MMA News

Author: Kyle Dimond

  • Khalil Rountree Names What He Brings To The Table Different To Alex Pereira’s Former Opponents

    Khalil Rountree Names What He Brings To The Table Different To Alex Pereira’s Former Opponents

    Khalil Rountree comes into his first UFC title shot as a pretty sizable underdog at UFC 307, this weekend.

    In what will be his 15th time stepping inside the Octagon, he will challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title in Salt Lake City.

    A big reason why a lot of people believe that “Poatan” will retain his title on Saturday night is the style that his next challenger brings to the table.

    The #8-ranked contender finds himself in position for a title shot because he’s able to produce devastating knockouts with his striking skills which, ultimately, makes him an ideal match-up for Pereira because of his elite kickboxing background.

    Khalil Rountree Says That His Belief And Overall Ability As A Fighter Sets Him Apart

    Only Israel Adesanya has been able to defeat Pereira since the Brazilian entered the UFC and he did that whilst striking with “Poatan”.

    That being said, it’s hard for many to imagine Rountree out-striking the champion because though he’s very dangerous, he doesn’t have the same extensive kickboxing pedigree of either Adesanya or Pereira.

    In fact, the challenger believes that rather than his striking being better than the champion’s, it’s his overall ability as a fighter and current self-belief that makes him different to Pereira’s previous opponents.

    He is confident that this is the right time and place for him to capitalize on this opportunity, as he spoke about in a recent interview with ESPN MMA on fight-week.

    “It’s a little bit difficult for me to say this but I’m going to do this because I should. What makes me different is my overall ability compared to the guys that he’s fought. I feel like my strength and my athletic ability and my discipline, my skills, my experience, I think that like all of that kind of plays into me and my style and I don’t think that there’s been a fighter that is as like put together as I am and feel now.

    “I’ve been through a lot and I’ve spent my whole career in the UFC and this is the first time that like I can fully back myself. I don’t have to talk and yap and sometimes it’s uncomfortable for me to say, like I feel amazing. I am 100%, I have belief in myself and I don’t know who can present the same… the same stuff that I have right now. I don’t know, there’s just something that I feel in myself right now.”

    Read also: Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight

  • ‘Out Of 8 Billion People He Picked A Former UFC Champion To Steal From’ – Fans React To Theft Of Michael Bisping’s Wife’s Bag

    ‘Out Of 8 Billion People He Picked A Former UFC Champion To Steal From’ – Fans React To Theft Of Michael Bisping’s Wife’s Bag

    During the UFC’s recent return to Paris, France this past weekend, commentator Michael Bisping looked to take in his surroundings during the work trip.

    However, as he revealed on social media, his leisure time was disrupted by a thief who attempted to run away with his wife’s bag.

    Little did the thief know that he was now going to have to outrun one of the UFC’s all-time great cardio machines.

    After tracking him down, the former UFC champion showed restraint, much to the benefit of the man that he had pursued.

    He told the story in a video posted on X, claiming that he left him with a swift kick “up the a**” before returning back with the bag.

    “Earlier today I had to stop a crime. Sitting there having breakfast with Rebecca in the streets of Montmartre, Paris and some little s*** snatches Rebecca’s bag, runs away. So I chase after him, get a hold of him, he had the bag already hidden in like a towel. Got the bag off him, he didn’t speak a word of English obviously. Didn’t do anything to him, got the bag back, he was s******* his pants, poor guy.”

    MMA Fans React To Michael Bisping Running After And Catching The Thief

    This situation could have ended very differently if Bisping wasn’t the type of person who was able to be calm in this moment.

    The thief likely has no idea what could have happened to him after he stole something from the wrong family, and could have been faced with “left hook Larry” as a result.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to Bisping’s retelling of events:

    “Bet the little thieving c*** was like this when Bisping stepped to him”

    “Out of 8 billion people he picked the a former ufc champion to steal from lmao. He wins the Darwin Award.”

    “Imagine being gripped up by a one-eyed, cauliflower eared mob boss looking UFC champion. He must’ve thought it would be his end.”

    “Glad you’re both ok and that you got her bag back. Those trail runs and good cardio came in handy.”

    “‘I didn’t…. *smirk* I didn’t do anything’”

    Read also: Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight

  • Kayla Harrison Addresses Potential Amanda Nunes Return Stealing Title Shot Away From Her

    Kayla Harrison Addresses Potential Amanda Nunes Return Stealing Title Shot Away From Her

    Kayla Harrison is focused on earning her second win inside the Octagon when she returns this weekend at UFC 307.

    If the former PFL star is able to get past Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City, there will be no denying that she is the next contender in line.

    In fact, she had hoped to be fighting for the title in the fight that will happen later on in the night between the champion Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.

    There is potentially one scenario that could prevent this from happening, though, if a certain former champion decides that she wants her belt back.

    Kayla Harrison Says She’s Happy For Amanda Nunes To Cut The Line Only After She Is Champion

    Harrison has expressed some concern that Peña could hold the title up if she becomes champion this weekend because she isn’t the most active fighter on the roster.

    The other factor to consider is that if Peña does win the belt back against Pennington, there’s a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes that she has been very vocal about getting.

    Nunes announced her retirement in June last year and vacated the title in the process, meaning that she would seemingly be granted a title shot if “The Lioness” decided to step back in.

    Harrison has spoken about welcoming Nunes back but obviously, her title shot may have to wait if the former champion calls next.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Harrison said that she hopes this doesn’t happen, at least until she already has the belt in her hands.

    “Yeah I mean, I hope not. I just don’t think she’ll ever fight me so I don’t think that her cutting the line, beating up Peña again and taking another big payday and then leaving, like that would really p*** me off. So I hope that I fight for the title and then if she wants to come cut the line, she’s more than welcome.”

    Read also: UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’

  • Vitor Belfort: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson Didn’t Want To Risk Career Fighting Me

    Vitor Belfort: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson Didn’t Want To Risk Career Fighting Me

    November 15 sees Mike Tyson return to the ring to face Jake Paul in what will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about fights of the year.

    Given the stature that both men bring to the table, getting the opportunity to share the ring with either of them is a huge opportunity for other fighters.

    One man that wants a piece of that action is MMA legend Vitor Belfort.

    After retiring from competing in the UFC back in 2018, Belfort has made the move over to boxing where he has had several bouts since. But despite being 47 years old, he believes that big name opponents still aren’t willing to fight him.

    Vitor Belfort Says That He Wants Either Paul Or Tyson But It Probably Won’t Happen

    The Brazilian legend has won both of his boxing contests since hanging up the MMA gloves, beating Evander Holyfield in an exhibition and fellow former UFC fighter Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

    In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, he claimed that though he would be open to the idea of stepping in against Paul or Tyson, it’s not likely to happen.

    It makes sense on his end but Belfort doesn’t believe that either man is willing to risk fighting him because of their own legacies.

    “I would love to do it but both guys didn’t want to fight me for sure but I would love to fight the winner. I just wish they can have a great fight but they don’t have the courage to bring that fight [to me]. I think that would be a great fight to put together but I think none of them wanted to risk their – how they can call – career or their legacy.

    “I’m in a stage of my life where for me to step up and fight someone, has to make sense for me, for the fans. I think the fans would love to see that but at the end of the day, Jake Paul fights who he wants to fight. He’s making the decision and I mean we’ll see what will be but I mean I can promise you, I think that fight is not going to happen.”

    Read also: Chael Sonnen: Khalil Rountree Won’t ‘Wilt’ To ‘Mike Tyson-esque Fear Factor’ Alex Pereira Has

  • Dan Hooker Makes Plans To Earn Conor McGregor Fight At BKFC Event In Spain

    Dan Hooker Makes Plans To Earn Conor McGregor Fight At BKFC Event In Spain

    After making his way back into the top rankings in the lightweight division, Dan Hooker is looking to pick the right fight this time around.

    “Hangman” admitted after this recent win over Mateusz Gamrot that the last time he was in this position, he made a mistake by agreeing to face Michael Chandler in less than ideal circumstances.

    Now he’s wanting to secure the fight that will put him into title contention, unless of course, something bigger comes around.

    Conor McGregor is without an opponent for his return now that Chandler will be facing Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, next month.

    Hooker, who would be more than happy to be the Irishman’s dance partner, just so happens to be in the same place as him next week.

    Dan Hooker Says He’s Hoping To See If Conor McGregor Wants The Fight When He’s In Spain

    McGregor is sure to be in attendance at the BKFC show in Marbella, Spain on October 12, after becoming a part owner of the promotion earlier this year.

    Hooker recently stated on an episode of Fox Sports’ mainevent that he will also be making the trip over.

    The City Kickboxing fighter had previously said that he would be cornering his friend Oscar Willis from The Mac Life in his bare-knuckle debut on that card.

    Considering that they’re likely to be in the same room, Hooker said that he may try to get a quick word in with the Irishman before heading back home.

    “I know that I’ve got a big fight coming up next but I am actually heading over to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships in Spain next week which Conor McGregor so happens to own. So yeah, by the end of next week, hopefully get a chance to either just have a word to him and see if he’s interested in the fight.”

    Read also: Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Viral Car Altercation: ‘Within An Hour I Found Out Where He Lived
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  • Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight

    Kayla Harrison Brands Henry Cejudo ‘Asinine’ For Breakdown Of Ketlen Vieira Fight

    UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison returns this Saturday night at UFC 307 to take on Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the division.

    Harrison has been working hard on her overall MMA game in recent years to make sure that she is able to compete in all areas.

    Every fight starts on the feet and developing her striking skills was always going to be an important part of her journey in the sport.

    Describing it as a process of no longer “faking it till you make it”, the former PFL star is confident in her all-round MMA abilities in comparison with her opponent.

    And as a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo, there aren’t many people on the planet who can compete with her in her area of specialty either.

    Kayla Harrison Fires Back At Henry Cejudo Over Fight Prediction

    During their preview of the card on a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman predicted the fight between Harrison and Vieira.

    Cejudo made the case that with Vieira having some judo pedigree of her own, she might be able to keep the fight standing – where she could be a big problem for Harrison.

    This take wasn’t particularly well received by the #3-ranked contender, who gave her response in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    Harrison believes that Cejudo’s point was meaningless due to the huge gap between a judo black belt and one of the all-time greats in the sport.

    “I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference like there are levels. That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestling in varsity in high school so you’re gonna struggle to take him down’. Benign. Asinine. That’s all right, I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man.”

    Read also: UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’

  • ‘They Don’t Want One More Belt To Go To Dagestan’ – Fans React After Highlight Reel Disproves “Poatan” Calling Ankalaev ‘Boring’

    ‘They Don’t Want One More Belt To Go To Dagestan’ – Fans React After Highlight Reel Disproves “Poatan” Calling Ankalaev ‘Boring’

    The UFC light heavyweight title is on the line this weekend in UFC 307 but to the surprise of some fans, it will not be Magomed Ankalaev serving as the challenger.

    Instead, Alex Pereira will be defending his title against the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree in a clash of two of the division’s most exciting strikers.

    Though there’s an argument to be made for Rountree being more active and coming into the fight on a great run of finishes, many expected Ankalaev to be the one standing opposite Pereira at UFC 307.

    The #2-ranked contender is unbeaten since his UFC debut back in 2018 but will instead be facing Aleksandar Rakić later this month at UFC 308.

    Those who agree with the decision to book Rountree as the next challenger, instead, will often divert to the argument that Ankalaev isn’t the most exciting fighter to watch, a point that Pereira has also made in the past.

    MMA Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev’s Underrated UFC Highlight Reel

    A video posted on social media showcased some of Ankalaev’s finishes inside the Octagon as proof that he isn’t the boring fighter that Pereira has labelled him as.

    For a Russian contender that has a strong grappling game, he isn’t afraid to strike with his opponents and has always been a dangerous fighter on the feet.

    In fact, 10 of his 18 wins as a pro are by knockout with 6 coming in the UFC.

    The video shows some stellar finishes including his latest win over Johnny Walker and the front kick that he landed against Dalcha Lungiambula back in 2019.

    MMA fans reacted to the highlight reel on social media and the mislabeling of Ankalaev’s style as ‘boring’.

    “UFC is saving Pereira from Ankalaev .. more like they don’t want one more belt to go Dagestan ..!”

    “Honestly ankalaev is far from boring, not sure how that narrative got placed on him”

    https://twitter.com/blondedmma/status/1840825715786178940

    “Third most KO in LHW history, great striker who refuses to wrestle most of the time. Anyone who says he’s boring is just biased against DGestanis”

    “I think when people say boring, they’re referring to his personality. idk”

    “People see the beard and assume another Kahbib clone.”

    Read also: Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

  • Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya, & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job
’

    Renato Moicano Placed In Same Conversation As McGregor, Adesanya, & O’Malley: ‘He’s Doing That Good Of A Job
’

    At 35-years old, Renato Moicano is on the best run of his career and really seems to have hit his stride in the lightweight division.

    The Brazilian has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014 and has stepped foot inside the Octagon 17 times, but it’s really in the last couple years that he has emerged as a major player.

    His latest appearance this past weekend saw him compete in his first main event where he delivered his most impressive display to date, stopping BenoĂźt Saint-Denis in Paris before the third round could get underway.

    As he looks to secure a huge fight next time out, Moicano’s stock is only continuing to climb but the question is how much further can it go?

    Chael Sonnen Says Renato Moicano Is Capturing The Attention Of The Fans Like A Superstar Does

    Moicano’s profile has also increased because alongside this current run of form, his personality has really started to come across on the mic.

    Whether it’s in post-fight interviews or his YouTube content, the “Money” Moicano persona is that larger-than-life personality that is going to turn heads.

    Of course, none of that matters if you aren’t backing it up inside the cage and he’s covering that base very effectively.

    During a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA, Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen reviewed all the action from Paris.

    Sonnen, who was extremely impressed by Moicano and knows a thing or two about getting over on the mic, said that the Brazilian is capturing that star quality which is a rare occurrence in MMA.

    “Moicano is just covering all aspects of this sport. You generally can only monetize one thing. Your only commodity that you offer the sport is your performance but there is other opportunities if you can find them and that’s where Moicano, “Suga” Sean, Izzy Adesanya, for example, these guys have found another way. Conor McGregor. That’s a very elite company and to put Moicano’s name in the same conversation as Izzy and Conor and Sean, Daniel, I’m not out of bounds here, he’s doing that good of a job.”

    Read also: Renato Moicano Plans To Prove He’s The Best UFC Lightweight: ‘Even If Khabib Comes Back
’ 

  • Daniel Cormier Admits He ‘Preferred’ That UFC Paris Fighter Suffered Brutal Knockout Rather Than Decision Loss

    Daniel Cormier Admits He ‘Preferred’ That UFC Paris Fighter Suffered Brutal Knockout Rather Than Decision Loss

    There were some huge highlights from the UFC’s return to Paris this past weekend but none caught the eye as much as the main card opener.

    Fares Ziam has continued to improve during his time on the roster but on home soil, he secured his biggest win and highlight to date.

    The French fighter was dominant against Matt Frevola but sealed his fourth consecutive win in the lightweight division with a devastating knee.

    Frevola knew that he needed to try and make something big happen to turn the fight around and as a result, was knocked out inside the Accor Arena.

    Daniel Cormier Says He Would Prefer What Happened To Matt Frevola Over Decision Verdict

    In their recap of the weekend’s action, Daniel Cormier had a bold take on this fight during the latest episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen.

    “DC” made a point to say that he likes when corners are honest with their fighters about how the fight is going, which is a fair observation to make regarding this bout.

    “Every time a guy’s losing two rounds to zero Chael and sometimes the coach goes, ‘Oh it might be one-to-one, it’s very close.’ And then there’s the other coach that goes, ‘You’re down two, we got to finish this guy.’ And I’m like, that’s the coach I love. I love that he tells his guy the truth.”

    However, where some people may disagree with Cormier’s approach is him stating that he would prefer what happened in this fight over Frevola losing the third round and therefore the decision.

    “I prefer what happened to Frevola than him going out there and just losing by decision and really not showing no oomph.”

    Of course, showing desire to go out there and pull off the win is important but that also can lead to significant damage, like what happened with Frevola.

    He did try to go out there and make a big impact in the third and final round but as a result, he was knocked out cold rather than being on the wrong end of a decision.

    “Leaves openings, that happens, it is what it is, people get knocked out but you give yourself an opportunity because we have seen on so many different occasions where the guy overcomes and wins a third period to win the fight.”

    Read also: Raquel Pennington: UFC Staff Told Me They ‘Love’ To See Julianna Peña Get Beat Up

  • Former UFC Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Picks Between Alex Pereira & Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Former UFC Light Heavyweight Title Challenger Picks Between Alex Pereira & Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    The main event of UFC 307 sees the return of one of the biggest stars in the sport today, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

    “Poatan” has put on some incredible striking displays since moving up to 205-pounds and that’s sure to be the case once again in Salt Lake City this weekend.

    His challenger, Khalil Rountree, is also used to stopping his opponents with strikes when he steps inside the Octagon.

    We’re sure to get a high-level game of violent chess when these two ruthless fight finishers collide this Saturday night at the Delta Center.

    Volkan Oezdemir Backs Alex Pereira To Retain The Title This Weekend At UFC 307

    In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir gave his quick thoughts on the main event match-up.

    Oezdemir fought for the title back in 2018, coming up short against Daniel Cormier after securing three big wins in the division to get a championship opportunity.

    “No Time” is currently ranked at #6 following back-to-back wins and could be back in the title picture if he’s able to stop the winning streak of Carlos Ulberg next month.

    He believes that the belt will stay with “Poatan” this weekend because he’s the more efficient and polished striker of the two.

    “I think Pereira for me is gonna take it. Rountree is dangerous but I think is a little bit too wild, you know, hooks and stuff. Pereira is more complete but it’s tough, it’s not going to go to the ground for sure. It’s going to be a war.”

    Oezdemir was also asked about Rountree’s game plan of standing and striking with Pereira, which he also believes makes the fight harder for the challenger.

    “Of course you want to go in the best department and I think the ground is the easiest way to take Alex Pereira.”

    Read also: Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

  • Raquel Pennington: UFC Staff Told Me They ‘Love’ To See Julianna Peña Get Beat Up

    Raquel Pennington: UFC Staff Told Me They ‘Love’ To See Julianna Peña Get Beat Up

    UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington is excited to finally settle a long-standing score in her first title defence at UFC 307.

    Pennington and Julianna Peña first met back on The Ultimate Fighter many years ago where they were roommates during their time on the series.

    After growing to dislike one another, their paths somehow never crossed until this weekend in Salt Lake City.

    Though the champion has her own issues with Peña, it would appear that she isn’t the only one.

    Raquel Pennington Says Some People At The UFC Are Rooting Against Julianna Peña

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pennington explained where some of her dislike of Peña comes from.

    The champ believes that her opponent hasn’t always earned the opportunities that she has been given and casts doubts on her credentials.

    As noted in the interview, the title challenger doesn’t have a win over anyone on the current roster because she’s been relatively inactive in recent years, aside from her fights with Amanda Nunes.

    When Pennington spoke about how the UFC are always looking to put together the biggest fights, she mentioned that some people within the promotion are rooting against her opponent this weekend.

    “I don’t understand how this girl can stay injured and then she comes back and all of a sudden she’s getting a big fight and then she’s injured and then she comes back and she’s getting something else and it’s like who’s managing you? Like what are you doing here? Whatever you’re doing, great, it’s working for you, congratulations, you had like whatever for yourself but it just doesn’t make sense to me and so I’m like alright. At the end of the day, UFC is going to do what UFC does and you know, I won’t say a name but some people in UFC have said like, ‘Hey, everybody loves watching Julianna get her a** beat for five rounds’, so why not?”

    Read also: Julianna Peña Gives Defiant Reaction To Underdog Status At UFC 307

  • Renato Moicano Explains Why Five Fighters Have No Business Being Higher Ranked Than Him After UFC Paris Win

    Renato Moicano Explains Why Five Fighters Have No Business Being Higher Ranked Than Him After UFC Paris Win

    Despite his dominant performance against BenoĂźt Saint Denis in the main event this past weekend, Renato Moicano has been left unsatisfied.

    The lightweight contender earned his fourth consecutive win but did not move up in the rankings at 155-pounds.

    He came into the fight as the #11-ranked contender, facing Saint Denis who was one spot below him following his loss to Dustin Poirier early this year.

    “Money” Moicano is still sat on the fringes of the top 10 even after producing his best performance to date, and the Brazilian isn’t happy about that.

    Renato Moicano Explains Why He Believes He Should Be The #6-Ranked Lightweight Right Now

    Posting on X, Moicano voiced his frustration as to why he hasn’t moved up several places in the rankings.

    He made the case that regardless of him beating a fighter that was ranked below him, he should be just outside the top 5 based on his activity.

    “If UFC Rankings Aren’t Total Bullshit, I Should Be Ranked #6 in the Lightweight Division Tomorrow. Why? In the last 8 months, I’ve fought 3 times and I’m on a 6-fight win streak in the lightweight division, with 5 stoppages. Yet, ranked above me are:”

    Moicano proceeded to name five fighters that he believes he should be above in the rankings, due to their lack of activity and recent form.

    Going case-by-case, he gave reasoning for each person that by his logic, would see him jump all the way up to the #6 spot.

    “#10 Max Holloway: A legend, but he’s a 145 and will be facing Topuria for the featherweight belt at UFC 308. Even if he loses, his spot in the lightweight rankings makes no sense. He just beat Gaethje, so if anything, he should be ranked #3. I’d gladly take #7 if that was case.”

    “#9 Rafael Fiziev: Coming off 2 losses to Mateusz Gamrot and Justin Gaethje. His last fight was in September 2023. #8 Mateusz Gamrot: Coming off a loss to Dan Hooker in August 2024.

    “#7 Beneil Dariush: Coming off 2 losses to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan. His last fight was in December 2023.”

    “#6 Michael Chandler: If anyone doesn’t deserve this spot, it’s Michael Chandler. He’s 2-3 in the UFC, coming off a loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Since then, he’s been sitting out, waiting for Conor McGregor’s return, and only now decided to fight Charles Oliveira.”

    “There’s no way I’m not #6 in the lightweight division right now.”

    Read also: UFC Veteran Picks Justin Gaethje Over Dustin Poirier & Paddy Pimblett As Renato Moicano’s ‘Glaringly Obvious’ Next Opponent

  • UFC Legend Cites Potential Alex Pereira Weakness That Khalil Rountree Could Exploit: ‘Did Not Work For Him When He Fought Izzy
’

    UFC Legend Cites Potential Alex Pereira Weakness That Khalil Rountree Could Exploit: ‘Did Not Work For Him When He Fought Izzy
’

    Alex Pereira has become a superstar during his time in the UFC, where his elite kickboxing background has been put to devastating use.

    “Poatan” is one of the best strikers we have ever seen inside the Octagon and he’s delivered some incredible highlights in his run so far.

    In the third defense of his light heavyweight title at UFC 307 this weekend, he will face another powerful striker in Khalil Rountree.

    Many find it hard to imagine how Rountree will win a stand-up battle against the champion but there is one chink in Pereira’s armour that could cost him.

    Stephen Thompson Says Alex Pereira’s Aggression Could Be A Problem For Him At UFC 307

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Stephen Thompson spoke about Pereira’s unique approach to striking in MMA.

    “Wonderboy” will also be in action on Saturday night in Salt Lake City where you’re sure to see his wide range of kickboxing weapons on display against Joaquin Buckley.

    Rather than the evasive and dynamic style of Thompson, Pereira’s kickboxing approach is far more aggressive and on the front-foot.

    He doesn’t move around all that much and will usually stand right in front of his opponents.

    The champion is so powerful and confident in his ability to land his own shots that he doesn’t tend to move out of the way of his opponents’, when they launch something back his way.

    As it did in his MMA rematch with Israel Adesanya, Thompson questioned whether this could be dangerous for him against an opponent like Rountree.

    “It [the aggression] did not work for him when he fought Izzy, you know. That’s kind of the same thing that he got caught in was in that brawl and he was taking shots but he wasn’t evading any, he was still in the face trying to throw and he got clipped and he went down. I mean he relies a lot on his toughness, he’s a very durable fighter for a guy to be fighting so much but yeah man, that’s dangerous. If you get there with another striker, especially Khalil Rountree, Khalil Rountree is a powerful guy.”

    Read also: Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique
’

  • Kayla Harrison Warned That She Could ‘Be In Trouble’ Against Ketlen Vieira At UFC 307

    Kayla Harrison Warned That She Could ‘Be In Trouble’ Against Ketlen Vieira At UFC 307

    UFC 307 this Saturday in Salt Lake City brings huge implications for the women’s bantamweight division.

    With the title set to be defended in the co-main event of the evening, there’s a huge match-up earlier on in the night that could decide the next title challenger.

    Former PFL star Kayla Harrison made a big impact on her Octagon debut at UFC 300, where she dominated Holly Holm before finding the finish.

    A lot of the narrative heading into her next fight has been about the former Olympic gold medallist getting the next shot, but to do that, she must get past Ketlen Vieira.

    Henry Cejudo Says Ketlen Vieira Can Be A Big Test For Kayla Harrison On The Feet

    It cannot be overlooked how big of an opportunity this fight also is for Brazil’s Vieira.

    As the #2-ranked contender in the division, a win will also guarantee her a title shot thanks to the wins she has been able to accumulate in recent years.

    Vieira did lost a split decision to the current champion Raquel Pennington but beating Harrison will be a massive statement for her.

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo outlined where he believes that Vieira could win this fight despite the confidence that surrounds Harrison right now.

    “It’s hard to bet against a girl like Kayla Harrison but I think out of all the girls right now at 135-pounds that could match her strength, because you know Vieira’s a Judo blackbelt as well and she’s got, in my opinion, she has better hands than Harrison. So it’s going to come down to the wrestling and I do feel like Kayla Harrison is going to bring the wrestling in and that’s just what’s going to change it. But, if Vieira can keep it on her feet, I think Kayla could be in trouble dude. Her striking is no joke man.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

  • ‘Who Was The Real God Of War Last Night?’ – Fans React After Renato Moicano Wins At UFC Paris Despite Severe Broken Shoulder [Graphic]

    ‘Who Was The Real God Of War Last Night?’ – Fans React After Renato Moicano Wins At UFC Paris Despite Severe Broken Shoulder [Graphic]

    Renato Moicano’s dominant victory in the main event of UFC Paris this past weekend was made even more impressive by some news that came out in the aftermath.

    Kevin Iole shared images of a gruesome shoulder injury that the Brazilian lightweight contender had suffered, as the journalist understood, in the second round against Benoßt Saint-Denis.

    Moicano, however, later clarified that this was the result of an injury that he had suffered during his training camp, 3 weeks before the fight.

    He refused to pull out of the UFC Paris main event and as a result, would end up earning his fourth consecutive win at 155 pounds.

    “I hurt my shoulder 3 weeks ago
 but I couldn’t pull out of a main event
 thank you my team for helping me training like that e get me ready for the fight”

    As the x-ray clearly shows, Moicano fought Saint-Denis with a cleanly broken shoulder bone, that jutted out out of skin.

    MMA Fans React To Renato Moicano’s Injury Details

    MMA fans were already quick to shower Moicano with praise following his devastating display in the French capital.

    After taking Saint Denis down early in the fight, he earned a 10-8 round across all three scorecards due to some ruthless ground and pound that led to his opponent wearing significant damage on his face.

    The fight was then stopped at the end of the second round after the doctor declared that the Frenchman couldn’t see out of one eye.

    On social media, MMA fans reacted to Moicano revealing more details about his injury:

    “Moicano’s stock is massively up after last night.”

    “Savage. That’s no bs injury neither. Who was the real God of war last night #easymoney“

    “Mcgregor pulled out for a pinky toe yall”

    “I had the same injury… I couldn’t even sleep at night because the pain was too much… idk how he did this against a super tough opponent”

    “You hear that? I don’t want to ever hear BSD’s staph excuse again”

    “Damn is this why he started to slow down a bit? $$$Moicano”

    “When Moicano Wants Money, Moicano is invincible”

    “Benoit being like ‘I can see out of my left one’ is SAVAGE”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique
’

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique
’

    The unorthodox style of Dricus Du Plessis has prompted a lot of discussion during his rise up the middleweight ladder.

    He was criticized for being far too sloppy from a technique standpoint, but despite that, continued to rack up wins en route to becoming UFC champion.

    Du Plessis recently commented on this himself, by responding to a breakdown of some of the striking techniques that he uses.

    “Stillknocks” made fun of the analysis, claiming that he doesn’t think about or plan any of the things that the video suggested but just does what comes to mind in the moment – which has proven to be very effective for him.

    “Wonderboy” Explains Why Du Plessis Is Effective On Auto-Pilot Despite Questionable Technique

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, one of the greatest strikers in UFC history, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, gave his thoughts on Du Plessis’ style.

    As an elite kickboxer, the former welterweight title challenger was able to explain why it’s difficult for even someone as skilled and experienced as him, to fight an unpredictable opponent.

    He believes that Du Plessis’ lack of finesse or “good technique” is what makes him a difficult opponent to strike with because he’s hard to read.

    Thompson says that the middleweight champion’s mindset when it comes to making adjustments in the fight is a part of that, because he’s fighting on instinct for the most part.

    “It’s so weird, I can see how people would have a lot of difficulty fighting him because he does a lot of pulling techniques, he does spinning techniques and it’s like with no real good technique and I understand where he’s coming from when people are like breaking down his fights. He’s out there not thinking about it but it’s all in the training how he’s developing all of this, even though he’s not thinking about it, what he’s doing is working because it’s years of preparation, doing all the sparring and things like that. So you’re not thinking about it but at the same time, your body is doing it without you even knowing it.”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

  • ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    This past Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, PFL Europe 3 produced possibly the best fight to have ever taken place in the Smart Cage.

    After his previous opponent withdrew, Lewis McGrillen stepped in as an alternate to face Dean Garnett in the semi-final play-offs of the bantamweight tournament.

    What followed was an unbelievable back-and-forth war between the two Brits that featured a staggering 14 knockdowns in just 12 minutes.

    The majority of them came from McGrillen, who is known for knocking opponents out cold but Garnett kept recovering and getting back to his feet.

    That was until the fifth round where a heavy shot landed and sent Garnett face down to the canvas, giving “McGrizzla” a spectacular walk-off KO moment.

    MMA Fans React To Fight Of The Year Contender In PFL Europe

    In what will surely go down as one of the best fights of the year, if not one of the greatest bouts in the history of UK MMA, McGrillen vs Garnett sure did turn some heads.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to one of the wildest contests that you’re ever likely to see.

    “Fight of year across any promotion”

    “This is unreal, both fighters just biting down on the mouthpiece and going for the knockout. Pure fighting.”

    “Both of these guys have jaws made of STEEL!!!”

    “Gotta be the greatest fight in UKMMA history. Best scrap I’ve seen live”

    “Crazy fight , I almost missed the Bryan Battle fight because this was the best fight I have seen all year. Insanity from both fighters.”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

  • Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

    Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

    Khalil Rountree has made it clear that he intends to stand and strike with Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 307.

    The light heavyweight title challenger has won four of his last five fights via knockout, and is certainly capable of striking with anyone in the division.

    However, “Poatan” is a whole different beast when it comes to the stand-up game thanks to his incredible career in kickboxing before he made the switch to MMA.

    Rountree’s coach John Wood also stated that they intend to strike in Salt Lake City because that’s where they will get the best out of his student’s skill set, rather than trying to change his approach because of the opponent that’s in front of them.

    Pereira Says He Won’t Be Convinced Unless Rountree Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

    Despite this clear statement from his opponent, Pereira isn’t convinced that Rountree will stick by his word once they meet inside the Octagon.

    The champion is so effective on the feet that even when he faces fellow strikers, they often divert to using grappling as a plan B.

    Pereira commented on this during a recent interview with Kevin Iole before fight week.

    Through his coach, Plinio Cruz, “Poatan” suggested a wager that would give him confidence in Rountree’s pre-fight assertion that he will keep the fight on the feet.

    “Honestly bro, everybody that said that [they will keep the fight standing] before ended up shooting a takedown on this guy so it’s hard to believe. Alex said that the only way that he’ll believe [is] if Khalil go out in public and say, ‘I promise, I promise that I’m not going to shoot a takedown on this guy and if I do, I’m going to donate a percentage of my purse for charity.’ Then Alex will believe him and say let’s bang.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira Rejects Blame For Magomed Ankalaev’s Title Wait: ‘Such A Boring Style Of Fighting
’

  • Sean Strickland Details Leaving UFC Champion Coach’s Gym Because He Was Not A ‘Leader’: ‘Don’t Think He Carries The Passion For It
’

    Sean Strickland Details Leaving UFC Champion Coach’s Gym Because He Was Not A ‘Leader’: ‘Don’t Think He Carries The Passion For It
’

    Sean Strickland appears to have landed in the perfect gym for his training style.

    For starters, his heavy emphasis on sparring is helped by how many fighters are always passing through the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas.

    He has also been able to develop a great relationship with the head coach, Eric Nicksick, who is able to handle Strickland’s zany energy.

    Before he found his way to Xtreme Couture, the former UFC middleweight champion was training out of another top gym – but it didn’t suit him quite as well.

    Sean Strickland Compares The Coaching Styles Of Eric Nicksick And John Wood

    Syndicate MMA, also in Las Vegas, is another gym that has achieved a lot of success at the highest level of the sport.

    Veteran coach John Wood has been in the corner of several UFC champions, including Weili Zhang and most recently, Merab Dvalishvili.

    Strickland eventually decided to leave Syndicate before making his way to Xtreme Couture, for a few different reasons.

    One of those reasons was his connection with Nicksick that was very different to the relationship that he had with Wood, due to their different coaching styles.

    On a recent episode of Nicksick’s Verse Us podcast, Strickland explained the difference between them and why he felt more at home after making the switch,

    “Let’s say John wrote an entire book on MMA and you’re like, ‘Oh that’s a good book,’ and say Eric would write a pamphlet, that pamphlet will take you farther than that book, you know what I’m saying? Because like Eric is a leader. He knows how to implement it, he knows how to push it and he knows how to do it.

    “John, on the other hand, he’s more of like, I don’t think he carries the passion for it like you watch, you come to a Monday practice, Eric’s f****** involved bro. The amount of energy he brings, like he is f****** involved. You go to a Syndicate practice, it’s like, ‘Alright we’re going to do wall stuff for like five minutes’.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It
’

  • Kayla Harrison Discusses Worst Case Scenario If Julianna Peña Wins Title: ‘That Would Really Piss Me Off
’

    Kayla Harrison Discusses Worst Case Scenario If Julianna Peña Wins Title: ‘That Would Really Piss Me Off
’

    When it was revealed that Kayla Harrison would not be challenging for the UFC bantamweight title next time out, her goal became very clear.

    At UFC 307, she will fight Ketlen Vieira on the same night that Raquel Pennington defends the title against Julianna Peña.

    If Harrison is able to go out there and put on a dominant performance like she did on her Octagon debut at UFC 300, there will be no denying that she is next for the winner of the co-main event.

    The former PFL star is raring to go with dreams of becoming a UFC champion seemingly now within her reach.

    There is one potential issue with her plan and that involves hearing “and new” on October 5, in Salt Lake City.

    Kayla Harrison Says Juliana Peña Taking Time Off As Champion Would Be Frustrating For Her

    Harrison has made it pretty clear that though the belt is her main objective, beating Peña for it would be an added incentive following their back-and-forth comments in recent times.

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, it was mentioned that if Peña does win the bantamweight title back, it could be a while before we see her defend it.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” hasn’t fought in over two years and has never been the most active fighter on the roster to begin with.

    Harrison said that though she doesn’t want to waste her energy thinking about a problem that is out of her hands, it would be very frustrating for her if she has to wait for Peña to defend the belt.

    “I try not to [think about the long breaks] because control what you can control and trust the UFC, trust that they have a plan but yeah, that would really p*** me off. I’m looking to stay active so hopefully… all is well, I can’t control it. It’s out of my hands but yeah.”

    Read also: UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals
’

  • Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight
’

    Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight
’

    As a veteran referee, Marc Goddard has been the third man in the Octagon for some of the most iconic UFC fights of all time.

    He’s seen his fair share of show stealing knockouts, jaw dropping comebacks and epic encounters that fans will talk about for decades to come.

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard spoke about some of the most memorable fights that he has officiated.

    Find any interview with the Brit talking about this specific question and he always gives the same answer, taking you back to one night in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Marc Goddard Talks About When Israel Adesanya & Kelvin Gastelum Pushed Each Other To The Limit

    At UFC 236, the co-main event of the evening was the highlight of the night even when it was followed by Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 2.

    Israel Adesanya met Kelvin Gastelum with the interim middleweight title on the line and the pair produced an all-time classic.

    This one will always stand out to Goddard when he looks back on all of the fights that he has played a part in, he said.

    “Then number one is, every day of the week, twice on a Sunday, is Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.

    “You find one moment in your life when you think, ‘I’m not going to go away’. In this fight, you had two guys in the exact same moment that wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t believe what I was watching unfold in front of me. I remember that there’s a clip at the beginning of the fifth round and Israel’s looking across him saying, ‘I’m prepared to die.’ Now I didn’t, I’m not looking at this, I’d seen it afterwards but honestly mate, that fight when you got two fighters that went into the deepest, darkest depths of their soul and they went into the deepest, darkest waters imaginable or possible in a fight and I was right alongside them, standing three-foot away, witnessing this unfold.”

    Goddard also said that the fight produced an emotional moment both on that night and when he watches the fight back, after seeing how far both men were able to push each other.

    “As soon as I know they’re safe, I f****** run off with my head in hands and I won’t be ashamed to say, I’ve cried after that fight watching it back because it was ungodly what those guys did. It was ungodly.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

  • Kevin Lee Wants To Be Bare-Knuckle MMA’s Version Of Mike Perry: ‘I Could Be That Guy
’

    Kevin Lee Wants To Be Bare-Knuckle MMA’s Version Of Mike Perry: ‘I Could Be That Guy
’

    Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee is looking to find somewhere that he can truly call home, for the foreseeable future.

    “Motown Phenom” has been a bit of a gun for hire as of late and after his UFC return didn’t pan out the way he hoped it would, Lee is exploring some new options.

    On November 15, he’s set to debut on Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA when he faces off against Saul Almeida.

    Lee doesn’t see this as a quick stop-gap before signing for another MMA promotion and in fact, believes that he can raise the profile of the sport.

    Kevin Lee Believes That He Can Elevate Bare Knuckle MMA Like Mike Perry Has With BKFC

    Lee is confident that with his fighting style, he will be very effective when competing in bare-knuckle MMA.

    His heavy wrestling style should allow him to negate a lot of the damage that would usually come with competing without the gloves on.

    He said in a recent interview with MMA Fighting that he not only believes that this switch will suit him, Lee thinks he can elevate the sport as a result of his success.

    The 32-year-old made reference to the impact that Mike Perry has had in bare-knuckle boxing since departing the UFC, going on to become the face of BKFC.

    “I’m curious to see how I’m gonna pan out. You see guys like Mike Perry really take bare knuckle boxing and take it to a different level because it fit his style really well. I think that bare knuckle MMA, for me, could be that thing that does that or I could be that guy for bare knuckle MMA. You know, I got great kicks, I got great wrestling and I got great top pressure and all of that kind of blends to bare knuckle the best.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It
’

  • ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses
’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses
’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest.

    As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since.

    “Funkmaster” was pretty open about the fact that he didn’t want to fight “Suga” when the UFC wanted him to.

    Having just defended his title against Henry Cejudo, Sterling wanted some time off, instead of jumping back into another training camp.

    He spoke about this and how it affected him in the podcast episode.

    “For a guy who’s already depleted, it’s not like I had a lot to lose so to do that drastic weight cut in such a short amount of time, I knew I was like fighting an uphill battle. I’m like, you know, I told my manager no probably like five different times but eventually, somehow, I was eventually convinced to take it.”

    MMA Fans React To Aljamain Sterling Talking About The Decision To Fight Sean O’Malley

    Sterling has come out and said that though he could have and probably should’ve put his foot down to have the best chance of winning this fight, he was persuaded to take it and that’s how it played out.

    However, fans are beginning to become a little fed up over Sterling talking about how his loss was partly down to being cajoled against his wishes to take the fight.

    They voiced their opinions in the comment section underneath the video.

    “He’s done nothing but makes excuses while refusing to give Sean credit.”

    “The more Aljo talks, the more I realise I don’t actually like him”

    “Excuses delusions, misplaced blame and anger and victim mentality effect some fighters so much they can’t see reality. Tyrone Woodly and Aljo are 2 of the damn worst.”

    “Who else is sick of all this victimhood.”

    “Dana hated both of these guys as champions.”

    “Sean o malley had broken ribs and couldn’t grapple and he still fought aljo and whooped him”

    “Bro is STILL talking about this?? Aljo, let it go man.”

    “You got merked, accept it like a man.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It
’

  • Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career

    Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career

    In 2012, Kamaru Usman made his pro debut in MMA in what would be the start of an incredibly successful career.

    Like many martial artists that grew up in the United States, he came to the sport via a wrestling background – but there weren’t many role models for him to look up to.

    Having been born in Nigeria, Kamaru and his family moved to Dallas, Texas when he was just eight years old, which was a culture shock for him at the time.

    Usman eventually found the path that would lead him to become a UFC champion, thanks to some peers who inspired him.

    Kamaru Usman Details Daniel Cormier Meeting That Gave Him Something To Strive For

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo were joined by former UFC champ-champ Daniel Cormier.

    Being eight years older, Cormier was someone that Usman looked up to when he first encountered him via wrestling.

    “DC” and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal weren’t just incredibly impressive wrestlers that inspired “The Nigerian Nightmare”, they were people that he could relate to.

    Usman told the story about the first time that he met Cormier in person, having seen him compete in wrestling, and how that impacted his own life and career trajectory.

    “We saw you guys [Cormier and Lawal] trying to sneak in, trying to get in to train, to practice while there was a break, so we ran up and we was like, ‘Yo, King Mo!’… you didn’t give me no damn hug. I would tell you this though, you did dap us up and you were just like, talked a little to us for a little bit, asked us what, and then my friend was like, ‘Yo I know what you did, I saw what you did at real pro wrestling.’ And I remember you going, ‘What you see?’

    “And you just joked with us and it was just that little moment, that little interaction that was so meaningful. We was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s these guys that look like us, they deal with similar circumstances that we have to deal with in this sport, and they’re at that level. Oh we can get there’. And I can’t tell you what that did for me.”

    Read also: MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

  • Joaquin Buckley Feels Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Is Two-Faced: ‘When You Got Him On Camera
’

    Joaquin Buckley Feels Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Is Two-Faced: ‘When You Got Him On Camera
’

    Eleventh-ranked welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley is usually not too far away from getting into a beef with a fellow fighter.

    However, this looked to be a difficult task for his next fight, considering the ‘nice guy’ public perception of Stephen Thompson.

    “Wonderboy” is widely regarded to be one of the kindest fighters on the roster and has rarely been seen to lose his cool, even in the midst of a fist-fight.

    Buckley isn’t convinced by this representation of Thompson, though, and believes that the welterweight stalwart isn’t who people think he is.

    With the two men set to meet inside the Octagon on October 5, he voiced his opinions on his opponent’s supposed persona.

    Joaquin Buckley Says Stephen Thompson Isn’t Who Fans Think He Is

    Ahead of their meeting at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Buckley spoke about his previous interactions with Thompson.

    The two men crossed paths at International Fight Week early this year, where “New Mansa” believes that he saw a different side to the striking specialist.

    In an interview with Inside Fighting, he spoke about how in his opinion, Thompson is a different person when he knows that people are watching.

    “Nothing crazy, yet again, I’m just trying to push him to make the fight happen but I really feel like, you know, at the end of the day, with me and ‘Wonderboy’, it is what it is. I try to be myself no matter where I go but I feel like, for me, it’s just that ‘Wonderboy’ is the type of individual that yet again, when you got him on camera, he’s smiling in your face, he’s saying nice things but at the end of the day, it’s the fight biz’ so you know, however he made me feel that day, I don’t think it was the nice guy that everybody mentions.”

    Read also: Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad