MMA News

Author: Harry Kettle

  • Mackenzie Dern Is Living The Dream Fighting for a UFC Title: “Need to pinch myself”

    Mackenzie Dern Is Living The Dream Fighting for a UFC Title: “Need to pinch myself”

    UFC star Mackenzie Dern has reflected on the journey that led her to competing for a world title this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Mackenzie Dern will face Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight championship. This moment has been a long time coming for both fighters, and it takes place five years after their first battle – which Dern was able to win. Of course, both are at very different points in their career now, and this is the biggest opportunity either of them has ever had.

    For Mackenzie Dern, this is the moment for her to try and live up to the potential that many believe she’d had ever since entering the promotion. While she’s experienced her fair share of setbacks, Dern has been able to bounce back time and time again – and now, she’s ready to grab that gold with both hands.

    In a recent interview, Mackenzie Dern made it known that she still has to pinch herself about how her career has played out up to this point.

    Mackenzie Dern reflects on UFC journey

    “It’s crazy, it’s like I still need to pinch myself. Not that I don’t think I deserve it, but it’s crazy to see how everything worked out through all the ups and downs. I never imagined that a win five years ago would set me up for this moment the way it did.”

    Of course, it must be said that Jandiroba has also been on an incredible journey, and she’ll be just as motivated to get over that finish line.

  • Maycee Barber Explains Why Weight Cutting Issues Are In The Past

    Maycee Barber Explains Why Weight Cutting Issues Are In The Past

    UFC star Maycee Barber has spoken about why she believes any issues regarding weight cuts are now firmly in the past.

    Following a long spell on the shelf due to injury, Maycee Barber is set to return to the cage later this year at UFC 323. She will battle Karine Silva and if she’s able to pick up a comprehensive victory, there’s every chance that she could be just one or two more wins away from a championship opportunity. Of course, one of the big parts of earning that would be proving that she’s 100% healthy.

    Maycee Barber has struggled with both weight cuts and injuries in her career, leaving some to wonder whether or not she’ll truly be able to live up to her potential. Alas, it certainly feels like the 27-year-old is starting to come out the other side of it, which can only be a good thing for the women’s flyweight division.

    In a recent interview, Barber spoke candidly about her health problems and any role that had in her weight cuts in the past.

    Maycee Barber discusses weight cutting and health concerns

    “We put our bodies through a lot — especially as females. We’re asking them to train, perform, cut weight, and still function normally. At the end of the day, we’re still human. I don’t think my problems came from weight cutting; I think my health issues actually played a part in that cut. 

    “I’m one of those fighters who will go until someone tells me to stop, and unfortunately, this time it was my own body — and the entire UFC — saying, ‘You can’t do this right now.’”

  • Alex Pereira vs Jon Jones: MMA icon weighs in on potential superfight

    Alex Pereira vs Jon Jones: MMA icon weighs in on potential superfight

    MMA legend Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller has given his thoughts on the potential superfight that’s brewing between Alex Pereira and Jon Jones.

    Ever since his iconic win at UFC 320, Alex Pereira has been making it known that he is interested in squaring off with Jon Jones in a blockbuster superfight. If it happens, you’d have to imagine that the goal would be for it to take place on the UFC White House card, perhaps serving as the main event of the show.

    Alex Pereira clearly respects Jon Jones and vice versa, but Dana White hasn’t been willing to commit to putting ‘Bones’ on the card – largely because of how he handled the Tom Aspinall situation.

    In a recent interview, the aforementioned ‘Mayhem’ Miller weighed in on what he believes should happen.

    Jason Miller’s view on Alex Pereira vs Jon Jones

    “100% should happen. 100% should happen.”

    “Well, Jon Jones I see that fight a lot closer than people would think. Everyone likes to defer, ‘Oh, Jon will win that one.’ And that is the inkling in the back of my head. He’s a more complete martial artist and at this stage in his career bigger.”

    “Do I want Poatan to win? Yeah. Yeah. A little bit. I do. Because this guy has the romantic story. I don’t know, all that story could be fluff they made up. But man, working at the tire shop, some manly stuff. Hey, I did that myself… He went through his struggles. He overcame it. Kickboxing champion.”

  • UFC Contender Mackenzie Dern Explains How Poker Has Helped Her Be a Better MMA Fighter

    UFC Contender Mackenzie Dern Explains How Poker Has Helped Her Be a Better MMA Fighter

    UFC star Mackenzie Dern has explained how playing poker, in her mind, has helped her to become a better mixed martial artist.

    On Saturday night, Mackenzie Dern will get the chance of a lifetime. She will go head to head with Virna Jandiroba as the two battle it out for the UFC strawweight championship. This will be the second time that they fight one another in the UFC, and when they first met five years ago, it was Dern who managed to get her hand raised.

    While there will undoubtedly be some changes that both women implement heading into the rematch, Mackenzie Dern is bound to be feeling confident. She is just one big performance and win away from cementing her legacy as a UFC champion, something that she’s been striving for ever since she first entered the promotion.

    In a recent interview, Dern revealed that there’s something pretty interesting that she believes has been helping her in the last twelve months – poker.

    Mackenzie Dern explains positive impact of playing poker

    “Poker’s helped me control my emotions. I’m very impulsive, but in poker, you have to learn patience — folding, reading people, waiting for the right moment. It’s helped me become a better fighter, to be honest. I started playing about a year ago, and since then, I’m on a two-fight win streak. I think there’s a correlation there.”

    Dern knows the size of the task that lies ahead of her, but if she’s able to stay calm under pressure, she’ll be well on her way to the title.

  • How Aleksandar Rakic Changed EVERYTHING for his UFC 321 Match

    How Aleksandar Rakic Changed EVERYTHING for his UFC 321 Match

    UFC light heavyweight contender Aleksandar Rakic has spoken about how he’s mixed things up heading into his UFC 321 bout with Azamat Murzakanov.

    On Saturday night, Aleksandar Rakic will make his return to the cage when he locks horns with Azamat Murzakanov. In his last three fights, Rakic has suffered defeats at the hands of Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev. If he’s serious about one day becoming a world champion in the UFC, he can’t afford too many losses – especially against a surging challenger like Murzakanov.

    Aleksandar Rakic has always been pretty highly thought of by mixed martial arts fans, but whether it be due to injuries or stumbling on the big stage, he hasn’t quite been able to reach that next level. If he can hand Murzakanov his first ever professional loss in the sport, and do so convincingly, it could go a long way to repairing his reputation.

    In a recent interview, Rakic had the following to say about what he’s changed as we get closer and closer to fight night in Abu Dhabi.

    Aleksandar Rakic discusses changes ahead of UFC 321

    “I changed teams. I changed my whole team. I have a new head coach, training in Serbia full-time, and yeah, it took me like one year exactly now from the last fight to digest everything and to work with the new team and to get clicked. And I believe you will see on Saturday night the full potential of Alexander Rakic.”

    Can he turn things around? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Marlon Vera Was Told By His Team to Start Pushing The Pace After Most Recent Loss

    Marlon Vera Was Told By His Team to Start Pushing The Pace After Most Recent Loss

    UFC veteran Marlon Vera has revealed what his team has told him to work on in the wake of his controversial defeat to Aiemann Zahabi.

    On Saturday night, Marlon Vera suffered a narrow loss at the hands of Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Vancouver. As we look ahead to the future, many have already started to question what kind of future he has in the division – whereas others are busy suggesting that ‘Chito’ was actually robbed of a victory by the judges.

    Marlon Vera is the kind of fighter who will be able to bounce back from this latest disappointment but at the same time, a win here could’ve really vaulted him back into contention. In an interview after the event, Vera had the following to say.

    Marlon Vera reveals advice from team after UFC Vancouver

    “After the fight, I was hurt but didn’t want to celebrate. I went back to my room, showered, and stayed there with my team talking for hours. We talked about pushing faster in the first round. Life gives you hurdles and obstacles, you jump them or go around them. It’s part of the road and it’s okay.”

    Vera needs to get back to being the kind of explosive, dominant fighter that he was once upon a time – and if he’s able to do that, then perhaps he can start to string a bit of a run together. Either way, you’d have to imagine he’ll fancy a second showdown with Zahabi at some point in the future.

  • Mackenzie Dern gets honest about potential Zhang Weili fight

    Mackenzie Dern gets honest about potential Zhang Weili fight

    UFC star Mackenzie Dern has opened up on a potential fight against Zhang Weili, who recently vacated the UFC strawweight championship.

    As we know, Mackenzie Dern will battle Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight title on Saturday night. She will do so in the main event of UFC 321, and in Jandiroba, she’ll be facing an opponent that she’s already fought and beaten once before.

    Of course, this is going to be a very different fight given that it’s been five years since their first meeting. For Mackenzie Dern, though, it’s all about staying humble, and keeping her feet on the ground.

    With that in mind, it’s pretty interesting to hear her thoughts on how a fight between her and Zhang Weili would’ve played out at this stage in her career.

    Mackenzie Dern’s view on possible Zhang Weili fight

    “I definitely think that if Weili was champion right now of our division, and I mean, obviously, I wouldn’t say no to a title shot, but I don’t think I’d be ready to fight Weili right now at this moment of my career, you know what I mean?,” Dern told MMA Fighting. “But I do think that if I do win the belt, and then whatever — if we were to fight like at the White House or something in June — I feel like I’d be way more ready and prepared to fight her.

    “I know it’s like, OK, it’s just like what? Like six months or eight months difference. How much better do you think you’re going to get in 8 months? But I think just winning the bell, there’s a confidence part that you get from that, and it’s just more training and more time. She was just so dominant in the strawweight division.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Manon Fiorot wants to stay active after UFC Vancouver triumph

    Manon Fiorot wants to stay active after UFC Vancouver triumph

    UFC star Manon Fiorot is eager to stay active in the wake of her dominant win over Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Vancouver.

    After her disappointing loss to Valentina Shevchenko when she attempted to claim the UFC women’s flyweight title, some questioned what would be next for Manon Fiorot. On Saturday night, she answered that question, and she did so in fairly dominant fashion, establishing herself as a legitimate title contender once again.

    Of course, there’s still a notable road back to the gold for her, but Fiorot seems as confident as she’s ever been – which is a great sign given the loss she suffered at the hands of one of the greatest female fighters of all time.

    After the win, Manon Fiorot made it known that she wants to get back in there as quickly as possible.

    Manon Fiorot’s post-UFC Vancouver plans

    “I made a lot of adjustments in my training camp, my training partners and my coach, but yeah, absolutely it was a perfect scenario for me,” Fiorot said speaking to reporters at the UFC Fight Night 262 post-fight press conference.

    “I’m very disappointed every time I lose, but I think I made a good change and a good adjustment in my life and training camp. Tonight is a result of a good change,” Fiorot said.

    “To be honest, I don’t care. I just want to fight as soon as possible,” Fiorort said when asked about any specific opponents. “Whoever the UFC chooses for me, I’ll take the fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Khamzat Chimaev Wants Alex Pereira for Two Division Gold

    Khamzat Chimaev Wants Alex Pereira for Two Division Gold

    UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has once again made it clear that he is interested in heading up to light heavyweight to battle Alex Pereira for a second world title.

    Following his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev has made it clear that he wants to stay fairly active. There are a handful of potential challengers for him in the middleweight division, but given what we all know about ‘Borz’, it certainly feels like his preference is to venture up to 205 pounds in order to try and win a second belt.

    While that may be an interesting idea, the current champ Alex Pereira doesn’t seem overly interested in this. Instead, he wants to battle it out with Jon Jones in the heavyweight division, and he wants to do it at next summer’s history UFC White House event.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Khamzat Chimaev had the following to say about a potential collision with Pereira.

    Khamzat Chimaev wants Alex Pereira fight

    “I would love to fight for the second belt,” Chimaev said on the Badaev Podcast. “It’s no secret, the guy who’s got the belt at 205 pounds [Pereira] now is a very good matchup for me.”

    “They say he has a lot of power, but I’ve never been edged out in that area. He used to fight at 185, too, and then moved up to 205. So I would like to fight at light heavyweight.”

    Quotes via GiveMeSport

    Could it happen? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Why Tom Aspinall’s Father Is Not Worried About Ciryl Gane: “He’s a good point fighter”

    Why Tom Aspinall’s Father Is Not Worried About Ciryl Gane: “He’s a good point fighter”

    Tom Aspinall‘s father and head coach Andy isn’t too concerned about Ciryl Gane heading into the UFC 321 main event this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of the evening over in Abu Dhabi. While many are expecting the Englishman to successfully retain his belt, there’s always a chance that Gane can provide some kind of upset. After all, he’s a dynamic striker, and he’s been in there against some of the best in the heavyweight division.

    Tom Aspinall is incredibly talented but as we know, he hasn’t gone beyond the first round a whole lot in his mixed martial arts career. If Gane can take him there on Saturday, who knows what could happen?

    Either way, Aspinall’s father doesn’t seem too worried about what Gane can offer as a challenger.

    Tom Aspinall’s father’s view on Ciryl Gane

    “Ciryl Gane, he’s a good point fighter for me. He’s a kickbox, flicker, and toucher. He finishes fights but he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom is a lot more clinical. I don’t think his skill set will cause him issues at all.”

    Aspinall has the ability to take people down, but Gane knows that’s also been a weak part of his game historically. Who knows, maybe instead of a striking affair, we wind up with some interesting grappling exchanges.

    Whatever happens, there will be plenty of eyes on this main event from around the division.

  • Islam Makhachev Is Seeking New Haters

    Islam Makhachev Is Seeking New Haters

    UFC star Islam Makhachev has joked about needing new haters in the wake of receiving praise from former opponent Dan Hooker.

    At UFC 322 next month, Islam Makhachev will move up to welterweight in order to challenge for his second UFC title. He will do so against Jack Della Maddalena, and while many believe that Islam has what it takes to get the job done, it’s also been noted that the size difference could prove to be a problem for him – especially after what JDM was able to do in his title fight with Belal Muhammad, who is also a wrestle-heavy kind of fighter.

    For Islam Makhachev, winning over critics hasn’t always been the easiest thing, but it’s also never really been his primary objective. He goes out there to put on a show, and now, he’s planning on making history by joining an exclusive group of fighters who have been able to win a UFC title in two different weight classes.

    After Dan Hooker recently praised Makhachev for his eagerness to step up to this kind of challenge, Islam couldn’t help but respond on social media.

    Islam Makhachev responds to Dan Hooker praising him

    “Need new haters, the old ones are starting to like me [sunglasses emoji]”.

    Makhachev knows that there’s a real risk associated with facing someone like JDM, but if he can win the fight and do so convincingly, it’ll be pretty hard to argue against him being the number one pound for pound fighter in the sport.

  • Mackenzie Dern Knows She Has an Advantage in Five-Round Matches: “It changes the game”

    Mackenzie Dern Knows She Has an Advantage in Five-Round Matches: “It changes the game”

    UFC star Mackenzie Dern believes her five round experience will help her significantly heading into her UFC 321 title fight.

    In the co-main event of UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern will battle Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight championship. This has been a long time coming for Dern and after fighting for years to try and get her way to a title shot, the opportunity has finally arrived – and she’s as prepared as one could ever hope to be.

    Mackenzie Dern is a great fighter but she’s certainly faced a few setbacks in her time. Alas, her experience has worked wonders for her career, and a lot of that has come in five round fights as a result of her headline slots on fight night cards.

    In a recent interview, Mackenzie Dern explained why that’s going to be really important for her heading into this bout.

    Mackenzie Dern recognizes her five-round experience

    “I’ve had about four or five five-round fights in the last five years. It changes the game a bit compared to three rounds—you have some rounds where you can feel out and see how your opponent is fighting, find your timing. Three rounds go by so fast; you don’t want to fall behind. But in five rounds, you have 25 minutes to really figure out your opponent and see.”​

    “We’ve been training hard to make sure we don’t run out of cardio, keep the pace the whole time, but also to have a champion mindset—be able to take time and play smart in the strawweight division.”​

  • Merab Dvalishvili to Best Alexander Volkanovski, According to Ilia Topuria

    Merab Dvalishvili to Best Alexander Volkanovski, According to Ilia Topuria

    Ilia Topuria has stated that he believes Merab Dvalishvili would be able to defeat Alexander Volkanovski if he challenged for the UFC featherweight championship.

    Right now, Merab Dvalishvili is on top of the world. He has already achieved some incredible things in the sport of mixed martial arts and this year alone, he has successfully defended the UFC bantamweight championship three times. Later this year, he will attempt to make it four when he goes head to head with Petr Yan for the second time.

    Merab Dvalishvili is known as ‘The Machine’, and for good reason. He is well on his way to being viewed as the consensus greatest bantamweight of all time, and it’s hard to see how many would be able to argue against that if he’s able to get the win over Yan in December.

    In a recent appearance, Ilia Topuria gave his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili’s chances if he opted to make the shift up to 145 pounds to face Alexander Volkanovski.

    Ilia Topuria praises Merab Dvalishvili 

    “On that note, I’d like to wish good luck to Merab, as he just had yet another fight scheduled. That man is not normal. He’s an awesome guy, salt of the earth. I haven’t met many good people like him.

    “I’ve already told Merab once that he needs to change weight class because he has a 100% chance of winning a second belt. As for Merab’s potential fight with Volkanovski, I have no doubt that Merab will end up winning.”

  • Kamaru Usman Wants the Welterweight and Middleweight Titles Before He Retires

    Kamaru Usman Wants the Welterweight and Middleweight Titles Before He Retires

    Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman has some pretty big goals for his last two fights in mixed martial arts.

    As we know, Kamaru Usman is a true legend of the sport. He has achieved some wonderful things throughout the course of his tenure as a fighter, and he is often considered to be one of the greatest welterweights of all time. Now, though, many believe that he is in the final farewell portion of his run.

    While he did beat Joaquin Buckley in his last outing, Kamaru Usman is still not considered to be a frontrunner in the chase for the world title. With that being said, it would make sense if the promotion wanted to vault him into a championship opportunity off the back of what he’s already done in MMA.

    In a recent interview, Kamaru Usman made it clear that he wants to win two world titles before retiring.

    Kamaru Usman’s final run mapped out

    “In this part of my career, the dream scenario is next fight, win the welterweight title. Vacate. Win the middleweight title, retire. Yeah. Just boom boom, one two, and then we’re done. You can’t top that. It’s like, what else do I wanna do?”

    Many will say that this is unrealistic but at the very least, it’s not impossible for Usman to get back to a title shot, even if he has to beat one more contender in order to do it. Regardless of what you think of him, this is the kind of thought pattern that makes you great.

  • Alex Pereira Laughs Off Magomed Ankalaev Injury Story

    Alex Pereira Laughs Off Magomed Ankalaev Injury Story

    Alex Pereira isn’t interested in hearing about any Magomed Ankalaev injuries following their battle at UFC 320.

    As we know, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 320 to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion. He did so in pretty impressive fashion, finishing him via TKO within 80 seconds of the fight getting underway.

    It’s safe to assume that we won’t be seeing a trilogy fight anytime soon as a result of how dominant the rematch was. Still, Alex Pereira did lose their first meeting, and after noting that he was dealing with some injuries, Ankalaev did the same thing following the rematch, raising a few eyebrows about just how compromised he may have been.

    In a recent interview, Alex Pereira had the following to say about any injury worries that Ankalaev was having.

    Alex Pereira laughs off Magomed Ankalaev’s injury

    “I’ve always been injured and injuries man, it’s all the same. Now, Ankalaev is talking about a broken rib or whatever he had. Bro, if you saw my injuries right now, me, fighting him today, he’d feel like s***. He wouldn’t even come back to fight again.

    “He’d be like ‘damn, what am I even doing in this organization?’. He’d quit, man. I’m not even gonna say anything. I’ll bet him though, I’ll show you my medical results. What I’ve got versus what you’ve got. I doubt this guy has dealt with the things I’ve dealt with, man.”

    Don’t mess with Poatan, folks.

  • Islam Makhachev is Just One Loss Away from “Herding his sheep,” According to Ilia Topuria

    Islam Makhachev is Just One Loss Away from “Herding his sheep,” According to Ilia Topuria

    Ilia Topuria has teased Islam Makhachev ahead of his upcoming title fight against Jack Della Maddalena.

    As we know, Islam Makhachev is one of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He has proven himself time and time again, and as we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like he has a lot of gas left in the tank. In his next outing at UFC 322, he will attempt to become a two-weight world champion when he locks horns with Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight championship.

    There’s no denying that this is one of the toughest tests of Islam Makhachev’s career. In equal measure, his sheer dominance at 155 pounds means that many people are feeling pretty confident about his chances of dethroning JDM – rightly or wrongly.

    In a recent interview, Ilia Topuria spoke about the possibility of him locking horns with Islam Makhachev one day.

    Ilia Topuria goes after Islam Makhachev

    “Sorry, I couldn’t remember the word. If Islam loses, he can go back to Dagestan to his farm and continue shepherding his sheep. That’s the word, right? But if he wins, I’ll definitely move up. Definitely. 100%.”

    There is obviously a lot of intrigue behind this fight and what exactly it would look like. Regardless of who you would favor, though, nobody can look past the fact that it would be one of the biggest fights in the recent history of the sport, and that it has the potential to be fight of the year.

  • Merab Dvalishvili’s future: UFC boss Dana White has “warmed” to bantamweight king

    Merab Dvalishvili’s future: UFC boss Dana White has “warmed” to bantamweight king

    UFC boss Dana White has admitted that it took him a while to warm to Merab Dvalishvili as the UFC bantamweight champion prepares to try and defend his world title for a fourth time this year.

    At UFC 323, Merab Dvalishvili will make a quick turnaround as he defends his UFC bantamweight title against Petr Yan, who he defeated a few years back. If Merab is able to pick up the win, many believe that it would cement him as the greatest to ever do it at 135 pounds. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that, though, there’s no denying that his level of activity is absolutely out of this world.

    There are very few UFC champions, if any, who have maintained a similar schedule to Merab Dvalishvili with the belt around their waist. He’s known as ‘The Machine’ for a reason, and if he keeps going at this pace, we may need to start talking about where he ranks in the ‘greatest of all time’ conversation. Yes, we’re serious.

    In a recent media scrum, Dana White had the following to say about Merab Dvalishvili’s insane run.

    Dana White’s view on Merab Dvalishvili

    “I love it,” White told reporters at the most recent Contender Series scrum, when asked about Dvalishvili’s quick turnaround. “Listen, it took me a minute to warm up to Merab. I’m very warm now. I love that mentality. 

    “He wants to be the first guy to defend his title that many times in a year. If you look at what he’s gone out there and done, and how he’s proven himself as a fighter, and as a world champion, it’s impressive.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Gable Steveson would love to make UFC debut at White House next summer

    Gable Steveson would love to make UFC debut at White House next summer

    MMA newcomer and amateur wrestling legend Gable Steveson has admitted that he’d be very keen to make his UFC debut on next summer’s White House card, perhaps alongside training partner Jon Jones.

    While his stint in WWE didn’t work out as planned, Gable Steveson still has a whole lot of potential when it comes to his future in combat sports. His amateur wrestling background is there for all to see and now, he’s entered the world of mixed martial arts, with the likes of Jon Jones helping to train him.

    Many believe Gable Steveson will eventually end up in the UFC. When the man himself was asked about possibly entering the promotion at the White House next summer, he had the following to say.

    Gable Steveson is open to UFC debut at White House

    “Man, that’d be incredible,’ Steveson told MMA Fighting. “I try not to think too big, but sometimes it’s just big moments come and you can’t deny them, and I think having an Olympic champion, an American person, a guy that’s going to go out there and represent the White House on the biggest stage possible, it’s me. And I think it could be really nice.

    “The fact that you even asked me, it is cool. It sent a chill on me.”

    “I think having a Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira live-in-the-flesh main event, Jon will be ready because I know he will, and he’ll be with me,” Steveson said. “So we’ll make sure resting is good, we’ll make sure everything else is good, and he’ll take care of the rest.”

    “But I think in my terms, man, fantastic opportunity. To have me, being younger, saying that you can be on the same card — and not just any card, a White House card, that is a once in a lifetime [event] — with Jon Jones being the main event against Alex Pereira. I couldn’t even fathom. … It’s insane.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • “Khalil Rountree Jr is such a warrior”: Jiri Prochazka Shows Utmost Respect for Former Opponent

    “Khalil Rountree Jr is such a warrior”: Jiri Prochazka Shows Utmost Respect for Former Opponent

    UFC star Jiri Prochazka has praised Khalil Rountree Jr in the wake of their absolute war at UFC 320.

    Earlier this month, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr put on an absolute masterclass at UFC 320. In the first two rounds of the contest, it certainly seemed as if Rountree Jr was getting the better of the exchanges in a really solid, technical performance. Alas, in the third and final round, the samuari spirit of Prochazka came through in a manner that very few could’ve imagined, and he was eventually able to knock Khalil out cold in an absolutely crazy moment.

    Both of these men put it all on the line, knowing that the winner would likely be next in line for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight championship. Khalil Rountree Jr, as he did against Alex Pereira in their epic title fight, went out on his shield. In the world of mixed martial arts, that’s the kind of thing that can earn you a great deal of respect.

    Unsurprisingly, Jiri Prochazka was one of the first people to praise Khalil Rountree Jr for what he brought to the table in this fight.

    Jiri Prochazka praises Khalil Rountree Jr

    “Khalil is such a warrior. Unlike some opponents, our relationship was easy. There was no hate, just respect. It was refreshing to meet an opponent like that with respect between us. But I felt I needed some more aggression, a little chip on the shoulder to fuel me.”

    Two absolute studs.

  • Reinier de Ridder Warns Paulo Costa: “Don’t be an idiot” Over Middleweight Fight Offers

    Reinier de Ridder Warns Paulo Costa: “Don’t be an idiot” Over Middleweight Fight Offers

    UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has given his thoughts on Paulo Costa after claiming that talks of a fight between them fell through.

    This Saturday night, Reinier de Ridder will attempt to lock up a UFC middleweight championship shot when he goes head to head with Brendan Allen. The two will battle it out in the main event of UFC Vancouver, with Allen serving as a late notice replacement for Anthony Hernandez who pulled out due to injury.

    For Reinier de Ridder, the path to a world title opportunity is clear – and if he can beat Allen convincingly, he’ll surely be next in line for a showdown with Chimaev. Of course, there are some other names floating around the 185-pound division, including Paulo Costa.

    In a recent interview, RDR had the following to say about the Brazilian.

    Reinier de Ridder offers Paulo Costa some advice

    “Costa was up first. We were in conversation with him first, but he put up too many stipulations. He wanted a catchweight, wanted three rounds instead of five. So we said, if you don’t want it, then you don’t get it. And then we moved on to Brendan, which I’m very happy with as well.”

    “If you get an opportunity like that, don’t be an idiot. Just say yes and don’t put any stipulations there. He would’ve had a great chance to be back into title conversation, but he put all the stipulations there and we said we’ll move on and see if there’s somebody else who just wants to take the fight.”

  • Mackenzie Dern Proudly Carrying The Legacy of Royce Gracie Into Her UFC Title Match

    Mackenzie Dern Proudly Carrying The Legacy of Royce Gracie Into Her UFC Title Match

    UFC star Mackenzie Dern has explained wanting to give back to jiu-jitsu as she prepares to battle for the vacant UFC strawweight championship.

    At UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern will finally get a shot at UFC gold when she battles Virna Jandiroba in the co-main event of the evening. It’s been a long journey to get to this point for Dern, but given how much she’s gone through both in and outside of the cage, it’s hard not to be happy for her.

    Of course, it’s not going to be a walk in the park. Mackenzie Dern knows better than most how tough Jandiroba is, and while she did manage to defeat her back in their first meeting five years ago, both women have changed a great deal in that time.

    Ahead of fight night, Mackenzie Dern spoke openly about wanting to give back to the world of jiu-jitsu in a recent interview.

    Mackenzie Dern wants to give back to jiu-jitsu

    “When I made the transition to MMA 10 years ago, I was doing it just to see if I would like it. I really wanted to represent jiu-jitsu on a bigger platform than just our jiu-jitsu community. The best way to give back to jiu-jitsu was to be able to represent it in MMA, where the Roy Gracie won the very first UFC.”​

    Get ready, folks, because Dern is coming into this one as motivated as she’s ever been – and that should make for a pretty fun title fight.

  • Tom Aspinall gets honest about hypothetical showdown with UFC legend

    Tom Aspinall gets honest about hypothetical showdown with UFC legend

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall admitted that a hypothetical fight with Daniel Cormier during his prime may not have gone too well for him.

    As we know, Tom Aspinall is the current king of the UFC’s heavyweight division. Next weekend, that’ll really be put to the test when he defends his belt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. If he wins, it could open up some interesting possibilities for him, with Jon Jones and Alex Pereira both still being touted as possible opponents for the champ.

    While he’s focusing on the task at hand, Tom Aspinall often gets asked questions about the state of the division as a whole – both past and present. In a recent interview, the Englishman revealed that Daniel Cormier would’ve been a particularly bad match-up for him if he was still active.

    Tom Aspinall discusses hypothetical Daniel Cormier fight

    “Peak ‘DC’ has the worst style for me ever,” Aspinall said of Daniel Cormier on the “ShxtsnGigs Podcast.” “He’s short. I’ve said this to his face as well: short guy who just keeps walking forward, changing levels in between like grappling punches. He can knock you out. He can take you down. He’s got cardio for days. For my style, he’s a nightmare.”

    “I thought about it,” Aspinall said. “He was a beast. Peak ‘DC’ was unreal.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    While Aspinall has often been dubbed the perfect example of the ‘next generation’ of heavyweight, even he can acknowledge the greatness of the one and only Daniel Cormier.

  • Gable Steveson on the Key of Training with Jon Jones: No Ego

    Gable Steveson on the Key of Training with Jon Jones: No Ego

    MMA newcomer Gable Steveson has spoken about the feeling of training with mixed martial arts and UFC legend Jon Jones.

    As we know, Gable Steveson is best known for his incredible success in the world of amateur wrestling. Now, however, following a failed stint in the world of professional wrestling, he’s decided to make his way over to MMA and carve out a brand new legacy for himself.

    Part of his training process has involved working with Jon Jones. Jon’s reputation speaks for itself, and Gable Steveson can certainly learn a lot from a guy like that when it comes to how to improve in the sport.

    In a recent interview, Steveson went into more detail about his plans moving forward – as well as what the vibe has been like with Jones.

    Gable Steveson discusses his MMA development

    “I would love to become a champion, and I know I have what it takes. Right now, do I have what it takes? Most definitely not. But I’m humble enough to say that. There’s no ego on my head that would put me in steps I’m not ready for.”

    “This is just step one of getting ready for something that’s going to be a lot greater than this. And I know that time will come very fast.”

    “It does wonders to my development, you know, but a lot of it is being all ears. You got to be all ears and have the head to be ready to learn and be able to go out there and be with guys like Jon Jones and Greg Jackson and Brandon Gibson.”

    “It’s no egos, it’s no balloon heads, it’s everybody on the same page when it’s time to show up, man. We’re all ready to go and we’re humble enough to be around greatness.”

    “Anytime I get to be with Jon Jones or get to train with him, I’m just honored. If he can step in that corner, we’ll make it as big as possible.”

  • Why Merab Dvalishvili Was Happy To Go To a Decision: He Earned Something More Valuable Than a Finish

    Why Merab Dvalishvili Was Happy To Go To a Decision: He Earned Something More Valuable Than a Finish

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has explained why he didn’t mind too much that he wasn’t able to get the finish over Cory Sandhagen.

    At UFC 320, Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his UFC bantamweight championship for the third time. He did so against Cory Sandhagen and while elements of the fight were competitive, Merab used both his striking and his superior wrestling to get the better of Sandhagen in Las Vegas.

    Now, as we look ahead to the future, Merab Dvalishvili is ready to get straight back to work when he meets Petr Yan at UFC 323 in a blockbuster rematch. If he wins that, discussions will intensify even further regarding his status as the potential bantamweight GOAT.

    In a recent interview, ‘The Machine’ admitted that he was okay with not finishing Sandhagen, despite that being his intention.

    Merab Dvalishvili discusses not finishing Cory Sandhagen

    “No, actually, it doesn’t bother me that I didn’t finish him, and let me tell you why. After the fight, Cory came up—he was such a cool and respectful guy. During the camp, he was saying some things, joking, and I thought maybe he’s not a nice guy, but after the fight, he was cool, respectful, and I’m glad we went five rounds and no finish, because that would be a bad look for him. 

    “And the second reason—after I heard I broke another record with 20 takedowns, I said, ‘Yeah, take that.’ You know, the finish is good, but now I have highlights—how many takedowns, how many records.”​

  • Jiri Prochazka Reflects on the War with Khalil Rountree: “Each round told a different story”

    Jiri Prochazka Reflects on the War with Khalil Rountree: “Each round told a different story”

    UFC star Jiri Prochazka has taken the time to reflect on his absolute war with Khalil Rountree Jr from UFC 320.

    As we know, Jiri Prochazka is one of the biggest fan favorites in all of mixed martial arts right now. He’s also one of the top contenders in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, and some believe he has earned the right to get in there and compete against champion Alex Pereira for a third time.

    The way he was able to convince the masses of that was by knocking Khalil Rountree Jr out cold in the third round of their epic UFC 320 fight. Jiri Prochazka has a never say die attitude and on that night, it was on full display.

    In a recent interview, Prochazka spoke candidly about how he felt the fight went.

    Jiri Prochazka looks back at Khalil Rountree Jr war

    “I was really happy and grateful for all the good things. It was such a wild fight—I’ve watched it probably a dozen times. Each round told a different story. After the time off and going back to school to sharpen my mind, to come back and get a win like that meant a lot to me. 

    “But I thought I didn’t show what I really worked on. I was better. I was much better. I really worked to show my improvement, how to show something I worked on, like counter timing, working the space between us, and movement. In the end, I had to fall back to the basic hard work and just hunt him down.”

    “I’ve watched the fight about 10 times in a row to keep me awake and do my job. The first round many thought maybe I injured my knee, there was a lot of slipping and sliding. The mat was dry and so soft, kind of jumpy. I hate fighting on that kind of platform. I adjusted by working on my legs and stance to find more stability, and the key was to attack with the jab.”