MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Jon Anik Maintains Conor McGregor Has ‘An Itch That Can Only Be Scratched In The Octagon’ Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

    UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has reiterated his belief that Conor McGregor’s time competing in mixed martial arts is not yet up.

    As has been the case for the best part of a year and a half since his comeback was first announced, considerable uncertainty surrounds the career status of McGregor, the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion.

    The Irishman has struggled for both activity and positive results since he achieved that feat in 2016, going 1-3 across four fights in over seven years. The manner of his most recent setback — a gruesome broken leg suffered in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021 — left many suggesting the Irishman had entered the cage for the last time.

    Those theories continued throughout 2023 when no news came on his planned fight against Michael Chandler following their stint as opposition coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. And while the bout was eventually set for UFC 303 last month, a toe injury led to McGregor’s withdrawal on late notice.

    That’s once again brought about claims that McGregor is unlikely to make the walk again. Anik, however, has remained firm on his belief that the Irishman has an itch that must be scratched inside the cage…

    Anik Doubles Down On McGregor Return Prediction

    During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Anik gave his thoughts on the uncertainty around McGregor’s long-awaited comeback, having previously predicted the Dubliner to rattle of consecutive fights in short time upon his return.

    The UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator reiterated that stance, explaining that factors outside of the cage such as wealth and material goods that some use to dismiss his motivation to compete would be more enjoyable for McGregor after additional Octagon assignments.

    “I guess I’m frustrated. That’s probably the right verb when it comes to some of Conor McGregor’s inactivity. But largely, I think a lot of this has been out of his control,” Anik said. “It’s not always easy being the biggest superstar in mixed martial arts. It certainly isn’t easy when you snap your leg in half, you know? And then obviously he had a setback in this most recent training camp.

    “I’ve gotta stay consistent in terms of my thesis statement on Conor. It’s that he’s going to enjoy the yacht life a whole lot more with a couple more MMA scalps, or at the very least fights, high-profile fights,” Anik continued. “He came back and fought Dustin back-to-back, right, and then snapped his leg in two. I still believe that there’s an itch that can only be scratched in the Octagon for Conor McGregor.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not McGregor will prove Anik’s remarks true later this year. But his recent return to “yacht life” on social media following the UFC 303 cancellation has seemingly left some fans fearing the worst…

  • Dan Ige Makes Fresh Plea For Diego Lopes Rematch With ‘Equal Opportunity To Prepare’ At Sphere-Held UFC 306

    Dan Ige Makes Fresh Plea For Diego Lopes Rematch With ‘Equal Opportunity To Prepare’ At Sphere-Held UFC 306

    Should Diego Lopes not get the names he’s after at UFC 306, Dan Ige has called for the chance to face him again on the back of a full camp.

    Had plans not changed in a dramatic way late last month, Ige would currently being gearing up for a collision at the Apex with Chepe Mariscal on July 20. Instead, “50K” is drinking in widespread acclaim for his efforts on the grand stage of UFC 303.

    Ige awoke on June 29 with no expectation to fight at the International Fight Week pay-per-view in Las Vegas. But when illness forced Brian Ortega out of his co-main event against Lopes, the always game featherweight veteran answered the call.

    And the Hawaiian fought competitively across three rounds against Lopes in their 165-pound catchweight contest, which marked the third different weight for the Mexico-based Brazilian during fight week.

    The 32-year-old ultimately fell short on the scorecards, but you’d do well to find someone seeing him as a loser on the night. Ige’s decision to save the day at T-Mobile Arena also no doubt banked him some good faith with the UFC, and he’s hoping to cash that in on September 14…

    Ige Suggests Fans Would Love Second Lopes Fight On Full Camps

    In the aftermath of his extremely late-notice battle with Lopes, Ige dismissed talk of staying on the July 20 lineup and instead requested a spot on the Noche UFC card, set for the Sphere in Las Vegas this fall.

    Lopes had the same event in his crosshairs, calling for either a rescheduled showdown with Ortega or a matchup with former champion Alexander Volkanovski.

    In a recent post on social media, Ige acknowledged that Lopes deserves a top five name like “T-City” or “Alexander the Great.” But should that not come to fruition, he’d love nothing more than the chance to face the rising star with a full preparation in tow.

    “I heard Yair is still climbing Mt. Everest and won’t be ready for the sphere,” Ige wrote. “Diego you deserve a higher rank for sure but if you don’t get what you want then I’m sure the fans would love to see us run it back with full camps and equal opportunity to prepare. What better place then make history again at the sphere 🫡 🇲🇽 #NocheUFC #fightersfight#stayready“

    Prior to his loss at the hands of Lopes, Ige opened his account for 2024 in brutal fashion, stopping Andre Fili in the first round at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer this past February.

    Lopes, meanwhile, has now won all four of his fights since an impressive showing in defeat on debut against Movsar Evloev last May.

  • Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    Dustin Poirier Wishes UFC Would Bypass Stipe Miocic For ‘Blockbuster’ Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira Fight 

    We can add former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier to the list of those who disagree with Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic being the next title fight at heavyweight.

    Not many topics have been debated in 2024 quite like the championship conversation in the UFC’s heavyweight division, which currently boasts two champions, only one of which is keen on fighting the other.

    After an injury forced Jones out of his planned defense against Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November, Tom Aspinall stepped up on short notice to capture the interim gold at the expense of Sergei Pavlovich.

    While that would usually lead to a unification showdown, Jones has remained firm on Miocic being his next fight despite pushback from Aspinall, as well as many fighters, fans, and pundits.

    In the meantime, Aspinall will put his belt on the line in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this month. The build-up to that July 27 bout will no doubt feature Jones’ name heavily and talk of Aspinall making one last bid to jump ahead of Miocic.

    According to one UFC star, however, a third option should be the leading candidate upon Jones’ comeback form injury…

    Poirier: It’s The ‘Perfect Time’ For Jones vs. Pereira

    During a recent in-studio appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier gave his take on the current state of the heavyweight division and the ongoing debate surrounding who should be Jones’ next challenger.

    While most of the opposition to Miocic receiving a shot over three years on from his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou has placed Aspinall in the position instead, “The Diamond” wants to see Alex Pereira shoot for two-division glory.

    “Stipe’s been out a good bit. Stipe could come back and be a completely different person,” Poirier said. “Aspinall’s obviously legit; he’s the interim world champion, he’s beat some good guys. But he doesn’t have the aura that Alex and Jones have. … (Pereira’s) starting to get that aura, like a Fedor (Emelianenko) had or an Anderson (Silva) had.

    “It’s the perfect time for it. I would (do it now). Yeah, (bypass the Miocic fight),” Poirier continued. “It’s bigger! It’s a blockbuster, bro. … And in the light heavyweight division, who’s he gonna fight? Ankalaev? Nothing against Ankalaev, but I’m not excited (by that). At the point he’s at in his career, he’s a superstar. I want to see him vs. Jones at heavyweight.”

    Jones himself has noted Pereira as a future option and suggested it sits above interim champ Aspinall in terms of intrigue.

    But just like his division’s other titleholder, “Bones” has refused to budge from Miocic in order to accommodate a super fight with Pereira toward the end of 2024.

  • Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Having shared the cage with him at UFC 303, Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t see Ian Garry reaching the top of the welterweight division.

    The pair collided in the main card opener of the International Fight Week pay-per-view on June 29 in Las Vegas. The three-round affair was widely branded somewhat lackluster, with the Irishman utilizing his grappling to edge frames one and three on the scorecards.

