you don’t evolve that way.”

    Strickland is set to challenge current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch for the title on Feb. 8 at UFC 312.

  • Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones Is DQ’d From GOAT Talk Due To His ‘Dirty Sh*t’ History

    Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones Is DQ’d From GOAT Talk Due To His ‘Dirty Sh*t’ History

    The rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones is one of the most intense and storied in UFC history.

    As Cormier climbed the ranks, the rivalry intensified. Jones made disrespectful comments, and Cormier retaliated. The two fought twice for the light heavyweight title, with “Bones” winning both bouts. However, the victories were later marred by controversy.

    Cormier has been vocal about his frustration with the circumstances surrounding their fights, believing that Jones’ history with performance-enhancing drugs tainted the competition. The Rochester native failed multiple drug tests, casting a shadow over his wins and raising questions about their legitimacy. 

    Because of Jones’ history, Cormier — now a UFC color commentator — refuses to consider him the greatest fighter of all time.

    “You really can’t deny his greatness, right? Look at what he has done,” Cormier said during the UFC 312 Q&A in Sydney. “The guy has really fought through three generations of fighters. He fought that early generation with (Lyoto) Machida and them. He went through my generation, and now he’s fighting a whole other generation of guys.

    “So yeah, of course he’s one of the greatest fighters of all time. But when you do dirty sh*t, you don’t get to be called the greatest of all time.”

  • Patchy Mix On Being ‘Shelved’ By PFL: ‘I’ve Had Two Fights Canceled Without Being Compensated!’

    Patchy Mix continues to express frustration with his situation under the PFL banner. The Bellator bantamweight champion finds himself under contract but without a fight lined up or any indication of when he will compete next.

    Mix has been vocal on social media, calling out PFL and requesting his release so he can continue his fighting career elsewhere. He reiterated his stance in a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio.

    “I have to voice it because I’m in the prime of my career, and not only because I’m in the prime of my career, but because I’m the best bantamweight in the world,” Mix said. “(My record is) 20-1 with 15 finishes, and I’ve been shelved. I’ve had one fight in the last 14 months. I do very well with activity — my whole career. This is the longest layoff of my career.”

    Mix also highlighted the financial burden of canceled fights.

    “I’ve had two fights canceled without being compensated,” Mix said. “I’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to bring my cornermen and coaches out for those fights—first in November in Paris, and then in January in Dubai.”

    Since PFL purchased Bellator in November 2023, Mix has only fought once, successfully defending his Bellator bantamweight title against Magomed Magomedov in May 2024. He was originally scheduled to fight in November, but just two weeks before the event, PFL canceled the entire show.

    Now, Mix wants clarity on his future — either a fight or a release so he can pursue a UFC career.

    “A lot of it has to do with momentum, and I’m a momentum fighter,” Mix said. “My whole entire career, between amateur and professional, I’m 31 wins and one loss, and I have fought 32 times over the last 11 years. Every four or five months, I’ve fought consistently, and I’ve never had to deal with injuries. So to have that momentum ripped out, not knowing what happens with the promotion, my contract, my belt — next thing you know, I’m sitting out for a long time.

    “My momentum is kind of done, and now they’re sitting me for another 10 months to a year. Momentum is hard to attain in this game, but there’s no doubt in my mind — I just need the fights to stay active. If they don’t want to let me fight, then release me, and in 365 days, I will be the UFC champion.”

  • Dustin Poirier Provides Update On UFC’s Plans For His Retirement Fight

    Dustin Poirier Provides Update On UFC’s Plans For His Retirement Fight

    Dustin Poirier is hoping to end his MMA career with a final fight in his home state of Louisiana — and he may get his wish.

    The former interim lightweight champion is actively working with the UFC to make it happen. Poirier’s last fight was a title bout loss to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last June.

    According to records obtained by MMA Junkie, the UFC has expressed interest in holding an event in New Orleans in 2025. The promotion hasn’t hosted an event in Louisiana since 2015, when Poirier secured a first-round TKO victory over Yancy Medeiros on the card.

    “I wish I could tell you more. I’ve actually been having calls every week with the UFC,” Poirier told The Schmo. “But it’s looking like summer in New Orleans is close to happening for my retirement fight. A pay-per-view in New Orleans this summer would be incredible.

    “That’s what I’m pushing for. That’s what the UFC’s working toward, and things are getting pretty close: Lay the gloves down where it all started in Louisiana. It would be an honor for me.”

  • UFC 312: Coach Predicts Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Will Be A ‘Violent Chess Match’

    UFC 312: Coach Predicts Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 Will Be A ‘Violent Chess Match’

    Sayif Saud, head coach at Fortis MMA, anticipates an all-out war between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland in their UFC 312 rematch this Saturday.

    The two middleweights will run it back less than a year after their closely contested fight at UFC 297, where Du Plessis captured the middleweight title by split decision. Their first encounter was action-packed, with both fighters believing they had done enough to win.

    Now, they meet again in Sydney, with Strickland blaming his previous loss on an alleged illegal headbutt and questionable judging. Meanwhile, Du Plessis sees no controversy and aims for a decisive victory to silence any doubts.

    “Sean Strickland is not a f*cking game,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “Sean Strickland is a guy that I think builds confidence with experience. He has experience in there with Dricus, going at Dricus. People are kind of counting him out a little bit more in this fight, saying, ‘Well, Dricus is going to finish, Dricus is getting better and better.’ That might be the case, but I still see this as a very close fight. I just think with the experience that Sean Strickland has, mentally, I feel like he’ll be more prepared. But again, the champion is 30 percent better every time.

    “You become the champion, you’re literally 30 percent better. The confidence that comes with that. Dricus is a f*cking beast. He knows it doesn’t look great, but he don’t care. His whole thing is, ‘I’m going to out-will you.’ And that’s powerful, man. Fighting is about will, and he out-wills people. He really, really does. But that ain’t going to be easy to go do against Sean Strickland, because Sean Strickland is a five-round fighter.”

    Saud believes Du Plessis will be ready if Strickland comes out aggressively looking for a finish. Because of this, he dismisses any predictions of a dull fight, expecting an even more intense battle than their first encounter.

    “I think we’re going to see what we saw (in the first fight), but a little more aggressive version of that,” Saud said. “I think they’re going to add on a bit, they’re going to study the tape, and they’re going to come up with some more stuff. But Dricus’ coach is really, really good at game planning. This is going to be a real chess match between these two, and it’s going to be violent.”

  • Sean Strickland Dismisses Staph Infection Speculation Ahead Of UFC 312 Headliner

    Sean Strickland Dismisses Staph Infection Speculation Ahead Of UFC 312 Headliner

    Ahead of his middleweight title rematch against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 this Saturday in Sydney, Sean Strickland has reassured fans that there is nothing to worry about following speculation that he might have a staph infection.

    Concern arose after Strickland’s pre-fight photoshoot was released, with some observers noting a mark on his arm that resembled a staph infection. Even Du Plessis alluded to it in a post on his Instagram Story, fueling speculation.

    However, Strickland addressed the rumors during the UFC 312 pre-fight press conference, dismissing any health concerns.

    “Listen, motherf*ckers, I’m immune to staph,” Strickland said. “You see this f*cking mustache? I give staph — I don’t f*cking get staph. Calm the f*ck down.

    “I don’t get sick, I don’t get f*cking injured, I don’t get f*cking staph. So, relax. I’m going to be out there on Sunday, and I’m going to come out f*cking hard and strong. The hardest and strongest you’ve ever f*cking seen. To the f*cking death, Dutch man.”

  • Daniel Cormier Warns Islam Makhachev Against Potential Middleweight Move

    Daniel Cormier Warns Islam Makhachev Against Potential Middleweight Move

    Daniel Cormier has cautioned UFC lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev against a potential move to middleweight despite a fight against welterweight champion Belal Muhammad likely being off the table.

    Makhachev has expressed interest in skipping the welterweight division entirely and jumping straight to middleweight in pursuit of becoming a two-division UFC champ. However, Cormier believes that current middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis is often underestimated, despite recent wins over top-tier opponents in Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, and Israel Adesanya.

