MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t think it’s wise for Dricus Du Plessis to rile Israel Adesanya up ahead of their championship clash Down Under this weekend.

    Du Plessis will defend his middleweight belt for the first time since winning it from Sean Strickland when he makes the walk to headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event, which takes place inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    To maintain his grip on the belt, the South African is tasked with stalling Adesanya’s planned return to the throne for a record third time.

    Beyond championship stakes, however, their matchup appears to be motivated by a bad-blood rivalry, sparked by some comments Du Plessis made regarding his status as the first fighter to achieve title glory on MMA’s biggest stage having been born, trained, and resided in Africa.

    An early Octagon interview also saw Du Plessis use the term “real African,” which rubbed the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman the wrong way.

    With that in mind, there appears to be a personal element to the bout for the Nigerian-New Zealander. And one ex-fighter thinks that’s a dangerous scenario for the champ…

    Sonnen On Adesanya’s UFC 305 Return: ‘When He Has Something Personal…’

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the matchup tasked with topping the lineup in Perth.

    In terms of the bad blood that appears to be fueling the animosity between the pair of headliners, “The American Gangster” thinks Adesanya now has the one element that was missing from his last UFC fight.

    “It’s wildly important that our viewers understand what these guys are fighting for,” Sonnen said. “Israel Adesanya has done his finest work when it’s personal. As a matter of fact, the worst performance he’s put forward was against Sean Strickland, and the only thing that was missing was a personal feud. He didn’t have a problem with Sean when that fight happened. He wasn’t really looking at Sean. … When that fight was over, Dana wanted to do a rematch; in fact he offered Izzy an immediate rematch. He said no. He just never had heat with Sean.

    “When he has something personal — excuse me, he called out Yoel Romero. You know how crazy that is? … It was personal. He told Dana, ‘Hey man, I got into this business because there’s guys that I want to fight…I don’t care what Yoel’s record is.’ That’s why this is so important,” Sonnen continued. “They didn’t just throw a belt out there…didn’t just dangle some pay-per-view points. The belt has nothing to do with it on Izzy’s side. And I will just contend for you, he does his final work when it’s personal.”

    Having stated that he’s returning to competition to “take heads” instead of with any focus on the gold, Adesanya will hope to start by beheading the reigning middleweight kingpin come fight night in Australia.

    And should he settle that grudge successfully by having his hand raised, perhaps he’d next turn his gaze back to Strickland and redemption against his fellow former champ.

  • Li Jingliang Reveals Changes He’s Made During 2-Year Layoff Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘You Guys Will See A Different Leech!’

    Li Jingliang Reveals Changes He’s Made During 2-Year Layoff Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘You Guys Will See A Different Leech!’

    Returning UFC welterweight contender Li Jingliang has been fine-tuning his mindset and approach to fighting during an extended period on the sidelines.

    Following a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev in late 2021, Jingliang rose to prominence in 2022, somewhat down to his knockout of Muslim Salikhov but also due to his likable personality.

    And fanfare surrounding “The Leech” only grew when he accepted a clash with a Daniel Rodriguez who weighed in 10 pounds heavier on just one day’s notice at UFC 279. Jingliang ultimately fell short on the scorecards in a decision that was widely debated.

    Unfortunately for the Chinese fighter, he’s been unable to bounce back from that controversial setback. Although he was scheduled for the opportunity to at UFC 287 in April 2023, a back injury ruled him out of that event and condemned him to the recovery table.

    Now almost exactly two years on from his last fight, the 36-year-old is back. He’ll open this weekend’s UFC 305 main card in Perth, Australia, against the high-flying Carlos Prates.

    And according to Jingliang, the Brazilian will be sharing the cage with a new and improved “Leech”…

    Jingliang Has Message For UFC Peers After Layoff Learning Experience: ‘We All Need To Make A Change’

    During a recent fight week interview for UFC.com, Jingliang reflected on the lengthy period he’s spent out of competition due to injury.

    Despite the frustrating stint, “The Leech” insisted he remained committed to improving himself as a fighter. And having altered a number of areas, he expects to be better than ever when the cage door closes behind him Down Under.

    “The injuries bothered me a lot. But after I recovered from the injury, I was fully committed to all the training sessions; every single minute, I was fully committed,” Jingliang said. “People like me because my never give up motto and spirit. … I have to thank UFC again because I’ve learned a lot here. … Even now, I still have my dream to become champion, so I have to master my destiny. For me, my fists will decide my destiny.

    “After the two-year layoff, I changed a lot. My training style, my daily behavior, my psychology; everything has changed, also my mindset,” Jingliang continued. “So I want to say to all the other athletes that we all need to make a change sometimes. We can not be stuck at the same point for a long time. So for me, after this long layback, I know what I want. I have changed. You guys will see a different ‘Leech.’”

    Jingliang will now look to reap the rewards from those changes when he feels the Octagon floor beneath his feet for the first time in 23 months.

    And should the Chinese fan favorite announced his comeback in style by blemishing the currently perfect UFC record of the highly touted Prates, “The Leech” would be right back in the mix at 170 pounds.

  • ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    The UFC has been getting some backlash after removing one of the “three kings” from an Israel Adesanya quote in the recent Countdown episode.

    Adesanya is set to headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight title. The Nigerian-New Zealander will shoot for a historic three-time crowning inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    The build-up to Saturday’s numbered event has been relatively heated after Adesanya took issue with some of Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC.

    “The Last Stylebender” has accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou. And the promotion played up to that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305 — only, with just two of the “kings.”

    A recent video posted on X by AFeldmanMMA showed Adesanya making note of both Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC gold in their possession, during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference.

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

    The instance marks the latest controversy surrounding the UFC”s attitude toward Ngannou since his departure at the start of 2023.

    After he chose to pursue his contractual demands elsewhere, the promotion notably incorrectly branded Tafon Nchukwi the “only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history” during a broadcast.

    Fans Slam Continued Ngannou Erasure: ‘UFC Can Try As Hard As They Want…’

    Members of the MMA community online were quick to give their takes on the latest example of the UFC looking to avoid any mention of Ngannou.

    Plenty were up in arms, accusing the UFC of attempting to diminish the former heavyweight champion’s legacy. The promotion wasn’t without its defenders, however, in addition to those who took issue with the branding of Nchukwi as the first Cameroonian UFC fighter but saw no issue with the editing of Adesanya’s quote.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dan Hooker’s Bloody Brawl With Jalin Turner Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Dan Hooker’s Bloody Brawl With Jalin Turner Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    UFC 305 star Dan Hooker had to fight through significant adversity to have his hand raised in memorable fashion when he last entered the Octagon.

    The lightweight fan favorite will return on the main card of this weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with getting the better of Mateusz Gamrot if he’s to climb back toward the title picture at 155 pounds.

    Hooker has won two straight since a difficult run of form, most recently showing that his time toward the top is far from over by stalling the ambitions of Jalin Turner. The pair put on one of the fights of the night at UFC 290 last July, both wearing the damage from a three-round battle.

    “The Tarantula” got the better of the early goings, notably connecting with a brutal head kick that Hooker somehow ate and maintained consciousness. “The Hangman,” though, was able to rally in rounds two and three to fall on the right side of a split decision — a feat made only more impressive by the fact Hooker had competed with a badly broken arm for the majority of the fight.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Hooker vs. Turner fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhoIoS5Ytc

    Hooker will look to achieve a similar result come fight night Down Under, but likely without the grueling three-round nature of the contest and the severely broken arm he emerged from Las Vegas with over a year ago.

    The New Zealander has, however, vowed to give Gamrot the “most exciting” fight of his career. And with “Gamer” also acknowledging the need to entertain if he’s to fight for gold soon, perhaps the Perth fans will be in for a barnburner when these two lightweights share the cage.

  • Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    It took a some animosity for ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier to see this weekend’s main event as a matchup worth getting excited for.

    Middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will put his title on the line for the first time in the headliner of the UFC 305 pay-per-view, where he’s tasked with stalling the three-time champ ambitions of Israel Adesanya.

    The pair will enter the cage inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, in the culmination of a feud sparked well over a year ago as a result of some controversial remarks from the then-future titleholder.

    In one of his early post-fight interviews in the UFC, “Stillknocks” branded himself the promotion’s “real African” fighter, referring to his continued stay in the continent. He reiterated that sentiment in regard to his pursuit of gold, vowing to become the first champion who was born, resides, and trains in Africa.

    The comments resulted in some tense exchanges with Adesanya, who recently berated his opponent’s “colonialist mindset” at the start of UFC 305 fight week.

    With that in mind, the sensitive nature of their bad blood shows no sign of waning as fight night approaches, and one former champ doesn’t see that as a bad thing…

    Cormier: ‘I Want To See The Fight’ Because Of Du Plessis & Adesanya’s Feud

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to this weekend’s PPV headliner Down Under.

    In terms of the animosity between the pair ever since Adesanya took issue with Du Plessis’ words, Cormier suggested that in spite of the “uncomfortable” nature of the bad blood, it’s still taken his interest in the matchup from zero to 100.

    “You don’t wanna say the wrong thing because it’s so easy to offend people on either side of the coin,” Cormier said. “When he (Du Plessis) said it, I thought he would kind of walk it back because of Usman and because of Ngannou and because of Izzy. He’s not walking it back. He’s standing on his idea that he’s the only true African champion. I don’t know that I’d agree…but for me, more importantly than all of that, I want to see the fight.

    “If you would have told me, Chael, before all of this…all of this stuff that makes it so hot, that makes it so uncomfortable, I can seriously say to you I wasn’t very interested in those two guys fighting,” Cormier continued. “Now though, Chael, I am so interested in these two fighting because there’s something there. I love great fighters fighting each other, but when there’s a little bit extra, that is what draws me in as a fan. … This one this weekend has two of the best middleweights in the world, but they also have that bad blood, and it makes it fun.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge within the steel surroundings of the cage this weekend, 13 months on from their heated faceoff during International Fight Week.

  • Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    According to UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has not lost a step.

    Muhammad was crowned kingpin at 170 pounds courtesy of a dominant upset victory over Leon Edwards at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, late last month.

    Having achieved his title dreams on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, “Remember the Name” had plenty of thanks to pass around to those who helped him reach the position he now finds himself in.

    Among them is Khabib Nurmagomedov and the members of his team.

    Prior to his knockout victory over Sean Brady in 2022, Muhammad sought the help of the former UFC lightweight champion and even had his guidance from the corner on fight night.

    Be it in person or over the phone, Muhammad has had a similar helping hand from “The Eagle” ever since. With that in mind, the welterweight champ is uniquely placed to describe the condition Khabib is in when it comes to hands-on training.

    And according to him, Khabib — who retired with a 29-0 record following his successful title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020 — is still a step above the rest…

    Muhammad: Khabib ‘Toyed With Me’ In Training

    During a recent appearance on ex-UFC athlete Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen’s The Fighter and The Kid podcast, Muhammad further described the work he’s been putting in with Khabib and some of the big names on the Nurmagomedov team.

    “Remember the Name” admitted he was regularly schooled on the mats, including by the retired lightweight legend himself. And when it comes to Khabib’s continued mixed martial arts capabilities, Muhammad says he’d back “The Eagle” to capture gold again at any weight.

    “There’s not a weak person in that group. Every single one of the people is beating me up,” Muhammad said. “Khabib’s freakin’ playing with me, throwing me around. I’m just like, ‘Man, I’m fighting for the world title and this guy’s just toying with me.’

    “Literally, when I was in New Jersey I was like, ‘Bro, I’m getting killed by him,’” Muhammad continued. “Khabib’s still — literally he could come back and be a champion right now in any division he wants to. … It’s literally unbelievable.”

    Unfortunately for fans hoping to see those claims tested inside the cage, Khabib has remained firm on his refusal to entertain a comeback since hanging up his gloves.

    While he was initially a regular fixture in the camps and corners for the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, “The Eagle” took an extended break from traveling in 2023.

    Recent months have seen his return to that realm, however, with Khabib first cornering Makhachev against Dustin Poirier this past June and more recently calling the shots for his cousin Umar’s victory over Cory Sandhagen earlier this month.

  • Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    UFC CEO Dana White has doubled down on the promotion’s decision not to re-sign undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev.

    Mokaev appeared to be entering a title eliminator at 125 pounds when he shared the Octagon with then fellow top 10-ranked contender Manel Kape at the UFC 304 pay-per-view in Manchester, England, late last month.

    In the end, “The Punisher” was making the walk to the Octagon for the final time inside the Co-op Live. That’s despite the Dagestan-born Brit having his hand raised and remaining unbeaten, both in the UFC and across his amateur and professional careers.

    During his post-fight press conference, White revealed the promotion wouldn’t be re-signing Mokaev after he fought out his contract on home soil. While the grappler’s fight style had been pointed to as a criticism in recent times, the UFC chief insisted the issues leading to the release came away from the Octagon.

    The weeks since have seen considerable debate over Mokaev’s exit, with many accusing the UFC of double standards given the trouble caused by the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones away from fights.

    White, however, is holding firm on the call to let Mokaev go…

    White Tells Mokaev: ‘You Put Yourself In This Position!’

    During the post-fight press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the organization’s decision to let Mokaev go.

    White reiterated that problems outside of the cage left the matchmakers and executive Hunter Campbell less than pleased with “The Punisher,” to the point where they were content losing him from the flyweight roster.

    And when it comes to Mokaev’s complaints and disagreement on social media about the decision, White said he has nobody to blame but himself.

    “It is what it is. I always say this, this is an opportunity to be here and to perform in front of the entire world. He’s just a guy that did everything wrong and pissed these guys off,” White said. “I wasn’t involved in any of the stuff that happened with him, but you know, the matchmakers and Hunter were, and they weren’t happy with him.

    “They weren’t happy with the way he acted. They weren’t happy with a lot of things he did and said. I guess you can look back now and regret it, but you did it,” White continued. “You put yourself in this position.”

    Despite his offer to fight for free and pleas for a UFC return, it would appear that Mokaev has considerable work to do away from the Octagon if he’s to convince the higher-ups of the merits that come with re-signing him down the line.

    And in terms of where he’ll attempt that, it seems fans aren’t far away from finding out Mokaev’s first post-UFC destination.

  • Israel Adesanya Predicts Dricus Du Plessis Will ‘Shoot Straight Away’ At UFC 305: ‘I Doubt He’ll Want To Strike With Me’

    Israel Adesanya Predicts Dricus Du Plessis Will ‘Shoot Straight Away’ At UFC 305: ‘I Doubt He’ll Want To Strike With Me’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya expects for his wrestling defense to be required come fight night against Dricus Du Plessis.

    Adesanya will headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for Du Plessis’ title. The South African captured the crown by dethroning Sean Strickland, who secured his brief reign by upsetting “The Last Stylebender” close to a year ago.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander has not competed since, instead taking time to rest and recuperate following a period of intense activity after his undisputed title win back in 2019.

    The RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, will be the stage for his mixed martial arts comeback, and Du Plessis is the man tasked with preventing a historic three-time feat at 185 pounds for Adesanya.

    And while he used his unorthodox but effective striking style to get the better of Robert Whittaker and Strickland in the past, Adesanya expects his South African rival to resort to his grappling when stood across from his kickboxing talents…

    Adesanya Ready To Prove Himself In The Grappling Realm Again

    During an interview with Stake, Adesanya looked ahead to his first appearance inside the Octagon in 11 months and assessed the matchup that awaits him.

    While those backing the champ have seemingly pointed to his forward-pressure style on the feet, which appeared to contribute to Adesanya’s undoing against Strickland, “The Last Stylebender” is predicting a quick grappling entry from Du Plessis.

    “I think he’s going to shoot straight away. I doubt he’ll want to strike with me for too long,” Adesanya said. “This is something that people always say, but I’ve shown before that I can wrestle too. It might not be how everyone else wrestles, but I can wrestle too. That’s why I ended up becoming world champion.”

    Should that be the case, Adesanya will look to prove those who doubt his grappling arsenal wrong by bringing the fight back to his favored environment, where he wants to deliver on the emphatic performance that both he and teammates like Alexander Volkanovski have predicted for him.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 1 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 1 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series kicked off 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. And episode one of season eight this week saw four prospects move a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    The return of DWCS began in violent fashion courtesy of former Cage Warriors standout Lone’er Kavanagh, who landed a short left hook to brutally knock out the highly touted An Tuan Ho in the very first round.

    Flyweights set the pace, and the featherweights soon matched it. Continuing the trend of vicious stoppages, MMA Lab’s Jose Delgado landed a flush knee to the head of Ernie Juarez to get things done in round two.

    The other two victors to land finishes, light heavyweight Bruno Lopes and middleweight Mansur Abdul-Malik, were also rewarded with contracts, although the decision to grant the former one caused considerable debate on social media.

    Rami Hamed’s lackluster decision win over Meng Ding 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.

    Lone’er Kavanagh Def. An Tuan Ho Via KO: Round 1, 2:35

    Jose Delgado Def. Ernie Juarez Via KO: Round 2, 1:25

    Bruno Lopes Def. Mikheil Sazhiniani Via TKO: Round 2, 4:14

    Mansur Abdul-Malik Def. Wesley Schultz Via TKO: Round 2, 3:55

  • Dan Hooker Promises ‘Most Exciting Fight Gamrot’s Ever Been In’ At UFC 305 

    Dan Hooker Promises ‘Most Exciting Fight Gamrot’s Ever Been In’ At UFC 305 

    UFC lightweight Dan Hooker sees no way criticism of Mateusz Gamrot being in ‘boring’ fights can continue once he’s added to the equation this weekend.

    Hooker spent plenty of time campaigning for a spot on the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view card, which takes place close to home for the New Zealander at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    His pleas were finally answered, and the matchup that’s put him at the event comes with it a major opportunity for “The Hangman” to climb the 155-pound ladder back toward title contention.

    On August 17, Hooker will make the walk to share the cage with the man ranked six places above him, #5 contender Mateusz Gamrot.

    While riding a three-right winning run and sitting inside the top five at lightweight, Gamrot remains out of the championship equation for the time being. Some have concluded that’s down to a less than fan-friendly fight style, with his recent wins over Jalin Turner and Rafael dos Anjos in particular receiving backlash.

    Given his penchant for firefights and entertainment, though, Hooker expects to serve as the remedy for Gamrot’s control-heavy approach…

    Hooker: Exciting UFC 305 Fight ‘Not Gonna Be Because Of’ Gamrot

    During an interview with The AllStar, Hooker looked ahead to his home continent assignment and assessed the man across from whom he’ll stand inside the Octagon on Saturday night (Sunday morning local time).

    Hooker has seemingly noted the views some in the community have of Gamrot and his usual route to victory. With him boasting the total opposite, “The Hangman” expects “Gamer” to be in for a totally new type of showdown come fight night.

    “This is going to be the most exciting fight Gamrot’s ever been in. Let me just say that,” Hooker said. “That’s not gonna be because of him. That’s gonna be because they locked him in a cage with me.”

    Gamrot has differed from those comments in terms of who will be responsible for the fireworks this weekend.

    The Polish contender recently acknowledged the “politics” that go into deciding who fights for UFC gold, and so he’s intent on delivering a thrilling finish to get the better of Hooker and stake his claim for a first shot at title glory at UFC 305.

  • Israel Adesanya Insists Sean Strickland Loss Didn’t ‘Shake’ Him Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘I’ve Been Here Before’

    Israel Adesanya Insists Sean Strickland Loss Didn’t ‘Shake’ Him Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘I’ve Been Here Before’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is no stranger to bouncing back from setbacks, and he’s confident of doing so again.

    Adesanya is currently coming off the third loss of his Octagon career — a shock decision defeat to Sean Strickland in Sydney last September. The result brought the Nigerian-New Zealander’s sophomore title reign to a quick end and served as the catalyst for a break.

    Now, 11 months later, “The Last Stylebender” is back on the hunt.

    Adesanya will headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for the 185-pound gold, now held by his rival Dricus Du Plessis.

    The pair will now do battle inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and many are keen to see how Adesanya performs following such a dominant loss last time out.

    Du Plessis, on his part, has suggested the Nigerian-New Zealander already has one foot out the door toward retirement. Some others, meanwhile, have questioned if the recent break will be enough to prevent Adesanya putting in the same lackluster performance that sent him to defeat opposite Strickland.

    But when it comes to rebounding from a poor result and showing he’s got plenty left to give at the top of the division, Adesanya has reminded his detractors that UFC 305 is far from his first rodeo…

    Adesanya On UFC 305 Comeback: ‘I’m Going To Smoke This Fool’

    During a recent interview with Stake, Adesanya looked ahead to his return to action and reflected on his year away from the Octagon.

    “The Last Stylebender” acknowledged the importance of his time off and insisted he’s now ready to jump back on the train. And in terms of those doubting his ability to do so successfully, Adesanya vowed to prove them wrong by ‘smoking’ Du Plessis come fight night.

    “This is the longest layoff in my whole fighting career. I kind of got forced into taking a break because my body needed it,” Adesanya said. “Not because of the fights, but the training camps. My mind, body and spirit needed it, and I’m glad I got the break I needed and reset myself, reaffirm myself. Let’s go!

    “My team is everything you need. I’m a friendly guy and a lot of the people I connect with feel like they’ve known me for years, but my team are the ones who will always be around me because they understand me,” Adesanya continued. “I’ve been here before, I’ve lost before and I know how things change, so for me, the defeat didn’t shake me. You watch this…I’m going to smoke this fool. I’ve been here before, but I’ll play the game a little differently this time.”

    Adesanya will look to prove as much by righting that wrong from last September in his return on Australian soil this weekend.

    Should he accomplish that feat, “The Last Stylebender” would add another historic achievement to his record by becoming the first-ever three-time middleweight champ in UFC history.

    And should he do so in the kind of fashion he’s envisioning, the commentary booth could have another highlight to add to its reel.

  • Former Strikeforce Fighter Arrested For Alleged Revenge Killing A Year On From Son’s Murder

    Former Strikeforce Fighter Arrested For Alleged Revenge Killing A Year On From Son’s Murder

    Former Strikeforce fighter and recent BKFC Prospect Series athlete Lumumba Sayers Sr. has been arrested for murder after allegedly killing a man to avenge the death of his son.

    Sayers Sr., a mixed martial arts veteran of 11 professional fights who went by the moniker “Heavy Hands,” is accused of shooting an individual in the head after showing up at a child’s birthday party this past Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit (h/t Denver7).

    The victim of the incident, which took place at Pioneer Park in Commerce City, Colorado, was identified as Malcolm Watson, who is believed to be connected to the individual initially accused of murdering Sayers Sr.’s son in 2023.

    Lumumba Sayers Jr., who was also a budding MMA fighter, was among two killed in a shooting in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood last August. Tyrell Braxton was arrested the following month and charged with murder, before the case against him was subsequently dismissed.

    The tragic killing saw Sayers Jr. become the victim of the exact violence he strived to fight against, with both him and his father serving as anti-gun violence activists.

    Sayers Sr., who returned to combat sports this year with a 12-second knockout win on the BKFC Prospect Series, started the Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts boxing gym in Aurora. The facility works to help young people avoid gun violence.

    Sayers Jr., meanwhile, was said to have been a leader in Denver’s “Gloves Up, Guns Down” program, in addition to his involvement with his father’s gym.

    Tragically, while the 23-year-old was the victim of such violence, his father is now accused of carrying out a similar act in retaliation.

    MMA Veteran Lumumba Sayers Sr. Accused Of Shooting Victim In The Head During Child’s Birthday Party

    Per the arrest affidavit, the alleged victim of this past weekend’s shooting was at a birthday part at the Pioneer Park waterpark, where a witness claimed to have seen Sayers Sr. “walk up and shoot the victim in the head at close range.” Another person present told police the former fighter had “killed her baby’s daddy on the baby’s birthday.”

    Police were also told that Sayers Sr. had attempted to shoot Watson’s body with a second firearm, which had jammed.

    One witness suggested the “murder was probably in retaliation or revenge” for the death or Sayers Sr.’s son. While the alleged relationship between Watson and Braxton, the man initially accused of killing Lumumba Jr., is not detailed in the affidavit, a connection between the two murders is implied.

    Two days on from Watson’s death, Denver7 spoke to community leader Topazz McBride, owner of the Rediscovery Through Wellness center in Aurora. She spoke about Sayers Sr.’s struggles since his son’s murder and discussed what needs to come next for her community.

    “When a person goes through something like this, they need ongoing support the grief process, the mourning does not go away,” McBride said. “People have their own lives, and so people begin to move back to their own sense of normalcy, which didn’t necessarily happen with Lumumba. … He was so close to his son, he grieved in a different way because of how he’s been available to community and to other families who’ve lost children to gun violence.

    “What’s next is about maintaining peace, but also making sure that we’re taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves because now they’re devastated and prayer for the hearts of everyone that hearts don’t get hardened as a result of this,” McBride added.

    During his MMA career, Lumumba Sayers Sr. faced notable names like ex-UFC title challenger Anthony Smith and longtime middleweight contender Derek Brunson, fighting the former on the undercard of Ronda Rousey’s Strikeforce title fight against Sarah Kaufman in 2012.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Israel Adesanya’s Title-Winning KO Of Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    UFC 305 headliner Israel Adesanya made an emphatic return to the middleweight throne at the expense of a longtime rival in April 2023.

    The former two-time champion will return in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with regaining the belt once again in a grudge match against Dricus Du Plessis.

    Adesanya previously lost and won back the 185-pound strap in a two-fight series with his former kickboxing rival Alex Pereira. After losing two contests to him in the striking-only sport, “The Last Stylebender” fell to 0-3 when “Poatan” rallied to score a fifth-round knockout at the Madison Square Garden-held UFC 281 in November 2022.

    But the Nigerian-New Zealander broke his Pereira curse five months later in their second MMA dance at UFC 287 in Miami, brutally knocking the Brazilian out in round two to deliver a highlight for the ages and MMA News’ KO of the Year award for 2023.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Adesanya vs. Pereira rematch fight from UFC 287 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHZKfAkPC0U

    Adesanya will look to deliver a similar statement-making performance when making his comeback this weekend.

    Having had his second reign brought to a shock end at the hands of Sean Strickland last September, “The Last Stylebender” has the chance to show that he’s far from done by adding the first blemish to the currently perfect UFC record of champ Du Plessis.

  • Brendan Allen Highlights What ‘Insanely Lucky’ Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Defense Against Israel Adesanya Will Come Down To (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen Highlights What ‘Insanely Lucky’ Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Defense Against Israel Adesanya Will Come Down To (Exclusive)

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen believes the result of Dricus Du Plessis’ upcoming first title defense will be determined by which version of Israel Adesanya shows up.

    Seven months on from reaching the throne with his perfect UFC record intact, Du Plessis will look to add another achievement to his ever-growing résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage by successfully defending the title for the first time.

    To do so, the South African is tasked with stalling the three-time ambitions of Adesanya in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 305 pay-per-view, set for the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    In the lead-up to his comeback from an 11-month layoff post-shock defeat to Sean Strickland, Adesanya has dismissed regaining the 185-pound gold as being his focus, instead stating that he’s back to “take heads.”

    Whatever his motivation is, Allen thinks it has to be strong enough to bring back the formidable Adesanya who got the better of names like Alex Pereira and Paulo Costa if he’s to have his hand raised on August 17…

    Allen On Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘If It’s The Motivated Izzy…’

    During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to the upcoming championship contest in his division.

    The #7-ranked contender suggested the result will be determined by which iteration of Adesanya returns to action. Rejuvenated and motivated? ‘And new’. Lackluster? ‘And still’.

    “To be honest, I really don’t care (who wins). I don’t like either one of them,” Allen told MMA News. “I’m gonna watch it, of course, because I want to see. But I don’t care. I think we’ll see what Izzy comes back and how he’s been. I think that’s a big tell; what Izzy comes back. Is it a resurged, re-energized Izzy? Or is it like, ‘I don’t know if I wanna be here.’ It’s easy to talk it, it’s easy to watch it, it’s easy to fake it. But you can’t fake it when it’s fight time. That’s the only time we’ll know for sure.

    “Obviously Dricus is super confident. He’s at the height of his career. He’s insanely confident, insanely lucky,” Allen continued. “I don’t know, man. I don’t really care who wins. To me, it just depends which Izzy comes back. if it’s the motivated Izzy, I would say Izzy. If it’s the Izzy that fought like, Paulo or Alex the last time, that Izzy is a tough Izzy to beat, man. … If it’s the lackluster one, i don’t think he’s gonna win. Dricus is just gonna keep pushing the pace.”

    Allen will be hoping to book his spot opposite the winner down the line by having his hand raised at the expense of Nassourdine Imavov in Paris next month. Success in that regard would leave “All In” on an eight-fight win streak.

    But before attention on the middleweight division turns to that co-headliner in the French capital this fall, all eyes are on the impending grudge match between Du Plessis and Adesanya Down Under.

  • Mateusz Gamrot Promises More Entertainment In UFC 305 Return Against Dan Hooker: ‘I Know How Is Politics In The UFC…’ 

    Mateusz Gamrot Promises More Entertainment In UFC 305 Return Against Dan Hooker: ‘I Know How Is Politics In The UFC…’ 

    While his opponent may be the one known for putting on barnburners, UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot has vowed to be the one thrilling the masses this weekend.

    Gamrot is set to feature in one of the most notable matchups on the lineup for Saturday’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia. Inside the RAC Arena, “Gamer” will face off against one of Oceania’s fan favorites, Dan “The Hangman” Hooker.

    The bout sees the #5-ranked Gamrot fighting six places down the ladder despite winning three straight to secure a spot in the title picture. Nevertheless, the Polish 33-year-old sees Hooker’s name value as worthy of a championship opportunity should he emerge victorious.

    For that to be the case, however, Gamrot knows more than a win will be required on August 17. And having had his grappling-heavy wins over Jalin Turner and Rafael dos Anjos criticized by some in recent times, “Gamer” is planning fireworks Down Under…

    Gamrot On UFC 305 Goals: ‘I Need New Highlights’

    During a recent interview with Home of Fight, Gamrot looked ahead to his second Octagon assignment of 2024 and described his goals for the UFC 305 showdown.

    More than just exiting Perth with another triumph added to his streak, “Gamer” is looking to do away with criticisms of how his recent fights have been won by putting an entertaining exclamation mark on his performance opposite Hooker.

    “I know that I can beat him only with my wrestling. But I know this time I need to give a more entertaining fight. I want to finish him on the ground,” Gamrot said. “But of course, this is mixed martial arts. In the beginning, you fight on the feet. I need to put my hands to him. I want to give a really good fight. I know I am number five in the rankings. If I want to fight for the belt in the future, I need to finish him.

    “I need new highlights,” Gamrot continued. “Of course, this is for myself. For me, the most important is winning. A win is a win. But I know how is politics in the UFC, and the people love when you go to the cage and you finish the opponent. If this is three rounds, I will be also happy, you know? But I would like for myself to do something special. I know if I finish him, my way to the top will be really closer.”

    By all accounts, Arman Tsarukyan is next in line for a shot at Makhachev’s lightweight gold upon his recovery from injury.

    With Gamrot boasting a main event victory over the Russian-Armenian contender on his record, another victory this weekend to cement his spot in the top five would no doubt go a long way to securing him his first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Michael Chandler Names Most Realistic Conor McGregor Alternative For Next Fight: ‘A Great Fight To Get The Fans Pumped…’

    Should his long wait to fight Conor McGregor not bear fruit, UFC lightweight Michael Chandler does have another idea in mind…

    It’s been almost two years since the former three-time Bellator champion was in action. While the first few months of that period were spent recovering from the damage he sustained in defeat to Dustin Poirier, the majority has followed a trend of patience and commitment when it comes to who Chandler wants to face next.

    “Iron” was announced as the comeback opponent for McGregor toward the start of 2023, with the pair first coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter. But that series has been and gone, as have multiple rumored events for their fight and, most recently, one official date.

    And after the Irishman withdrew from the UFC 303 pay-per-view main event this past June on late notice, many have reiterated their belief that Chandler is waiting around for a matchup that simply won’t reach the cage.

    During a recent interview with Lucky Block, the #6-ranked lightweight acknowledged that he’s an “optimist” but did admit that readjusting his sights to another opponent is on the cards.

    “I am an optimist by default, so I do believe the Conor fight will happen. Right now, we are in a period where things are being talked about. What date? Is it Conor? Is it pivoting to a different fight? Is it making the best decision for me and my family? I love the idea that Conor and I did The Ultimate Fighter, we had a training camp, we signed on the dotted line. But as much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not hinged upon this fight. I am running my own race, and I’m continuing to move forward.

    “I am at the point now where we are looking at all of the options and not just fighting Conor. Things move fast, and the phone could ring at any time. I don’t want to make it sound like I’m not focused on fighting Conor, but right now when no contract is signed, I’m excited to fight. I’m training every day, and I’m in the best shape that I have been in a very long time, and I’m ready to go out there, whether it’s Conor or someone else. There’s always going to be life after Conor if this fight never comes to fruition.”

    Should delays to the McGregor showdown continue, Chandler has pointed to a “realistic” alternative…

    Chandler Eyes Oliveira Rematch Should McGregor Fight Fall Away

    During the same interview, Chandler was asked to identify his options should the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s layoff continue.

    After highlighting Max Holloway as the “most exciting” opponent, the ex-Bellator star pivoted to a rematch as a more likely battle, and one that could see him jump straight back into title contention at 155 pounds.

     “The most realistic option for me if you look at the landscape and you consider everything is Charles Oliveira. I love the rematch with Charles. I think it’s a great fight to get the fans pumped up. I almost had him finished in the first round, and then I made a glaring mistake in the second round that I would never, ever make again. It was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy that I was working on in camp that turned out to be my demise.

    “Me and Charles for the number one contender spot. I beat Charles, knock him out in the first round, then all of a sudden I’m sitting at the number one contender spot, and I get to choose whether I fight Islam, or do I fight Conor next? And why not both?”

    Chandler shared the Octagon with Oliveira in just his second UFC fight, riding a successful debut opposite Dan Hooker into an immediate shot at the then-vacant lightweight title in May 2021.

    “Iron” was on the ascendancy in round one and appeared seconds away from finding a finish. But after “Do Bronx” survived, he came out in the second frame and caught Chandler with a clean left hook, finding the knockout finish soon after.

    The 38-year-old has frequently expressed a desire to get that loss back before his UFC career comes to a close. And should his continued push to welcome McGregor back to action fail, perhaps Chandler will put his focus back on UFC gold and redemption against Oliveira.

  • PHOTOS: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Custom Shorts For UFC 305

    PHOTOS: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Custom Shorts For UFC 305

    UFC 305 headliners Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya will be the latest to enter the Octagon with custom-designed fight gear.

    For a while, featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell marked the only athlete who made the walk in custom shorts, donning his camouflage gear to the cage. This year, however, the promotion and its uniform partner Venum have expanded that in a big way.

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley was the first in 2024, receiving bright pink shorts for his title defense against Marlon Vera in Miami this past March. The following month, Alex Pereira, Zhang Weili, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway all wore custom kits at the milestone UFC 300 event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Dustin Poirier was next with floral shorts at UFC 302, while UFC 303 later in June saw Ian Garry in purple gear. Last month, meanwhile, saw Leon Edwards and Paddy Pimblett given custom gear for their home fights at UFC 304 in Manchester.

    The initiative shows no signs of slowing, and the latest reveal ahead of the UFC 305 pay-per-view has displayed the shorts that will be worn by Du Plessis and Adesanya as they duke it out for the middleweight championship.

    “Stillknocks” and “The Last Stylebender” will look to settle their grudge from last year when they headline this weekend’s event in Perth, Australia.

    While they top the lineup with gold on the line, the likes of former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg, lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker, and hard-hitting heavyweight Tai Tuivasa will also be among those in action.

    MMA Fans React To Du Plessis, Adesanya’s Custom UFC 305 Shorts: ‘Best Ones So Far’

    Plenty in the mixed martial arts community flocked to social media to give their thoughts on the latest custom shorts. And by the looks of things, the designs went down well…

    https://twitter.com/whybizz12z/status/1823170714280632825
  • UFC Rankings Report: Serghei Spivac Ties Stipe Miocic After UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    UFC Rankings Report: Serghei Spivac Ties Stipe Miocic After UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    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 Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: There was one change to the male P4P order this week and it comes toward the bottom, with Charles Oliveira (#14) getting boosted above his fellow former UFC champion Sean Strickland (#15).

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson has received a late reward for her efforts at UFC 303 in late June, moving up one spot to #4 at 135 pounds at the expense of former title challenger Irena Aldana (#5).

    Further down, Yana Santos has returned to the top 10 courtesy of her victory over Chelsea Chandler this past weekend, climbing above Miesha Tate (#11) and Pannie Kianzad (#12). the former of whom has dropped three positions. The defeated Chandler, meanwhile, remains clinging on to a ranking at #15 despite not boasting a single victory in the weight class.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: At 205 pounds, former title challenger Dominick Reyes has edged closer to the top 10, moving up to #13 and swapping positions with Bogdan Guskov (#14).

    Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac returned to winning ways in Saturday’s main event, avenging his 2020 loss to Marcin Tybura by locking the Polish veteran in an armbar inside the opening minutes. As a result, “Polar Bear” has risen by two places to #7, where he’s met a man on the opposite trajectory in the great Stipe Miocic. The ex-champ has slipped another spot to share that step of the ladder with Spivac.

    Those changes have resulted in Jailton Almeida climbing one spot to #6 and the defeated Tybura slipping a place to #9.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Steve Erceg Highlights Biggest Lesson Learned From Alexandre Pantoja Title Loss Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    Steve Erceg Highlights Biggest Lesson Learned From Alexandre Pantoja Title Loss Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    Having narrowly fallen short of the UFC flyweight title three months ago, Steve Erceg is returning to action with the knowledge that he can compete with the elite of the division.

    Erceg, who currently occupies the #7 spot at 125 pounds, will be among the home fighters featuring at this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view, which goes down inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    “AstroBoy” has been able to make a relatively quick turnaround to compete in his city, returning after emerging from Brazil without the flyweight title in his possession this past May.

    The 29-year-old received a surprise title shot after just three fights in the UFC, looking to cash in on favorable circumstances at the expense of champion Alexandre Pantoja in the UFC 301 main event.

    While unsuccessful in that endeavor, Erceg had plenty of positives to take away from the five-round defeat, and he’ll carry them into his return against Kai Kara-France on August 17…

    Erceg On UFC 301 Loss: ‘I Learned That I Am Near The Top’

    During a recent interview with New York Post Sports, Erceg looked ahead to his fifth outing on MMA’s biggest stage and chance to bounce back from his first UFC defeat.

    When asked about his opening experience competing with UFC gold on the line, “AstroBoy” spoke of the added confidence he has having proven that he can hang with the best possible opposition in the flyweight division.

    “I learned that I am near the top of the division,” Erceg said. “I always believed it, but even though I lost, the fact I was able to go five rounds, I did get up, he didn’t take my back, I was able to land; there was a lot of good things that came out of it.

    “Also, obviously, a lot of things that I did wrong or he did well that I have to improve so that next time I get an opportunity like that, I can go there not as a good effort, but as a world champion,” Erceg continued. “That’s probably the biggest things I learned.”

    Erceg’s first step toward working his way back toward Pantoja and the gold in “The Cannibal’s” possession comes this weekend.

    And with a leading contender in Muhammad Mokaev being removed from the picture after his shock exit from the UFC, “AstroBoy” may not be far from a second shot given the competitive nature of his performance in Rio de Janeiro and the high ranking of his next opponent.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Warns Mateusz Gamrot: ‘Dan Hooker Is No Joke When It Comes To Wrestling Defense’

    Alexander Volkanovski Warns Mateusz Gamrot: ‘Dan Hooker Is No Joke When It Comes To Wrestling Defense’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has insisted Mateusz Gamrot won’t have it all his own way in the grappling department against Dan Hooker this weekend.

    Hooker will mark one of many Oceanic natives taking to the Octagon close to home at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view event, which goes down inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    The lightweight fan favorite had long been calling for a spot on the high-profile card, and he got his wish alongside a major opportunity to climb back up the ranks.

    “The Hangman” is set to fight six places up the ladder against Gamrot, the #5-ranked contender at 155 pounds. The Polish fighter has been on a charge in the division, using his smothering wrestling game to get the better of names like Arman Tsarukyan, Jalin Turner, and Rafael dos Anjos in recent years.

    In Hooker, though, Volkanovski thinks Gamrot will run into a hurdle too tall…

    Volkanovski Backs Hooker To Withstand Gamrot’s Wrestling, Find A Finish At UFC 305

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski broke down and provided his picks for the major matchups set to play out at UFC 305 in Perth this Saturday (Sunday morning local time).

    Among a number of Volkanovski’s frequent training partners over at City Kickboxing set to compete at the event is Hooker, who will enter his matchup with Gamrot as the underdog.

    The brawling striker has long had wrestling pointed to as a deficiency in his game, with champion Islam Makhachev being the last to expose it back in 2021. But while “Gamer” has shown a strong ground game, Volkanovski believes it takes more than what he can offer to get past Hooker’s defenses.

    “Gamrot is obviously gonna be coming for them takedowns. He’s a very, very, heavy wrestler, grappler,” Volkanovski said. “Look, Dan Hooker is hard to take down. Dan Hooker is no joke when it comes to wrestling defense and then submissions as you’re trying to take him down. You’ve seen the work Dan Hooker can do.

    “I swear, even the last times I’ve been training with him, he’s still got it. 10 years in the UFC and I think he looks better probably now than he did before. The last time I trained with him, he was looking good,” Volkanovski continued. “Last time Dan Hooker faced someone like (Gamrot), it was Islam Makhachev. Remember, short notice, and I feel Islam’s a little more trickier with takedowns. … Gamrot’s gonna be more aggressive with the wrestling … I just feel like Hooker can do enough to make that hard. … Hooker has got incredible timing for the takedown defense. … Hooker might find the finish here.”

    Hooker will look to prove Volkanovski’s prediction correct come fight night Down Under. And should he accomplish that feat, a return to the lightweight top five and title contention should be on the cards for the veteran New Zealander.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Win Over Sean Strickland Ahead Of His UFC 305 Defense 

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Win Over Sean Strickland Ahead Of His UFC 305 Defense 

    UFC 305 headliner Dricus Du Plessis achieved his title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past January.

    The middleweight champion will return in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with defending his belt in a grudge match against Israel Adesanya.

    The South African’s first chance to extend his reign comes seven months on from his crowning at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada. He headlined the promotion’s first PPV of 2024 in competition for the 185-pound gold, which was then held by Sean Strickland.

    “Stillknocks” brought the American’s divisional rule to a quick end, falling on the right side of a split decision after five rounds of competitive action to rip the title from Strickland’s grasp in his very first defense.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Du Plessis vs. Strickland fight from UFC 297 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53Lz5NWhm4

    Du Plessis will now look to ensure he achieves a feat that Strickland failed to this year by recording a successful defense. To do so, he must stall Adesanya’s push for a historic three-time title crowning.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander will be making his return after losing the belt to Strickland close to a year ago. To regain it, Adesanya has his South African rival’s UFC 0 in his sights.

  • Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive)

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month.

    Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the event, much to the American’s frustration.

    The #7-ranked contender initially publicly rejected the France assignment owing to the fact that the promotion wasn’t looking to have him and Imavov headline. Allen was evidently convinced to compete on the undercard of Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis, but he remains frustrated at one stipulation.

    With five-round co-main events becoming more common, Allen says he pushed for that against “The Sniper,” but the Frenchman refused. Having had three of his last four outings scheduled for 25 minutes, the 28-year-old is not pleased about Imavov’s apparent reluctance to prepare for the longer distance…

    Allen Tells Imavov: You Want To Fight For The Title? 5 Rounds Is How You Do It

    During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to his second Octagon appearance of 2024, which comes a few months on from his memorable victory over Chris Curtis in their barnburner at the Apex.

    That result added to “All In’s” five-round experience, and Imavov isn’t short on it himself having gone the 25-minute distance with both Sean Strickland and Roman Dolidze, as well as recently entering a fourth frame with Jared Cannonier prior to the TKO stoppage.

    Despite that, though, Allen says the three-round stipulation for the Paris co-main event is entirely down to Imavov and his team, a decision he has a firm view on.

    “Some people just need all the deck in their favor to try to win. But it’s not gonna be enough. I’m still gonna win,” Allen told MMA News. “I accepted the five rounds; I asked for the five rounds. I’ve heard the explanations but I still don’t agree or understand it. But it’s above my pay grade. I think it’s bullsh*t that 10 and 12 guys are main event over four and seven, where we have title contentions possibly surrounding our fight.

    “I think it’s kind of a b*tch move that he (Imavov) doesn’t want to accept five rounds. Even as a co-main, he doesn’t want to accept five rounds,” Allen continued. “You wanna fight for the belt? You wanna stake your claim? Like, that’s how you do it. You go out there and win a five-round fight, even if it doesn’t go five rounds. … I don’t fully understand his reasoning, but I understand their logic. Some people just need all the cards in their favor as much as possible.”

    Regardless, Allen will still be looking to deliver a standout performance in the French capital to stake his claim for a long-awaited first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Having already won seven straight, perhaps the addition of the #4-ranked contender to his ever-growing résumé is the piece of the puzzle Allen needs to secure his spot opposite the champion next time out.

  • Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’ 

    Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’ 

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya remains motivated to make Dricus Du Plessis pay for some of his remarks at UFC 305.

    Having not competed since losing the title in shocking fashion against Sean Strickland last September, Adesanya will make his return to action opposite the man against whom “Tarzan” fell off the throne earlier this year.

    After an injury to Du Plessis scuppered plans for the pair to collide in Australia 11 months ago, “Stillknocks” and “The Last Stylebender” are now just days away from a battle Down Under, one that the South African will enter as the divisional kingpin.

    Du Plessis and Adesanya have long gone back and forth over the former’s remarks about African heritage. In addition to branding himself the “real African” in the UFC in one of his first post-fight interviews, the South African has pointed to his continued stay in the continent as a relevant point compared to the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman.

    Adesanya Vows To Show Du Plessis The Error Of His ‘Colonialist’ Mindset

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya looked ahead to his mixed martial arts comeback and further commented on the sensitive topic that built his feud with Du Plessis early last year.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander reiterated his frustration with his upcoming opponent’s mindset, pointing to his journey and stories such as that of Francis Ngannou as examples Du Plessis ignored when branding himself the “real African” in the UFC.

    “It’s not personal, personal. I just want him to take accountability for his remarks,” Adesanya said. “Dricus is saying, ‘I train in Africa, I do this in Africa,’ and then people like (Abdul) Razak (Alhassan) and myself, who were forced to flee our own country because of better opportunities, he’ll never understand that because he lives behind the f*cking gates of his privileged life in South Africa.

    “Not like someone like Francis, who had to cross the desert to go overseas to go train. If you know Francis’ story, you can’t call him not a real African champion because he didn’t train in Africa,” Adesanya continued. “It’s like, bro, are you f*cking kidding? The guy got sent back out to the desert six, seven times to go die and he survived. … We paved the way for him and he comes out there and tries to take it all for himself. I wonder where he got that from? … ‘I see this and want it all for myself.’ … What kind of mindset is that? … That’s a colonialist mindset.”

    Adesanya will look to settle his grudge with Du Plessis within the steel surroundings of the Octagon this weekend, when he makes the walk to it for the first time in close to a year.

    Should he have his hand raised in Perth, more than just emerging victorious from what appears to be a heated grudge match with the South African, “The Last Stylebender” will achieve a historic three-time crowning.

  • VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

    VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

    Fight week for the UFC 305 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship clash, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (21-2) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. He earned that shot with a monumental triumph over the highly regarded Robert Whittaker during last year’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    If “Stillknocks” is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must record a victory over the returning Adesanya (24-3). “The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback 11 months on from losing the middleweight gold in shocking fashion to Strickland in Sydney.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander will be back competing on Australian soil once again, with Perth’s RAC Arena potentially hosting his historic crowning as three-time champ should he hand his South African rival the first loss of his career on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Ahead of that contest Down Under, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 305 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 305 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLfQ6aHxELY

    And below, check out the full card for this weekend’s numbered event.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya
    • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
    • Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
    • Welterweight: Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
    • Featherweight: Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
    • Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
    • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
    • Welterweight: Song Kenan vs. Rick Glenn
    • Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Aguilar

    Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com this week for all the updates and news on UFC 305!

  • Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t think the idea of an interim lightweight title should be entertained while Islam Makhachev recovers.

    Makhachev cemented his grip on the crown earlier this summer when he put a stop to the late-career title ambitions of fan favorite Dustin Poirier at the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark.

    But the Dagestani may need to wait until 2025 before adding the name of another top contender at 155 pounds to his reign’s list of victims. While he was originally expected to defend the belt in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan this October in Abu Dhabi, an injury has scuppered those plans.

    According to the challenger, either December or early 2025 are the two estimates for the champ’s return. And should the latter of those come to fruition, the Russian-Armenian is open to competing for an interim title in the meantime.

    That suggestion, however, has not gone down well with one former fighter-turned-color commentator…

    Cormier On Tsarukyan’s Interim Title Proposal: ‘Why Are We Creating Belts?!’

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to confirmation that injury will keep Makhachev out of UFC 308 this fall.

    After revealing a conversation in which Makhachev told him that recovery won’t take too long, Cormier rejected suggestions that an interim champ should be crowned in the Dagestani’s brief absence.

    Cormier pointed to Makhachev’s recent activity to push back on the interim title talk.

    “You get hurt, at times. Islam Makhachev has been active. He fought in October in Abu Dhabi against Alexander Volkanovski. He fought in (June) in Newark…fought Dustin Poirier,” Cormier said. “He’s fought twice very recently. If he was to fight in October, it would have been three fights in a calendar year.

    “There is no need for an interim championship. Chael, when in the world did we start to speak titles into existence?” Cormier continued. “Could you imagine, Chael, if when you were chasing down Anderson Silva and you go, ‘Well I’ll fight for an interim title if he ain’t ready in six months!’ … Who does Tsarukyan fight for the interim championship? It’s like, why are we creating belts, or trying (to)? … It just doesn’t need to be.”

    In terms of the “who” aspect of Cormier’s remarks, Tsarukyan name-dropped Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler as potential options for an interim title showdown in the coming months.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will fall on Tsarukyan or Cormier’s side. Should the promotion avoid an additional belt, the top lightweight contender would also appear content waiting a little longer for his first opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.