MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest pay-per-view Down Under at the RAC Arena in Perth this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back on home soil to put on another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a crucial clash of top contenders in the middleweight division, with former title challenger Jared Cannonier and the fast-rising Caio Borralho both looking to put themselves in a strong position within the title picture.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Angela Hill, Neil Magny, and Edmen Shahbazyan will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon, while this year’s TUF finales also go down inside the Apex.

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho takes place on Saturday, August 24, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 7 p.m. ET/4p.m. PT.

    See above for a live stream of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Main Event: Jared Cannonier (184lbs) vs. Caio Borralho (186lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight Co-Main Event: Angela Hill (115.5lbs) vs. Tabatha Ricci (115lbs)
    • Middleweight (TUF 32 Finale): Robert Valentin (185lbs) vs. Ryan Loder (186lbs)
    • Featherweight (TUF 32 Finale): Kaan Ofli (145lbs) vs. Mairon Santos (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Neil Magny (170lbs) vs. Michael Morales (171lbs)
    • Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (184.5lbs) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Dennis Buzukja (155.5lbs) vs. Francis Marshall (156lbs)
    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese (184.5lbs) vs. Jose Medina (186lbs)
    • Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev (155.5lbs) vs. James Llontop (154.5lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135lbs) vs. Josiane Nunes (136lbs)
    • Featherweight: Zygimantas Ramaska (146lbs) vs. Nathan Fletcher (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong (125lbs) vs. Victoria Leonardo (125lbs)
  • Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoff

    Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoff

    The build-up to Francis Ngannou’s long-awaited MMA comeback and PFL debut continued on Thursday, with the heavyweight powerhouse going face-to-face with opponent Renan Ferreira at the Battle of the Giants press conference.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t laced the MMA gloves since his lone successful title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He later departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home, putting pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League in May 2023.

    He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him by the PFL to complete his long-discussed venture to the sport of boxing. After shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou stayed in that realm of combat for a highly anticipated matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A devastating knockout defeat to the Brit in Saudi Arabia this past March has put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and Ngannou’s sights are instead now on the sport in which he made his name once again.

    “The Predator” will be back in the cage on October 19, making his promotional debut in the main event of a PFL Super Fight card opposite Renan Ferreira, the 2023 heavyweight champ inside the SmartCage.

    The card’s co-headliner, meanwhile, sees another major name make their return as Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg gears up for her first MMA outing in over a year. She’ll meet the PFL’s very first two-weight title winner in Larissa Pacheco this fall.

    Those four names were initially all set to appear at the Battle of the Giants press conference on August 22, held at The Anthem in Washington D.C. However, only Ngannou and Ferreira fielded questions from the media, with Pacheco also appearing briefly. It’s unknown why original plans to have Cyborg in attendance fell away.

    Check out a full stream of the presser below via the PFL’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs!

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Stream

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Faceoff

  • PFL CEO Contradicts President’s Rejection Of Muhammad Mokaev: ‘He Could Absolutely Be The Future Face Of Flyweights Within PFL’

    It doesn’t appear that the PFL higher-ups are on the same page when it comes to undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev.

    Prior to the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester last month, Mokaev appeared to be in prime position to secure a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound gold. Many suggested all that was required was a victory over Manel Kape at the Co-op Live.

    After a dramatic fight week that included him sucker-punching his opponent outside a hotel, “The Punisher” had his hand raised in a three-round fight that certainly underdelivered given the pair’s apparent animosity.

    Mokaev was the subject of plenty of criticism online for his fight style, but the bad news didn’t end there for the 23-year-old, with UFC CEO Dana White surprising many by revealing the promotion wouldn’t be offering the Dagestan-born Brit a new contract.

    White cited antics behind the scenes that rubbed Hunter Campbell and the matchmakers the wrong way as the reason behind letting Mokaev go, and it initially appeared that the Professional Fighters League had been put off by that.

    Following the PFL 7 Playoffs card on August 3, company president Ray Sefo was asked whether his promotion was entertaining the idea of pursuing Mokaev’s signature.

    “I’ve spoken to people in the know and, apparently, he’s just a pain in the ass to deal with,” Sefo said. “And so, no, we’re not interested.”

    That sentiment appeared to be backed up by ex-Bellator matchmaker Mike Kogan, who was among those who crossed over to the PFL following the promotion’s acquisition of his former employer.

    Kogan refuted Mokaev’s claims that discussions had been had, insisting that nobody at the PFL had shown “even an oz of interest.”

    But one man does appear interested — the PFL CEO, no less…

    Peter Murray Sees ‘Opportunity’ With Muhammad Mokaev After UFC Exit

    Peter Murray recently spoke with Sherdog ahead of the PFL’s press conference for Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira and final playoff event at The Anthem in Washington D.C. this week.

    The promotion’s CEO discussed his desire to open up more divisions for future PFL seasons, including a flyweight class. And in terms of who could spearhead a 125-pound roster down, Murray pointed to a talent virtually branded persona non grata by his fellow PFL executives.

    “I do think the flyweight category is something we will be getting into in the future,” Murray said. “I know our guys are looking at it. You look at fighters like Muhammad Mokaev; he’s a 13-0 flyweight from Dagestan. This kid has the second-longest winning streak in UFC flyweight history. He was 23-0 as an amateur. When I look at a kid like that, that’s an opportunity.

    “Whether it’s Muhammad coming into the PFL system in one of our franchises, whether that be the global season or Bellator, and others like him, I think it’s a real opportunity — in particular with international talent in the flyweight weight class,” Murray continued. “Muhammad is the real deal; a lot of respect for him.”

    Donn Davis, you got a third answer to the Mokaev question?

    It didn’t take long for Mokaev to take notice of Murray’s positive comments, seemingly enjoying seeing Sefo’s dismissive remarks quickly contradicted.

    • Read More: Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut
  • Henry Cejudo Provides Update On UFC Return Timeline, Teases Major Career Change

    Henry Cejudo Provides Update On UFC Return Timeline, Teases Major Career Change

    Having failed to reconquer one of the divisions he previously ruled over, former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo wants a crack at the other.

    Cejudo simultaneously held both the bantamweight and flyweight titles in 2019, eventually relinquishing the latter in December 2019 and the former following his retirement post-knocking out Dominick Cruz in May 2020.

    “Triple C’s” decision to hang up his gloves was widely questioned, with many predicting an eventual comeback. That came in 2023, but his return to action hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

    Cejudo’s first fight back saw him challenge for the 135-pound throne against Aljamain Sterling. The 37-year-old fell on the wrong side of a narrow and widely debated split decision after five rounds.

    After choosing against an immediate return to retirement, Cejudo moved to 0-2 since ending his time away from the cage at UFC 298 this past February, with Merab Dvalishvili getting the better of him across three rounds.

    Still, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist remains motivated to reach a mountaintop on MMA’s biggest stage once again. Moving forward, however, he looks to be targeting a different peak…

    Cejudo Keen On Flyweight Return: ‘None Of Those Dudes Can Hang With Me’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, Cejudo provided an update on his current status, revealing that an injury is keeping him sidelined for the time being.

    “Right now, dude, I’ve been icing an injury…for quite some time,” Cejudo said. “I want to make sure that I’m 100 percent on getting back into training. It’s just allowing this injury to freakin’ heal, dude. Father Time is real, dude, I can finally admit it. It’s just little nagging things. But this particular thing, I want to make sure I don’t have to get surgery.

    “If I allow myself to be patient and take my time, allow my injury to recover, then I’m gonna be 100 percent,” Cejudo continued. “Could I fight? I could. But am I gonna do the same thing I did my last fight and fight with a torn groin? I’m not gonna do that no more. I think I’ve learned my lesson.”

    And in terms of his comeback fight, Cejudo suggested that he’s seriously considering adjusting his sights from regaining the bantamweight crown to recapturing the flyweight title.

    “Once I’m ready, there’s a lot of options, man. There could be a potential return at flyweight. These are a lot of things I’m contemplating,” Cejudo stated. “With the bantamweight division getting hot and me kind of coming in, there’s been a lot of talk of potentially me going back down, man. Getting a fight with (Brandon) Moreno and winning the belt once again.

    “I’m gonna be making a commitment to go out there and just do another run, another run at these titles,” Cejudo added. “It’s gonna be a big sacrifice on all of our parts. … I’m committed to getting back to the ‘Triple C’ again. … None of those dudes (at flyweight) can hang with me.”

    Cejudo previously teased another run at 125 pounds during last month’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event. While commenting on Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape’s rivalry and subsequent dud inside the cage, the Olympic gold medalist teased potentially ‘saving’ the division.

    Cejudo went on to note in his conversation with King that should he decide on a flyweight return and get a green light from the UFC, he plans to complete the drop down in weight correctly, taking around six months.

    With that in mind, fans can perhaps expect to be waiting a while before seeing the former ‘champ-champ’ back inside the Octagon.

  • Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    While not officially up for grabs in the UFC 308 main event, Ilia Topuria still believes Max Holloway’s BMF status is at risk of disappearing.

    As has been the case for the past two calendar years, lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev was being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi in October.

    But with an injury set to keep the Dagestani sidelined until the end of the year or early 2025, the main event spotlight in the Middle East this time around will go to Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, and all-time great Holloway.

    The pair will do battle for the Georgian-Spaniard’s gold, which he won at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February. “Blessed,” meanwhile, garnered support for his latest chance to regain the belt by capturing the symbolic BMF strap with an emphatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

    Putting this matchup together hasn’t appeared to be easy, with both men accusing the other of delaying a booking. On Topuria’s part, he originally suggested that he’d only share the cage with Holloway if the Hawaiian’s BMF belt was also put on the line.

    That wish hasn’t been granted, but “El Matador” claims not to be bothered…

    Topuria On lack Of BMF Stakes At UFC 308: ‘I’m Just Concentrating On My Title Defense’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Topuria looked ahead to his first defense of the featherweight gold this fall.

    The champ confirmed that just his title will be up for grabs come fight night on Oct. 26. But according to Topuria, Holloway will still lose BMF status should “El Matador” deliver the kind of performance he’s expecting in the UFC 308 main event.

    “The BMF title is not going to be on the line,” Topuria said. “To be honest, I don’t care. They took that decision and, at the end of the day, it’s like, when I’m going to beat him, he can’t say he’s a BMF or however they want to call him. I’m just concentrating on my title defense and that’s it. I don’t care about anything else.”

    Topuria will have the chance to make good on his confident pre-fight predictions in close to two months’ time, when his newly started divisional rule meets about as tough a test possible from its first challenger.

  • Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling doesn’t believe Dana White had an appropriate reaction to Merab Dvalishvili’s recent cut.

    Dvalishvili, who is set to challenge current 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley for the title in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 at the Sphere next month, was scolded by White this week after he posted a video online showing a facial laceration.

    The Georgian uploaded a number of videos of the cut he suffered 25 days out from his first championship opportunity, raising slight concern in the community about his status for the September 14 card.

    “The Machine” has since clarified that nothing will prevent him from making the walk to do battle with “Sugar” in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean everyone thinks the decision to publicly display the cut was smart.

    Chief among them was the UFC CEO, who slammed Dvalishvili during the press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    Those comments, however, didn’t sit well with one of Dvalishvili’s closest friends and teammates, and somebody who’s had his own fair share of back and forth with White in the past…

    Sterling Defends Teammate Dvalishvili From White’s Wrath

    When it comes to rocky relationships between fighter and higher-ups, not many have had public disagreements with the likes of White quite like Sterling.

    The now-featherweight contender has taken issue with comments regarding his desire not to fight Dvalishvili while he was bantamweight champ, as well as what he saw as pressure to accept a quick turnaround to fight O’Malley last August.

    Suffice to say, “Funk Master” has never been one to shy away from speaking out against things said by the UFC CEO. And that trend continued this week, with Sterling leaping to the defense of Dvalishvili following White’s scathing reaction to the post detailing the Georgian’s laceration in training.

    “Everyone is making a much bigger deal over ‘the little cut’, even the boss. Merab shares his stories of training camp, the good, the bad, the ugly, and ppl LOVE him for it. There’s nothing ‘stupid’ about it, period,” Sterling wrote. “He’s training, and will show up Sept 14, like he always does. Is this about betting lines?? Is it about a fight cancelation?? Respectfully, this reaction was a bit over the top IMHO.”

    Dvalishvili has since shown his return to the training room on social media, as he gears up for the chance to bring O’Malley’s reign to an end and avenge his teammate’s knockout loss to the striking specialist in Boston last year.

  • UFC Confirms Bantamweight Veteran Arrested On Kidnapping, Assault Charges Has Been Released

    UFC Confirms Bantamweight Veteran Arrested On Kidnapping, Assault Charges Has Been Released

    Longtime UFC bantamweight Casey Kenney has been released from the promotion following his arrest on kidnapping and assault charges.

    Kenney, a former LFA interim flyweight and bantamweight champion, debuted on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage with a win over Ray Borg in 2019. He went on to compete a further seven times in the Octagon, facing the likes of Merab Dvalishvili.

    The 33-year-old hasn’t competed since 2021, a year in which he suffered consecutive split decision losses to Dominick Cruz and Song Yadong.

    Three years on, that losing skid has been confirmed as the final chapter of Kenney’s UFC career, with the organization confirming to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin that the 135-pound vet has been released amid troubling allegations of domestic abuse.

    Ex-UFC Fighter Kenney Accused Of ‘Repeatedly Striking, Slapping, Biting, Headbutting, Choking’ Partner

    Kenney was arrested on Saturday, August 16, on a number of charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident.

    Per MMA Fighting, the veteran fighter was taken into custody by Phoenix Police Fugitive Apprehension Detectives and booked on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault (strangulation), and assault.

    According to Maricopa County court records, Kenny is facing six charges in total, the most serious of which is a class 2 felony for kidnapping. If convicted, the Indiana native is facing up to 12.5 years in prison.

    Reports of an incident involving Kenney first arose when the alleged victim’s mother accused the fighter of domestic violence in a post on Instagram.

    MMA Fighting’s report includes a probable cause statement obtained from Maricopa County court records, detailing some harrowing accusations being leveled against the now-former UFC fighter.

    “Between the dates of 7-21-2024 at approximately 11:00 p.m. and 7-22-24 at approximately 12:14 a.m. while at the single family residence located at [address redacted], [suspect] Casey Kenney committed kidnapping, aggravated assault by strangulation and assault against [victim] Jasmine Mendez by repeatedly striking, slapping, biting, headbutting and choking [victim] Jasmine for several hours resulting in abrasions to Jasmine’s lip and discoloration to Jasmine’s arms and petechiae to Jasmine’s neck. 

    “Furthermore, during the 13 hours at Casey Kenney’s residence, Jasmine was incapable of escaping the residence due to Casey routinely grabbing hold of Jasmine and holding her in place during her attempts while threatening to cause more physical harm. Casey Kenney advised Jasmine Mendez that if anyone shows up he will shoot them and if her mother shows up he will shoot her in the head. Jasmine Mendez stated she desires prosecution in this matter at this time.”

    Kenny has since been released from police custody. His case now has a status conference scheduled for August 22 and a preliminary hearing four days later.

  • Mateusz Gamrot Sets Sights On Next Opponent After UFC 305 Setback: ‘If The UFC Likes It…’

    While he’s still reflecting on what went wrong Down Under this past weekend, UFC lightweight Mateusz Gamrot already has a next matchup in mind.

    Gamrot emerged from the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, $50,000 better off after playing his part in the Fight of the Night. But the Polish standout failed to secure his main objectives — a fourth straight win and potential title shot next time out.

    Those plans were stalled by Dan Hooker, who has risen up the 155-pound pecking order by six places after falling on the right side of a split decision opposite Gamrot inside the RAC Arena.

    Having lost his place in the top five, “Gamer” is now out for redemption. Not for his latest defeat, though. Gamrot has another setback he wants to avenge before the year is out…

    Gamrot Targets Dariush Rematch For December.

    Speaking to Polsat Sport’s Paweł Wyrobek this week, Gamrot looked ahead to his plans to return to action for one more fight in 2024.

    And in his bid to immediately bounce back from his loss to Hooker, the #8-ranked lightweight wants the man directly above him in the rankings — and the man who first halted his charge toward gold back in 2022.

    “I think December would be good to come back,” Gamrot said. “If the UFC likes it too, I would like to fight Beneil Dariush. It would be good time to do this. I lost first fight with him, so I think it’s good time for a rematch.”

    When the interviewer suggested the winner of the upcoming Paris showdown between Benoît Saint Denis and Renato Moicano as another possible option, “Gamer” reiterated that Dariush is his firm preference.

    Gamrot and Dariush shared the cage at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. Coming off a Fight of the Night victory over current top contender Arman Tsarukyan, “Gamer” was looking to snap his veteran opponent’s lengthy losing skid to secure an opportunity at the belt.

    Dariush had different plans, dropping Gamrot at one point in the fight en route to a unanimous decision verdict. The American hasn’t had his hand raised since, falling via knockout to both Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan.

  • Former UFC Champion Benson Henderson Set For Misfits Boxing Debut

    Former UFC Champion Benson Henderson Set For Misfits Boxing Debut

    The next step in Benson Henderson’s career post-mixed martial arts is set, as the former UFC champion has been booked for his boxing debut.

    Henderson held the lightweight title on MMA’s biggest stage between 2012 and 2013. He sits alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and BJ Penn as one of four record holders for the most consecutive defenses in the division.

    After his UFC stint came to an end, “Smooth” continued under the Bellator banner, challenging for gold unsuccessfully on three occasions. The most recent came in defeat against Usman Nurmagomedov in March 2023, marking his final outing in the cage.

    Like many, Henderson’s MMA retirement hasn’t completely brought his combat sports story to an end. Last December, the 40-year-old debuted in the Karate Combat Pit, outpointing his fellow former UFC champ Anthony Pettis.

    And Henderson is now set to dip his toes into yet another sport…

    Henderson Meets Fellow UFC Vet Chris Avila In Misfits Tournament

    It was announced this week that Henderson will feature on the latest card for Misfits Boxing, a crossover boxing promotion founded by English YouTube star and celebrity pugilist KSI.

    To date, the likes of Logan Paul, Dillon Danis, Tommy Fury, Paige VanZant, Le’Veon Bell, and Anthony Taylor are among those who have competed at the events.

    Misfits Boxing 18, set for the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England on September 14, will see Henderson added to that list. He’s slated to do battle with another ex-UFC and Bellator fighter, Nate Diaz protégé Chris Avila.

    The pair’s contest will serve as one of two light heavyweight semifinals making up a one-night tournament. In the other, Idris Virgo is set to throw down with Fes Batista, with the two winners meeting later on to crown the champion.

    The main event of the influencer card will see Elle Brooke defend her MFB middleweight title against BKFC veteran Jenny Savage. The Brit was originally expected to run it back with VanZant following their draw earlier this year, but that hasn’t come to fruition.

  • Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones won’t have his stance affected.

    The topic of Jones’ first title defense has long raged on. While it was initially set to come eight months on from his crowning in a divisional debut opposite Ciryl Gane, it’s now been 17 months since he completed multi-weight glory at the Frenchman’s expense.

    A planned bout against Stipe Miocic last November fell away due to an injury for Jones, throwing the division up in the air. The surging Tom Aspinall was subsequently crowned interim champ at the Madison Square Garden-held event.

    But despite the presence of another titleholder, both Jones and the UFC have remained firm on plans to reschedule the clash with Miocic. Criticism of that only increased when the Brit defended his gold with a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Many of those against Jones and Miocic sharing the cage for the title have pointed to the latter’s layoff. The heavyweight legend hasn’t competed since suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou three and a half years ago and is now 42 years old.

    But Jones has frequently dismissed the suggestion that he’s chasing a lower level of opposition, defending Miocic against those branding him “washed.” That trend continued in a social media post this week, with the Rochester native branding anyone who follows that line of thought a “casual.”

    “Man, I appreciate the boss and the comments he made at last nights press conference. Sounds like I have some massive options on the table, an athletes dream,” Jones wrote. “Right now I need to get back to focusing on the task at hand. Despite what some of the casuals think, Stipe is really no joke. It’s crazy that we live in a world where you can go from the best heavyweight ever to washed up after a bad performance. The reality is Francis would’ve knocked out 98% of people on the planet that night, but somehow Stipe is washed up?

    “Stipe not competing in so long tells me that he’s had plenty of time to heal and rebuild. Let me get back to focusing on the actual task at hand, that’s what got me this far. My focus, I do what others can’t,” Jones added.

    Fans Make Their Voices Heard After Jones’ Latest Refusal To Unify UFC Heavyweight Division

    Unsurprisingly, Jones’ latest post reiterating his avoidance of Aspinall and stance that nothing but a showdown with the returning Miocic should be next drew out plenty of reactions on social media.

    While plenty berated the former light heavyweight champ, accusing him of “ducking” his British counterpart, some others backed Jones’ right to finish out his career in the way he chooses.

    https://twitter.com/OG1BonnyP/status/1826284180772475126
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826283582593355790
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826282321085112478
    https://twitter.com/TheSpergScholar/status/1826282292370960435
  • Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’ 

    Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’ 

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has been getting vocal about the division he was once a part of, and that continued this week with some opinions on the top middleweight fighters.

    Till hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since a defeat to then-future champion Dricus Du Plessis in late 2022. The start of the subsequent year saw “The Gorilla” granted his release from the UFC, and he’s since had just one boxing outing.

    All the while, the Liverpool native has vowed to return to the Octagon down the line and hasn’t shied away from giving his assessments of various fighters and matchups, especially at his most recent fighting weight in the UFC of 185 pounds.

    That was on display this month when Till posted numerous tweets about the UFC 305 main event between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, offering advice to the latter while constantly berating his former opponent.

    That trend has remained this week, but it wasn’t just the South African taking fire…

    Till Berates Some, Praises Others: ‘DDP I Hate Your Guts…Sean I Like’

    In a recent X post, Till gave his honest take on a number of notable names in the middleweight division, expressing somewhat positive thoughts on Marvin Vettori, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker.

    All three still caught some flak, but it was Du Plessis and Adesanya who took the brunt of it.

    “Marvin I really like but ur sh*t. DDP I hate ur guts and ur sh*t. Izzy!!!! Ur gay and ur sh*t. Sean I like and ur ok cos u beat me up in the gym once I boxed ur head off. Whittaker I f**king love u but I beat you, you chose the sh*thouse way and took me down 10 seconds in the last round… ur sh*t.”

    Till also didn’t miss an opportunity to quip at himself.

    “Have I missed anyone out? Oh sh*t yeh… myself, I’m f**king so shit I really am.”

    And newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad also briefly entered the Scouser’s crosshairs.

    “Also Belal Muhammad isn’t a real fighter strip him of his title he cheated against Leon!!!!!”

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Apparently beating a top five contender doesn’t warrant a place inside the top five…

    That’s according to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, who has been reflecting on the events that unfolded at this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    Among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, a lightweight fan favorite who enjoyed a difficult fall from grace during the pandemic. In more recent years, however, “The Hangman” has returned to winning ways in style.

    And after defending his place in the rankings opposite Claudio Puelles in late 2022 before making a statement in victory over the highly regarded Jalin Turner in 2023, Hooker’s first outing of this year saw him leap back into the title conversation.

    The New Zealander came out on the right side of a split decision verdict opposite the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. And this week he was rewarded with a rise into the top five, where his defeated opponent previously sat.

    While that didn’t come as a surprise to many, Sonnen was shocked. And he sees it as a mistake on the part of the rankings panel…

    Sonnen Questions Hooker’s High Place In UFC Lightweight Top 15

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on Hooker’s triumph Down Under this past weekend and commented on talk of him sharing the cage with Charles Oliveira next.

    At one point, “The American Gangster” noted “The Hangman’s” recent surge up the pecking order at 155 pounds, expressing surprise and disagreement with Hooker being granted a place inside the top five.

    “I owe an apology. … It was stated from Conner Burks, ‘Tatted Dan Hooker is undefeated and about to be ranked in the top five.’ I wrote back and said, ‘Well, you’re half right.’ … I have to apologize to Conner,” Sonnen said. “Hooker got ranked in the top five. That should not have happened.

    “I’m surprised that that happened. We don’t know who that rankings committee is, but I think we can comfortably understand that Conner is one of them, they spoke, and that’s how they did it,” Sonnen jokingly added.

    Regardless, Hooker is indeed now a top five contender on MMA’s biggest stage, and he’ll look to ride that momentum all the way into a first title shot down the line.

  • Original Opponents Derrick Lewis, Alexandr Romanov Get New Matchups For UFC Fight Night Edmonton 

    UFC heavyweight contenders Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov will have new opponents to contend with in Edmonton this November. That’s after the promotion cut their original co-main event in two.

    Lewis and Romanov were recently announced as the co-headliner for the promotion’s return to the Canadian city, setting the stage for top women’s flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas.

    It’s not taken long for those plans to change, however. The Nov. 2 card at Rogers Place will now see Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) do battle with the unranked Jhonata Diniz (8-0) in the co-main event. Romanov (17-3), meanwhile, will see his chance to bounce back come against “The Black Beast’s” most recent opponent, Rodrigo Nascimento (11-2, 1 NC).

    News of Lewis vs. Diniz was first reported by Laerta Viana, with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King subsequently confirming both new matchups for the Edmonton-held UFC Fight Night.

    Prospect Diniz Gets First Shot At Heavyweight Rankings Opposite UFC Vet Lewis

    The co-main event split presents a major opportunity for Diniz, who now has the chance to earn a number next to his name at the expense of a former title challenger and one of the division’s most notable names.

    The 33-year-old Brazilian moved to 8-0 as a professional at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 10, outpointing Karl Williams for his second victory in the promotion since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last September. He’ll now look to move into contention by recording his biggest win to date in “The Great White North.”

    Lewis, meanwhile, will be in pursuit of his first win streak since a knockout of Curtis Blaydes secured him a title shot back in 2021. He’s since gone 3-5, most recently rebounding from a comfortable decision defeat to Jailton Almeida in Brazil last November by stopping Nascimento in the headline act of UFC Fight Night St. Louis this past May.

    While Nascimento looks to rebound from that result, Romanov was most recently submitted by Almeida at UFC 302 in Newark this past June. That defeat prevented the Moldovan from returning to a win streak, having previously gotten the better of Blagoy Ivanov in 2023.

    With these changes, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:

    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight main event)
    • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight co-main event)
    • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
    • Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
    • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
  • Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou.

    The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC. The Nigerian-New Zealander accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like welterweight veteran Kamaru Usman and former heavyweight kingpin Ngannou.

    The promotion unsurprisingly included that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305. But while much of what was said by “The Last Stylebender” surrounded the “three kings,” the UFC eliminated one from the equation.

    During UFC 305 fight week, AFeldmanMMA posted a video on X showing Adesanya speaking about Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC titles a number of years ago. The quote came during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference weeks before the event.

    Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown, but heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

    That drew heavy backlash throughout the community, with Adesanya himself speaking out against the promotion’s apparent attempts to erase the Cameroonian’s legacy and part of history in the UFC.

    White Addresses Ngannou Erasure: ‘Somebody In The Company Made That Decision’

    During the press conference following this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the controversy surrounding the promotion’s Ngannou erasure by Kevin Iole.

    White and other senior UFC figures close by insisted they weren’t aware of the editing of the quote to remove “The Predator,” with White suggesting it had to have been an employee acting of their own volition.

    “I don’t know about this. Do you?” White asked UFC staff who were present. “It was something that we produced? Are you sure that we produced this? What show was it on? Like Embedded or something? I don’t disagree with that (Adesanya’s criticism). But literally everybody who’s sitting in here right now, including our head of PR, doesn’t know about it. When did Israel say it, post-fight? We’ll find out what happened.

    “If that’s true and that was done, and it was something that we produced, then somebody in the company made that decision,” White continued. “Listen, you know me. If I said we did it, I’d say, ‘Yeah, f*ck him and this is why we did it.’ I know nothing about it, nobody ever asked me about it, and this is the first we’re hearing about it.”

    It evidently didn’t take long for Iole to receive a follow-up statement, posting an update on social media. According to the veteran reporter, White took full responsibility for the controversy and quickly called Adesanya to apologize.

    “I had asked @danawhite tonight about the UFC scrubbing @francis_ngannou out of the Countdown show for #UFC305 tonight. He said he’d look into it. Just called me and took full responsibility. His complete answer will be in my story upcoming shortly.

    “I should also had here for full context that Dana said he’d already called @stylebender to apologize,” Iole wrote.”

    It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will also be receiving an apology. It was, after all, his legacy being erased…

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 2 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 2 Highlights As 4 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. In episode one of season eight last week, four prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the sophomore episode added another four talents to the UFC roster. That included Australia’s Cody Haddon, who opened proceedings with an impressive ‘club and sub’ victory over Billy Brand, dropping him with a stiff left hook before finding the rear-naked choke in the first round.

    Violence continued a few fights later. After Cortavious Romious did enough across three rounds to impress White, Rizvan Kuniev left little doubt with his buzzer-beating knockout of Hugo Cunha. The outing marked the Russian’s first bout since having a win over PFL’s Renan Ferreira overturned after he tested positive for a slew of banned substances.

    He’ll be looking ahead to a new chapter in his career alongside Andreas Gustafsson, who utilized hard knees in the clinch to get the better of Pat Pytlik midway through round two of the main event.

    Torrez Finney’s lackluster decision win over Cam Rowston marked the only fight not to produce a new UFC athlete on Tuesday night.

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

    Cody Haddon Def. Billy Brand Via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R1, 3:09

    Cortavious Romious Def. Michael Imperato Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Rizvan Kuniev Def. Hugo Cunha Via TKO (Punches): R1, 4:59

    Andreas Gustafsson Def. Pat Pytlik Via TKO (Knees): R2, 3:20

  • Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’

    Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease could derive from a desire to “stick up” for Israel Adesanya.

    Adesanya recently returned to action in the main event of UFC 305, a pay-per-view event staged at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The former two-time champ headlined alongside Dricus Du Plessis, competing for the South African’s gold.

    “The Last Stylebender” was unsuccessful in his bid for another reign, falling via rear-naked choke submission in the third round. By all accounts, a rematch with Sean Strickland looks the likeliest next task for the reigning titleholder.

    But one man caused a stir with his Instagram post in the aftermath, as Pereira teased a possible return to the division he once ruled over to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    Given that “Poatan” has previously dismissed talk of another drop to that weight and instead pondered a heavyweight venture, many were surprised by the post. One man who has long gone back and forth with the Brazilian, however, thinks he might know the reason behind it…

    Smith: Pereira’s ‘Brotherhood’ With Adesanya Motivating Possible Pursuit Of Du Plessis

    During ESPN’s UFC 305 Post Show this past weekend, the panel of Smith, Din Thomas, and Brett Okamoto reflected on the main event in Perth and looked ahead to what could be next for the champ and unsuccessful challenger.

    In terms of the victorious South African, they made note of Pereira’s social media tease. And although plenty have dismissed it as a playful post, “Lionheart” believes the reigning light heavyweight king could be serious.

    In terms of the reasons why Pereira could go back on his word not to return to 185 pounds, Smith thinks the Brazilian could want to make Du Plessis pay for beating his longtime rival.

    “Part of me kind of believes he’s a little bit serious. I don’t think he’s any bigger now than when he was at light heavyweight last time,” Smith said. “I feel like there’s a sense of Alex wanting to kind of stick up for Israel. They have this weird connection, this weird brotherhood, this unusual friendship. They’re moulded together for the rest of their careers.

    “I feel like that’s him (Pereira), ‘Alright, you beat my friend, or someone that I have history with. So now I’m coming down and I’ll take care of it.’ That’s kind of how it felt,” Smith continued. “Almost like, ‘We have this thing going on, but none of you can mess with us.’ That’s kind of how it was.”

    It remains to be seen whether the matchup will enter the realm of possibility anytime soon. Both Du Plessis and his coach have green lit a showdown with Pereira, but only if it provides the South African with the opportunity to achieve two-division glory himself.

  • Jan Błachowicz Names Only 2 Opponents He’ll Accept To Fight In UFC Return Other Than Alex Pereira

    Jan Błachowicz Names Only 2 Opponents He’ll Accept To Fight In UFC Return Other Than Alex Pereira

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz has a firm view on the opposition he should be up against next time out.

    Błachowicz has been out of action ever since welcoming Alex Pereira to the division back in July 2023. The pair met in a close and competitive co-headliner at UFC 291, which went the distance and split opinion on who deserved the judges’ nod.

    It was ultimately “Poatan” who had his hand raised, and he’s since grown his star no end at 205 pounds, first by winning the vacant gold at the expense of Jiří Procházka and then by recording consecutive defenses over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and in a rematch with “BJP” at International Fight Week this year.

    All the while, Błachowicz has watched on as the Brazilian’s path of destruction in the division continues, with the memory of his narrow and controversial defeat remaining at the forefront.

    With that in mind, the Polish powerhouse believes he deserves a second dance with the former kickboxing star upon his return from injury later this year.

    But with “Poatan” instead preparing to face the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree in October, Błachowicz does have a couple of other names he’s willing to be matched up against…

    Błachowicz Targets Procházka, Hill For UFC Title Eliminator

    During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Błachowicz looked ahead to his return, which comes after a shoulder injury that required surgery forced him out of a planned rematch with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 297 this past January.

    After reiterating his desire to be the one who unseats Pereira, the 41-year-old pointed to fellow European Procházka and another former champ in Hill as the only other names he will entertain.

    “For me, what makes sense is Hill or Procházka,” Błachowicz said. “I think Jiří is in a dark place right now. I hope that he will come back and we make this fight because I think it will be a very good fight, a very exciting fight. So if not Pereira, I would like to fight against Procházka, somewhere in Europe that will be very big here — in Poland or maybe in Czech Republic. It will be a great event.

    “Of course, (Hill makes sense too),” Błachowicz continued. “For me, only Pereira, Hill, Procházka. I don’t (want) anybody else.”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for the Polish fighter, but it’s clear that he’s less than pleased with his potential rematch with Pereira being passed over by Rountree’s surprise shot.

    Believing the champ is being protected, Błachowicz will look to ensure that his claim to a title chance can’t be ignored by making an emphatic return later this year.

    And when it comes to securing an opportunity to regain the crown, it would appear that he has former opponent Magomed Ankalaev to contend with, depending on how the Russian’s next outing goes.

  • Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’ 

    Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’ 

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya may be on the first losing skid of his career, but the latest defeat has left him better off mentally.

    Adesanya made his return to action just under a year on from his setback last September, returning to Australian soil to challenge for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold in the main event of UFC 305.

    “The Last Stylebender” took a hiatus from the sport after being shockingly thrust off the throne by Sean Strickland at the Sydney-held UFC 293, citing his frequent activity as a factor that hampered his performance.

    During his break, Adesanya refined his preparation and placed increased emphasis on areas such as nutrition and strength. And upon his return, the Nigerian-New Zealander played his part in one of the year’s best championship fights, going toe-to-toe with Du Plessis for the best part of four rounds.

    Adesanya was ultimately submitted in the penultimate frame, a result that has halted his planned rise to three-time champ status and sent him on the first run of defeats his career has seen.

    While some might have expected such a fact to leave him in a similar place as the period post-UFC 293 last year, “The Last Stylebender” says that is far from the case…

    Adesanya Happy To Have ‘Showcased’ More At UFC 305

    During an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on his unsuccessful title challenger inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, this past weekend.

    The former two-time middleweight kingpin continued to show humility and positivity in defeat, acknowledging that it wasn’t his night but insisting he was pleased with the performance he put in.

    That is a far cry from how he looked at the surprise setback at the hands of Strickland 11 months ago.

    “For me, I’m like, you know what? It’s cool. It was his night. Good for him,” Adesanya said. “This morning, I remember thinking like, ‘What’s next?’ … People think I need to get this one back. Nah, I’m chill. We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what’s next. I haven’t really thought that far (ahead). I just know I want to keep training, I want to keep getting better.

    “I’m in a better headspace than I was after the last fight — way better,” Adesanya continued. “I actually enjoyed the performance, and I felt like I got to showcase a lot more of who I am, rather than just fighting injured and not really showcasing who I am. I just want to get back to the gym after this trip.”

    It remains to be seen what could come next for Adesanya, who appeared firm in dismissing any retirement talk in the aftermath of the UFC 305 main event.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Has Little Sympathy For Steve Erceg After UFC 305 Knockout: ‘That’s What You Get For Lying!’

    Muhammad Mokaev Has Little Sympathy For Steve Erceg After UFC 305 Knockout: ‘That’s What You Get For Lying!’

    Former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev appeared to enjoy watching Steve Erceg experience a difficult night at the office this past weekend.

    Erceg was among the home fighters in action at the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, taking to the Octagon amid crowd adoration inside the RAC Arena. Unfortunately for the recent flyweight title challenger, he joined the likes of Tai Tuivasa and Junior Tafa on the list of unsuccessful Aussies on fight night.

    “AstroBoy’s” co-main event opposite Kai Kara-France didn’t reach the first horn, with the New Zealander earning a quick knockout to complete his emphatic return to action Down Under.

    The difficult result for Erceg came just three months on from a competitive battle with champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil, where he came inches away from upsetting the odds and capturing the flyweight gold.

    But Erceg has now had his pursuit of a second title opportunity quickly stalled, and Mokaev, for one, seems to be taking joy from that fact…

    Mokaev Cries Karma After Erceg Flattened By Kara-France At UFC 305

    While Erceg isn’t one for trash talk and heated feuds, he did recently get on the wrong side of Mokaev after giving his take on the Dagestan-born Brit’s sudden UFC exit.

    After the promotion chose not to re-sign “The Punisher, with Dana White citing issues away from the cage, Erceg claimed that Mokaev had displayed disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff.

    The free agent was quick to dismiss those allegations, and he reiterated that Erceg is a ‘liar’ while reacting to an image of the Aussie following his first knockdown at the hands of Kara-France at UFC 305.

    ‘That’s what u get for lying,” Mokaev wrote.

    After this past weekend’s result, Erceg has slipped to #8 in the flyweight rankings. Mokaev, meanwhile, lost his place high up the pecking order following the completion of his contract at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he got the better of Manel Kape in a lackluster affair.

  • Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Count Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall among those majorly impressed by Dricus Du Plessis’ performance Down Under this past weekend.

    Du Plessis made the walk at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to put his middleweight gold on the line against the returning Israel Adesanya. The pair met in the UFC 305 main event, following an undercard that included standout wins for the likes of Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.

    “The Last Stylebender” couldn’t make it three wins from three for Auckland’s City Kickboxing gym, with his South African counterpart finding a submission in round four to emerge victorious from a competitive and enthralling headliner.

    Having long been doubted owing to his unusual approach to fighting, Du Plessis has no doubt been enjoying his victory lap, laughing at those who spoke ill of his chances against Adesanya.

    “Stillknocks” has been getting increased respect and praise from many after successfully defending his gold for the first time, and not many plaudits have come grander than those of the interim heavyweight champ…

    Aspinall On Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘Just Looked Fantastic Out There’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall reacted to his promotion’s latest PPV event and the matchup that concluded it inside the RAC Arena.

    Aspinall shared a common sentiment when it comes to deciphering what it is about Du Plessis that makes him so effective. Whatever it is, the heavyweight champ is impressed, so much so that he placed the South African among the most intelligent athletes currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “DDP, you can’t count this guy out,” Aspinall said. “I watch fights as a fan, but I also watch fights as a fighter to try and pick up little nuances, and I love to study different styles. For me personally, DDP is a guy who I’m baffled by, in all honesty. I’m completely baffled by his style because you watch him and, to be brutally honest, he looks a little bit inferior to his opponents in terms of technique, but it’s amazing to watch because he obviously isn’t inferior.

    “The gameplans that this guy and his coaches are doing are absolutely unbelievable. Me personally, I think he’s one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and his team must be very, very smart as well,” Aspinall continued. “The guy just finds a way to win. He’s extremely physically strong. … He looks a little bit messy, and I’m sure we all can agree on that. But he makes up for it in spirit, his will to win, and persistence. If he doesn’t get what he’s going for, he will keep going and grind his opponents down until he gets it. He just looked fantastic out there (at UFC 305).”

    Like Aspinall, plenty have been confused by Du Plessis’ style and continued success, be it more fellow fighters, veteran analysts, or fans.

    But the South African has evidently found an approach that works incredibly well for him, and having proved his detractors wrong yet again, perhaps questions surrounding his unorthodox strategies will die down as his title reign continues on its way.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 305, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Dricus Du Plessis closed out the latest pay-per-view by once again proving his doubters wrong, emerging from a competitive main event against the great Israel Adesanya with the middleweight gold still in his possession. The South African has been rewarded with a five-place rise up the P4P ladder, leaving him one position above his bantamweight counterpart Sean O’Malley at #6.

    Adesanya, meanwhile, has fallen two spots to #15, with his and Du Plessis’ former opponent Sean Strickland going the same distance the other way to replace “The Last Stylebender” at #13.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: There were moves unrelated to UFC 305 on the female P4P list, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington suddenly dropping two places to #8, now leaving her below flyweight contenders Rose Namajunas (#6) and Erin Blanchfield (#7).

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Viviane Araújo has been pushed out of the top 10 to #11. Her two-spot slide has paved the way for Amanda Ribas and Karine Silva to rise to #9 and #10, respectively.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: Kai Kara-France made an emphatic return this weekend by knocking out recent title challenger Steve Erceg inside the first round. He’s remained unmoved at #4, however. “AstroBoy,” meanwhile, has slipped to #8, swapping positions with Matheus Nicolau (#7).

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Among the biggest victors to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, who is this week’s biggest mover in the rankings. After falling on the right side of a split decision against the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot, “The Hangman” has climbed six spots to #5. “Gamer,” on the other hand, has fallen three positions to #8. Further down, Hooker’s rise has resulted in drops for Rafael Fiziev (#10) and Renato Moicano (#11).

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik made it back-to-back wins in 2024 this past weekend, outpointing home favorite Tai Tuivasa across three rounds. As a result, “Bigi Boy” has risen by two places to #10. His defeated opponent, meanwhile, finds himself three spots worse off at #13.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • What’s Next After UFC 305? Full Confirmed Noche UFC Main Card For The Sphere On September 14

    What’s Next After UFC 305? Full Confirmed Noche UFC Main Card For The Sphere On September 14

    UFC 305 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Perth, Australia, last week, where the RAC Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest visit Down Under. Of note were victories for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, former interim flyweight title challenger Kai Kara-France, and lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker.

    While the aftermath of the August 17 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the middleweight title picture to the bantamweight and women’s flyweight championship conversations.

    At Noche UFC (UFC 306), an event set to celebrate Mexican Independance Day inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 14, reigning 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley will compete for the second time this year. After defeating Marlon Vera, “Sugar” will make his second defense of the gold in a long-awaited grudge match against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as flyweight queen Alexa Grasso completes her trilogy with the legendary Valentina Shevchenko. The pair previously fought to a draw at the first installment of Noche UFC last September and have since coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter.

    Ortega & Lopes Among Those Setting The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 30

    Before O’Malley defends his championship and the promotion’s top female flyweights run it back again, a mix of veterans and prospects will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their positions on the major card.

    That includes former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega and the up-and-coming Diego Lopes, who will give their matchup a second chance at making it to the Octagon. After a same-day withdrawal from “T-City” saw the Mexico-residing Brazilian face and defeat Dan Ige at International Fight Week instead, Lopes will have the opportunity to crack the top five in rearranged clash with Ortega.

    Prior to that, highly touted Mexican prospects Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez will open the main card against Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively, while notable names like Irena Aldana and Raul Rosas Jr. will feature on the prelims.

    See below for the full UFC 306 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Sean O’Malley (C) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight championship main event)
    • Alexa Grasso (C) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (flyweight championship co-main event)
    • Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (featherweight)
    • Daniel Zellhuber vs. Estaban Ribovics (lightweight)
    • Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne (flyweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
    • Irena Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
    • Edgar Cháirez vs. Kevin Borjas (flyweight)
    • Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
    • Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng (bantamweight)
    Diego Lopes
    Image: UFC.com
  • Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ 

    Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ 

    UFC featherweight Josh Culibao was disappointed not to have his hand raised on home soil, especially given his view on the judges’ scoring.

    Culibao was among the Australians in action at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, facing Ricardo Ramos during the preliminary card. The Sydney native’s most recent win came in the promotion’s previous visit to the city in February 2023, with Culibao submitting Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 284.

    After that result, the 30-year-old fell to his first career skid, dropping consecutive decisions to Lerone Murphy in London and Danny Silva in Las Vegas. And UFC 305 saw “Kuya” fall on the wrong side of a split verdict for the second straight fight.

    Culibao’s clash with Ramos was extremely close, with the Brazilian coming back into the fight after appearing in danger of getting finished early on. The Aussie received criticism from some for his showboating during the bout, with many pointing to it as the reason he was unable to secure victory.

    Culibao, though, believes he still deserved the nod…

    Culibao Apologizes To Fans After Narrow UFC 305 Loss

    Hours on from his defeat at the RAC Arena, Culibao took to social media with his first comments since having his run of losses extended to three.

    After giving credit to his opponent, “Kuya” apologized to his supporters. Culibao did, however, still express disagreement with the score reached by two of three judges cageside.

    “It is what it is, hats off to you @ricardoramosmma you brought the fight and made a great dance partner,” Culibao wrote. “Sorry to all my fans and supporters out there. I couldn’t get it done. I felt I still won the fight but that’s not up to me to decide. Glad I still got to go out and perform and put on a show for the Aussie crowd.”

    It remains to be seen what will come next for Culibao, who is months away from his first winless year in the UFC since 2020, in which he was stopped by Jalin Turner at lightweight and fought to a split draw with Charles Jourdain in his return to 145 pounds.

  • Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will seemingly have the chance to end her 2024 on a win streak in “The Sunshine State.”

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion recently confirmed its schedule for the remainder of 2024, with 15 events set across nine different cities. Tasked with closing out the year is Tampa, Florida, where a UFC Fight Night will take place on December 14.

    While the card remains without a main event as it stands, one notable matchup has been reported. According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, the #8-ranked Dern (14-5) is set to run it back with Amanda Ribas over five years on from their first meeting.

    Dern Set For Chance To Avenge First MMA Loss At UFC Fight Night Tampa

    When they share the Octagon for a second time on Dec. 14, Dern will be looking to avenge her loss to Ribas and finish the year with consecutive triumphs.

    Dern, an ADCC and no gi BJJ (black belt) world champion, enjoyed an unbeaten start to MMA life. But she had her record blemished following seven straight wins when she ran into Ribas in 2019, losing by way of unanimous decision.

    While a four-fight win streak brought Dern back into contention, the grappling specialist has been inconsistent ever since and recently tasted her first losing skid after defeats to Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    Having bounced back by outpointing Loopy Godinez in Abu Dhabi this month, Dern will look to enjoy a run of victories to reignite her title ambitions.

    Mackenzie Dern
    Image: @ufc/X

    Lemos will hope to put a stop to those plans by repeating her feat from five years ago. The Brazilian currently finds herself ranked at both strawweight and flyweight, with her most recent outing coming in defeat opposite Rose Namajunas at 125 pounds.

    She’ll now return to the weight at which she earned a bonus with a TKO of Luana Pinheiro last November, looking to defend her #5 spot against her fellow Countrywoman Dern.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    The coach of UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis likes the idea of his man facing Alex Pereira, but not as “Poatan” has proposed.

    Du Plessis maintained his grip on the 185-pound crown at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, adding a first successful defense to his resume at the expense of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    Their entertaining main event and the South African’s feat of becoming the first to submit “The Last Stylebender” remains a hot topic, but talk is also already turning to what could lie next for him.

    Judging by Dana White’s recent remarks, that would appear likely to be a rematch with Sean Strickland, the man from whom Du Plessis captured the middleweight gold this past January. But one other notable name recently put his name into the mix.

    Reigning light heavyweight and former middleweight kingpin Alex Pereira was on hand with his post-UFC 305 reaction, teasing a returning to the 185-pound division to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    That callout got a positive response from Du Plessis’ coach. Well, sort of…

    Du Plessis’ Coach Accepts Pereira Fight — On One Condition

    During a backstage interview with Submission Radio at the RAC Arena, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser reflected on his man’s triumph Down Under and looked ahead to what could be next.

    In terms of Pereira’s social media post, the Team CIT head trainer green lit a clash between Du Plessis and “Poatan,” but only if it sees the South African receive an opportunity at achieving two-weight glory.

    “No, I won’t give him (Pereira) the joy to go down to 185; we’ll just go up,” Visser said. “He (Du Plessis) doesn’t want to beat him (at middleweight because) he’ll say that (they’ve) gone down, he was fatigued, and whatever. So no, we’ll go up.

    “I’m sure that the UFC will be okay with it, if that’s what he’s said, (and) I know Dricus is game. So we’ll go up, we won’t wait for him to come down,” Visser continued. “He’s fighting in October, so I really hope that the UFC gives us this blessing for December.”

    For now, Pereira will be preparing for his surprise return at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City this fall, with the Brazilian set to put his light heavyweight belt on the line against Khalil Rountree on October 5.

    What would come after a potential victory over “The War Horse” remains to be seen, but it seems that a possible middleweight return now sits alongside frequent heavyweight teases for “Poatan.”