MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Belal Muhammad Downplays UFC 304 Opponent Leon Edwards’ Résumé: ‘To Get The Title Fight, He Fought Nothing But Lightweights!’

    Belal Muhammad Downplays UFC 304 Opponent Leon Edwards’ Résumé: ‘To Get The Title Fight, He Fought Nothing But Lightweights!’

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad thinks his path to the belt was a lot tougher than champion Leon Edwards’.

    The pair are set to headline this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where Muhammad will look to upset the home fans by ripping the 170-pound title from “Rocky’s” grasp.

    Since their first fight ended in a No Contest over three years ago, Edwards has worked his way to the gold and subsequently defended it successfully twice to date. “Remember the Name,” meanwhile, has extended his unbeaten run to 10 with five straight wins over Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns.

    That run has left many branding Muhammad the clear number one contender, and some even calling him the most deserving challenger in UFC history. Edwards, however, seemingly hasn’t been too impressed and recently downplayed some of his opponent’s results.

    Unsurprisingly, Muhammad has returned the favor…

    Muhammad Insists He Boasts Tougher Strength Of Schedule Than Edwards

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Muhammad looked ahead to his long-awaited first opportunity at achieving champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The #2-ranked welterweight had his attention turned to Edwards’ remarks about his winning run and fired back in kind, suggesting that “Rocky” fought nothing but 155lbers to secure his 2022 title shot.

    “When I look at his résumé for him to get the title fight, he fought nothing but lightweights,” Muhammad said. “Donald Cerrone, RDA, Nate Diaz. Like, okay? Look at the guys that I beat, when I beat them. Gilbert Burns was on a two-fight winning streak. Luque was on a five or six-fight winning streak when I beat him. Sean Brady was on a 15-fight winning streak when I beat him. ‘Wonderboy’ was like 3-1 out of his last four fights when I beat him. Demian Maia was like 3-1…

    “He can say whatever he wants, but I know what I had to do to fight those guys,” Muhammad continued. “And when I trained for those guys, every single one of those camps I picked up something different, right, because I had to train for a grappler, then I had to train for a striker, then I had to train for a guy who knocked me out before. Every single one of those guys, every single one of those camps, I evolved as a fighter. … I fought the best version of them and I got the best version of myself out of it.”

    Muhammad will look to demonstrate that evolution since the unfortunate ending to his and Edwards’ first clash when they run it back in Manchester this weekend.

    And when it comes to achieving that feat, “Remember the Name” isn’t short on confidence. The challenger has vowed to unseat “Rocky” inside the distance, with him and his manager claiming he won’t even require the championship rounds at UFC 304.

  • Virna Jandiroba Reacts To UFC Lightweight Branding Women’s MMA A Bathroom Break: ‘Maybe He Needs To Find A Therapist’

    UFC strawweight contender Virna Jandiroba wasn’t pleased to hear the less than positive take on women’s MMA from a fellow fighter.

    Jandiroba recorded her biggest win to date in this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex, submitting former title challenger Amanda Lemos to stake her claim for a first title shot.

    The finish came by way of a gruesome armbar submission and marked Jandiroba’s fourth straight triumph inside the Octagon. She was widely praised in the aftermath of the impressive performance, but one peer who likely wasn’t watching is lightweight Loik Radzhabov.

    “The Tajik Tank,” who was defeated on the preliminary card of Jandiroba’s main event, made some negative remarks about the women’s side of mixed martial arts last week, branding it a “break” to go to the bathroom during cards.

    “Well, I don’t watch it, no matter who is fighting,” Radzhabov told Red Corner MMA. “Actually, when women fight, I take a break to get some snacks or go to the toilet.”

    Jandiroba Tells Radzhabov To Get Help To ‘Overcome Issues’

    During her post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Jandiroba reflected on her first headline victory in the UFC and reacted to Radzhabov’s comments about her and other women competing in MMA’s premier promotion.

    In a brief response to the remarks, the Brazilian strawweight suggested Razhabov has “issues” that only a specialist would be able to solve.

    “I’m not someone that is going to be able to help him, but maybe he needs to go get some analysis. You know, find a therapist that is going to help him overcome those issues that he has. There is probably something there that he needs to sort out and he is going to have to find a specialist to do it.”

    Having fallen to 2-2 in the UFC courtesy of a decision setback at the hands of Trey Ogden on July 20, Radzhabov will hope to bounce back next time out to avoid a losing record inside the Octagon.

    Jandiroba, meanwhile, appears to have her sights set on UFC gold following her win over a fellow Brazilian strawweight in Lemos. And “Carcara” is expecting her “weirdness” to provide a unique challenge for champion Zhang Weili.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Tom Aspinall’s Title-Winning Knockout Of Sergei Pavlovich Ahead Of His UFC 304 Defense

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Tom Aspinall’s Title-Winning Knockout Of Sergei Pavlovich Ahead Of His UFC 304 Defense

    UFC 304 co-headliner Tom Aspinall achieved his title ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in emphatic fashion last November.

    The interim heavyweight champion will return in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where he’s tasked with defending his belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes.

    The pair first collided at a London-held UFC Fight Night back in the summer of 2021. The bout lasted just 15 seconds, with a devastating knee injury suffered by Aspinall bringing it to a premature end and handing the Brit his first Octagon setback.

    Aspinall has since rebounded in a major way, first by getting the better of Marcin Tybura last July and then by capturing interim UFC gold in a short-notice clash with Sergei Pavlovich four months later.

    After an injury to Jon Jones saw his planned heavyweight defense against Stipe Miocic off the UFC 295 card, Aspinall stepped up to meet the original backup fighter at Madison Square Garden.

    Despite a lack of preparation and not being at full fitness, the Englishman closed the show in just over a minute, stopping his Russian counterpart by way of knockout to have a UFC title wrapped around his waist.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight from UFC 295 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1-hFm-a_N4

    Aspinall will hope to repeat that performance at the expense of Blaydes this weekend.

    Should he accomplish that feat on home soil, the Mancunian heavyweight will keep ahold of his interim belt and perhaps strengthen calls for Jon Jones to face him in a unification showdown.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

    Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t expect to hear ‘and new’ when Belal Muhammad challenges Leon Edwards this weekend.

    The pair are set to headline Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, with Muhammad heading to enemy territory in pursuit of Edwards’ welterweight title.

    Their clash will mark one of two championship rematches set for July 27, with it following a bout for the interim heavyweight strap between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes.

    When Edwards and Muhammad first collided back in 2021, an accidental eye poke rendered “Remember the Name” unable to continue. While “Rocky’s” early success in that bout has left him as a heavy favorite in the eyes of many, Muhammad has vowed to finish him with ease at UFC 304.

