MMA News

Author: Harry Kettle

  • Does Nate Diaz Have What It Takes to Battle Topuria in the Octagon – or Canelo/Crawford in the Ring? Stockton Slugger Eyeing All Options in 2025

    Does Nate Diaz Have What It Takes to Battle Topuria in the Octagon – or Canelo/Crawford in the Ring? Stockton Slugger Eyeing All Options in 2025

    Former UFC star Nate Diaz wants to get back to active competition – and it’s safe to say that he’s got a lot of big plans for when he does.

    As we know, Nate Diaz is a big fan favorite in the world of mixed martial arts. He’s achieved some incredible things throughout the course of his iconic career, and the masses adore him for doing so. While he may never have quite reached the top of the mountain, he certainly became one of the biggest household names in the wake of his two-fight series with Conor McGregor.

    Nowadays, though, Nate Diaz is outside of the UFC looking in. He’s made it clear that he’s interested in a comeback at some point in the future but in equal measure, he’s also pretty interested in the idea of carrying on with boxing.

    In a recent interview, Nate Diaz opened up on a few of the potential opponents he could face in the middle of the cage or ring.

    Nate Diaz wants to shake things up

    “I would fight, with all due respect to them, Ilia Topuria. He’s doing a really good job. He’s a little small for me. On the boxing side, obviously Canelo or Crawford. I ain’t asking for nothing but, when I whoop someone’s ass, I’m gonna get them motherf***ers too. You know what I’m saying? With all due respect. So, that’s my plan. Those are probably the best fights.”

    Quotes via LowKickMMA

    What’s next, you ask? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Robert Whittaker looks ahead to tough Reinier de Ridder test

    Robert Whittaker looks ahead to tough Reinier de Ridder test

    Ahead of UFC Abu Dhabi, Robert Whittaker has taken the time to look ahead at the challenge that lies in front of him as he prepares to battle Reinier de Ridder in the main event.

    On Saturday night, Robert Whittaker will attempt to overcome a really tough test in the form of Reinier de Ridder. RDR is on a roll right now with a whole lot of momentum behind him, whereas ‘The Reaper’ is hoping to avoid consecutive losses following on from his defeat at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev.

    In a recent interview, Robert Whittaker spoke candidly about where he’s at in his career, as well as his desire to bounce back.

    Robert Whittaker looks forward to UFC Abu Dhabi challenge

    “The middleweight division over the next few is just moving now,” Whittaker told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I feel like it was all kind of still for a little bit, but now everything’s moving. There are some big fights on the way.”

    “I want to bounce back,” said Whittaker, who hasn’t lost two fights in a row since his welterweight days in 2013-2014. “After losing, I’ve always gotten better and come back with a win. It’s important for me to do that again to move toward the direction I want to go, which is that title.”

    “It’s hard to explain, going to take forever to go through,” Whittaker said. “It’s hard. It’s a bigger thing to unpack. I don’t know. It is what it is. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

    “He’s very good at taking the fight where you’re uncomfortable,” Whittaker said. “He’s got a particular set of skills and a particular game plan that, if he executes well, he gives you a lot of problems. Bo found that out the hard way. I’m looking to be first and take the game where I’m strong. … 

    “I love being aggressive. I’m a striker by heart, so I want to try and get my mitts on him.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Cody Garbrandt once again calls for showdown with Sean O’Malley

    Cody Garbrandt once again calls for showdown with Sean O’Malley

    UFC fighter Cody Garbrandt has once again made it clear that he’s interested in throwing down with Sean O’Malley at some point in the future.

    Once upon a time, Cody Garbrandt was the UFC bantamweight champion. He also spent a lot of time being viewed as the next big thing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but unfortunately, things didn’t quite pan out that way. Following consecutive losses to rival TJ Dillashaw, his career seemed to unravel pretty dramatically – and that’s us putting it lightly.

    Nowadays, Cody Garbrandt is looking for fights that really motivate him. In a recent interview, he made it known that he still wants to fight Sean O’Malley, who he’s had an ongoing feud with for quite some time now.

    Cody Garbrandt still wants Sean O’Malley fight

    “I would love to f*ck him up,” Garbrandt told MMA Fighting while discussing his partnership with Indian Motorcycles. “He just always talks shit. I think he has an infatuation with me. He’s so jealous of me and I can’t believe he became a world champion.

    “He can’t wrestle for a lick, can’t defend a takedown. I mean, Merab straight bullied him. But he’s been calling me out forever, so I’ve been ready to fight that dude. I’ve got what it takes, I know how to beat this dude. The way that I fight, it’ll be a bad night for him. But that’s up to the UFC — I’ve tagged [Dana White], I tagged him in it. If that’s the next fight they want to do, I think that’s going to be a great pay-per-view fight, good drawing.

    “He’s got a good fanbase, but they’re younger, you know, the Twitch people, the video games, but I’m a dog. I would love that fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Michael Chandler is Ready to Fight the ‘President of Ireland’ At UFC White House

    Michael Chandler is Ready to Fight the ‘President of Ireland’ At UFC White House

    UFC star Michael Chandler has reiterated his desire to battle Conor McGregor – potentially at the UFC White House event next summer.

    We all know the fight that Michael Chandler wants, because it’s the one he’s been calling for over the course of the last few years. It’s also the one that seems to make sense for both men, especially given that it was booked to happen not so long ago before McGregor eventually pulled out. Alas, given what he’s been doing outside of the cage, it doesn’t seem overly likely that it’s going to take place right now.

    Next year, though, could be when it finally comes to fruition, given Conor’s interest in fighting at the White House. Michael Chandler, meanwhile, has suffered a string of losses as of late – and yet he’s still seen by many as an interesting contender in the lightweight division.

    In a recent interview, Michael Chandler didn’t hold back when discussing the possibility of the fight still happening.

    Michael Chandler reiterates desire to fight Conor McGregor

    “Yeah, could be the president of Ireland, which would be very, very ironic.”

    “Everybody knows that’s the fight that I want. I have said publicly that’s the fight that I want, but I’m also the guy who’s not going to wait for that fight. As you can see by me fighting Charles and then Paddy- two fights in five months. Once [Conor] got injured, once he pulled out of the fight, we had to move on. I could have just sat on the sidelines, but I was ready to get back in there and prove to the fans who I am, how I operate, and I want to put on fun, exciting performances.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev May Not Survive Du Plessis at UFC 319, says Reinier de Ridder

    Khamzat Chimaev May Not Survive Du Plessis at UFC 319, says Reinier de Ridder

    UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder is leaning towards predicting Dricus du Plessis defeating Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is an absolute animal. He has already accomplished a lot of great things in mixed martial arts – perhaps most notably submitting Robert Whittaker with relative ease. As we look ahead to next month and his title showdown with Dricus du Plessis, a lot of people believe that he may well become a UFC champion, something that has been on the cards for a while in the eyes of the masses.

    With that being said, Dricus du Plessis has been overcoming the odds ever since he arrived in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. So, it goes without saying that the thought of fighting Khamzat Chimaev probably isn’t something that scares him too much. In fact, he seems to be thriving on the idea of people seeing him as the underdog heading into this one.

    In the mind of Reinier de Ridder, though, Dricus du Plessis successfully defending the belt against Khamzat Chimaev is more than a viable possibility.

    Reinier de Ridder’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “I’m leaning towards Dricus Du Plessis because of experience training with both guys. I don’t see Khamzat finishing him early. I see it going late rounds.”

    Chimaev is going to approach this fight with the same intensity that he approaches all of his bouts but if this one stretches out beyond the first few rounds, it could get interesting.

  • Michael Bisping says the New Generation of Fighters Lacks ‘Good old-fashioned hard work’

    Michael Bisping says the New Generation of Fighters Lacks ‘Good old-fashioned hard work’

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on the new generation of fighters in comparison to his own era.

    Throughout the course of his iconic career, Michael Bisping achieved a lot of wonderful things in the sport of mixed martial arts. In his home country of England, especially, he was able to take the game to heights that were previously unthinkable.

    These days, Bisping enjoys his days as an analyst and commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship – in addition to some acting work here and there.

    In a recent chat with Paul Felder, Michael Bisping had some interesting thoughts on how fighters approach the game these days.

    Michael Bisping rants about new generation

    Michael Bisping:

    “All you hear people talk about: ice corner, red lights, this, that, bloody massages galore… But also, you got to learn how to work hard as well. You know what I’m saying? You can’t replace it all with good old-fashioned—sorry, you can’t replace good old-fashioned hard work.”

    Paul Felder:

    “I think the old generation suffered from too much hard training, right? And we overdid it and we were always banged up and we sparred really hard and all that kind of stuff. But now I feel like the new generation has the opposite problem where they’re all trying to be elite level athletes, which is fantastic.“

    Michael Bisping:

    “It’s like having a Ferrari and driving it like you’re going for a Sunday drive with your grandma in it. You got to put that foot down sometimes. You got to go. You got to burn rubber.”

  • Paulo Costa: How The Sean Strickland Fight Fundamentally Changed Him – In His Own Words

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa has spoken openly about how he mixed things up following his defeat to Sean Strickland.

    Once upon a time, Paulo Costa was considered to be the next big thing in mixed martial arts. After a series of impressive victories, he was given the opportunity to challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t quite go to plan, and he wound up being finished with relative ease by the man known as ‘Stylebender’.

    Ever since then, he hasn’t really been himself. Paulo Costa has shown glimpses of brilliance but for the most part, he hasn’t been able to live up to the potential that everyone once believed he had. Tonight, he’ll return to the cage at UFC 318 where he will meet Roman Kopylov in what is something of a ‘do or die’ fight for him and his future in the promotion.

    In his media day interview, Paulo Costa spoke about his loss to Sean Strickland and how that helped him to change his mentality.

  • Why Is Jon Jones Coming Back To the UFC? The Former Champion Explains Un-Retiring

    Why Is Jon Jones Coming Back To the UFC? The Former Champion Explains Un-Retiring

    Former UFC fighter Jon Jones has explained why he is actively considering a return to competitive mixed martial arts, just weeks after announcing his retirement.

    Right now, Tom Aspinall is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. He has that title because Jon Jones, the former champion, opted not to fight him, and instead decided to quietly retire. However, after the announcement that the UFC will be putting on an event at the White House next year, ‘Bones’ seems to have changed his stance – to the point where he is now openly thinking about a return to the cage.

    Whether or not that comes to fruition, of course, remains to be seen. Jon Jones is easily one of the greatest fighters we’ve ever seen in MMA but even with that being the case, it’ll probably take some convincing for the UFC to trust him again. After all, he seemed to string them along for quite some time, and it was never really clear why he didn’t want to take on Aspinall in the first place.

    In a recent interview, Jon Jones discussed the possibility of coming back and made it crystal clear that it’s on the table.

    Jon Jones explains potential comeback

    “I was retired. I felt like I was at a place where I’d done it all in the MMA space, and felt like there weren’t too many more challenges for me. I just wanted to do something more than championships and money.”

    “Donald Trump mentioned that he wanted to have a fight at the White House garden, and that seems like such a huge opportunity. I’m a very proud American, I have a lot of close friends who are in the military. This is my act of, I can’t call it service, but to be able to entertain the country and the world at this level at the White House, it just means the world to me. So, I’m back.”

  • Paddy Pimblett May Get Free Training From World Champ Boxer to Beat Ilia Topuria

    Paddy Pimblett May Get Free Training From World Champ Boxer to Beat Ilia Topuria

    Former boxing world champion Amir Khan has offered to train Paddy Pimblett ahead of a potential title fight against Ilia Topuria.

    As we know, Paddy Pimblett is easily one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts today. Whether you love him or hate him, nobody can deny that he’s done an incredible job of promoting himself – and he’s also worked incredibly hard to get better in the cage.

    After his recent win over Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett was considered to be a top contender at lightweight. Now, after his long-time rival Ilia Topuria won the belt, it seems as if the UFC is interested in pushing that as the next big title fight at 155 pounds. The two even shared the octagon together following Topuria’s triumph over Charles Oliveira.

    In a recent interview courtesy of Genting live casinos, the aforementioned Amir Khan noted that he’d be willing to help Paddy Pimblett improve his boxing ahead of a possible striking battle with Topuria.

    Amir Khan offers to train Paddy Pimblett

    “100% I’d like to offer Paddy Pimblett some boxing advice. I live in Dubai. I know he comes to Dubai here and there, if he ever needs any advice on the boxing aside, definitely, we’ll do some pad work with him, help him out on that as well. Show him some stuff.

    “I like doing stuff like that, it’s all about helping and being there, helping each other and that makes me happy, when I know that I’ve gone and helped someone, especially in a fighting sport, because they’ve got a life on the line.

    “They’re putting their life on the line and if you are there to help them in such a big fight like that, yeah, it would make me happy. It makes me happy, and I’ll do that for free as well.”

    Quotes via Genting

  • Is Dana White Good For Boxing? Former Champion Says He Will Not Help The Sport

    Is Dana White Good For Boxing? Former Champion Says He Will Not Help The Sport

    Former boxer George Groves has given his thoughts on whether or not UFC boss Dana White would be good for the sport.

    As we know, Dana White’s first love in combat sports was boxing. He attempted to break in many years ago but instead, opted to go down the path of mixed martial arts. Ever since then, he’s helped grow the Ultimate Fighting Championship to a point where they are now considered to be one of the biggest sporting organizations in the world – and financially, that certainly isn’t an exaggeration.

    In addition to that, Dana White is still very interested in the idea of getting into the boxing market. He’s dipped his toe in before but now, it seems like he’s more serious than ever. During a recent Q&A event with Midnite, George Groves gave his thoughts on the UFC’s model and White as a whole.

    George Groves’ view on Dana White

    “I always look at boxing from the boxer’s point of view and not the fan’s point of view. To get the very best fights you have to build fighters properly to get them being at their very best.

    “So all these ‘Records don’t matter, put them in early,’ you ruin fighters by putting them in early in too tougher tests or 50/50 fights. Someone’s going to suffer.

    “The money that the UFC fighters are paid compared to boxers is incomparable – it’s peanuts. That’s why anyone that gets a big enough name in the UFC transitions over to boxing like Conor McGregor or what not.

    “I wouldn’t say he is good for boxing, but that’s from a boxer’s point of view and not a fan’s point of view. But I don’t think he’ll be able to complete boxing, I don’t think anyone can.”

    Quotes via Midnite

  • Paddy Pimblett’s future: Max Holloway gives his thoughts on The Baddy possibly getting UFC title shot

    UFC star Max Holloway has given his thoughts on Paddy Pimblett‘s chances if he is able to land a UFC title shot against Ilia Topuria.

    As we know, Paddy Pimblett is one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts today. While a lot of people have often doubted his ability, the Liverpudlian’s dominant win over Michael Chandler made everyone realize that he is, in fact, the real deal. Now, the only question is this: will he jump the line and be thrust into a blockbuster title shot against rival Ilia Topuria?

    It’s certainly possible, and it’s definitely what Paddy Pimblett wants. He believes that he has the answers necessary to put an end to the rise of ‘El Matador’ and while some will disagree with that assessment, ‘The Baddy’ has shown remarkable improvements throughout the course of his UFC tenure thus far.

    In a recent interview, Max Holloway was asked about Paddy Pimblett and how that fight could play out.

    Max Holloway’s view on Paddy Pimblett

    “It’s MMA. It’s mixed martial arts. Anybody can win,” Holloway said. “Everybody can say we saw Paddy get cracked. I saw myself get cracked a bunch of times and when Ilia hit me, we saw what we saw. At the end of the day, it’s mixed martial arts. I think Paddy and their team will prepare right for that fight. I think they’ll have a game plan and he’s no slouch.

    “A lot of people thought Paddy was this guy who just talks and runs his mouth and then he got to prove himself against a guy like [Michael] Chandler. He’s not a wrestler but he out-wrestled the wrestler, which was pretty crazy to see.”

    “He’s super good,” Holloway said about Pimblett. “This is mixed martial arts. It’s what’s going on that day and whoever can apply their game plan that they’ve been doing, you never know.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Conor McGregor Sets Sights on Donald Trump, The White House, and Jon Jones “I’m Back”

    Conor McGregor Sets Sights on Donald Trump, The White House, and Jon Jones “I’m Back”

    UFC star Conor McGregor has reiterated that he is interested in the idea of returning to mixed martial arts for next year’s UFC White House card.

    One thing we all know to be true is that Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure. Every week there seems to be a new claim about something that he’s done or something he’s said, and the Irishman just seems to roll with the punches. Alas, if he keeps going down this road, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to end particularly well for him.

    One thing we haven’t seen is Conor McGregor actually competing in the cage. It’s been four years since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier and while he’s been close to a comeback since then, it’s never quite come to fruition. At this point, it’s hard to imagine it happening, especially given the kind of lifestyle that he leads.

    Alas, in a short interview recently with The Schmo, Conor McGregor made it known that he wants to fight on the UFC White House card that was announced by Donald Trump and later confirmed by Dana White.

    Conor McGregor looks ahead to UFC White House

    Q: “The White House. Dana White said, ‘You and Jon Jones, that’s the real deal.’

    A: “I’m going home. I’m going to get the head down. I’m going to rest. They’re testing me. I’m in the pool. I says, ‘Go tell him, man. I thought that’s what the pools are for — jumping in and out of.’ But I’m back in the pool. So, get ready and stay ready, ’cause damage will be done.”

  • Dustin Poirier’s Carnivore Diet is his Secret Weapon at UFC 318

    UFC legend Dustin Poirier has spoken about how he’s been preparing for the last fight of his mixed martial arts career this weekend at UFC 318.

    On Saturday night, Dustin Poirier will make the walk to the octagon for one last time. He will do so against Max Holloway, with ‘The Diamond’ hoping to go out by capturing the BMF championship. He currently holds a 2-0 record over Holloway in his career but as we know, ‘Blessed’ has gotten a lot better since the last time they fought – even if some people don’t want to believe that.

    Dustin Poirier is a fan favorite and that much is an understatement. He has done some wonderful things for the sport of mixed martial arts and although he never claimed an undisputed title, that really doesn’t matter when you consider the body of work he produced.

    He’s a legend of the game and you won’t find too many people who would disagree with that. In a recent interview, Dustin Poirier spoke openly about what he’s been doing in order to get ready for this final test.

    Dustin Poirier reveals his current carnivore diet

    “I’m ninety-something days completely sober – no alcohol, no marijuana. And for the last four, five months, I’ve kind of done the carnivore thing: meat and berries, little vegetables. Dude, I’m in the best shape ever. This is the lightest I’ve ever shown up to fight week.”

    One thing we know for sure is this: DP is going to bring the best version of himself to the cage on Saturday in New Orleans.

  • Daniel Dubois Will Create Bedlam To Knock Out ‘Old Man’ Oleksandr Usyk In Rematch: “Chaos. For as long as it lasts.”

    Daniel Dubois Will Create Bedlam To Knock Out ‘Old Man’ Oleksandr Usyk In Rematch: “Chaos. For as long as it lasts.”

    British heavyweight boxer Daniel Dubois is predicting that chaos will unfold in his upcoming rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.

    On Saturday night, Daniel Dubois will try and become the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He’ll do so in a highly anticipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, which is set to take place at Wembley Stadium. While a lot of people aren’t quite sure what to expect from the bout, the popular opinion seems to be that Usyk is still the favorite, despite the incredible knockout win that Dubois picked up over Anthony Joshua.

    Regardless of who you’re backing, there’s no denying that this is an incredibly fascinating contest. These two men have very different styles but together, there’s an excellent chance they can make magic happen. For Daniel Dubois, he knows that the pressure is on the champion – or, at least, that’s how it seems.

    In a recent face-off with Usyk, Daniel Dubois explained what he plans to do at the weekend.

    Daniel Dubois predicts chaos in Oleksandr Usyk rematch

    “I don’t want to even put it down to just being an old man. I’ve got to prove myself and bring chaos in the ring—what I bring and the force I have, that will be what’s needed. I stand more to gain. He’s at the end of his career. I stand more to gain from a win; getting all the belts, that means… that’s the start for me, really.”

    “Chaos. For as long as it lasts.”

    Get ready, folks, because this is going to be a banger.

  • Does Jake Paul Deserve Respect? Boxing Icon Manny Pacquiao Answers “He’s trying his best”

    Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has answered the question of whether or not Jake Paul deserves respect in the boxing world.

    We all know that Jake Paul is viewed as a controversial figure in the sport of professional boxing – and that much is an understatement. While he is undeniably an incredible promoter who has done wonderful things for women’s boxing in the last few years, his actual fights haven’t really garnered that much respect from the masses due to the nature of his opponents.

    Of course, money talks in a lot of instances, and Jake Paul has certainly made a lot of that. As we look ahead to his future in the sport, it definitely feels like he’s got a few more tricks up his sleeves.

    In a recent interview, Manny Pacquiao was asked about Jake Paul, and he gave a pretty interesting response.

    Manny Pacquiao praises Jake Paul

    “I respect him, you know? He’s trying his best. He’s working hard for his dream, and he wants to be a champion. So I respect that. Not everyone can do that, putting in the work, stepping in the ring… It’s not easy.”

    It’s doubtful that this is a fight we’d ever see, especially given that Pacquiao is set to return for a world title match of his own this weekend. Still, it’s a big deal to see ‘The Problem Child’ receive respect from someone of his stature, and it speaks volumes to what he’s been able to achieve thus far. Watch this space.

  • Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall In The Works According to ‘Bones’: Will History Be Made at the White House?

    Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall In The Works According to ‘Bones’: Will History Be Made at the White House?

    UFC legend Jon Jones has claimed that he’d be interested in ending his mixed martial arts retirement in order to compete on the recently announced UFC White House card.

    As we know, Jon Jones is a pretty controversial figure in this sport – and that’s us putting it lightly. He has had a series of personal and professional setbacks throughout the course of his career, many of which have harmed the public’s opinion of him. The most recent was him seemingly ducking a fight with Tom Aspinall, who is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

    However, after the White House card was announced, things seemed to change for Jon Jones. He appeared to like the idea of being part of such an iconic event, and made it clear that he would be willing to come back.

    In a recent interview, Jon Jones doubled down on that, suggesting that he’ll be coming after the UFC heavyweight championship once again.

    Jon Jones considers Tom Aspinall fight at White House

    “I can’t promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be on that card. It’s gonna be historic.”

    “I would wanna take one whoever’s holding the belt at the end of the year.

    “Well you know, as of right now, the champion is Tom Aspinall. But we’ll see who’s the champion at the end of the year. It’d be only fitting to have an American guy fight for the championship that night. I’d be willing to put it all on the line one more time.”

  • 40-year-old Cris Cyborg reveals potential MMA retirement timeline

    Mixed martial arts legend Cris Cyborg has opened up on her plans to retire from the sport after an incredible career.

    While she may be 40 years of age, Cris Cyborg is still more than capable of going out there and putting on a show. She’s been doing it for a long time now across multiple sports, but after all of that success, it appears as if she’s finally starting to see the end of the road.

    Cris Cyborg has won belts in a plethora of major organizations including the UFC, and when the dust settles, she’ll almost certainly go down in history as one of the greatest female fighters of all time.

    In a recent interview, Cris Cyborg spoke candidly about her plans to retire from mixed martial arts, seemingly after two more fights.

    Cris Cyborg lays out MMA retirement plans

    “The reality is this decision has literally been (there) longer,” Cyborg said in an interview with James Lynch. “When I signed this current contract, we had already made the plan to finish the contract and retire, because we started the legacy tour when I fought against Larissa Pacheco. So I have two fights left, and I’m ready for the next chapter. Some fighters will never know when to end. I just turned 40 years old, I feel great, but we have to know when it’s time to stop.”

    “I like to do step by step,” Cyborg said. “My next fight, I believe, is going to be Sara Collins. She’s undefeated, she beat Leah McCourt, she’s No. 1 in Australia, she fought girls at the top at 145 pounds. I believe she’s going to be next, and I like to think about the next one.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Kayla Harrison is praised by teammate Dakota Ditcheva after UFC 316 title triumph

    Kayla Harrison is praised by teammate Dakota Ditcheva after UFC 316 title triumph

    PFL star Dakota Ditcheva has praised teammate Kayla Harrison for both her work ethic and the way in which she was able to defeat Julianna Pena to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight championship.

    Kayla Harrison is one of the greatest female fighters of all time and that much goes without saying. In addition to her remarkable Olympic success, she’s also had a phenomenal career in mixed martial arts – and some would argue she’s still got a lot left in the tank.

    As she prepares to battle Amanda Nunes in a superfight at some point in the future, Kayla Harrison has been receiving a great deal of praise from the MMA community for what she’s accomplished over the years. That includes Dakota Ditcheva, one of PFL’s biggest stars, who had the following to say about her teammate recently.

    Dakota Ditcheva praises Kayla Harrison’s success

    “Yeah, it’s crazy. I’ve actually got goosebumps when you think about it,” Ditcheva told MMA Fighting. “Like her journey through MMA, or just through martial arts sport has been crazy.

    “After she won out there was loads of things online, I was just reading it all because, for me, a journey like that — Olympic gold medalist, comes to PFL, cleans everyone out there. Goes to UFC, cleans everyone out there. Within two or three fights, she’s got the UFC belt. That journey that she’s been on is absolutely crazy.”

    “The weight cuts, the dedication she’s got to training, when she’s saying in these interviews, she’s not missed a day running or biking, that girl is in the gym every morning, every afternoon, and between them sessions, she’s walking, she’s running,” Ditcheva explained. “She’s the hardest worker in that gym.

    “So to have someone like that around us and set such an example like that for us girls in the gym is like second to none. That’s why we’re the best, best gym in the world because we’ve got examples like that around us. How can we not be inspired and want to keep working hard when we see people like Kayla Harrison doing that?”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Dustin Poirier’s retirement: Brendan Allen looks back at how hard The Diamond hits

    Dustin Poirier’s retirement: Brendan Allen looks back at how hard The Diamond hits

    UFC middleweight Brendan Allen has spoken about how hard he was hit by Dustin Poirier once upon a time when they trained together.

    On Saturday night, Dustin Poirier will officially retire from professional mixed martial arts. He’ll do so after taking part in a trilogy fight against Max Holloway, with the two competing for the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, it’s safe to say that ‘The Diamond’ will receive an incredible ovation from his home state of Louisiana.

    In a recent inteview Brendan Allen, who will also compete on the UFC 318 card, opened up on his experience of training with Dustin Poirier many years ago.

    Brendan Allen on Dustin Poirier’s power

    “I was sparring, trying to watch them spar because they were having a hell of a sparring session. Then it was live gos starting from guard against the wall and man they said go and he hit me so hard. It was like a live drill but you start in guard and he hit me so hard. I’m like f*ck man, I’m just a kid. We ain’t little no more. That sh*t ain’t going to happen again.”

    “You learn real quick,” Allen said. “That was my whole upbringing at the beginning, just trying with guys that are 25, 26, 27 [years old] and I’m 14, 15, 16 years old. It’s way different than nowadays, I can tell you that. It’s way different.”

    “At the end of the day, everything aside, I’m super happy for him and his family,” Allen said. “He’s earned every single thing he has right now. So many fighters would kill to have that and he’s done it. No matter what happens, the man has made a great life for himself by punching people in the face. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 3: Chael Sonnen issues warning to retiring hero

    Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 3: Chael Sonnen issues warning to retiring hero

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen believes Dustin Poirier may have made a mistake that could cost him in his trilogy fight against Max Holloway.

    As we know, Dustin Poirier is set to compete in his retirement fight this weekend in the main event of UFC 318. He will battle Max Holloway for the BMF title, but more importantly, he’ll be fighting professionally for the final time. These two warriors have fought on two previous occasions and in both instances, it was ‘The Diamond’ who was able to come away with the victory.

    Of course, Dustin Poirier has never been one to hold back when giving his opinion on something, and he’s also a pretty honest guy when analyzing how a fight has gone. After their second fight a few years back, Poirier opened up on how you need to be able to disrupt Holloway, who he considers to be a rhythm fighter, so that he can’t go through the gears and build from one move to the next move.

    Sonnen believes that Dustin Poirier’s words are something that Max Holloway can subsequently use to his advantage.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dustin Poirier’s comments

    “I watched Max Holloway build his way back into this fight, I knew Dustin Poirier was a different fighter because he fought him back when things started to go south. There were times earlier in his career, with ‘The Korean Zombie‘, where it kind of snowballed on Dustin and he was never able to get back to it.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Dricus du Plessis appears to be in great shape ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus du Plessis appears to be in great shape ahead of UFC 319

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis appears to be fantastic shape as we get closer and closer to next month’s UFC 319 event.

    In just a matter of weeks, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319. The two have been going back and forth at one another for quite some time now, and ‘Borz’ has been eagerly awaiting his moment to finally try and claim the gold.

    Despite that, Dricus du Plessis doesn’t seem particularly bothered about the scale of the task that sits in front of him. Given that he’s already beaten the likes of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, both via finish, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

    Ahead of the bout, Dricus du Plessis has shown off his physique – and part of his training – giving us a glimpse into his regime.

    Dricus du Plessis looks to be in great shape

    As you can see, the man known as DDP appears to be in the shape of his life as we sit just weeks away from UFC 319. There’s a lot on the line for the South African champion and although he’s had a lot of fun trolling Khamzat Chimaev, he knows the stakes involved here.

    If he loses, he’ll have to scratch and claw (probably) in order to earn another shot at the title. If he wins, though, he’ll start being talked about as one of the greatest middleweight champions of all time. Either way, you just know that he’s going to bring everything he’s got to the cage.

  • Mike Perry Gets Brutally Honest and Mad About Influencer Fighters ‘Make any video you want on the internet’

    Mike Perry Gets Brutally Honest and Mad About Influencer Fighters ‘Make any video you want on the internet’

    BKFC sensation Mike Perry has given his thoughts on influencer fighters as he continues to serve as the face of bare-knuckle boxing.

    As we know, Mike Perry is a pretty unique character within the realm of combat sports. That was certainly true during his time in mixed martial arts, but since heading over to BKFC, he’s taken his game to a whole new level. His star power has gone through the roof and when you look at all the fighters who have departed the UFC in recent years, there aren’t many who can say they’ve been as successful as ‘Platinum’.

    Right now, Mike Perry is preparing to make his return to BKFC with all eyes on him to see what kind of path he’ll carve out for himself in the months ahead. In a recent interview, though, he took the time to focus on a topic that frustrates him: influencer fighters.

    Mike Perry lashes out at influencer fighters

    “You got 5,000 followers, bro. Can’t [expletive] call me out, bro. Make any video you want on the internet, say what you want, but if I—I hate that it gets me mad at all ever, because I’m in a different [expletive] stratosphere.”

    Perry was worked unbelievably hard to get to this point in his career and hopefully, we exclusively see him take part in high profile bouts from now on – or, at the very least, see him get the kind of paydays that he deserves.

    In short, give him fun fights please, BKFC.

  • Paulo Costa Is Expecting a Quick Finish at UFC 318 – Ready for Dangerous Southpaw War

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa is expecting a quick finish as he prepares to battle Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Paulo Costa will attempt to get his mixed martial arts career back on track. Following a string of losses, many have been left to wonder what kind of future he has in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’ll attempt to answer that question when he stands across from Roman Kopylov – a man who is bound to give him a tough fight.

    We’ve seen the best and worst of Paulo Costa throughout the course of his UFC run and on more than one occasion, he was tipped to be the next big thing, either at 185 pounds or light heavyweight. Either way, though, things haven’t quite panned out as he would’ve hoped, and this could be his last real opportunity to showcase himself for the world to see.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa opened up on what he plans to do at UFC 318.

    Paulo Costa aims for quick finish at UFC 318

    “I know how to fight against southpaw. He’s dangerous … but I’m very prepared for that and I’m excited. This fight going to be short—not so long. I think two rounds, maybe even the first round.”

    Costa is an unpredictable guy both in and outside of the cage, and while that can be good in some instances, he needs to find a game plan and stick to it here if he’s serious about becoming a contender.

  • Is Conor McGregor’s Family in Denial or Just Coping? The Questions No One’s Daring to Ask After “Meatgate” – MMA Analyst Breaks It Down

    Is Conor McGregor’s Family in Denial or Just Coping? The Questions No One’s Daring to Ask After “Meatgate” – MMA Analyst Breaks It Down

    An MMA analyst on YouTube has given their thoughts on the recent ‘meatgate’ saga surrounding former UFC star Conor McGregor.

    As we know, Conor McGregor tends to be a pretty controversial figure within the world of mixed martial arts. He says and does things that are a bit out of the ordinary – and that’s us putting it lightly. He has been involved in numerous scandals and at this point, his reputation is pretty much in tatters.

    As it turns out, there was still a new low for him to drop to after Conor McGregor was accused of sending unsolicited pictures to Azealia Banks. In the following video, ITP MMA Live has provided a breakdown of how this whole thing has played out up to this point.

    MMA analyst questions Conor McGregor

    “Bro, you have a family and you’re out here sending pictures of your Conor Jr. to other celebrities… Like, a big part of me wants to sympathize with [his fiancée], but at the same time, I can’t help but think she has to know by now that Conor gets up to this stuff on a pretty regular basis and she just accepts it.”

    “I feel like this was the trail of bad decisions made that led Conor to doing this. As we know, on Thursday, Conor did that BKFC press conference where he was very clearly geeked out… He keeps the party going throughout the weekend… then just sent off this picture without thinking much about it. I am 1,000% sure that this photo was brought to us in part by Coke.”

    “Could she seriously just be in this much denial? Or does she just put up with all of this to maintain her current lifestyle? I want to believe it’s the latter, but I find it a bit depressing that I don’t feel confident one way or the other.”

  • Dana White teases big new UFC TV rights deal

    Dana White teases big new UFC TV rights deal

    UFC boss Dana White has spoken about the promotion’s potential new TV rights deal as we get closer and closer to finding out who they’ll sign with.

    For the longest time now, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been on the rise. While it sometimes may not feel that way when it comes to the actual product, their finances suggest that they’re doing incredibly well – which is something that Dana White likes to remind us about on a regular basis.

    Dana White is the face of the UFC in more ways than one and he’ll likely be having a big role in negotiations for the next TV rights deal. Their current partnership is with ESPN, and while staying with them is certainly on the table, there are rumors flying around about several other potential homes for the UFC – including Netflix.

    Dana White discusses TV rights deal

    “The world’s going to change a lot in the next year with our rights deals,” White told the Full Send podcast. “Depending on where we end up, but more than likely, we’re going to end up with a platform that is way more global than we are now.”

    “There’s nothing. I don’t have anything right now,” White said about the new broadcast rights deal. “We’re in the middle of talks. We’ll see how it plays out. Literally have zero info on that right now.”

    “Every year that we’ve done a deal — if you think about it, Spike TV we started,” White said. “From there, we went to Fox. From there, we went to ESPN. We’ve leveled up every single time and it made the sport bigger and bigger and bigger.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting