UFC 302 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!
The upcoming pay-per-view event at Newark’s Prudential Center provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
If the Dagestani is to move closer to his desired status as the greatest of all time, he must get through Dustin Poirier, who is shooting for the undisputed throne for the third time having previously fallen short against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.
The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland enters the cage for the first time since a tight decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis in their championship headliner in Toronto this past January. To stake his claim for a shot earning two-time status in the UFC, Strickland must stall Paulo Costa’s push for another opportunity at the 185-pound gold.
Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins!
Check out a full replay via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the faceoffs!
UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins
UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffsj
A primeira luta do #UFC302 será entre @MRaposo_ e André Lima! 🇧🇷 Veja a encarada entre os lutadores!
Topping the lineup will be the returning Islam Makhachev, who makes the walk for the first time in 2024 having not competed since his second successful title defense against Alexander Volkanovski last October. In “Brick City,” the Dagestani must withstand the threat of fan favorite Dustin Poirier.
Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see former middleweight kingpin Sean Strickland back in action. If he’s to earn a potential shot at redemption against Dricus Du Plessis, the outspoken American will have to get past Paulo Costa.
Also in action on Saturday night will be the always entertaining Kevin Holland, top 10 heavyweight Jailton Almeida, and formerly ranked lightweight Grant Dawson.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 302 main card here.
UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 302 (as of 5/31), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Islam Makhachev (-600) vs. Dustin Poirier (+440)
Sean Strickland (-265) vs. Paulo Costa (+215)
Kevin Holland (-290) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (+235)
Niko Price (+210) vs. Alex Morono (-258)
Randy Brown (-180) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (+150)
Preliminary Card:
César Almeida (-118) vs. Roman Kopylov (-102)
Jailton Almeida (-325) vs. Alexandr Romanov (+260)
Grant Dawson (-520) vs. Joe Solecki (+390)
Phil Rowe (+136) vs. Jake Matthews (-162)
Early Preliminary Card:
Mickey Gall (+300) vs. Bassil Hafez (-380)
Ailín Pérez (-192) vs. Joselyne Edwards (+160)
André Lima (-285) vs. Mitch Raposo (+230)
Be sure to keep it right here on MMA News tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 302!
“Malhadinho” is in need of regaining some of the hype he entered 2024 with as a fighter yet to taste defeat inside the UFC Octagon. Those who touted the Brazilian for championship success at heavyweight had to hold their horses after Curtis Blaydes hammer-fisted his way to a TKO win at UFC 299 this past March.
Having escaped relatively unscathed, Almeida pursued a quick turnaround so that he can go someway to righting the wrongs from his unsuccessful outing in Miami. He gets the chance on June 1 when he shares a lineup with some major names again.
Among them is lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who will have the great Khabib Nurmagomedov back in his corner for the UFC 302 main event. And it seems “The Eagle’s” presence in “Brick City” has benefitted Almeida…
Almeida ‘Absorbed’ Tips From Khabib Ahead Of UFC 302
During his appearance at UFC 302 media day on Wednesday, Almeida looked ahead to his upcoming assignment and briefly turned his attention to the man around whom the card was built.
After noting his positive thoughts on both Makhachev and his team, the Brazilian heavyweight revealed he crossed paths with and received some advice from the champ’s mentor, Khabib.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Makhachev. As everyone knows, I’m a fan of that school. I’m a fan of that style,” Almeida said. “I’m a huge Khabib fan. I crossed paths with him doing some training and I really got emotional about it. (He’s) just somebody I’ve always admired.
“I actually found out that he watched my fights and had some comments on my fight. So, I was just there absorbing all the tips, and the fact that he actually watched my fights, and I’ve watched him train as well, so I saw some things,” Almeida added
Almeida has been criticized in recent times for his grappling approach, most notably following a lackluster five-round contest with Derrick Lewis last November. During it, “Malhadinho” amassed heavy control time but neither inflicted heavy damage on “The Black Beast” nor attempted submissions.
Given that Khabib thrived in that regard on the ground, perhaps “The Eagle” provided some encouraging words that could bring Almeida back to his finishing ways at UFC 302.
In Saturday’s main event, Islam Makhachev will look to tie his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson’s record three consecutive title defenses. To do so, the Dagestani must stall the ongoing undisputed ambitions of Dustin Poirier.
Co-headlining, meanwhile, is a pair of prominent middleweight contenders in former champion Sean Strickland and one-time challenger Paulo Costa. Having failed to secure an immediate rematch with Dricus Du Plessis, “Tarzan” will look to keep his name close to the throne at the expense of “Borrachinha.”
Elsewhere, the likes of Kevin Holland, Randy Brown, Jailton Almeida, Roman Kopylov, and Mickey Gall will all make the walk.
UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier Weigh-In Results
UFC 302 takes place Saturday, June 1, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above for replay of the UFC 302 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Lightweight Championship Main Event: Islam Makhachev (155lbs) vs. Dustin Poirier (155lbs)
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland (185lbs) vs. Paulo Costa (185lbs)
Middleweight: Kevin Holland (185lbs) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (185lbs)
Welterweight: Niko Price (170lbs) vs. Alex Morono (170lbs)
Welterweight: Randy Brown (170lbs) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (170lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: César Almeida (185lbs) vs. Roman Kopylov (185lbs)
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida (241lbs) vs. Alexandr Romanov (265lbs)
Lightweight: Grant Dawson (155lbs) vs. Joe Solecki (155lbs)
Welterweight: Phil Rowe (171lbs) vs. Jake Matthews (170lbs)
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Mickey Gall (170lbs) vs. Bassil Hafez (170lbs)
Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez (135lbs) vs. Joselyne Edwards (136lbs)
Flyweight: André Lima (130lbs)* vs. Mitch Raposo (125lbs)
*André Lima missed the flyweight limit by four pounds, fined 30 percent of his purse
UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev isn’t buying into the idea that his résumé and strength of schedule in the sport falls significantly below that of his upcoming opponent.
Makhachev is set to return to the Octagon for his first assignment of 2024 in this weekend’s UFC 302 pay-per-view main event, where the challenge of Dustin Poirier stands in his way of a third successful title defense.
“The Diamond” will mark Makhachev’s first defense against an established contender at 155 pounds. To date, the Dagestani has pushed past the threat of featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski on two occasions since ascending to the throne.
Makhachev will enter Saturday’s headliner as a sizable favorite and with many branding him the clear better fighter. One area that some believe he’s inferior, however, is the matter of résumés.
Former champion Michael Bisping went as far as to say that Poirier’s “smokes” that of the reigning lightweight kingpin during UFC 302 fight week.
Makhachev: Résumé Criticism ‘Does Not Make Sense’
During a recent interview with former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, Makhachev was asked how he perceives criticism of his journey to the lightweight gold and suggestions he’s yet to face the best on offer at 155 pounds.