    “I know it may not look as appealing to some as they want their world champions to look, but we just watched him submit Israel Adesanya,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “We just watched him break him down over the course of three rounds and get him to a point where Izzy got submitted by him — something we’d never seen before. We have seen him beat Sean Strickland, we have seen him finish Robert Whittaker. At some point, we have to respect Dricus Du Plessis.

    “I think Islam respects him. I don’t know that Islam would understand how hard it would be to fight a guy of that size. I think this guy might weigh 220 when he’s not making weight. Many people talk about the amount of weight that the Russians cut, and Islam cuts weight to make 155, but I don’t know even on his heaviest days if he weighs 185. Now, I’m not saying that he can’t do it — I just think that it’s much harder than anyone understands to go up two weight classes.”

    Du Plessis is set to defend his title against Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312 this Saturday in Sydney, Australia.

  • UFC Analyst: Everyone Falls Off, Israel Adesanya Is No Different

    UFC Analyst: Everyone Falls Off, Israel Adesanya Is No Different

    Din Thomas isn’t surprised to see Israel Adesanya on a losing skid at this stage of his career.

    The former fighter-turned-analyst recently weighed in on Adesanya’s latest defeat, when he was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia. The loss marked Adesanya’s third consecutive setback and has fueled widespread speculation about his future in the sport.

    Thomas pointed out that many UFC legends have experienced similar declines toward the end of their careers, and “The Last Stylebender” is no exception.

    “Well, that’s just the thing. You know when you make it to the top, and he (Adesanya) is done right? In my opinion at the top-top,” Thomas said during MMA Today on Sirius XM. “But it happens to everybody. No one escapes that except for Jon Jones. It’s a handful, and they’re all on Mount Rushmore. Even Anderson Silva fell off. It happens to everybody. This might be a bad message to send to fighters, but if you make it to the top, it comes crashing down hard. Harder than if you don’t make it to the top, and you kind of teeter around the UFC for a while.

    “When you make it to the top top, your losses are always magnified,” Thomas added. “Everybody’s watching them and it looks like a hard fall. It happened to Chuck Liddell, it happened to B.J. Penn, it happened to all the greats, and that’s just what’s happening to Izzy right now.”

  • Ilia Topuria Explains Why He Prefers Islam Makhachev Superfight Over UFC Title Defense

    Ilia Topuria Explains Why He Prefers Islam Makhachev Superfight Over UFC Title Defense

    Ilia Topuria is eager to secure a fight with UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, believing that a victory would solidify his status as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

    The reigning featherweight champ has set his sights on the top spot as the sport’s best, putting him at odds with Makhachev. Topuria has repeatedly expressed his desire to move up in weight for a superfight, a sentiment he reiterated in a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia.

    “Me, personally, what I want to do is move up to 155 because I know that I can become a two-weight world champion,” Topuria said. “Islam, he’s a great fighter, he’s the No. 1 pound-for-pound for the people. For me, it’s me, myself — I’m the best fighter in the world. I know that I can do with him whatever I want to do because I know that I am much better than him.”

    Topuria has built a strong case for being the best fighter in the world, topping multiple Fighter of the Year lists at the end of 2024, surpassing names like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.

    “This is something that I want to do,” Topuria said. “The UFC knows that. But at the end of the day, this is something that the UFC decides because they know how to run the business. They know how to do it, they have a lot of experience. So if they tell me that they want me to keep defending the belt in the 145 division, maybe I will do that. But if they let me go up to 155, I will do that also.”

    If “El Matador” remains at featherweight, potential challengers include Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev, as well as a rumored rematch with Alexander Volkanovski.

    “I think Diego deserves it more because Movsar has more fights in the UFC, but he has eight fights, eight decisions, [one] by split decision. You need to finish someone,” Topuria said. “Do something, do something relevant, put yourself in that spot, and why not? We can do it.

    “But if you don’t finish anyone, I fight for the fans. I fight to entertain the fans, and I need someone inside the cage to be entertained. I don’t need someone who is only looking for the win and grabs you and this and that. Which, by the way, he wouldn’t be able to do that with me—I would knock him out in the first round. But I need someone to hype up the fight.”

  • VIDEO: Sean Strickland Thrown From His Motorcycle Days Ahead Of UFC 312 Title Fight

    VIDEO: Sean Strickland Thrown From His Motorcycle Days Ahead Of UFC 312 Title Fight

    Sean Strickland aims to recapture the middleweight title in a rematch against current champion Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 312 main event this weekend in Sydney. Du Plessis previously defeated Strickland at UFC 297.

    After the UFC 311 lost its main event on late notice last month, Saturday’s challenger may have given the promotion a scare with his recent motorcycle mishap during the filming of UFC 312 Embedded. In the footage, Strickland attempted to show off for the cameras but ended up taking a spill.

    The incident brings to mind other fighters who have suffered serious motorcycle accidents before major UFC events, including Jose Aldo and Frank Mir, some of whom faced nearly career-ending injuries. Strickland’s fall occurred while attempting a wheelie, resulting in him losing control and falling off the back of the bike.

    “Gotta let it warm up, like a woman—gotta ease her into it, get her right,” Strickland said. “Motorcycles are fun because they’re f*cking scary. Every time you get on one, your butthole puckers a little bit and you’re like, ‘Oh, this is real scary, but it’s real fun.’”

  • Lyoto Machida Denies Being Put Into A Coma By Knockout Loss To Yoel Romero

    Lyoto Machida Denies Being Put Into A Coma By Knockout Loss To Yoel Romero

    Yoel Romero recently made a surprising claim about the lasting impact of his fight against Lyoto Machida.

    Once a top contender who faced many of MMA’s elite, Romero suggested that his 2015 knockout victory over Machida had severe consequences for “The Dragon.”

    Speaking on Mike Perry’s OverDogs Podcast, Romero alleged that Machida “wasn’t the same” after their fight, claiming the former UFC champion suffered “brutal damage” and even went into a coma. Romero said he was so concerned that he reached out to Machida’s management team for updates on his condition. He used the alleged incident to highlight the extreme risks fighters take inside the cage.

    However, Machida quickly refuted Romero’s claims, telling MMA Fighting that the story was entirely inaccurate.

    “I heard about [Romero’s comments], but I didn’t watch [the video],” Machida said. “But that’s not true at all. What happened was I broke my nose in that fight and had surgery. But there was no coma or anything like that. That never happened.”

    Machida dismissed the idea that he suffered serious long-term damage, pointing to his extensive fighting career after the Romero bout.

    “It makes no sense that a fighter would get in a coma and then fight like 20 times after that,” Machida laughed. “I had nose surgery because I broke my nose. I had to stay in Miami for a week — because I lived in Los Angeles and couldn’t fly with the nasal packing. That’s basically what happened. It’s normal stuff for us that fight, right?”

    After his loss to Romero, Machida competed nine more times as a professional, winning four of those bouts. He eventually retired from MMA in 2022 after a knockout loss to Fabian Edwards in Bellator.

  • Sean Strickland To UFC 312 Foe Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Alex Pereira F**king Hates You’

    Sean Strickland To UFC 312 Foe Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Alex Pereira F**king Hates You’

    Alex Pereira has extra incentive to support Sean Strickland in his upcoming fight at UFC 312, where Strickland will challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title in a rematch.

    Leading up to the fight, Strickland has revealed that Pereira harbors a strong dislike for Du Plessis. This tension comes after both fighters previously expressed interest in facing each other, with each willing to change weight classes to make the bout happen.

    Although Du Plessis has recently spoken positively about Pereira and his accomplishments, he has also expressed his own ambitions of becoming a two-division champion like “Poatan.” However, according to Strickland, Pereira’s feelings toward Du Plessis are far from neutral.

    “I think Alex is an angry motherf*cker,” Strickland said in an interview with the UFC. “Like, Alex is angry, and for some reason, dude, he hates Dricus. Like, I don’t know what you did to him, but he f*cking hates you, dude.

    “So, it’s like, the way he looks at Dricus sometimes, I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m fighting him, dawg. Like, it’s me, dude.’ But yeah, no, Alex, he just has that hate in his heart, and he’s a good dude, so he’s out there, and I was like, ‘Let’s come on, let’s get it in.’”