MMA News

Author: Andrew Ravens

  • Dana White ‘Hates Donald Cerrone’s UFC Comeback Idea

    UFC President Dana White is not on board with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s plans for a potential return to the octagon. The former title contender, who retired in 2022, has expressed interest in stepping out of retirement to fight twice, aiming to reach a career total of 50 fights.

    Cerrone’s last victory came in May 2019, when he won a decision over Al Iaquinta. However, after that, he experienced a rough patch, going on a four-fight losing streak, including three TKO losses to top fighters like Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, and Conor McGregor. Cerrone managed to go the distance in a bout against Anthony Pettis at UFC 249, but his fight with Niko Price, initially ruled a majority decision, was later overturned to a no contest. He was then finished by Alex Morono in May 2021 and submitted by Jim Miller at UFC 276 in July 2022.

    White Sounds Off

    Despite Cerrone’s aspirations for a comeback, Dana White strongly opposes the idea. During a press conference following Dana White’s Contender Series 76, White made his stance clear.

    “I hate it,” White said. “I love him, but I hate that. He retired. For what? What’s left to prove? If it’s about making money, we can figure something else out. When guys retire, they retire for a reason—they know it’s over. It’s hard to walk away from, not just the money, but the feeling of walking out of that tunnel, getting in the cage, and hearing the crowd.”

    – Dana White on Cowboy Cerrone coming out of retirement

    White continued to emphasize that Cerrone is a beloved figure in the UFC, and he’s “gone to war” in the Octagon more than enough times to deserve the adulation he receives.

    “… it’s time for him to stop going to war—there’s nothing left for him to prove.”

    – Dana White on Cowboy Cerrone coming out of retirement
  • Daniel Cormier Reveals His Biggest Concern For Nick Diaz’s UFC Return Fight

    Daniel Cormier Reveals His Biggest Concern For Nick Diaz’s UFC Return Fight

    UFC analyst Daniel Cormier has voiced concerns over fan-favorite Nick Diaz’s upcoming return to the Octagon. Diaz is set to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, marking his first fight in over three years.

    Diaz’s last bout was in September 2021 at UFC 266, where he suffered a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler. Before that, he had a rough stretch, going 0-2-1, with decision losses to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in 2012 and Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 in 2013. His 2015 bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 was overturned to a no contest due to Silva’s failed drug test. Now, at 41 years old, Diaz is preparing to make his comeback, and Cormier has raised some concerns about his mental and physical readiness.

    Speaking on an episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy, Cormier expressed his worries about Diaz’s mindset heading into this fight, hoping the veteran is truly prepared and won’t embarrass himself in the process.

    “The thing about Nick Diaz, for me, I want the guy from the pictures. Imma’ just say it,” Cormier explained. “I don’t want to see Nick Diaz who is just ripped. When he fought Robbie Lawler, I was so excited. I thought, ‘Man, he’s been back on the triathlons, and he looks even better than he did in his prime.’ But when he got to the Octagon, he looked nothing like that person. He looked like a guy pushing 40, who hadn’t fought in years, and I didn’t know if he still had that fight in him.”

    Cormier continued by analyzing Luque, noting that although some believe he may be on the decline, Luque is still a formidable opponent. “Vicente Luque is thought to be on the decline. I kind of judged him based on how badly Joaquin Buckley beat him. But now, watching Buckley beat an 18-1 kid in St. Louis and dominate Stephen Thompson… I wonder if I was too quick to judge Luque.”

    He also reflected on Diaz’s struggle against Lawler, who was nearing retirement at the time. “Nick Diaz struggled with Robbie Lawler, and Robbie was just one fight away from retiring. Vicente Luque isn’t going anywhere; it’s a tough fight. Nick has to be really locked in if he wants to go out there and not embarrass himself.”

    With Diaz stepping back into the cage at 41, Cormier’s concerns highlight the uncertainties surrounding his readiness to face a tough opponent like Luque.

  • Sean O’Malley Wants José Aldo: ‘That Would Be F*cking Crazy’

    Sean O’Malley Wants José Aldo: ‘That Would Be F*cking Crazy’

    Sean O’Malley, former UFC bantamweight champion, has set his sights on a potential showdown with MMA legend José Aldo. O’Malley is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 after a three-fight win streak, which included capturing and defending the bantamweight title. Now, he’s eager to return to the Octagon for another high-profile fight.

    On the other hand, Aldo recently lost via a unanimous decision against Mario Bautista at UFC 307. Despite this, his reputation as a former featherweight champion and all-time great keeps him in the mix for exciting matchups.

    While discussing his future in an interview with Ariel Helwani, O’Malley expressed his enthusiasm for a potential fight with Aldo, calling it a “crazy” possibility as he aims to secure the biggest and most entertaining fights possible.

    “100%, that would be f*cking crazy. Jose Aldo is a legend,” O’Malley told Helwani. “Yeah, that’s definitely a possibility. I like having options, and I don’t know if the Merab fight is going to happen, but I’m pushing for it. Just putting that out into the universe, hoping it happens. But, you know, I’m here for big fights, and I want people to be entertained. I want people to have that feeling of a big fight around the corner… That’s the type of fight I want to put on and give to the people. So yeah, it’s a possibility.”

    With O’Malley’s penchant for thrilling matchups and Aldo’s legendary status, a fight between the two could be a marquee event for the UFC.

  • Charles Oliveira Hopes UFC Gives Tony Ferguson Opponent He Can ‘Put On A Show’ Against

    Charles Oliveira Hopes UFC Gives Tony Ferguson Opponent He Can ‘Put On A Show’ Against

    Charles Oliveira has shared his thoughts on how the UFC should approach Tony Ferguson’s potential return to the Octagon. Ferguson, currently on an eight-fight losing streak, was defeated by Oliveira in 2020.

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira expressed how difficult it was to see Ferguson suffer another loss, this time to Michael Chiesa via first-round submission in August. Following the fight, Ferguson hinted at retirement but later changed his stance, stating he still wanted to compete.

    Oliveira’s Perspective

    “He deserves all the respect in the world just for continuing to fight. He deserves a standing ovation for everything he’s accomplished in the UFC,” Oliveira said. “But I think the UFC should give him some help by matching him up with someone [closer to his age] so they can put on a great show, and we can all applaud them.”

    Oliveira continued, “The guy doesn’t want to retire, he’s still here. So why not match him with someone who shares the same vibe and experience? That would be amazing. But putting him up against these young, hungry fighters seeking to make a name off him—it’s complicated. It sucks. He’s older now, and pitting him against kids? That’s tough for him.”

    During Ferguson’s current skid, he has been finished by Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green. He has also dropped decisions to Beneil Dariush and Paddy Pimblett. His last victory came over Donald Cerrone in June 2019.

  • Justin Gaethje Gives Targeted UFC Return Date

    Justin Gaethje is edging closer to his return to the Octagon with a potential timeframe in sight. According to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, the former interim lightweight champion is open to matchups with contenders such as Renato Moicano and Dan Hooker.

    Gaethje, currently ranked third in the official lightweight rankings, has been on the sidelines since his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, where he lost the symbolic BMF (Baddest Motherf***) championship.

    Before that defeat, Gaethje had secured two significant victories. He won a unanimous decision over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286 in March 2023, earning him Fight of the Night honors. In July of that year, Gaethje claimed the BMF title after a second-round knockout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291, a performance that also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. Abdelaziz confirmed that Gaethje is eyeing a return to action as early as March of next year.

    “Justin Gaethje’s going to fight in March,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “Against who? I have no idea. It could be Dan Hooker, Dustin Poirier, or Renato Moicano. Whatever it is, I don’t know yet, but I would like to see Justin fight in March. He needs a little bit of time to recover after his last fight. He deserves that.”

  • Max Holloway Addresses Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 308 Title Fight

    Max Holloway Addresses Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 308 Title Fight

    Max Holloway is set to return to the featherweight division, and while fans may be concerned about him making weight, the former champion is not.

    Holloway is scheduled to face Ilia Topuria for the division’s title at UFC 308. He is coming into the fight on a three-fight winning streak, his first in the division in over a year.

    Holloway’s last appearances in the octagon have been impressive. He earned a decision victory over Arnold Allen in April 2023 and followed that up by knocking out Jung Chan-sung in August. Most recently, at UFC 300, Holloway delivered a knockout performance against Justin Gaethje for the BMF title, earning both Performance and Fight of the Night honors.