    One ex-titleholder doesn’t see much chance of that coming to fruition across the pond…

    Volkanovski Expects Edwards To Retain Welterweight Gold At UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski provided his picks and predictions for four major matchups set to play out in Manchester this Saturday night, including the two championship headliners.

    Rounding out a whitewash for the favorites, “Alexander the Great” is backing Edwards to get the job done against Muhammad at the second time of trying.

    While Volkanovski acknowledged the challenger’s ability, he dismissed the notion that Muhammad boasts any tools capable of threatening Edwards come fight night. And with that in mind, he wouldn’t be surprised to see the champ find the knockout on July 27.

    “I thought Leon was looking good before that (eye poke) happened,” Volkanovski said of their first fight. “I’m gonna go with Leon Edwards. … He’s definitely the favorite. He’s rock solid. You’ve seen his wrestling defense, you’ve seen his grappling. He’s actually very well-rounded. Everyone has always thought he was a striker, but he’s very well-rounded. He was able to take Colby down…and Usman. It just shows you how good Leon Edwards is. And his striking is beautiful.

    “Belal Muhammad, a lot of people give him a hard time. … He is very calculated, doesn’t take unnecessary risks,” Volkanovski continued. “But the thing is, I thought he (Edwards) was quite aggressive in their first fight, and I think we’re gonna see that again. … He’s gonna let his hands go, which is gonna make him a lot more dangerous. … Belal, obviously is on a mad tear. He’s well-rounded, he’s got a lot of tools. But the tools that he has won’t work anywhere that’s gonna give Leon Edwards a massive threat. Can’t see him getting a finish; I think it’s gonna be very hard for him to win a decision too. … Can Leon Edwards get the finish? I think he can…TKO or KO, I definitely can see.”

    Edwards will hope to prove Volkanovski right and further enhance his legacy at 170 pounds in the process.

    And in addition to recording a third successful defense and cementing his grip on that divisional crown, another retention will only move “Rocky” closer to his goal of challenging for two-weight glory up at 185 pounds down the line.

  • VIDEO: UFC 304 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 & Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 2

    VIDEO: UFC 304 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 2 & Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 2

    Fight week for the UFC 304 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 Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad and the co-main event between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship rematch, with welterweight kingpin Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022. He’s since retained possession of the belt by getting the better of Usman again and Colby Covington in 2023.

    If “Rocky” is to continue his rule atop the 170-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Muhammad (23-3, 1 NC) at the second time of trying. The pair first collided in a UFC Fight Night main event back in 2021, which ended prematurely when accidental eye pokes left “Remember the Name” unable to continue. He’s since won five straight over Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns to finally earn his first shot at gold.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, another home fighter will put his title on the line in a rematch.

    Two years on from a devastating knee injury handing him his first UFC loss, interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (14-3) will look to right that wrong by leveling the score with Blaydes (18-4, 1 NC). In defense of the strap he captured with a thunderous knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November, Aspinall is tasked with preventing “Razor” following his TKO of Jailton Almeida with first-time title glory on July 27.

    Ahead of those two contests across the pond, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 304 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 304 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMZEjU5aj-k
  • Sean O’Malley Supports Jake Paul Continuing To Box MMA Fighters, Callout Of UFC Champion Alex Pereira

    Sean O’Malley Supports Jake Paul Continuing To Box MMA Fighters, Callout Of UFC Champion Alex Pereira

    Unlike many, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley is actually in support of Jake Paul sharing the ring with MMA fighters.

    Paul had his 11th match in professional boxing this past weekend, throwing down with former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star Mike Perry inside the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    The pair’s main event on DAZN pay-per-view came to a close in the sixth round when Paul followed early knockdowns and frequent success at the expense of “Platinum” with one final damaging flurry to earn the knockout.

    Perry, who made his name in the cage, marked the latest mixed martial arts name added to Paul’s record, joining Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz in that group.

    Paul’s choice of opponents has long been a point of discussion for his detractors. And the continuation of that trend on Saturday night was used by many to criticize the 27-year-old Cleveland native once again, in addition to his callout of UFC champion Alex Pereira.

    But not everyone in MMA is against Paul’s boxing approach…

    O’Malley Happy To Keep Watching Paul vs. MMA Fighters

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, O’Malley reacted to Paul’s latest success inside the ring and his unexpected post-match callout.

    While many laughed off Paul’s decision to put Pereira’s name on his lips in the ring, “Sugar” had nothing but praise for the callout.

    “He called out Alex Pereira. That fight won’t happen unless Dana (White) says, ‘I’m sick of seeing Jake beat all these UFC guys.’ … Imagine Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul. Dude, Alex has crazy power in both hands, but the dude literally throws from his hips. He is there to be hit,” O’Malley said. “I love the callout. Imagine we get to see that. Imagine Jake Paul goes out there and knocks out Mike Tyson, Jake Paul vs. Alex Pereira, huge.

    “Jake looks like he’s improving every single fight. I’m excited to continue to watch him fight,” O’Malley continued. “Jake is doing such a good job. After a fight, the biggest thing is what’s next. You’ve gotta set yourself up for those opportunities, and Jake’s doing that better than anybody right now.”

    And the callout wasn’t the only criticism of Paul that O’Malley defended against. He also differed from many with his view on “The Problem Child” continuing to welcome MMA veterans into the ring.

    “He hasn’t fought a top let’s say 20 guy in the world; a top-20 boxer in his weight class,” O’Malley noted. “That’s when you’re really gonna be able to see how good Jake Paul is. … I personally enjoy watching him fight these MMA guys. I like those fights. But I’m here for whatever. … I like these crossover fights.”

    Paul will move away from focusing on a prominent MMA name for the time being, instead putting his sights back on heavyweight legend Mike Tyson ahead of their rearranged Netflix showdown this November.

  • VIDEO: Cody Durden Gets Gruesome Cut Stitched Up After Brutal UFC Fight Night Loss To Bruno Silva

    VIDEO: Cody Durden Gets Gruesome Cut Stitched Up After Brutal UFC Fight Night Loss To Bruno Silva

    It was a tough night at the office this past weekend for UFC flyweight contender Cody Durden, who was left with significant damage courtesy of teammate Bruno Silva’s hands.

    The two American Top Team standouts collided on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas, doing away with their shared training ground allegiance in pursuit of a climb up the 125-pound ladder.

    It was ultimately the Brazilian who advanced his ambitions, likely securing a ranking by knocking Durden out in comeback fashion to extend his win streak on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage to four.

    The finish came midway through round two, at a time when the American appeared in control and en route to bouncing back from his submission defeat to Tagir Ulanbekov last December. But that all changed when a vicious uppercut sent his mouthpiece flying and body to the canvas.

    “Bulldog” subsequently pounced on his stricken opponent, laying down brutal ground-and-pound before referee Chris Tognoni intervened to save a bloodied Durden from further damage.

    Durden Gets Fixed Up After Tough Knockout Defeat At UFC Fight Night

    Having eaten one of the most devastating uppercuts in recent memory in addition to multiple shots on the ground, Durden was unsurprisingly left with some notable blemishes to his face, including a nasty cut under his right eye.

    He gave fans a glimpse into the medical process post-fight, posting a video of the cut being stitched up by medical personnel on social media.

    “Fight game crazy.”

    In another post, Durden thanked the UFC and the medical team behind the scenes for fixing him up, before putting his name in matchmaker Mick Maynard’s hat for any short-notice opportunities.

    “The @ufc is the best promotion in the world. They took great care of me behind the scenes. Roger, Rambo, Shay, Sarah, Justin, Heather, Dr. Davis, and many more!Thank you! I’m taking one week off, getting these stitches out and I’ll put my name in when someone pulls @Mickmaynard2”

  • Michael Bisping Brands Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Boxing Match A ‘Farce’, Berates Paul For  ‘Cherry Picking’ Opponents

    Michael Bisping Brands Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Boxing Match A ‘Farce’, Berates Paul For  ‘Cherry Picking’ Opponents

    Count former UFC champion Michael Bisping among those not impressed by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul’s latest triumph inside the ring.

    Paul’s trend of fighting and defeating mixed martial arts veterans continued this past weekend at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, which played host to “The Problem Child’s” 11th professional fight.

    The ex-Disney star has notably built a record by beating prominent MMA names crossing over to the squared circle, such as Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. And former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star Mike Perry has now joined his list of victims.

    Paul got the better of “Platinum” in the sixth round of their bout on Saturday, following earlier knockdowns with one final damaging blow to seal the deal against Perry, who stepped in on short notice following the postponement of Paul’s match with Mike Tyson.

    But despite previously speaking highly of Perry’s chances, one former UFC champ has laid into Paul for the match…

    Bisping: Paul vs. Perry Should Never Have Happened

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping gave his take on the latest boxing success for Paul, whom “The Count” has gone back and forth with himself over a possible bout in the past.

    Interestingly, Bisping’s pre-fight remarks saw him actually warn Paul against the fight, branding Perry a “savage” who has “good technique.” The Englishman suggested the 27-year-old Cleveland native was “rolling the dice” by fighting “Platinum” and would not have an easy night.

    But despite proving Bisping wrong, Paul isn’t getting any praise from the ex-UFC champ.

    “Coming into this fight, I think myself, the whole fight community, everyone was behind Mike Perry. But the reality was he was too small,” Bisping said. “There are weight classes in boxing, in combat sports, for a reason. Jake Paul was about twice the size of him. The weight difference is going to be insane.

    “Well done Jake Paul if that’s what you want to see. That was a farce,” Bisping continued. “That was ridiculous. That fight should have never even taken place in the first place because it was a sh*t show. Jake Paul was by far the bigger guy, and as I’ve said, there are weight classes for a reason. … He (Paul) cherry picks these opponents that are way smaller and less experienced.”    

    Paul will be no stranger to that kind of criticism, with his detractors using choice of opponents as the main tool by which to take away from his boxing career thus far.

    And that trend will no doubt continue as he looks to ride the momentum from the knockout win over Perry into a planned Netflix showdown with 58-year-old Tyson at AT&T Stadium this November.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/15-7/21): Former Champion Cody Garbrandt Has Next Assignment Set

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/15-7/21): Former Champion Cody Garbrandt Has Next Assignment Set

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

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

    In recent days, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    A number of lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with three fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

    And for more detailed information on one newly booked fight that may have flown under your radar between July 15 and July 21, scroll down and check out this week’s UFC Matchmaking Bulletin spotlighted fight.

    Cody Garbandt vs. Miles Johns – UFC Event TBA (October 12)

    Having had his planned surge back toward the bantamweight title picture stalled this year, former champion Cody Garbrandt will look to bounce back this fall.

    Garbrandt (14-6) endured a rough patch following his title crowning as an undefeated fighter back in 2016. He subsequently lost five of his next six fights, with his sole victory coming in the form of a violent knockout of Raphael Assunção. After that preceded a loss to Rob Font, “No Love” made an ill-advised and unsuccessful drop to flyweight before returning to 135 pounds and winning form in 2023 with his first run of victories since losing the belt to TJ Dillashaw.

    Having been unable to continue the momentum from triumphs over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher when he shared the cage with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300 this past April, Garbrandt will be back fighting those outside the divisional rankings when he throws down with Miles Johns (15-2, 1 NC) on October 12. “Chapo” is unbeaten across his last four fights, most recently outpointing Douglas Silva de Andrade at the Apex in June.

    This bantamweight bout was first reported by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Set For UFC 307 On October 5

    Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling Set For UFC 307 On October 5

    Top UFC featherweights Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling will look to stake their claim for a first title shot in the division when they share the cage later this year.

    The undefeated Russian and the former UFC bantamweight champion have been going back and forth on social media about doing battle ever since the latter successfully debuted in the weight class this past April.

    A victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 saw Sterling enter the rankings at #8, and “Funk Master” will now have the chance to crack the featherweight top five at the expense of Evloev.

    As first reported by MMA Propagande and subsequently confirmed by both men on social media, Evloev and Sterling are slated to collide on the UFC 307 pay-per-view card on October 5.

    A location and venue is yet to be officially announced by the promotion, but the expectation is for UFC 307 to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Evloev, Sterling To Vie For Shot At Topuria’s Gold At UFC 307

    When they finally meet in the Octagon after months of online discussion regarding a date and ducking allegations, both Evloev and Sterling will hope to continue their winning form all the way to the top.

    Evloev (18-0) further climbed the 145-pound pecking order this year by narrowly getting the better of Arnold Allen on the scorecards at UFC 297 in Canada this past January. The result marked the former M-1 Global bantamweight champ’s eighth straight victory on MMA’s biggest stage, following triumphs over Dan Ige and Diego Lopes.

    The Russian, however, has come under fire for his tendency to go the distance inside the Octagon, having yet to find a finish in the UFC since his debut back in 2019. He’ll look to rectify that unwanted statistic at the expense of the division’s newest contender.

    Sterling (24-4) brought his time making a difficult weight cut down to 135 pounds to an end following his title loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 in Boston last August. With his calls for an immediate rematch falling on deaf ears, “Funk Master” committed to the pursuit of gold in a second weight class, which he began successfully by outgrappling Kattar at April’s milestone PPV.

    The 34-year-old must now get past Evloev if he’s to put himself in position for a future shot at Topuria’s featherweight title.

