MMA News

Author: Harry Kettle

  • Islam Makhachev Does Not Have What It Takes to Be a Welterweight Champ Due to One Simple Reason, According to Beneil Dariush

    Islam Makhachev Does Not Have What It Takes to Be a Welterweight Champ Due to One Simple Reason, According to Beneil Dariush

    UFC star Islam Makhachev may lose to Jack Della Maddalena due to the size difference, says UFC lightweight contender Beneil Dariush.

    Next month at Madison Square Garden, Islam Makhachev will attempt to become a two-weight world champion. He will do so by going head to head with current champion Jack Della Maddalena, who took the belt off Belal Muhammad. While it was a competitive fight, JDM did an incredible job of overcoming Belal’s wrestling, and the Australian sensation was able to implement his own game plan en route to victory.

    Islam Makhachev, of course, is daring to be great, and he isn’t too concerned about the size difference between him and the man who will be standing across the cage from him. While it’s a big factor in how the fight will go, Islam knows just how dominant he can be both on the feet and on the ground.

    In a recent interview, Beneil Dariush gave his thoughts on how Islam Makhachev will perform at UFC 322 and whether or not he can claim the belt.

    Beneil Dariush questions Islam Makhachev at welterweight

    “I’m going to lean now towards JDM. I just feel like the size will make a difference cardio-wise. JDM has great cardio. Maybe I’m wrong, but now, this is all feel. This is one of those fights where I can’t really give you a clear answer. So I just feel like JDM.”

    Regardless of what happens, you can expect this one to be action-packed and full of drama.

  • “I believed”: Jiri Prochazka on His Comeback Knockout: “I will find a way every time”

    “I believed”: Jiri Prochazka on His Comeback Knockout: “I will find a way every time”

    UFC light heavyweight star Jiri Prochazka has spoken about his incredible comeback win over Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 320.

    Last weekend, Jiri Prochazka knocked out Khalil Rountree Jr in the third round of their epic battle at UFC 320. It was clear for many to see that Rountree Jr was winning the fight but against the odds, Jiri rallied in the final round and managed to get Khalil out of there with a nasty knockout win.

    It was the kind of victory that has come to define the career of Jiri Prochazka, and it’s one of the many reasons why he’s such a fan favorite. Now, he’s once again in a position where it’s realistic to consider the possibility of him competing for the UFC light heavyweight championship again.

    In a recent interview, the Czech sensation spoke candidly about what he was thinking heading into the final round.

    Jiri Prochazka on his iconic UFC 320 comeback win

    “I believed. I believed. I really believed and before the third round, my coaches told me, ‘You have to knock him out. You have to knock him out. You have to find a way.’ And that was what I did. So, and I’m really happy that I found, I found a way. And sometimes it gives me time to realize what’s the best tactic for the opponent. But I will find a way every time.”

    Regardless of what’s next for Jiri, there’s no doubt that he’ll go down in history as an absolute legend in mixed martial arts.

  • Deiveson Figueiredo Can’t Lose Under “The Brazilian Sun” in Rio

    Deiveson Figueiredo Can’t Lose Under “The Brazilian Sun” in Rio

    UFC veteran Deiveson Figueiredo has made it crystal clear that he does not plan on losing in front of the Brazilian people tonight.

    Later this evening, Deiveson Figueiredo will go head to head with Montel Jackson as he attempts to get himself back into the mix as a contender in the bantamweight division. While he’s a former UFC flyweight champion, he’s had his fair share of setbacks and injuries in the last few years.

    Now, though, he’s ready to try and get back to the dominant and vicious Deiveson Figueiredo that many of us remember. It certainly isn’t going to be easy, but he’s certainly motivated to go in there and make a statement.

    In a recent interview, Figueiredo had the following to say about competing in his home country at UFC Rio.

    Deiveson Figueiredo refuses to lose in Rio

    “To fight in Rio de Janeiro, there’s no question, it’s an honor. Fighting under the Brazilian sun, with the crowd cheering and shouting our name, you can be sure that’s going to motivate me even more to go in there, put on a show, and come out with the win in the name of Jesus, to bring happiness to all us Brazilians.”

    Deiveson is the kind of fighter who is always willing to put it on the line in the name of victory, and in the name of entertaining the fans – and you can bet that’s exactly what he’s going to do against Montel Jackson who, in his own right, wants this to be the biggest night of his life.

  • Why Does Alex Pereira Want to Fight Jon Jones? It’s More Than Just Money, Says UFC Insider

    Why Does Alex Pereira Want to Fight Jon Jones? It’s More Than Just Money, Says UFC Insider

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on why he firmly believes Alex Pereira actually wants to fight Jon Jones.

    Alex Pereira is once again the UFC light heavyweight champion after he knocked out Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 320. In the aftermath of the event, he let the masses know that he’s very interested in the idea of battling Jon Jones at some point in the future.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen highlighted why he believes Pereira genuinely wants to fight Jones, as opposed to those who have called him out even if they don’t actually want to fight him.

    Chael Sonnen on Alex Pereira wanting to fight Jon Jones

    “I don’t believe anybody’s ever wanted to fight Jon Jones. You’ll find a couple of people that said it. I don’t believe them. I think Alex Pereira might be the first person to ever call out Jon Jones where I actually think they want to fight Jon. This isn’t about a main event. This isn’t about Madison Square Garden. This isn’t about pay-per-view points and legacy. They actually want to fight Jon Jones. X’s and O’s, my skills versus your skills—just so we know, just so we can go on through this journey known as life and have the answer to this question: Can I beat you or can you beat me? I mean, it is extremely honorable.”

    “Don’t tell me money. Pereira’s rich. Pereira has the number one contract in the UFC. I don’t count Conor because Conor is not currently licensed. Just so you know, Pereira has the number one contract. Before Pereira had that, the highest paid fighter was Israel Adesanya. And within that mix is Khabib. The most beautiful contract was, aside from McGregor, then came Khabib, and then Pereira got in the mix and here we are. 

    “So, we move money out. Everybody wants money and you want more money. I get it. But let’s just move money out. Whatever Pereira does next—and by the way, fighting Jon Jones collectively compared to whatever else Pereira can do, it’s not as substantial as one might think. So, let’s move money out. He’s going to get money either way.”

    “A legit, true competitor who legitimately, behind the fame and the money and the cameras, wants to know: Am I better than you or are you better than me? I can live with the outcome. I don’t want to have to live with the wonder; was it you or was it me? Life moves on either way. But I don’t want to be under contract with you at the same time in this era with an ability to get to the ring—whatever that ability is. 

    “If it means I’ve got to come to your weight class, if it means you’re coming to mine, if it means there’s no belt or I’ve got to put up my belt, whatever the stakes, let’s get this to the ring. And it is such an honorable thing. It is where this sport started.”

  • Carlos Ulberg Explains The Reason Why Alex Pereira Won’t Fight Him

    Carlos Ulberg Explains The Reason Why Alex Pereira Won’t Fight Him

    UFC star Carlos Ulberg has explained why he seemingly doesn’t believe he’ll end up fight Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight championship.

    As we know, Carlos Ulberg has been on the rise for quite some time now in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. He has been on a great win streak and in his last outing, he knocked Dominick Reyes out cold to make a real statement about what the future holds for him at 205 pounds. Then, at UFC 320, he was cageside to watch Alex Pereira recapture the UFC light heavyweight crown.

    Carlos Ulberg, understandably, is considered to be one of the frontrunners in the ‘who gets to fight Pereira’ stakes. It would make a lot of sense given his win streak, but ‘Poatan’ may well have other plans, including a possible heavyweight move or even a third showdown with Jiri Prochazka.

    In a recent interview, Carlos Ulberg gave his thoughts on what Pereira is likely to do next in his career.

    Carlos Ulberg discusses Alex Pereira’s future

    “If Pereira gets that win, I believe he wants to move up to heavyweight and go for three belts in different divisions. That would be huge, especially as he’s getting older and likely planning to move on from fighting eventually— but wanting to grab that heavyweight title first.”

    Ulberg is a realistic guy and he knows that there are a lot of different directions this could go in. Either way, though, it’d be surprising if he isn’t fighting for the belt next.

  • New Opponent, But Charles Oliveira Doesn’t Care: “It Doesn’t Matter Who It Is”

    New Opponent, But Charles Oliveira Doesn’t Care: “It Doesn’t Matter Who It Is”

    UFC legend Charles Oliveira doesn’t care about his change in opponent as he prepares to battle Mateusz Gamrot tonight.

    In the main event of UFC Rio, Charles Oliveira returns home to Brazil. He will go head to head with Mateusz Gamrot as he attempts to get back in the win column following his devastating knockout loss at the hands of Ilia Topuria. Originally, though, the plan was for him to face off against Rafael Fiziev, only for him to pull out of the bout.

    Now, Gamrot is stepping up to the plate in an attempt to secure the biggest win of his career thus far. For Charles Oliveira, this is all about proving that he still has what it takes to mix it up with the very best at 155 pounds. If he loses again, and decisively, questions will start to be asked about his long-term future in mixed martial arts.

    Ahead of the fight later tonight, Charles Oliveira made it known that the change in opponent isn’t going to impact him or his preparation.

    The opponent doesn’t matter for Charles Oliveira

    “It’s a completely different fight, but it doesn’t matter who it is. What matters is how happy I am, how ready I am, and how motivated I am for this fight.”

    ‘Do Bronx’ is the definition of a fan favorite and over the years, he’s done some incredible things in the sport – which includes being a former UFC lightweight champion. Who knows, maybe he’s got one more run in him.

  • Sean Strickland: Khamzat Chimaev is a “little f***ing p*ssy”

    UFC star Sean Strickland has gone after UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev in his most recent rant.

    We all know that Sean Strickland is a pretty controversial character. He says and does things that rub people the wrong way more often than not, but given that he’s a former world champion himself, it’s hard to discredit him too much. Right now, it’s Khamzat Chimaev that’s at the top of the middleweight division, and it certainly seems as if that bothers Sean just a little bit.

    A fight between these two would be interesting, and that goes without saying. Sean Strickland has trained with Khamzat in the past, and given where they’re both at in their respective careers, it’s not that hard to imagine it happening at some point in the future.

    If it does, we imagine Sean Strickland will have more than a few things to say, especially given the contents of this interview.

    Sean Strickland goes after Khamzat Chimaev

    “Yeah, dude. F*** Chimaev, dude. Made me realize I should wrestle, dude. You know, dude, that little f***ing pussy, dude. I can’t stand f***ing Chimaev. You son of a bitch. You know, I think what annoys me about Chimaev, there’s nobody that could beat him. 

    “You know, like I’ve trained with all the guys he’s going to fight, like I’ve trained with Chimaev, dude, for one round, the guy could grapple for one round, dude. Once you—once you get over that one round of scramble, he just quits. It just turns into a kickboxing match like what he did with the 155er or the 170er or what’s his name? Gilbert.”

  • Did Conor McGregor Knowingly Avoid Testing to Get Out of Fighting? Evidence and Speculation Mounts

    Did Conor McGregor Knowingly Avoid Testing to Get Out of Fighting? Evidence and Speculation Mounts

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has speculated that Conor McGregor may have intentionally avoided his planned drug tests.

    As we know, Conor McGregor has accepted a backdated 18-month suspension for violating the UFC anti-doping policy. While this does mean that he’ll be eligible to return in time for the UFC White House card, which has been his plan for a while now, it certainly raised a few eyebrows.

    Conor McGregor knows how to keep the mixed martial arts world on their toes, and that much is an understatement. Nobody really knows what his next move is going to be and because of that, there’s often a lot of speculation when he does do something.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen had the following to say about McGregor’s most recent controversy.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Conor McGregor’s ban

    “Once he gets three, the way that’s going to be handled is before that is made public to any of you, they are going to reach resolution. And this is the part where I must tell you I am stuck: the conversation of Conor being booked for next year’s White House event would not have been a conversation if this information was known.”

    “I believe he was likely where they went. I believe he was on the other side of the door. I believe he willfully didn’t answer that door. I don’t have evidence of any of that, but if somebody’s asking me the question— is this an elaborate way to avoid a fight?—while I lean towards no, there are only a few possibilities.”

    “Who knew that Conor had this coming? Once there’s three hits, there isn’t a defense to that. You will have a hearing and you could raise your excuse, your reason, but in the history of drug testing, there’s never been somebody that’s attempted to defend that, that’s attempted to come in and say, ‘I was there. They didn’t knock loud enough.’”

  • Joe Pyfer Calls Out Paulo Costa For Next Bout: “A dream fight”

    Joe Pyfer Calls Out Paulo Costa For Next Bout: “A dream fight”

    UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer has made it known that he’d be interested in a dream fight against Paulo Costa for his next outing.

    In recent years, Joe Pyfer has been seen as a real prospect in the UFC’s middleweight division. While there have been a few hiccups along the way, he’s still one of the biggest power punchers at 185 pounds – and on Saturday night, he even proved his grappling prowess when he was able to submit Abus Magomedov at UFC 320.

    While he didn’t have a great first round, it doesn’t matter. Joe Pyfer picked up the victory and now, he’s setting his sights on even greater things. Of course, at middleweight, things are a bit up in the air right now in the wake of Khamzat Chimaev winning the belt from Dricus du Plessis.

    In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Joe Pyfer had the following to say about his immediate future and what he wants next.

    Joe Pyfer calls for Paulo Costa showdown

    “Paulo Costa would be a dream fight, but he’s so inactive—he’s fought once or twice in two years. I’d rather face hungry, active guys like Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier, or Roman Dolidze. One more finish in the top 15, and I can fight anyone in the top 10.”

    Pyfer still has a long way to go before he’s viewed as a legitimate title threat, but at this moment in time, there aren’t too many better middleweight prospects out there – and that should be reassuring for him.

  • Justin Gaethje Refused Offer to Face Top-Ranked Arman Tsarukyan: “He knows he could lose to me”

    Justin Gaethje Refused Offer to Face Top-Ranked Arman Tsarukyan: “He knows he could lose to me”

    Arman Tsarukyan believes that Justin Gaethje turned down the opportunity to battle him in a number one contender fight.

    Right now, Justin Gaethje is at a crossroads in his mixed martial arts career. It’s been well documented that he believes he deserves a shot at Ilia Topuria and the UFC lightweight championship, but as of this writing, nothing has been set in stone. Of course, Arman Tsarukyan also felt as if he should’ve gotten the call for a title shot, but instead, he’ll be facing Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar.

    Justin Gaethje vs Arman Tsarukyan would be a whole lot of fun and that much goes without saying. In equal measure, ‘The Highlight’ is one of the most devastating strikers in the lightweight division, and he poses a different kind of threat to Ilia Topuria if the two do wind up squaring off at some point in the future.

    In a recent interview, Tsarukyan had the following to say about Justin Gaethje – and Dan Hooker.

    Arman Tsarukyan believes Justin Gaethje avoided him

    “I heard Gaethje said no and Hooker said yes… Gaethje would be better but for me doesn’t matter. Both of them are easy money for me.

    “[Gaethje] knows he could lose to me.”

    Tsarukyan and Gaethje have different styles, but either way, Ilia Topuria is the one to beat right now. Hopefully, we get some kind of answer soon, because ‘El Matador’ is on an absolute tear right now – and this may be Gaethje’s last chance at undisputed gold.

  • Ilia Topuria Can’t Avoid Me Any Longer – Arman Tsarukyan on Dan Hooker Match

    Ilia Topuria Can’t Avoid Me Any Longer – Arman Tsarukyan on Dan Hooker Match

    Arman Tsarukyan has said that he knows he can defeat UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria as he prepares to collide with Dan Hooker.

    As we know, Ilia Topuria is the current king of the lightweight division. He earned that title by knocking out Charles Oliveira, which came on the heels of him doing the same thing to Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. In short, ‘El Matador’ is putting together the kind of run that could one day lead to him being viewed as one of the greatest of all time.

    Of course, there are always going to be contenders who are ready to step up – and this time, it’s Arman Tsarukyan. Well, he’d like it to be him, but before he can try and dethrone Ilia Topuria, he first needs to try and get through Dan Hooker. While this may seem like a one-sided fight to some, Hooker has been on a real roll lately and seems to have one last title push left in him.

    In a recent interview, Tsarukyan had the following to say about a possible collision with Ilia Topuria.

    Arman Tsarukyan goes after Ilia Topuria

    “Only I can beat Ilia Topuria in our division. Everybody knows that—that’s why the UFC tries to keep us apart. But if I perform and finish Hooker, they can’t avoid me anymore.”

    Tsarukyan is certainly confident in his abilities and that much is clear for everyone to see. In equal measure, Topuria has looked like an absolute machine since entering the UFC.

    What’s going to give? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Why Did Jiri Prochazka Get Teary-Eyed Seeing “Poatan” Win By First-Round Knockout? BJP Explains

    Why Did Jiri Prochazka Get Teary-Eyed Seeing “Poatan” Win By First-Round Knockout? BJP Explains

    UFC star Jiri Prochazka has gone into more detail on his emotional reaction to Alex Pereira’s win over Magomed Ankalaev.

    As we know, Jiri Prochazka is the definition of a true martial artist. He goes out there and puts it all on the line, and he lives the life of a true warrior. In his recent outing at UFC 320, he was able to knock out Khalil Rountree Jr to vault himself right back into title contention. Then, later in the night, he sat cageside to watch his old rival Alex Pereira defeat Magomed Ankalaev to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight championship – to which he had a visibly emotional reaction.

    As we look ahead to the immediate future, it certainly seems like Jiri Prochazka is lining up for another crack at the belt. While Jiri has already somewhat explained his emotions in the immediate aftermath of the UFC 320 main event, he recently went into more detail during a chat with Ariel Helwani.

    Jiri Prochazka explains emotional reaction at UFC 320

    “There was no bad wish or whatever,” Procházka told Uncrowned. “I just, like every time, want to see the best fight. Let the better [man] win. But inside myself, maybe I wished more [that] Alex [would win] because all this bulls*** with what Ankalaev said.”

    “It’s not that I was so happy Alex won or Ankalaev lost,” Procházka said. “I was so emotional because, in that moment, I really realized that Pereira won and there is a potential fight between me and him. That means there is a third fight. Third chance for me to be successful. I deeply realized, ‘Man, this is something you have to win, or nothing.’ That will be the biggest challenge of my life.

    “F***, man, I really want to win. I know I’m taking a lot of risks in my fights, but I know I will find a way.”

    Quotes via Yahoo Sports

  • Sean O’Malley Confident He Is “The only one” In the UFC Who Can Beat Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley Confident He Is “The only one” In the UFC Who Can Beat Merab Dvalishvili

    UFC star Sean O’Malley still firmly believes that he is more than good enough to compete with, and defeat, Merab Dvalishvili.

    In his two fights against Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley has come up short – once via decision, and once via submission. As such, the idea that he could beat him in a trilogy bout may seem ridiculous to a lot of people, and even ‘Suga’ acknowledges that some will roll their eyes at such a suggestion.

    Dvalishvili is coming off the back of another impressive victory, this time against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. For Sean O’Malley, of course, if he wants to even come close to a shot at ‘The Machine’, he’ll need to go out there and pick up some wins – which is exactly what he plans on doing.

    Sean O’Malley still believes he can beat Merab Dvalishvili

    “He’s very, very confident in his striking right now,” O’Malley said of Dvalishvili on his YouTube channel.

    “He can be [confident] because either his opponent’s gonna back up, and like, nothing really happens, or they’re gonna stand and try to trade. He’s gonna crack them, fall into a single leg, fall into a double leg, or they’re gonna get cracked with the right hand.

    “To beat Merab, you just have to land that shot,” O’Malley explained.

    “You have to be able to f—— snipe him.

    “And he was getting a little bit more reckless. The more confident he gets into striking, the more gaps it leaves open to be caught. That’s just the only [way]. I don’t see really anyone being [able to beat him].

    “I do think I’m the only one… I hate to say it. I hate to f—— say it. I’m the only one that could beat him. Give me a shot at the White House,” O’Malley said.

    “I gotta go out there and get some wins. I gotta get some wins. But, I don’t see anyone really beating Merab anytime soon.

    “He needs to be clipped, needs to be knocked out and put to sleep to beat him. I just don’t really see anyone other than myself being able to do that.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Jon Jones’ UFC future: Chael Sonnen gives his thoughts on heavyweight dilemma

    Jon Jones’ UFC future: Chael Sonnen gives his thoughts on heavyweight dilemma

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on what the future could, and should, hold for Jon Jones as he contemplates a return from retirement.

    While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying that Jon Jones is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. That’s largely due to the legacy he built for himself in the light heavyweight division, but he also became a UFC champion up at heavyweight, defeating Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic during his stint there.

    Right now, Jon Jones is in a strange position. There’s a chance he could fight for the UFC heavyweight championship at the White House next summer, but there’s also the possibility of him battling Alex Pereira in a superfight – which is what ‘Poatan’ called for after his iconic UFC 320 title win last weekend.

    In a recent video, Jones’ former rival Chael Sonnen gave his thoughts on what he believes should be next for ‘Bones’, and it involves a return to 205 pounds.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Jon Jones’ future

    “If I were Jon Jones, I would say, ‘I will fight you, but it will be for a belt.’ They’re going to say, ‘Well, that belt’s between y’all and Aspinall, and we don’t quite have time to get it done.’ And I would tell Jon Jones, ‘Look at the man in the mirror. 

    “He’s holding the belt. I’ll come see you, Alex Pereira, but I’m coming back. I’m coming to my weight class. You never should have been champion. You never would have been champion had I not left. And I’m going to come back one more time to remind you who the goat really is.’ That changes everything.”

  • Did Magomed Ankalaev Enter UFC 320 With Broken Ribs? New Video Raises Questions

    Did Magomed Ankalaev Enter UFC 320 With Broken Ribs? New Video Raises Questions

    Newly released footage has raised questions regarding the health of Magomed Ankalaev heading into his UFC 320 rematch against Alex Pereira.

    Last weekend, Magomed Ankalaev fell short in his attempt to successfully defend the UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. Instead, he was beaten via TKO within the first 80 seconds of the contest. As a result, very few people are discussing the possibility of the pair running it back for a trilogy fight anytime soon.

    Recently, however, there were suggestions from Magomed Ankalaev’s team that not everything went smoothly in camp in the lead-up to UFC 320. Of course, it’s become pretty common for fighters to come up with reasons or outright excuses as to why they lost, but it does seem like there’s some legitimacy behind this one.

    That’s because recent footage has suggested that Magomed Ankalaev may have entered UFC 320 with some issues in relation to his ribs which, as we know, would’ve severely harmed his movement.

    Magomed Ankalaev’s rib problems

    There are going to be varying points of view when it comes to this footage, and the claim as a whole. Some won’t really be interested in hearing anything from Team Ankalaev right now, whereas others will perhaps wonder whether or not the outcome would’ve been different if this apparent injury didn’t exist.

    Either way, it doesn’t really matter at this stage in proceedings. All that matters is that Ankalaev rests up and gets back to 100%, before beginning his journey back to a title shot.

  • Jon Jones Will Use “Black Athleticism” Against Alex Pereira, Says Sean Strickland

    Jon Jones Will Use “Black Athleticism” Against Alex Pereira, Says Sean Strickland

    Sean Strickland has some interesting thoughts on how a fight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira could potentially play out.

    As we know, Jon Jones retired from mixed martial arts not so long ago. Then, in the blink of an eye, he seemed to change his mind, instead opting to shoot for a possible return at next summer’s UFC White House card. While Dana White doesn’t appear to be all too interested in the idea, Jon seems set on trying to change the boss’ mind.

    While fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship will obviously appeal to him, Jon Jones has also previously teased the idea of a superfight against Alex Pereira. After UFC 320 this past weekend, ‘Poatan’ also flirted with battling Jones, implying that he was going to call him out in the cage before news of his brother’s passing broke.

    In a recent interview, the aforementioned Sean Strickland weighed in on a possible Pereira vs Jones showdown.

    Sean Strickland’s view on Jon Jones vs Alex Pereira

    “I think if there’s anyone to beat Jon Jones, it’s Alex. But I mean, Jon Jones, that one guy could wrestle, dude. That level of black athleticism, you know, like that—that man could wrestle, dude. You know, when you come from a lineage of like D1 professional athletes, you know, real real good. Oh, yeah. No, I love it, dude.”

    Aside from Strickland’s strange choice of language, the point about Jon’s wrestling ability is certainly an interesting one given Alex’s striking-heavy style.

  • Alex Pereira vs. Khamzat Chimaev Next? ‘Poatan’ Offers an Answer on His Future

    Alex Pereira has responded to Khamzat Chimaev’s challenge in the wake of his victory at UFC 320.

    Last Saturday night, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev via first round TKO to win back the UFC light heavyweight championship. It was one of the most sensational performances in UFC title fight history, and while that may sound like an overstatement, it certainly isn’t when you consider how the first fight between the two men played out earlier this year. Now, as we look ahead to the future, there are plenty of questions regarding what exactly is going to be next for ‘Poatan’.

    Alex Pereira is one of the scariest fighters in mixed martial arts and while there are plenty of potential contenders at light heavyweight, including Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka, he has his eyes set on history. The Brazilian sensation has made it known that he wants to venture up to the heavyweight division in pursuit of a third world title in a third weight class, something that has never been accomplished in the history of the UFC.

    However, in the aftermath of UFC 320, Khamzat Chimaev seemed to issue a challenge of sorts to Alex Pereira on social media, following on from previous talk of the two colliding in a superfight. In the post-fight press conference, though, Pereira politely let Chimaev know that he isn’t interested at this time.

    Alex Pereira responds to Khamzat Chimaev

    “Thanks for the congratulations, but I want a super fight. Like I said, I want to fight at heavyweight. So, thanks only for the congratulations.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Explains How Striking Was Easier Than Wrestling with Cory Sandhagen: “He was making my wrestling way harder than striking”

    Merab Dvalishvili Explains How Striking Was Easier Than Wrestling with Cory Sandhagen: “He was making my wrestling way harder than striking”

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has praised Cory Sandhagen for making life difficult for him in the wrestling department at UFC 320.

    On Saturday night, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Cory Sandhagen to successfully retain the UFC bantamweight championship. It was a fairly competitive fight for long spells and Cory did well in defending against the wrestling of Merab, but in the end, it was a fairly comprehensive result in terms of the numbers.

    For Merab Dvalishvili, this served as yet another feather in his cap as he attempts to cement his legacy as the greatest bantamweight of all time. Even straight after the fight, he made it known that he’s eager to get back in there and compete before the end of the year.

    In the post-fight press conference, Merab had some interesting comments regarding the difference between the striking exchanges and the wrestling exchanges with Sandhagen.

    Merab Dvalishvili discusses Cory Sandhagen fight

    “I was impressed actually about how he was defending my takedowns and to get up. He was doing great job. Also, he was pushing my hand that way. He was making tire my hands. He was well prepared while training and I think striking is more easier than wrestling with him because he was making my wrestling way harder than striking. Striking, I had much success with him.”

    It’s unlikely we’ll see a rematch between these two anytime soon but at the very least, Sandhagen can take pride in knowing that he put forward an admirable performance in Las Vegas.

  • Conor McGregor discusses his possible future with BKFC and UFC

    Conor McGregor discusses his possible future with BKFC and UFC

    UFC star Conor McGregor has discussed his future fighting possibilities, whether it be with the Ultimate Fighting Championship or BKFC.

    As we know, Conor McGregor is very interested in getting back in the ring or cage sooner rather than later. He has singled out next year’s UFC White House event as a possible return for him, and if that does come to fruition, you’d have to imagine he’ll square off with Michael Chandler given the history that the two share together. At the same time, he’s also heavily teased a showdown with BKFC sensation Mike Perry.

    For Conor McGregor, his window for competing at the elite level obviously isn’t as big as it once was. He has plenty of options on the table, but given his commitment to the UFC, it doesn’t feel like a BKFC venture is particularly likely just yet – despite how involved he is with the promotion. Still, the Irishman is known for being a bit unpredictable, and at this point, there isn’t a whole lot that could surprise either his fans or his critics.

    During a recent media scrum, Conor McGregor spoke openly about what the future holds for him in the world of fighting.

    Conor McGregor discusses BKFC and UFC

    “I know Dave wants me in the bare knuckle. The UFC are concocting a new contract deal or whatever’s going to happen. I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll take it day by day. But God is great and I thank him every day.”

    What do you think, fight fans?

  • How Khalil Rountree Jr Inspired Jiri Prochazka In His Knockout Win at UFC 320: “You activate my rarest side”

    How Khalil Rountree Jr Inspired Jiri Prochazka In His Knockout Win at UFC 320: “You activate my rarest side”

    UFC light heavyweight star Jiri Prochazka has spoken about how Khalil Rountree Jr helped bring out a different side of him in their UFC 320 clash.

    On Saturday night, Jiri Prochazka knocked out Khalil Rountree Jr in the final round of their UFC 320 clash – but that doesn’t tell the full story. For the first two rounds of this fight, Khalil had Jiri in all kinds of trouble, putting forward the kind of technical display that we’ve gotten used to seeing from him in the last couple of years.

    While he ultimately fell short and was knocked out, Khalil Rountree Jr can still hold his head up high, in a similar manner to how he accepted the Alex Pereira title loss. He may not be the best light heavyweight on the roster, but Khalil is more than capable of mixing it up with those in the elite category, and he deserves to be praised for that.

    In his post-fight press conference appearance, Jiri Prochazka made sure to take the time to praise Khalil Rountree Jr for what he was able to bring to the table in Las Vegas.

    Jiri Prochazka praises Khalil Rountree Jr

    “Thank you for the fight. Thank you. Thank you. You activate my rarest side inside of myself, because wow—long time I didn’t activate myself like that. Because I really felt: you have to win or nothing, you have to find a way. And a long time I was not in this position in training, so I really need to be connected with this side of myself. Win or nothing. Yeah. So, so thank you, Khalil. Thank you, all your team, and I hope he will be back soon.”

  • Alex Pereira SLAMS Ankalaev’s Manager Ali Abdelaziz: “He’s outside laughing”

    Alex Pereira SLAMS Ankalaev’s Manager Ali Abdelaziz: “He’s outside laughing”

    UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has gone after Magomed Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz in the wake of the UFC 320 main event.

    On Saturday night, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev to become a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. He won back the belt that he lost earlier this year and in the process, cemented his position as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, and perhaps of all time.

    As we look ahead to the future, it’ll be interesting to see what’s next for Magomed Ankalaev. A trilogy fight against Alex Pereira doesn’t feel particularly likely, at least not right now, given the emphatic nature of how ‘Poatan’ won the rematch. In equal measure, Pereira has some big plans, which could include a move to heavyweight and a clash with Jon Jones.

    In a recent post on social media, Alex Pereira seemed to take a shot at Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of Magomed Ankalaev.

    Alex Pereira questions Ali Abdelaziz

    “When a manager has never been an athlete and wants to promote to gain fame and money, but you’re the one in there risking your life, and he’s outside laughing.”

    Abdelaziz has a tendency to rub people the wrong way in the world of mixed martial arts, and it seems as if that’s happened again here. Alas, it isn’t likely to develop into anything too dramatic, especially given that Alex was the one who managed to get the last laugh in this feud.

    Either way, it’ll be interesting to see if there are any developments from here.

  • Conor McGregor Wants To Put His Last Loss Behind Him with White House Fight: “Wish to correct that”

    Conor McGregor Wants To Put His Last Loss Behind Him with White House Fight: “Wish to correct that”

    UFC star Conor McGregor has spoken about his desire to make up for the loss he suffered due to a leg injury against Dustin Poirier back in 2021.

    According to Conor McGregor, he is signed to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship next year as part of the UFC White House card. Whether or not that’s actually going to happen, of course, is entirely up for debate, especially considering how inconsistent the messaging has been from Conor over the years.

    Nonetheless, the return of Conor McGregor would serve as a huge moment for the promotion – and the sport of mixed martial arts as a whole. It’s not clear as to who exactly he would face off with, but a good guess would be that he finally steps in there to battle Michael Chandler after teasing the idea for a good few years now.

    In a recent interview, McGregor spoke openly about what happened when he suffered a leg break against Dustin Poirier four years ago.

    Conor McGregor wants to make up for 2021 loss

    “I have eight months and change out to the White House event. It’s a six-month operation. You know, I consider it a six-month operation to get ready for this belt. And that’s my focus right now. I’m just eager to, you know, climb the steps into being ready for my return. There’s a lot at stake and I’m very excited at the opportunity. 

    “I was right there with my last one. I was in incredible condition, incredibly well prepared and just a slight lapse in concentration led to an injury. I wish to correct that and show what I’m about and that’s it. I’m eager to get back and we’ll see what the future holds after that.”

  • Jiri Prochazka explains the importance of his Master’s degree

    Jiri Prochazka explains the importance of his Master’s degree

    UFC fighter Jiri Prochazka has spoken candidly about the importance of gaining his Master’s degree.

    As we know, Jiri Prochazka is a real fan favorite in the world of mixed martial arts. We also know that he’s an exceptionally talented fighter, putting together a record of 5-2 since entering the UFC – with his only defeats coming at the hands of Alex Pereira. As we look ahead to the immediate future, many fans are excited to see Jiri return to action on Saturday night when he faces Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 320.

    It has the potential to be a fight of the night contender, and that’s us putting it lightly. In addition to his fighting ability, Jiri Prochazka is known for being an intelligent guy outside of the cage. He recently accepted his Master’s degree in Security and Strategic Studies, a process that he first told fans and media members about earlier this year.

    During his media scrum this week, Prochazka spoke openly about what it meant to dedicate himself to the process.

    Jiri Prochazka discusses his Master’s degree

    “What I can say is for one month, I totally changed my life. Totally. For the others, just, doesn’t matter what you are learning. If it’s college or university or high school, just do that. For fighters, it’s much more useful because we need to work with our head. Because the punches, first, and the strategy, and the tactics in the fight.”

    “I really don’t care about the Master’s degree, it’s all about the work here [in the head]. To work here, to use your memory, use all these things. So, this is all about, yeah.”

  • Dan Hooker Asked For Arman Tsarukyan Because “He is the best fighter in the division”

    Dan Hooker Asked For Arman Tsarukyan Because “He is the best fighter in the division”

    UFC veteran Dan Hooker has revealed why he opted to fight Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC Qatar.

    Next month, Dan Hooker will go head to head with Arman Tsarukyan in what will serve as a really important fight in the UFC’s lightweight division. While not guaranteed, there’s an excellent chance that the winner will go on to compete for the UFC lightweight championship – especially if it’s Arman that gets his hand raised.

    Alas, Dan Hooker is as live of an underdog as someone can be, especially given the experience he has in high profile bouts like this. ‘Hangman’ is the kind of fighter who has never been afraid to take on a tough challenge and although the odds may seem to be stacked against him, he is the kind of guy who would battle Thanos himself if it meant getting into the title picture.

    In a recent interview, Dan Hooker spoke candidly about why he was more than happy to take on Tsarukyan.

    Dan Hooker explains wanting to fight Arman Tsarukyan

    “I knew that the fight would come together eventually… because a lot of people try to avoid him in the division. They look for the fights that make the most sense for them and talk their way out of tough matchups. But that’s why this drew me in—I think he is the best fighter in the division at this weight and I want to beat him.”

    Get ready, folks, because this one has the potential to be a barnburner.

  • “I’ve evolved” Alex Pereira To Show A New Form Against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320

    “I’ve evolved” Alex Pereira To Show A New Form Against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320

    Former UFC champion Alex Pereira has said that he’s excited to show a new version of himself when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.

    In the main event of UFC 320 on Saturday night, Alex Pereira will face Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It’s a rematch from their first encounter earlier this year and on that occasion, it was Ankalaev who was able to walk away with the world title around his waist. Now, however, ‘Poatan’ is back, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than good enough to become champion once again.

    Alex Pereira has faced his fair share of adversity before, but he’s arguably never been as much of an underdog as he is heading into this encounter. Ankalaev has looked pretty dominant for most of his UFC career and although he’s experienced a few hiccups, he’s still one of the best fighters in the UFC.

    In a recent interview, Pereira explained why the actual result of the fight isn’t everything to him this weekend.

    Alex Pereira is ready to show his improvements

    “Of course I want to win, but the result doesn’t define everything. What I trained, what I’ve evolved— in the first fight it was very even, and I couldn’t show everything I learned. Now I’ve had the opportunity to show what I corrected and how much I’ve improved.”

    Pereira knows the level of opponent that he’s taking on here, and he’s well aware of the fact that he needs to be the best version of himself if he wants to stand a chance at victory.