MMA News

Author: Craig Pekios

  • Championships Don’t Matter to Khamzat Chimaev — Only Money: “Couple of Millions Coming”

    Championships Don’t Matter to Khamzat Chimaev — Only Money: “Couple of Millions Coming”

    Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t care about belts.

    After ragdolling opponents en route to an unblemished 14-0 record, ‘Borz’ will look to climb to the top of the middleweight mountain when he challenges the division’s reigning champion, Dricus du Plessis, at UFC 319 on Saturday, August 16.

    It will be Chimaev’s inaugural shot at UFC gold, but if things go according to plan, it won’t be his last. But even with his lofty goals of becoming the promotion’s first-ever three-division champion, ‘Borz’ made it clear that he’s not fighting for titles and accolades. It’s all about the benjamins.

    “I don’t think so much about the belt,” Chimaev told MMA Junkie. “Has a couple of millions coming after the fight in my bank account. That’s the important thing. I want to fight, beat that guy, you know. That’s important to me.”

    Khamzat Chimaev aims for a quick turnaround after UFC 319

    If Chimaev comes out both unscathed and with the middleweight title in his position, he plans on making quick turnaround, potentially defending his title or competing for another one at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi in October.

    “I need money bro. This is not enough, just to go for the one title,” Chimaev told ESPN MMA. “Hopefully if I don’t get injured or some stuff, gonna defend the belt or fight for other belt in Abu Dhabi, as well.”

    Considering ‘Borz’ has struggled to fight more than once a year since 2022, we wouldn’t count on him making such a quick turnaround, but as they say in MMA, anything is possible.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Aiming to Become a Triple Champion in the UFC – Middleweight, Welterweight, and Light Heavyweight

    Khamzat Chimaev Aiming to Become a Triple Champion in the UFC – Middleweight, Welterweight, and Light Heavyweight

    Khamzat Chimaev is coming for all the gold.

    On August 16, ‘Borz’ will look to cash in on his first title opportunity when he challenges reigning and defending middleweight world champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 316 in Chicago.

    Chimaev’s impending title shot against ‘DDP’ has been a long time coming, but according to the undefeated Chechen monster, taking home the 185-pound crown is just the beginning of a journey that will see him make UFC and MMA history.

     “Jack Della Maddalena would be a good fight for me,” Chimaev said, referencing the UFC’s reigning welterweight titleholder during an interview with ESPN. “Go down… take the belt there. If I go up, there is Ankalaev and Alex Pereira… can fight for that belt as well.”

    Khamzat Chimaev has already talked to his coach about moving back down to 170

    Chimaev kickstarted his UFC career competing at welterweight, but a massive weight-miss in September 2022 prompted the promotion to push him up to 185. Since then, ‘Borz’ has teased the possibility of moving back down.

    “I work with a new coach and talk to him about going down again to 170,” Chimaev added. “He said gimme a couple months and I’m gonna make it. I don’t know who is the champ there, this Australian guy.”

    Now, it sounds like he has his sights set on taking the light heavyweight belt before calling it a career.

    Thus far, only one mixed martial artist has ever won three belts in the same company, that being ONE Championship superstar Anatoly Malykhin. ‘Sladkiy’ held the ONE middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight world titles simultaneously before surrendering his heavyweight crown to Senegal’s Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane in November.

  • Why Dricus Du Plessis Demanded a Fight with Khamzat Chimaev: “I have fought everybody”

    Why Dricus Du Plessis Demanded a Fight with Khamzat Chimaev: “I have fought everybody”

    After cleaning out much of the middleweight top five, Dricus du Plessis is ready for a new challenge.

    ‘DDP’ will get exactly that when he puts his undisputed 185-pound world title on the line against undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev. The two will headline UFC 316 when the promotion heads back to the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, August 16.

    After repeatedly defying the odds and scoring big wins over ex-champions like Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland twice, du Plessis knew there was just one man left to defend his gold against.

    “I have fought everybody in the top five except one,” du Plessis told Ariel Helwani. “That’s the resume I want. I want to fight the best guys. That’s why I wanted this Khamzat fight so badly.”

    Ask and you shall receive.

    Du Plessis vs. Chimaev is a classic battle of irresistable force vs. immovable object

    While Chimaev has looked practically unbeatable inside the Octagon, du Plessis has continuously found a way to win, even when it looked as though his defeat was imminent. Of course, ‘DDP’ has never fought someone known for ragdolling opponents the way Chimaev does, and oddmakers certainly seem to believe ‘Borz’ will handle du Plessis the way he handled ‘The Reaper’ in Abu Dhabi.

    Chimaev goes into the bout as a 2-to-1 favorite to leave ‘The Windy City’ with the middleweight crown. However, being the underdog is a position du Plessis has become plenty familiar with. In his nine career UFC fights, he opened as the underdog seven times. He’s currently 9-0 inside the Octagon.

    Clearly, something’s got to give when the irresistable force meets an immovable object in Chi-Town.

  • Charles Oliveira Battles Rafael Fiziev in Epic UFC Rio Showdown on Oct. 11

    Charles Oliveira Battles Rafael Fiziev in Epic UFC Rio Showdown on Oct. 11

    Charles Oliveira is headed back to Rio!

    After coming up short against Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, ‘Do Bronx’ will look to climb back into the win column on October 11 when he collides with lightweight striking sensation Rafael Fiziev inside Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC officially announced the five-round headliner on Thursday.

    Charles Oliveira and Rafael Fiziev vie for top-five ranking in Rio

    Oliveira (35-11, 1 NC), suffered a brutal first-round knockout loss against Topuria in June, dropping him to 2-3 in his last five outings. Despite the recent setbacks, the former 155-pound titleholder is still sitting as the No. 4 ranked contender in the division, meaning one big win could put him right back into the title picture.

    Fiziev (13-4) recently snapped a three-fight losing skid, scoring a much-needed unanimous decision victory over Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Baku. The win was good enough to keep ‘Ataman’ in the lightweight top 10, but with a win over Oliveira in enemy territory, Fiziev could skyrocket himself into the top five and put him on the cusp of his first UFC title opportunity.

    Thus far, three other bouts have been confirmed for UFC Rio, including a bantamweight clash featuring the debut of 10-time BJJ world champion and ADCC gold medalist Bia Mesquita as she faces Irina Alekseeva.

    Also on tap is a pair of heavyweight bouts between Vitor Petrino and Thomas Petersen, and Jhonata Diniz and Mario Pinto.

  • Nassourdine Imavov Explains Why He Declined the Backup Role for UFC 319’s Title Headliner

    Nassourdine Imavov Explains Why He Declined the Backup Role for UFC 319’s Title Headliner

    Nassourdine Imavov has no interest in being a backup fighter.

    Sitting as the top-ranked contender in the middleweight division, Imavov is ready for his first UFC title opportunity. But to get it, he’ll have to go through surging 185-pound sensation and Fighting Nerds co-founder Caio Borralo. The two will headline a loaded Fight Night card in Paris, France, when the promotion heads back to ‘The City of Light’ on September 6.

    A mere three weeks before that, Imavov and Borralho will have their eyes on UFC 319’s highly anticipated clash between reigning and defending middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis, and undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev.

    Despite Imavov being the No. 1 ranked contender in the division, Borralho will step on the scale as the official backup in Chicago. As it turns out, that’s because ‘The Sniper’ had already turned down the UFC’s offer to be the backup for du Plessis vs. Chimaev.

    “He’s just taking my leftover, because I declined the backup,” Imavov told MMA Junkie. “If I hadn’t declined, the UFC wouldn’t have called him. For me, being the backup fighter for a title shot is not an honor. When I want to fight for the title, I want my face on the poster.”

    “After the fight between Khamzat and DDP, everyone will forget that Caio was a backup—it’s something that has no sense.”

    A title opportunity hangs in the balance as Nassourdine Imavov gears up for his fight with Borralho

    Imavov goes into his second straight main event riding a four-fight win streak. That includes a stunning second-round knockout of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya in February.

    Meanwhile, Borralho enters the biggest fight of his career with a perfect 7-0 record inside the Octagon, his most recent W coming against perrenial contender Jared Cannonier.

    The winner between Imavov and Borralhoh is expected to leave Paris as the next man up for either du Plessis or Chimaev, depending on how things play out in ‘The Windy City’ later this month.

  • People Want to See Anthony Joshua Knock Out Jake Paul – Insiders Say it Is Likely To Happen

    Will people pay big money to see Jake Paul get knocked out?

    After a string of victories over past-their-prime MMA and boxing stars, ‘The Problem Child’ is targeting a clash with the former unified heavyweight world champion, claiming that he would “f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s a**.” Initially, the callout was disregarded by fans and pundits alike, many of them accusing Paul of clout chasing.

    That was until famed British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn insisted that a fight between the two was a “very real” possibility, putting the odds of it happening at “50/50.”

    Despite coming off a tough loss against Daniel Dubois in his last outing, Joshua is still considered to be one of the heavyweight division’s premiere knockout artists, and Ariel Helwani believes people will pay big money to see him send Jake Paul to the shadow realm.

    “People will tune in and people will pay the hard-earned cash just to see AJ knock him out,” Helwani said on Ariel x Ade. “For AJ, this is just—I mean, stealing candy from a baby.”

    Tyson Fury ready to bet big on Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua

    Jake Paul’s recent victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. drew a lot of criticism from fight fans as it appeared the two were phoning it in — a similar complaint lobbed at Paul’s highly anticipated and mildly-received clash against boxing icon ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in November.

    Thus far, Paul has only fought one “legitimate” active boxer in his career, that being Tyson Fury’s little brother, Tommy Fury. Paul ended up losing the bout via split decision, handing him his first and only loss thus far.

    According to Gambling 911, Paul only has a 7.7% chance of beating Joshua, but that won’t stop the elder Fury from plunking down a million dollars on ‘The Problem Child.’

    “Jake Paul chins AJ, yes,” Fury said in an interview with iFL TV. “100 percent. If they fight, I’m putting a million pounds on Jake Paul.”

  • Michael Bisping Recounts When He Defeated a Serial Killer: “Somebody did really try and kill me.”

    Michael Bisping Recounts When He Defeated a Serial Killer: “Somebody did really try and kill me.”

    Michael Bisping was nearly the victim of a notorious serial killer that terrorized northern England two decades ago.

    In August 2021, ‘The Count’ revealed on his YouTube channel that as a teenager, he was the victim of a home invasion. Bisping delivered disturbing details of the account, claiming that a man had stormed into his home armed with a hammer, gasoline, and ill intent.

    “But if you really want to know about a time somebody did really try and kill me, I’ll take you back to 1997.”

    Bisping continued, “He drops the petrol canister and kind of looks at me a bit weird; he pulls his jacket to one side and pulls out a lump hammer… and he just comes storming towards me like that and I’m like, oh my god!”

    At the time, Bisping believed the intruder was someone he knew looking to settle a score.

    “So I think it’s Roy… and he’s come back to get revenge or whatever. So that gives me a ton of confidence. So I open the door and I go to go with him—he swings the lump hammer and I move back and I just feel the wind of the lump hammer going past my face. He throws my ironing board at me, I knock that out of the way, and I’m chasing after him—now I’ve only got a pair of shorts, no shoes… He gets away.”

    As it turns out, the unidentified assailant may have been England’s infamous ‘Hammer Killer.’

    Did one of England’s most brutal serial killer’s target Michael Bisping?

    Between 1991 and 2004, a string of unsolved murders in northern England followed a similar pattern, with forced entry, petrol-soaked crime scenes, and blunt force trauma from a hammer. The attacks ceased abruptly and investigators have been unable to identify the killer, but the confession of a man currently serving a life sentence for rape and arson has brought the horrific incidents back into light and attracted the attention of the former UFC star. 

    The convict recently became the subject of a prison interview titled Face-to-Face with a Monster: My Exclusive Prison Interview with the Man Claiming to Be Northern England’s Elusive Hammer Killer, and he claims that Bisping was one of his intended targets. 

    “He terrorized a region for over a decade, left a trail of unsolved murders, and now he says Michael Bisping was his next victim,” read a post on X that Bisping reposted adding: “Where you see this? This did happen to me.”

  • Ben Askren Shows Ability To Now Walk on Social Media – On The Recovery Journey

    Ben Askren Shows Ability To Now Walk on Social Media – On The Recovery Journey

    Ben Askren’s road to recovery has taken a turn for the positive.

    In May, the former Bellator and ONE world champion was healthy as a horse and plotting out the rest of his 2025. Sadly, those plans fell by the wayside when he was suddenly hospitalized due to severe pneumonia caused by a staph infection. After being in a coma for 45 days, during which his heart reportedly stopped on four separate occasions, Askren finally awakened to find himself 50 pounds lighter and with no recollection of the last six weeks.

    Askren ultimately underwent a double lung transplant and was later discharged after a full 59 days in the hospital. However, ‘Funky’ found himself readmitted to just six days later due to a potential chest tube infection.

    “As you guys can probably tell, I’m not home anymore, unfortunately,” Askren said in a video on Instagram. “I had my first check up this morning. They didn’t like the way the last chest tube looked, thought it was infected, put me on some antibiotics and then had a few x-rays and hopefully we get this solved fast.” 

    Ben Askren shares positive update following readmission

    Understandably, fans started to fear the worst, but they were given a reason to celebrate recently when Askren shared a video of himself walking laps around the hospital.

    Commenters flooded the post with positive vibes, praising the former Olympian’s heart and determination.

    “I remember those laps around the hospital vividly,” one commenter wrote. “Humbling and the hardest laps of my life. It gets better, keep up the good work brother.”

    “Proud of you my brother,” another added. “Keep going!!!”

    “Love to see it! Continues prayers going your way Ben! God bless,” a third said.

    “Askren strong,” three time Bellator titleholder Sergio Pettis wrote.

  • Sydney Sweeney Details Stunning 30-Pound Makeover for Christy Martin Biopic

    Sydney Sweeney Details Stunning 30-Pound Makeover for Christy Martin Biopic

    Sydney Sweeney went through a “crazy” transformation to portray female boxing icon Christy Martin in a new biopic set to hit theaters later this year.

    During a recent interview with W Magazine, the Anyone But You star revealed that she gained more than 30 pounds to play Martin, the former WBC world champion responsible for putting women’s boxing on the map.

    “I loved it,” Sweeney said. “I came on board to play Christy, and I had about three and a half months of training. I started eating. I weight-trained in the morning for an hour, kickboxed midday for about two hours, and then weight-trained again at night for an hour.

    “My body was completely different. I didn’t fit in any of my clothes. I’m usually a size 23 in jeans, and I was wearing a size 27. My boobs got bigger. And my butt got huge. It was crazy! I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ But it was amazing: I was so strong, like crazy strong.”

    Directed by David Michôd from a script co-written by himself and Mirrah Foulkes, the yet-to-be-titled biopic will not only look at Martin’s illustrious boxing career, but also the triumphs and tragedies in her personal life.

    “Our film is a wild mix of inspiring underdog sports-world story and personal saga,” Michôd told W Magazine while discussing the project. “Sydney trained her butt off to play the part. The beauty of Sydney is that she turned up to work every day with her tail wagging, ready to go. No matter how tough it was, she was like a ray of sunshine.”

    Sydney Sweeney has taken hollywood by storm

    Sweeney has been one of Hollywood’s busiest actors in recent years. Aside from her work on the biopic, she recently wrapped production on The Housemaid, a Paul Feig-helmed adaptation which she co-produced. She is currently filming for season three of HBO’s hit drama series Euphoria, as well as producing and starring in Scandalous!, a film directed by Colman Domingo about the relationship between Sammy Davis Jr. and Kim Novak.

    Sweeney also announced that her Barbarella remake is in the works. There is currently no release date for the sci-fi/comedy reboot, but fans won’t have to wait long to see her back on the big screen. Sweeney can be seen in Americana, releasing August 22, 2025.

    Check out the official trailer below:

  • Brock Lesnar’s Return Gets a Mixed Reaction from the Live WWE Audience at SummerSlam

    Brock Lesnar’s Return Gets a Mixed Reaction from the Live WWE Audience at SummerSlam

    Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE did not go well.

    On Saturday night, World Wrestling Entertainment presented it’s 38th annual SummerSlam event, emanating from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. While the two-night show failed to deliver on multiple levels, it featured a series of big moments, including Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank mere moments after CM Punk defeated Gunther to win the world heavyweight championship.

    But as crazy as that was, nobody expected what would come the following night.

    Shortly after Cody Rhodes defeated John Cena to reclaim the undisputed WWE championship, Cena’s final SummerSlam moment was spoiled by Brock Lesnar, who made his first promotional appearance in two years. During that time away, Lesnar was thought to have been banned from WWE after being named in the sexual misconduct federal lawsuit against Vince McMahon.

    As it turns out, that was not the case, and fans were less than enthused with Lesnar’s surprise comeback. Check out the clip below courtesy of Ariel Helwani.

    Brock Lesnar’s WWE return is an attempt to “sweep misconduct under the rug”

    In a suit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, she alleged that McMahon told her to produce “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar as a means of keeping the former UFC heavyweight titleholder under contract. Grant also claimed that McMahon flew Lesnar to Connecticut for a sexual encounter that ultimately did not occur.

    Grant’s representation issued a statement to Fightful regarding Lesnar’s return to WWE.

    “For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE’s leadership,” the statement Reads. “Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

    “This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire,” the statement continued. “We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong but, in the meantime, we refer you back to Janel Grant’s updated complaint, which outlines, in detail, the abuse she endured by McMahon and others while employed at WWE.”

  • Fighting Nerds Lead Explains Why the Team Wears Glasses

    Fighting Nerds Lead Explains Why the Team Wears Glasses

    Being a member of the Fighting Nerds isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a way of life.