    Aljamain Sterling
    Image: UFC.com
  • UFC Fight Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba Weigh-In Results: Co-Main Event Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba Weigh-In Results: Co-Main Event Canceled

    UFC Fight Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Before crossing the pond for its latest pay-per-viewevent in Manchester, England, the promotion will host yet another low-key card from the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    After the women’s flyweights took center stage last weekend in Denver, the July 20 event sees strawweights under the main event spotlight, as former title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to continue working her way back to the belt at the expense of another Brazilian contender in Virna Jandiroba.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of “The Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and undefeated featherweight Hyder Amil are among those set to be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba takes place on Saturday, July 20, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

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

    Main Card:

    • Women’s Strawweight Main Event: Amanda Lemos (116lbs) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Brad Tavares (185.5lbs) vs. Junyong Park (186lbs)*
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia (144.5lbs) vs. Seungwoo Choi (145lbs)
    • Lightweight: Kurt Holobaugh (155lbs) vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky (154lbs)
    • Flyweight: Cody Durden (125.5lbs) vs. Bruno Silva (126lbs)
    • Featherweight: Dooho Choi (146lbs) vs. Bill Algeo (146lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: JeongYeong Lee (145.5lbs) vs. Hyder Amil (145lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Brian Kelleher (136lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (136lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (125.5lbs) vs. Dione Barbosa (125.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Loik Radzhabov (155.5lbs) vs. Trey Ogden (156lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Luana Carolina (125.5lbs) vs. Lucie Pudilová (126lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Mohammed Usman (236.5lbs) vs. Thomas Petersen (258.5lbs)

    *The co-main event between Brad Tavares and Junyong Park was canceled after both fighters had weighed in due to a medical issue on the side of Park

  • Dricus Du Plessis On How UFC Title Win Has Improved His Team: ‘Everybody Wants To Land A Shot On The World Champion’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On How UFC Title Win Has Improved His Team: ‘Everybody Wants To Land A Shot On The World Champion’ 

    It would appear that UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis’ entire team has been reaping the benefits of his title crowning.

    Du Plessis completed his rise to glory in mixed martial arts’ premier promotion as an undefeated fighter inside the Octagon this past January in Canada, where he headlined the UFC 297 pay-per-view in competition for Sean Strickland’s belt.

    The pair went the distance in a competitive and back-and-forth affair, which “Stillknocks” ultimately won by way of split decision, extending his promotional record to 7-0 and ascending him to the middleweight mountaintop.

    In addition to achieving his own title ambitions, Du Plessis became the first South African to bring UFC gold back to his nation. And that fact has evidently encouraged his teammates to raise their game now that they have the chance to share a gym with the 185-pound kingpin…

    Du Plessis: Team CIT Has Found ‘Another Level’ After UFC Title Win

    During an interview with Fox West Texas, Du Plessis spoke about how he’s been enjoying life as a champion thus far.

    After noting that his crowning in Toronto earlier this year has only increased his personal drive for more success on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, “Stillknocks” pointed to the positive impact it’s also had on his team as a whole.

    “It’s been great. It’s been everything that I expected, everything that I hoped for, and better,” Du Plessis said. “And training-wise, once I got that belt, I got a fire under me. A lot of people might think once you win that belt, you lose some of that hunger. I always said it, becoming UFC champion is not my end goal, not at all. … There’s a new hunger. There’s that championship hunger because now I’m defending my throne, and I’ll do anything to defend that throne.

    “In training, the team, everybody’s stepped it up because now they’re going up against the world champion. Everybody wants to land a shot on the world champion,” Du Plessis continued. “If you can give the world champ a hard time, you’re not far off getting that big shot. My team’s amazing. The coaches, everybody’s stepped it up. Everybody realized, we are now world champions and we should behave as such when it comes to training, recovering. … Just another level.”

    Du Plessis will look to spur Team CIT on to an even higher level by successfully defending his place on the middleweight throne at the expense of Israel Adesanya next month inside Perth’s RAC Arena, which plays host to the UFC 305 PPV.

  • Daniel Cormier Questions Why People ‘Discredit’ Sean Strickland As Number One Contender: ‘He Beat Costa Better Than Whittaker Did!’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has backed Sean Strickland’s claim to a title shot, as noise regarding Robert Whittaker getting the next opportunity instead continues to increase.

    Even prior to his victory last month, Strickland felt hard done by having been overlooked by the promotion for Dricus Du Plessis’ first title defense this summer. “Tarzan,” of course, lost the middleweight belt to the South African by narrow margins at UFC 297 in Canada this past January.

    He then begrudgingly accepted a bout with Paulo Costa, outpointing the former title challenger in a lackluster five-round co-main event at the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark. In the immediate aftermath, Strickland laid down his stance by insisting that he’ll only make the walk for a title fight next time out.

    But following Whittaker’s emphatic first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia, which came months on from his own win over “Borrachinha,” it would appear that Strickland has competition…

    Cormier Asks: Why Are People ‘So Quick To Discredit’ Strickland?!

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his take on the major topics currently appearing in mixed martial arts headlines, including Khamzat Chimaev’s push for a middleweight title shot.

    Cormier questioned how Strickland keeps being left out of the discussion over who could fight the winner of Du Plessis vs. Adesanya. Ironically, “DC” initially left Strickland out himself and branded the victor of a potential Chimaev vs. Whittaker fight as next in line.

    “Khamzat vs. Robert Whittaker to determine who’s next. You know what, or Sean Strickland,” Cormier said. “I don’t understand how Sean Strickland keeps getting forgotten. He does everything he’s supposed to do. He wins the fights. He was the number one contender. He should not always seem to be put on the backburner.

    “He beat Paulo Costa better than Robert Whittaker beat Paulo Costa,” Cormier continued. “Rob goes and has that crazy fight in Saudi Arabia and we immediately start talking about him as the number one contender. What about Sean Strickland? I don’t know why people are so quick to discount this man. We saw it on his rise to the championship, we saw it when he was champion, we saw it when he was coming back. I don’t know why people are so quick to discredit this man.”

    Strickland has similarly bemoaned the growing narrative that his status as number one contender isn’t a given, and that he should battle Whittaker in a title eliminator next.

    While known for his tendency to say yes to whichever fights the UFC slides across his desk, the former champ has been firm in rejecting a possible clash with “The Reaper,” as well as any other matchup that doesn’t come with the 185-pound belt on the line.

  • Anthony Smith On Ex-Opponent Jon Jones’ Alleged Incident With Drug Tester: ‘If He Got One Of Those Bad Ones…’

    Anthony Smith On Ex-Opponent Jon Jones’ Alleged Incident With Drug Tester: ‘If He Got One Of Those Bad Ones…’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith sympathizes with former opponent Jon Jones as he battles his latest legal case.

    The reigning heavyweight champion has once again found himself the subject of concerning allegations, this time involving a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    The alleged victim claims Jones threatened her life and took away her phone when she and a colleague turned up to his house to test him. “Bones” is accused of remarking, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”

    A few months on from details of the alleged incident emerging, Jones has officially been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor.

    The MMA great is unsurprisingly challenging the tester’s account of events, having been firm with his denial in the days after the accusations initially emerged. And having had his own experience with drug testers in the past, one former opponent of Jones’ appears to support him…

    Smith On Jones’ Drug-Tester Charges: ‘Sometimes They Can Be Assholes…’

    During a recent episode of Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Smith reacted to the charges against Jones, which mark the latest controversy outside of the cage involving his ex-rival.

    “Lionheart,” who unsuccessfully challenged for Jones’ light heavyweight title back in 2019, explained why he was compelled to support Jones following news of the charges, noting that not every tester is well-mannered and appreciative of fighters’ time.

    “I kind of stuck up for him at the beginning because it is a pain in the ass to do the whole drug-testing thing,” Smith said. “I’ve always been lucky that my drug testers have always been pretty cool. They’re fairly respectful of your time, they’re fairly respectful of the inconvenience that they’re creating for you. So they always show up like, ‘Hey, I know it’s not the best time, sorry, let me get this sample and we’ll get out of here.’ But I have had one…not here at home or in Denver, but just been out somewhere and they find this random person, somebody you’ve never had before, and sometimes they can be assholes. They have this power trip…like they want to boss you around.

    “If he (Jones) got one of those bad ones…because he’s a little bit hot-headed at times, I can understand him kind of flipping out and going off,” Smith continued. “And apparently he was having a party, so I think he was drinking and had some friends over. They show up, started to be assholes, kind of being disrespectful at times, I could see him kind of going off. But once you start touching people and taking their phones and stuff, that’s a problem. But if (the testers were) being an asshole to him, then it’s kind of in his right. That’s not illegal.”

    Days on from the charges being confirmed, Jones appeared at Bernalillo Country Metropolitan Court on Wednesday for his bail arraignment, pleading not guilty to the misdemeanors.

    Having had the conditions for his ongoing release set, the UFC star will have his bench trial scheduled for a date between 30 and 45 days down the line.

  • Paddy Pimblett: ‘Fickle’ MMA Fans Will Be Back On My Side After I Knock Bobby Green Out At UFC 304

    Paddy Pimblett: ‘Fickle’ MMA Fans Will Be Back On My Side After I Knock Bobby Green Out At UFC 304

    Having seen a portion of the fanbase turn against him, UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett expects to reverse that at the expense of Bobby Green.

    Pimblett broke onto the scene in a big way following his UFC signing in 2021, winning his debut via knockout and subsequently recording two memorable submissions on home soil at London-held UFC Fight Nights in 2022.

    But just as his following grew and rise to stardom accelerated, the tide appeared to turn when “The Baddy” made his pay-per-view debut opposite Jared Gordon in Las Vegas later that year.

    While all three scorecards went in his favor, many cried robbery and began to dismiss the Liverpudlian as a legitimate threat to those high up the 155-pound ladder. And having suffered a foot injury, Pimblett had to wait a full year to answer his critics.

    Last December at UFC 296, he remained unbeaten by getting the better of former interim champion Tony Ferguson. But having once again gone to a decision, and given the length of “El Cucuy’s” losing streak entering the bout, the result appeared to do little to stifle “The Baddy’s” detractors.

    He’ll have another chance to do so at the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, where Pimblett is set to share the Octagon with ranked opposition for the very first time.

    And with a violent victory over Bobby “King” Green on July 27, the former Cage Warriors champ expects the “fickle” MMA fans to start backing him once again…

    Pimblett: It’s ‘Popular’ To Hate On Me Right Now

    During a recent interview with Ben Fowlkes for Yahoo! Sports, Pimblett looked ahead to his opening assignment of 2024 and first outing on home soil in two years.

    When asked about some of the backlash he gets from the fans for topics ranging from in-cage performances to weight gain in-between his Octagon appearances, Pimblett suggested that it’s simply “popular” to speak negatively about him.

    But with a dominant and emphatic display at the expense of Green at UFC 304, “The Baddy” expects his former supporters to return.

    “Haters are gonna hate. I don’t give a f*ck what people on the Internet say, lad. I see people comment stuff all the time,” Pimblett said. “It’s a popular thing at the minute to hate on me. Ever since that Jared Gordon fight, it’s popular. Before that fight, I was the best thing since sliced bread. I was great, everyone loved me. Then I have a close decision that three judges decided I won — not me, I didn’t pick the winner — and everyone turns on you.

    “That’s the thing in this sport, lad. MMA fans are so fickle. It’s one of them. I come out in this fight and knock Bobby Green, everyone will be back on side,” Pimblett added.

    Pimblett will look to make good on his promise to finish Green inside the distance. More so than regaining fan support, that’s in order for “The Baddy” to debut in the lightweight rankings and begin his planned four-fight path to the title.

  • Chris Curtis Insists Fight With Paulo Costa Would Be More Entertaining Than Teammate Sean Strickland’s Was

    Chris Curtis Insists Fight With Paulo Costa Would Be More Entertaining Than Teammate Sean Strickland’s Was

    UFC middleweight Chris Curtis has promised to go strike for strike with Paulo Costa should the Brazilian accept his callout post-Sean Strickland loss.

    Curtis recently returned to training after recovering from the hamstring tear he sustained last time out, and he’s after a big-name fight this fall.

    Prior to suffering the severe injury in the closing moments against Brendan Allen, the pair’s rematch in a UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex this past April was competitive and among the best bouts of the year thus far.

    Always looking to put on a show, “The Action Man” is hoping to replicate that barnburner in his next fight, and he has just the opponent in mind…

    Curtis Reiterates Costa Callout, Promises Barnburner After Strickland Snoozer

    During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Curtis reiterated his desire to fight former title challenger Paulo Costa.

    “Borrachinha’s” stock took a hit at UFC 302 last month when he fell short in a lackluster five-round affair with Curtis’ teammate, ex-champ Sean Strickland.

    Should Costa accept a clash in the cage with Strickland’s fellow Xtreme Couture standout, however, he can seemingly expect a dancing partner ready and willing to throw down in the middle of the Octagon.

    “I cornered Sean that fight. When he took that fight…I literally went back, watched all of the Costa fights, and I had like a freakin’ four-page bulletin report on what to do…everything that Costa does, when he does it, why I think he does it,” Curtis said. “I just think it’s a fight that I match up well with.

