MMA News

Author: Harvey Leonard

  • Dricus Du Plessis On What He Saw In Israel Adesanya’s Eyes During Staredown: ‘Trying To Convince Himself He Still Wants To Do This’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis drew some conclusions from his long faceoff with Israel Adesanya last week.

    After a bitter feud dating back to the start of 2023, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge inside the Octagon at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, next month.

    Having been unable to make the turnaround post-beating Robert Whittaker to face “The Last Stylebender” in Sydney last September, “Stillknocks” set this bout up once again by dethroning Sean Strickland months after he upset Adesanya Down Under.

    With their long-awaited showdown just over a month away, Du Plessis and his challenger went face to face in Perth for an on-sale press conference.

    Following some firm words with microphone in hand, the pair engaged in one of the lengthiest and most intense faceoffs in recent memory. And according to the champ, he learned a thing or two from it…

    Du Plessis Saw Uncertainty In Adesanya’s Eyes During Perth Faceoff

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis looked ahead to his opening defense of the middleweight title and reflected on his first in-person interaction with Adesanya during the UFC 305 buildup.

    The South African spoke about the importance of pre-fight faceoffs, even branding them the first part of a bout. And given what he claims to have seen in the eyes of Adesanya, the champ evidently believes round one went to him.

    “Once I get into that zone for any staredown, there’s no humor in that. That’s when things get serious. That’s part of the fight right there, winning that exchange,” Du Plessis said. “Almost a theme for me in this whole fight is seeing that Israel Adesanya…he has done great things in this sport. But when it comes to as big as he’s gonna get, he has been as big as he’s gonna get. When it comes to the title defenses and the winning streaks, that will never come again because he doesn’t have the time.

    “His biggest achievement for him personally was beating Alex Pereira. He had this nemesis who’s beaten him multiple times. And after that fight, he was ready to call it quits,” Du Plessis continued. “That’s what I saw in his eyes as well; trying to convince me but more so trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this and that he still has what it takes to be the best fighter in the world. As soon as you’re asking yourself that question, you’re in a dark place.”

    Whether or not Du Plessis draws the same conclusion when they go face to face again when fight week rolls around in Perth remains to be seen.

    But given his golf jibe relating to retirement during the recent presser, it would appear that “Stillknocks” sees Adesanya having one foot out the door ahead of his first fight in 11 months.

  • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    A clash between ranked UFC lightweights Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis is set for the promotion’s return to France.

    After two successful events in Paris thus far, the European nation with a growing passion for mixed martial arts just a few years on from its legalization there will get another visit from the Octagon in 2024.

    On September 28, the UFC will be back at Accor Arena for a UFC Fight Night card, with many of France’s own expected to make the walk.

    While not much has been announced regarding a main event or undercard, it appears that one of the country’s leading names has his spot on the lineup confirmed.

    Ag. Fight first reported that #12-ranked Saint Denis was being lined up to share the cage with the #10-ranked Moicano in front of his home fans. The Brazilian outlet’s report was later confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin.

    A subsequent report from MMA Junkie revealed that the matchup is slated for five rounds.

    Moicano Looks To Continue Momentum From UFC 300, Send Saint Denis On Losing Skid

    With this bout reportedly official in the coming days, Moicano and Saint Denis will be preparing for their clash off the back of vastly different results.

    Moicano (19-5-1) has had a strong year to date, first returning from a lengthy injury layoff by outpointing Drew Dober at the Apex in February. The Brazilian subsequently made the most of a spot on the milestone UFC 300 card in April, knocking out Jalin Turner after “The Tarantula” failed to capitalize on an earlier knockdown.

    Having won three straight since a short-notice main event loss to Rafael dos Anjos in 2022, Moicano is looking to climb the 155-pound ladder into title contention. And although he’ll be fighting down the pecking order in September, his opponent is a highly regarded up-and-comer.

    Saint Denis (13-2, 1 NC) won five straight in his natural weight class following a UFC debut defeat to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. That run included a violent head kick finish of Matt Frevola at UFC 295 last November. The Frenchman was then granted a major chance to impress against former interim champion and veteran top five contender Dustin Poirier.

    Despite a strong start at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, “God of War” faded in the second round and was stopped on the feet by “The Diamond,” a result he put down to the antibiotics used to combat a pre-fight staph infection.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/1-7/7): Sphere-Held Noche UFC Gets First Four Fights

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/1-7/7): Sphere-Held Noche UFC Gets First Four Fights

    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 couple of notable fights were made official by the UFC or confirmed by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

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

    But it wasn’t all positive, with one fight being adjusted. For that, see below:

    And for more detailed information on one newly booked fight that may have flown under your radar between July 1 and July 7, scroll down and check out this week’s UFC Matchmaking Bulletin spotlighted fight.

    Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes – UFC Abu Dhabi (August 3)

    After failing to capitalize on the main event spotlight earlier this year, Shamil Gaziev will look to get back on track at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    Gaziev (12-1) received a shot at the heavyweight rankings and a maiden headliner in just his second UFC fight, being matched against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the main event of UFC Vegas 87 this past March. The then-undefeated Bahraini was unable to continue into the fifth round, granting “Bigi Boy” the victory by way of TKO.

    To avoid the first losing skid of his career, Gaziev must get the better of Don’Tale Mayes (11-6) in the Middle East next month. “Lord Kong” has exchanged wins and losses since a win over Josh Parisian in 2021, falling short against Augusto Sakai and Rodrigo Nascimento but defeating Andrei Arlovski and Caio Machado.

    This heavyweight fight was first reported by Vestnik MMA.

  • Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña believes she has something that most of her peers do not.

    Peña, who is currently sat at #1 in the 135-pound rankings, is expected to serve as the first challenger in longtime rival Raquel Pennington’s maiden title defense following “Rocky’s” capturing of the then-vacant belt at UFC 297 this past January.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is in pursuit of two-time champ status, having briefly held the gold after a monumental upset against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in December 2022. The ex-bantawmeight queen was originally set for a chance to regain the crown in a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes last June, almost a year on from the Brazilian’s emphatic victory in their rematch.

    But after injury kept her out of both that fight and the championship joust that followed Nunes’ retirement, Peña’s layoff is fast approaching the two-year mark. Nevertheless, she remains firmly in the title conversation and has no doubt about what she sees as an inevitable return to top spot.

    Peña has continued to tout her perceived superiority over the rest of the bantamweight roster, and she recently warned Pennington about the kind of fighter she’ll be facing later this year…

    Peña ‘Preparing’ To Give Her Life In Every Fight

    During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X doing International Fight Week, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited comeback and the matchup that is reportedly set to stage it this October.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” noted that nothing will change in terms of how she approaches her expected title clash with Pennington. No matter who shares the cage with, Peña claims to have a ‘fight to the death’ attitude.