“Brother, it (does) not make sense,” Makhachev said. “I beat the guy who who beat him too. I agree with this, there’s more big names on his list. But it means nothing.”
Makhachev also went on to suggest that focus on his strength of schedule en route to the title is unfair owing to a struggle to secure high-profile opponents.
“Brother, how many times you remember somebody calling my name when I (wasn’t) champion? I don’t remember some guys who are on top calling my name, ‘I want to fight with Islam.’ All my life I had that problem. But finally I finished this, now people want the belt.”
Regardless of people’s perception, Makhachev has the chance to add another major name to his list of victims inside the Octagon this weekend at Prudential Center.
Promising UFC middleweight prospect Ikram Aliskerov is in need of a new opponent — again.
Aliskerov arrived on MMA’s biggest stage as a highly touted name in 2023. That was after he impressed by earning a kimura submission during an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series the year prior.
But making it to the cage since then has been tough, with Aliskerov subsequently having bouts against both Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov fall through.
But the new year hasn’t brought with it better luck in terms of matchups…
Having already missed out on a major clash with ranked middleweight Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298 this past February, it was recently revealed by Laerte Viana that André Muniz has pulled out from their scheduled contest in a few weeks’ time.
Aliskerov Hints At Replacement Opponent For UFC Fight Night On June 15
The Brazilian’s withdrawal means Aliskerov has now had four matchups fall through in under a year. While that has no doubt stalled his planned surge up the middleweight ladder, the Russian appears confident that he’ll still be making the walk on June 15.
It remains to be seen who the UFC will place opposite Aliskerov on short notice, but it stands to reason that he won’t be getting the kind of high-profile foe he was due to face.
Regardless, he’ll have his sights set on another standout performance that will hopefully finally see him have a prominent booking stay together all the way to fight night.
Months on from his rule over the division coming to an end in his first defense at UFC 297, Strickland will look to earn a shot at championship redemption at the expense of one-time title challenger Costa.
When it comes to breaking down the skillsets of both men and their best hopes of having their hand raised inside Prudential Center, nobody is better placed than “The Last Stylebender.”
Adesanya Explains What Costa Must Do At UFC 302
During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya provided his thoughts and predictions on this Saturday’s numbered event.
Having prepared to throw down with Strickland himself and shared the Octagon with “Tarzan” for 25 minutes, “The Last Stylebender” is in a strong position to offer some advice for another of his former foes in Costa.
“Costa, to win — what would Costa have to do? He’ll have to be aggressive, use body kicks, and also just use his jab. Even if he might not land all of them, or some of them, use his jab as well. Go jab for jab with Strickland,” Adesanya said. “And also mix up the grappling, just to get him (Strickland) tired as well.”
Adesanya evidently isn’t too confident in Costa following the advice to a tee, though, as he went on to predict victory for Strickland at UFC 302.
We’re deep into UFC 302 fight week, meaning it’s time for the top fighters set to be in action on June 1 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Also on the card, Kevin Holland will make a short-notice return to 185 pounds to throw down with Michał Oleksiejczuk, Jailton Almeida will look to bounce back from the opening loss of his UFC career against Alexandr Romanov, and Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos hope to kick the PPV portion of Saturday’s lineup off in style.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 302 edition saw Makhachev, Poirier, Strickland, and Costa with mic in hand.
Check out a replay of the presser below via ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and the two faceoffs!
Ahead of his showdown with Paulo Costa at UFC 302 this weekend, Sean Strickland’s high pace has been predicted to cause “Borrachinha” problems.
Strickland entered 2024 with the middleweight gold in his possession. But after narrowly losing out to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Canada — and subsequently having his calls for an immediate rematch fall on deaf ears — the former champion must earn a shot at redemption in Newark on Saturday night.
To do so, “Tarzan” is tasked with getting past a fellow high-ranked contender in Paulo Costa, who impressed in defeat when making his long-awaited comeback against Robert Whittaker this past February at UFC 298 in Anaheim.
The Brazilian has noted the importance of notching a finish on June 1 in order to stake his claim for a title shot. But should he be required to go the full distance, Costa has said nothing will stop him from having his hand raised.
Unsurprisingly, Strickland’s coach isn’t so sure…
Nicksick Plans To Use Strickland’s Cardio Against Costa
During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Nicksick was asked which area of this weekend’s UFC 302 co-main event that he sees as a possible struggle for his man’s opponent.
The Xtreme Couture trainer pointed to Strickland’s renowned five-round pace as a hurdle that could prove to be too tall for Costa on fight night.
“I think, to me, the cardio element, the pacing,” Nicksick said. “Sean dictates a certain kind of pace. Even Izzy (Israel Adesanya) said that after the fight. It’s hard to get a rhythm, hard to get a read on him, especially the first time you’ve ever been in the cage with him. So it takes a while for a lot of guys to feel comfortable.
“Johnny Eblen said it the best. Johnny, the first three or four times he sparred with him was like, ‘Oh my god, this guy is overwhelming.’ It takes you a number of opportunities to start to get a rhythm with him,” Nicksick continued. “A lot of that, for me, is just to lean heavy on that, lean heavy on his awkwardness, and try to maintain that pace and pressure and stay in Paulo’s face; really, stay out of kicking range.”
Strickland will hope to prove his coach right come fight night in New Jersey. Should he accomplish that feat, a potential rematch against either Du Plessis or his expected next opponent Adesanya could await him.
UFC 302 is now only a couple of days away, and what better way to get hyped for the upcoming pay-per-view than with some MMA News staff predictions for the intriguing card?
The headline act will see gold on the line, as reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev looks to defend his belt against an established 155-pound contender for the first time. After emerging from two challenges against Alexander Volkanovski with the crown still in his possession, the Dagestani is next tasked with stalling the ambitions of Dustin Poirier.
Setting the stage for them in the co-main event, meanwhile, will be two middleweight contenders hoping to secure title opportunities of their own down the line. Having had his calls for a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis fall on deaf ears, former champion Sean Strickland must bounce back at the expense of Paulo Costa if he’s to earn a chance at achieving two-time status.
Elsewhere, Kevin Holland will make a short-notice return to 185 pounds to square off against Michał Oleksiejczuk, Jailton Almeida will look to rebound from his first UFC defeat opposite Alexandr Romanov, and welterweights Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos battle to kick proceedings off in style on PPV.
UFC 302: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 302 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Tyriece Simon, and Andrew Starc have provided their picks for the five-fight main card, which you can see below.
Lightweight Championship Main Event: Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Dustin Poirier
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida vs. Alexandr Romanov*
Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
*Almeida vs. Romanov has since been demoted to the prelims, with Alex Morono vs. Niko Price now set to go down on PPV
Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Kyle Dimond: The battle of the welterweight top 15 hopefuls opens up the main card in Newark. The Brazilian has a ton of experience and some great wins inside the Octagon. To some extent, the same can be said for his opponent. Both men have been known to suffer defeats to the cream of the crop, so who rises to the top in this one?