    The result marked the latest addition to Garry’s undefeated professional record and moved his UFC slate to 8-0, cementing his top 10 spot in the process.

    While “The Future” has confidently expressed that he’ll now move on to focusing on those above him in the pecking order and the title, “MVP” is confident he’ll soon have his résumé blemished…

    Page Didn’t Feel A Future Champion Against Garry At UFC 303

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Page looked back on the defeat he suffered in what marked just his second fight competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a decade in Bellator.

    The Londoner expressed frustration with his performance inside T-Mobile Arena, suggesting the result was more down to his own shortcomings than Garry’s efforts inside the Octagon.

    With that in mind, Page didn’t feel like he was squaring off against a sure-fire future champion. Far from it, in fact. “Venom” recalled facing someone who would get “killed” by UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards and top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Not all. No,” Page said when asked if he sees Garry as a future champion. “Because if that’s the game you’re going to (use) when you get a decent striker, then Leon is going to kill you anyway, then Shavkat is going to kill you anyway. There’s a few guys in there that I just don’t see him surpassing. … Even in some of the areas, he didn’t feel massively strong. I’m not even trying to be disrespectful to him, because again, he’s done his job, he was smart about how he kind of went by it. But for me, regardless, this game for me is about combat. It’s about fighting. Not about stealing wins.

    “Even like I said, that last round, I didn’t necessarily need to stand up or need to let him stand up. I could’ve stayed there and just dragged it out and potentially got a better score in the third round and maybe that would’ve swayed it, but that’s not the game I’m in. I’m in a combat game. Like, I want to cause damage, I want to hurt people,” Page continued. “So yeah, I don’t see him progressing to the top. I think he’s talented. I think he’ll always be around there, top 10, top five, and then he’ll keep losing out to certain people. But he is still talented, and obviously he’s got a loads of time to progress and get better anyway.”

    Garry no doubt feels differently, having frequently insisted that a title crowning on MMA’s biggest stage is inevitable. He’ll look to prove that when he returns to action, potentially against one of the names mentioned by Page.

    Post-UFC 303, the Irishman had the name of Rakhmonov on his lips. While he got a positive response from “Nomad,” it remains to be seen if the UFC will share the same outlook and pair them together next.

  • Payton Talbott Branded ‘Brutally Overrated’ By Fellow UFC Bantamweight Prospect: ‘If You Watch His Debut…’

    Payton Talbott Branded ‘Brutally Overrated’ By Fellow UFC Bantamweight Prospect: ‘If You Watch His Debut…’

    Payton Talbott has made a splash in the Octagon thus far, but one of his UFC bantamweight peers doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.

    After beginning life on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at the low-capacity Apex, inside of which he submitted Nick Aguirre and knocked out Cameron Saaiman, Talbott had a major chance to introduce himself to the wider audience on June 29.

    On the preliminary card of the UFC 303 pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena, Talbott shared the Octagon with Yanis Ghemmouri — briefly.

    The Frenchman was dropped and stopped with ground-and-pound just 10 seconds into the very first round, moving Talbott to a perfect 9-0 record as a professional and further establishing him as one to watch at 135 pounds.

    But not everyone is buying into the hype…

    Loughran Shares ‘Good But Not Great’ View On Talbott

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC bantamweight prospect Caolan Loughran gave his take on some of the prospects, stars, and champions plying their trade in the sport’s premier promotion.

    When Talbott’s name came up, the Irishman said he sees a good fighter, but not a skillset that warrants the amount of discussion being had regarding his potential in the 135-pound division.

    “Good, but brutally overrated,” Loughran said of Talbott. “Good fighter. 100 percent a good fighter. … But if you watch his debut, taken down, back taken, flattened out, the guy was gassed, comes out again, taken down, back taken. Then he fights Cameron Saaiman who, as I said, will be gone (from the UFC).

    “Then he fought Ghemmouri, who wouldn’t fight me. I don’t even want to talk about that guy. I urge anyone watching this, go watch — UFC France put up a video on Instagram of him warming up before he fought Payton Talbott, and it’ll tell you all you need to know,” Loughran continued. “But a good fighter. Getting all the hype at bantamweight.”

    Should his wish be granted post-UFC 303, Talbott will have the chance to prove himself worthy of the hype next time out.

    In the aftermath of his rapid victory at T-Mobile Arena, the 25-year-old Las Vegas native called out a fighter who formerly boasted similar promise in Adrian Yañez. After an unbeaten start to life in the UFC, the 30-year-old Texan fell short of the top 10 after suffering consecutive losses to Rob Font and Jonathan Martinez.

    After bouncing back this past May, perhaps Yañez will look to stall Talbott’s own pursuit of a place in contention down the line.

  • Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

    Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

    Not everyone was impressed by Ian Garry’s performance at UFC 303, but given what he sees in Michael “Venom” Page’s style, a fellow Irish fighter seemingly was.

    Garry cemented his spot in the welterweight top 10 late last month at the International Fight Week pay-per-view in Las Vegas, opening the main card opposite “MVP.”

    The Irishman was vocal in the lead-up about his lack of interest when it came to sharing the cage with the lower-ranked Englishman, insisting he only accepted the matchup to get on the undercard of what was originally planned to be Conor McGregor’s comeback.

    “The Notorious” ultimately pulled out and didn’t make the walk on June 29. Garry did, however, and had his hand raised in a close decision against Page, who was making just his second UFC appearance following a successful debut in March.

    Having gone to the scorecards in his fights against Neil Magny and Geoff Neal, the Dubliner’s run of decisions and the competitive nature of his clash with “Venom” have left some critical of “The Future” and dismissing his chances of competing against the elite of the division.

    One of Garry’s fellow countrymen, however, has suggested that such a narrative does a disservice to the challenge “MVP” presents inside the cage…

    Loughran Says Criticism Of Garry’s UFC 303 Performance Is Unfair

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC bantamweight prospect Caolan Loughran gave his take on a number of notable prospects, stars, and champions currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    When it came to Garry, the former Cage Warriors champion admitted that he hadn’t been a fan of his compatriot’s approach to fight buildups in the past.

    But after noting an improvement when it came to his remarks ahead of UFC 303, Loughran pushed back on negative takes regarding Garry’s victory over Page on fight night.

    “I haven’t met Ian since he was an amateur. I haven’t seen him since the regional scene. I haven’t seen him in years,” Loughran said. “I was actually liking the way he was talking (ahead of UFC 303). And he’s winning fights in the UFC.

    “He’s getting a lot of stick for his performance against ‘MVP.’ F*ck fighting ‘MVP.’ He’s a nightmare!” Loughran continued. “Until you have him in front of you, you haven’t sparred or trained with someone like him. Now, when you put him on his back, he’s crap. But it’s just getting him on his back is a nightmare.”

    Having maintained his perfect UFC and professional record at the expense of “MVP” at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, Garry is now setting his sights on those above him in the welterweight pecking order.

    In addition to offering to serve as backup fighter for this month’s UFC 304 main event between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad, the Dubliner has set his sights on Shavkat Rakhmonov as a potential next opponent.

  • Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen had an interesting pick for male fighter in his and Daniel Cormier’s recent mid-year awards.

    While the real interest in awards comes at the end of each calendar year, there’s been no shortage of action and memorable moments to digest on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage through the first six months of 2024.

    In line with that, ESPN recently released its mid-year awards. A 14-person voting panel including renowned journalists like Brett Okamoto and Brett Okamoto voted on a number of categories following UFC 303.

    And that event contributed to one result, with 100 percent of the votes for Male Fighter of the Mid-Year going to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

    Pereira is the only titleholder to have emerged victorious twice in 2024, with “Poatan” following his knockout of Jamahal Hill in the main event of April’s milestone UFC 300 card with another brutal finish last month, this time at the expense of Jiří Procházka on short notice.

    While that run would perhaps make the Brazilian an obvious and unrivaled choice, one former fighter sees things differently…

    Sonnen Favors O’Malley Title Defense Over Pereira’s Two Knockouts

    During a recent episode of his and Cormier’s Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen left his co-host in shock with one of his mid-year award picks.

    Despite Pereira’s dominant performances against two high-ranked former light heavyweight champs, “The Bad Guy” gave his nod to bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley.

    “When you look at the Male Fighter of the Year, I’m going with Sean O’Malley,” Sonnen said. “When ‘Sugar’ Sean fought ‘Chito’ Vera, I did not know Sean was that good. I believed that Sean was the best guy in the world. I thought it was competitive; there’s guys that could beat him but he could beat them as well. But when he fought ‘Chito’ Vera and he dominated that…

    “To watch the growth that Sean had (from the first Vera fight), not to mention the pressure he had going from the Apex to top of the bill, a $14.1 million gate, and you’ve got to follow the show Dustin Poirier put on,” Sonnen continued. “There was so much pressure on this young man, who is a showman. … Can you back up what you say? Not only did he do it, he did it for 25 minutes. 15 minutes in he could’ve put the brakes on…wasn’t good enough for him. He tried to finish that fight. … I thought it was the total package.”

    Sonnen’s pick received a shake of the head from Cormier, who was firm in stating that Pereira is the correct and obvious pick.

    Whether that will remain the case come the end-of-year awards remains to be seen. O’Malley would no doubt strengthen his case should he get past his expected next challenger, wrestling specialist Merab Dvalishvili.

    But should Pereira face and defeat the man widely labeled his biggest threat at 205 pounds in Magomed Ankalaev, the debate could be wrapped up.

  • Leon Edwards Breaks Down & Predicts UFC 304 Fights Featuring Fellow Countrymen Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, & More

    Leon Edwards Breaks Down & Predicts UFC 304 Fights Featuring Fellow Countrymen Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, & More

    While focused on his own assignment at UFC 304, welterweight champion Leon Edwards recently assessed a few other notable matchups set for July 27.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will head back across the pond toward the end of this month, visiting an English city other than London for the first time since pre-pandemic.

    The newly built Co-op Live in Manchester is set to play host to UFC 304, a pay-per-view event topped by two British champions in Edwards and Tom Aspinall.

    “Rocky” is expecting both him and the interim heavyweight kingpin to emerge with the gold still in their possession. And his support of fellow countrymen goes beyond just his fellow champ…

    Edwards Backs Aspinall, Pimblett, Allen To Join Him As Home Winners In Manchester

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Edwards looked ahead to his upcoming Octagon outing, which comes 16 months on from his previous home fight in England’s capital.

    After analyzing his main event showdown with Muhammad for the welterweight gold, “Rocky” had his attention turned to some of the other notable bouts set to play out in Manchester featuring his compatriots.

    That included the other champion with whom he’s sharing the poster, interim heavyweight titleholder Aspinall.

    “I pick Tom for the win,” Edwards said. “Obviously (Curtis) Blaydes is a solid opponent; great wrestling, good boxing as well. But I feel like Tom is just like, for heavyweight, quite fast and moves well on his feet. So yeah, I favor Tom for the win.”

    Edwards’ next pick came with a self-admitted bias, as he backed fellow Team Renegade standout Arnold Allen to bounce back from his widely debated setback against Movsar Evloev this past January in Canada.

    “I’ve got Arnold (against Giga Chikadze). He’s my training partner, you know?” Edwards noted. “I know how hard he works in the gym and just how good he is. He’s looking good now in training camp, so I’ve got Arnold.”

    “Rocky” then went three for three on the home picks, predicting victory for Pimblett in his toughest Octagon assignment to date against #15-rankled lightweight Bobby “King” Green.

    “That’s a good one,” Edwards said, pondering more than his previous predictions. “I’ll go Paddy. I’ll go all-British through here. I’ll go Paddy but I feel like Bobby’s a dangerous fight for him. Probably his toughest test.”

    Come fight night, Edwards will no doubt be more concerned about his prediction for his own fight against Muhammad coming to fruition.

    While his first two defenses against Usman and Covington went to the scorecards, the Jamaican-born Brit is vowing to finish “Remember the Name” before the championship rounds when they run it back later this month.

  • PFL Africa Officially Launched With Francis Ngannou As Chairman, Inaugural Season Set For 2025

    PFL Africa Officially Launched With Francis Ngannou As Chairman, Inaugural Season Set For 2025

    The Professional Fighters League has officially launched its latest regional expansion, PFL Africa, ahead of the first season in 2025.

    Having ran its unique season structure on the global stage since 2018, the PFL has committed to establishing its presence with a number of regional leagues around the world.

    And after kicking off that expansion with PFL Europe in 2023 and adding PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa) to the calendar in 2024, the promotion recently launched its latest development.

    Having long planned an African expansion with last year’s star signing Francis Ngannou at the helm, PFL Africa has been officially confirmed for its inaugural season in 2025.

    The organization announced the news in a press release this week, also posting a teaser trailer featuring “The Predator” on social media.

    Ngannou ‘Proud To Give Back’ To His Continent Through PFL Africa

    Ngannou’s role as chairman of PFL Africa was announced when he put pen to paper on a deal with the PFL last year, bringing to an end months of speculation regarding his future following a departure from the UFC.

    While the Cameroonian has since had his focus on a boxing venture, sharing the ring with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua last October and this past March, respectively, his attention will seemingly be back on the PFL soon.

    And although his expected return to MMA and debut in the SmartCage remains unconfirmed, Ngannou has reiterated his commitment to helping up-and-coming talent from his home continent make a splash.

    “I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA,” Francis Ngannou said via a PFL press release. “As we have seen, there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fanbase.”

    While launching PFL Africa, the promotion confirmed that the regional league will follow the same regular season, playoff, and championship structure as the rest of its “network.”

    The PFL also revealed that Helios Sports & Entertainment Group has invested and will hold a stake in PFL Africa.

    “The Professional Fighters League is excited to announce PFL Africa, the third international fight franchise as we continue on our path to becoming the Champions League of MMA,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Africa is home to some of the greatest fighters in the world, including our league chairman Francis Ngannou, and some of the greatest fans in the sport. PFL Africa aims to serve the great fans with premium content while strengthening the PFL global footprint in what has for too long been an underserved market. Alongside our great investment and broadcast partners we cannot wait to kick off PFL Africa league action in 2025.” 

    In his own post on social media, PFL founder Donn Davis made note of his and the promotion’s focus on catering to the wide-range of MMA enthusiasts outside of the United States.

    The organization has previously come under criticism for not securing a broadcast deal for PFL Europe and PFL MENA in the US, meaning American fans are unable to watch. It remains to be seen whether that will be rectified by the time PFL Africa rolls around next year.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

    UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev wants the next shot at Alex Pereira, and he’s not shying away from letting everyone know it.

    Ankalaev was ready and waiting to stake his claim for a second championship opportunity in the aftermath of Pereira’s latest triumph — a second-round knockout of Jiří Procházka in the UFC 303 main event on June 29.

    The result at T-Mobile Arena marked “Poatan’s” second successful defense of the 205-pound gold, coming months on from his brutal finish of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.

    With “Sweet Dreams” having his plans for a rematch delayed by an injury and “BJP” now falling short against Pereira twice in the past eight months, the door appears to be open for Ankalaev.

    But believing that the champ is keen to avoid him, the Russian is not going to stop calling his shot…

    Ankalaev’s Vocal Approach To Securing Pereira Fight Shows No Signs Of Letting Up

    Ever since Pereira’s short-notice victory during International Fight Week late last month, Ankalaev has had the Brazilian’s name on his lips.

    By and large, the #2-ranked contender — who is unbeaten in 12 fights since a shock loss to Paul Craig in 2018 — has been accusing Pereira of looking to “run,” as well as making some bold assertions regarding his chances against the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion on the feet.

    That trend continued this week…

    “@AlexPereiraUFC kept away from me for a reason, and I do understand this is business @ufc best fight the best and he is the best for now I will keep my (word),” Ankalaev wrote on X. “I will knock him out. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite nothing better than you’ve seen an event somebody going to sleep”

    Next, the Russian shared a compilation of his knockouts in the UFC, vowing to repeat the feat at the expense of Pereira — once again tagging White and matchmaker Maynard.

    “@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite I will do the same thing to Alex. I promise you.”

    And Ankalaev’s final comment of the day saw him lay out a “promise.”

    “End of the year he’ll be laying on his back looking at the light and ask his corner, are we back in Brazil this is a promise. I will knock him out.”

    It remains to be seen when or where Ankalaev’s second title shot will come. But he’s certainly looking to do what he can to ensure he’s not passed over by another name in the division again.

  • PFL Announces 2024 Playoff Main Cards, Former Bellator Champ Replaced In Semifinal

    PFL Announces 2024 Playoff Main Cards, Former Bellator Champ Replaced In Semifinal

    Following the conclusion of the promotion’s latest global regular season, the lineups are set for this year’s PFL Playoffs.

    2024 was always going to be a big one for the PFL, as it marks the first season since it acquired a rival promotion in Bellator. After kicking off the year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a cross-brand event and commencing its sophomore PFL Europe campaign in Paris, eyes turned to the global season.

    And having hosted six events across April and June, the brackets for the 2024 PFL Playoffs were decided, and the main cards are now set.

    A recent press release announced which semifinals will feature in main event slots, as well as the order below them.

    PFL Playoffs 1: Goltsov vs. Johnson (August 2)

    This year’s PFL playoffs will kick off with heavyweight and women’s flyweight action at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 2.

    In the main event, PFL veteran Denis Goltsov makes his bid for a second championship final in what will be his fourth semifinal appearance. The Russian has worked his way back to the postseason courtesy of knockout wins over Linton Vassell and Thiago Santos. He’ll next face Tim Johnson, whose six-point finish of Danilo Marques saw him secure a playoff place in his SmartCage debut.

    The other heavyweight semifinal has undergone a change. In the second fight of the night, Linton Vassell will battle Oleg Popov for a place in the final. The former didn’t qualify in the top four spots but has been handed a chance at redemption following an injury to former interim Bellator champion Valentin Moldavsky.

    Co-headlining for the women’s flyweights will be Dakota Ditcheva, who breezed to top-seed status in the regular season by extending her perfect professional record with crushing TKOs against Lisa Mauldin and Chelsea Hackett. She’s next set for her toughest test to date opposite Jena Bishop.

    Opening the main card, meanwhile, will be an intriguing semifinal matchup between two flyweight elites in ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos and Bellator champ Liz Carmouche, both of whom recorded consecutive wins to secure their playoff spots.

    Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

    • Heavyweight Playoffs Main Event: Denis Goltsov (34-8) vs. Tim Johnson (18-9) 
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (12-0) vs. Jena Bishop (7-1)
    • Heavyweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Oleg Popov (18-1) vs. Linton Vassell (25-9) 
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Liz Carmouche (22-7) vs. Taila Santos (21-3) 

    PFL Playoffs 2: Kasanganay vs. Silveira (August 16)

    The second stop in the PFL’s postseason sees the SmartCage head to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, for light heavyweight and lightweight fights on August 16.

    In the main event, Impa Kasanganay continues his pursuit of a second straight PFL championship against the man at the expense of whom he captured the 205-pound crown in 2023, Josh Silveira. The other light heavyweight contest comes in the co-headliner, with 2022 title winner Rob Wilkinson battling Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

    Opening the main card on August 16 will be the always entertaining Clay Collard, whose quest for a first PFL title must next go through former Bellator standout Brent Primus. Elsewhere in that division, Gadzhi Rabadanov and Michael Dufort will share the cage.

    Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

    • Light Heavyweight Playoffs Main Event: Impa Kasanganay (17-4) vs. Josh Silveira (13-3)
    • Light Heavyweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Rob Wilkinson (19-2) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (23-7-1)
    • Lightweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (22-4-1) vs. Michael Dufort (13-5) 
    • Lightweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Brent Primus (14-3) vs. Clay Collard (25-13) 

    PFL Playoffs 3: Loughnane vs. Kamaka III (August 23)

    The featherweights and welterweights will round out the semifinal action at The Anthem in Washington D.C. on August 23.

    In the main event, 2022 featherweight kingpin Brendan Loughnane looks to continue his momentum from a strong regular season en route to another dose of PFL success. To do so, he must stall the charge of Kai Kamaka III, who is looking to capture the $1 million check in his first taste of season action. The other featherweight semifinal sees 2023 finalist Gabriel Braga tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Timur Khizriev.

    Co-headlining the August 23 card will be Magomed Umalatov, whose submission of Brennan Ward last time out has left him as a potential favorite in the eyes of many. He’ll look to further prove those predictions right by eliminating South Africa’s Don Madge from the equation. Opening the main card at 170 pounds, meanwhile, is a rematch between the undefeated Shamil Musaev and Murad Ramazanov. While the latter was knocked out by his fellow countryman in June, his first regular season bout was enough to keep him inside the divisional top four.

    Main Card (9 PM ET, ESPN/ESPN+):

    • Featherweight Playoffs Main Event: Brendan Loughnane (29-5) vs. Kai Kamaka (14-5-1) 
    • Welterweight Playoffs Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov (16-0) vs. Don Madge (11-5-1) 
    • Featherweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Gabriel Braga (14-1) vs. Timur Khizriev (16-0) 
    • Welterweight Playoffs Main Card Bout: Shamil Musaev (18-0-1) vs. Murad Ramazanov (12-1)
  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Outlines When He’ll Know It’s Time To Retire From MMA

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Outlines When He’ll Know It’s Time To Retire From MMA

    According to UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page, any decision regarding his retirement will come in the gym, not the Octagon.

    While no doubt at the back end of his career, Page has only just begun plying his fighting trade on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, having swapped Bellator MMA for the UFC late last year after over a decade with the former.

    In his debut at UFC 299 this past March, Page dealt a blow to those who have long questioned his ability to compete against ranked opposition in the UFC by getting the better of Kevin Holland.

    Most recently, “MVP” had his quest for an all-English showdown with champion Leon Edwards paused by Ian Garry, who narrowly emerged victorious from their pay-per-view main card opener at UFC 303.

    But given his pre-fight camp and performance on the night, it can be said that Page has plenty left in the tank months on from his 37th birthday.

    Page Reveals What Will Force Retirement Call

    During an interview with Demetrious Johnson prior to his second Octagon appearance at UFC 303, Page addressed the topic of Father Time that looms over fighters of his age.

    The MMA community often urges some athletes who appear to continue beyond their physical means to hang up their gloves amid lengthy losing streaks, with Tony Ferguson serving as a current example.

    The 37-year-old Page, however, insists he won’t reach that stage. Instead, he plans to call it quits as soon as his performance against the up-and-comers in his gym falls below the requirement.

    “It gets us all, man. There’s one thing nobody can beat and it’s that time factor. But you can make adjustments,” Page said. “It’s intense in our gym all the time. But there are times I can tell where he’ll (my coach) just be — for me, he’ll be like, ‘You can chill today. You can finish a bit early.’ … He can see when I’m fatiguing a little bit too much.

    “I always say to myself, if I’m getting dominated by the youngsters coming through and they’re all hungry — if I’m starting to get dominated by them in the gym, that’s my time to retire,” Page continued. “I don’t need to wait to get my arse handed to me out in public. If the guys in the gym are having me out, then that’s when I’ll be like, ‘Okay, I need to stop.’ That ain’t happening just yet.”

    In addition to a strong camp, which showed no signs that his time competing at the top is up, Page’s defeat on June 29 was far from emphatic. UFC CEO Dana White demonstrated the competitive nature of the Londoner’s battle with Garry by suggesting the fight felt like a draw.

    It remains to be seen what will come next for “MVP” after a setback in his planned ascent to gold on MMA’s biggest stage. But having come close to climbing toward title contention at UFC 303, Page has vowed to “rebuild” and keep his sights set on the goal.

  • UFC Fight Night Denver Headliner Tracy Cortez Envisions ‘Surpassing’ Ronda Rousey: ‘I Say This Humbly…’

    UFC Fight Night Denver Headliner Tracy Cortez Envisions ‘Surpassing’ Ronda Rousey: ‘I Say This Humbly…’

    Ahead of her main event debut this weekend, UFC women’s flyweight Tracy Cortez has detailed the kind of success she’s envisioning for herself on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Since losing her professional debut under the Invicta FC banner in 2017, Cortez has experienced nothing but her hand raised inside the cage, winning 11 straight fights to establish herself as one to watch at 125 pounds.

    After adding the name of Erin Blanchfield to her record in 2019 and subsequently securing a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, Cortez’s winning run has extended with a perfect 5-0 record in the UFC.

    Now, the Phoenix native is set for her toughest test to date in the form of Rose Namajunas. With the former two-time strawweight champion left without an opponent for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event in Denver following Maycee Barber’s withdrawal, Cortez has stepped up on short notice.

    And beyond making the most of the sizable opportunity awaiting her at the Ball Arena on Saturday night, Cortez is foreseeing an ascent to the highest possible step on the women’s MMA ladder…

    Cortez Outlines Lofty UFC Ambitions Ahead Of Main Event Debut

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Cortez looked ahead to the shot at title contention that has fallen at her doorstep this weekend in Denver.

    In terms of what she hopes to achieve with victories over notable names like “Thug Rose,” the #11-ranked flyweight set her sights on going above and beyond the legacy left behind in the cage by a trailblazer for female MMA.

    “You know, I’m very grateful for the way Ronda (Rousey) paved the way for women’s MMA. No one has done it like she has,” Cortez said. “But I say this humbly, I hope to surpass that. She set a goal, and I think us as competitors, we want to keep overstepping these goals and overdoing what our last heroes did.

    “I saw the way she moved and (I’m) finessing and tweaking, making it my own and hoping to surpass what she has done,” Cortez added.

    Having won all five of her Octagon outings to date and cemented a ranking with her victory over Jasmine Jasudavicius at Noche UFC last September, the next step on Cortez’s journey toward the greatness former bantamweight queen Rousey achieved in the cage is a big one.

    To remain perfect in the UFC and notch her first headline triumph, the 30-year-old is tasked with stalling the two-division ambitions of Namajunas.

  • Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’

    Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett will welcome Bobby Green to enemy territory later this month, and he’s also hoping to welcome him to the ground come fight night.

    After returning from a lengthy injury layoff last December to add the prominent name of former interim champion Tony Ferguson to his growing résumé, Pimblett is set to be back on home soil for his first assignment of 2024 on July 27.

    Prior to two championship headliners at UFC 304, Pimblett will make the walk inside Manchester’s Co-op Live for his first shot at cracking the rankings at 155 pounds.

    The opportunity comes against “King” Green, a veteran contender who is coming off a hard-fought decision victory over Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    In the lead-up, “The Baddy” has insisted that Green’s chin has “gone,” leaving him open to knockouts. Despite that, though, the Liverpool native has challenged the 37-year-old Californian in a different realm of the game…

    Pimblett Invites Green To Put His Money Where His Mouth Is At UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett documented the late stages of his UFC 304 fight camp.

    And speaking to the camera while at his gym, Next Generation MMA in Liverpool, “The Baddy” made note of some of Green’s past comments regarding a possible submission and laid down a challenge for “King.”

    “Bobby makes me laugh. … You was talking about me in 2021, 2022,” Pimblett said. “I also seen a story the other week, him saying, ‘Anyone can knock anyone out with a lucky punch. But Paddy, you’re saying you’re gonna submit me. You can’t submit me!’

    “Grapple with me then, lad? Back your word up,” Pimblett continued. “We both know that you can strike, even though you’ve got no power. We both know that I’ll strike with you and that you can get knocked out. Grapple with me! Let’s see if you’ve got the balls to grapple with me after saying I won’t submit you. Come on, let’s see.”

    It remains to be seen if Green will respond to Pimblett’s challenge.

    But whether on the ground or the feet, “The Baddy” will be looking to thrill his home fans once again, having not competed in the UK since a pair of London triumphs in 2022, both of which came via submission.

  • Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title

    Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title

    Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos doubts Islam Makhachev’s chances of achieving two-division glory.

    Makhachev has cemented himself as the 155-pound kingpin with three defenses since completing his long laud out path to the throne formerly occupied by his friend and mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    After submitting Charles Oliveira to win the gold in 2022, Makhachev went on to defeat then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in a pair of contests last year, before most recently stalling Dustin Poirier’s late-career title ambitions.

    With his latest triumph at UFC 302, talk of the Dagestani surpassing “The Eagle’s” legacy and career on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage has increased. Many have pointed to a possible weight change as one factor that could move Makhachev into prime position to be the lightweight GOAT.

    But although the reigning titleholder has frequently expressed his plans to move up, one of Makhachev’s peers doesn’t see him getting the better of the champ above…

    ‘RDA’ Dismisses Makhachev’s Chances Of Beating Edwards

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rafael dos Anjos was asked for his take on Makhachev’s welterweight ambitions.

    The Dagestani looks set to be tasked with at least one more assignment at 155 pounds in the form of Arman Tsarukyan before looking to join the ‘champ-champ’ club.

    But should Makhachev get the better of the Russian-Armenian again and earn a shot at Leon Edwards, “RDA” doesn’t expect him to have the size and physicality to dethrone “Rocky.”

    “I remember when I moved up, I fought all the contenders. … When you move up and go straight for the title, of course you have a bigger chance to become champion,” dos Anjos said. “But I don’t think Islam — he’s got very good momentum right now, but I don’t think he could beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion.

    “I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.””I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.”

    Before potentially getting the chance to prove the Brazilian wrong, Makhachev must further cement his grip on the lightweight crown.

    In addition to Tsarukyan likely being next in line should he complete the requirements to reduce his suspension to six months, Charles Oliveira has also reiterated his plan to work his way to a second dance with Makhachev, while Michael Chandler claims to have been offered a title opportunity.

    Edwards, meanwhile, is next tasked with defending his welterweight strap in a rematch against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester this month.

    Beyond that, the Brit isn’t short on potential challengers, with the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all waiting in the wings as first-time matchups.

  • Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.

    Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between “Bones” and Stipe Miocic.

    Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.

    The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.

    But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, “DC” says hope is not completely lost…

    Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.

    While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion’s next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, “DC” doesn’t believe everything is set in stone just yet.

    For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.

    “I can’t wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy,” Cormier said. “Here’s the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.

    “You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we’ve seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.’ … But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he’s only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight,” Cormier continued. “If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he’s clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that would do for my man Stipe.”

    Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn’t see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.

    In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested “Razor” was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That’s despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.

    Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.

  • Brendan Allen Rejects Paris Bout As He Won’t Fight Below Moicano vs. Saint Denis: ‘One Coming Off A Loss, One Barely Wins’

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen appears set to decline a trip to the French capital after being snubbed of the main event slot.

    Allen, who currently occupies the #7 spot at 185 pounds, extended his winning run to seven in his first assignment of 2024, outpointing Chris Curtis in one of the year’s best fights to avenge his 2021 loss to “The Action Man.”

    That result came in an Apex main event this past April, coming on the heels of two other main events at the low-capacity facility in Las Vegas.

    And having had a taste of being on UFC Fight Night posters, Allen is now turning down high-profile matchups if he’s not headlining…

    Allen Says No Main Event, No Deal For UFC Fight Night Paris

    During a video recently uploaded to Instagram, Allen provided an update on his current status three months on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon.

    “All In” revealed that he has been offered a top five opponent in the form of Nassourdine Imavov, with the promotion looking to have the pair do battle at the UFC Fight Night scheduled for Paris, France, this September.

    That card recently had its main event reported, with the always entertaining Benoît Saint Denis expected to headline in front of his home fans in a lightweight joust against Renato Moicano.

    Allen, however, believes he has more of a right to top spot on the lineup.

    “This is for everyone that’s asking me what’s up, when am I fighting?” Allen said. “Two weeks ago, they said Imavov in Paris. I said yes. I said I want to be main event because I’ve main evented three in a row, won all three. I’m going into enemy territory, so if we’re going to do it for all the risk, all the gain, let’s go. Main event.

    “Next thing you know, we see (Saint Denis) and Moicano are the main event. I ain’t f*cking going all the way to Paris for these two dudes to go over me. One dude is coming off a loss, the other one barely wins, bro. Nah, I’m not with it,” Allen continued. “So Imavov, if you want to fight, you want this work, whatever you want to call it, come on over to America, we’ll get it done. There’s no way we should be below these guys. I know it’s the Ultimate Followers Championship, but even though they got the followers, just put them on the card, people are going to come anyway.”

    This marks consecutive years in which Allen has rejected main events against high-ranked opponents.

    “All In” turned down a headliner against Roman Dolidze last September because he wanted a higher-ranked name. While the Georgian was #7 at the time, Allen went on to face the #13-ranked Craig.

    This occasion has seen Allen refuse a showdown with the current #4-ranked contender at 185 pounds.

    It remains to be seen who the Californian will share the cage with next, and whether his decision to turn down a top five opponent will stall his planned surge to the title.

  • Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere

    Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has appeared to lose patience with the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

    Sterling announced his arrival in the featherweight division with a successful divisional debut at UFC 300 this past March. “Funk Master” utilized his grappling to limit all of Calvin Kattar’s offense en route to the scorecards.

    Since then, much of the discussion regarding Sterling’s sophomore outing at 145 pounds has involved Evloev, who sits three places above the ex-bantamweight at #5 in the rankings.

    While the pair expressed mutual interest in the fight, they’ve since been at odds over its apparent delay, with both throwing blame at one another.

    Evidently, Sterling has now had enough of that back and forth…

    Sterling Adjusts Sights From Evloev To Lopes

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling provided an update on his future plans, as he looks to climb toward the gold at 145 pounds in pursuit of two-division glory.

    With a lengthy period of discourse with Evloev not resulting in an official booking, “Funk Master” expressed frustration at the Russian’s ongoing “excuses.”

    And with that, he has a fresh name in mind for his desired appearance at the Sphere for Noche UFC this fall.

    “Stay tuned. Hopefully we’ll have some fight news for you guys. I’m thinking about Aljamain Sterling vs. Diego Lopes as the Sphere,” Sterling said. “That has a nice ring to it.

    “Movsar, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing. I gave him a date, he hasn’t accepted yet. He started making all these excuses,” Sterling continued. “Either you want to fight on my terms or I’ll go fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at the Sphere, September 14.”

    Interestingly, Evloev’s different take on why the long-discussed fight with Sterling isn’t coming to fruition has also led him to the doorstep of Lopes and a potential rematch.

    Lopes is one of the fastest-rising names in the division, having followed a competitive short-notice debut against Evloev last May with four straight wins, the first three of which came in the opening round.

    Most recently, the Mexico-based Brazilian defeated Dan Ige in a UFC 303 matchup that came about on just hours’ notice following the extremely late withdrawal of Brian Ortega.

    While Lopes remains outside the top 10 and four places below Sterling in the featherweight pecking order, “Funk Master” seemingly wants to capitalize on the hype around the 29-year-old’s name on a major platform this September.

  • Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    A figure from Alex Pereira’s kickboxing past sees some gaping holes in the UFC light heavyweight champion’s game.

    When Israel Adesanya reigned supreme over the UFC’s middleweight division and defeat appeared a distant possibility, talk emerged of one man whom he couldn’t get the better of in kickboxing crossing over to mixed martial arts.

    That man was Pereira, who now occupies the light heavyweight throne having previously unseated “The Last Stylebender” at 185 pounds. And “Poatan” is now the subject of similar discussion.

    In 2021 — Pereira’s final year in the striking-only sport — the current UFC star did battle with Artem Vakhitov twice under the Glory Kickboxing banner. After falling on the right side of a split decision first time around, the Brazilian was outpointed in the rematch, marking the end of his journey in the promotion and the sport as a whole.

    Vakhitov, meanwhile, won a single subsequent fight before making his own transition to MMA, where he’s since gone 2-1 inside the cage.

    While still early on in his journey, the Russian appears to already be laying the groundwork for a third combat sports showdown with Pereira in a different environment…

    Artem Vakhitov: Alex Pereira Very ‘Open’ To Punches

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Vakhitov spoke about his venture to MMA and unsurprising desire to work his way to a history-fueled clash against Pereira on the sport’s biggest stage.

    “MMA was always interesting for me anyway, but obviously I am very motivated by the prospect of getting that trilogy match with Pereira,” Vakhitov said. “He’s a superstar now and I am happy for him, but when I hear people saying he’s the best striker in the world … well, I think it’s time for MMA fans to learn about me and my team, put it that way.”

    Vakhitov went on the break down what he seemingly percieves to be an overrated striking game, highlighting the major weakness he sees in Pereira’s approach. And the 33-year-old used “Poatan’s” sole defeat to Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023 as the prime example of it.

    “His biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense,” Vakhitov said. “Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing.

    “These other guys haven’t done well against Alex because their striking isn’t at a high enough level. They aren’t confident against him and they think he’s unbeatable, so in their heart they are already defeated before the fight starts,” Vakhitov continued. “But I have beaten him before in pure striking competition, and I am sure I’ll do it again if we can get our trilogy match in the UFC.”

    Pereira was quick to respond to his former kickboxing rival, advising the Russian to avoid going down this path off the back of what he described as bad advice from somebody close to him.

    “Poatan” signed off by recommending a Vakhitov whom he described as “lost” to seek management, and he even provided a recommendation for his ex-opponent.

  • Jon Anik Names First-Time Opponent That ‘Makes Sense’ For Nate Diaz’s Planned UFC Return

    Should Nate Diaz follow through on his publicly expressed desire to make a UFC return, Jon Anik has the ideal opponent in mind for him.

    Diaz was back in combat sports action this past weekend for the first time in 11 months. Having fallen short in his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul last August, the Stockton star ran it back in the ring with ex-UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

    In addition to his first triumph in the ring, Diaz was looking to avenge the setback he was given at the hands of “Gamebred” back in 2019 when Madison Square Garden hosted the inaugural BMF title fight.

    On that occasion, Masvidal was rewarded for his dominance on the feet with a TKO by way of doctor’s stoppage. After Saturday’s match at Anaheim’s Honda Center, that result remains the Miami native’s most recent win.

    After a competitive 10 rounds on July 6, Diaz was awarded the victory via majority decision. Masvidal was quick to call for a trilogy to take place in a neutral location, but it would appear that the Stockton native has other plans.

    And in addition to a second dance with Paul, that seemingly includes unfinished business on MMA’s biggest stage…

    Anik Says Diaz Has ‘A Lot Of Fight’ Left, Pitches UFC Return Opponent

    During the latest episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast, the UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator reacted to Diaz’s first victory inside the boxing ring this past weekend.

    Anik noted that Diaz once again highlighted a UFC return as part of his plans down the line, and he insisted that in spite of the veteran fighter’s age and stint away from MMA competition, he can never be counted out against elite opposition.

    “Nate Diaz back in the UFC. I don’t know to what extent that is possible in short order, but it’s very encouraging that that is one of the first things sort of on the tip of his tongue,” Anik said. “And far be it for anyone to bet against this guy in a high-profile setting against an elite fighter. Yeah, there’s certain matchups, right? Maybe you don’t like him against Sean Brady, but there are plenty of matchups that are good for Nate Diaz. … I think he’s got a lot of fight left.”

    The Boston native went on to point out one specific matchup that would make sense for Diaz’s potential Octagon comeback: a rearranged showdown with Dustin Poirier.

    “Dustin Poirier and I were talking at UFC 303 as he was there doing the television work. There just aren’t that many fights right now for Dustin. It seems like he has the appetite to go out on a win,” Anik continued. “Dustin has intimated that he wants to fight one more time, and on the very short list of opponents that actually makes some fiscal and competitive sense is Nate Diaz. We’ll see if that’s something that actually materializes.”

    Poirier and Diaz were set to share the cage back at UFC 230 in 2018, but “The Diamond” was forced out after sustaining a hip injury.

    Interestingly, rumors of the pair giving the matchup a second attempt emerged the last time Poirier’s future appeared uncertain. In the aftermath of his title loss against Charles Oliveira in December 2021, the Louisianan pointed to Diaz as the only opponent that appealed to him at the time.

    The former interim champion instead defeated Michael Chandler in his return, and after bouncing back from a defeat to Justin Gaethje last July by knocking out Benoît Saint Denis, he received his third shot at the undisputed belt.

    When Islam Makhachev got the better of him at UFC 302 last month, it seemed that retirement was a real possibility. But a number of weeks on from his latest failed attempt at ticking off the final box in his career, “The Diamond” has picked up hints of another go at the kind of farewell he is after.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is intrigued by the possibility of Jiří Procházka joining the division he formerly competed in.

    Procházka is currently just over a week on from his latest outing at the UFC 303 pay-per-view, which saw his second failed bid to achieve two-time champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage play out.

    Having had his light heavyweight reign brought to an end by a severe shoulder injury in late 2022, “BJP” returned in competition for the then-vacant belt at UFC 295 last November. On that night, Alex Pereira exited the cage with the gold in his possession, completing two-division glory in the process.

    With both subsequently recording wins at UFC 300 this past April, they ran it back on short notice after the June 29 numbered event was left in desperate need of a headline savior.

    The Czech star answered the call and looked to right the wrongs from his first showdown with “Poatan.” But unfortunately for the former champ, he was soundly beaten second time around.

    In the aftermath, a disappointed Procházka admitted he needs to “evolve” as a fighter or simply not compete any longer. Separately, his coach pitched a drop to middleweight following his man’s latest setback at 205 pounds.

    That idea appears to be one that gets a former title challenger in both divisions off his seat…

    Sonnen ‘Loves’ The Idea Of Middleweight Procházka

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to talk of Procházka possibly testing the middleweight waters down the line, a move that the former champ himself has previously insisted would be doable.

    While he suggested a divisional switch is not a necessity for “BJP” despite his two defeats to the current light heavyweight kingpin, “The Bad Guy” did point out a number of mouthwatering matchups that could await the Czech star down at 185 pounds.

    “Jiří Procházka’s coach suggests the former champion should move down to middleweight. … Well, I don’t want to take on that coach or his opinion because he is damn good and he created a world champion there,” Sonnen said. “I believe what he is offering, in front of everything else, is that it is not time for Jiří to retire. I agree with that, fully.

    “I don’t believe there is a meaningful difference if you become a world champion in a different division. … Jiří at 185, that is completely fascinating to me. I love that idea,” Sonnen continued. “I really don’t want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira (again). I didn’t really want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira last weekend. That’s just not the one that I was itching for. But I tell you what, Jiří Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You have my attention. Jiří Procházka vs. Sean Strickland, vs. Izzy Adesanya, wow, vs. Robert Whittaker, woah, things just got really interesting. Jiří Procházka vs. Khamzat Chimaev! Jiří at 185, I love this concept, but I’m not bothered by the concept of Jiří staying at 205.”

    It remains to be seen what Procházka’s plans are for the future and whether he shares his coach’s view on a middleweight move next.

    But regardless, the always entertaining “BJP” is already back to his unique and unorthodox training regime back in Czechia.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis recently looked back on the fight that saw him crowned as the UFC middleweight champion earlier this year.

    Du Plessis is currently gearing up for his first defense of the 185-pound title, which goes down (under) in Perth, Australia, as the UFC 305 pay-per-view main event next month.

    The South African will finally square off with Israel Adesanya close to a year on from their originally planned showdown. After upsetting Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis was expected to challenge “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 293 in Sydney last September.

    But their rivalry — a sensitive and historical one born out of Du Plessis’ controversial comments regarding the UFC’s African champs — was put on the back burner after an injury to “Stillknocks.”

    In his place, Sean Strickland made the long-haul flight to Australia and capitalized in emphatic fashion, outpointing Adesanya dominantly.

    While that served as another delay in Adesanya vs. Du Plessis coming to fruition, the latter brought the matchup back to the surface when he rendered Strickland’s reign a short one at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January.

    Du Plessis Describes Fighting ‘Very Tricky’ Strickland

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis reflected on his experience fighting the unique style of Strickland in Canada six months ago.

    After noting his former opponent’s shock win over Adesanya, the reigning champ outlined the difficulty that comes with fighting “Tarzan’s” unorthodox approach.

    More than handling that, however, Du Plessis said his real agitation came when Strickland failed to deliver on his promise of a ‘fight-to-the-death’ war — a criticism that has since reared its head again after Strickland’s victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.

    “(Strickland’s) a very tricky guy. He’s hard to hit, he has a sneaky jab — not a lot of power, but he hits the target and is really, really hard to catch,” Du Plessis said. “Let me say it this way, it was frustrating (to fight him) because he said, ‘Till death,’ and he just walked backwards the whole time. So that was a little frustrating.

    “But I mean, he did catch me with that jab for the first two rounds the whole time,” Du Plessis continued. “To be honest, I felt the jabs and I just thought, ‘I’ll just go through them.’ All of a sudden, I just couldn’t see out of my eye anymore. I realized, ‘I have to start blocking these.’”

    Having successfully gotten past Strickland’s style in narrow fashion, Du Plessis is next tasked with replicating his ex-rival’s feat from 2023.

    After some heated interactions last year and a tense faceoff at the UFC 305 on-sale press conference last week, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally throw down inside the cage on August 17 at Perth’s RAC Arena.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Rising UFC welterweight Ian Garry has his sights set on those above him for his next fight, but he doesn’t see one former champion as a likely candidate.

    Garry extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 last weekend at UFC 303, where he recorded his eighth triumph on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage since signing in 2021.

    After climbing the ranks with victories over Neil Magny at UFC 292 last August and Geoff Neal this past February at UFC 298, the former Cage Warriors champion was forced to turn his gaze to a figure below him in the pecking order to secure an outing during International Fight Week.

    The Irishman opened the June 29 pay-per-view main card against Michael “Venom” Page, a former Bellator standout who debuted successfully at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    Despite some backing “MVP’s” unique striking to be the difference, Garry edged the Londoner out for a decision win inside the T-Mobile Arena. While the result hasn’t seen the Dubliner climb the ranks, it should see him matched against a top contender next time out.

    When it comes to who, though, “The Future” doesn’t see the former champ sitting inside the top five as an option…

    Garry Predicts Usman Won’t Want To Fight ‘Someone So Young & Dangerous’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a post-fight interview with TNT Sports’ Caroline Pearce in Las Vegas, Garry looked ahead to what could await him upon his return to the cage following UFC 303.

    The Irishman has been vocal in calling out fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov since his win over Page. And Garry explained that preference by suggesting both Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman will likely “run.”

    “Colby’s never taking the fight. He’s running scared. … After (UFC 303), he’s like, ‘Yeah, f*ck that, see you later.’ He’s jumping on someone’s rented yacht, acting like it’s his,” Garry said. “Look, there’s Usman, one of the greatest champions we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s gonna run scared and he’s not gonna f*cking make the call either. He doesn’t want to fight someone so young and dangerous.

    “I just have to see how the rest of the division plays out now,” Garry continued. “I’m in the driving seat. There’s only a couple of people I can fight that are gonna be above me.”

    Garry and Usman briefly trained under the same roof, with the Dubliner spending time at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, where “The Nigerian Nightmare” splits his time with Trevor Wittman’s facility.

    The former champ hasn’t directly addressed a potential fight with Garry in the aftermath of UFC 303. He did, however, assess how far “The Future” is from the title, noting he could be two fights away given the names that still sit above him in the rankings.

  • Randy Brown Calls Out Top 10 Welterweight For UFC Fight Night Paris Showdown

    Having extended his winning run last month, rising UFC welterweight prospect Randy Brown has his sights set on the division’s top 10.

    Brown has established himself as a leading up-and-comer at 170 pounds, winning seven of eight fights since the turn of 2021. His sole defeat in that period came against elite competition in the form of the #5-ranked Jack Della Maddalena.

    “Rude Boy” has bounced back emphatically after that setback in Australia last February, winning three straight against Wellington Turman, Muslim Salikhov, and most recently Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    Brown got the better of Zaleski dos Santos at the UFC 302 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, early last month. And having likely moved to within touching distance of the top 15 as a result, the 34-year-old is setting his sights on a welterweight who has long boasted a number next to their name.

    Brown Wants Neal In The French Capital: ‘Give Me A Chance To Climb!’

    Just over a month on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Brown took to social media to stake his claim for an opportunity to climb not just into the rankings, but the welterweight top 10.

    “I’ll fight Geoff Neal in Paris,” Brown wrote.

    In a subsequent post, Brown expanded on the callout of Geoff Neal and explained why he deserves an opportunity to climb toward contention at 170 pounds.

    “My development has been nothing short of incredible. I’m proud of that and I’m willing and ready to test myself against any man in the division. I want the tough fights. Give me a chance to climb!”

    Neal hasn’t competed since falling short against Ian Garry at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February. That result came 11 months on from another setback at the hands of an undefeated contender, with Shavkat Rakhmonov submitting him at UFC 285.

    With “Handz of Steel” now on a losing skid, it stands to reason that he’ll need to defend his #10 position on the welterweight ladder next time out.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    After Alex Pereira caught the attention of boxing great Anthony Joshua to spark talk of a venture to the ring, Magomed Ankalaev has reminded the UFC light heavyweight champion of his presence.

    Pereira has risen to stardom on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in less than three years, capturing both the 185 and 205-pound titles and delivering some brutal knockouts in the process.

    “Poatan” currently reigns on the heavier of those two thrones, a position he cemented last weekend in the UFC 303 main event by adding a knockout win over Jiří Procházka to his résumé for the second time.

    In the aftermath, many have suggested that Pereira’s success and prominence has transcended MMA. At the very least, he’s captured intrigue from the boxing world, with Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, recently backing the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ for yet another sporting switch.

    “AJ’s” suggestion came on X, where Pereira was quick to respond. The light heavyweight kingpin admitted that a boxing move has always been his “dream,” and he asked the British star for opponent recommendations.

    “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

    That interaction didn’t make for good reading for the man seemingly waiting in the wings for “Poatan” in MMA…

    Ankalaev Unimpressed By Pereira Entertaining Boxing Talk

    Magomed Ankalaev has staked his claim for a shot at Pereira’s belt ever since opening his 2024 campaign with a vicious knockout of Johnny Walker at the Apex.

    And the Russian was quick to reiterate his perceived number one contender status in the moments after the champ’s International Fight Week success in Las Vegas on June 29.

    With patience not part of his approach to securing another title chance, Ankalaev has since remained active on social media, mostly vowing to stop Pereira on the feet.

    In one of his latest posts, the Russian took aim at Pereira for entertaining talk of a boxing switch.

    “@AlexPereiraUFC One more Ufc champion want to run to boxing because he knows he’s going to lose his belt next,” Ankalaev wrote.

    In another tweet, Ankalaev once again promised to shock the community by knocking Pereira out. He also insisted that the Brazilian has no need for a boxing switch until he’s faced his toughest test inside the cage.

    “Me vs you I’m knocking you out the first round You don’t need boxing you need your biggest challenge in your life @danawhite @Mickmaynard2”