    Addressing Weight Concerns

    Despite ongoing speculation, Holloway remains unconcerned about making weight for his upcoming bout. On his YouTube channel, he addressed the topic directly:

    “I mean, everybody keeps talking about the weight coming into this fight,” Holloway said. “The whole question before the last fight was [about] the weight, and now the whole question about this fight is the weight because of what we did in the last one.”

    Holloway also acknowledged the hard work it took to get back into title contention and reaffirmed his commitment to making weight:

    “I’ve never missed weight, I’ve never missed no weight in my whole career, and I ain’t planning on starting to miss weight for this fight. This fight took a whole lot of work to get back here, you know.”

  • Cory Sandhagen Pushes For Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘There’s Not A Better Fight You Can Make’

    Cory Sandhagen Pushes For Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘There’s Not A Better Fight You Can Make’

    Cory Sandhagen has made it clear that he wants to fight Sean O’Malley and is actively campaigning for the matchup, which he believes is a no-brainer.

    O’Malley, one of the UFC’s top stars and a former bantamweight champion, is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 after winning three straight fights, including capturing and defending the bantamweight title. Sandhagen, meanwhile, recently faced Umar Nurmagomedov and is eager to secure his next big fight.

    Speaking on Michael Bisping’s YouTube channel, Sandhagen expressed his surprise that the UFC hasn’t made more effort to book the fight with O’Malley.

    “You read all the comments, and you talk to fans, and that’s the fight everyone wants to see happen,” Sandhagen said (H/T to MMA Junkie). “I’m actually kind of surprised the UFC hasn’t come to me or Sean, or said anything about that fight yet. They haven’t even asked, ‘Hey, are you willing to wait till June?’ because I would definitely consider that.”

    Sandhagen continued, “One thing I’ve really come to appreciate is giving the fans what they’re paying to see. If that means waiting for the fight they’re most excited for, I would entertain it. I’d prefer it not to be all the way in June, but there’s no better fight you can make. Me and O’Malley would be a banger.”

    Other Options

    Sandhagen also revealed that the UFC offered him a fight against Deiveson Figueiredo for late 2024. However, Figueiredo opted to fight Petr Yan instead. With O’Malley coming off a loss, Sandhagen sees him as the only viable opponent at this point.

  • Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Coming out of UFC 307, fans are buzzing about the possibility of a showdown between Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. After Pereira secured his third title defense by finishing Khalil Rountree in Round 4 of their UFC 307 headliner, he hinted at his future ambitions.

    While he plans to remain in the 205-pound division for now, Pereira expressed interest in eventually moving up to heavyweight. Fueling speculation, Pereira shared an image of Aspinall watching his fight, sparking intrigue from analysts, including former fighter Chael Sonnen.

    Sonnen is captivated by the potential matchup but remains skeptical about how Aspinall would handle Pereira’s grappling.

    Questions Raised

    “I cannot guarantee you that the younger, bigger guy in Tom would win,” Sonnen commented on his YouTube channel. “There’s something special about Alex, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I don’t know that Tom has the skills to just go out and take him down, so we might have to take that off the board.”

    Sonnen elaborated on the challenges Aspinall might face: “I think Alex would have a really hard time getting up because of the size, but to get him there, Tom’s probably going to want to trade. He might have a little bit of ego, like everybody else, thinking, ‘Let me show you,’ and it might work out for him. But it could also be a very dangerous proposition.”

    For now, Aspinall’s immediate focus is on the heavyweight division. He’s awaiting a fight against the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which headlines UFC 309.

  • Nate Diaz Backs A BMF Tournament, But Rejects 2 Proposed Participants

    Nate Diaz Backs A BMF Tournament, But Rejects 2 Proposed Participants

    Nate Diaz has shared his thoughts on Dustin Poirier’s exciting idea for a four-man tournament to determine the next holder of the BMF title. UFC President Dana White has shown some interest in the concept.

    The BMF belt was last defended in April at UFC 300 when Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in a spectacular finish. Poirier, who suffered a knockout loss to Gaethje in their BMF title fight at UFC 291, recently suggested a tournament that would feature himself, Gaethje, Holloway, and Dan Hooker as the competitors.

    Diaz has a notable history with the BMF title, having fought for it in its inaugural match in late 2019 against Jorge Masvidal at Madison Square Garden. The doctor stopped the fight due to a cut on Diaz, resulting in a victory for Masvidal.

    Diaz expressed his opinion on social media about Poirier’s proposed tournament lineup. He feels that Dan Hooker and Max Halloway should be eligible, but the “other 2 nerds” (Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier) aren’t worthy.

    Diaz’s last UFC fight took place at UFC 279, where he secured a fourth-round guillotine choke submission against former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

  • Khalil Rountree Plans Return, Targeting Top Contender Jamahal Hill

    Khalil Rountree Plans Return, Targeting Top Contender Jamahal Hill

    Khalil Rountree Jr. entered UFC 307 as an underdog but remains optimistic despite falling short in his bid to capture the light heavyweight title from champion Alex Pereira in the event’s headliner. Rountree was finished in the fourth round but is already looking ahead to his next opportunity.

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Rountree was asked about the possibility of facing Jamahal Hill, a top-10 contender. A win over someone ranked as high as Hill could accelerate his path back to title contention.

    “Absolutely. I think it’s almost inevitable, right? I think he’s ranked No. 3. Anyone in the Top 5 is kind of inevitable, so let’s see what happens. I think pretty shortly here I’ll be talking to the matchmakers and the bosses to see what they think.”

    Rountree Jr. aims to return to action in the first quarter of the year, determined to make smarter, more strategic decisions moving forward.

  • Conor McGregor Declares Alex Pereira UFC’s No. 1 P4P Fighter

    Conor McGregor Declares Alex Pereira UFC’s No. 1 P4P Fighter

    Fans worldwide witnessed the masterful performance of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 307, where he faced Khalil Rountree.

    Despite Rountree winning the first two rounds on the judges’ scorecards, Pereira found his rhythm and secured a fourth-round finish to claim victory. Following the fight, discussions about Pereira’s place among the all-time greats in the promotion began to intensify.

    In an interview with The Schmo, Conor McGregor weighed in on Pereira’s dominance, asserting that no one could deny his spot at the top after such a stellar year. McGregor went so far as to call Pereira the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

    Spot Well Earned

    “2024 has been Alex Pereira’s year, no one can deny that,” McGregor said. “If we go by that—forget belts or any of that—it’s about competition. Three fights this year, four knockouts. I’d put Alex Pereira at number one.”

    – Conor McGregor

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory.  UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects McGregor to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • Dana White Likes Dustin Poirier’s 4-Man BMF Title Tournament Idea

    Dustin Poirier has proposed an exciting idea for a four-man tournament to compete for the BMF title, and UFC President Dana White seems intrigued.

    The belt has not changed hands since Max Holloway’s iconic knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April. Poirier, who lost to Gaethje via knockout in their BMF title fight at UFC 291, is eager for another shot at the title.

    With his career winding down, Poirier pitched the tournament involving himself, Gaethje, Holloway, and Dan Hooker—fighters with whom he has a rich history. Poirier has split fights with Gaethje and holds wins over both Holloway and Hooker.

    White addressed Poirier’s idea at the Dana White’s Contender Series 75 post-fight news conference.

    “Sounds fun. Never thought about it, but yeah, I love it.”

    – Dana White

    Poirier scored a knockout win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299 before being submitted by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

  • Michael Bisping: Alex Pereira Is UFC’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter

    Michael Bisping: Alex Pereira Is UFC’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter

    Michael Bisping closely watched the main event of UFC 307, witnessing the masterful performance of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira against Khalil Rountree. Rountree fought valiantly, even winning the first two rounds on the judges’ scorecards, but Pereira found his rhythm and finished Rountree in the fourth round.

    Former UFC middleweight champion Bisping has been thoroughly impressed by Pereira’s dominance and sees him as UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He pointed out Pereira’s remarkable run and his emphatic victories.

    “Pereira is going through everybody. Three title defenses in seven months and taking the world by storm. So, if you go through the top 10, it’s really hard to deny Alex Pereira is No. 1.”

    – Michael Bisping

    Bisping further emphasized that finishing opponents is a key factor in becoming the pound-for-pound best

    “To be pound-for-pound No. 1, you’ve got to be finishing people. You can’t be scraping by them with split decisions. You’ve got to do it in emphatic fashion, and I don’t think there’s anyone out there with the finishing ability of Alex Pereira. It is frightening what he can do.”

    – Michael Bisping
  • Khalil Rountree Earned Anderson Silva’s Respect At UFC 307

    Khalil Rountree Earned Anderson Silva’s Respect At UFC 307

    Khalil Rountree entered UFC 307 as an underdog, but he left fans in awe with his performance against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the event’s headliner. Despite his valiant effort, Rountree fell short of capturing the title, getting finished in the fourth round.

    Early in the fight, Rountree landed significant strikes and won the first two rounds on the judges’ scorecards. However, Pereira found his rhythm as the fight progressed, eventually stopping the hungry contender.

    The Spider Predicts Greatness for Rountree

    In 2015, former middleweight champion Anderson Silva predicted that Rountree would one day become a champion. Following UFC 307, Silva shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, praising both fighters.

    Silva expresses that, ideally, he would prefer not to see his “little brother” Khalil and his “friend” Alex fight, but he acknowledges that this is part of the sport. He commends Alex for being “impeccable” in his performance and for his impressive rise in the sport, congratulating him for his success.

    Silva encourages Khalil to remember that only a select few have the strength to “fight the good fight” and emphasizes the importance of strength and honor in his journey. He gives a shoutout to José Aldo, calling him a champion and showing respect for his legacy.

    You can see his full statement here:

  • Daniel Cormier: Julianna Peña ‘Dropped The Ball’ By Not Calling Out Kayla Harrison

    Daniel Cormier: Julianna Peña ‘Dropped The Ball’ By Not Calling Out Kayla Harrison

    Daniel Cormier thinks Julianna Peña missed an important opportunity after UFC 307 by not addressing Kayla Harrison, who many see as her likely next opponent. At the event, held in Utah on Saturday night, Peña defeated Raquel Pennington by split decision to reclaim the bantamweight title in the co-main event. Earlier in the night, Harrison had secured her own victory, defeating Kelten Vieira by unanimous decision.

    During Peña’s post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the camera briefly showed Harrison watching the proceedings. Instead of seizing the moment to call out Harrison, Peña expressed her desire for a trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes. Cormier criticized this decision.

    “I will say this: She dropped the ball on the callout. Kayla’s on the screen. Say her name. Why no-sell the person that is clearly going to be your No. 1 contender? There’s no world where she doesn’t fight Kayla Harrison next. She’s fighting her next.”

    – Daniel Cormier

    Cormier continued, “You might as well put the sell on it right now. Don’t wait until the fight is announced. Now you’re a step behind when you had the opportunity to be a step ahead going into your fight with Kayla Harrison, who will be the No. 1 contender for your championship as we go forward.”

    Making the most of it

    Cormier also pointed out that Harrison’s performance against Vieira wasn’t dominant, which could have given Peña confidence in a potential match-up. However, he acknowledged that Harrison is still developing her striking skills.

    “So Julianna Peña should’ve, after this performance, been more willing to say her name,” Cormier added.

    At the end of the day, she becomes the champion again, and Mike Valle and his team at Valle Flow now have two UFC champions on their roster – massive for a gym out of Chicago that isn’t a huge, well-known facility.”

    – Daniel Cormier
  • Joaquin Buckley Doubles Down On Kamaru Usman Callout

    Joaquin Buckley Doubles Down On Kamaru Usman Callout

    Joaquin Buckley is looking ahead after securing a decisive victory at UFC 307, where he knocked out former title challenger Stephen Thompson in the third round. The fight, held in Utah, extended Buckley’s flawless record in the welterweight division. Now he’s aiming even higher—specifically at former champion Kamaru Usman.

    Following his win, Buckley didn’t hesitate to call out Usman. During the post-fight press conference, he doubled down on his challenge, highlighting his 5-1 record in the division. Buckley believes that defeating Usman would not only solidify his reputation but also put him in line for a title shot.

    “(I’m) 5-0 in the welterweight division right now,” Buckley said (via MMA Junkie). “With the run I’m on, beating Usman, a former champion, will cement my name and prove I deserve a title shot.”

    Buckley’s Prediction

    Usman, who has lost his last three fights, has not competed since his defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2022. Despite Usman’s recent struggles, Buckley remains confident in his chances, predicting a knockout victory if they face off.

    “I think I can knock out Usman. Immediately—yeah, immediately. Breaking records,” Buckley said.

  • Matt Brown: Poirier ‘Took McGregor’s Soul’—Questions His Future in MMA

    Matt Brown has raised questions regarding Conor McGregor’s mindset and future in the sport after a planned fight with Michael Chandler fell through. There is speculation about what’s next for the former two-division champion. 

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory. While speaking about McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown pointed out that McGregor is not grinding like others in the sport and doubts fans will see the same McGregor ever again. 

    While looking back on the fight, Brown feels Poirier changed McGregor in more ways than people realize. 

    “When that [fight] happened, it looked to me that Dustin took his soul that day,” Brown said. “I think we all felt that. Maybe we didn’t know it would be as severe as it is. We thought Conor’s a warrior, he’ll be back soon. But when you back and you watch that fight, Dustin took his f*cking soul.”

    Brown added, “I thought Nate Diaz might have taken a little bit the first time, but Conor bounced back from it. Whatever Dustin did to him, I think Dustin actually took his soul, and he no longer had the desire to compete anymore.”

    UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects the megastar to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt has a big decision to make as the final fight on his current UFC deal approaches.  The former UFC champion is slated to meet Mile Johns in a bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 247 on Nov. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Garbrandt has gone 2-3 in his last five fights and is coming off a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. 

    With such name recognition, the UFC would likely want to re-sign him, or he could have interest from other promotions if he tests out the free agent market. “No Love” stated in a recent interview on the Jaxxon Podcast that he’s looking to stay with the promotion. 

    “(I’m) still going through some things with the UFC. This is my last fight on the contract, so (I’ve) got to get together with them and see what we can come up with,” Garbrandt said (H/T to MMA Junkie). “I’d love to (re-sign). I love the UFC – I think especially where the sport is going. I love mixed martial arts. Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in. But, you know, money talks.”

    – Cody Garbrandt

    Chasing Fulfillment

    Garbrandt is looking to get another shot at the title before he hangs up his gloves because he doesn’t feel fulfilled from his bantamweight title run after winning the title from Dominick Cruz. 

    “For me, it’s not being satisfied,” Garbrandt said. “I think winning the title, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I won it and was like, ‘That’s it?’ because I think I fixated on it for so long and visualized myself doing it, and when I did it, it wasn’t like this huge surprise, ‘Oh sh*t, I did it.’ Obviously, I was happy for the people around me that were with me from the beginning.”

    Garbrandt added that he hopes to five for another 5-8 years but knows how unpredictable the fight game can be.

  • Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    UFC 307 featured Mario Bautista getting his hand raised and securing the biggest win of his career when he got a split decision nod from the judges over Jose Aldo inside the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    The fight had some moments, but most fans criticized the lackluster bout. In the third round, there was controversy as Bautista stalled for time when he clinched Aldo up against the fence and walked away with the win.

    Coming out of the fight, UFC President Dana White gave his thoughts on the fight and the referee’s decision to let Bautista hold Aldo against the cage for so long.

    “I always think that the referee should be more active on that, 100%, especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall,” White told the media. “You guys aren’t going to f—king let up on this, are you? I guess we’ll get into it.

    If you’re judging a guy, whether it is control, if it’s this or that, if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? Right? And if you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just madness.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference

    Not Winning The Fight

    White continued by noting that it showed Bautista didn’t want to strike and stand with Aldo, so he used the fence. He feels that it’s the referee’s job to prevent that from happening. 

    “When they see it continually happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you keep breaking them up…I mean, it’s common sense when the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and not win the fight. As a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference
  • Adesanya Seeks Redemption: ‘I Know I Can Beat Strickland’

    Adesanya Seeks Redemption: ‘I Know I Can Beat Strickland’

    Israel Adesanya is still looking to get a rematch with Sean Strickland and believes the fight will happen one day after losing the middleweight title in a shocking fashion. 

    The moment happened last year, but he hasn’t been able to lock down a rematch. Since then, Adesanya has won the belt back in August from Dricus Du Plessis, who had taken the belt from Strickland months prior. While speaking on the JRE MMA Show, Adesanya stated that he wants to get his hands on Strickland and have some revenge. 

    “Strickland, definitely. That fight was not me. Again, I don’t make excuses… [Comedian Dave Chappelle] said something like, ‘When it’s your time, you have to know and be humble enough when it’s someone else’s.’”

    – Israel Adesanya on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast

    Adesanya stated, “That was just his week, and his, and everything. So it’s his time, let him have it, but I definitely know what I can do. I took his best shots, and I just know I can take this guy. I know what I can do. Not similar to the Pereira one where I was winning, but this one, I definitely know what I can do with this guy.”

    Although he thinks his best version beats Strickland’s best version, that version didn’t show up when they met in 2023. However, in a rematch, he’s more than confident in his ability. It’s believed that Strickland will get a rematch with Du Plessis next. 

  • UFC 307’s Kayla Harrison Fires Back At ‘Jealous Little Man’ Henry Cejudo

    UFC 307’s Kayla Harrison Fires Back At ‘Jealous Little Man’ Henry Cejudo

    Kayla Harrison has responded to the comments made by Henry Cejudo regarding her fight with Ketlen Vieira at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

    The former UFC champion picked Harrison to win the bout. However, he sees Vieira’s black belt in judo and her striking as dangerous for Harrison in the fight. Once the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka heard about his comments, she didn’t hold back while speaking with Submission Radio. 

    “I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference. There are levels,” she said. “That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestled in varsity in high school, so you’re going to struggle to take him down.’ Benign. Asinine. It’s all right. I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man.”

    The Double Down

    Harrison doubled down on her remarks towards Cejudo in an exchange with Ali Abdelaziz, who represents both fighters during Episode 4 of UFC Embedded.

    “Bro, you better get your boy f*cking Henry,” Harrison said. “I’m going to f*ck him up. After he talked all that sh*t, he was like, ‘But, I’ve got to go with Kayla.’ Oh yeah. I f*cking watched it. I’m telling you, he’s jealous because I have more gold medals than him. He can’t handle it – his little fragile ego.”

  • Daniel Cormier Sees Khalil Rountree Fight As ‘Trap Game’ For Alex Pereira

    Daniel Cormier is slated to be on the call for the fight that will see Alex Pereira put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line in the headliner of this Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event against Khalil Rountree.

    Pereira is a -500 favorite over Rountree, who’s a +380 underdog. However, the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion warns Pereira not to overlook the challenger. Cormier also cited how crazy things happen in Utah. 

    “That’s a big fight, but to play the devil’s advocate, in Utah, we have now seen Kamaru Usman dominating Leon Edwards, get knocked out at the very end and Edwards becoming champ,” Cormier said on his “Funky and the Champ” show (H/T to MMAJunkie.com) “We’ve also seen Dustin Poirier, who had beaten Justin Gaethje, knocked out, and Justin Gaethje become the BMF champion. So, if there’s anything to be said about Salt Lake City, upsets happen.”

    Daniel Cormier Feels That Overlooking Rountree Could Be A ‘Trap’ That Pereira Falls Into

    This fight makes Cormier feel like it could be a trap for the champion, and if he’s not ready, he could get caught by the dangerous challenger.

    “And it would seem that a guy who’s ranked number eight in the world taking on the champion is a blueprint for an upset, because in those moments, the champ may overlook him. I don’t know if Pereira will do that, but those are the times – they call them trap games in football. This feels like a trap game for Alex Pereira. And if he ain’t ready, it seems like Khalil Rountree with his power can knock him out.”

  • Israel Adesanya Believes Alex Pereira Will Finish Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Israel Adesanya Believes Alex Pereira Will Finish Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Israel Adesanya will pay close attention to the fight that will see Alex Pereira put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line in the headliner of this Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event against Khalil Rountree from Salt Lake City.

    Adesanya knows firsthand what it’s like to fight Pereira and how good he is. They’ve fought a combined four times – two kickboxing and two MMA bouts. Adesanya raised his hand after scoring a KO win at UFC 287. 

    While appearing on The Adam Carolla Show (H/T to MMAJunkie.com), Adesanya broke down the fight and noted that Rountree’s approach has not been successful. 

    “I’ll go Pereira because of momentum right now,” Adesanya said.” “Rountree doesn’t grapple. He likes to kickbox. He’s never gone for a takedown. If you’re going to do that with Pereira – I’m the only one who’s ever even rocked him or like stood with him in the UFC. Everyone else, he’s washed. Rountree, if he can make it dirty and catch him, he can catch him, but it’s so hard to do it to Pereira.”

    Adesanya’s Prediction For UFC 307 Main Event

    According to Adesanya, Rountree will face difficulty in closing the distance against Pereira and could absorb damage as a result.

    “Rountree, his reach may not be able to get to him. Pereira likes to use his long reach to frame. … This weekend I’m going to go Pereira, and I’m going to go TKO or KO. I don’t know what round, but I just feel like it’ll be hard for Rountree. Leg kicks, leg kicks, and he might catch him as Rountree comes in because Rountree is going to be attacking him.”

  • Archives: Aljamain Sterling Wins BW Title After Petr Yan Gets DQ’d (2021)

    Yes, it’s been one year to the day since Aljamain Sterling won the UFC bantamweight championship in what was the most controversial UFC title win of all time. Next month, the two will finally have a rematch at UFC 273 to settle this unfinished business. Until then, you can check out our coverage of the “knee heard round the world” immediately after it happened in the article below.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day in MMA History…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 6, 2021, 11:08 PM CT]

    Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling didn’t disappoint. 

    The two fighters met in a bantamweight title bout on Saturday night (March 6, 2021) at the UFC 259 event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.

    The first round saw Sterling come out aggressive and even caught him with a flying knee strike. This apparently woke up Yan, who scored a few takedowns and even knocked him down with a right hand. Sterling appeared to be rushing his movement as he was tripping and slipping. It was a wild pace early as Sterling was constantly in his face.

    Sterling started to slow down in the third round as Yan continued to take over. Yan shut down Sterling’s clinch and takedown attempts but gave him solid competition on the feet if not out striking. Yan started to pick him apart with his sniper-like strikes in the fourth round. Sterling had one knee down and Yan landed a huge knee strike to the face of Sterling. The referee told Yan that Sterling was down before the strike was thrown. Thus, Sterling couldn’t continue, the referee called it a DQ and Sterling won the fight as well as the belt. 

    Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

    Sterling entered this fight on a five-fight winning streak and won his last seven out of eight bouts. The winning streak, including decision wins over the likes of Brett Johns, Jimmie Rivera, and Pedro Munoz while he tapped out Cody Stamann, and choked out Cory Sandhagen at the UFC 250 pay-per-view event.

    Yan won the vacant bantamweight title when he scored a TKO win over Jose Aldo at the UFC 251 pay-per-view event. Yan entered this fight on a 9-fight winning streak with his previous three fights seeing him beat Urijah Faber by KO at the UFC 245 pay-per-view event, John Dodson by decision at the UFC on ESPN+ 3 from the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic and Jimmie Rivera at the UFC 238 pay-per-view event from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on June 8, 2019.

    UFC 259 Results: Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya, Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson, Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 259. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

  • UFC Vegas 49 Bonuses: Wellington Turman Gets Performance Check For Submission Win

    The UFC Vegas 49 bonuses have been released.

    The event took place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility. Headlining the card was a clash between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green. This fight was exactly what everyone thought it was going to be, a one-sided beatdown and Green was the victim. 

    Islam took him down about two minutes into the first round before going through some positions until getting back mount where he rained down strikes to get the TKO. Green took the fight on short notice so he should get a nice payday for his efforts. 

    The co-main event saw more action between Wellington Turman and Misha Cirkunov.

    This was a wild fight as in the first round,  Turman took his back while standing. Misha got him off his back before getting into full guard and unloading with strikes. He later got his back and went for a rear-naked choke then a d’arce choke, but both failed. Moving along to the second round, Turman was taken down, but locked in an armbar out of nowhere for the win. 

    Peep the full list of performance bonus winners below.

    Performance of the Night: Arman Tsarukyan and Wellington Turman

    Fight of the Night: Priscila Cachoeira vs. Ji Yeon Kim

    Were the right choices made for the UFC Vegas 49 bonuses?

    MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 49. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

    UFC Vegas 49 Results & Highlights: Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green