For me, Brown has always jumped out as someone with bags of potential if he’s able to put a run together. This could be the moment for him but I’m expecting the durability of his opponent to hold up and for the judges to be required. (Prediction: Randy Brown)
Ryan Jarrell: This welterweight fight will be a really exciting one to kick off the main card. My immediate thoughts were to lean toward Brown due to his striking and five-inch reach advantage. But, Zaleski dos Santos is no joke and could very easily win this fight.
The Brazilian has some big wins earlier in his career over Sean Strickland and Benoît Saint Denis and is (10-3-1) overall in the UFC. I won’t be betting on this fight because I could see it going either way. Right now, I’m going with Brown to utilize his jab and length en route to a decision. But my opinion may change as the fight gets closer.(Prediction: Randy Brown)
Thomas Albano: The first thing that people will always note about Brown is his massive 78-inch reach. It is incredible of a reach for a fighter to have, and Brown knows how to use it well, managing distance while using his boxing. And while his jabs and his combinations are usually his key to success, don’t count out his grappling. Though he hasn’t had a submission win since UFC 261, “Rude Boy” knows how to handle himself on the ground if the time comes for that.
We have only seen Zaleski dos Santos three times since the end of 2020, but he’s 2-0-1 in that span, including a win over a younger Saint Denis. While Zaleski dos Santos has jiu-jitsu in his background, his specialty is his Muay Thai. That means we should be in for a back-and-forth striking battle – though it will be interesting to see, if this fight does go to the ground, how Brown’s long limbs will help him in such an instance.
The problem for Zaleski dos Santos is that he’s approaching 38, and while Brown is no Spring chicken either, his reach, energy, and momentum with more activity (wins in six of seven fights since the start of 2021), force me to give him the edge. (Prediction: Randy Brown)
Tyriece Simon: This fight should be a fun start to the UFC 302 main card. Brown and Zaleski dos Santos are coming into their matchup on two-fight win streaks and aiming to make a run in the welterweight division. That said, I lean toward Brown getting the win here. He has the height and reach advantage to stick behind his jab and utilize leg kicks to pick Zaleski dos Santos apart. If “Rude Boy” can stay at a distance, I think he can win decisively. (Prediction: Randy Brown)
Andrew Starc: Brown has won six of his last seven fights, having most recently knocked out Muslim Salikhov in the first round of their February encounter. Zaleski dos Santos, meanwhile, is undefeated in his last three, with his last bout against Rinat Fakhretdinov ending in a majority draw back in November. In what will likely be a mainly striking affair, I think the rangier and younger Brown will get the nod here. (Prediction: Randy Brown)
Consensus: 5-0 Randy Brown
Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida vs. Alexandr Romanov
Kyle Dimond: Heavyweights are up next and, once again, my money is on the favorite. Almeida did not have a good night last time out against Curtis Blaydes but he’s still proven himself to be in that mix. It was a humbling setback but one that should serve Almeida well going forward as he looks to crack that upper echelon of Blaydes, Ciryl Gane, Tom Aspinall, and Jon Jones.
I haven’t seen much from Romanov as of yet that makes me think he can break into that top group of heavyweights. So, while this isn’t the easiest matchup that is out there for Almeida, I think there could be a gap in quality once both men get tired, paving the way for the Brazilian to score a second-round TKO. (Prediction: Jailton Almeida)
Ryan Jarrell: Almeida will be too powerful and too dynamic for Romanov. I thoroughly expect “Malhadinho” to start fast and win quickly in this heavyweight bout. (Prediction: Jailton Almeida)
Thomas Albano: Big men going to the mat never seems to ring a desirable bell in MMA fans, but that’s exactly what we’re going to get here. If you’re a fan of wrestling and grappling, you’ll probably get a kick out of this one. Almeida was on a big win streak coming into his appearance on DWCS, and he’s continued to impress since then – despite getting knocked out by Blaydes. Almeida’s ground dominance can already be seen on the UFC stat sheets. He holds the UFC records for highest control time and top-position percentage. His 21-plus minutes of control time against Derrick Lewis is one for the UFC’s record books, as well as the nine takedowns he landed in the first round against Blaydes. If it isn’t obvious a
lready, it’s being the one to land the takedowns and unrelenting top-heavy pressure that is Almeida’s key to victory.
That said, his wrestling skills will be tested when he faces another talented man on the mat in Romanov. Like the Brazilian, Romanov, a freestyle wrestler, will also be aggressive and look for takedowns early. But while “King Kong,” has a little bit of a weight advantage (at least based on previous weights between these two fighters), how much success Almeida has had with grappling – in terms of both finishes and control time – might be too much for him to handle. (Prediction: Jailton Almeida)
Tyriece Simon: This is a must-win fight for Almeida. After a lackluster performance against Lewis and a knockout loss to Blaydes, “Malhadinho” needs an impressive win. However, Romanov is a tough opponent to defeat. Both fighters will want to take the bout to the ground, but the Moldovan is the bigger fighter and seemingly has the strength advantage. I also believe “King Kong” will be better in the clinch to get to a takedown. Although Almeida is the favorite, I think Romanov has the skillset to get the job done Saturday night. (Prediction: Alexandr Romanov)
Andrew Starc: Almeida’s rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks was cut short with a TKO loss to Blaydes in March. That was his first defeat in 15 fights, having scored wins against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Lewis along the way. Romanov, meanwhile, got back in the win column against Blagoy Ivanov in July last year following two straight losses. Given Almeida’s grappling prowess and power, I think this will be an easy win for him. (Prediction: Jailton Almeida)
Consensus: 4-1 Jailton Almeida
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
Kyle Dimond: Holland returns to middleweight in search of a win following back-to-back defeats to top welterweights. Despite going up, he is sure to have a considerable height and reach advantage in this fight. Holland is a dangerous finisher, too, and that’s concerning for Oleksiejczuk considering four of his five UFC losses have been submissions. Holland has got some tricky subs in his locker also, so I can see him hurting his opponent and putting him away early, maybe with a performance bonus in there for good measure. “Big Mouth” back with a big win. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Ryan Jarrell: Holland is back at middleweight and must feel the pressure to come out and look his best after his most recent performance against Michael Page. Oleksiejczuk boasts 14 KO/TKO wins in his career and made his UFC debut all the way back in 2017. We know this guy belongs and is a tough out for anyone. I do expect Holland to capitalize on his seven-inch reach advantage in this matchup and eventually find a club and sub to end the fight. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Thomas Albano: This is a sneaky fun fight that some people might be sleeping on. With 14 of his 19 victories coming by way of KO, we have seen Oleksiejczuk impress with some wicked finishes and powerful displays – just have a look at his finishes of Cody Brundage and Chidi Njokuani. That said, he hasn’t faced the same kind of competition that Holland has. And while “Big Mouth” has the talk (including inside the cage) that makes him either loved or hated, there’s no doubt he can hold his own with the middleweight contenders in the Octagon.
Holland has his own explosive power, and don’t ever count out his grappling. This will be a great experience for Oleksiejczuk and could prove to be a fun fight. However, Holland just has the experience and overall package that’s going to be too much to handle. A win here could also help Holland rebound from back-to-back losses to Jack Della Maddalena and “Venom” Page. Oleksiejczuk has four submission losses in his last five defeats, and “Trailblazer” should be able to take advantage of that with his previously mentioned grappling. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Tyriece Simon: Holland and Oleksiejczuk have the potential to be the Fight of the Night. I believe the critical factor in the matchup is whether Holland’s defense can hold up. Oleksiejczuk tends to swing big punches to try to get a knockout and has the power to do it. If “Trailblazer” can utilize his footwork and head movement to avoid the Polish fighter’s heavy strikes and fight him at a distance, he can finish him. Holland has to be patient and slowly pick Oleksiejczuk apart with jabs and leg kicks early, then ramp up his onslaught in later rounds. I think this will be his game plan, and he’ll outperform Oleksiejczuk to a decision or a knockout. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Andrew Starc: Holland, for me, might be one of the most frustrating fighters to watch. Since that outrageous KO of Ronaldo Souza back in 2020, which seemed to beckon a rise through the ranks, he’s lost six times in 11 fights, including his last two. Oleksiejczuk’s recent record is similarly patchy, but while Holland’s rangy boxing may cause problems, I think the Pole will get it done. (Prediction: Michał Oleksiejczuk)
Consensus: 4-1 Kevin Holland
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa
Kyle Dimond: Here comes the wildcard. Everything about this fight screams a Strickland decision win. He’s defensively aware and weaponizes his cardio, two factors that make him a tough fight for Costa. However, if there’s anyone that can out-crazy Strickland, it might be “Borrachinha.” Strickland’s recent losses, aside from the left hand of doom from “Poatan,” have come from the downsides to his style. Against Jared Cannonier and Dricus Du Plessis, he did well but saw rounds slip away, and with Costa not being intimidated by the jabs coming back at him, he might be able to win any round that’s competitive through sheer output and because his strikes are more eye-catching.
I’m not sure whether the pressure of Strickland is going to work as well against such an imposing figure in Costa, and without the former champion being able to make the Brazilian second guess himself, his toughness will keep him in the fight over five rounds and he may be able to take three of them on the cards. (Prediction: Paulo Costa)
Ryan Jarrell: This co-main event fight should be a very interesting stylistic matchup. I’m curious to see what kind of a gameplan Strickland has against the powerful Costa. If the former champion fights smart and doesn’t try to fight “Borrachinha” the way he did Alex Pereira, I think he will grind out a win. I believe this will be the Fight of the Night and end in a narrow decision leaving many bettors upset that their parlays were busted. (Prediction: Sean Strickland)
Thomas Albano: Strickland is going to have quite the test for his first fight back since losing the title. While I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Costa’s performances in the Octagon, he poses an interesting challenge in that he has power that Strickland has arguably never seen in the cage before. It’s also arguable to say “Tarzan” hasn’t had the greatest track record when facing upper-level competition at middleweight, but his upset of Israel Adesanya has landed him here.
This could be a fun battle, given how similar these two men can be in the cage. Both like to be aggressive in their striking and have strong wrestling backgrounds. I, however, give the edge to Strickland for two reasons. One, I see Strickland being the more aggressive of the two when it comes to his output. Two,
with this being a five-round bout, the American has more experience competing in these kinds of fights. Costa, in fact, has only gone 25 minutes just one time – when he and Marvin Vettori competed at light heavyweight in late 2021. Could Costa land some damaging shots? Maybe, but I see Strickland outlasting him in a fight that goes the full way. (Prediction: Sean Strickland)
Tyriece Simon: This matchup is intriguing as both fighters generally love to be the ones pressuring their opponent. Strickland tends to overwhelm his foes by outworking them with his striking activity, while Costa utilizes his power to shut down his competitors. The winner of this fight will be who advances and puts their opponent on the back foot.
Costa will possibly be the aggressor in the first round. If Strickland can weather the storm, use that variation of the Philly Shell that he has had success with, and counter with 1-2 combos, he can build momentum for the second round. At that point, I think “Borrachinha” will slow down and the work Strickland put in the previous round will pay off. I’m not sure the former champion can finish Costa, but he can outwork him to a decision. (Prediction: Sean Strickland)
Andrew Starc: While Strickland lost his middleweight crown in his last outing, it was by the narrowest of margins. His cardio and solid striking are going to cause problems for Costa. While having a good showing in his most recent loss to Robert Whittaker, the Brazilian doesn’t look to be a true threat to the elite of the division. Unless Costa lands something wild, I can’t see Strickland losing on points. (Prediction: Sean Strickland)
Consensus: 4-1 Sean Strickland
UFC Lightweight Title: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier
Kyle Dimond: Gilly or no gilly, it’s hard to pick Poirier in this one. If he fought Makhachev 10 times, I’d imagine he’d win just a few times, and I don’t think Newark is going to be his night — not with the current form of the champion. “The Diamond” is far too good to be counted out and I’m not willing to write him off. But, the simple fact of the matter is it’s hard to favor anyone in the division over Makhachev right now.
There’s several names I think would be a tougher matchup for the champ, at least on paper. We ride into New Jersey as a silly gilly-jumping gaggle, but ultimately, Makhachev will come out on top with a tap of his own. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Ryan Jarrell: Poirier is one of my favorite mixed martial artists and I very much want to pick him here to secure a massive upset and finally become the undisputed champion. Unfortunately, my head tells me that Makhachev is just too well rounded for him.
The American is incredibly gritty and has the ability to stun and put out anyone. I just think the Dagestani will resort to his wrestling if he gets in any major trouble in this fight. I hate to say it, but ultimately I think the champ gets ahold of Poirier’s neck and finishes him with a gilly. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Thomas Albano: With Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fighting days now behind him, Poirier gets one more crack to be the UFC lightweight champion. Unfortunately for him, he’s going to be taking on Khabib’s protégé in Makhachev. Even more unfortunate? “The Eagle” has been working with Makhachev in training camp and will be in the champ’s corner on Saturday night. Khabib and Poirier met for the lightweight title back at UFC 242 in September 2019. While “The Diamond” gave Khabib a scare with his now-known jumping of the gilly, the then-champ controlled a significant amount of the action, putting Poirier away in the third with a choke. Khabib has noted in previous interviews and hype packages that he’s using what he knows of Poirier’s strengths and weaknesses in training the current lightweight king.
Granted, Poirier has evolved over the years. And one place he’ll have the advantage is on the feet. It sounds boring to say that this is a typical striker vs. grappler matchup, especially considering what we saw Makhachev do to Alexander Volkanovski in October. But, there’s a big difference between Volkanovski – who was coming up 10 pounds, fighting on short notice, and was a bit drained from all of his in-cage activity – and one of the best 155-pound fighters of the modern day. If Poirier can somehow keep this fight standing – and resist his desire to jump the gilly – then just maybe he can pull off the upset.
But that’s easier said than done; Makhachev is a smart man, and he will probably just takedown and wrestle Poirier in the same way his mentor did. (Note: Charles Oliveira even had plenty of control time on Poirier, even though he never landed a takedown on the stat books!) And if that happens, unfortunately for “The Diamond,” it could be the same as it ever was in his third undisputed title fight. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Tyriece Simon: In what is potentially Poirier’s last fight, I’m not sure he can defeat Makhachev. I believe “The Diamond” has the striking ability to give the UFC lightweight champion issues. However, the most significant factor of the fight will be the challenger’s cardio. Lately, Poirier seems to slow down quicker with heavy activity in a fight early as he has gotten older. I’m certain Makhachev is mixing up his striking and grappling to confuse his opponent and sap away Poirier’s energy.
It will be a tough night for the Louisianan if Makhachev can get Poirier backing up early and put his back against the cage. The veteran contender has to keep the fight standing to give himself a chance. It may also be beneficial to attack the body of Makhachev and not head hunt early on to slow him down. Poirier also needs to focus on trying to get up rather than going for a submission if he does end up on his back. As good as Poirier is on the ground, he’s less likely to get a submission win over Makhachev and would sacrifice control time to his opponent. Ultimately, I believe the champ will be too much for Poirier on Saturday. (Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Andrew Starc: I can’t see Makhachev losing this one. This is Poirier’s third shake at the title, and while he’s shown his elite caliber over the years, most recently with his KO of Saint Denis in March, I don’t think he has an answer for Makhachev’s grappling. I think this one might go the same way for Poirier as his first title shot against Khabib.(Prediction: Islam Makhachev)
Consensus: 5-0 Islam Makhachev
That’ll do it for our UFC 302 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 302 undercard below.
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: César Almeida vs. Roman Kopylov
Lightweight: Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki
Welterweight: Phil Rowe vs. Jake Matthews
Welterweight: Niko Price vs. Alex Morono
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez
Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez vs. Joselyne Edwards
Flyweight: André Lima vs. Mitch Raposo
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 302!
Mickey Gall hasn’t appeared inside the UFC Octagon for over two years having gone under the knife for surgery. As it turns out, such a layoff was long overdue.
Gall, who is well known for handing CM Punk a crushing defeat in his MMA debut back in 2016, is set to make his comeback on the early preliminary card of the UFC 302 numbered event this weekend.
The 32-year-old heads to the Prudential Center in Newark off the back of a lengthy recovery. That’s after committing to surgery following his knockout loss to Mike Malott at UFC 273 in April 2022.
That result left Gall on a two-fight losing skid and 3-5 across eight fights since extending his then-undefeated record to 4-0 with a victory over Sage Northcutt more than seven years ago.
But while the New Jersey native has struggled with consistency for a long time, he’s revealed that the past four years of his career have played out alongside a serious injury.
UFC 302’s Gall Fought Through Back Break That Left Him Unable To Sit
During a recent fight week interview with UFC.com, Gall previewed his return to action at UFC 302 and looked back on his layoff, as well as the losing form that came before it.
The once-highly touted prospect revealed that the most recent stage of his career had played out in spite of intense struggles from a broken back. Having finally decided upon surgery and a pause in competition, Gall is back and feeling better than ever.
“I’m feeling good,” Gall said. “I had back surgery, so I haven’t fought in over two years. I’ve competed for four years with a broken back. Now that that’s done, I feel better than I ever have. So I’m excited to show my full potential.
“I was so limited before. I was trying to avoid the surgery ’cause I wanted to keep fighting and people were like, ‘Surgery, that could be career-ending.’ But it got to a point where I couldn’t sit down,” Gall continued. “It was tough. Camp went great. I’m not limited anymore. I was limited in my rotation and certain movements. Now, I had a great camp… I feel better than I ever have, truly.”
Gall will look to show his improved condition on Saturday night by getting the better of Bassil Hafez. Following a narrow loss to Jack Della Maddalena on debut last year, Hafez is looking to get in the winner’s circle on MMA’s biggest stage for the very first time.
The bout also presents an opportunity for some slight redemption for Gall, as he was defeated by his UFC 302 opponent at a local grappling tournament a decade ago.
Bassil Hafez told me he beat Mickey Gall over 10 years ago at a local grappling tournament. The two face eachother again this week at #UFC302
Bassil posted this picture on his Instagram today saying he’s ready to make it 2-0 against Gall
UFC 302 headliner Dustin Poirier got the better of former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez with an absolute onslaught in Calgary six years ago.
The former interim UFC champion at 155 pounds will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with bringing the reign of Islam Makhachev to an end in the Dagestani’s third defense.
Poirier is now approaching his third shot at undisputed glory and fourth divisional title fight overall. To earn his first — a win over Max Holloway to capture the interim belt — “The Diamond” battered Alvarez in a Canada-held UFC main event.
After an illegal knee from the former champ led to their first showdown concluding in a controversial no contest, Poirier left no doubt about his superiority over “The Underground King” when they ran it back.
“The Diamond” will hope to put in a similar performance en route to a long-awaited undisputed title crowning in this weekend’s UFC 302 headliner.
Win or lose, the Louisianan has suggested that the June 1 clash in Newark could mark his final appearance inside the Octagon as an active competitor. With that, he could close out his career by checking the final box on his list of accomplishments.
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar knows the challenge awaiting Dustin Poirier having witnessed Islam Makhachev’s recent preparation firsthand.
Makhachev is a couple of days out from his third defense of the 155-pound title and first against an established contender in the division. In the main event of UFC 302, the Dagestani will meet the challenge of Poirier.
While Makhachev had the crowd on his side in the Middle East, those inside Newark’s Prudential Center will no doubt be cheering for his opposition come fight night, as one of the sport’s biggest fan favorites looks to reach the throne at the third time of trying.
According to one former champ, however, Makhachev is unlikely to be unseated anytime soon…
Edgar Sees Makhachev Remaining UFC Lightweight King ‘For A While’
During a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media, Edgar spoke about his experience training alongside Makhachev and his team at Nick Catone MMA & Fitness in New Jersey.
While “The Answer” didn’t delve into the details of Makhachev’s pre-fight work, he did note that those who’ve lauded Makhachev’s talent were certainly not exaggerating.
“I’m just hanging out with these guys, trying to take as much knowledge as I can while they’re down,” Edgar said. “I got them set up with the right people (in New Jersey)… It’s cool just to rub off on these guys, man. They train amazing, you know, bunch of good guys… It was a cool experience for everybody.
“He’s an animal, man. I’m not gonna say really what goes on behind closed doors, but watching him against some of the guys he’s sparring is impressive,” Edgar continued. “All the stories about him are true, if that makes sense.”
Edgar also made an appearance in episode three of the UFC 302 Embedded: Vlog Series, further laying praise on Makhachev’s training and ability.
“It’s go time for these guys. They’re all zeroing in,” Edgar stated. “Islam, he’s just a freak. I see him having this belt for a while.”
Makhachev will look to prove Edgar, his supporters, and the oddsmakers right this weekend at UFC 302 by becoming the third individual to stall the championship ambitions of Poirier.
UFC 302 title challenger Dustin Poirier is under no illusion about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s superiority on the night of September 7, 2019.
Poirier is currently days away from his third crack at reaching the undisputed lightweight throne on MMA’s biggest stage, He’s set to challenge the reign of Islam Makhachev in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view.
Inside Newark’s Prudential Center, “The Diamond” will look to avoid falling to the fate he did opposite Khabib in 2019 and Charles Oliveira two years later. In both the unification showdown with the Dagestani and title bid against the Brazilian, Poirier was submitted in round three.
While the results read almost exactly the same on paper, the Louisianan fan favorite looks back on them very differently…
Poirier Acknowlegdes He Wasn’t Ready To Handle Khabib’s Skills In 2019 Title Shot
During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Poirier previewed what could serve as both his final championship opportunity and last fight overall as an active competitor in the Octagon.
When assessing his previous title failures, “The Diamond” was asked whether he regrets certain moments in his defeats to “The Eagle” and “Do Bronx” in Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, respectively.
“The Khabib fight, not really,” Poirier said. “Obviously I wish I would have performed better and won. But I was just outmatched, outgunned. I can say that honestly with where I’m at with my life and in fighting. I’m comfortable with saying that. I just wasn’t prepared the way I needed to be for what he was bringing.
“In the Charles fight, there’s more things that I look back at and say, ‘Damn, I shouldn’t have done that… I wish that didn’t happen,’” Poirier continued. “Yeah (mystique played a part against Khabib). I felt that the first time I fought Conor (McGregor) as well. I think I’m past that, the aura of people… fighting not only the person, but the crowd, the media, the critics. I don’t have that anymore. I’m fighting Islam.”
Following Saturday night, Poirier will be hoping to look back on his third chance at achieving undisputed champ status more positively.
Mixed martial arts enthusiasts had a variety of reactions in the aftermath of Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson having their UFC returns announced.
Both Diaz and Ferguson will be looking to return to winning ways at the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on August 3, but in different matchups.
The former, who is without a win in 13 years and has competed just twice since a title loss to Georges St-Pierre in 2013, will make his first appearance inside the Octagon since an unsuccessful comeback against Robbie Lawler in 2021.
“El Cucuy,” meanwhile, has been much more active in recent years, but equally as unsuccessful.
Since the start of 2020, the former interim champion has lost seven straight fights, the most recent of which came opposite rising prospect Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 last December. He’ll look to bounce back in the Middle East by adding to the woes of Michael Chiesa.
MMA Fans Concerned As Diaz & Ferguson Gear Up For UFC Returns
While fight announcements for Diaz and Ferguson would have formally been met with intrigue and excitement, that is seemingly no longer the case.
Instead, plenty of fans expressed concern over the two 40-year-olds returning to the cage, especially given their opponents. A number of fans questioned why the promotion didn’t simply match them together.
The matchups make no fucking sense at all. Have Luque fight Chiesa and you fight Nick Diaz. That makes a trillion times more sense than this shit. As fans we love and support you but fuck bro…. This is getting out of hand.
Sean Strickland thinks you’d need to put a gun to the UFC’s head in order for the promotion to do the right things.
That sentiment came from Strickland’s first outspoken moment of fight week for this Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view, where the former middleweight champion is tasked with getting the better of Paulo Costa in a five-round co-headliner.
Having lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis this past January, “Tarzan” was firm in calling for an immediate rematch. And it seems things didn’t go smoothly when the promotion slid a different bout agreement across his desk.
That issue evidently got sorted and Strickland will indeed make the walk at Prudential Center this weekend. But his frustrations don’t appear to have fully dissipated…
Strickland: Look At What The Guys Who Run The UFC Earn!
During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier during UFC 302 fight week, Strickland looked ahead to his clash with Costa and spoke on his public complaints during negotiations for the fight.
Strickland unsurprisingly didn’t avoid stepping beyond the company line, slamming the UFC as just another corporation headed by “leeches” who avoid acting correctly to most fighters.
“Here’s the thing, sometimes you’ve gotta be ready to f*cking throw away your entire career if you don’t get your sh*t,” Strickland said. “Just doing the f*cking right things, man. The UFC doesn’t do the right things. It doesn’t f*cking do the right things. It doesn’t do the right things with most of the roster.
“If you go look at what these f*cks, the guys that run the UFC, what they’re making and what (fighters) get paid, it’s f*cking sh*t, dude. The UFC does not do the f*cking right things,” Strickland continued. “Unless you hold them at gunpoint, they aren’t gonna do it. But that’s all business these days. All these f*cking corporations are f*cking leeches, dude. Look at the working man’s f*cking (pay) gap, bro. My gap is a lot f*cking smalled than your guys’ gap, but that’s how it works. These corporations are just f*cking sucky.”
It remains to be seen what Strickland will produce while on the microphone at Thursday’s press conference, or while throwing down with Costa inside the Octagon.
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was ready to give his uncensored thoughts on a recent discussion regarding Islam Makhachev.
Makhachev, who has reigned supreme over the lightweight division since his title-winning victory over Charles Oliveira in 2022, is set to make his first appearance of the year this weekend.
McGregor followed his usual trend, taking to social media with a slew of verbal attacks directed at Makhachev, whom he branded a “scruffy c**t.” He also called the champ “imbred,” an insult he’s frequently directed at his Dagestani rivals.
The Dubliner did, however, still predict a quick triumph for Makhachev come fight night.
“Staph again. This inbred lives with Staph,” McGregor wrote. “This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”
In a follow-up post, McGregor continued his tirade with a reminder on the importance of washing mats after training sessions.
“Yous absolute scruffy f**ks I’m sick of yous,” McGregor added. “Wash your f**king self! Wash your clothes! Wash your mats! And do it f*cking everyday you scruffy c**nts
McGregor’s upcoming return to action has led to some discussion about the rivalry between the Irishman and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team reopening.
Should Makhachev retain his grip on the lightweight crown this weekend and McGregor make a statement in his comeback fight opposite Chandler, many are predicting that the UFC will look to pair them opposite one another down the line.
Costa made his return from a lengthy layoff this past February, squaring off against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim. The highly entertaining affair came 18 months on from his previous outing at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City in Utah.
On that night, the Brazilian welcomed former titleholder Luke Rockhold back to action. While the altitude saw fatigue heavily affect their showdown, the three-round affair still featured a number of notable moments, chief among them being the veteran’s gruesome wipe of his bloody face on Costa in the dying moments.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Costa vs. Rockhold fight from UFC 278 on its official YouTube channel.
Be it in a similar fashion or a more comfortable one, Costa will be fully focused on having his hand raised inside the Octagon again this weekend inside Newark’s Prudential Center.
And given that Strickland entered this year with the gold in his possession, such a feat would no doubt leave the Brazilian within touching distance of a second opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.
Renowned combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani has further expanded on his firm criticism of Professional Fighters League executive Donn Davis.
Throughout the PFL’s existence, the promotion’s higher-ups gave pushed forth the idea that the SmartCage is the place to be for fighters who want to valued and treated fairly.
That notion, however, has taken a hit in 2024.
While the acquisition of Bellator MMA was advertised as the PFL going from strength to strength, the main topic of discussion in recent times has surrounded fighter complaints, particularly from some of those who crossed over as a result of the merger.
Both Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima have accused the promotion of keeping them sidelined due to the high figures on their contracts, with the former recently released as a result. Elsewhere, Sobah Homasi has bemoaned his struggle at getting reimbursed for medical bills, while both Larissa Pacheco and Cris Cyborg have spoken out about their struggle to secure a fight.
Most recently, the PFL’s “fighter-first” claim came into question after its founder and chairman opted to fire shots at one of his promotion’s all-time most successful fighters.
Weeks on from Kayla Harrison’s successful Octagon debut at UFC 300, Davis branded her a “follower who needs validation.” The comments drew significant backlash, with Helwani among the most vocal…
Helwani Tells Davis: Take A Page Out Of Coker’s Book!
During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Helwani expanded on his criticism of Davis’ remarks and explained why the NBA analogy he used to fire shots at Harrison made little sense.
“Don’t get me started on this. This is crazy to me. When I saw that — it’s so crazy to me on so many different levels,” Helwani said. “Number one, the analogy doesn’t even fit… First of all, LeBron (James) left Cleveland to go join Miami and create a super team, and thus he won two championships with Miami. Doesn’t really fit there. But he’s taking a shot at Kayla by saying Kayla is more Kevin Durant… (Saying) the only way Kevin Durant could win a championship is by joining this super power… The analogy doesn’t work for multiple reasons. Number one, Kayla Harrison had already won championships with PFL!
“Who’s the big fight (for Harrison in the PFL)? Larissa Pacheco (because) she beat her? Guess what, Kayla beat her twice! You want them to fight a fourth time? None of those fights drew a dime!… Cyborg? Okay, first of all, as of right this moment, Cyborg isn’t on the same page as the PFL and is openly complaining. There’s no guarantee that that fight would ever happen as well,” Helwani continued. “Now let’s compare that to the UFC, where you have a slew of new blood, a slew of new faces.”
Helwani went on to reveal that he’d exchanged texts with the PFL chief after posting a tweet criticizing his remarks about Harrison.
Although he didn’t divulge both sides of the conversation, the Canadian journalist outlined the message he tried to hammer home to Davis.
“I like Donn Davis a lot… (But) if you want to be known as the fighter-first organization, you can’t be taking shots at a two-time gold medalist, a two-time champion in your organization. You can’t be doing that,” Helwani stated. “You need to do what Scott Coker did when Michael Chandler left, who was the face of Bellator. ‘Good luck, we wish you the best, we’ll be rooting for you.’
“I had a bit of a text conversation with Donn after I tweeted this. I’m not gonna talk about what we talked about, but what I tried to explain to him — I’ll say what I said to him, I won’t say what he said to me — we can debate who’s tougher, Pacheco or (Holly) Holm, Cyborg or (Amanda) Nunes, but here’s what your missing: Kayla Harrison going from 155 to 135 (pounds) is a challenge greater than all these people combined. That’s the part that you’re missing! … That challenge alone is worth our respect. You have to recognize that, Donn. The fact that you’re not, to me, will only tell other fighters and fans, hey, maybe this guy doesn’t get it,” Helwani concluded.
Nevertheless, given the recent saga, it would appear that PFL has some work to do if it’s to convince the masses of its legitimacy as a fighter-first promotion.
Some fighter mis-info and half-info swirling today …
To be clear – we always honor all fighter contracts. Further, we aim to be fair, often beyond what legal requires.
Nobody gets exactly what they want all the time – different point than honoring contracts.
Following his crowning against Charles Oliveira back in 2022, Makhachev put the belt on the line against the same foe twice in 2023, repelling the threat of then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.
Their first clash in Perth, Australia, was a tight affair, with many even believing “Alexander the Great” did enough to deserve two-division glory. There was no debate, however, when it came to their rematch.
The champ closed out proceedings in the first round, flooring the Aussie with a vicious head kick before swarming with an onslaught of ground-and-pound for the knockout finish.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Makhachev vs. Volkanovski rematch from UFC 294 on its official YouTube channel.
The Russian will be looking to deliver a similarly impactful performance when he takes to the cage inside the Prudential Center this weekend.
If he achieves that feat, Makhachev will have gotten past the first challenge to his reign to come from an established contender at 155 pounds. And from there, the likes of Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings.
Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen isn’t buying into Jon Jones’ theory on the training footage recently released by heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic.
Jones and Miocic are expected to collide toward the end of 2024 with the former’s heavyweight belt on the line. They were originally set to do battle last November at Madison Square Garden but an injury to the champion forced a change of plans.
But while many expressed concern over what they perceived to be a clear decline in speed from the divisional legend, who has not competed in over three years, Jones theorized that Miocic may have been attempting to instil a false sense of confidence into him.
A former opponent of the reigning champ’s, however, has dismissed that take and put forth an alternative suggestion…
Sonnen Doubts Miocic Is ‘Trying To Dupe’ Jones
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen assessed the brief clip Miocic posted online, as well as Jones’ comments on it.
“The Bad Guy” dismissed the idea that Miocic may have been attempting to deceive the champ, claiming there isn’t a single fighter who would willingly release footage that shows their ability in a negative light.
Instead, Sonnen believes the explanation is more simple — Miocic just wasn’t competing an explosive training drill.
“Jon Jones isn’t buying what Stipe Miocic is selling as legit training footage on Instagram,” Sonnen said. “Stipe looks a little bit slow… But I didn’t interpret it as he was going full out. I interpreted that he was working on technique… Jon Jones is talking about, ‘Hey man, he’s trying to deceive me, he’s trying to fool me. He looked slow in that video but he wants me to see that. He wants me to see that he’s slowed down so that I can build (a false sense of) confidence.’
“One thing that I have learned… There is no scenario that I could imagine that Jon could make the video and/or have the decision over said video to be posted to the world or not, and Jon, whether for delusion or strategy, would allow anyone to put a video out that he did not think made him look good,” Sonnen continued. “I don’t think Stipe was trying to dupe anybody… I don’t know a fighter whose little fragile ego would allow a video to go out where they perhaps could be perceived as anything not positive. I don’t know a single fighter whose ego is strong enough to allow a video to go out on social media that made them look anything other than superhuman.”
As he begins preparation for his return to action, Jones looks set to be answering plenty of questions regarding his decision to focus on Miocic and dismiss his division’s interim champion.
UFC veteran Nick Diaz is set for his second attempt at making a successful comeback.
Diaz, who became the inaugural Strikeforce welterweight champion back in 2010 and went on to compete for UFC gold against both Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre, has entered the Octagon just once since 2015.
After a drug test controversy following his bout with Anderson Silva, Diaz didn’t return until UFC 266 in 2021, where he did battle with a fellow vet in Robbie Lawler. The Stockton native was far from his best, ultimately choosing not to return to his feet after being dropped in round three.
While that led many to call for Diaz’s retirement, he subsequently hinted at further bouts. And his latest comeback is now official.
This week, UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to confirm the main card for the promotion’s return to Abu Dhabi on August 3. Among the five contests is a welterweight collision between Diaz (26-10, 2 NC) and the #14-ranked Vicente Luque (22-10-1).
Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of Tony Ferguson, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Mackenzie Dern will all be in action.
Diaz Targets First Win Since 2011 Against Luque
When Diaz and Luque collide in a five-round co-main event this summer, both will be looking to bounce back from defeats.
“The Silent Assassin” was in action more recently, slipping down the pecking order at 170 pounds courtesy of Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City earlier this year. Prior to that, the Brazilian had returned from a brain injury scare by outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in a 2023 main event.
His opponent, meanwhile, has been without the winning feeling for quite some time. Before a defeat to Silva that was later overturned to a no contest, Diaz had lost two straight title fights against the great St-Pierre and Condit following a decision victory over BJ Penn.
That result against “The Prodigy” extended Diaz’s win streak at the time to 11, a run that also included triumphs over Frank Shamrock and Paul Daley. He’ll look to return to that winning form at the expense of Luque in Abu Dhabi on August 3.
With this addition, the main card set to unfold at Etihad Arena is as follows:
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight main event)
Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight co-main event)
Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
According to Alexander Volkanovski, UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria is yet to defeat the “real” version of “Alexander the Great” inside the Octagon.
Given that Volkanovski suffered a similar fate just four months prior at the hands of Islam Makhachev, many put the violent loss to “El Matador” down to the quick turnaround that the now-former champ committed to.
During a recent interview with The AllStar, Volkanovski reiterated his insistence that a title challenge will await him upon his return to the Octagon toward the end of 2024.
Should that come to fruition, “Alexander the Great” has no doubt that things will play out much differently than they did in California earlier this year.
“Not taking anything away because Ilia’s a great fighter, but let’s see — ’cause the next Volkanovski is gonna turn up, the real Volkanovski,” the Australian said. “Let’s see if Ilia can handle it.
“Again, I’m not taking anything away from him and not saying he can’t. He’s obviously got heavy hands, obviously got good skill,” Volkanovski continued. “But I want him to be tested against the best version of myself.”
For now, Topuria’s focus appears to be elsewhere. Having dismissed claims he turned down a rematch with Volkanovski for Perth this August, the Georgian-Spaniard has been going back and forth with Max Holloway.
By the sound of things, Volkanovski will be waiting in the wings for the winner.
I never turned down the rematch with Alex as the UFC has never offered me this fight. As I’ve said many times before, I will be the first to knockout Holloway. Let’s keep this simple: Do you want to fight? If the answer is yes, there's nothing more to discuss. Bring my belt and…
Without fighting, former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier believes his life would have played out much differently — and not in a good way.
Poirier has long been one of the promotion’s leading fan favorites and has completed close to everything across a lengthy career inside the cage. One box, however, remains unchecked.
While “The Diamond” has held interim gold on MMA’s biggest stage, he’s yet to reach the undisputed throne. To date, Poirier has failed to secure the crown in two opportunities, falling via submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 and Charles Oliveira in 2021.
Ahead of the clash, Poirier has been open about the possibility of this assignment being his last, win or lose. And in reflecting on his career during fight week, the 35-year-old has acknowledged the important part that fighting has played in saving him from some rough avenues…
“The Diamond” outlined the positive impact that fighting has had on his life as a whole, noting that it’s paved the way for his entry into the business world and even saved him from some grim possibilities.
“I’ve found who I am through fighting. My life has been moulded, in some way or another, by fighting,” Poirier said. “Everything I have is from fighting. Everything me and my family have, the businesses I own, the things we run; everything I have is anchored into fighting somehow got me there, got me into the room, or business meetings, or tables with these people I would have never had the opportunity to sit across from and talk to.
“It’s all because of fighting. Fighting has opened these doors for me,” Poirier continued. “To be honest, I could be dead or in jail if I never found fighting. When I was 17 years old, I wasn’t doing the right things. I’ve learned a lot of lessons about myself, about business, about life through fighting. I’m proud of that.”
With that in mind, Poirier has been vocal in stating that he will be satisfied and proud of his accomplishments even if his career concludes without an undisputed title crowning.
That’s not to say he isn’t still in hot pursuit of the mountaintop, however, and he’ll look to upset the odds on Saturday night to reach the peak at the expense of Makhachev in New Jersey.
There's never a shortage of excitement when @DustinPoirier is in that Octagon 🤩
Invicta FC, a mixed martial arts promotion dedicated to showcasing the women’s side of the sport, has announced its long-awaited return.
The all-female promotion hasn’t staged an event since last October when a strawweight title fight between Danni McCormack and Karolina Wójcik headlined a card at Citizens House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts.
Since then, plenty of rumors have floated around regarding the future of the promotion. But just weeks on from reports that the organization was finished, its re-emerged with a title fight, new distribution deal, and promise of a regular schedule in tow.
Invicta FC Heads To Kansas City To Stage First Event Since October 2023
President Shannon Knapp announced Invicta FC’s first event of 2024 during an appearance on Sirius XM, also noting that a new distribution deal for the promotion will be revealed in the coming days.
Invicta FC 55 will take place on June 28 and see the organization return to Kansas City for the first time since 2022. Inside Memorial Hall, former UFC fighter Talita Bernardo (10-4) will headline in defense of her bantamweight title against Olga Rubin (9-3).
Bernardo won the belt by outpointing Taneisha Tennant at Invicta FC 51 in January 2023. The Brazilian has amassed a four-fight win streak since departing the UFC off the back of a 1-3 run on MMA’s biggest stage.
The promotion also announced its intention to form a regular calendar of fights, with the target being an event every six weeks.
A number of notable female mixed martial artists rose to prominence courtesy of stints under the Invicta FC banner. Among those to have held gold in the promotion are Cris Cyborg, Carla Esparza, Jennifer Maia, Angela Hill, Megan Anderson, and Michelle Waterson-Gomez.