    “Costa’s usually a really fun guy to watch but the Strickland fight was just weird for him because Sean’s a weird guy to fight,” Curtis continued. “I think me and Costa, I think we can just sit there and beat on each other until somebody falls, and I’m okay with that. Sean doesn’t want to fight that way. He’s not trying to get his head bust in. I will gladly stand in front of you and we will just swing at each other.”

    Curtis initially shared his interest in keeping Xtreme Couture’s eyes locked on Costa the day after the UFC 302 event in Newark. “The Action Man” respectfully offered to throw down with the Brazilian after sympathizing with his struggles against Strickland.

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1797679068017778918
  • VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

    VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

    Days out from their boxing showdown, Jake Paul and Mike Perry appeared in the ring for their open workouts.

    Paul, a YouTuber-turned-pugilist, and Perry, a former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star, are set to do battle as the headline act of a DAZN pay-per-view event at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this weekend.

    “The Problem Child’s” second match this year was originally scheduled to come this Saturday opposite legendary ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. But with the 58-year-old falling ill in the lead-up, their Netflix clash has been postponed to November.

    In the meantime, Paul will now face a challenge widely branded more intriguing. While he hasn’t stepped foot in the ring for a professional boxing bout since an unsuccessful 2015 debut, Perry has found his niche in the bare-knuckle boxing world.

    Having left the UFC, “Platinum” signed with BKFC and has since defeated notable names like Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez en route to a perfect 5-0 record in the gloveless sport.

    He’s now gotten the call to face the 9-1 Paul, marking the latest MMA veteran to share the cage with the 27-year-old Cleveland native.

    Saturday’s event, dubbed “Fear No Man,” is set to begin at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the Paul vs. Perry ringwalks expected at around 12 AM ET/9 PM PT.

    Ahead of the match, the pair appeared for the open workouts at the Armature Works in Tampa on Wednesday. You can check out a full replay of them below via the DAZN Boxing YouTube channel:

  • Daniel Cormier Doesn’t See Jon Jones’ Alleged Altercation With Drug Tester As A Big Deal: ‘Kind Of Always Thought It Was BS’

    Daniel Cormier Doesn’t See Jon Jones’ Alleged Altercation With Drug Tester As A Big Deal: ‘Kind Of Always Thought It Was BS’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has received a somewhat supportive message from a surprising source amid his latest legal battle.

    Jones has once again found himself in hot water away from the Octagon. He has frequently fallen foul of the law in the past, with incidents ranging from arrests for a hit-and-run and domestic violence to multiple drug suspensions.

    This year has once again seen controversy surround the Rochester native after Jones became under investigation for allegations he threatened the life and took the mobile phone of a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    The UFC star was accused of saying, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.” He was subsequently issued a summons on accusations of assault and interfering with communications.

    While he claimed no such altercation occurred in posts on social media and instead accused the drug tester of breaking protocol in the visit, he was charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor, this week.

    When incidents like this occur, fans often look back to comments made by Jones’ arch rival Daniel Cormier, who told his bitter foe a number of years ago that he will never change. “DC,” however, isn’t among those rushing to slate the heavyweight champ…

    Cormier Defends Jones: ‘I Know We All Rush To Judge Him…’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to some of the major talking points currently floating about in the MMA community, including confirmation that Jones is headed for a bench trial for his alleged assault of the drug tester.

    Although “Bones” hasn’t been cleared of any wrongdoing, Cormier believes the incident is likely being blown out of proportion and won’t lead to any severe consequences for his former two-time opponent.

    “Jon Jones got charged for the incident with the lady at the testing,” Cormier said. “Guys, he got served two misdemeanors. … If I’m being completely honest, though, the whole time I kind of thought that deal was BS. I feel like he was approached very early, right? Or if I recall, it was either early in the morning or late in the evening, where he could’ve been home having some drinks.

    “I know we all rush to judge Jones because of his past issues, but the reality is, if a man is at his house and he’s having some drinks in the confines of his own home, so what? … And if the drug testers come and he might be a little bit tipsy or messed up, maybe the interactions aren’t as fun or as easy as they may have been in different other occasions,” Cormier continued. “So I kind of always thought it was BS. I don’t think much is gonna come of it. But because he is who he is, it’s always a story. … I don’t really think that this is that big of a deal.”

    In the latest update to the story, Jones pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges while appearing for his bond arraignment at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Wednesday.

    Conditions for his release were set, including not violating any laws, possessing firearms or dangerous weapons, and consuming alcohol or illicit drugs, ahead of a bench trial in 30 to 45 days.

  • Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’ 

    Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’ 

    Renowned mixed martial arts coach Eric Nicksick was left impressed by the ability of Tom Aspinall when the interim UFC heavyweight champion stopped by the Xtreme Couture gym.

    Aspinall is currently gearing up for his first assignment of 2024. It’s set to be a big one, as he’ll defend the interim belt in a rematch with veteran contender Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

    While not the unification showdown with Jon Jones that he had hoped for, Aspinall will be making the walk in front of his home crowd, with Manchester’s Co-op Live hosting UFC action for the very first time.

    Should Aspinall emerge with the interim title still in his possession, those pushing for Jones to abandon his plans to face Stipe Miocic will no doubt grow louder. Many of them are so high on Aspinall that they believe he could get the better of the consensus greatest of all time.

    And when it comes to those with a keen eye for talent, Aspinall couldn’t do much better than one recent endorsement…

    Nicksick High On Aspinall After Xtreme Couture Training

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick looked ahead to the UFC’s next numbered event, paying particular attention to one of two champs set to headline it on July 27.

    During a trip to the US earlier this year, Aspinall got some work in with Nicksick at his Las Vegas facility. In addition to the pair bonding and forming a friendship, the renowned coach got to see first hand the kind of skills that have left the interim champ widely branded the leader in the next generation of heavyweights.

    “Man, he was just as advertised as an athlete, but I think moreover just the human being that he is,” Nicksick said. “You see these guys on TV and you see their athleticism and how well they fight. That’s one thing, but then when you get to meet the individual and actually have a conversation with him and see how great of a human being they are, that even raises your level of enthusiasm.

    “Him and his brother came in and they were just a joy to work with,” Nicksick continued. “I’m a Tom Aspinall fan and I’m super excited to see him fight. … He’s in that top three (heavyweights in the world), a hundred percent. And I think he’s just scratching the surface with his potential. The athleticism that he has, from the feet to the floor, what he’s able to do, all of it is very high level. The thing I noticed the most about him was his feet, how well he moved side to side; his lateral moment, his speed. … Honest to god, he hits pads like some of my 145ers. He understands the angles and how to hit and not be hit.”

    Aspinall will look to show the talents Nicksick mentioned when he makes the walk on home soil for the third consecutive year.

    And having had his headliner with Blaydes end in disaster in the summer of 2022, the Manchester native has the chance to right that wrong and avenge the sole setback on his UFC slate thus far.

    Nicksick himself will likely be watching on, be it from the arena or fighter hotel in the English city. The top coach is scheduled to be at UFC 304 to corner Manel Kape for his flyweight showdown with Muhammad Mokaev on the main card.

  • Julianna Peña Explains Why She’ll Call Out Amanda Nunes Instead Of Kayla Harrison If She Regains UFC Bantamweight Title 

    Julianna Peña Explains Why She’ll Call Out Amanda Nunes Instead Of Kayla Harrison If She Regains UFC Bantamweight Title 

    Should she become a two-time UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña plans to settle some unfinished business.

    Peña hasn’t competed in almost two years, having not made the walk since losing the 135-pound strap in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas, back in the summer of 2022.

    The result brought “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” reign to a sudden halt six months on from her memorable and shocking submission of the “Lioness.”

    While the pair were set to complete their trilogy last June in Canada, an injury suffered by Peña in training forced her out. In her place stepped Irene Aldana on short notice, and after outpointing the Mexican at UFC 289, Nunes laid down her two belts and announced her retirement.

    A bemused Peña booed from cageside and has since expressed confidence that the Brazilian hasn’t permanently hung up the gloves. And she expects to prove as much by drawing Nunes back to the cage after bringing Raquel Pennington’s divisional rule to a close later this year…

    Peña: Nunes Fight Would Be The ‘Biggest Trilogy In Women’s Combat Sports’

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited return to action and revealed what she hopes will follow a planned second title crowning.

    While two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champ Kayla Harrison made a splash in her Octagon debut by getting the better of Holly Holm, “The Venezuelan Vixen” has other plans when it comes to her first defense should she unseat Pennington.

    “I still feel like the spidey senses and all that, that she (Nunes) will come back, and it’s just a matter of time before she does,” Peña said. “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. I want to fight Raquel, I want my belt back, I’m getting my belt back. After that, I will absolutely be calling out Amanda, and I believe that she absolutely will come back because it’s too big of a fight for her.

    “Of course, (I’ll call out Nunes, not Harrison). That’s like if I win the belt, I should also call out Ronda (Rousey), you know what I mean? Ronda has been escaping these fights with me for years. … Those are fights that I want. I want big fights, I want big money fights,” Peña continued, before being asked if she sees the Nunes trilogy as bigger than a Harrison bout. “Absolutely. We’re 1-1, unfinished business. … This would be the biggest trilogy in women’s combat sports.”

    Harrison took note of those remarks and others that saw Peña accuse her of past PED use during the conversation with Helwani, responding with a fiery message toward “The Venezuelan Vixen” on social media.

    While the stage has long been set for a rivalry between Peña and Harrison even before the latter’s UFC signing, it would appear that the former bantamweight queen has no immediate plans to settle it inside the Octagon.

  • Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304

    Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304

    UFC strawweight Molly McCann expects to light up Manchester’s Co-op Live alongside friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett next weekend.

    The two Liverpudlian fan favorites will both be in action at the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event, which sees mixed martial arts’ premier promotion cross the pond to stage an event in an English city other than London for the first time post-pandemic.

    In the capital, the pair have had their fair share of success, with both going 2-0 at The O2 with standout UFC Fight Night performances in 2022. Pimblett’s two submissions and McCann’s two knockouts were all rewarded with post-fight bonuses.

    They’ll hope to repeat those feats up north on July 27 when Pimblett shoots for the lightweight rankings against King Green and McCann looks to make it back-to-back wins down at strawweight opposite Bruna Brasil.

    McCann Predicts Repeat Of 2022 Home Fights For Her, Pimblett

    During the latest episode of Paddy Pimblett’s fight camp flog, his fellow Next Generation MMA standout Molly McCann looked ahead to their respective outings at UFC 304 next Saturday night.

    Like they did in both March and July of 2022, “Meatball” promised that both she and “The Baddy” will “steal the show” with explosive finishes in front of their home fans.

    “We’re getting to the point now where the hunger is on us, but we’re getting closer and closer so it’s more exciting,” McCann said. “We’re just gonna f*cking steal the show again. Two big finishes, ride off into the sunset, and f*ck off to Tenerife after.”

    Having come up short in her most recent appearance on home soil in 2023, McCann will be looking to return to the kind of performance that saw her rise in prominence two years ago at the expense of Brasil.

    And should she accomplish that feat on the July 27 prelims, the stage will be set for her teammate, as Pimblett has his first opportunity at securing a lightweight ranking on the UFC 304 main card.

  • Former Two-Division Champion Reinier de Ridder Parts Ways With ONE Championship, Set To Debut For New Promotion On July 27

    Former Two-Division Champion Reinier de Ridder Parts Ways With ONE Championship, Set To Debut For New Promotion On July 27

    Reinier de Ridder, one of ONE Championship’s top MMA stars, has left the Asian martial arts organization and will soon debut elsewhere.

    After title glory in regional promotions 360 and Hit-FC, de Ridder arrived in ONE Championship five and a half years ago, making a splash on debut by submitting Fan Rong via brabo choke in just 75 seconds.

    The Dutchman went on to win his next six fights, collecting both the middleweight (205 pounds) and light heavyweight (225 pounds) belts along the way, and defending the former twice with submission wins over Kiamrian Abbasov and Vitaly Bigdash.

    Image: ONE Championship

    De Ridder went on to lose both titles to the same man, however, with Anatoly Malykhin first wresting the light heavyweight strap from his possession with a violent knockout at ONE on Prime Video 5 in December 2022.

    “The Dutch Knight” returned 15 months later, this time in defense of his middleweight gold. Malykhin successfully won the belt to secure a history-making third crowning, adding that title to his heavyweight and light heavyweight championships at ONE 166 in Qatar this past March.

    That turned out to be de Ridder’s final outing in the Circle, with the 33-year-old exiting off the back of that two-fight losing skid.

    De Ridder Set For UAE Warriors Debut Post-ONE Exit

    The Dutch fighter will have the chance to return to winning ways soon after his confirmed departure from ONE, with the 33-year-old set to debut under a new promotional banner this month.

    Per MMA Fighting, De Ridder has signed with UAE Warriors and will debut at an event in Abu Dhabi next Saturday, July 27. He’s set to share the cage with Magomedmurad Khasaev in a light heavyweight bout.

    News of de Ridder’s venture away from ONE quickly saw fans ponder a future move to either the UFC or PFL. The latter promotion has already capitalized on the apparent move away from MMA focus in ONE by signing the highly regarded Murad Ramazanov.

    ONE will, however, stage mixed martial arts action in the United States this year, first with ONE 168 in Denver this September.

    Two months later, de Ridder’s two time opponent Malykhin will headline ONE 169 in Atlanta, defending his heavyweight title against Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

    Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

    UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev failed in his quest to unseat Jon Jones from the youngest champion throne, but he puts the blame for that down to the promotion’s preference.

    With a lengthy undefeated amateur record and perfect professional slate early into his career in tow, Mokaev arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in 2022 with considerable hype behind his name.

    And the Dagestan-born promised big things, even backing himself to have gold wrapped around his waist at a younger age than record-holder Jones.

    That journey got underway on the right foot when Mokaev reeled off three wins in his debut year, including submissions of both Cody Durden and Malcolm Gordon. He subsequently rose the ranks by getting the better of Tim Elliott last October and former title challenger Alex Perez this past March.

    But March also marked the point at which Mokaev saw his hopes of breaking Jones’ youngest champ record slip away. Nevertheless, he maintains that if given the opportunity, he’d be the one sitting in the record books right now…

    Mokaev Suggests UFC ‘Didn’t Want’ Him To Break Jones’ Record

    During a recent interview with Title Sports Network’s Kaz Crossley, Mokaev looked ahead to his upcoming return to action at UFC 304 and assessed his current standing in MMA’s premier promotion.

    When asked about his goals, “The Punisher” expressed a reluctance when it comes to outlining future plans after not achieving his ambition of becoming the UFC’s youngest champion.

    And when it comes to that failed pursuit, Mokaev believes he was fighting against the promotion’s own preference for the record to remain in the hands of Jones.

    “It’s hard for me to say my goals now because once I said I want to become youngest UFC champion and it didn’t work out. I don’t want something to announce. if it comes, it comes,” Mokaev said. “I believe I could have been youngest UFC champion. Jon Jones become youngest UFC champion when he was 23 years old and nine months. I’m still 23.

    “I think I’m the most active after Jon Jones from the young generation. I think I could have got it, but just maybe UFC didn’t want me,” Mokaev continued. “I think Jon Jones is a star, American star. I think they want to keep him there, one hundred percent.”

    While wrestling Jones’ record away is now a goal of the past, Mokaev still has the flyweight gold in his sights.

    His next step toward securing a first shot at it comes on home soil at UFC 304 in Manchester next weekend, with Manel Kape looking to bounce back from a pair of fight cancellations this year and secure a second dance with champion Alexandre Pantoja at the Brit’s expense.

  • ‘1 Canceled Fight & 1 Crypto Scam In 2024’ – Khamzat Chimaev Comes Under Fire From Fans After Calling For UFC Title Shot In Return Fight

    Undefeated UFC star Khamzat Chimaev’s recent call for a championship opportunity didn’t go down well with many corners of the fanbase…

    It looks like a year will pass by between appearances inside the Octagon for Chimaev, whose plans for a quick rise toward UFC gold and title glory across multiple weight classes have taken hit after hit ever since his debut year.

    “Borz” announced his arrival as one of the most highly touted prospects in recent memory when he reeled off three wins in three months back in 2020. He’s since competed four times in almost four years, with health issues and reported visa trouble making fights few and far between.

    The Chechen athlete most recently got the better of former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a short-notice middleweight scrap at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi last October. But his hopes for a possible shot at the belt were dashed when he required hand surgery and subsequently fell ill.

    And when he was set to return in a high-profile contest opposite Robert Whittaker in last month’s Saudi Arabia main event, illness once again struck, forcing a late withdrawal.

    Despite that, Chimaev seemingly doesn’t think his stock has taken much of a hit in the eyes of the brass, even going as far as to call for a title shot at this October’s Abu Dhabi-held UFC 308 pay-per-view.

    MMA Fans React To Chimaev Staking Claim To UFC Title Shot: ‘If He Becomes Champ…Get That Interim Ready’

    Having not competed in 2024 thus far and beaten none of the names currently inside the middleweight top 10, Chimaev unsurprisingly came under fire from plenty of fans for his championship demand.

    Some made light of the recent crypto coin controversy involving the 13-0 fighter, while others highlighted his history of withdrawals and weight misses when placed in main event positions to suggest he can’t be trusted in a title matchup yet.

    https://twitter.com/MaskedFanatic/status/1813459276956070001
  • City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    For the first time in his professional career, UFC welterweight prospect Kevin Jousset is set to compete in front of his compatriots.

    Jousset made a splash on debut last September in Sydney, following two-division championship glory under Australia’s Hex Fight Series banner with a first-round submission at UFC 293.

    The Frenchman has long trained alongside the likes of Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker at New Zealand’s City Kickboxing, fighting exclusively in Oceania prior to his UFC signing. And having competed on United States soil for the first time in his sophomore Octagon outing, Jousset is now set for a homecoming this fall.

    Per MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, “Air” has been added to the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, on September 28. There, he’s set for a step up in competition against Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29 middleweight tournament.

    Home Favorite Jousset Targets Third Straight UFC Win At The Expense Of Battle

    When Jousset makes the walk to what will no doubt be a positive reception at Accor Arena, he’ll be looking to maintain his perfect UFC slate.

    Jousset (10-2) lost two of his first seven pro fights, the first of which came against current top five welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena under the Eternal MMA banner. But since a split decision setback in 2022, the 31-year-old has won five straight to have two titles in his possession, as well as a UFC contract.

    And after submitting Kiefer Crosbie Down Under and outpointing Song Kenan at the Apex last December, “Air” is next tasked with stalling the welterweight ambitions of Battle (10-2, 1 NC) in his first assignment of 2024.

    One fight on from his TUF triumph, “The Butcher” committed to a move down in weight, and he debuted at 170 pounds emphatically by knocking out Takashi Sato with a brutal head kick just 44 seconds into their fight. While he subsequently fell to a decision against the highly regarded Rinat Fakhretdinov, he bounced back with a 14-second knockout of Gabe Green and second-round submission of AJ Fletcher.

    Having had his strong start opposite Ange Loosa earlier this year rendered null when the Swiss fighter couldn’t continue following an eye poke, Battle will look to get back to the winner’s circle by upsetting Jousset’s home crowd in the French capital later this year.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Paris on September 28 are as follows:

    • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis (lightweight main event)
    • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Brendan Allen (middleweight)
    • Germaine de Randamie vs. Nora Cornolle (women’s bantamweight)
    • William Gomis vs. Joanderson Brito (featherweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle (welterweight)
    • Daniel Barez vs. Victor Altamirano (flyweight)
    • Oumar Sy vs. Da Woon Jung (light Heavyweight)
    • Dariya Zhelezniakova vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)