    Led by rising middleweight contender Caio Borralho, the Fighting Nerds boasts some of the most exciting scrappers in the UFC today, including featherweight knockout artist Jean Silva, rising welterweight sensation Carlos Prates, and Mauricio Ruffy, who boasts a 3-0 record inside the Octagon.

    But aside from their penchant for highlight-reel finishes on MMA’s biggest stage, The Fighting Nerds’ branding is best known by their signature lens-less black plastic glasses with tape over the nose.

    While most of the Fighting Nerds athletes dawn the glasses as a symbol of their team affiliation, Borralho has worn glasses for much of his life.

    “I’ve had glasses since I was three years old,” he told Helen Yee in a recent interview. “I just take them off to shower. It’s part of me now.”

    Caio Borralho reveals the true purpose of the Fighting Nerds

    As a former math tutor, Borralho chose to embrace his “nerdy” nature alongside team co-founder Pablo Sucupira as a way of inspiring kids who have been bullied or made to feel self-conscious about wearing glasses.

    “We are the nerds who like to fight,” Borralho told ESPN in 2024. “The real point [of The Fighting Nerds] is to inspire people. There’s a message for all the people who have been bullied around the world. Some kids wear glasses but don’t like to because they feel they are ugly. Imagine [what it is like] to see the best fighters in the world kicking the sh*t out of people and are proud to wear their glasses?”

    Borralho and Silva will be back in action next month, with the former headlining the UFC’s return to Paris on September 6 against Nassourdine Imavov. Mauricio Ruffy will also be on the card as he is scheduled to face Benoit Saint-Denis in a high-stakes lightweight bout.

    A week later, Jean Silva will main event Noche UFC in San Antonio, Texas, squaring off with one-time featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes.

    But before all that, Carlos Prates will look to bounce back from his first loss inside the Octagon when he meets Goeff Neal at UFC 319 on August 16.

  • “My skill is higher than the champion. That’s not a doubt at all” – UFC Contender Ready to Dethrone the Champ

    “My skill is higher than the champion. That’s not a doubt at all” – UFC Contender Ready to Dethrone the Champ

    Tatsuro Taira is ready for a crack at reigning UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

    Following a closely contested split decision loss against Brandon Royval in October, Taira bounced back in a big way on Saturday night, scoring a dominant submission victory against rising 125-pound prospect Hyun Sung Park.

    Taira forced Park to tap out just 66 seconds into the second round of their Fight Night headliner, solidifying his spot as the division’s sixth-ranked contender and potentially setting a stage for a clash with Pantoja.

    “I 100% believe my skill is higher than the champion,” Taira told reporters during the UFC Vegas 108 post-fight press conference. “That’s not a doubt at all.”

    Tatsuro Taira was unfazed by the late-notice change in opponent at UFC Vegas 108

    Originally, Taira was scheduled to face fellow flyweight contender Amir Albazi, but ‘The Prince’ was ruled out of Saturday’s main event after not being medically cleared to compete. Instead, Taira fought Park, who entered their matchup with an unblemished 10-0 record.

    “The opponent changed,” Taira added. “It was Hyun Sung Park, I knew him from winning the Road to UFC, but I’m the best in the flyweight [division]. I’m very confident and I believe that I’m the best, so not a huge issue for me.”

    Taira’s performance against Park was especially impressive considering he’d just suffered his first career loss 10 months prior.

    “From my last fight I learned my weakness,” Taira said of his loss to Royval. “But my team, everyone from my team still believed that I would be a champion, so I just kept working hard, promising that I’ll be back.”

    Overall, Taira is 17-1 with five of his seven wins inside the Octagon coming inside the distance.

  • Jake Paul Tells Conor McGregor to Give It Up In Latest Training Clip Fiasco

    Jake Paul Tells Conor McGregor to Give It Up In Latest Training Clip Fiasco

    Jake Paul is tired of seeing Conor McGregor train.

    Despite dealing with a slew of legal issues outside of the Octagon, the Irish megastar is insistent that his “greatest comeback in combat sports history” is still coming. In reality, it’s been more than four years since McGregor has strapped on the four-ounce gloves, and few are buying that his recent spree of training clips on social media suggests otherwise.

    McGregor posted yet another video of himself shadowboxing, which drew the ire of Paul, who suggested that the former two-division titleholder “just give it up” already.

    The last time McGregor fought in the UFC, he suffered a brutal broken leg in the opening round of his trilogy fight with recently retired fan favorite Dustin Poirier. Six months earlier, McGregor suffered the first knockout loss of his MMA career against ‘The Diamond’ at UFC 257. Since 2017, McGregor has gone 1-4, including a 10th-round TKO defeat at the hands of boxing icon Floyd Mayweather.

    McGregor’s only win in the last eight years came against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in January, 2020 — two months before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down.

    Conor McGregor refuses to give up on his UFC return or his presidential aspirations

    Despite the lack of activity inside the Octagon, McGregor has regularly dominated headlines, though not always for the right reasons. Recently, he lost an appeal after being held liable for the December 2018 rape of Nikita Hand. Now, Hand has filed a fresh lawsuit accusing him and two others of “malicious abuse” of the court process during his failed appeal.

    Still, that hasn’t stopped McGregor from lobbying for a spot on the UFC’s highly anticipated Fight Night at the White House next year. He also launched a petition to land on Ireland’s presidential ballot without nominations from other politicians.

    “I, Conor McGregor hereby declare my intention to seek the esteemed office of President of Ireland,” the UFC star said on Monday. “The current constitutional framework however presents a significant barrier to democratic participation.”

    In order to be considered a presidential candidate in Ireland, McGregor must have nominations from 20 members of the Oireachtas or four county councils — something he quickly recognized as an impossible task after a slew of politicians in his home country spoke out against his intent to run for office.

    “This system, while intended to ensure a degree of political influence among candidates, inadvertently restricts the direct voice of the Irish electorate,” McGregor added.

    “In light of this, I propose a petition advocating for a modification of the nomination process to allow my name be included on the ballot. I contend that the citizens of Ireland, both at home and abroad, should have the unhindered right to determine the candidates who appear on the presidential ballot.”

  • Power Slap Needs to be Stopped According to Expert Doctor

    Power Slap Needs to be Stopped According to Expert Doctor

    Power Slap must be stopped!

    From the moment Dana White announced that slap-fighting would be his newest pet project in 2023, combat sports fans groaned in unison. Seemingly everyone in the mixed martial arts community lambasted the UFC CEO’s decision, calling the “sport” nothing more than sanctioned brain trauma.

    But despite all the discourse, Power Slap has continued to flourish, bringing in nearly 30 million followers and close to 20 billion video views across multiple platforms.

    Recently, famed family medicine physician and popular YouTuber Dr. Mike Varshavski expressed his frustration with the sport, suggesting that someone needs to step up and put a stop to a sport that forces fighters to take repeated blows to the head with no chance to defend themselves.

    “Someone needs to come out and speak out against [Power Slap]… It needs to be stopped,” Varshavski said during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “It takes the worst part about combat sports and accelerates it. Why is boxing problematic? Repeat blows to the head if someone’s not protecting themselves. And here, the whole point is to not protect yourself and take blows. It’s literally taking the unhealthiest aspect and removing the healthiest aspect, which is all the cardio, the training that’s required to box.”

    Power Slap isn’t the only thing that infuriates Dr. Mike these days

    Unsurprisingly, Power Slap wasn’t the only subject Varshavski was frustrated with during his in-studio interview.

    “I’d love to fight RFK Jr… He’s literally lying to the American public… Based on zero logic, zero understanding of how the vaccine works, he’s constantly saying unscientific things, and he’s in charge of our largest scientific agencies,” Varshavski added.

    In February, the United States Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services after receiving his nomination for the role from U.S. President Donald Trump. RFK Jr.’s nomination and subsequent confirmation was met with widespread criticism, with many citing his well-known status as a conspiracy theorist and an anti-vaccine activist.

    In 2023, RFK Jr. ignorantly claimed in an interview with Fox News that “autism comes from vaccines.” He also told the New York Post that that “Covid-19 is targeted to attack [on] Caucasians and black people” and that fluoride — a naturally occurring mineral that protects teeth against decay — was “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”

  • Ilia Topuria Has Played You – He Will Face Arman Tsarukyan, According to UFC Insider

    Ilia Topuria Has Played You – He Will Face Arman Tsarukyan, According to UFC Insider

    Ilia Topuria is playing everyone like a fiddle.

    ‘El Matador’ etched his name in the history books at UFC 317, scoring a sensational first-round finish against Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight world title, officially becoming a two-division champion.

    Thus far, Topuria has not yet booked his first official defense of the 155-pound crown, but there’s really only one challenger that makes sense — Arman Tsarukyan.

    9-2 under the UFC banner and sitting on a four-fight win streak, Tsarukyan has more than earned his spot as the division’s top-ranked contender. But despite his No. 1 ranking, Topuria has been nothing but dismissive of a potential clash between the two. That has prompted some to label Topuria a coward, but according to Chael Sonnen, it’s nothing more than a clever bit of gamesmanship from the 155-pound king.

    “Ilia is playing you; he’s going to fight Tsarukyan next,” Sonnen said on his Youtube channel. “Do we need more detail, or can we call it here?

    “Ilia said, ‘I have no interest in fighting Tsarukyan.’ Now, the reason that it’s peculiar to me is because fellow 155-pounders are upset, but they’re not saying they want to fight him—they’re just calling him a coward. This fight is done just so you understand. But guys do have a recipe. They’re creatures of habit.”

    Sonnen recalls Anderson Silva using the same tactic as Ilia Topuria

    Sonnen likened the situation to his iconic feud with Anderson Silva, recalling when ‘The Spider’ would regularly disregard him as the next man up as a way to build hype for their inevitable clash.

    “When I was having issues with Anderson Silva, it would keep me up at night,” Sonnen said. “Anderson was famous, successful, rich, and he didn’t need anybody. I needed him to choose me. I worked hard to get him to choose me. Anderson’s move was to deny the fight as the first step in accepting the fight every single time. He would let the press conference happen, say nothing, and then after the number one contender’s match, he’d deny the fight.

    “Let the media run with that. He could get about two weeks of build-up from just denying the fight. Then Anderson would accept the fight, let excitement die down, and then report that he was injured so the fight was off without confirming or denying.

    “Ilia does the same thing. He has his own way to build fights. He’s a very big star.”

  • Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 At UFC White House to Be Booked According to Former Champ

    Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 At UFC White House to Be Booked According to Former Champ

    Michael Bisping wants to see McGregor vs. Diaz 3 go down at The White House.

    Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intent to hold a UFC event on the lawn at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, pundits have been busy fantasy booking the history-making fight card, with everything from Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall to a rematch between bitter rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal being at the top of their lists.

    But one fighter ‘The Count’ would love to see make his triumphant return in the nation’s capital next year is non other than the ‘Stockton Samurai’ himself, Nate Diaz.

    “Diaz is a bit of a badass,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “The way that he carries himself, the way that he keeps it real.”

    Diaz ended his 15-year run in the UFC in 2022 following a submission victory over Tony Ferguson. Since then, he’s competed in boxing bouts against Jake Paul and the aforementioned Jorge Masvidal, but Diaz has always insisted his return to the Octagon was just a matter of time.

    “Nate Diaz wants to come back,” Bisping continued. “First of all, he’s got to sign with the UFC.”

    Bisping wants McGregor vs. Diaz 3 at The White House

    As for who Diaz could potentially face in a potential return, Bisping thinks a fight with former featherweight champ and reigning BMF titleholder Max Holloway would be a hell of a matchup.

    “If I’m Max Holloway, why not? 100%,” Bispsing said. “That would be a great fight for Max Holloway. The version of Max Holloway at 155 pounds, I think he would have a field day with Nate Diaz.”

    However, the former middleweight champ thinks there is an even bigger fight for Diaz — one that could turn the proposed White House card from a cheap gimmick into must-see TV.

    “Wouldn’t you rather see Nate Diaz versus Conor McGregor at the White House? That’s the fight that I’d rather see if I’m honest,” Bisping added.

    McGregor and Diaz have met twice before, competing in back-to-back bouts under the UFC banner in 2016. Diaz stepped in on short notice to fight the former two-division titleholder at UFC 196, and handed McGregor his first-ever defeat inside the Octagon.

    Five month later, McGregor scored some redemption, besting Diaz via majority decision at UFC 202. Three months after that, McGregor would go on to KO Eddie Alvarez and claim the lightweight world title, becoming the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion.

  • Conor McGregor to Be Sued by Nikita Hand Post Appeal – Who Won Civil Rape Damages

    Conor McGregor to Be Sued by Nikita Hand Post Appeal – Who Won Civil Rape Damages

    Nikita Hand is once again suing Conor McGregor.

    In November, the Irish megastar was ordered to pay $285,000 in damages plus legal fees totaling $1.5 million to Nikita Hand, the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Dublin hotel in 2018. Shorty after, McGregor filed an appeal on the grounds that his lawyers believed his answers to police during interviews should not have been presented to the jury. McGregor’s barrister also argued that a question on the “issue paper” given to the jury to help them decide their verdict was improperly worded.

    Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed the appeal on all grounds, noting that McGregor’s lawyers had not proved there was “a real risk of unfair trial.”

    At the beginning of the process, Ireland’s Court of Appeal was told that McGregor had withdrawn an application to have new evidence entered at the appeal. According to a report from the BBC, McGregor intended to call Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins, former neighbors of Hand, to give evidence at his appeal before withdrawing the application.

    The senior judges said it was “somewhat mysterious” that what they described as an “important and contentious” part of the appeal had been “cast aside.”

    McGregor initially claimed that fresh evidence provided by O’Reilly and Cummins bolstered his insistence that he was not responsible for bruising on Hand’s body following the alleged assault.

    Hand is Seeking Damages Against Conor McGregor and Her Former Neighbors

    While McGregor was not in court on Thursday, Hand was present and expressed her gratitude for the courts decision to dismiss the appeal. It was also revealed that Hand’s legal team have began proceedings to seek damages from McGregor, O’Reilly, and Cummins.

    “This appeal has retraumatised me over and over again, being forced to relive it, what happened has had a huge impact on me,” Hand said in a statement

    She added, “To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don’t be silenced. You deserve to be heard, you also deserve justice. Today, I can finally move on and try to heal.”

  • BKFC Chief Reveals Fighters Hesitant to Fight Yoel Romero: ‘A Couple Guys Already Turned It Down’

    BKFC Chief Reveals Fighters Hesitant to Fight Yoel Romero: ‘A Couple Guys Already Turned It Down’

    Apparently nobody wants a piece of Yoel Romero.

    After establishing himself as one of MMA’s premier knockout kings, ‘Soldier of God’ is ready to kickstart a new chapter in his combat sports career, signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor announced Romero’s signing, along with three other ex-UFC stars, including Thiago Santos, Aspen Ladd, and Derek Brunson, during a Champions Summit press event in Hollywood, Florida.

    It was an exciting bit of news from the BKFC, though it sounds like the promotion will have its work cut out for it in regards to finding an opponent for the former UFC and Bellator title challenger.

    “We have a couple of guys who already turned it down, and then we just had one guy that said he would take it,” BKFC founder Dave Feldman told MMA Junkie. “We don’t know if that fight is going to happen, but I’m very excited about it – especially because he’s going to make his debut Sept. 12 here at the Hard Rock. So in Miami, where he’s from.

    “And to see Yoel Romero with the gloves off, I mean, that’s a dangerous thing.”

    Yoel Romero Ready to Add Bare-Knuckle Boxing to His Resume

    Feldman didn’t divulge any other details regarding the who, but we now know that Romero will toe the line for the very first time in September, assuming everything goes according to plan.

    Romero is 16-7 in his mixed martial arts career with 13 of his wins coming by way of KO/TKO. Following a seven-year run in the UFC, the Cuban bruiser put his skills to work under the Bellator banner, earning wins over Alex Polizzi, Melvin Manhoef, and Thiago Santos. Since then, the ‘Soldier of God’ has competed twice for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship, landing highlight-reel knockouts against Duane Crespo and Ras Hylton.

    His BKFC debut will be Romero’s first foray into the world of bare-knuckle boxing.

  • Marvin Vettori Doesn’t Like Brendan Allen and Explains Precisely Why: “His Face”

    Marvin Vettori doesn’t like Brendan Allen.

    Last year, a run-in at a casino in Florida resulted in a full-fledge brawl between Vettori and Allen. Now, the two middleweight contenders will square off this Saturday night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to New Orleans for a loaded UFC 318 card inside the Smoothie King Center.

    In the time since their viral encounter, Vettori has had plenty of negative things to say about Allen, but his hatred for the American boils down to Vettori simply not liking the cut of Allen’s jib.

    “It’s a long story. But I’m gonna tell you this, just by the look of his face, I don’t like him,” Vettori told TMZ Sports. “Doesn’t take much. F—k man, this guy, he’s just unlikable. But I mean there is reason but I don’t want to say it here… The way he carries himself, he’s just a whiny little guy.”

    Marvin Vettori Promises a Big Finish in ‘The Big Easy’

    With that said, ‘The Italian Dream’ is determined to deliver a highlight-reel finish in NOLA and climb his way back into the win column for the first time since 2023.

    “It’s not gonna go the distance, I’m just gonna tell you that,” he added. “I’m gonna go all out, it’s gonna be like now or never, it’s gonna be kill or die… I’m looking to run through him, completely f—ing dismantle this guy.”

    Vettori goes into the bout riding back-to-back losses, coming up short against Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze. Similarly, Allen has also lost his last in his two outings, falling to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    With Vettori and Allen holding things down as the 10th and 11th-ranked fighters in the division, respectively, a win is unlikely to gain either one much momentum at middleweight. However, it will give the winner and opportunity to once again fight their way up the rankings rather than simply trying to maintain their position.

  • “We’re Not Done Yet” – Kayla Harrison’s Dream Realized, But Is This Just the Beginning?

    “We’re Not Done Yet” – Kayla Harrison’s Dream Realized, But Is This Just the Beginning?

    Kayla Harrison may have climbed to the top of the mountain, but she plans on going even higher.

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist delivered one of the most dominant performances of her mixed martial arts career at UFC 316, handily defeating Julianna Pena via a second-round submission to claim the women’s bantamweight championship.

    It’s a goal that Harrison has been dreaming of since day one. But now the question is, what comes next?

    “I was ready right then! I want to fight for the title,” Harrison told MMA Junkie while attending the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas last month. “I want this, that, and the other… all in God’s time, God’s plan. But I think when you visualize something and you have a dream from the first day I started MMA, this was the dream. And so once it happened, I was like, ‘Oh, wait. We’re done? Like, we did it, but we’re not done yet.’”

    As they say, a champion only becomes a champion once they’ve defended their title.

    Kayla Harrison Tells Amanda Nunes to ‘Send Location’

    Harrison has not yet booked a date for her first defense, but it’s safe to say that the woman standing across from her inside the Octagon will be none other than former champ-champ Amanda Nunes. ‘The Lioness’ stepped inside the Octagon immediately following Harrison’s win at UFC 316, going face-to-face with the new bantamweight queen and setting the stage for one of the biggest fights in MMA history, regardless of gender.

    “Obviously, Amanda’s next,” Harrison said. “We spoke to her at the Hall of Fame yesterday. She says Q4. But she’s not in the drug testing pool yet, so she might not be able to fight till Q1 of next year.

    “I’m sure they’re talking to Ali and letting him know about everything. That’s why I pay him the big bucks—so I don’t have to think about stuff like that. I just show up, train, work hard, stay ready. Send a location, I’ll be ready.”

  • ‘Golden Girl’ Alice Pereira Poised to Make History as UFC’s Youngest Female in September

    ‘Golden Girl’ Alice Pereira Poised to Make History as UFC’s Youngest Female in September

    Alice Pereira is set to make UFC history in her first promotional appearance.

    On September 13, the 19-year-old ‘Golden Girl’ will square off with Montserrat Rendon at Noche UFC in San Antonio, officially making her the youngest female fighter to ever compete inside the Octagon.

    Born on December 20, 2005, Pereira scored her first regional championship win late last year, defeating Samara Santos at Cage Masters FC 2 to capture the CMFC bantamweight title. Immediately following the victory, she pleaded to UFC matchmaker, Mick Maynard, for a contract.

    Dana White Gave Alice Pereira the ‘Ultimate’ Christmas Gift

    On Christmas Eve, Dana White made the call and presented Pereira with a contract to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    “And who would think that Alice Pereira, the little girl who dreamed of just debuting in MMA, is now the newest contractor of the biggest MMA organization in the world and she has a full story on Forbes,” Pereira wrote, reacting to the story on social media.

    “Not in my wildest dreams would I imagine that Dana White would call me on Christmas Eve wearing a shirt with my name on it to give me the best gift of my life and that the boss Mick Maynard would follow me and post my video on his personal Instagram,” she added. “I‘ll go twice as hard. I’m happy for the media and the hype, but I won’t get distracted because I know I’m far from where I want to be yet.”

    Pereira is a perfect 6-0 in her mixed martial arts career and carries with her an 84% finish rate, including a 64-second submission via RNC and four highlight-reel knockouts, all but one of them coming in the very frist round.

    And no, she is not releated to Brazilian bruiser Alex Pereira.

  • “Me and Jean Silva Are Going to Have the Belt on the Same Day” – Caio Borralho Predicts Dual Championship Glory

    “Me and Jean Silva Are Going to Have the Belt on the Same Day” – Caio Borralho Predicts Dual Championship Glory

    Caio Borralho thinks it’s just a matter of time before the Fighting Nerds take over the UFC.

    Over the last couple of years, there have been few fighters more exciting to watch than Borralho and his teammate, Jean Silva. Both have absolutely dominated their respective division’s thus far, with Borralho boasting a perfect 7-0 record inside the Octagon. In September, he’ll look to secure his 10th straight win and, more importantly, a shot at the middleweight title when he meets the division’s top-ranked contender, Nassourdine Imavov, at UFC Paris.

    A week later, Silva will look score the biggest win of his career when he meets former featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes at Noche UFC in San Antonio.

    If both fighters come out on top, Borralho believes he and Silva could end up becoming UFC champions on the same night.

    “I think me and Jean Silva are going to have the belt on the same day,” Borralho told MMA Junkie. “That’s what we’re planning! We live our dreams, and there’s a lot of power inside of it, you know? So we’re going to keep doing big things—great things—inside and outside the Octagon. You guys just need to watch!”

    Caio Borralho and Jean Silva Ride into a Pair of Potential Title Eliminators with a Heap of Momentum

    Like Borralho, Silva is unbeaten inside the Octagon, going 5-0 and riding a 13-fight win streak that dates back to November 2018. After landing a first-round KO over Melsik Baghdasaryan in April, ‘Lord’ made a relatively quick turnaround, accepting the challenge of Bryce Mitchell seven weeks later at UFC 314.

    Silva submitted ‘Thug Nasty’ in the second via ninja choke, rendering Mitchell unconscious with just over a minute to go in the round.

    Jean Silva submits Bryce Mitchell

    Meanwhile, Borralho goes into his next bout coming off a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier in August. Before that, he landed a highlight-reel KO over Paul Craig at UFC 301. He currently sits as the sixth-ranked contender in the middleweight division.

  • Paddy Pimblett Fires Back at Ilia Topuria: “He Doesn’t Respect Me – But I’d Kick Him Everywhere!”

    Paddy Pimblett Fires Back at Ilia Topuria: “He Doesn’t Respect Me – But I’d Kick Him Everywhere!”

    Paddy Pimblett respects Ilia Topuria as a fighter, but that’s where the buck stops.

    ‘The Baddy’ created another viral moment at UFC 317, stepping inside the Octagon immediately following Topuria’s spectacular first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira, and going face-to-face with the newly minted lightweight world champion. After sharing a few unsavory words, Topuria shoved Pimblett, eliciting a laugh from the Liverpudlian.

    The incident immediately got the world talking about a potential clash between the two, with oddsmakers already favoring ‘El Matador’ to come out on top by a margin of 5-to-1.

    Considering how impressive Topuria has looked in his last three outings, KO’ing Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and ‘Do Bronx’ in back-to-back bouts, the -500 odds are by no means surprising, but Pimblett believes that the lack of respect Topuria has for his skill set could end up being the Georgian’s downfall.

    “He’s a very good all-round fighter—I respect him as a fighter, and he doesn’t respect me,” Pimblett said during an appearance on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick. “I genuinely think if he fought me, he wouldn’t train as hard. He just thinks he’d beat me. But I’d kick him everywhere”

    Of course, all this talk about Topuria vs. Pimblett may be for nought.

    Will Paddy Pimblett Have to Make a Highlight Out of ‘The Highlight’ Before Getting to Ilia Topuria?

    Shortly after their faceoff inside the Octagon, UFC CEO Dana White expressed frustration over the incident, suggesting that Pimblett has some more work to do before earning a shot at the 155-pound crown.

    Interestingly, reigning middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis was caught on camera claiming that Pimblett would co-headline UFC 319 in August, facing Justin Gaethje in what would likely be a lightweight title eliminator. Pimblett recently shot down the rumor on X, but it’s possible that the Scouser could be trying to deflect after ‘DDP’ let the cat out of the bag a little to early.

    Only time will tell which is the case.

  • Demetrious Johnson Questions Jon Jones Legacy After 200,000 Signatures Debacle

    Demetrious Johnson Questions Jon Jones Legacy After 200,000 Signatures Debacle

    Jon Jones’ legendary UFC run ended not with a bang, but a whimper.

    Once upon a time, ‘Bones’ was considered by everyone to be the best mixed martial artist of all time. It was undeniable. Chances are, most fans still feel that way, but the last five years of his career has left a lot to be desired.

    After vacating his 205-pound title in August 2020, Jones disappeared from the spotlight for three years in a bid to bulk up and eventually test his mettle at heavyweight. In May 2023, he finally returned to the Octagon, making quick work of Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant heavyweight crown. It was a dominant performance that had everyone excited for the future of the division after its previous champion, Francis Ngannou, practically held the belt hostage while failing to negotiate a new deal with the UFC.

    Sadly, Jones’ heavyweight title run would be no different.

    ‘Bones’ defended the gold once over his 25 month reign, besting former two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic in a fight that nobody really asked for. Meanwhile, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was relegated to the sidelines despite continuous calls for a unification clash with Jones.

    ‘Mighty Mouse’ Thinks Everyone Will Forget Jon Jones’ Missteps Over Time

    The growing frustration among fight fans prompted one of them to launch a petition, calling for Dana White to strip Jones of the heavyweight title. Amassing nearly 200,000 signatures, both Jones and White acknowledged the petition, though neither of them took it seriously.

    Jones ultimately vacated the heavyweight title, announcing his retirement from the sport in June. It wasn’t the ending that fans wanted and, in the eyes of many, hurt Jones’ status as the undisputed GOAT of MMA.

    Jon Jones

    Asked whether or not the petition has any impact on Jones’ legacy, former UFC and ONE flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson believes that fans may be feeling a little sore about the way ‘Bones’ walked away, but over time, Jones will be best remembered for what he accomplished inside the Octagon, and not the mockery he made out of a once-loved weight class.

    “I think it washes away after some time,” Johnson told Submission Radio. “Everybody’s going to forget. We still can’t take away the fact that Jon Jones has done amazing things inside the Octagon—most title defenses, most title wins in UFC history. The internet is a funny place. It doesn’t exist unless you go on it, right? When Jon Jones looks at his bank account and all his belts, I think the last thing he’s worried about is that 200,000 petition to strip him.”

    As it turns out, Jon Jones may not be done just yet.

    Less than two weeks after officially retiring from the sport, ‘Bones’ announced that he was re-entering the UFC testing pool.

    “Just re-entered the testing pool, that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open,” Jones wrote on X.

  • UFC Commentator Crowns Paddy Pimblett: ‘Best Trash Talker in MMA Today’

    For Jon Anik’s money, there’s no better trash-talker in the fight game today than Paddy Pimblett.

    Since making his promotional debut in 2021, ‘The Baddy’ has become a bona fide star inside the Octagon. Aside from a solic 7-0 record under the UFC banner, Pimblett has grown a massive fan following courtesy of his brash attitude and unwavering confidence.

    Many, including Anik, have even likened the Liverpudlian’s skills on the mic to former champ-champ Conor McGregor, noting how, like ‘The Notorious,’ Pimblett always shoots from the hip.

    “Paddy Pimblett’s a master orator, right? And not unlike Conor McGregor, nothing that Paddy says is scripted,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “And I think that’s a big part of it for me. I love Chael Sonnen—he’s one of the best orators I’ve ever been around, but some of his material was scripted. Paddy Pimblett, they just shoot straight from the hip.

    “But right now, if you’re asking me, the best trash talker in mixed martial arts today is Paddy Pimblett. And I think the Scouser accent is part of the equation. I gotta go. Love you. Thanks. Thanks.”

    Is Paddy Pimblett Ready for the Big Show?

    Pimblett’s star power reached another all-time high last month when he famously stepped into the Octagon immediately following Ilia Topuria’s stunning first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in Las Vegas.

    With years of animosity brewing, Pimblett and Topuria exchanged some NSFW words before a shoving match erupted between the two top stars.

    The incident immediately had fight fans salivating, calling for the UFC to immediately book their long-awaited clash. Unfortunately, Dana White wasn’t exactly thrilled with the encounter, suggesting that the promotion may already have other plans for Pimblett.