MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    According to the PFL, the only side stopping a heavyweight megafight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones is the UFC.

    Talk of Ngannou and Jones colliding has existed ever since the former rose to the mountaintop in the UFC with a knockout of Stipe Miocic. With “Bones” having expressed his intention to move up in pursuit of two-division glory, “The Predator” laid down the gauntlet.

    Jones, however, took a further two years to make the transition to heavyweight, and by the time he was ready to return, Ngannou had departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute.

    The former light heavyweight kingpin ultimately succeeded the Cameroonian on the throne, and that’s only increased debate over who would emerge victorious between the pair.

    Ngannou’s new employer, for one, appears keen to find out.

    Be it founder Donn Davis or CEO Peter Murray, the PFL higher-ups have repeatedly expressed a willingness to co-promote a superfight between Ngannou and Jones with the UFC.

    During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA while in Riyadh for last week’s 2024 PFL World Championship, Murray reiterated that. He even suggested his promotion’s “partners” in Saudi Arabia are keen for the fight to come together.

    “Yeah, I mean, we’re supportive of it,” Murray said. “I mean, the fighters want the fight. Jon Jones wants the fight, Francis wants the fight, we want the fight, our partners here in Saudi want the fight. And so, you know, it comes down to, does the UFC want to step up to it or not? Period.”

    The PFL became the latest sporting entity to sign a deal with Saudi Arabia in 2023, selling a minority ownership stake to SRJ Sports Investments. The deal marked the first for the fund, which was launched by the PIF (Public Investment Fund). It was reported that the agreement was for investment in excess of $100 million into the PFL.

    This year, meanwhile, saw the UFC head to the Middle Eastern nation for the first time. In addition to touching down in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Season also became the first title partner of a UFC event when it sponsored the Sphere show this past September.

    With that connection in mind, perhaps a co-promoted clash between Ngannou and Jones isn’t quite as impossible as it seemed 12 months ago.

  • Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    A mixed martial arts fighter has admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being accused of repeatedly punching his neighbour.

    Damien Forgie, 36, went 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter between 2010 and 2012. He most notably captured a rear-naked choke submission win over Cihan Kocer at Cage Warriors 41.

    The Englishman hasn’t competed since defeating Paul Rocha by way of kimura at Shock n’ Awe 11, having had fights for Cage Warriors canceled in both 2014 and 2015.

    Damien Forgie
    Image: David Lethaby

    Per a report from KentOnline, Forgie brutally assaulted his neighbour, Billy Stokes, near their homes in Gravesend, England this past April, leaving him with facial fractures. The fighter is said to have landed “at least 10 blows” after jumping a fence to attack Stokes.

    In October, Forgie appeared in court and admitted to the assault. He was bailed and a pre-sentencing report was ordered to be carried out. A motive for the attack was not revealed during the hearing.

    During a recent appearance at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Nov. 19, Deputy District Judge Nicola Fleck heard that the report had not been completed in time.

    The incident, which lasted 32 seconds and saw Forgie pin his neighbour to the ground before punching him, was deemed to severe by Judge Fleck to be heard in the lower court. As a result, the case has been sent to Maidstone Crown Court, where the fighter will be sentenced.

  • Dakota Ditcheva Explains Hesitancy About PFL Season Return After Title Win Over Taila Santos

    Dakota Ditcheva Explains Hesitancy About PFL Season Return After Title Win Over Taila Santos

    After capturing the PFL’s inaugural women’s flyweight title as part of the global roster last week, Dakota Ditcheva isn’t sure about shooting for back-to-back belts in 2025.

    Ditcheva continued to prove that her high confidence is more than well placed this past weekend, when she figured in perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup at the 2024 PFL World Championship.

    Following a title win as part of the promotional’s regional PFL Europe expansion last year, “Dangerous” got her pursuit of global glory off to a strong start with first-round knockouts of Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett in the regular season.

    And after sending Jena Bishop to the same fate in the semifinal, Ditcheva booked a date with her toughest opponent to date, a former UFC title challenger in Taila Santos whom many believe did enough to deserve a victory over Valentina Shevchenko back in 2022.

    The British standout, however, made things look easy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dismantling the Brazilian en route to a TKO by way of vicious body shots in round two.

    Having had plenty doubt her potential based on a perceived lack of legitimate competition, Ditcheva proved her detractors wrong and then some. She’s now being hailed as among the best 125-pound fighters in the world.

    Her next step, though, is unclear.

    During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA, Ditcheva assessed what could await her in 2025, sharing the same sentiment as many in the fanbase that another stint in the PFL’s season format may not make sense for her.

    Having beaten the woman widely seen as the division’s best in Santos, Ditcheva appears hesitant to shoot for consecutive titles and is instead pondering a push for super fights in 2025.

    “I don’t know, we haven’t spoke about it too much with PFL,” Ditcheva said. “I think it’s difficult because for me, I just beat the top girl that there is out there. So, if you put me back in the tournament, I’m gonna get more stick for fighting the same girls and people that are lower level.

    “So, does it make sense to do that with someone that’s like, I feel like I bring in a lot of attention and stuff like that, so I feel maybe a super fight might suit a little bit better, but then, is anyone gonna watch the season without me in it? I don’t know,” Ditcheva continued. “We’ll see what happens.”

    Ditcheva’s situation has proven difficult for fighters in the past. Two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison was notably left sidelined for much of 2023 after choosing against competing in the promotion’s first women’s featherweight season.

    And this year, many Bellator fighters who didn’t cross over to figure in the PFL’s unique format have been left inactive due to event cancellations, with champions Patrício Freire and Patchy Mix among the most notable to express their frustration.

    “Dangerous” will be hoping to avoid any such issues next year. Given her rising stardom in the PFL, it stands to reason that the higher-ups will want her back in the SmartCage as soon as possible.

  • VIDEO: UFC 310 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Pantoja vs. Asakura & Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    VIDEO: UFC 310 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Pantoja vs. Asakura & Rakhmonov vs. Garry

    Fight week for the UFC 310 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura and the co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry.

    Saturday’s UFC 310 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with flyweight kingpin Pantoja (28-5) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable victory over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.

    If “The Cannibal” is to continue his rule atop the 125-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a UFC newcomer in Asakura (21-4). The former Rizin bantamweight champ marks a rare example of a debuting fighter competing for gold inside the Octagon, which he’ll enter off the back of consecutive knockouts of Yuki Motoya and Juan Archuleta.

    Before those two collide in the main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the stakes will also be high for a crucial five-round welterweight clash.

    After an infection resulted in UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal from his scheduled defense against Rakhmonov (18-0), some matchup shuffling has seen Garry (15-0) drafted in to face his fellow undefeated contender.

    While “Nomad” recently got the better of Stephen Thompson by way of submission, “The Future” outpointed Michael “Venom” Page during International Fight Week this past summer. They’ll now look to secure top contender status heading into 2025 to ensure they’ll be standing across from champ Muhammad following his recovery.

    Ahead of those two contests in “Sin City,” fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 310 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRcpPPERSA
  • Islam Makhachev Congratulates Teammate On PFL Championship Win

    Islam Makhachev Congratulates Teammate On PFL Championship Win

    UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev watched on as another teammate claimed 155-pound title glory in a major promotion.

    Gadzi Rabadanov, a former Eagle FC competitor and Bellator contender, was among those competing with gold on the line at the 2024 PFL World Championship last Friday, where both PFL Global and inaugural PFL MENA belts were dished out.

    The Dagestani figured on the main card opposite Brent Primus, whom he earned the right to face in the lightweight final by outpointing Solomon Renfro and Elvin Espinoza in the regular season before knocking out Michael Dufort in the semifinal.

    And Rabadanov sent the former Bellator champion to the same fate as Dumont in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 29, dominating through two rounds before brutally face-planting the American to close the show in the third frame.

    With the result, the Makhachkala native won gold in a major promotion, took home $1 million in prize money, and marked the latest from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s famed team to earn champion status.

    That was no doubt unsurprising to those who’ve trained with him, one being Makhachev. The UFC’s lightweight kingpin has long touted Rabadanov for success, and he praised his teammate’s victory in a social media post this past weekend.

    “Congratulations brother @gadzhi_rabadanov. I think in this Grand Prix you’re just beginning to reach your potential… And now a well-deserved rest.”

    Rabadanov has joined UFC’s Makhachev and Bellator standout Usman Nurmagomedov as the three lightweight titleholders in the major US-based organizations.

    In the past, Nurmagomedov has been tipped by his team to succeed Makhachev as the 155-pound king on MMA’s biggest stage. But with Rabadanov earning global praise for his 10th straight win, perhaps he, too, will pursue success in the Octagon down the line.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: First Fight Added To UFC London

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: First Fight Added To UFC London

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 25, and Sunday, December 1, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For those matchups, check out the list below:

  • 2024 PFL World Championship Results & Highlights: Khizriev Dominates Loughnane, Ditcheva Stops Santos

    2024 PFL World Championship Results & Highlights: Khizriev Dominates Loughnane, Ditcheva Stops Santos

    The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and semifinals.

    After a set of showcase bouts featuring the likes of Costello van Steenis, Slim Trabelsi, and Mansour Barnaoui, four inaugural kings were crowned as part of the promotion’s Middle East and North Africa expansion.

    The main card followed, with six fighters on the global roster walking away with championship gold and $1 million in prize money.

    Brendan Loughnane and Impa Kasanganay both failed in their bid to experience that for the second time, with the featherweight suffering a lopsided five-round loss to Timur Khizriev in the main event and the light heavyweight standout falling victim to Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov’s power in under a minute.

    Perhaps the most intriguing clash on the lineup came in the co-headliner, meanwhile, as the undefeated Dakota Ditcheva faced the toughest test of her blossoming career thus far. She ultimately followed her PFL Europe success last year with global glory, getting the better of former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in shockingly dominant fashion.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the best highlights.

    2024 PFL World Championship Results

    PFL World Championship Card:

    • Featherweight Championship: Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body punches): R2, 4:41
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (punches): R1, 0:58
    • Welterweight Championship: Shamil Musaev def. Magomed Umalatov via TKO (punches): R3, 1:44
    • Lightweight Championship: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Brent Primus via KO (punches): R3, 2:31
    • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov def. Oleg Popov via submission (triangle choke): R1, 2:51

    PFL MENA Championship Card:

    • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Maraoune Bellagouit via TKO: R1
    • MENA Welterweight Championship: Omar El Dafrawy def. Mohammad Alaqraa via KO (hammerfists): R2, 0:57
    • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif def. Lilia Osmani via TKO (knees): R2, 1:37
    • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb def. Rachid El Hazoume via KO (punches): R1, 1:25
    • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Georges Eid via unanimous decision

    Showcase Fight Card:

    • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui def. Alfie Davis via submission (rear-naked choke): R3, 3:41
    • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi def. Abraham Bably via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Gabriel Braga def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Jose Perez via submission (guillotine choke): R3, 1:10
    • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis def. Joao Dantas via KO (head kick): R1, 0:48

    Costello van Steenis Def. Joao Dantas

    Asael Adjoudj Def. Jose Perez

    Gabriel Braga Def. Jeremy Kennedy

    Slim Trabelsi Def. Abraham Bably

    Mansour Barnaoui Def. Alfie Davis

    Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Georges Eid

    Ali Taleb Def. Rachid El Hazoume

    Hattan Alsaif Def. Lilia Osmani

    Omar El Dafrawy Def. Mohammad Alaqraa

    Abdullah Al-Qahtani Def. Maraoune Bellagouit

    Denis Goltsov Def. Oleg Popov

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Def. Brent Primus

    Shamil Musaev Def. Magomed Umalatov

    Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov Def. Impa Kasanganay

    Dakota Ditcheva Def. Taila Santos

    Timur Khizriev Def. Brendan Loughnane

  • Hattan Alsaif, Saudi’s First Female Fighter, Stays Undefeated With Knockout At PFL World Championship

    Hattan Alsaif, Saudi’s First Female Fighter, Stays Undefeated With Knockout At PFL World Championship

    Fan-favorite atomweight Hattan Alsaif got the crowd going at Friday’s PFL World Championship event, where she extended her undefeated amateur record with another strong showing.

    The Professional Fighters League is staging this year’s PFL Global and PFL MENA finals from the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday, with 10 title bouts set to play out.

    Alsaif — a highly touted amateur who marks the first female fighter from Saudi Arabia — had her latest outing splitting the four championship clashes on the MENA card, as she did battle with Algeria’s Lilia Osmani.

    The 23-year-old had already made a splash this year, first by stopping her opponent on debut with a brutal head kick at PFL MENA 1 this past May and then by battering her next foe into a corner stoppage two months later.

    And on Friday, Alsaif continued her violent form. After delivering highlights such as a slam and a spinning wheel kick that connected clean, the Saudi favorite closed the show with some vicious knees to the body in round two.

    Alsaif is now 3-0 as an amateur and could soon begin to compete in the professional ranks.

    Regardless of what comes next, it’s safe to say that she’ll have plenty of eyeballs on her career moving forward, having had one of the bigger receptions of the night inside Riyadh’s King Saud University.

    Following the conclusion of the PFL MENA championship card, the likes of Brendan Loughnane, Dakota Ditcheva, and Impa Kasanganay will be looking to leave the Middle East with titles and $1 million prize money.

  • VIDEO: Costello van Steenis Opens PFL World Championship Card With Head-Kick KO In 48 Seconds

    VIDEO: Costello van Steenis Opens PFL World Championship Card With Head-Kick KO In 48 Seconds

    This year’s PFL World Championship began in violent fashion, with longtime Bellator contender Costello van Steenis landing a brutal knockout in the first round.

    10 title fights are set to go down today inside the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where both this year’s PFL Global and PFL MENA champions will be determined.

    Before gold is dished out, a series of showcase bouts are opening proceedings. And while the cancellation of Jesus Pinedo’s return dealt a blow to the lineup, a number of notable names are still featuring.

    That included van Steenis, who has figured in Bellator middleweight title contention ever since getting the better of Fabian Edwards back in 2020.

    He advanced his ambitions in a big way at the PFL World Championship, face-planting opponent Joao Dantas in just 48 seconds with a perfectly timed head kick.

    During his celebrations, “The Spaniard” called for a shot at PFL middleweight gold and also pitched a clash with the current Bellator 185-pound kingpin, Johnny Eblen.

    Van Steenis originally appeared in line for a shot at gold following a victory earlier this year. After having his charge toward the top stalled by Douglas Lima in 2023, the Dutch-born 32-year-old bounced back by submitting Gregory Babane in a clash branded a title eliminator this past May.

    For whatever reason, that classification was forgotten about and van Steenis was further made to earn a potential opportunity this week in the Middle East.

    Suffice to say, he did just that.

  • Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has some matchups in mind for the bantamweight division in 2025, including the next outings for Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan.

    The 135-pound weight class is entering the new year with a fresh champion at the helm and a number of hungry contenders chasing him down.

    Merab Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage by dethroning O’Malley inside the Sphere this past September. While “Suga” eyes a shot at redemption in his return from injury next March or April, Umar Nurmagomedov sits as the consensus number one contender.

    In spite of the Georgian’s ongoing attempts to push that matchup away, the Dagestani has plenty of support when it comes to his claim to an opportunity, including from Cormier.

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier pointed to Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov as the logical next title fight in the bantamweight division.

    And in terms of how the rest of the top names should be matched up, “DC” has some ideas for that too.

    “There is a bunch of guys at 135 that need to be matched up. So I figured, it’s time for some matchmaking,” Cormier began. “For the title…easy, Merab vs. Umar. … Then I go Yan vs. Sandhagen (2) as my second fight, Chael. Because then it gives you a clear number one contender.

    “Sean O’Malley needs a big fight, right? You know who else needs a big fight? Henry Cejudo. These guys have a beef, an easy beef to sell…I say put Sean O’Malley in there with the former champion Henry Cejudo. That means more than a win over Cory Sandhagen,” Cormier continued. “After that, I’m going Figgy (Deiveson Figueiredo) vs. Dominick Cruz. And my last one, Chael, we’ve got to give Mario Bautista a chance. … I’m giving him (Marlon) ‘Chito’ Vera.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not the UFC higher-ups will share Cormier’s view of the division. For now, it doesn’t appear the champ himself does.

    Having previously pointed to others as more worthy of challenging for his gold than Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili most recently called for a rematch with Yan following “No Mercy’s” decision win over Figueiredo in Macau last weekend.

  • 2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

    2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

    The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

    In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

    To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

    Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

    2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

    PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

    • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
    • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
    • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
    • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

    PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
    • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
    • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
    • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
    • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

    Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
    • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

    *Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

    **Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

  • PFL Finalist Dakota Ditcheva Sees ‘Jealousy’ In How Other Fighters View Her

    PFL Finalist Dakota Ditcheva Sees ‘Jealousy’ In How Other Fighters View Her

    PFL flyweight finalist Dakota Ditcheva isn’t one bit bothered about what her fighting peers say about her rise, believing it to be nothing but jealousy.

    Ditcheva established herself as one of the world’s top 125-pound prospects in her first outings under the PFL banner, later securing her spot in the inaugural global flyweight season by winning PFL Europe gold in 2023.

    And the British standout has kept her ‘0’ intact through three bouts this year to date, stopping Lisa Mauldin, Chelsea Hackett, and Jena Bishop by way of first-round knockouts to carve a violent path to this week’s PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The promotion has been accused of giving “Dangerous” favorable matchups to ensure qualification into the postseason, even by her fellow fighters. But all debate over her level of competition will be disregarded should she win $1 million with a victory over the highly thought of Taila Santos on Friday.

    And regardless of what others in the sport may say, Ditcheva is focused on herself.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Ditcheva discussed the negative takes some fighters have shared regarding her budding career.

    The undefeated striking specialist put their perspectives down to jealousy.

    “There is definitely a little bit of jealousy I think and a bit of frustration from a few fighters,” Ditcheva said. “I get it…it’s a business. We have to be able to sell these fights in order to get paid. If you want to get paid, do something. Make your fights exciting or get on social media and make an effort. You have to.

    “The people that were mad at these fighters, certain fighters making money, but if you look at the ones making money, it’s the personalities in the sport. Or the fighters that are doing something different,” Ditcheva continued. “I don’t know why anybody is getting frustrated just with me. Because I’m just like, getting what I can out of my years in this sport and I feel like that would be the clever thing to do.”

    “Dangerous” will look to dismiss the competition narrative as a legitimate way for others to detract from her accomplishments this weekend, when she squares off with a woman who many believe deserved to get the nod over Valentina Shevchenko in their 2021 UFC title fight.

    Their bout will co-headline the PFL World Championship lineup at the King Saud University on Nov. 29, with Ditcheva’s compatriot Brendan Loughnane looking to achieve two-time champ status in the main event.

  • ‘The Math Ain’t Mathing’ – Fans React As Michael Chandler Claims He’d Beat Charles Oliveira ‘9 Times Out Of 10’

    ‘The Math Ain’t Mathing’ – Fans React As Michael Chandler Claims He’d Beat Charles Oliveira ‘9 Times Out Of 10’

    UFC lightweight Michael Chandler is 0-2 against Charles Oliveira but believes he’d go 9-1 against him. Work that one out.

    Chandler is currently weeks on from his second defeat at the hands of Oliveira, having been comfortably outpointed across five rounds by “do Bronx” in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    The result was a more emphatic setback for “Iron” than his previous loss to Oliveira, which saw his strong start and near-finish in round one rendered null by a mighty comeback from the Brazilian at UFC 262 in May 2021.

    Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler reflected on his losing performance in New York City earlier this month.

    The former Bellator champion was honest about his display, admitting it fell way short of what he had anticipated and rating it just two out of 10. But Chandler had a more eyebrow-raising figure when it came to a different topic…

    “I’m not happy with my performance. I would give myself a two out of 10,” he said. “I cannot overstate how horrible of a performance this was compared to what my vision was for what I’m capable of. I believe I beat Charles Oliveira 9 times out of 10.”

    Be it the math that went into that equation or Chandler’s confidence given his losing 2-4 record since joining the promotion, it’s safe to say the MMA fanbase had a field day reacting to the 38-year-old’s remarks.

  • 2023 PFL Champion Jesus Pinedo Misses Weight By 6 Pounds, First Fight In A Year Scrapped

    2023 PFL Champion Jesus Pinedo Misses Weight By 6 Pounds, First Fight In A Year Scrapped

    The long wait to see 2023 PFL featherweight champion Jesus Pinedo back in action will continue after he failed to hit the featherweight limit on Thursday.

    Pinedo broke through in a major way last year. A few years on from a 1-1 run in the UFC, the Peruvian standout signed to compete in the PFL’s 145-pound season, where his campaign got off to a difficult start in defeat against Gabriel Braga.

    But “El Mudo” mounted a quick resurgence, delivering one of the upsets of the year when he knocked out ex-champ Brendan Loughnane. After then stopping Bubba Jenkins to reach the featherweight final, Pinedo got his revenge on Braga to have gold wrapped around his waist.

    Unfortunately, that was the last time we saw Pinedo inside the SmartCage. He was scheduled to figure in a prominent matchup on the PFL vs. Bellator lineup this past February opposite all-time great Patrício “Pitbull” Freire, but a back injury forced him out.

    And after subsequently missing the chance to defend his crown in the 2024 featherweight season, Pinedo finally had his return set for this week’s PFL World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    A day out from his return in a showcase clash against Jeremy Kennedy, however, disaster has struck. Pinedo was announced to have missed weight by a mammoth six pounds on Thursday, forcing his removal from the card.

    MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin first reported the news.

    With Pinedo out, his former two-time opponent Braga will fill in on short notice to face Kennedy on Friday’s showcase card, which kicks off the lengthy lineup at 7:15 AM ET. Also competing before 10 title fights play out are the likes of Slim Trabelsi and Costello van Steenis.

    The King Saud University will then play host to four inaugural PFL MENA championship matchups at 9:30 AM ET, before the global belts and $1 million in prize money are handed out to six names on the main card.

  • Cory Sandhagen Suggests Petr Yan Rematch In 2025: ‘I Still Want To Get That One Back’

    Cory Sandhagen Suggests Petr Yan Rematch In 2025: ‘I Still Want To Get That One Back’

    UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has become the latest to express interest in running it back with ex-champion Petr Yan next year.

    Yan continued his winning form at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Macau, China, where he headlined in defense of his position on the 135-pound ladder against former two-time flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Having snapped a three-fight losing skid with a victory over Song Yadong this past March, “No Mercy” got back to a win streak at the expense of “Deus Da Guerra,” whom he defeated by way of a lopsided unanimous decision.

    Among others, Yan’s display caught the eye of a familiar foe…

    In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sandhagen broke down Yan’s victorious performance against Figueiredo.

    During it, “The Sandman” pointed to a rematch opposite the Russian as a possible next assignment for him in 2025, having fallen short of staking his claim for a title shot when sharing the cage with Umar Nurmagomedov this past August.

    Sandhagen previously lost to Yan in their interim title fight, which played out at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi just over three years ago.

    “Congrats to Yan, maybe we’ll do it next,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t really know what the division’s going on. I haven’t really heard too much. I was hoping to hear probably sometime next week about the direction that they are going to go in because I know they were waiting on this fight to play out.

    “Congrats to Yan. I still want to get that one back,” Sandhagen continued. “We’ll see if it’ll be next or not.”

    Yan has already responded to one of his former opponents requesting a second dance, none other than the bantamweight champ himself.

    In his continued trend of calling to face top contenders not named Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili suggested his first title defense in 2025 should come against the man whom he dominantly 50-45’d on the scorecards last year.

  • Michael Chandler Unhappy With ‘Narrative’ Painted By UFC 309 Commentary Team: ‘I’m An Honest Guy’ 

    Michael Chandler Unhappy With ‘Narrative’ Painted By UFC 309 Commentary Team: ‘I’m An Honest Guy’ 

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes his “integrity” was wrongly called into question in the aftermath of his defeat earlier this month.

    Two years on from a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden, Chandler made his long-awaited return inside the same venue on Nov. 16, running it back with Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309.

    Having previously been on the wrong end of a memorable comeback form “do Bronx” in their 2021 title showdown, the former Bellator champion had his sights set on redemption in New York City.

    But “Iron” fell convincingly short of that on fight night, with Oliveira securing a convincing decision victory following a dominant five rounds from the Brazilian.

    As was the case after his setback against “The Diamond,” Chandler has been accused of seeking advantages outside the boundaries of the ruleset, with cries of fence grabs, eye pokes, and egregious back of the head strikes filling social media.

    According to Chandler, however, the claim he consistently fouled at UFC 309 was a lie created by those sat cageside with mic in hand.

    During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler commented on how his actions were commentated over by Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier after rewatching the broadcast.

    “Watching it on TV wasn’t as appealing to me,” Chandler said. “A little bit of the commentary (bothered me) when it comes to some of the stuff they were saying — the misinterpretation of what the back of the head is by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial arts, the misinterpretation of what cage-grabbing is, and a couple of different things.

    “I’m an honest guy. I try to live pretty full of integrity and full of honest, and a narrative that has been painted is not very interesting to me. I’m not very happy about it,” Chandler continued. “I’m not going to say I didn’t do anything wrong. … (But) 90 percent of the shots at least, most of them…all of them, my hand, my fist was catching the ear. If you’re catching the ear, that is not the back of the head. … A referee who was within two feet away never said one thing about it. Then you’ve got commentators 35 feet away saying it’s the back of the head.”

    Those controversial strikes came in the final round when Chandler enjoyed his only success of the fight. With that in mind, he gave his performance a “2 out of 10” rating during the same interview with Helwani.

    And although he maintained his reputation as an entertainer in the dying moments at UFC 309, the result has left “Iron” with a losing 2-4 record in the Octagon — something he’ll look to rectify in 2025.

  • PFL World Championship Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Loughnane vs. Khizriev, Ditcheva vs. Santos, & More

    PFL World Championship Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Loughnane vs. Khizriev, Ditcheva vs. Santos, & More

    The 2024 PFL World Championship is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this week’s long lineup.

    The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

    At the lengthy event, plenty of gold will be handed out as the latest global champions and the inaugural MENA kingpins are crowned following the conclusion of this year’s regular seasons.

    And the headlining spots have gone to a pair of British standouts, with 2022 featherweight title winner Brendan Loughnane shooting for two-time status in the main event opposite Timur Khizriev. Before that comes a matchup long pointed to as one of the most intriguing in the promotion, as last year’s PFL Europe flyweight queen Dakota Ditcheva meets former UFC title challenger Taila Santos.

    Also competing for championships will be the likes of Impa Kasnaganay, Brent Primus, and Denis Goltsov, while notable names like Mansour Bernaoui, Slim Trabelsi, Jesus Pinedo and Costello van Steenis will appear in showcase bouts.

    2024 PFL World Championship Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for this year’s PFL World Championship (as of 11/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

    PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

    • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (+260) vs. Timur Khizriev (-325)
    • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (-380) vs. Taila Santos (+300)
    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (-180) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (+150)
    • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (+220) vs. Shamil Musaev (-270)
    • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (+410) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (-550)
    • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (+110) vs. Oleg Popov (-130)

    PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (-115) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (-105)
    • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (-410) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (+320)
    • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (-290) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (+235)
    • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (-218) vs. Georges Eid (+180)

    Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

    • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (-298) vs. Alfie Davis (+240)
    • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (-148) vs. Abraham Bably (+124)
    • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (-290) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (+235)
    • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (-142) vs. Jose Perez (+120)
    • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (-625) vs. Joao Dantas (+455)
  • Robert Whittaker Reveals Planned UFC Return Date After Crushing Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker Reveals Planned UFC Return Date After Crushing Loss To Khamzat Chimaev

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has his eyes on a mid-2025 return after repairing the damage he sustained at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev last month.

    Following two strong appearances in 2024 that saw him outpoint Paulo Costa and knock out the highly touted Ikram Aliskerov, Whittaker hoped to make it three on the bounce at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    But his pursuit of a rematch with current titleholder Dricus Du Plessis came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Chimaev, who added “The Reaper” to the list of victims on his undefeated record.

    And the result was up there with the Chechen star’s most vicious in the UFC to date, as he dragged Whittaker down before displacing his front teeth with a brutal face crank in the very first round.

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker provided an update on his status, revealing he underwent a procedure to remove and replace the damaged teeth — dental surgery that also uncovered a sizable cyst in the Australian’s jaw.

    But the former champ is now on the mend, and he’s even eyeing a return to action as soon as May 2025.

    “I’m going to give a bit of time. I’m not going to rush into the next fight, because there are some things I want to address,” Whittaker said. “I’m probably looking to return in June. June-ish? End of May? I don’t know. We’ll play with the dates next year.”

    And when he does make the walk again, “The Reaper” is promising to adapt and show new wrinkles to his game.

    “I’m 34 in December,” Whittaker noted. “I still have, I feel like some tricks up my sleeve. I still have some goals that I want to hit. Like I said, I am building some new skills. But that’s just how I look at things. Every obstacle and setback just makes me stronger, it makes the comeback better. I’m looking forward to getting back in there. I’m enjoying training. I’m excited for the next, what I could be.”

    While Whittaker focuses on his recovery and plan to display a new and improved “Bobby Knuckles” next year, Chimaev has his sights set on the middleweight gold.

    Although he’s yet to be confirmed as next in line over Sean Strickland, “Borz” appears to have plenty of support from his peers and the MMA masses when it comes to Du Plessis’ second defense of the 185-pound title.

  • Sean O’Malley Slams Merab Dvalishvili Pushing For Petr Yan Rematch: ‘Sh*tting Himself Terrified Of Umar’

    Sean O’Malley Slams Merab Dvalishvili Pushing For Petr Yan Rematch: ‘Sh*tting Himself Terrified Of Umar’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley hasn’t been impressed with the actions of Merab Dvalishvili since he ascended to the throne this past September.

    Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, where he comfortably got the better of O’Malley across five rounds.

    In attendance was Umar Nurmagomedov, the consensus number one contender who staked his claim for a shot against the Noche UFC main event winner when he defeated Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi the previous month.

    But the Dagestani hasn’t been getting a positive response from the champ ever since, with “The Machine” instead first branding Deiveson Figueiredo a more worthy challenger before pitching dates to run it back with both O’Malley and Petr Yan.

    The latter caught Dvalishvili’s attention when he outpointed Figueiredo in this past weekend’s UFC Macau main event. The Georgian has called for “No Mercy” to be the opponent in his first defense at UFC 313 next March.

    During a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow alongside coach Tim Welch, O’Malley joined plenty in calling out Dvalishvili’s push to once again face Yan, whom he convincingly defeated across five rounds in March 2023.

    “Sugar” echoed the sentiments of Nurmagomedov himself, branding the newly crowned bantamweight kingpin “terrified” of him.

    “Umar wants to fight Merab in January. Petr wants to fight Merab in March. I want to fight Merab in April,” O’Malley said. “Merab is absolutely sh*tting himself terrified of Umar. He doesn’t want to fight Umar. Now he’s saying he wants to fight Petr. He wanted to fight me. Petr got 50-45’d to Merab.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Nurmagomedov will indeed get his shot next. Be it a title opportunity or clash against another contender, the Dagestani has insisted on a return to action before he observes Ramadan in 2025.

    O’Malley, meanwhile, has made his intentions of pursuing redemption against Dvalishvili upon his recovery from labrum surgery next year clear.

    For now, though, the Georgian continues to campaign for a second dance opposite Yan.

  • VIDEO: PFL Finalists Have First Faceoffs In Riyadh Ahead of 2024 Championship

    VIDEO: PFL Finalists Have First Faceoffs In Riyadh Ahead of 2024 Championship

    The fighters set to compete for gold at this year’s PFL World Championship stood toe to toe days out from their title showdowns in the Middle East.

    After completing its main and regional seasons, it’s championship time for the Professional Fighters League. Before the sophomore PFL Europe champions are crowned next month, the global and MENA kings — as well as one queen — will be decided.

    A long lineup featuring plenty of notable names is set for the 2024 PFL World Championship this Friday, Nov. 29 at the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    Following a series of showcase fights and four MENA finals, six global champions will emerge on the main card, where the headline spots have gone to a pair of UK standouts in 2022 PFL featherweight king Brendan Loughnane and last year’s PFL Europe flyweight champ Dakota Ditcheva, who are slated to collide with Timur Khizriev at featherweight and Taila Santos, respectively.

    Ahead of the main and co-main events, those fighters faced off under the observation of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy this week, as did heavyweights Denis Goltsov and Oleg Popov, light heavyweights Impa Kasanganay and Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov, welterweights Magomed Umalatov and Shamil Musaev, and lightweights Brent Primus and Gadzhi Rabadanov.

    Before those matchups play out inside the SmartCage, MENA gold will be wrapped around waists for the very first time, with the likes of Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Ali Taleb looking to end their 2024 campaigns with title glory in Riyadh.

    Meanwhile, the showcase bouts that will kick off proceedings at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN+ will include the return of 2023 featherweight title winner Jesus Pinedo, the next fight for top Bellator middleweight contender Costello van Steenis, and an outing for undefeated heavyweight Slim Trabelsi.

    For the first time, the PFL championship matchups will see the fighters permitted to throw elbows, which have previously been banned throughout the season and playoff format.

  • Jiří Procházka Takes Aim At UFC 311 Opponent Jamahal Hill: ‘In Your last Fight…’

    Jiří Procházka Takes Aim At UFC 311 Opponent Jamahal Hill: ‘In Your last Fight…’

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka hasn’t forgotten some past remarks from upcoming opponent Jamahal Hill.

    Procházka announced his return to action last week, taking to social media to reveal a clash with fellow former titleholder Hill for the year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view in Los Angeles.

    The bout will mark both men’s first appearances since respective knockout losses to reigning 205-pound kingpin Alex Pereira. While “Sweet Dreams” was stopped in one round at UFC 300, “BJP” narrowly made it to a second frame at UFC 303 before being violently stopped by “Poatan” for a second time.

    Despite his own setback to the Brazilian, Hill had plenty to say about Procházka’s loss during International Fight Week. And the Czech star evidently still has that on his mind…

    “I’m really looking forward for my next fight,” Procházka said in a recent video posted on X. “Jamahal, don’t speak about my performances, fight IQ, and all these things, because in your last fight, you didn’t show (anything), really.”

    And it wasn’t just Hill who found himself in the firing line.

    Procházka also sent shots the way of Magomed Ankalaev, who is expected to be next in line for a shot at Pereira’s gold after defending his spot on the ladder opposite Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last month.

    “This same guy, Ankalaev, in your last three fights, you showed totally nothing, so stay on the ground,” Procházka said.

    Ankalaev is yet to face either Procházka or Hill. Regardless of the result of his expected challenge against Pereira, a showdown with one of the two could await him soon after, whether as defending champion or contender working his way back to the gold.

  • Reinier de Ridder Gets Second Fight vs. Kevin Holland At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    Reinier de Ridder Gets Second Fight vs. Kevin Holland At UFC 311 On Jan. 18

    Fresh off his successful Octagon debut, former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder has his next assignment in the calendar for UFC 311.

    After parting ways with ONE Championship earlier this year and subsequently returning to winning ways under the UAE Warriors banner, de Ridder (18-2) had his lifelong ambition of a venture to the UFC come to fruition.

    The Dutchman made his first appearance on the UFC Vegas 100 card at the Apex earlier this month, sharing the cage with middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert. While de Ridder faced some adversity in the opening two rounds, he ultimately added to his submission tally with a third-round arm-triangle choke.

    And it’s not taken long for a new target to be placed in “The Dutch Knight’s” crosshairs. Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, de Ridder will return at UFC 311 inside Los Angeles’ newly built Intuit Dome to do battle with the always entertaining Kevin Holland (26-12, 1 NC).

    “Trailblazer,” a formerly ranked contender at both 185 and 170 pounds, has gone 1-1 since returning to middleweight this year off the back of a defeat to Michael “Venom” Page.

    After landing a gruesome armbar submission to defeat Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 this past June, Holland most recently saw a difficult start opposite Roman Dolidze compounded by a rib injury that left him unable to continue into round two at UFC 307 last month.

    With this addition the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 are as follows:

    • Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
    • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
    • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
    • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
    • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
    • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
    • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Chris Weidman Discusses Not Getting Full Pay After Opponent’s UFC 309 Fight-Day Withdrawal

    Chris Weidman Discusses Not Getting Full Pay After Opponent’s UFC 309 Fight-Day Withdrawal

    Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was left devastated and a sizable chunk of cash down when an illness to Eryk Anders scuppered his plans of competing at Madison Square Garden earlier this month.

    At UFC 309, Weidman was set for his second assignment of 2024 and third since returning from a gruesome broken leg that had kept him out for two years. But his pursuit of a first win streak since 2015 will have to wait.

    After completing his training camp, fight-week obligations, and successfully making weight, Weidman awoke on Saturday, Nov. 16, expecting to make the walk on MMA’s biggest stage for the 20th time.

    But disaster struck just hours before his scheduled preliminary clash with Anders when a bout of food poisoning became too serious for the ex-American football linebacker to fight through.

    That left a devastated Weidman off the card on late notice, with the New York State Athletic Commission rejecting the UFC’s attempts to book a same-day replacement opponent.

    And worse still, it wasn’t just the chance to make it two wins on the bounce that the 40-year-old missed out on…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRQokTnU9YU

    During a recent appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Weidman explained that while he is expecting to be ‘taken care of’ in some way financially, he won’t be getting his full purse.

    The American admitted the situation is difficult to take, especially given his compensation would have already been set aside and is ultimately now being kept by the UFC.

    “My show money is my win money, I have guaranteed money,” Weidman said. “So that was my point, ‘I showed up, you guys had that on the budget sheet to begin with, you guys made a great night, why do you guys keep that money and I don’t?’ That was my thought.

    “Their thoughts were, ‘Listen, this happens on like 40 percent of the cards. If we pay people to not fight…’ They just want to be consistent on what they do in those situations,” Weidman continued. “That’s what I think they’ve decided to do consistently for their business.”

    The situation is similar to that of Stephen Thompson last year. He made public his disappointment at not being paid for his canceled fight with Michel Pereira at UFC 291, which fell through when the Brazilian missed weight after “Wonderboy” had already successfully got under the welterweight limit.

    Fortunately for Weidman, he won’t have to wait long to pick up a full check for sharing the cage with Anders. The pair’s clash has been rescheduled for UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7, this time at a catchweight of 195 pounds.

  • Kai Asakura Explains Why Title Win Over Alexandre Pantoja Would Be Good For UFC

    Kai Asakura Explains Why Title Win Over Alexandre Pantoja Would Be Good For UFC

    UFC flyweight newcomer Kai Asakura believes the promotion should be rooting for him when he challenges for gold in his very first Octagon outing.

    Asakura, a former champion under the Rizin banner in Asia, has a rare chance to reach a UFC throne in his very first fight for the promotion. After signing earlier this year, the Japanese star’s debut was announced for UFC 310 next month.

    Inside T-Mobile Arena, the 31-year-old will challenge the reign of Alexandre Pantoja in the pay-per-view main event. The pair were elevated to headline status after the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad from his scheduled welterweight title defense.

    While he may be an unknown entity to much of the UFC fanbase, Asakura is bringing over a sizable following from his native Japan. But beyond just that, the incoming fighter sees another reason why a victory on Dec. 7 would be beneficial for his new employer.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, Asakura suggested that a title crowning in his debut would be “good business” for the UFC.

    Though some might point to his stardom in the East as the grounds for that, the ex-Rizin kingpin instead labeled his entertaining style and the first-time matchups that would await him as UFC flyweight champion.

    “Let’s be honest: It’s good business for the UFC if I win,” Asakura said. “I’m here to make it exciting, for people to have interest in the flyweight division and have a whole bunch of new matchups ready to have on future shows.

    “I’m a little bit different than the other fighters in the flyweight division, I have the ability to capitalize on one of (Pantoja’s) misses and put him to sleep. That’s what I’m aiming for, and I think that’s what makes my challenge for this title fight different than anyone else,” Asakura continued. “I hope one day Dana White will turn to the audience and say, ‘This kid is a special KO artist, a KO machine.’”

    Before looking to prove as much by enjoying an exciting rule over the flyweight division, Asakura must first unseat Pantoja. That will be no easy feat given how “The Cannibal” has turned away challenges from Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg since dethroning Brandon Moreno in July 2023.

    Askaura, though, is high in self-belief and plans on making sure his name is known by the MMA masses come fight night at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 7.

  • ‘Tone Deaf’ PFL Faces Backlash From Fans After Announcing Music Act For World Championship

    ‘Tone Deaf’ PFL Faces Backlash From Fans After Announcing Music Act For World Championship

    With growing discontent from sidelined fighters and unexplained event cancellations, announcing a musical performance from Nav wasn’t exactly the statement fans were hoping for from the Professional Fighters League (PFL)…

    The promotion is returning to Saudi Arabia this week to stage both its PFL World Championship and MENA Championship cards from the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh.

    With showcase fights getting underway at 7:15 AM ET and four inaugural MENA titles being handed out before a main card commencing at 1 PM ET, it’s set to be a long day of action for those planning to tune in from the start.

    And what better way to prolong things than a concert from Nav…is apparently what was said with a worrying level of seriousness at PFL headquarters this month.

    The announcement regarding Nav’s inclusion on the lineup for the Nov. 29 event came days on from a host of prominent fighters under the organization’s banner speaking out against their treatment.

    In a year which had already seen Cris Cyborg frequently bemoan how long it took for her return to come together, medical issues surrounding the likes of Sabah Homasi and Daiane Silva, canceled events, and a lawsuit from Gegard Mousasi, reigning Bellator champions Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Patchy Mix recently slammed the PFL amid their ongoing inactivity.

    With that in mind, fans didn’t take kindly to the latest instance of a combat sports promotion not learning that the masses do not want mid-card performances.

    We’ll give you this one for free, PFL. They want fights.

    https://twitter.com/dobronxlover/status/1861178636206060014
    https://twitter.com/uhvaimorre/status/1861172429223047490