MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Report: Manel Kape Booked For First UFC Fight Since Muhammad Mokaev Loss

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape will have the chance to get his ball rolling once again before the year is out.

    Kape (19-7) had his pursuit of a title shot and rematch with reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja stalled at UFC 304 this past April, where he fell short across three rounds opposite Muhammad Mokaev inside Manchester’s Co-op Live.

    That result snapped the Angola-born Portuguese fighter’s four-fight winning run. And to bounce back this year, Kape will need to defend his #9 ranking against a name outside the top 10.

    Per Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, Kape will return to meet the challenge of Bruno Silva (14-5-2, 1 NC) at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida on December 14.

    Prior to his setback opposite Mokaev, Kape had risen the ranks with victories over Ode’ Osbourne, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, David Dvořák, and Felipe dos Santos. That run established the former Rizin bantamweight champion as a contender after an 0-2 start to life in the UFC.

    Silva, meanwhile, went winless across his first three UFC fights. Like Kape, however, he’s enjoyed a strong resurgence by having his hand raised in four consecutive bouts. “Bulldog” most recently followed a submission victory over Tyson Nam by knocking out Cody Durden at the Apex this past July.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14 are as follows:

    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
    • Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (flyweight)
    • Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (women’s flyweight)
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (light heavyweight)
    • Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (bantamweight)
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Knutsson (women’s strawweight)
    • Tuco Tokkos vs. Navajo Striling (light heavyweight)

  • Muhammad Mokaev Claims His Pay Is Three Times Higher After UFC Release

    Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC departure may have seen his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage take a hit, but the same seemingly can’t be said for his bank account…

    Mokaev surprisingly found himself outside of the sport’s leading promotion shortly after his latest win at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July. In a lackluster affair, the Dagestan-born Brit outpointed Manel Kape to move to 13-0 as a pro and 7-0 in the UFC.

    With a victory over “Starboy,” Mokaev was anticipating a potential title shot. But seemingly owing to his conduct behind the scenes, “The Punisher” was instead let go after fighting out his contract.

    The 24-year-old was quick to complain about the decision publicly, even offering to fight for free if it would allow him back into the UFC. His efforts evidently fell on deaf ears, however, and he’ll need to put the work in outside of the Octagon to stake his claim for a new deal.

    And while he goes to work in a bid to show his worth to Dana White and co., he’ll apparently be collecting increased purses along the way…

    Mokaev Banking More After UFC Exit, Brave CF Re-Signing

    Mokaev’s attempt to impress the UFC higher-ups and force a re-signing will come in familiar surroundings, as he’s returned to the promotion he competed in prior to joining MMA’s top organization, Brave CF.

    And while responding to a fan on social media recently, the elite flyweight claimed he’s receiving three times as much pay in the Middle East-based promotion as he did under the UFC banner.

    Mokaev later commented publicly himself, claiming to be the “highest paid flyweight fighter in the world” in a social media post.

    Despite the lucrative position he’s seemingly found himself in, however, “The Punisher” reiterated that his goal remains a return to the UFC.

    “Highest paid flyweight fighter in the world right now without holding the title @bravemmaf But of course my goal is come back to UFC because it is the number 1 promotion in the world right now!”

    It remains to be seen when Mokaev will return to action in his new promotion, and whether a strong run of results there could re-open the door back to the UFC and the flyweight gold currently held by Alexandre Pantoja.

  • Yan Xiaonan, Carlos Ulberg, & More Added To UFC Macau Card On Nov. 23

    Yan Xiaonan, Carlos Ulberg, & More Added To UFC Macau Card On Nov. 23

    The lineup has come together for the mixed martial arts leader’s return to China for a UFC Fight Night card inside Macau’s Galaxy Arena.

    November 23 will see Octagon action take place in Macau for the first time in over a decade. And the promotion is set to bring plenty of notable names along with it to the Chinese region.

    That includes for the main event, which was recently revealed to pit ex-bantamweight champion Petr Yan against former two-time flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo in a crucial clash at 135 pounds.

    And while confirming that on social media, the UFC announced a number of other intriguing matchups. Of note is the next fight for China’s own Yan Xiaonan, as well as charging light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg.

    Seven months on from her failed title challenge against Zhang Weili (18-4, 1 NC) at UFC 300, Xiaonan will look to bounce back in front of her home fans against the #9-ranked Tabatha Ricci (11-2). “Baby Shark” has won two straight, most recently outpointing Angela Hill last month.

    Ulberg (10-1), meanwhile, will be making his return after having an injury take away his chance of competing at International Fight Week this past June, where he had matchups with both Jamahal Hill and Anthony Smith fall through.

    He’ll have the chance to consolidate his spot inside the light heavyweight top 10 when he takes on former title challenger and current #6-ranked contender Volkan Oezdemir (20-7) in Macau.

    Also of note is the addition of Wang Cong (6-0), a women’s flyweight prospect who made a thunderous UFC debut at the Apex in August. After brutally knocking out Victoria Leonardo, “The Joker” will compete on home soil in her sophomore Octagon appearance against Gabriella Fernandes (9-3).

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night event in Macau on Nov. 23 are as follows:

    • Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight main event)
    • Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci (women’s strawweight)
    • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg (light heavyweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes (women’s flyweight)
    • Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov (welterweight)
    • Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz (light heavyweight)
    • Nyamjargal Tumendemberel vs. Carlos Hernandez (flyweight)
    • Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa (flyweight)
    • Kangjie Zhu vs. Bin Xie (Road to UFC featherweight final)
    • SuYoung You vs. Jieleyisi Baergeng (Road to UFC bantamweight final)
    • Kiru Singh Sahota vs. DongHun Choi (Road to UFC flyweight final)
    • Xiaocan Feng vs. Ming Shi (Road to UFC women’s strawweight final)

  • Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.

    Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.

    The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.

    After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.

    But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He’s even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.

    But when it comes to the UFC’s alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn’t buying it…

    Sonnen: Masvidal Too Old For Another UFC Stint

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal’s comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.

    While “The American Gangster” suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal’s retirement, he ultimately can’t envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.

    “The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39,” Sonnen said. “Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. … I don’t care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense. That fight isn’t taking it anywhere. It’s not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn’t a top contender.

    “I don’t predict for you that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing,” Sonnen continued. “That’s what I think, but there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise.”

    Regardless of Sonnen’s view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.

    By the looks of things, he’s been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.

  • Nick Diaz Has New UFC Return Date In The Works After Abu Dhabi Cancellation

    Nick Diaz Has New UFC Return Date In The Works After Abu Dhabi Cancellation

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will likely make his next Octagon appearance before the year is out.

    Diaz — a former Strikeforce and WEC champion — hasn’t competed since UFC 266 in September of 2021, where he was stopped by Robbie Lawler. That outing marked his first in six years and left many calling for his retirement.

    The Stockton native isn’t done yet, however, and he was scheduled to make the walk again last month in Abu Dhabi. But his planned clash with ranked welterweight Vicente Luque fell through owing to a travel issue on the side of Diaz.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that matchup has been kept together and is now targeted to take place at the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this coming December.

    Prior to his unsuccessful return three years ago, Diaz’s previous outing saw him share the cage with Anderson Silva in 2015. The Brazilian had his unanimous decision win overturned to a no contest after testing positive for drostanolone and androsterone.

    Diaz, meanwhile, tested positive for elevated marijuana metabolites, leading to a controversial suspension and lengthy layoff on the sidelines for the fan favorite.

    He’ll now look to return to his form of old in his second bout back at the expense of Luque, a longtime figure in the welterweight top 15 who has lost three of his last four.

  • Brendan Allen Admits He’s Missing One Thing To Secure First UFC Title Shot: ‘That’s Not My Jam…’ 

    Brendan Allen Admits He’s Missing One Thing To Secure First UFC Title Shot: ‘That’s Not My Jam…’ 

    When it comes to fighting, UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen thinks he will have done everything possible to secure a title shot after this weekend.

    Allen is among those who’ve arrived in enemy territory to do battle with a French fighter in their home nation on Saturday night, when the UFC is set to stage its third event in Paris.

    While “All In” publicly declined the assignment at first owing to his anger at not headlining, he eventually accepted a three-round co-main event opposite a contender four places above him on the ladder in the #4-ranked Nassourdine Imavov.

    The bout comes five months on from Allen emerging victorious from a memorable rematch with Chris Curtis at the Apex, where the 28-year-old Californian was able to avenge his most recent defeat and extend his streak of triumphs to seven.

    But despite his winning form, Allen acknowledges one aspect of the game in which he falls short of others when it comes to being given an opportunity at the gold…

    Allen Cites Lack Of Social Media Following Has One Unchecked Box For UFC Title Shot

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Allen looked ahead to his second walk to the cage of 2024, which sees him competing outside of the United States for only the second time in his UFC career.

    Most fighters would expect to be in the running for a title shot after notching seven straight wins. But while that is Allen’s target should he have his hand raised to make it eight, he believes his approach to social media provides somewhat of a hurdle.

    “Ideally speaking, if I go out there and beat Imavov, especially if I finish Imavov within three rounds in his hometown, in front of his people, I think I’ve checked every single box except for one to fight for the title,” Allen said. “There’s nothing I can really do overnight to check the one other box, which is (social media) followers. I don’t know. That’s not my jam. Everything on a fighting level, I think I’ve done every single thing.”

    Regardless of his low-key presence on social media, Allen will look to negate that deficiency by letting his fighting talents do the talking when it comes to securing a first shot at championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And with the winner of next month’s UFC 308 co-headliner between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev likely to stake their claim, a strong performance at the expense Imavov is required for “All In.”

  • Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Set For UFC Fight Night In Macau On Nov. 23

    Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Set For UFC Fight Night In Macau On Nov. 23

    The UFC’s return to Macau looks set to have high stakes in the bantamweight title picture.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is set to take the Octagon back to Macau — an autonomous region on the south coast of China — for the first time in a decade later this year, with the Galaxy Arena playing host to a UFC Fight Night card on November 23.

    And the lineup looks to have its first major addition in the form of a clash between former champions.

    Per Brazilian reporter Léo Guimaraes, ex-bantamweight kingpin Petr Yan (17-5) and former two-time flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo (24-3-1) are set to meet in a crucial showdown at 135 pounds in Macau.

    Yan, Figueiredo Expected To Battle For Potential UFC Title Shot In China

    Should this bout be made official, one man could leave Macau with a shot at the bantamweight belt set for down the line.

    For Yan, that would present another chance to regain the divisional title. The Russian previously held it prior to a disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling in 2021. While he subsequently captured interim status, he fell short against “Funk Master” in their rematch.

    The tough times continued for Yan in the subsequent months. He first suffered a controversial split decision loss to Sean O’Malley in 2022 before being convincingly outpointed by another then-future champ in Merab Dvalishvili the following year. But having bounced back in style by stalling the charge of Song Yadong at UFC 299 this past March, “No Mercy” is now targeting a return to a win streak for the first time since 2020.

    To do so, the Russian standout will have to hand Figueiredo his first defeat at 135 pounds. “Deus Da Guerra” committed to a long-discussed bantamweight switch following the end of his second flyweight rule against Brandon Moreno in early 2023. He’s since reeled off three straight wins to rise to #5 in the rankings, defeating Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera.

    Deiveson Figueiredo
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC

  • Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

    For the first time, a UFC event will be taking place in the French capital without the country’s only champion to date closing the show.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Paris this week, staging an event in France for the third straight year. The UFC debuted inside the Accor Arena in 2022, just under three years on from the legalization of MMA in the country.

    On that night, former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane thrilled his compatriots by knocking out Tai Tuivasa. And “Bon Gamin” repeated the feat last September when he stopped Serghei Spivac with strikes.

    This year, however, presents an opportunity for a different French standout to make a splash in the main event spotlight: Benoît Saint Denis.

    Six months on from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in Miami, “God of War” will look to bounce back in front of a no doubt rowdy Parisian crowd when he shares the cage with Renato Moicano.

    Gane’s Coach Explains Decision Not To Fight At Latest UFC Paris Event

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, coach Fernand Lopez commented on the UFC’s latest visit to his country and the fact that his star student won’t be a part of it this time around.

    “We don’t have to talk about it with the UFC coming to Paris. It’s obvious that they want Ciryl to fight in Paris, and I was thinking about Ciryl fighting in Paris. This is what we talked (about doing),” Lopez said. “But an opportunity showed up with a better opponent in terms of ranking, a better opportunity in terms of pay-per-view, and better career constructions to go back to the belt.

    “It makes sense for us to accept that opportunity. Ciryl already fought two times in Paris, finished his opponent two times in Paris, and enjoyed the moment to win in Paris,” Lopez continued. “I think for him, it is a new challenge to go to Abu Dhabi, a new different market, and for him to be qualified if they need him for the (title).”

    Of course, plans have changed since Lopez made those comments. Gane will no longer have the chance to make a splash in Abu Dhabi next month following the withdrawal of Alexander Volkov through injury.

    Instead, the Frenchman looks set for the chance for redemption in Las Vegas, where he was submitted in the opening round by Jon Jones in March 2023. His clash with Volkov is expected to be rescheduled for UFC 310 at the T-Mobile Arena this December.

    Meanwhile, Saint Denis has the chance to close the gap on his fellow countryman when it comes to being France’s poster boy for MMA. To do so, he’ll need to return to winning ways at the expense of Moicano this weekend.

  • ‘Bad Man Coming…’ – Fans React To UFC Signing Former Two-Division ONE Champion Reinier de Ridder

    ‘Bad Man Coming…’ – Fans React To UFC Signing Former Two-Division ONE Champion Reinier de Ridder

    The UFC middleweight division just got an eyebrow-raising addition.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion has appeared more willing to sign high-profile names who established themselves under the banners of other organizations in recent times.

    Notably, the UFC has added Michael “Venom” Page, Kai Asakura, and Kayla Harrison to its roster. Now joining them is Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder who became a free agent earlier this year.

    After reports of his arrival, “The Dutch Knight” confirmed that he is UFC bound in a video on his Instagram account.

    De Ridder (17-2) recorded his final ONE win in July 2022 when he submitted Vitaly Bigdash with an inverted triangle choke. The result was a successful defense of his middleweight (205 pounds) belt, which he held alongside the promotion’s light heavyweight championship (225 pounds).

    But the Dutchman had his then-perfect record blemished and both of his titles ripped away in a two-fight series with Anatoly Malykhin, who now holds three pieces of gold in ONE.

    The 34-year-old parted ways with ONE following his March loss to the Russian, competing once since. De Ridder returned to winning ways with a knockout victory over Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors 51 this past July.

    He’ll now look to continue his momentum inside the Octagon, where he’s expected to make a splash at 185 pounds.

    Fans React To Reinier de Ridder’s UFC Signing

    Unsurprisingly, the news of the UFC’s latest high-profile signing drew immediate reactions from the MMA community on social media.

    The fanbase appeared split, with some backing de Ridder for immediate success and others suggesting that the Breda, Netherlands native has arrived in the sport’s leading promotion too late in his career.

    https://twitter.com/CTE_Society/status/1838690686302093648
  • Merab Dvalishvili Told He Must Fix ‘Abysmal’ Stat To Gain Fan Support As UFC Champion

    Merab Dvalishvili Told He Must Fix ‘Abysmal’ Stat To Gain Fan Support As UFC Champion

    According to one prominent figure in MMA, it would be disastrous for UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili’s career if he doesn’t start recording finishes.

    Dvalishvili currently sits on the throne at 135 pounds following his biggest win to date earlier this month. In the headlining act of the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view at the Sphere, the Georgian unseated Sean O’Malley.

    While predictions had varied in the lead-up, Dvalishvili enjoyed dominance throughout the five-round main event in Las Vegas, capturing the crown by way of unanimous decision.

    The result marked “The Machine’s” 11th straight victory under the UFC banner. But the ongoing run has seen Dvalishvili record just one finish — a comeback knockout of Marlon Moraes in 2021.

    Aside from that firefight, the champ used his renowned cardio, pace, and grappling prowess to outlast opponents. But while that got him to the title dance, one notable coach doesn’t think it can continue now that he’s holding gold…

    Coach Zahabi Sees Major Issue With UFC Champ Dvalishvili’s Style

    During a video recently uploaded to the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, coach Firas Zahabi reflected on Dvalishvili’s title win inside the Sphere and assessed the style that has seen him reach the top.

    Although “The Machine’s” approach has proved mightily affective when it comes to having his hand raised inside the Octagon, the Canadian trainer doesn’t think it’s sustainable and will soon lead to significant fan backlash.

    “On the ground, guys, I’ll tell you something, Merab never finishes,” Zahabi said. “Look, I love Merab…I love his personality. I love the craziness, I love the fact that in the beginning of round one, Merab is yelling at O’Malley’s corner. … He’s a very charming, lovable character. … The only one thing you can predict about Merab is that he’s going to shoot that takedown. His cardio is unmatchable. … The good thing about Merab, his cardio is amazing. His personality is amazing. The bad thing about Merab, he doesn’t finish — he doesn’t even get close to a finish.

    “His finishing record is abysmal, I’ve got to be honest,” Zahabi continued. “I’m telling you guys, I love the guy, he’s a world champion. I think he’s awesome. However, his finishing rate — imagine you can take down almost everybody you’ve ever fought, and you literally only have one submission. That doesn’t make any sense. … He needs to have in-depth, super-deep courses on how to finish — submission, ground-and-pound — he has to change his style. … If he doesn’t do it, the fans will get sick of him. … They’ll get sick of him running around the ring and just taking people down. They’re going to get sick of that. He has to entertain the crowd. … If he doesn’t, it could be disastrous to his career.”

    Those remarks likely won’t bother Dvalishvili for now, as he’s continuing his celebrations after achieving his championship ambitions in the sport’s leading promotion.

    But as his reign gets underway, perhaps the Georgian will look to show an increased killer instinct and dispatch challengers inside the distance.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with some memorable highlights on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS, the inaugural season of which took place back in 2017, sees some of the top prospects in mixed martial arts enter the cage in front of White and the matchmakers, looking to put in a performance worthy of a place on the UFC roster.

    Last year’s edition saw 46 fighters bag a deal with the sport’s premier promotion across 10 events, up on the 43 from 2022. Through six episodes of season eight, 24 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the seventh added another five talents to the UFC roster. That included 22-year-old featherweight prospect Kevin Vallejos, who delivered arguably the highlight of the night by stopping Cam Teague with an onslaught of punches in the second fight on the card.

    Three finishes followed, with Italian welterweight Daniel Frunza also forcing a stoppage with strikes while light heavyweight Kevin Christian and heavyweight Danylo Voievodkin found submissions.

    All four of those winners earned contracts from White, as did Brazilian strawweight Alexia Thainara. Despite going the distance, the 26-year-old did enough to impress and secure her path to the Octagon.

    With that in mind, see below for the moments that landed five athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Alexia Thainara Def. Rose Conceicao Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Kevin Vallejos Def. Cam Teague Via TKO (Punches): R1, 2:23

    Kevin Christian Def. Francesco Mazzeo Via Submission (Armbar): R2, 4:17

    Daniel Frunza Def. Vadym Kutsyi Via TKO (Punches): R2, 3:30

    Danylo Voievodkin Def. Bailey Schoenfelder via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R1, 1:13

  • Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Count former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier among those incredibly excited for this weekend’s main event in Paris.

    For the third straight year, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is staging an event in the French capital in September. While the first two following the 2020 legalization of the sport in the European nation saw Ciryl Gane as the main attraction, Saturday’s card will be topped by a different French standout.

    Headlining inside the Accor Arena on September 29 is rising lightweight Benoît Saint Denis. “God of War” is returning to the cage after having his surge up the ladder stalled by top-five contender Dustin Poirier in Miami this past March.

    While Saint Denis started strong, the effects of a pre-fight staph infection appeared to hinder his gas tank and result in a knocking triumph for “The Diamond.”

    To get back to the kind of violent success he experienced before running into Poirier, the Frenchman must get past Renato Moicano. The #11-ranked contender has gotten the better of Drew Dober and Jalin Turner since returning from an injury layoff this year.

    The clash looks set to be an enthralling one, going down amid the usual electric atmosphere seen at MMA events in Paris. And in terms of the main event matchup, one former fighter-turned-color commentator doesn’t think there’s been much better for a UFC Fight Night in a while…

    Cormier Excited To Watch Moicano vs. Saint Denis At Often Skipped UFC Fight Night

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in France.

    “DC” gave props to both men for their skillsets and recent outings inside the Octagon, suggesting they’re likely to come together to put on an entertaining affair in Saturday’s main event.

    And despite admitting that he often chooses against watching the UFC Fight Night cards he isn’t commentating on, Cormier insisted he would not miss this one.

    “(Moicano’s) got a tough one against Benoît Saint Denis, who also fought well against Dustin,” Cormier said. “I think this is going to be a fantastic fight, and I do believe this is one of the better main events for a Fight Night that we’ve had in a really long time.

    “I’m watching it. Honestly, a lot of Saturdays when I’m at home, I choose other things to do. I go watch football, I go play — I do something,” Cormier continued. “Saturday night, I’m tapping into this one because I’ve got to watch Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis fight.”

    With all eyes on their crucial lightweight showdown, Moicano and Saint Denis will look to prove Cormier right unleashing fireworks when they share the cage inside the Accor Arena in a few days’ time.

  • VIDEO: Leon Edwards Teaches UK Comedians Rear-Naked Choke, Kick That KO’d Kamaru Usman

    VIDEO: Leon Edwards Teaches UK Comedians Rear-Naked Choke, Kick That KO’d Kamaru Usman

    Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards put two of the most well-known comedians in the United Kingdom through their paces.

    Edwards, who recorded two successful title defenses before being unseated from the throne by Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, trains at the Team Renegade gym in Birmingham, England.

    While “Rocky” remains its most high-profile fighter, the facility also houses notable names like upcoming Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards and UFC lightweight Jai Herbert. Top UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen also frequently hits the mats there.

    Earlier this year, however, Team Renegade had some…well, less athletic individuals within its walls…

    Leon Edwards Shows Romesh Ranganathan & Rob Beckett The Ropes

    UK comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett paid a visit to Team Renegade to try their hand at mixed martial arts for an episode of their Rob & Romesh Vs television series on Sky. The show sees the duo tested in various realms outside of their comfort zone.

    That includes learning to sprint with Olympic legend Usain Bolt, cooking in a restaurant with a Michelin-starred chef, and writing music with Shania Twain. Undoubtedly the most brutal and perhaps physically demanding, though, was the Rob & Romesh Vs UFC episode.

    Ranganathan and Beckett entered the cage with Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell. The pair talked the comedians through various moves, including the rear-naked choke.

    At one point, the UFC star locked Beckett into the move and drew out a humorous reaction as he applied pressure.

    Edwards also guided the pair through the hard-hitting kick that saw him capture the welterweight title at the expense of Kamaru Usman back in 2022. Beckett compared the impact of Edwards’ kick on the pads to the sound of “a gun.”

    They couldn’t quite repeat that when having a go themselves, with Ranganathan hilariously connecting to the pads with his toe rather than shin, leaving him in pain.

  • ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

    According to one longtime rival of Conor McGregor’s, Michael Chandler is owed a lot by the UFC for his lengthy stint on the sidelines.

    By the time Chandler enters the Octagon again, it will have been two years since his most recent outing. The former Bellator champion started life on MMA’s biggest stage in rapid fashion, but that trend has certainly dipped in recent times.

    That’s no doubt down to one man, “The Notorious” McGregor. His comeback was announced toward the start of 2023, with the Irishman confirmed to be coaching opposite Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter before their own clash inside the cage at the end of the season.

    But the finale came and went, as did multiple rumored fight dates and an official booking at UFC 303 this past June. Chandler remained steadfast in his desire to wait for McGregor, in spite of plenty urging him to move on.

    Finally, confirmation that the Dubliner won’t return until 2025 has seen Chandler accept a different assignment, running it back with former UFC lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 this November.

    With that five-round rematch inside Madison Square Garden, Chandler has the chance to reignite his title ambitions, which took a hit when he was submitted by Dustin Poirier last time out in late 2022.

    One man who has had his fair share of back and forth with McGregor, however, doesn’t think Chandler is getting enough for his troubles…

    McGregor Rival Calls For Chandler To Be Financially Rewarded For Patience

    During a recent interview with CanadaCasino.ca, former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi gave his assessment of the situation between McGregor and Chandler.

    Malignaggi has long had strong feelings when it comes to the former, with the pair having animosity between them stemming back to the release of sparring footage that appeared to show McGregor knocking “Magic Man” down in 2017.

    The ex-boxer evidently has similar views on the UFC as he slammed the promotion for ‘underpaying’ its fighters. And because of that, he doesn’t expect Chandler to be getting the kind of compensation he believes “Iron” deserves.

    “I’d love for Chandler to be financially rewarded for waiting but I doubt it. Who’s going to reward him? The UFC is run by the most selfish people. They underpay the fighters who fight — imagine how they treat the fighters who don’t,” Malignaggi said. “He should be compensated, but I’m not sure how they’d handle that. I think he deserves it, but he’s been waiting on the sidelines for this fight, and it’s just not going to happen for him.

    “I feel for Chandler. Fighting is a tough way to make a living. It’s not easy. You get damaged, your best years pass by, and you can’t go back to reach the levels you want,” Malignaggi continued. “When you get to the point where your best years are behind you, you’d hope for a big payday to make the rest of your life more comfortable. This struggle is common in combat sports.”

    While it remains to be seen whether Chandler will be getting anything additional for the ultimately unsuccessful wait he endured, perhaps he’s more likely to be given his targeted title shot in 2025 should he avenge his past loss to Oliveira come fight night at MSG later this year.

  • Michael Bisping: Renato Moicano ‘Has No Idea What He’s Stepping Into’ Against Benoît Saint Denis In Paris

    Michael Bisping: Renato Moicano ‘Has No Idea What He’s Stepping Into’ Against Benoît Saint Denis In Paris

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks Renato Moicano is in for a shock when he makes the walk in the French capital.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Paris this week to stage its third event in France. The appetite for events in the country has consistently increased since MMA was legalized there in 2020, and the enthusiasm for the sport has been evident at the two UFC Fight Nights staged at the Accor Arena thus far.

    The cards, which were both headlined by Ciryl Gane, delivered in terms of both the action inside the Octagon and the atmosphere within the arena, which picked up whenever the country’s own athletes were in action.

    Not many nations replicate the kind of hostile environment for opposition fighters that France does, and Moicano stands to experience that firsthand this weekend when he headlines opposite Benoît Saint Denis.

    Bisping Warns Moicano Of Fired Up French Crowd, ‘Violent’ Saint Denis

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsLG8PTcNE

    During TNT Sports’ Fight Week Preview for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Paris, Bisping looked ahead to the event and recounted his experience commentating inside Paris’ Accor Arena.

    While “The Count” gave Moicano props for his abilities and self-belief, he insisted that the fan-favorite lightweight contender is in for a surprise when he clashes with Saint Denis in the Frenchman’s own backyard.

    “Every time they’ve been to Paris, the crowd has been phenomenal. The fights have been great, but I’m telling you, the atmosphere has been electric,” Bisping said. “This will be no different because in the main event, it’s the French Special Forces, the ridiculously violent and aggressive Benoît Saint Denis. The man that almost, almost decapitated and finished Dustin Poirier.

    “In steps the opponent, Renato ‘Money’ Moicano, a man that is also slowly doing his own thing, becoming a star in the lightweight division as well,” Bisping continued. “Saint Denis is going to be extra violent because he’s in Paris. … Renato Moicano, even though he’s really good, and he’s really skilled, and he’s got great jiu-jitsu, and he’s very confident, and he’s good with the fists, has got no idea what he is stepping into. He’s flying into enemy territory, and I’m telling you, I cannot wait for this.”

    Moicano will look to prove Bisping wrong by handling the hostile reception he receives from the French crowd with poise, and subsequently repeating the feat when it comes to dealing with Saint Denis’ offense inside the cage.

    While the Brazilian is fighting down the rankings, a victory over the man whom his teammate Dustin Poirier defeated to secure a title shot earlier this year would no doubt be a big scalp on his record and pursuit of an opportunity at the gold himself.

  • BKFC President ‘100 Percent’ Confident Of Bare-Knuckle Future For Conor McGregor: ‘Why Wouldn’t You?’ 

    BKFC President ‘100 Percent’ Confident Of Bare-Knuckle Future For Conor McGregor: ‘Why Wouldn’t You?’ 

    After speaking to Conor McGregor, BKFC president David Feldman has no doubt that the former two-division UFC champion will compete in his promotion down the line.

    McGregor’s combat sports future currently sits under a sizable cloud of uncertainty, one that’s hovered over him ever since a broken leg condemned him to the sidelines back in 2021.

    After a lengthy recovery, the Irishman’s UFC comeback was announced at the start of 2023, with the ex-featherweight and lightweight titleholder penciled in to coach opposite Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter ahead of an Octagon showdown.

    Over a year-and-a-half later, the pair’s matchup has still not reached the cage, and that’s despite an official booking this past summer. Now, Chandler is moving on to run it back with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November.

    McGregor, meanwhile, continues to have fingers in every pie, and that includes the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The Dubliner became a part-owner of the bare-knuckle promotion earlier this year and has continued to be a prominent presence at events.

    With just two fights left on his UFC deal, which he hopes to get in next year, many have pondered whether “The Notorious” star could make a high-profile switch from the Octagon to the BKFC ring.

    And according to the BKFC president, it’s not a matter of if, but when…

    Feldman Reveals McGregor Talks Over BKFC Fight

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Feldman discussed McGregor’s growing involvement in and promotion of the BKFC brand ever since he invested in the organization this past April.

    One of the leading topics has centered around a possible bare-knuckle venture for the Irishman himself, and Feldman appears extremely confident of that coming to fruition following a recent conversation with him.

    “Unless he’s the best salesman in the world, the talks that we’ve had it’s like, ‘I’m fighting here,’” Feldman said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, OK.’ He (said), ‘I’m fighting here.’

    “I go, ‘Why wouldn’t you fight here?’ Because you have equity in the company and if you fight here, you’ll probably make more money than anywhere else in the world because of what it’s going to do for the company. So I truly believe what you said. I think 100 percent he fights here.”

    Before talk of McGregor putting his fists to work in BKFC’s squared circle can pick up, McGregor will first need to fulfil his obligations on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    It remains to be seen when the first of the two remaining bouts on his UFC contract will come and against whom. But during his appearance at the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois event in London this past weekend, McGregor told DAZN’s Ariel Helwani that he’s still hoping to finish his business with Chandler in 2025.

  • ‘They Scared Of The Future Champ’ – Fans React As Movsar Evloev Removed From UFC 307 Card After No Replacement Stepped Up

    Some MMA enthusiasts aren’t surprised at UFC featherweights’ unwillingness to do battle with the undefeated Movsar Evloev on short notice.

    One of the key bouts set for the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5 took a hit earlier this month when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling announced his withdrawal through injury.

    “Funk Master” was scheduled to share the cage with the #6-ranked Evloev in what would have marked his second outing in the 145-pound division.

    The promotion had hoped to keep the unbeaten Russian on the lineup, which also boasts the likes of Kayla Harrison, José Aldo, and Kevin Holland below championship headliners that will see Alex Pereira and Raquel Pennington defend their titles.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, the UFC failed in its pursuit of a replacement opponent, with nobody agreeing to fight Evloev on the Oct. 5 date.

    Evloev Off UFC 307 Lineup, Fans React

    After Evloev called the weight class out on social media in the hopes of keeping himself on the UFC 307 card following news of Sterling’s injury, a few names emerged. But while notable contenders like Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell expressed a willingness to face the Russian, they required more time.

    Fans were quick to give their thoughts on Evloev’s forced withdrawal on social media. Takes varied, with some using the absence of willing foes as evidence of Evloev’s talents and others suggesting that he won’t be missed at UFC 307 given his lack of Octagon finishes.

    https://twitter.com/yrbmar/status/1838310433976955048
    https://twitter.com/fr33ourminds/status/1838309835210645857
  • Valentina Shevchenko Surprised At Number Of Alexa Grasso Backers Pre-UFC 306: ‘When Pro Fighters Say That…’

    Valentina Shevchenko Surprised At Number Of Alexa Grasso Backers Pre-UFC 306: ‘When Pro Fighters Say That…’

    UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko was shocked to be on the wrong side of so many predictions from fellow fighters prior to her victory inside the Sphere earlier this month.

    Shevchenko began her second reign on the 125-pound throne at the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event in Las Vegas on September 14, where she finally got the better of Alexa Grasso at the third time of asking.

    Having previously been submitted by the Mexican to lose the belt and failed to regain it in a split draw, “Bullet” turned to her smothering wrestling game to get the job done in lopsided fashion when the pair completed their trilogy.

    The way the bout played out was a stark contrast to what most had expected, with some branding it among the toughest championship fights to predict so far this year in the lead-up.

    That view left plenty edging to the side of the defending champion ahead of UFC 306, which evidently left Shevchenko baffled…

    Shevchenko Shocked To See UFC Peers Picking Against Her

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Shevchenko took a moment to address the number of people — specifically other professional fighters — who had leant the way of Grasso in their pre-fight picks.

    While the newly crowned champ would have expected such takes from the fanbase, she expressed surprise at how many of her UFC peers dismissed her chances of unseating the Mexican on fight night.

    “Surprisingly for me, many UFC fighters, many pro fighters, when they had their picks before our third fight, they said, ‘Grasso…oh Grasso.’ It was kind of one-sided,” Shevchenko said. “It was a little bit surprising for me. I would take it from people who don’t know much about martial arts, and they just want to see (stupidity) in the striking, like (finding out) who has a stronger chin, a stronger head, and it doesn’t involve too much technique, too much fighter IQ, too much of the character of the fighter.

    “I would take it from those people, but when pro fighters say that, it was like, ‘Oh my God. There’s something wrong with this world,’” Shevchenko continued. “That’s another reason I had to show domination. I had to show I’m superior in every field.”

    Regardless, Shevchenko proved her doubters wrong inside the Sphere to commence a second rule of the flyweight division. She’ll now set her sights on adding another defense to her résumé, which will likely need to come at the expense of the charging Manon Fiorot.

  • John McCarthy: Merab Dvalishvili Could Have Lost Points For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ At UFC 306

    John McCarthy: Merab Dvalishvili Could Have Lost Points For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ At UFC 306

    According to former referee John McCarthy, Herb Dean would have been well within his rights to penalize UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili for his actions against Sean O’Malley.

    Dvalishvili secured his long-awaited crowning moment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at this month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view. The Georgian topped the lineup, staged inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, in competition for O’Malley’s title.

    While “Suga” was able to find the fight-ending blow against Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling last year to capture the gold, that wasn’t the case on September 14.

    Instead, “The Machine” used his renowned gas tank and grappling abilities to earn the nod on all three scorecards. But while there was little debate over the decision, there’s been plenty of discussion surrounding other aspects of the fight.

    In addition to a verbal altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s coach in the opening moments of round one, the second stanza came to a close with controversy after the Georgian used his dominant position to repeatedly kiss the champ’s back.

    The moment almost ended in disaster for Dvalishvili, who took the referee’s calls to stop as the end of the round and turned his back on O’Malley with seconds remaining, leading to him eating a strike.

    But according to McCarthy, Dvalishvili would have faced further consequences had he been officiating the UFC 306 main event…

    McCarthy Recalls Docking Fighter 2 Points For Kissing Opponent In Light Of UFC 306 Moment

    During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside former Strikeforce and UFC fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy looked back on how Dean officiated the September 14 main event in Las Vegas.

    On the topic of Dvalishvili’s back kisses toward the end of round two, McCarthy recalled how he dealt with a similar situation during his days as an active referee.

    “I’ve been in this position where I had a fighter kiss another fighter. You look and you go…’What the f*ck did you just do?’ It takes you a second to realize, ‘You just f*cking kissed him!’ Then it’s a matter of how you are going to deal with it,” McCarthy said. “I took two points from him. You want to do something that is absolutely not part of our sport, nobody asked you to do it, nobody wants you to do it, and you want to be cute? Congratulations, you better go finish the fight now. I can disqualify you if I want.

    “When that happened, Herb was caught off guard, let’s just be honest,” McCarthy continued. “He should have either made a decisive, ‘Stop! Time, you get over there, you get over there,’ and do something about what just occurred. If he wants to give him a hard warning over it, that’s fine. If he wants to take points, take points for unsportsmanlike conduct, that’s fine. But he got caught in the middle of it.”

    O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, have since given their own verdict on the moment, suggesting that had the referee kept completely out of the way, “Suga” could have launched a potentially fight-ending head kick from behind.

    Alas, that wasn’t to be, and Dvalishvili instead ground out a convincing victory on the scorecards. But with some referees evidently favoring stern punishment for his actions inside the Sphere, perhaps he’ll be a little less keen to place his lips on his next opponent.

  • Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik thinks one recent revelation may have boosted the UFC’s spirits following the unseating of Sean O’Malley from the bantamweight throne.

    O’Malley’s reign came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili earlier this month when the pair headlined the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.

    The Georgian challenger closed out the Mexican Independence Day celebration by utilizing his renowned cardio and grappling prowess en route to a convincing unanimous decision triumph over “Suga.”

    That result saw O’Malley’s divisional rule end in his second defense, six months on from his first opposite Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami. In the eyes of some, “The Machine” played spoiler for the UFC’s plan to ascend O’Malley to superstar status.

    Anik, however, has explained why the organization may not be as down on the Montana native’s loss as many would expect…

    Anik: UFC Avoided Possible Interim Title Scenario With O’Malley Defeat

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Anik reflected on the UFC’s debut event inside the Sphere on September 14, paying particular attention to the result that closed out the show.

    Anik appeared to acknowledge that Dvalishvili’s win was perhaps not the outcome favored by the promotion at the time. But with the revelation regarding “Suga’s” injury — a torn labrum that requires surgery — the commentator suggested that the title changing hands could be a blessing in disguise for the UFC.

    “I think the good news if you’re looking for a silver lining for the UFC is that had Sean won this fight, maybe this hip injury would have had to be repaired anyway, right?” Anik said. “And then you wonder if you need an interim champion. So I think right now, your new champion is pretty durable and willing to take on all challengers.

    “And a murderers’ row, of course, awaits Sean O’Malley with the Cory Sandhagens of all the world and everybody else,” Anik continued. “There are a lot of dream-type matchups at ’35 for fight fans, right? Even Sean O’Malley and Dominick Cruz makes some semblance of sense right now. So there’s a lot of different fights at ’35 that make a lot of sense.”

    It remains to be seen when O’Malley will have his chance to bounce back inside the cage, with the former champ himself giving timelines ranging from eight months to a full one-year layoff.

    But throughout his stint on the sidelines, it would appear that fans are set to see plenty more social media posts claiming victory over Dvalishvili — and alongside that, plenty of X community notes…

  • Jorge Masvidal Continues Long-Standing Leon Edwards Feud: ‘I Will Whoop Your F**king Ass!’

    Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal doesn’t appear keen to bury the hatchet with welterweight contender Leon Edwards anytime soon.

    Significant animosity has existed between Masvidal, a former two-time UFC title challenger, and Edwards, who was unseated from the throne just this past July, ever since a London-held UFC Fight Night in 2019.

    Both men emerged victorious that night, with “Rocky” defeating Gunnar Nelson and “Gamebred” knocking out Darren Till in the main event. But the real talking point came in the aftermath backstage, where Masvidal and Edwards exchanged words before the former struck the Brit with a quick combination.

    The Miami native later dubbed the strikes a “three piece and a soda.” But despite Edwards long vowing to get his revenge in the cage, they’re still yet to collide for a second time. That’s even despite and official booking in late 2021, which fell away after Masvidal pulled out due to a rib injury. And “Gamebred’s” subsequent retirement last year appeared to take away any chance of their feud reaching the Octagon.

    Now, however, the 39-year-old has his sights set on a return. But while that could perhaps reignite talk of a long-awaited clash with Edwards, Masvidal expects the former champ to avoid him.

    Masvidal Pitches Date For Edwards Fight, Suggests He ‘Don’t Want This’

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Masvidal reiterated his plans to bring his short-lived MMA retirement to an end,

    In terms of the ambitions he still holds inside the Octagon, “Gamebred” would like to settle his unfinished business with Edwards, even pitching UFC 310 in Las Vegas on December 7 as a possible fight date.

    But in addition to the promotion seemingly not being onboard with that idea, Masvidal claims Edwards has no interest in throwing down with him.

    “I know he wouldn’t fight me,” Masvidal said (h/t Damon Martin). “He got offered and turned it down. He don’t want this. I tried [to fight him]. Leon Edwards don’t want this. He had other options, he went for other things except fight me, basically. I’ll tell you that much.

    “I’ll tell you right now, Leon, I will whoop your f*cking ass,” Masvidal continued. “Let’s f*cking go. I don’t know, maybe Dec. 7 in Vegas, maybe next year at the Super Bowl. I don’t know but I’ll beat the f*ck out of your little skinny ass.”

    It remains to be seen if and when Masvidal will make his UFC comeback — and who could be chosen to welcome “Gamebred” back to the Octagon.

    But the Miami native is seemingly preparing hard for it at the American Top Team facility. He recently got some work in with former Bellator champ Yaroslav Amosov, who has entered free agency and is rumored to be on his way to the UFC himself.

  • Sean Strickland Set To Join Alex Pereira’s Camp For UFC 307 Title Defense

    Sean Strickland Set To Join Alex Pereira’s Camp For UFC 307 Title Defense

    UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will have the help of an ex-opponent ahead of his return in Salt Lake City.

    Pereira has had a bumper 2024 thus far, firmly putting himself in Fighter of the Year contention by recording consecutive successful title defenses in major main events at UFC 300 and UFC 303.

    “Poatan” leapt to the promotion’s rescue on both occasions, first when other avenues for the milestone April pay-per-view didn’t come to fruition and then when Conor McGregor pulled out of International Fight Week on late notice.

    The Brazilian boosted his stock at the expense of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, both of whom fell to the same violent fate to ensure Pereira’s continued reign on the throne at 205 pounds.

    And Pereira is far from done with his high level of activity. He’s set to to return at the Utah-held UFC 307 event on October 5, a PPV he’ll headline against a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    To prepare, “Poatan” is seeking help from a man who has not exactly seen eye to eye with Rountree in recent years…

    Pereira Seeks Aid Of Former Opponent Strickland For UFC 307 Defense

    Much is often said about the challenges of fighting in the conditions brought with it by Salt Lake City’s elevation. As a result, fighters usually head out early to acclimatize.

    That’s currently the case for Pereira, whose latest YouTube video detailed his early training sessions in the “Beehive State” after arriving with his team a few weeks out from UFC 307. Among those with him is head coach Glover Teixeira, fellow UFC 307 fighter César Almeida, and his sister Aline Pereira.

    That group will also soon be joined by much different character in former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Since “Poatan” knocked the American out back in 2022, the pair have formed a friendship and even trained together.

    Pereira revealed during his video that Strickland is set to arrive in Salt Lake City to aid in his preparations this week.

    While “Tarzan” has never shared the cage with Rountree, the pair do appear to have some animosity stemming from Strickland’s reaction to “War Horse’s” emotional post-fight speech at the Apex back in 2022.

  • Stacked UFC 308 Lineup Takes A Hit As Main Card Fight Gets Postponed

    Stacked UFC 308 Lineup Takes A Hit As Main Card Fight Gets Postponed

    While still loaded with prominent names and big stakes, next month’s UFC 308 pay-per-view has lost one of its main card matchups.

    After staging a UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi early last month, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will soon be back in the Middle East for its annual October numbered event at the Etihad Arena.

    And the UFC has put together a stacked card for the occasion, headlined by a highly anticipated featherweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway. Setting the stage for them will be a rearranged middleweight showdown that sees Khamzat Chimaev return against Robert Whittaker.

    Among a slew of other ranked collisions was set to be a heavyweight rematch between former interim champion Ciryl Gane and charging Russian Alexander Volkov. That, however, doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

    Per French outlet La Sueur, the bout has been postponed due to an injury on the side of “Drago.” The pair are now expected to run back their 2021 bout at UFC 310 in Las Vegas on December 7.

    With this news, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos (welterweight)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan (middleweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos (bantamweight)
    • Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai (lightweight)
    • Bruno Silva vs. Ismail Naurdiev (middleweight)
    • Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo (bantamweight)
    • Justin Tafa vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
    • Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira (middleweight)
    • Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira (light heavyweight)
  • 2024 PFL MENA 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights

    2024 PFL MENA 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights

    The inaugural PFL MENA season continued on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    Having broken onto the scene with its regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun its pursuit of further prominence around the globe.

    In 2023, that took sizable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season. And this year, the promotion continues to grow with its latest regional expansion, PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa).

    Like the inaugural and sophomore cards in May and July of this year, the playoffs event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The PFL MENA Studio in Boulevard City played host as a number of athletes booked their spots at the championship finals later this year.

    The main event came at 145 pounds, where Saudi Arabia’s own Abdullah Al-Qahtani had hope to advance from his semifinal against Jordan’s Abdelrahman Alhyasat. After recording two wins at PFL global events in 2023 and opening his 2024 with another knockout triumph on the PFL vs. Bellator card, “The Reaper” was now nearing regional dominance.

    However, hopes of that came to a crashing halt courtesy of Alhyasat’s efforts on fight night. He outpointed the home favorite on all three scorecards to take home the upset win.

    While the event was broadcast on DAZN for select countries, it was unfortunately not available to audiences in the United States. However, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.

    2024 PFL MENA Playoffs Results & Highlights

    • Featherweight Semifinal: Abdelrahman Alhyasat def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani via unanimous decision
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Omar El Dafrawy def. Jarrah Al-Selawe via TKO: R1, 3:11
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Mohammad Alaqraa def. Amir Fazli via unanimous decision
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Souhil Tairi via unanimous decision
    • Bantamweight Semifinal: Ali Taleb def. Jalal Al Daaja via KO (punch): R1, 2:18
    • Featherweight Semifinal: Islam Reda def. Marouane Bellagouit via unanimous decision
    • Bantamweight Semifinal: Rachid El Hazoume def. Elias Boudegzdame via unanimous decision
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Georges Eid def. Omar Reguigui via TKO (punches): R1, 1:39
    • Amateur Flyweight Showcase: Malik Basahel def. Saher Qasmieh via unanimous decision
    • Featherweight Showcase: Adam Meskini def. Yazeed Hasanain via split decision

    Adam Meskini Def. Yazeed Hasanain

    Malik Basahel Def. Saher Qasmieh

    Georges Eid Def. Omar Reguigui

    Rachid El Hazoume Def. Elias Boudegzdame

    Islam Reda Def. Marouane Bellagouit

    Ali Taleb Def. Jalal Al Daaja

    Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Souhil Tairi

    Mohammad Alaqraa Def. Amir Fazli

    Omar El Dafrawy Def. Jarrah Al-Selawe

    Abdelrahman Alhyasat Def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani

  • 41-Year-Old Stephen Thompson Dismisses ‘Old Guy’ Label’ Ahead Of UFC 307

    Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson doesn’t feel his age, something he’ll look to prove when he returns to the cage.

    Thompson, a former two-time title challenger at 170 pounds, turned 41 this year. Nevertheless, he still occupies a spot inside the division’s top 10, which he’ll hope to defend in Salt Lake City early next month.

    At UFC 307 on October 5, “Wonderboy” will feature on the deep card opposite the rising Joaquin Buckley. Following four straight wins since dropping to welterweight, “New Mansa” is looking to climb into contention at the expense of Thompson.

    But despite the high-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov achieving that feat against him last time out, the striking specialist plans on turning Buckley away from the top 10 to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank.

    Stephen Thompson: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25!’

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Thompson looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024 as he looks to return to winning ways and reignite his hopes of a late-career title shot.

    “Wonderboy” explained his willingness to give rising names in the division the chance to climb against him and branded his clash with Buckley a “test” for where he is at in his career.

    Pre-fight, Thompson still feels in his prime years.

    “I’m still one of the top guys who gives those guys who are coming up a chance. There’s a lot of guys at the top, especially in the welterweight division, that are trying to hold on to their spot as long as they can,” Thompson said. “But I was given the opportunity when I was coming up. … I want to give that back to these guys that are up-and-coming who want to try and take that spot.

    “For me, it’s my test. It’s my test to see if I’ve still got it against these young bucks,” Thompson continued. “Everybody’s looking at me as the old guy. I’m 41, I’ll be 42 in February, but I feel like I’m 25. I’m just as fast and I’m getting better. I don’t mind stepping out and giving these guys that are up-and-coming the chance to prove themselves.”

    Whether or not the feelings of a 25-year-old will translate in the Octagon on Oct. 5 remains to be seen.

    Looking to ensure it doesn’t is a Buckley who has had a stellar year thus far, knocking out Vicente Luque and outpointing Nursulton Ruziboev to established himself at #11 in the welterweight pecking order.