    “I go into fights the same way mentally. Preparing for literally giving my entire life, and if I have to die in there, I’m gonna die in there,” Peña said. “I think that it doesn’t matter who stands across from me, I’m always going to approach it the same. I’m going to fight to the death. That, to me, is kind of what separates me from other fighters I feel like. I’m literally going to give my entire life, it doesn’t matter who stands across from me. I am my biggest opponent.”

    Peña will look to prove as much should it be required against Pennington down the line. While a date for their likely fight remains unconfirmed, current talk is placing the pair on a pay-per-view card rumored for Salt Lake City in October.

    Whether in Utah or at an event elsewhere this year, the former champion will be hoping to announce her return in style and make a firm statement to the division’s current crop of top contenders.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t see what’s so special about the striking of his division’s champion.

    Alex Pereira finds himself atop most lists when it comes to the current top standup fighters competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. His fearsome reputation on the feet was built as a two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion.

    He’s since enhanced it inside the Octagon, where he’s delivered brutal knockout after brutal knockout to secure the crowns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.

    “Poatan” currently reigns with the latter in his possession, and he cemented that status last weekend in the main event of UFC 303, where he got the better of Jiří Procházka for the second time in emphatic fashion.

    It didn’t take long for talk to turn to the Brazilian’s future, and one high-ranked contender was waiting in the wings to stake his claim with a number of posts on social media.

    And as his campaign for another title shot continues, Ankalaev has made a bold assertion regarding the champ…

    Ankalaev Downplays Pereira’s Striking Superiority

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ankalaev reiterated his belief that a clash with Pereira makes sense later this year and assessed how they match up against one another.

    Many have long touted the Russian as a future threat to “Poatan” owing to his wrestling abilities. Ankalaev, however, has dismissed the notion that he’ll be outgunned on the feet by what he described as an “overrated” striking game.

    “With Alex, you just have to watch a couple of his past fights,” Ankalaev said, via his translator. “With (Jan) Błachowicz, you know, his wrestling was on a level and Alex didn’t have much to offer. Same with (Israel) Adesanya, they’re both strikers but Adesanya was able to show him some wrestling.

    “I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

    In pleading his case for a showdown with Pereira, Ankalaev has vowed to knock the champ out. Whether that will be the path he pursues in a potential fight down the line or if he looks to overcome “Poatan” in the grappling realm remains to be seen.

  • Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Jiří Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat.

    Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend.

    In what marked his second attempt at achieving two-time champ status opposite Alex Pereira, “BJP” once again fell short. While their first showdown at Madison Square Garden last year had some controversy owing to cries of early stoppage, there was no doubt about “Poatan’s” superiority on June 29.

    In the aftermath of his sophomore setback to the Brazilian knockout artist, Procházka released his first statement in the form of a video on his social accounts. In it, the Czech star gave an honest assessment of his defeat in Las Vegas, admitting that he either has to “evolve” or not return to the Octagon.

    While some have praised that mindset, one former fighter was not impressed…

    Sonnen Questions Procházka’s Focus On ‘Outcome,’ Not ‘Performance’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked back on Procházka’s performance in Las Vegas and assessed his first post-fight statement on social media.

    “The Bad Guy” pointed to the former champ’s statement regarding the need to evolve, suggesting that usually leads to changes such as a team switch, which in turn signals the “beginning of the end” for a fighter.

    In simple terms, Sonnen described “BJP’s” remarks as the defeated light heavyweight “being a baby.”

    “Jiří Procházka, already talking to the fans, already doing some weird Jiří stuff, and I don’t know, man, being a baby. I don’t know,” Sonnen said. “I turned this camera on, I wanted to make a nice piece about Jiří. I haven’t met him but I appreciate him. And I recognize the incredible grit to that guy. I mean, a real tough guy. … He is not going to give up. He says he’s got to either evolve or he’s got to quit. It’s just a very interesting statement.

    “I do understand what Jiří’s saying…he’s talking about, you know, ‘I’m not going to settle in. I’m here to be champion, and I don’t have the skills and tools needed right now to deal with this threat,’ which is Pereira. … That’s a very dangerous game. In theory, that is absolutely right…it’s just an interesting game in practice,” Sonnen continued. “When you attempt to evolve, the first thing that traditionally happens is you leave your current situation. … It’s generally the beginning of the end. … You can’t, when you lose a contest, decide that that’s the time you’ve got to change things. You can’t be outcome-based. It’s a huge mistake. Champions don’t make it but the top contenders do. If you are outcome-based as opposed to performance-based, you’re really missing the number one philosophy that you need to be successful.”

    It remains to be seen when Procházka will look to get back into the cage following his latest setback to Pereira, or even if.

    Should he take time away and return once again in pursuit of two-time champ status, however, it stands to reason that the Czech star will do so looking to show new wrinkles and improvements to his game.

  • Raul Rosas Jr. Predicts Who Will Be UFC Bantamweight Champion When He Reaches The Title

    Rising UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. has long expressed his title ambitions, and he expects to achieve them at the expense of another highly touted prospect down the line.

    Rosas Jr. broke on to the scene in 2022 as the youngest fighter to ever sign a contract with the mixed martial arts leader. And he followed success on Dana White’s Contender Series with an Octagon debut win that very same year, submitting Jay Perrin at UFC 282.

    Although his sophomore outing didn’t quite go to plan courtesy of Christian Rodriguez’s own talents and planned rise toward contention, “El Niño Problema” has since returned to winning ways with a 54-second knockout of Terrence Mitchell last September and second-round submission of Ricky Turcios at the UFC Fight Night in Louisville last month.

    All the while, the now-19-year-old bantamweight has vowed to make a quick ascent to the throne that will leave him as the promotion’s youngest-ever champion, surpassing Jon Jones in that regard.

    Rosas Jr. no doubt has some major challenges ahead of him if he’s to achieve that goal, and judging by who he expects to be holding the gold at the time, that includes the final step…

    Rosas Jr. Predicts Nurmagomedov Showdown For The Title

    During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Rosas Jr. reiterated his lofty ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, the next step toward which he hopes comes at the Sphere this fall.

    When asked what he expects the state of the title picture to look like upon his arrival down the line, the Mexican-American prospect named Umar Nurmagomedov as the man he believes will have the crown in his possession.

    “I see myself winning my next fight at the Sphere, and it’s just going to get me closer to the belt,” Rosas Jr. said. “Depending on how often I can fight and who I can fight, I think I can get it done pretty soon. … Probably (against) Umar Nurmagomedov. I think he’ll have the belt when I get there.”

    Despite that prediction, however, he seemingly isn’t expecting the Dagestani to reach the throne soon. When asked about his upcoming showdown with Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi next month, Rosas Jr. backed “The Sandman” to stall Nurmagomedov’s rise.

    “He’s a beast, but Cory Sandhagen’s a beast too,” Rosas Jr. said. “I’m going to have to go with Cory Sandhagen.”

    Nurmagomedov is currently unbeaten at 17-0 in his professional career, with five of this wins coming under the UFC banner. After most recently escaping a scare against newcomer Bekzat Almakhan, “The Young Eagle” has the chance to stake his claim for a first title shot.

    To do so, the Russian standout must get past a former interim title challenger and top five contender in Sandhagen, whom he’ll share the Octagon with for a five-round UFC Fight Night headliner in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

  • Neil Magny Expected To Face Undefeated Prospect In Return At UFC Fight Night On August 24

    Neil Magny Expected To Face Undefeated Prospect In Return At UFC Fight Night On August 24

    UFC veteran Neil Magny looks set to be tasked with stalling the rise of another highly touted welterweight prospect later this summer.

    Magny, who currently occupies the #12 spot on the ladder at 170 pounds, continues to perform big on mixed martial arts’ grandest stage over a decade on from his Octagon debut.

    “The Haitian Sensation” holds the record for most wins in UFC welterweight history, and his lead in that regard was extended at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January, where he mounted a memorable comeback to upset home favorite Mike Malott.

    That result cemented Magny’s continued presence in the top 15 and pushed back the surge of a promising prospect. And the 36-year-old will need to bring about some déjà vu next month if he’s to continue his momentum.

    Per MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Magny has verbally agreed to do battle with the undefeated Michael Morales at the UFC Fight Night scheduled for the Apex in Las Vegas on August 24.

    Magny Looks To Halt Another Charging Prospect Months On From UFC 297 Upset

    Should this bout be made official, Magny will look to secure his first win streak since 2022 by blemishing the perfect professional record of Morales.

    Magny (29-11) recorded back-to-back victories over Geoff Neal and Max Griffin before running into the fast-charging Shavkat Rakhmonov in June 2022. He’s exchanged wins and losses since, getting the better of Daniel Rodriguez, Phil Rowe, and Malott but falling against high-level competition in Gilbert Burns and Ian Garry.

    If “The Haitian Sensation” is to further extend his lead in a number of records and continue proving his longevity inside the Octagon, he’ll have to do what nobody else has done up to this point: beat Morales (16-0). The Ecuadorian has won all four of his UFC fights to date since appearing on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. The 25-year-old most recently outpointed Australia’s Jake Matthews at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig last November.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 24 are as follows:

    • Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight)
    • Roman Kopylov vs. Brunno Ferreira (middleweight)
    • Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales (welterweight)
    • Dennis Buzukja vs. Danny Silva (featherweight)
    • Viacheslav Borshchev vs. James Llontop (lightweight)
    • José Medina vs. Zachary Reese (middleweight)
    • Josiane Nunes vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
    Neil Magny & Mike Malott
    Image: Cooper Neill/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Jonathan Martinez Calls For Dominick Cruz Sphere Showdown After Taking Issue With His Commentary

    Jonathan Martinez Calls For Dominick Cruz Sphere Showdown After Taking Issue With His Commentary

    Jonathan Martinez has a bone to pick with former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, one that he wants to settle in the unique surroundings of the Sphere this fall.

    Martinez is on the hunt for his next assignment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a disappointing night at the office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this past May, where he fell to defeat at the hands of the returning José Aldo in the UFC 301 co-main event.

    Having risen into the rankings at 135 pounds courtesy of six straight wins following a knockout loss to Davey Grant, Martinez looked to ride the momentum from victories over Cub Swanson, Said Nurmagomedov, and Adrian Yañez into his showdown with the UFC legend.

    Unfortunately for the #14-ranked contender, he was convincingly outpointed at Jeunesse Arena, and he subsequently had to watch on as Aldo returned to the top 10 spot he had desired.

    A couple of months on, the Factory X standout is looking ahead to his opportunity to bounce back, and he hopes it’ll come against another prominent name in the sport…

    Martinez Was ‘Never A Fan’ Of Cruz

    During an interview with MMA Junkie at UFC X during International Fight Week, Martinez reflected on his setback in South America and named his preferred option moving forward.

    After outlining his desire to join the lineup for the upcoming pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ Sphere on September 14, Martinez pitched former champion Dominick Cruz as the ideal opponent.

    Explaining that choice, the 30-year-old Californian said he’s been noting some frustrating remarks from “The Dominator” while he’s been commentating over his fights in recent times.

    “I want to be on that (Sphere) card in September,” Martinez said. “I want to be on that card, and I’ve been hearing Dominick Cruz wants to fight on that date, too. Hopefully they give me him. I just hear him every time I fight he’s always saying, ‘I don’t know why they don’t check Jonathan’s kicks.’ Put him in front of me and let him do that and see what happens.”

    While analyzing his defeat to Aldo, Martinez admitted that he was somewhat starstruck by the “King of Rio” on May 4. Suffice to say, he wouldn’t have that issue should he be stood across from Cruz inside the cage down the line…

    “I was never a fan. He was just there to me.”

    The promotion is set to stage its second Mexican Independence Day celebration, titled Riyadh Season Noche UFC, from the Sphere on September 14.

    While nothing major has been announced toward the top of the card to date, the likes of Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, Yazmin Jauregui, and Edgar Cháirez are among the names with reported matchups for the lineup thus far.

  • Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Jiří Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

    Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Jiří Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week.

    Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    Having previously had his pursuit of the belt he formerly owned stalled by Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden last November, “BJP” was targeting redemption against “Poatan” at T-Mobile Arena.

    But the Czech star ultimately fell short once again, this time in a much more convincing and brutal fashion. After being dropped at the end of round one, Procházka was finished for good after being sent back to the canvas by a clean head kick in the second frame.

    While many were backing the challenger’s chances owing to the early success he had against “Poatan” in 2023, one former fighter was expecting the UFC 303 main event to play out as it did after seeing some of Procházka’s pre-fight remarks…

    Askren On Pereira vs. Procházka: ‘If You’re Worrying About Witchcraft, You’re Done’

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his take on Procházka’s suggestion that Pereira uses “spiritual things” and “magic” from Shamans to help him defeat his opponents.

    As soon as that reared its head, “Funky” believes it was game over for the challenger.

    “I hate it,” Askren said of Procházka’s focus on “magic” during fight week. “If you start talking like that, that is a clear sign you’re going to get your ass kicked. If you’re starting to worry about witchcraft, no, you’re done. You’re not going to win. I said it, I said, ‘Listen, if he’s worrying about witchcraft, this is going to be over quick. He’s going to get knocked out,’ and that’s what happened.

    “When you get that far, it’s a little too far. I said it, I hate this. I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff,” Askren continued. “(If you are), it’s probably over for you.”

