MMA News

Author: Harry Kettle

  • Khamzat Chimaev Called Mentally Weak by Sean Strickland: “You’re a b****”

    Khamzat Chimaev Called Mentally Weak by Sean Strickland: “You’re a b****”

    Former UFC champion Sean Strickland has gone after Khamzat Chimaev ahead of the latter’s UFC 319 title fight against Dricus du Plessis.

    Later this month, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s a fight that’s been a long time coming, and it’s one that many believe ‘Borz’ will win. As we know, though, du Plessis is an unpredictable guy, and he’s been able to overcome the odds on multiple occasions over the years.

    In two of his UFC title fights, DDP was able to defeat Sean Strickland to claim – and then successfully retain – the middleweight crown. Khamzat Chimaev has yet to compete against either of the two men in a sanctioned bout, but he’s certainly been back and forth with both quite a lot over the years.

    In a recent interview, Sean Strickland didn’t hold back when giving his honest thoughts and opinions on Khamzat Chimaev.

    Sean Strickland goes after Khamzat Chimaev

    “Chimaev is just a f*ng c*nt. I was there when he retired from COVID. I was training with him. There’s a video of me — I was like, ‘Oh, you’re so good, you’re better than everybody,’ like I’m being sarcastic.

    “You can pick high-level UFC fighters, but you’re picking 1–1 because you think he’s the same height as your opponent. No dude, you’re picking him because you’re a bitch, dude. Mentally, he’s just a weak man.”

    Who knows, maybe we’ll get the chance to see these two square off at some point in the future.

  • Islam Makhachev’s retirement: Khabib gives honest opinion of his timeline

    Islam Makhachev’s retirement: Khabib gives honest opinion of his timeline

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has given his thoughts on a potential timeline for the mixed martial arts retirement of Islam Makhachev.

    At the age of 33, Islam Makhachev has already achieved some incredible things in the sport of mixed martial arts. Now, though, he’s hoping to take things to a whole new level as he prepares to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight championship. If he wins, he would join an exclusive club of fighters who have won UFC world titles in two different weight classes.

    One question that has been circulating recently is also a pretty important one: when will Islam Makhachev retire?

    Nobody knows for sure but in a recent interview, Islam Makhachev’s close friend and long-time training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov provided some insight.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses Islam Makhachev’s eventual MMA retirement

    “Islam maybe, my honest opinion, one and a half, two years because [his] age [in] October is going to be 34. Nobody is going to be [the] same. When time comes, they don’t ask what’s your name… When you become 35, you need to stop doing this because [you should] leave this sport for young guys.

    “When you become 35 and you don’t finish, somebody is going to finish you. Why? It’s better to finish. After 35, you’re never going to be the same. People can talk whatever they want, when you’re past your prime, you [are] going to fight only for money.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

    Enjoy him while you still can, folks.

  • Dricus du Plessis explains why he’s so confident heading into Khamzat Chimaev fight at UFC 319

    Dricus du Plessis explains why he’s so confident heading into Khamzat Chimaev fight at UFC 319

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has explained why he’s feeling so confident as he prepares to defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319.

    Later this month, Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will finally square off. While there have been many words exchanged between the two men, it’s safe to say that the fight itself is what is drawing in the attention of the masses.

    These two warriors are incredibly talented in their own right and when it comes to Dricus du Plessis, he has made a career out of proving people wrong. Now, he’s hoping to do the same again against a man who was once seen as the scariest fighter in mixed martial arts – and, for some, he perhaps still is.

    In a recent interview, Dricus du Plessis spoke candidly about this contest and why he’s feeling so confident in himself.

    Dricus du Plessis explains his confidence heading into UFC 319

    “With my style that is a very controversial style in the UFC, unlike anything that most people have ever seen,” Du Plessis told FOX 32 Chicago, “it’s only a benefit because it’s proven to be effective. But then again, how do you prepare for that? How do you find somebody to mimic that? And at the end of the day, that’s almost my niche. It’s impossible to prepare for me because I have this unique style that, where do you find somebody to mimic it?”

    “I’m the underdog, I’ve been the underdog for most of my career, yet I am the champion,” Du Plessis said. “So, odds don’t make fights and for me, I 100 percent believe this is the best opponent that I have faced to date. But so was the previous one. 

    “Every time you step in there, you’re going to face the next most dangerous guy – especially as the champion. So for me, yes, this is the best opponent I’ve ever come up against, but once again, I’ll show my improvements and why I am the champion.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Offers Hope to Conor McGregor, Claiming He Can Still Change

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Offers Hope to Conor McGregor, Claiming He Can Still Change

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov is of the belief that his long time rival Conor McGregor is still capable of changing his ways.

    As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He was able to retire from the sport with an undefeated record of 29-0, and his most notable win came against Conor McGregor. The two battled it out back in late 2018 in the most lucrative fight in the history of the sport, and in the end, it was Khabib who managed to secure the win via submission.

    Ever since then, it feels like McGregor has been on something of a downward spiral. While Khabib Nurmagomedov was able to ride off into the sunset during the pandemic, Conor hasn’t quite retired – or, at least, not properly. He’s also been embroiled in numerous controversies outside of the cage, and that’s putting it lightly.

    During a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov surprised many by suggesting that there is a route back from the edge for the Irishman.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov believes there’s a way back for Conor McGregor

    “I don’t wanna mention his name,” the 29-0 Russian began.

    “This is punishment… The most beautiful part of this is Allah always give the chance to come back.

    “We always have in this world the chance to come back, and this is the most beautiful thing.

    “It doesn’t matter how you’ve been, Allah is gonna give you a chance always to come back.

    “I think he has a chance. He has to change how he is living.

    “Why am I talking about this? If he’s gonna change, he can change with him so many other lives too.

    “That’s why I wish him to change himself. If he’s not gonna change, it will be punishment all his life.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Muhammad Mokaev Maps His Path Back To the UFC: “There’s no bad blood”

    Muhammad Mokaev Maps His Path Back To the UFC: “There’s no bad blood”

    Former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev seems to be pretty confident that he will eventually make his return to the promotion.

    At the age of just 25, Muhammad Mokaev is already one of the most talented flyweights in all of mixed martial arts. However, despite his undefeated record, the younger was ousted from the company following several disagreements behind the scenes with higher-ups. Since then, he’s been able to win two more fights in his post-UFC run, although many are still hoping to see him back in the big dance one day.

    Of course, that all depends on what kind of attitude the company is going to have here. We all know that flyweight is full of some top guys, but the addition of Muhammad Mokaev would certainly inject some real life into proceedings. Alas, the UFC were clearly quite unhappy with him, and there are some problems that need to be resolved before things can move any further.

    In a recent interview, Muhammad Mokaev made it crystal clear that he expects to be back inside the octagon at some point in the future.

    Muhammad Mokaev expects eventual UFC return

    “I believe one day, if I get a couple finishes, UFC will sign me back. There’s no bad blood between me and the UFC.”

    Mokaev is still young and he still clearly has a lot left to learn about the sport. With that being said, Alexandre Pantoja is one of the most interesting champions out there in MMA right now – and this is a matchup that would be pretty fascinating.

  • Nassourdine Imavov Reveals UFC Paris Gameplan: “I will just demolish him”

    Nassourdine Imavov Reveals UFC Paris Gameplan: “I will just demolish him”

    UFC middleweight star Nassourdine Imavov has revealed his plan of action heading into his upcoming UFC Paris main event against Caio Borralho.

    Over the course of the last few years, Nassourdine Imavov has been on a pretty solid run at 185 pounds. After a loss to Sean Strickland and a no contest against Chris Curtis, he has been able to string together four straight wins – with his latest being an emphatic TKO triumph over former champion Israel Adesanya, which served as the biggest victory of his career to date.

    As we look ahead to the immediate future, Nassourdine Imavov knows the next challenge that he has in front of him: Caio Borralho. Both of these men are considered to be future title contenders in their own right, but whoever gets the win in the French capital will be the one who really gets on the radar of Dana White and the UFC.

    In a recent interview, Nassourdine Imavov wasn’t shy when discussing his game plan as we get closer and closer to fight night.

    Nassourdine Imavov reveals Caio Borralho game plan

    “I’m a complete fighter. I consider myself complete, so if it has to go to the ground, we will, and I will welcome him.”

    “I will just demolish him.”

    Imavov has been getting progressively more confident inside the cage and at the age of 30, he’s starting to really come into his prime. Of course, Borralho is equally as dangerous in the eyes of many, which makes this a really fascinating clash.

  • Robert Whittaker is heading for MMA retirement says fellow UFC middleweight

    Robert Whittaker is heading for MMA retirement says fellow UFC middleweight

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho believes that Robert Whittaker could be getting closer and closer to retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts.

    As we know, Robert Whittaker is an absolute legend when it comes to his run in the middleweight division. He’s had some major wins and he’s even held the world title. However, after losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder, some have questioned whether or not he still has what it takes to compete at the elite level.

    Of course, Robert Whittaker himself is the only one who knows for sure how much longer he wants to continue competing, and whether or not he wants to test the waters with a venture up to light heavyweight.

    In a recent interview, though, Caio Borralho became the latest person to weigh in on the state of Robert Whittaker’s career.

    Caio Borralho believes Robert Whittaker will soon retire

    “I don’t think so,” Borralho told The Schmo on Whittaker returning to the top five. “Robert Whittaker is a f*cking legend. I’m a big fan of him and all that he’s done in the sport. (He’s) one of the GOATs in the middleweight (division). But right now, I feel that it seems like he doesn’t want to be there anymore.

    “His face says that. His body expressions say that. I don’t think he wants to go there and do, like, a five-round war again. I don’t believe that. With all due respect to him, I’m a big fan – but right now, it’s just not his moment anymore. I think he’s very close to retire or something like that.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Renato Moicano Explains Why He Refused Settlement Money Amid UFC Controversy: “I don’t think UFC is a monopoly”

    Renato Moicano Explains Why He Refused Settlement Money Amid UFC Controversy: “I don’t think UFC is a monopoly”

    UFC star Renato Moicano has revealed why he refused the settlement money offered to him from the UFC antitrust lawsuit agreement.

    As we know, Renato Moicano is one of many fighters on the roster of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was also someone who was part of the UFC antitrust lawsuit, which was intended to try and give back to the fighters who have, in the eyes of many, been severely underpaid over the years.

    However, following the settlement, Renato Moicano noted that he turned down the financial offering that was presented to him. As you can imagine, this led to plenty of questions from those in the community, including some of his fellow fighters.

    In a recent interview, Renato Moicano opened up on why exactly he made that decision.

    Renato Moicano explains why he turned down settlement money

    “The lawsuit was about labeling UFC as a monopoly, but I don’t think UFC is a monopoly. If they were, there would be legal barriers that prevent other shows coming in. UFC is better than the competition.”

    “It’s not up to the government or the judges to decide what is right or wrong. I believe in a free market and people making their own decisions.”

    Regardless of whether or not you agree with Moicano’s stance, it certainly feels as if the issue of fighter pay is one that will continue to cause great debate within this sport for many years to come – especially in the UFC, given their size and overall control in the MMA landscape.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends a Message of Inspiration to Palestine

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends a Message of Inspiration to Palestine

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message of positivity to the people of Palestine in the midst of the ongoing occupation and genocide in the country.

    For the longest time now, Khabib Nurmagomedov has served as an inspiration to people all over the world. In addition to his magnificent mixed martial arts career, he’s also done everything in his power to help the masses. Khabib is a proud Muslim and, as you can imagine, he’s been deeply impacted by what has been going on in Gaza over the course of the last few years.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as if there is any immediate end to the tragedies that are happening, despite the outcry from so many. In a recent video, Khabib Nurmagomedov sent out a wonderful message to those who are currently suffering.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov sends a message to the people of Gaza

    “I just wanna tell you guys, you guys inspire the world. Because of you guys, so many millions of people understand who is who, and they understand how beautiful is our religion. Alhamdulillah. Keep inspiring the people, keep inspiring the world. One day, Inshallah, Allah will make easy.”

    “We will land in Palestinian airport one day.”

    Khabib is a man who sticks by his morals and has done for his entire life. While the people of Palestine may not currently be free, we can only hope and pray that as the days, weeks and months continue to tick by, we get closer and closer to a peaceful resolution.

  • Roman Dolidze Demands a Title Shot against Khamzat Chimaev “I always wanted to fight Khamzat”

    Roman Dolidze Demands a Title Shot against Khamzat Chimaev “I always wanted to fight Khamzat”

    UFC middleweight Roman Dolidze has made it crystal clear that he wants to battle Khamat Chimaev for the world title at some point in the future.

    Of course, a lot of things need to happen before then. Firstly, Roman Dolidze needs to defeat Anthony Hernandez, who he’ll battle in his next outing. If he does that, the 37-year-old would’ve extended his current win streak to four – and in a division like this one, that’s certainly a solid enough run to raise a few eyebrows in the conversation for championship opportunities.

    In addition to that, though, Khamzat Chimaev also needs to defeat Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 to become the new UFC middleweight champion. Roman Dolidze clearly seems to believe that’s going to happen but at this point on time, it’s safe to say that the mixed martial arts community is split when trying to determine who is going to come out on top in that electric main event.

    Ahead of his upcoming fight, Roman Dolidze gave his thoughts on a possible matchup between himself and Chimaev.

    Roman Dolidze wants UFC title shot

    “I always wanted to fight Khamzat. He’s a great fighter. Whoever wins, it doesn’t change anything for me, but if you ask me who I want to fight, I want to fight Khamzat.”

    Dolidze knows that right now, this is an unlikely showdown – but if the stars align, and he’s able to continue pushing himself to the limit at this point in his career, it could soon become very viable.

  • UFC Champ Dricus Du Plessis Will Shock the World Against Khamzat Chimaev Accoring to Middleweight Contender

    UFC Champ Dricus Du Plessis Will Shock the World Against Khamzat Chimaev Accoring to Middleweight Contender

    Dricus du Plessis will retain his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, says top contender Anthony Hernandez.

    As we know, Dricus du Plessis is gearing up for arguably the toughest test of his career to date. He will square off against Khamzat Chimaev, and he’ll do so knowing that many people don’t believe he can get the job done. Of course, this is DDP we’re talking about here, and he’s already overcome plenty of challenges when people didn’t expect him to do so.

    With that being said, Khamzat Chimaev is a different animal entirely. He has beaten some elite levels throughout his time mixed martial arts and although Dricus du Plessis has been a phenomenal champion thus far, you’d have to imagine ‘Borz’ is coming into this one as confident as he ever has been.

    In the eyes of the aforementioned Anthony Hernandez, though, Dricus du Plessis is the one that we should be backing heading into fight night.

    Anthony Hernandez backs Dricus du Plessis to beat Khamzat Chimaev

    “I think DDP is going to shock the world again. He’s a big, tough, awkward [expletive]… I’m still not really sold on Khamzat. I understand he’s good and he’s dangerous, yada yada… who was it, Usman gave him a run for his money off the couch. So how does he do with somebody that’s like a real 85er?”

    DDP knows that he’ll have to be at the top of his game, but we can’t imagine pressure is something that’s going to impact him too much.

  • Sean O’Malley reveals he wanted short notice Cory Sandhagen fight

    UFC star Sean O’Malley has revealed that he was recently interested in pursuing a short notice fight against Cory Sandhagen.

    As we know, Sean O’Malley is coming off the back of two losses at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili. At this point, it certainly seems as if it’s going to take a lot for ‘Suga’ to work his way back to a title shot. With that being said, he has a lot of different directions he can go down – and he’s certainly talented enough to cause a lot of other bantamweights problems.

    Now, we know that Cory Sandhagen will be the one to get a crack at Merab Dvalishvili in what should be a fantastic title showdown. As for Sean O’Malley, we’ll have to wait and see what kind of contender fight he takes on next.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Sean O’Malley revealed that he was suggesting a short notice bout between himself and Cory Sandhagen recently.

    Sean O’Malley wanted Cory Sandhagen fight

    “I was actually trying to fight Cory when the co-main event fell out for that Max (Holloway) and Dustin (Poirier) fight,” O’Malley said on the “Overdogs Podcast.” “I threw my name out there to UFC. I was like: Three weeks, me vs. Cory would be sweet. But it didn’t really make sense for the UFC. Cory vs. Merab was the next fight to make. But yeah, me vs. Cory is a very interesting fight. That’s one that’s bound to happen – sooner than later.”

    “I think me vs. Cory,” O’Malley said. “Me vs. Petr (Yan) 2, I feel like that would be a banger. Me vs. Cory, me vs. Merab 3? No, I’m just kidding.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Alex Pereira Will Beat Magomed Ankalaev in Rematch, UFC Middleweight

    Alex Pereira Will Beat Magomed Ankalaev in Rematch, UFC Middleweight

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has predicted that Alex Pereira will get his revenge on Magomed Ankalaev and defeat him in their highly anticipated rematch.

    As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the most popular fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He went on an incredible run at both middleweight and light heavyweight, but his title reign at 205 pounds came to an end recently at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev. While it was a tense and fascinating encounter, Ankalaev certainly appeared to do more than enough to get his hand raised.

    Now, though, fans are getting ready to see Alex Pereira try and get his revenge. It’s going to be easier said than done given what we know about the toughness and heart of Magomed Ankalaev, but in equal measure, ‘Poatan’ can never be ruled out of any fight courtesy of his incredible power and precision.

    In a recent interview, Caio Borralho became the latest fighter to give his thoughts on what will go down when Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev stand across the cage from each other for the second time.

    Caio Borralho backs Alex Pereira to beat Magomed Ankalaev in rematch

    “Alex Pereira is a hard guy to fight because he’s very intelligent, but I think this rematch will be mostly the same. Alex knows he can defend the takedowns, so now he can risk more to bring pressure and find that knockout.”

    It’s anyone’s guess as to which way this one is going to go, but one thing we know for sure is that we’re bound to see fireworks.

  • Paulo Costa is ‘Delusional’ Says Ranked UFC Contender

    Paulo Costa is ‘Delusional’ Says Ranked UFC Contender

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has called out Paulo Costa as being ‘delusional’ by suggesting that he wants to be the backup for a UFC middleweight championship fight.

    As we know, Paulo Costa is a pretty interesting chap. He has been known as one of the top contenders in the middleweight division, and also one of the most outlandish. In his most recent outing against Roman Kopylov, though, he was far more measured than usual. He was able to pick up a pretty nice win that reminded the masses of what he’s capable of at 185 pounds.

    Of course, in order to get all the way back to a world title shot, Paulo Costa will have to put in a fair bit more work. The Brazilian sensation certainly has the potential to mix it up with a lot of top guys in the middleweight division, but in equal measure, there are plenty of others who currently sit ahead of him in the pecking order.

    One would argue that the perfect example of that is Caio Borralho. These two men have made their dislike for one another fairly clear in the past but in case it wasn’t obvious enough, he had the following to say about Paulo Costa in a recent interview.

    Caio Borralho goes after Paulo Costa

    “Paulo Costa wanting to be the backup? The backup is just delusional. The guy is coming from four losses in six fights. He didn’t win a fight in like three years.”

    Could this be a fight to make in the future? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Amanda Nunes Ready to Recapture Her Title from Kayla Harrison: “I’m going to get my belt back”

    Amanda Nunes Ready to Recapture Her Title from Kayla Harrison: “I’m going to get my belt back”

    UFC legend Amanda Nunes has made it crystal clear that she plans on taking back her belt from Kayla Harrison when they eventually square off.

    Everyone knows that Amanda Nunes is one of the greatest female fighters of all time. Now, after a few years away from the cage, she’s set to return and challenge Kayla Harrison for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. It’s a fight that everyone has been wanting to see for a long time, and as we look ahead to the immediate future, it’s probably one of the biggest fights that can be made in the UFC.

    The two have been fairly respectful to one another but at the same time, Amanda Nunes has already said she wasn’t overly impressed by Harrison’s win over Julianna Pena – laying the groundwork for what looks set to be a really fun encounter.

    In a recent interview, Amanda Nunes went into a bit more detail about what she wants to achieve with this next run.

    Amanda Nunes wants the belt back

    “The next thing is “and new”. I’m gonna hear it once again. Isn’t that crazy, if you guys think about that? Honest. I’m gonna get my belt back, and you’re gonna view me again, and I’m gonna tell you. Remember I told you, I’m getting my belt back. So, I’m gonna do that.”

    “Hoping it’s this year for sure. I’m gonna talk to Dana to see, I’m ready to go. I’m healthy, I’m training. I’m ready to go.”

    “Brazil, in my city, in Vegas, whatever. I want my belt back.”

    Quote via BJPENN.com

  • Mark Coleman Explains Why You Need to Get Sober “Tomorrow might not come”

    Mark Coleman Explains Why You Need to Get Sober “Tomorrow might not come”

    MMA legend Mark Coleman has explained why his journey to sobriety has helped him so much in recent years.

    As we know, Mark Coleman is a true fan favorite within the mixed martial arts community. He’s done some incredible things during his career and even after his retirement, Mark made headlines by saving his parents from a house fire. If that doesn’t show you what kind of guy we’re talking about, then nothing will.

    Mark Coleman has also had his fair share of demons over the years and he’s never been someone who shied away from that fact. Instead, he’s steering into that, making it clear that he has learned from mistakes he’s made in the past, and that he’s ready to look ahead to the future.

    In a recent interview, Mark Coleman went into more detail.

    Mark Coleman discusses sobriety

    “You got to get in there. You got to get help. And you got to do it now because tomorrow might not come.”

    “Put the bottle down. Get up off the couch. Get some exercise in. But first, get sober.”

    “I can do anything if I just stay sober.”

    “I always wanted to be famous, not going to lie, but for all the wrong reasons. But now I appreciate the fame because it gives me a platform to help people get sober.”

    Hopefully, we get the chance to see Coleman continue to have a real presence in the mixed martial arts community after everything he’s given to the sport.

  • Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    UFC star Reinier de Ridder doesn’t seem too concerned by the possibility of facing Paulo Costa at some point in the future.

    As we know, Reinier de Ridder is coming off the back of a huge win in which he narrowly defeated Robert Whittaker. Paulo Costa, meanwhile, just saw off the challenge of Roman Kopylov, getting himself back into the win column in the process. Costa has made it known that he’s interested in fighting RDR, but of course, the Brazilian is a bit further down the pecking order right now.

    Reinier de Ridder could easily be in line for the next title shot against the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev. While there’s no guarantee it that, it certainly feels like a distinct possibility.

    When asked about Paulo Costa in a recent interview, Reinier de Ridder had the following to say.

    Reinier de Ridder dismisses Paulo Costa

    “He’s a funny dude. It would lead to a nice press conference and a nice build-up, but I don’t give a f*ck what he says,” De Ridder said. “You can call me whatever you want to call me. Call me gay every day of the week. I don’t mind. Maybe one day (we’ll fight). But at the moment, I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s at my level – though he did do very well in his last fight.

    “He does pretty well against southpaws with the body kick and the straight right hand. So, he’s alright, but I think he has some work to do first.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for huge UFC lightweight title eliminator

    UFC lightweight star Arman Tsarukyan has called for a blockbuster UFC lightweight title eliminator with Justin Gaethje.

    For the longest time now, Arman Tsarukyan has been calling for a UFC lightweight championship opportunity – and the same is true for Justin Gaethje. Arman came close, only for an injury to rule him out of fighting Islam Makhachev at the last minute. Now, though, it’s not quite clear what direction the UFC will go in.

    Both men are qualified enough to receive a shot at the gold, but for Arman Tsarukyan, it certainly doesn’t seem as if current champion Ilia Topuria is interested. In fact, it seems like the opposite.

    In a recent interview, Arman Tsarukyan made it known that he doesn’t want to wait for the opportunity to fight for the belt at this point.

    Arman Tsarukyan calls for collision with Justin Gaethje

    “Of course I want Islam [Makhachev], but right now, it makes sense to fight with Gaethje, because he just beat the No. 11 or so [Rafael] Fiziev,” Tsarukyan told Chuck Liddell on his Out Cold show. “He doesn’t deserve title fight. That’s 100 percent, because he just lost [to Max] Holloway. Beat, on short notice, Fiziev. Fiziev knew about the fight five days, and he won, barely, a decision. Now he’s talking about title fight. It’s not fair. I think he’s got to beat me to deserve to fight for the title.”

    “They offered me a fight. I said no because I want to fight ranked fighter from top 5,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m in the position, I’m not fighting for the money right now. I just want to be a champion. Now my goal is to be a champion, that’s why I’m not taking a fight I will just beat [someone]. I know I can beat everybody. Right now, I want to pick a good fight for me and get back to the title fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Ilia Topuria praised as “special” by UFC champion

    Ilia Topuria praised as “special” by UFC champion

    UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has been praised by Dricus du Plessis following his recent success in the promotion.

    As we know, Ilia Topuria is a pretty special talent – and it turns out that a lot of other fighters think so too. In his last three outings, he’s been able to defeat (and knock out) Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. While it may sound extreme, he’s currently on a similar trajectory to Conor McGregor.

    While his next opponent isn’t quite clear, one thing we do know is this: Ilia Topuria is legit. Another man who thinks so is Dricus du Plessis, who has enjoyed a similar rise to prominence.

    Dricus du Plessis praises Ilia Topuria

    “I’m so happy for him,” Du Plessis said of Topuria in an interview with Betway South Africa. “We made our debuts on the same fight card. He was literally in my changing room. We were on the same trajectory, winning our titles one month apart, so I’m super happy for him.

    “I think he’s one of those special characters who’s going to be a Hall of Famer, no doubt. He’s the first unbeaten guy to have two titles, so I rate him very highly as an all-round fighter. And obviously, his striking power, knocking out three legends – I think he’s incredible, and in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best in the UFC right now.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    Just how high is the ceiling for this guy? Only time will tell.

  • Justin Gaethje To Walk Away from the UFC If He Does Not Get a Title Shot Against Ilia Topuria

    Justin Gaethje To Walk Away from the UFC If He Does Not Get a Title Shot Against Ilia Topuria

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has said that he believes Justin Gaethje when he says he will walk away from the UFC if he doesn’t receive a lightweight title shot.

    As we know, Justin Gaethje is a pretty popular guy within the context of mixed martial arts. He has the kind of all-action style that will appeal to just about anyone, and he knows how to put on an exciting fight. However, in the present day, he’s been watching and waiting for a while to see whether or not he’ll get a crack at the UFC lightweight championship.

    While there are plenty of contenders in the mix, it certainly feels like Justin Gaethje is up there with the best of them. Sure, he’s had opportunities like this before, but this may be his last shot at the gold.

    After Justin Gaethje suggested that he could walk away from the promotion if he doesn’t get what he wants, Chael Sonnen admitted that he believes him.

    Chael Sonnen believes Justin Gaethje

    “Justin’s being very sincere, not joking or holding anyone hostage. He put all his cards on the table.”

    “Justin has never worked harder to get a world title shot at 155 pounds. Any time they need a short-notice opponent or a title opportunist, the answer is Justin Gaethje.”

    “Justin is standing on principle, and it sounds good, but is he right? He’s 3 wins and 1 loss in his last four fights.”

    “He said he appreciates that it’s star-driven business, but he believes it should be merit-based.”

    “He looked at the records and rankings and said it’s either him or Arman. If someone else gets the title shot, then merit-based system is not being followed, and he wants no part of that.”

  • Conor McGregor Brutally Attacks “Embarrassing” EU-US Trade Deal, Looks to Put Ireland First

    Conor McGregor Brutally Attacks “Embarrassing” EU-US Trade Deal, Looks to Put Ireland First

    Former UFC star Conor McGregor has attacked a recent EU-US trade deal as he continues to pursue a career in politics.

    As we know, Conor McGregor is an incredibly controversial individual. While he achieved great success throughout the course of his time in mixed martial arts, these days, he’s best known for his exploits outside of the cage. He continues to fall short in the eyes of many when it comes to his behavior, most notably due to his recent civil sexual assault case defeat.

    Despite this, Conor McGregor continues to hunt down the idea of becoming the new President of Ireland. While the majority of experts have noted that this is pretty much impossible regardless of how much support he may receive, that hasn’t stopped him.

    In a recent series of tweets, Conor McGregor turned his attention towards a deal between the EU and the US.

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1950177614271816146
    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1950178736663400622

    Conor McGregor slams deal

    “Ireland, with me in as your President, I immediately correct this embarrassing trade % that “we” (EU) negotiated with the United States on “behalf of Ireland” (nothing in this set up is ever on the behalf of Ireland), and I do it by year end for us, 2025! Save our Country! Save our people! Save our money! Go hÉire! Vote McGregor.”

    “Ireland, I am extremely confident in my ability to correct this as your President. I correct this embarrassing % deficit by year end, 2025. Save our country. Save our people. Save our money. Vote McGregor! For Ireland!”

    Oh boy.

  • Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen believes that the future of the UFC’s heavyweight division could well be on the line when Tom Aspinall defends his UFC title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

    Finally, after months of waiting, we finally have some clarity at heavyweight. The new undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall, will square off with Ciryl Gane later this year in what looks set to be a really interesting clash of styles.

    For many, Tom Aspinall is the clear favorite, but you never know what could happen in this crazy world called mixed martial arts. At the very least, we’re expecting to see the kind of showdown that reminds us all why heavyweight can be a really fun division.

    In the eyes of Chael Sonnen, however, the champion is fighting for a whole lot more than just his belt.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane

    “Never in the history of our sport has anybody had more pressure on them than Tom Aspinall.”

    “Pressure creates fatigue. It creates a chemical release… same as adrenaline, same as excitement, same as fear. It creates a release and it can paralyze you.”

    “You don’t really know what kind of guy you are until you find yourself in that position.”

    “He’s got to not just win, he’s got to win fast.”

    “I don’t know that Tom could find himself in a harder spot.”

    “I’m excited to have a heavyweight champion that wants to fight, compete, come speak, meet the public, be part of the community.”

  • Tatsuro Taira Got “Fired Up” By Last Minute Opponent Change ‘Burning in my heart’

    Tatsuro Taira Got “Fired Up” By Last Minute Opponent Change ‘Burning in my heart’

    UFC star Tatsuro Taira isn’t too concerned after his original opponent this weekend, Amir Albazi, was forced to withdraw from their bout on Saturday night.

    Tatsuro Taira vs Amir Albazi was a contest that a lot of fans were looking forward to in the flyweight division. However, after Albazi was forced to withdraw due to medical concerns, Taira will now square off against HyunSung Park. This, in itself, is also a pretty fascinating encounter at 125 pounds.

    For Tatsuro Taira, though, this is all about proving that he belongs on the big stage. He’s already been able to show glimpses of what he’s capable of in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now, he’s ready to try and take his game to a whole new level – and he wants to do s against Park.

    When discussing the late notice change, Tatsuro Taira made it crystal clear that he’s using it as motivation.

    Tatsuro Taita isn’t bothered by last minute change

    “When one door closes, another opens. After Albazi pulled out and Park stepped in, I found myself fired up again. That’s what I meant in my Instagram post about a new fire burning in my heart, ready to show what I’ve prepared on August 2.”

    It certainly isn’t the main event that’s going to feature the biggest names this month in the UFC, but in a lot of ways, that’s what makes it more exciting. You have two hungry guys here who are looking to go out there and make a name for themselves, and we can’t wait to see what happens.

  • Vitor Belfort: Skill Means Nothing Anymore – Social Media is Destroying Fighter Drive

    Vitor Belfort: Skill Means Nothing Anymore – Social Media is Destroying Fighter Drive

    UFC legend Vitor Belfort has given his thoughts on social media, the numbers that people pull in, and how that can impact sponsorship deals.

    Throughout the course of his time in combat sports, Vitor Belfort has been known as an absolute animal. Sometimes that’s been a good thing, and sometimes that’s been a bad thing – but he was, at one point, certainly one of the biggest stars in the sport of mixed martial arts.

    These days, he’s enjoying his time as a legendary figure of MMA, with Vitor Belfort being a name that is constantly recognized for his incredible work inside the cage. With that being said, in the modern age, social media seems to take priority above a lot of other things when it comes to popularity.

    In a recent interview, Vitor Belfort explained why he isn’t a massive fan of that.

    Vitor Belfort isn’t a fan of social media

    “When you go to Nike, when you go to Under Armour and then you offer a fighter and they said how many likes he has, me and it is disgusting.”

    “How many followers he has, how many how many likes. I don’t care how many likes he has.”

    “I think you can never sign a sponsor or deal because of likes.”

    Vitor certainly has an interesting point here, and it’s one of the reasons we used Jake Paul – a social media star who made his way into boxing – as the featured image.

    What do you make of this logic? Let us know, fight fans.

  • Will Khamzat Chimaev Ever Fight Again if he Wins at UFC 319? Former Champion Weighs-In

    Will Khamzat Chimaev Ever Fight Again if he Wins at UFC 319? Former Champion Weighs-In

    MMA analyst Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Din Thomas suggesting that it could be a disaster if Khamzat Chimaev becomes UFC champion.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis next month for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s a fight that has been a long time coming, and it’s one that a lot of fans expect ‘Borz’ to win. Of course, this is mixed martial arts we’re talking about here, and you can never really know for sure.

    With that being said, Khamzat Chimaev’s abilities aren’t the thing in question here. We all know how good he is, but one thing that a lot of people are worried about is his ability to stay active. He hasn’t fought a whole lot in the last few years, which has more than raised a few eyebrows.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping gave his thoughts on the aforementioned remarks made by Din Thomas.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Khamzat Chimaev as UFC champion

    “If Khamzat can beat Dricus, and that’s a big if, I’d probably lean towards Dricus.”

    “If Khamzat wins, do we trust him to fight again? That’s the question. Can he do it twice? Can he do it three times? Because we need movement in these divisions.”

    “You got to fight. You can’t sit on the sidelines. You can’t become the champion and say, ‘Right, I’m going to avoid fighting people now.’”

    “Din Thomas was talking… and he said it would be a disaster if Khamzat Chimaev ever won because he’s not reliable.”

    “If Khamzat wins, it’s a disaster. You can’t tell me that part of you isn’t thinking the fight might not actually happen.”

    “Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t been the most reliable guy. According to topology, he has pulled out of six fights.”