    A video has subsequently emerged showing Pereira and Procházka embracing one another at the airport post-fight, with the champion clarifying his religion and beliefs to his defeated rival.

    “BJP” also made no mention of that pre-fight narrative in his first statement on social media. Instead, he took full responsibility for the defeat and insisted that he must evolve as a fighter or not compete again.

  • UFC 303 Winner Makes Two-Week Turnaround, Faces Drew Dober At UFC Fight Night Denver

    UFC 303 Winner Makes Two-Week Turnaround, Faces Drew Dober At UFC Fight Night Denver

    UFC lightweight veteran Drew Dober will get the chance to fight close to home after one recent victor stepped in on extremely short-notice to meet him on July 13.

    Dober, who trains out of Denver, Colorado, was originally added to the lineup for next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in the ”Mile-High City” against the in-form Mike Davis. Last month, however “Beast Boy” suffered a nasty torn bicep in training.

    Since then, the 155-pound fan favorite has been awaiting news of a replacement to keep him on the card, which is set to be headlined by former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas inside the Ball Arena.

    That came this week, with Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reporting that Jean Silva will be moving up from featherweight to share the cage with Dober on less than two weeks’ notice.

    Silva was in action just this past weekend at UFC 303, where he got the better of Charles Jourdain in brutal fashion. The Brazilian did miss weight, however, so the decision to subsequently accept a lightweight showdown was perhaps to be expected.

    Silva Targets Two Wins In Two Weeks At Dober’s Expense

    Having already had a strong start to life on MMA’s biggest stage, the July 13 event presents the chance for Silva to significantly increase his stock by recording two victories in just 14 days.

    Silva (13-2) followed his success on Dana White’s Contender Series with a first-round knockout off Westin Wilson in his UFC debut. In Jourdain on June 29, “Lord Assassin” thrived against better competition, dropping the Canadian early on before finishing him in round two with a vicious uppercut.

    While the weight miss for that contest added an asterisk next to the result, the Brazilian 27-year-old has the chance to go someway toward erasing any memory of his indiscretion on the scale in one of the more high-profile bouts slated to go down in Denver next Saturday night.

    Dober (27-13) has long been one of the lightweight division’s perennial entertainers. That was on full display in 2022 when he sat in the rankings off the back of three straight stoppage wins over Terrance McKinney, Rafael Alves, and Bobby Green. Since sleeping “King,” though, Dober has gone 1-2, with a quick finish of Rick Glenn sandwiched between setbacks at the hands of Matt Frevola and Renato Moicano.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Denver on July 13 are as follows:

    Main Card:

    • Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez (women’s flyweight main event)
    • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov (welterweight co-main event)
    • Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva (lightweight)
    • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa (welterweight)
    • Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez (featherweight)
    • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Viviane Araújo vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Joshua Van vs. Charles Johnson (flyweight)
    • Luana Santos vs. Mariya Agapova (women’s flyweight)
    • Montel Jackson vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (bantamweight)
    • Josh Fremd vs. Andre Petroski (middleweight)
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Brian Ortega Makes First Public Statement On UFC 303 Fight Day Cancellation: ‘I Dared To Do Something Crazy…’ 

    Brian Ortega Makes First Public Statement On UFC 303 Fight Day Cancellation: ‘I Dared To Do Something Crazy…’ 

    Two-time UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has broken his silence on the same-day fight cancellation that saw him not compete at T-Mobile Arena this past weekend.

    After a successful comeback from injury in Mexico this past February, where he avenged his 2022 setback to Yair Rodríguez by way of submission, Ortega began preparing for a divisional switch.

    With opportunities limited at featherweight, “T-City” set his sights on the lightweight shark tank. But when last Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view fell into crisis, Ortega agreed to be one of those saving the day, accepting an extremely late-notice co-main event against Diego Lopes.

    Despite Ortega’s prep for the 155-pound weight class, the bout was set for featherweight. But that changed on weigh-in day when it was revealed that the longtime contender couldn’t get lower than 151 pounds.

    While that left Lopes weighing in at lightweight having already cut down to the originally planned weight, the Mexico-based Brazilian was on the scales again just hours before making the walk after Ortega was forced to withdraw through injury and replaced by Dan Ige.

    Now close to a week on, “T-City” has spoken out and addressed the difficult circumstances that led to his late pullout…

    Ortega Accepted Fight 32 Pounds Above The Limit, Vows To ‘Make This Right’ By Lopes

    In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, Ortega admitted he “felt off” throughout fight week — something UFC CEO Dana White noted during his appearance at the press conference post-event on Saturday night.

    The featherweight veteran also revealed that he agreed to the short-notice assignment 32 pounds over the featherweight limit, leaving many questioning why he and his team accepted a 145-pound clash.

    “Come fight week I felt off and I didn’t feel right, I thought it was just the residual effects from the cut. I was 178 lb when I accepted this fight on 15 days notice,” Ortega wrote. “Thursday night after 7 straight hours, I could not break 151 lb. Later, I would find out that I was battling a fever and I could not break into the final 5 lbs as my body started to shut down. Rather than risking huge health consequences and possibly calling the fight off, thankfully we were able to move the weight to 155.

    “At weigh ins, I still felt off but I was sure it would go away after I rehydrated and ate Later on that night I still felt off and was suffering from cold sweats and no sleep. Finally, I fell asleep at 6 am Saturday morning and woke up at 1 pm hoping to feel better. I could not keep any food or water down nor could I stand up to use the restroom,” Ortega continued. “I struggled with my own ego, got on a call with Tiki and Hunter, and I made the decision to call off the fight. I dared to do something crazy for the love of fighting, but I got sick and my body gave out on me.”

    Ortega concluded by also making note of the tumultuous two-day period that Lopes went through, culminating in the rising featherweight facing and defeating Ige on just a few hours’ notice.

    “T-City” vowed to “make things right” by the Mexico-based Brazilian.

    “Diego Lopes I can only imagine what went off on your side, you have nothing but my respect and I’ll talk to Hunter and Tiki and make this right by you,” Ortega stated. “To the UFC, Dana, Hunter, and the fans, thank you for having my back.”

    It remains to be seen how Ortega will do that, but perhaps accepting a rescheduled showdown with the 29-year-old at the Sphere-held Noche UFC event on September 14 could be a start.

  • Max Holloway Hits Back At Ilia Topuria Blaming Him For Fight Delay: ‘Guy Is Just Making Things Up At This Stage’

    Max Holloway Hits Back At Ilia Topuria Blaming Him For Fight Delay: ‘Guy Is Just Making Things Up At This Stage’

    If someone is to blame for the lack of a date for their fight, Max Holloway has told UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria that it does not lie at his door.

    Holloway, a former titleholder at 145 pounds, appeared to secure his position as number one contender in the division with his exploits up at lightweight this year.

    Following back-to-back wins over Arnold Allen and “The Korean Zombie” in 2023, “Blessed” returned to 155 pounds to challenge for Justin Gaethje’s symbolic BMF strap at the milestone UFC 300 pay-per-view event this past April.

    After delivering a highlight that is being discussed among the most memorable in UFC history, Holloway outlined his intention to regain the featherweight gold. While Topuria appeared to favor other options, even naming Brian Ortega as a more logical opponent, he’s since vowed to be the first to knock the Hawaiian out.

    That bout is still awaiting official confirmation, however, and “El Matador” claims that personal matters and weight difficulties on the side of Holloway are the cause.

    “It’s not because of me,” Topuria said when asked why the UFC hasn’t announced his first title defense yet. “They called me to say Max Holloway was having family issues, that he was having trouble cutting weight, and that he wanted to fight at a higher weight class. Honestly, I don’t know. I have no idea.”

    It didn’t take long for Holloway to call those remarks out as false…

    Holloway Drops Sphere Event As Preferred Date After Rejecting Topuria Claims

    Following Topuria’s comments while attending the El Matador film presentation in Madrid, “Blessed” quickly took to social media to accuse the champ of “making thing up” regarding why their fight is yet to come to fruition.

    “Guy is just making things up at this stage,” Holloway wrote. “I been ready.”

    When Topuria responded by inviting Holloway to drop a desired date, the former champ pointed to the upcoming pay-per-view at Las Vegas’ Sphere on September 14.

    “Been talking to them brother. You need to check your numbers. Since you said it the Sphere by toe hold. See you soon.”

  • Dan Hardy Names Opponent That ‘Makes The Most Sense’ For Jake Paul In MMA After Nate Diaz’s Rejections

    With a rematch of their boxing showdown in the steel surroundings of a cage looking unlikely, Jake Paul has been pitched an opponent other than Nate Diaz for his potential mixed martial arts venture.

    While building his record in the sport of professional boxing, Paul has long outlined his intention to also make a splash in the MMA world too. That appeared to take a step closer to coming to fruition in early 2023 when he put pen to paper on an MMA-exclusive deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    At the time, the promotion noted that “The Problem Child” would spearhead its new PPV Super Fight division and make his debut in the SmartCage that same year. But in addition to 2023 completing without the ex-Disney star putting his MMA ambitions into motion, another calendar year is on its way to passing by.

    After defeating former UFC star Nate Diaz in the ring last August, both Paul and the PFL higher-ups made public pleas for the Stockton native to meet the longtime online personality in the cage.

    Since Diaz firmly dismissed that as a possibility, Paul’s focus has remained on boxing, where he’s set to face BKFC star Mike Perry later this month and heavyweight legend Mike Tyson toward the back end of 2024.

    With that, the chances of Paul crossing over to the cage are looking increasingly more unlikely. One ex-fighter and key figure in the PFL’s expansion, however, still sees an opponent who could convince the Cleveland native to lace the 4oz gloves…

    Hardy: Paul Could Be ‘Enticed’ To MMA For Woodley Fight

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Dan Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the current director of fighter operations for PFL Europe — was asked about the current state of Paul’s plans in MMA.

    After noting that a bout with Diaz appeared to take up all of Paul’s mixed martial arts interest, “The Outlaw” suggested that Diaz’s rejection stems from his fear of a stock-damaging defeat to “The Problem Child” in his realm of the fight game.

    With that ship seemingly sailing, Hardy does have another name in mind that could reignite Paul’s interest in MMA.

    “I think the idea ultimately was for Jake Paul to be able to get Nate Diaz in a cage and fight him in mixed martial arts,” Hardy said. “I think he had his heart set on Nate Diaz and I don’t think Nate Diaz wants to take the risk of sullying his name and his brand by losing to Jake in an MMA fight. I hate to say it but after watching the boxing match, I think Jake could potentially be a problem for Nate in MMA.

    “If we’re doing it, the one that makes the most sense is Tyron Woodley. He’s been commentating with the PFL, he does a great job with that. Every time I see him, we have a very frosty handshake. I feel like he still wants to punch me in the face,” Hardy continued. “Of course, he’s got that knockout loss to Jake Paul. If I’m Tyron Woodley, I’m putting myself at the front of the line to welcome Jake Paul into MMA. I think that’s the kind of opponent Jake Paul could be enticed by.”

    Paul and Woodley certainly have a history, having faced each other twice inside the squared circle. While their first contest in August 2021 was a close and competitive affair, the short-notice rematch four months later concluded with the former UFC champion face down on the canvas.

    Having continued to express his plans to revisit MMA three years on from his UFC exit, perhaps “The Chosen One” will raise his hand for the task of welcoming Paul to the SmartCage.

    For now, though, the polarizing YouTuber-turned-boxer will have his sights on a different ex-UFC athlete in Perry, who has emerged as a leading figure in bare-knuckle boxing owing to victories over Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves.

  • Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has some advice for the promotion when it comes to booking Alex Pereira’s next fight.

    Pereira further grew his stock and enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the main event of the UFC 303 pay-per-view in Las Vegas.

    As was the case with his KO of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, “Poatan” was drafted in to save the day on June 29. That was after the cancellation of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler left the headline slot open.

    The Brazilian made the most of the opportunity by recording a second win over “BJP,” repeating the feat he achieved at Madison Square Garden in New York City last November.

    While Pereira’s triumph inside the T-Mobile Arena remains the talk of the town, discussion is beginning to turn to what could lie in waiting for the UFC light heavyweight champion, and the leading option appears to be a man long touted as “Poatan’s” toughest challenge at 205 pounds…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Ankalaev A Risk ‘Not Worth’ Taking

    Magomed Ankalaev immediately made his voice heard in the aftermath of UFC 303, taking to social media to stake his claim for the next shot and vowing to knock out the reigning champ.

    Like many, Sonnen sees the Dagestani’s ground game as the major threat to Pereira, and for that reason, he thinks the UFC would be wise to pursue other avenues for the Brazilian’s next fight.

    “You’re gonna start hearing about Ankalaev (as Pereira’s next fight),” Sonnen said during a recent interview with Infinity Sports Network. “He’s just the only guy that’s left. The problem there is Ankalaev does have the one skillset — he’s a fighter from Dagestan, which means he has high-level grappling. … And the one style that we haven’t seen Alex dominate or even defeat is that kind of a wrestler.

    “It’s not worth the risk, in my opinion. To take the risk that this guy could get over on your biggest — this guy called Ankalaev…to take the risk of him taking the spot of your biggest star, I don’t know,” Sonnen continued. “Dana White’s a big gambler, man, I don’t know if he’s that big.”

    Ankalaev appeared to solidify his place in the title conversation by viciously stopping Johnny Walker in the first UFC main event of 2024.

    Prior to the no contest with Walker that came beforehand, the Russian reeled off nine straight wins following a shock loss to Paul Craig, a run that included victories over Nikita Kyrlov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.

  • Dricus Du Plessis To Israel Adesanya: ‘I’m Glad You Took Up Golf, Because That’s A Retirement Sport’

    Dricus Du Plessis To Israel Adesanya: ‘I’m Glad You Took Up Golf, Because That’s A Retirement Sport’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis had some strong words for Israel Adesanya when they went face to face for the first time since confirmation of their upcoming fight.

    In a bout that has been a long time in the making, Du Plessis will put his 185-pound gold on the line against the division’s former two-time champ at UFC 305 on August 17.

    The contest in Perth, Australia, will mark Adesanya’s long-awaited return to action almost a year on from his shock setback at the hands of Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney last September.

    That matchup came about after number one contender “Stillknocks” was unable to make the turnaround after his victory over Robert Whittaker through injury. While that delayed the settling of Du Plessis and Adesanya’s grudge, the South African’s subsequent title crowning in Toronto, Canada, this past January brought it back to the surface.

    And ahead of their showdown at RAC Arena next month, the pair went face to face in Perth this week for an on-sale press conference, where they were joined on stage by UFC 305 flyweight opponents Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg.

    Du Plessis Uses Golf Jibe To Outline Plan To ‘Retire’ Adesanya

    As expected, the historical and sensitive nature of Du Plessis and Adesanya’s heated rivalry was a topic of conversation on stage, with the latter again commenting on the South African’s claim regarding African champs.

    After reiterating his defense of that controversy from last year, Du Plessis went in a different direction, using Adesanya’s apparent newfound fondness for golf to predict his impending retirement.

    “I’m glad you took up golf, because that’s a retirement sport,” Du Plessis said.

    During the presser, the pair also engaged in one of the lengthiest and most intense faceoffs in recent memory on stage.

    Suffice to say, there will be plenty more of that when the pair cross paths for promotional events during UFC 305 fight week in August, at the end of which Adesanya will hope to emerge with a third middleweight rule underway.

  • Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Before looking ahead to his next official booking, UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry has his sights set on a different kind of assignment in Manchester later this month.

    Garry is just days on from his latest victory inside the Octagon, as the Irishman extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with an eighth triumph since arriving on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in 2021.

    The result came at the expense of former Bellator standout Michael “Venom” Page, who was narrowly outpointed by “The Future” in the main card opener of this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event.

    In the aftermath, Garry has mentioned names such as former champion Kamaru Usman and the highly regarded Shavkat Rakhmonov as potential next opponents en route to the welterweight gold.

    But the Dubliner is also seemingly planning to make the most of the possibility — however slim — that he could compete with gold on the line in just a few weeks’ time…

    Garry Says He’s Offered To Be Backup Fighter For UFC 304 Main Event

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

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports post-fight, Garry reflected on his success inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, assessed his next steps, and looked ahead to his division’s upcoming title joust.

    In one of two championship contests set for the promotion’s return to Manchester, England, for UFC 304 on July 27, Leon Edwards will run it back with Belal Muhammad in defense of his 170-pound belt.

    Garry is keen to weigh in as the backup fighter for the headliner, especially after seeing the number of matchups that fell through on the UFC 303 card and the same-day opportunity that arrived at Dan Ige’s doorstep.

    “I told the UFC two months ago, ‘When I win at UFC 303, I want to be the backup (at UFC 304).’ I want to be there just in case anything happens,” Garry said. “Look at this fight card (UFC 303), look at how many fights fell through. Dan Ige stepped in today! You know what I mean? Anything can happen, and I wanna be there just in case.

    “Whether it’s Leon, whether it’s Belal; whoever it is. I respect both of those guys’ skillset and talent. I’m aware how good they are,” Garry continued. “But I know I can go out there against any man on the planet and get my hand raised. So for me, I’m gonna be there (in Manchester). I’ve offered to UFC, Hunter (Campbell), and Dana (White), I will be the guy to stand in and make sure that there is gonna be a welterweight world title fight if anyone pulls out. So for me, that’s next.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Garry will indeed appear on the scales a day out from UFC 304.

    But having experienced a tumultuous month of late-notice cancellations, perhaps the promotion will take “The Future” up on his offer to ensure the UK fans inside the newly built Co-op Live have a welterweight title fight guaranteed.

  • Li Jingliang Set For Long-Awaited Return At UFC 305 In Perth On August 17

    Li Jingliang Set For Long-Awaited Return At UFC 305 In Perth On August 17

    “The Leech” is back, with fan-favorite welterweight Li Jingliang set to make the walk for the first time in almost two years at UFC 305.

    Jingliang hasn’t appeared inside the Octagon since falling short in a widely debated split decision opposite Daniel Rodriguez on the shaken-up UFC 279 card back in September 2022.

    The Chinese fighter was scheduled to meet Tony Ferguson, but the changes brought about by Khamzat Chimaev’s weight miss saw him face an opponent who weighed in 10 pounds heavier in “D-Rod.”

    That, along with his personality being more and more on display, saw Jingliang’s fanbase increase. Unfortunately, he’s not been able to capitalize on that with a return to the Octagon after suffering a spine injury.

    Now, as first reported by UFC Weibo and confirmed by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff, “The Leech” is finally ready to make his comeback at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, on August 17, where he’s slated to face the charging Carlos Prates.

    Jingliang Out For Bounce-Back Win Against Prates At UFC 305

    When Jingliang and Prates do battle Down Under, the former will be looking to return to winning ways at the expense of the fast-rising Brazilian.

    Jingliang (19-8) has exchanged victories and losses since moving to a three-fight win streak in 2019. While he fell to defeats at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev and Rodriguez, he sandwiched brutal knockouts of Santiago Ponzinibbio and Muslim Salikhov between them.

    If he’s to continue that trend of bouncing back, the Chinese 36-year-old must blemish the UFC record of Prates (19-6). After an emphatic performance on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a spot on the roster, “The Nightmare” has enhanced his stock with consecutive first-round knockouts of Trevin Giles and Charles Radtke to announce his arrival.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 305 in Perth on August 17 are as follows:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya (middleweight championship main event)
    • Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg (flyweight)
    • Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos (featherweight)
    • Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates (welterweight)
    • Casey O’Neill vs. Tereza Bledá (women’s flyweight)
    • Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight)
    • Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker (featherweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes (lightweight)
    Image: DWCS/Zuffa LLC
  • Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’

    Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’

    Nate Diaz recently looked back on how his first fight with Conor McGregor came together, and the discussions he had to ensure he was adequately compensated for the short-notice assignment.

    Diaz has long been a fan favorite in the sport of mixed martial arts, but his star well and truly grew to astronomical levels when he shared the Octagon with McGregor in Las Vegas at UFC 196 eight years ago.

    Diaz answered the call on just 11 days’ notice, replacing the injured Rafael dos Anjos to face the then-featherweight titleholder in a welterweight bout.

    Against the odds, the Stockton native handed McGregor his first professional defeat since 2010 and first setback on MMA’s biggest stage, countering the Dubliner’s tired takedown attempt in round two with some brutal ground-and-pound, which set up the shocking rear-naked choke submission finish.

    As well as the victory, a Fight of the Night bonus, and a Performance of the Night bonus, Diaz exited T-Mobile Arena with his heftiest pay check to date. But the figure on it was apparently a far cry from what the UFC first proposed…

    Diaz Says UFC Tried Offering ‘Pennies’ For McGregor 1

    During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Diaz looked back on his first showdown with McGregor and discussed the short-notice bout coming together.

    When discussing the financial implications that many expect to come with fighting McGregor, Diaz confirmed that UFC 196 marked his highest pay up to that point in his career.

    But that was seemingly something he had to work for behind closed doors, outlining the offer originally slid across his desk by the UFC compared to what he ultimately managed to secure.

    “At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

    “So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

    Both men have had some major paydays since. For Diaz, that’s currently in the realm of boxing.

    After fighting out his contract with the UFC in a submission win over Tony Ferguson, the Stockton star went on to share the ring with YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul last August.

    Having kept his stock high in defeat against “The Problem Child,” Diaz is next set to revisit his rivalry with Jorge Masvidal, which was forged inside the Octagon at UFC 244 back in 2019.

    Although his current focus is on boxing and his match with “Gamebred” this weekend, Diaz has been firm in insisting that the final chapter in his storied feud with McGregor is not yet written.

    With their series sat level at one win apiece, a trilogy could be in store down the line.

  • Michel Pereira Reveals UFC Return At The Sphere On September 14

    The lineup for what is expected to be a blockbuster UFC pay-per-view at Las Vegas’ Sphere is expected to come together soon, and it appears one of the first names added to the card is the electrifying Michel Pereira.

    The event — originally titled UFC 306 but now set as “Riyadh Season Noche UFC” — will be the promotion’s second celebration of Mexican Independence Day. While the first at T-Mobile Arena was a successful occasion last September, the mixed martial arts leader is looking to go above and beyond this time around.

    On September 14, live sporting action will go down inside the Sphere for the very first time. Ever since confirming the venue for the second instalment of Noche UFC, Dana White has promised fireworks in an unforgettable night.

    And when it comes to that level of excitement, you could do worse than having Michel Pereira making the walk…

    Pereira & ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez Set For Sphere Showcase

    The promotion has been tight-lipped thus far when it comes to which athletes will make the walk inside the Sphere, but Pereira appears to have let slip his inclusion.

    In a post on Instagram, the #13-ranked middleweight uploaded an image of his in-game character on UFC 5 facing off with the man directly below him on the 185-pound ladder, Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.

    In the caption, “Demolidor” revealed that he’s set to share the Octagon with the fan favorite on September 14.

    “HERE WE GOOOO !! September 14th the Sphere Las Vegas will be LIT,” Pereira wrote, translated from Portuguese. “And Carrapato Hernandez is going to meet the Revestrés and Smoke Mix!! Michel Pereira x Anthony Hernandez!! HERE WE GO!!

    Pereira (31-11, 2 NC) was most recently in action on home soil at UFC 301, where he thrilled the Rio de Janeiro crowd with a 54-second finish of Ihor Potieria. The result marked the Brazilian’s third straight win since returning to middleweight, with all three equalling just 3 minutes and one second of Octagon time.

    Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC), meanwhile, has risen into the top 15 courtesy of five consecutive wins since a loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run started with a memorable submission of Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Rodolfo Vieira and most recently saw “Fluffy” force a tap from Roman Kopylov at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

  • UFC 305 On-Sale Press Conference Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya Have Tense Faceoff In Perth

    UFC 305 On-Sale Press Conference Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya Have Tense Faceoff In Perth

    The top fighters confirmed to be in action at UFC 305 on August 17 took to the stage for an on-sale press conference in the event’s host city this week.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will return to Perth next month for the first time since last February. On that occasion, the RAC Arena played host to local favorite Alexander Volkanovski’s competitive lightweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev.

    This time around, the venue will mark the location for the long-awaited comeback of another standout from the Oceanic region, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    Having not competed since his second reign came to a sudden end at the hands of Sean Strickland in Sydney last September, “The Last Stylebender” will look to return to the throne at the expense of rival Dricus Du Plessis, who unseated Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January.

    Also on the lineup is a teammate of Adesanya’s in Kai Kara-France. With concussion issues keeping him out of a fight close to home 10 months ago and leaving him without Octagon action since a narrow loss to Amir Albazi last May, “Don’t Blink” will look to reinsert his name into the title conversation at flyweight.

    He likely won’t have the backing of the crowd on August 17, however, as he goes up against Perth’s own Steve Erceg. The contest will mark “Astroboy’s” first since falling short of Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound gold at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro a couple of months ago.

    With Fight Club Pre-Sale starting on Tuesday, the promotion hosted a press conference in Perth, where Du Plessis, Adesanya, Kara-France, and Erceg all had mics in hand.

    See below for a full replay of the presser, followed by all the highlights and one of the longest, most intense faceoffs in recent memory between the two UFC 305 headliners.

    UFC 305 Press Conference Replay

    UFC 305 Press Conference Highlights

    UFC 305 Press Conference Faceoff

  • UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

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

    And in the aftermath of UFC 303, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Given how firm he’s been in laughing off suggestions that Islam Makhachev should be ranked above Jon Jones in the P4P pecking order, Dana White likely won’t be pleased with the latest update. As first reported by renowned journalist John Morgan, the UFC heavyweight champion has dropped a further position to #3.

    Now in his place at #2 is Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin who cemented his grip on the crown with a second victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. That result has boosted “Poatan” above both Leon Edwards (#4) and Jones on the P4P list.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: A few months on from her successful debut at UFC 300, Kayla Harrison has jumped above Ketlen Vieira (#14) to move up to #13 in the P4P ranks.

    Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson secured a crucial victory at UFC 303, outpointing the retiring Michelle Waterson-Gomez. As a result, she’s climbed two places to #13, leaving Iasmin Lucindo and her defeated opponent at #14 and #15, respectively.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva had a strong start this past weekend rendered null by a brutal cut sustained from a Macy Chiasson elbow. The former title challenger has dropped three positions to #6 due to the doctor stoppage, with her victorious rival up two spots to #5. The changes have left Harrison (#3) and Irene Aldana (#4) one place better off each, while Holly Holm has had a slight fall to #7.

    Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Cody Durden has risen one position to #14, while David Dvořák has returned to the top 15 on the final step of the ladder despite his reported release.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Diego Lopes had a difficult UFC 303 fight week, going from a Brian Ortega fight at 145 pounds to an Ortega fight at 155 pounds to a same-day notice Dan Ige fight at 165 pounds. He ultimately emerged victorious, and the Mexico-based Brazilian has been rewarded with a two-spot climb to #12 in the featherweight rankings. That’s left him above Bryce Mitchell (#13) and Ige (#14).

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith was another fighter faced with a late-notice assignment at UFC 303. After Carlos Ulberg pulled out, “Lionheart” fought and lost to ranked middleweight Roman Dolidze. The result has seen Smith (#11) fall below Ulberg (#10) at 205 pounds.

    Meanwhile, the Georgian’s celebrations about being ranked in two divisions turned out to be premature, with Dolidze not appearing in the light heavyweight top 15 post-UFC 303.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • ‘Mortgage On Alex’ – Fans React To Alex Pereira Opening As Underdog For Potential Magomed Ankalaev Fight After UFC 303

    The opening betting odds have been released for the matchup many expect to serve as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s next title defense, and they’ve certainly split opinion.

    Pereira further cemented his grip on the crown at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view. “Poatan,” a former two-weight Glory Kickboxing kingpin, headlined International Fight Week on short notice opposite a familiar foe of his in Jiří Procházka.

    Like at Madison Square Garden last November, it was Pereira who had his hand raised. On this occasion, however, the finish came in a much more definitive and violent fashion.

    As if often the case when a champion keeps ahold of their belt, it didn’t take long for a potential challenger to make their voice heard, with Magomed Ankalaev calling for an opportunity to unseat the Brazilian later this year.

    Odds were quickly put out by BetOnline.Ag, with Pereira opening as a +210 underdog against Ankalaev’s -250 line.

    The Dagestani has long been touted as a future champion by many, and it would appear that his wrestling ability has left the oddsmakers seeing “and new” as a real possibility should the UFC match them together next.

    Fans React To Pereira vs. Ankalaev Odds: ‘Is This A Joke?’

    Unsurprisingly, the opening odds became a topic of discussion and debate in the MMA community.

    Having just seen “Poatan” enhance his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage with yet another brutal knockout, some laughed off the odds and proclaimed that they’d be getting paid handsomely for betting on the champ.

    Others, however, made note of Ankalaev’s well-rounded game, which is expected to give Pereira the kind of grappling test that he’s yet to experience inside the Octagon.

  • Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision At UFC 303: ‘I Need To Start Working On These Finishes’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry was disappointed not to finish a fight within the distance for the third straight time this past weekend.

    At Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view, Garry was tasked with opening up the main card in what marked his second Octagon assignment of the year. After getting past Geoff Neal in February, the undefeated Irishman was faced with a tougher striking test in Michael “Venom” Page.

    In the lead-up, “The Future” expressed a distinct lack of interest in the fight and vowed to “run through” the Englishman with ease. While he ultimately had his hand raised at T-Mobile Arena, it was far from a walk in the park.

    Garry secured victory on the scorecards, edging out a final round with his grappling to secure 29-28 verdicts from the three judges cageside.

    For the Dubliner, he maintained his position close to the top of the division and kept the 0 on his record. But like many fans who were expecting more from the clash, Garry didn’t exit the cage without some frustration…

    Garry ‘Irritated’ At Going The Distance With Page

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

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Garry reflected on his performance and result opposite the tricky Page at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

    The former Cage Warriors champion admitted disappointment at his failure to finish “MVP” before the final horn, especially after both Neal and Neil Magny made it the 15-minute distance in his previous two bouts.

    “I nearly had the heel hook as well. Look, that for me is just little details on locking up things,” Garry said. “I said to Demian (Maia), ‘Do you know what we need to do now? We need to go every possibility of finish and we need to lock in the minor details; hand position, head position, feet position. We just need to go over it all.’

    “And it needs to be the same on the feet. I need to start working on these finishes because no one’s more irritated than me at having a third f**king decision in a row,” Garry continued. “Even though it’s against elite competition, it f*cks me off.”

    Having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with three knockouts in his first five outings, Garry will no doubt be hoping to return to those finishing ways moving forward.

    And now that he spends most of his time training over at Diego Lima’s Chute Box Academy in São Paulo alongside the likes of the UFC’s all-time most prolific submission artist Charles Oliveira, perhaps the Irishman’s next stoppage will come by way of a choke or hold.

  • What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27

    What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27

    UFC 303 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for International Fight Week. Of note were victories for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, fast-rising featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes, and undefeated welterweight Ian Garry.

    While the aftermath of the June 29 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 170-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 304, set for the newly built Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, reigning welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will make the walk for the first time this year, making his third defense of the gold in a rematch against Belal Muhammad.

    There will also be title stakes between familiar opponents in the co-headliner, as interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes two years on from his devastating knee injury opposite “Razor” just 15 seconds into their UFC Fight Night main event in London.

    Pimblett, Mokaev, Allen Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 304

    Before Edwards and Aspinall defend their championships on home soil in the main and co-main events, respectively, a number of other high-profile Brits will take to the Octagon looking to make the post of their position on the major card.

    That includes up-and-coming lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who gets his toughest test to date in the form of the #15-ranked Bobby Green. After extending his unbeaten UFC record to 5-0 by getting the better of Tony Ferguson, the Liverpool native has the chance to break through into the top 15 against “King,” who most recently outpointed Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    Prior to that, Dagestan-born Brit Muhammad Mokaev will look to stake his claim for a first shot at the flyweight gold when he meets former Rizin champion Manel Kape. “The Young Punisher” most recently edged past ex-title challenger Alex Perez at the Apex in March. “Starboy,” meanwhile, hasn’t competed since a victory at UFC 293 in Sydney last September, with a weight miss and injury subsequently scrapping his two scheduled rematches with Matheus Nicolau this year.

    Another local favorite will open the main card, with Ipswich native Arnold Allen looking to get back on track. Following a valiant effort in defeat against Max Holloway in Kansas City last April, “Almighty” fell on the wrong side of a tight and debated decision opposite Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. To bounce back, Allen must halt the resurgence of striking specialist Giga Chikadze, who most recently returned to winning ways at the expense of Alex Caceres in Singapore last August.

    See below for the full UFC 304 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Leon Edwards (C) vs. Belal Muhammad (welterweight championship main event)
    • Tom Aspinall (C) vs. Curtis Blaydes  (interim heavyweight championship co-main event)
    • Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)
    • Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
    • Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (featherweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (featherweight)
    • Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight)
    • Caolán Loughran vs. Ramon Tavares (bantamweight)
    • Mick Parkin vs. Łukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
    • Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
    • Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight)
    • Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira (women’s strawweight)
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight) 
    Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports