MMA News

Author: Kyle Dimond

  • Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    After vacating his UFC light heavyweight title, Jon Jones was inactive for three years until he finally came back as a heavyweight.

    He captured the heavyweight belt by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, but after suffering a significant injury, the champion has been gone for another long stretch of time.

    During that time, there has been a lot of talk about fans wanting him to fight the interim champion Tom Aspinall, who many believe is the present and future of the weight class.

    It looks far more likely that Jones will retire without facing Aspinall, after he meets Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 in November.

    Daniel Cormier Says Jon Jones Would Fight Better Against Tom Aspinall If He Weighed Less

    During his appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Daniel Cormier spoke about how Jones matches up with Aspinall.

    Having faced “Bones” on two occasions, “DC” said that he thinks whilst Jones’ experience is an advantage, he’s been through a lot of gruelling fights during his career.

    Cormier also said that another factor that makes him seriously consider whether Aspinall could be the first guy to beat the UFC heavyweight champion is the fact that Jones isn’t naturally suited to that weight class.

    He spent a lot of time building himself up to that frame but as a result, will sacrifice the speed that he had at light heavyweight.

    That makes Cormier believe that the heavyweight champ would fair better against a big, powerful and fast knockout artist like Aspinall if he was fighting at a smaller weight.

    “All those guys that fought him [Jones] close, that takes its toll. I think that this kid [Aspinall] is as dangerous for him as anyone he’s ever been in there with. Partly because that’s not his weight class. If he’s at 205, I bet if he’s weighing 215 [pounds], he would fight Tom Aspinall better than him weighing 245-pounds. 220 in his 205 frame, he could fight Tom Aspinall better then he’d fight him at 250 because while he didn’t last long with Ciryl, he didn’t look as fast.”

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

  • PFL Announces Full Card For ‘Battle Of The Giants’ PPV Headlined By Francis Ngannou

    PFL Announces Full Card For ‘Battle Of The Giants’ PPV Headlined By Francis Ngannou

    The PFL has announced the full card for “Battle of the Giants”, the promotion’s huge event in Riyadh on October 19.

    We already knew about four fights, which regardless of the rest of the card, were going to make this one of the biggest nights in the history of the promotion.

    Between Francis Ngannou’s MMA return against Renan Ferreira, Cris Cyborg vs Larissa Pacheco, the Bellator middleweight title rematch between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards plus a fantastic lightweight bout with AJ McKee taking on Paul Hughes, this card was certainly PPV worthy.

    We now know the remaining six bouts that will fill up the rest of the evening and though they’re still noteworthy, they don’t quite match up in box office value compared to the big four that were previously announced.

    Rounding out the main card is a featherweight clash between Switzerland’s Husein Kadimagomaev and Germany’s Zafar Mohsen.

    The most notable name to be added is Raufeon Stots, who will be fighting in the featured prelim against Marcos Breno.

    This will be Stots’ first fight of the year following his victory over Danny Sabatello in November last year at Bellator 301.

    See the full card for “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” listed below:

    Main card:

    Heavyweight Main Event: Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferreira (13-3, 3 NC) 
    Women’s Featherweight Co-Main Event: Cris “Cyborg” (27-2, 1 NC) vs. Larissa Pacheco (23-4)
    Bellator Middleweight World Title Bout: Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3)
    Featherweight Main Card Bout: Husein Kadimagomaev (11-1, 1 NC) vs Zafar Mohsen (13-4)
    Lightweight Main Card Bout: AJ McKee (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1)

      Early Card:

      Bantamweight Early Card Bout: Raufeon Stots (20-2) vs Marcos Breno (15-3)
      Lightweight Early Card Bout: Makkasharip Zaynukov (15-4) vs Dedrek Sanders (9-4)
      Featherweight Early Card Bout: Ibragim Ibragimov (7-0) vs Nacho Campos (5-0)
      Middleweight Early Card Bout: Mostafa Nada (9-3) vs Ahmed Sami (11-4-0, 1 NC) 
      Featherweight Early Card Bout: Youssef Al Housani (4-1) vs Taha Bendaoud (3-0)

      Read also: Muhammad Mokaev Claims His Pay Is Three Times Higher After UFC Release

    1. Daniel Cormier Recalls Hilarious Story Of Trying To Sell Fake Drugs & Getting Caught

      Daniel Cormier Recalls Hilarious Story Of Trying To Sell Fake Drugs & Getting Caught

      A lot of athletes who make their way into combat sports come from rough backgrounds, and Daniel Cormier was no different.

      Through the success that he has achieved in his career through determination and commitment, his children won’t have to battle the same struggles that he faced.

      In that same vein, “DC” is sure to be an inspiration to other athletes and young people who are working hard to try and provide a better life for their families.

      During a recent podcast appearance on Pound 4 Pound, he told a story about how the trappings of his surroundings nearly got to him.

      Daniel Cormier On Being Chased For Selling Fake Drugs & Correcting His Path

      After Kamaru Usman spoke about how Cormier was an inspiration to him in his life that helped him to follow the right path, “DC” spoke about how he nearly took a wrong turn in his.

      The former UFC champ-champ said that selling drugs was so prominent where he grew up, that it was difficult to avoid making the same mistakes as the people around him.

      However, a hilarious experience on his first attempt was enough to steer Cormier away from making a potentially life-changing decision.

      “It’s not easy to have the strength to not fall into the trap. There’s a trap. When you ain’t got no money and everybody else is selling dope, you want to sell dope to make some money. I tried that s*** one time, it was not good. Bro, I swear to god, it was the worst. I was the worst drug dealer of all time. Bro I was 16-years-old, we made fake drugs, it’s bad!

      “I give it to the guy, he realized it was fake. He start chasing me, he caught me, he was fast. I gave him the money back, I was like, ‘It’s a bad product man, here you go.’ Last time I ever tried that. I was so scared though. I was so scared that this dude was going to hurt me ‘cuz I was a kid. I was a state champion wrestler, I’m like, what am I doing here? But I fell into the trap.”

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

    2. Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

      Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

      The sport of MMA moves so fast that even after a major event like UFC 306, there is very little time before everyone has moved on to the next major talking point.

      Merab Dvalishvili winning the UFC bantamweight title in the main event of the promotion’s second annual Noche UFC already feels like it happened months ago.

      His performance against Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere answered some very intriguing questions that fans had going into the fight.

      Not only was Dvalishvili able to dominate the fight with his grappling when he did close the distance, he was able to avoid taking significant damage for the majority of the duration.

      Jon Anik Says Fighters Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad Don’t Get Enough Credit

      In a recent interview with James Lynch for Middle Easy, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s performance.

      He looked to really emphasize how it wasn’t just the grappling of the challenger at UFC 306 that was impressive, it was his overall game.

      Dvalishvili was constantly moving and giving O’Malley something new to think about and thanks to his unrelenting gas tank, that continued across all five rounds.

      Anik also made reference to Belal Muhammad’s title win at UFC 304 where of course, the biggest takeaway was his grappling success, but that didn’t tell the whole story of the fight where his striking was also very effective.

      “A lot of people might have fancied Umar (Nurmagomedov) against either guy and maybe now they’re not so sure just given how dominant Merab was and guys like Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad are never going to get credit for what they do as strikers. If they have a nice jab or a nice point of entry but man, the total package of Merab, like the dude needs to be tested for science right? And yeah, I’m saying that for comedic value but what is inside of there?”

      Read also: UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

    3. UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

      UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

      Julianna Peña is set to return at UFC 307 after being away from competition for nearly two years.

      The last time that she stepped inside the Octagon, it was as the women’s bantamweight champion.

      Though she came up short on that night in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277, her comeback will see her look to reclaim the gold on October 5.

      To do so, Peña will need to answer some questions about whether her time away and injuries will play a factor in her attempt to dethrone Raquel Pennington in Salt Lake City.

      Jon Anik Says That Juliana Peña’s Meanness Will Help Her Overcome Ring Rust At UFC 307

      UFC commentator Jon Anik expressed in a recent interview with Middle Easy that he isn’t concerned about Peña’s time away from the Octagon heading into this fight.

      Though he did say that ring rust can be a factor depending on the fighter in question, he believes that the challenger is not someone that it will phase.

      Anik referenced how if you listen to how the former champion’s coaches and teammates speak about her, they will immediately make reference to her aggressive mindset when she’s in the cage.

      With this in mind, he doesn’t think that we will see anything less than the very best that Peña has to offer, come October 5.

      “It’s amazing to listen to Juliana Peña’s coaches, to a man, talk about her relative meanness and nastiness. They can’t even get to the skills because Rick Little and Mike Valley both are just like dude, meanest man or woman in the gym, you know what I mean? So I don’t worry about her, I just think she’s sort of one of these ultimate competitors. The layoffs not ideal, the injury history is not ideal and Raquel Pennington just knows how to win fights.”

      Read also: Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

    4. Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

      Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

      Veteran referee Herb Dean came under some criticism following his role as the official inside the cage during the main event of UFC 306.

      The fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title wasn’t exactly a fight of the year contender, but it wasn’t dull either.

      Despite the stakes that were involved in this fight, Dean repeatedly told Dvalishvili to work when he was wrestling O’Malley, specifically towards the end of the fight.

      He later explained that this was not a call that he made because the challenger wasn’t doing anything – rather, it was because Dvalishvili wasn’t attempting to cause damage or finish the fight in these exchanges.

      Herb Dean Says That The Contender Series Is Proof Of What The UFC Wants MMA To Look Like

      In a recent interview with Helen Yee Sports, Dean spoke more about why he is asking fighters to work more in these positions.

      He believes that though a fighter using his grappling to negate his opponent’s offence is an effective technique, it isn’t what the UFC want the sport to look like.

      To prove his point, Dean made reference to Dana White’s Contender Series and how those fights prioritize action and aggression.

      We have seen several occasions throughout the eight seasons of the show, where fighters win in convincing fashion but don’t earn contracts because their performances didn’t show that hunger and killer instinct that the UFC is after.

      Dean believes that the reason for that is to fill the roster with fighters who are always looking for the finish, rather than stalling the action to secure a victory by any means necessary.

      “I’m always gonna be learning something new from some of these athletes if they take some time to share with me. But, it’s what we want our sport to look like and I think we want our, I’m going to do the Contender Series tonight, I think we want the fights to look like the guys that get signed on the Contender Series.

      “That’s what I think that, that’s why they sign those guys because I think that’s what they want our sport to look like and so guys who maybe get ahead and are going to manage position… if that’s what we want our sport to look like, somebody in charge let me know. But, I think we want it to look like the fights on the Contender Series so that’s why we tell guys to work.”

      Read also: Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    5. Former ONE Double Champ Reinier de Ridder Gets Opponent For UFC Debut

      Former ONE Double Champ Reinier de Ridder Gets Opponent For UFC Debut

      After being announced to have signed with the UFC just yesterday, an opponent has already been found for Reinier de Ridder’s Octagon debut.

      The former two-weight world champion in ONE Championship comes in as the MMA leader’s latest major signing from another promotion.

      After losing his titles in back-to-back fights with Anatoly Malykhin, de Ridder fought outside of ONE last time out where he stopped Magomedmurad Khasaev in the first round at UAE Warriors 51.

      “The Dutch Knight” will now make his promotional debut on November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

      His opponent will be fellow middleweight submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert, who is a UFC veteran with 21 appearances inside the Octagon.

      The news was first reported by UFC op Eurosport on Instagram.

      With a staggering 41 submission victories between them, this looks to be a grappling fans delight but as you often get with match-ups like this, it could end up playing out on the feet if both men have too much respect for each other’s specialities.

      Meerschaert comes into the fight after extending his submission wins record in back-to-back fights.

      This year, he has secured the tap against both Edmen Shahbazyan and Bryan Barberena, to bounce back from consecutive losses.

      The card on November 9 is yet to have a main event announced after the originally scheduled headliner between Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi was brought forward one week.

      Read also: Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

    6. Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

      Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

      To prepare for his long awaited MMA return, Francis Ngannou is doing his training camp out in Paris before October 19.

      Any heavyweight in the sport will tell you that one of the biggest problems that they encounter is finding suitable training partners to work with.

      This is even more true when you’re preparing to fight a 6’8″ opponent in Renan Ferreira.

      Team Ngannou’s problem could have been temporarily solved this week thanks to the UFC arriving in Paris for Saturday night’s event at the Accor Arena.

      Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, has built a strong relationship with another of the world’s best heavyweights – whom he was hoping to cross paths with in the French capital.

      Eric Nicksick Says He Would’ve Loved To Connect Ngannou & Aspinall

      In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Nicksick said that he hoped to connect Ngannou with the interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall this week.

      Unfortunately, Aspinall wasn’t making the trip over for the fights on Saturday but the Xtreme Couture coach still thinks it could happen at some stage.

      With both men being right at the top of their weight class in different promotions, the sparring videos alone would be PPV-worthy.

      He said that the short distance between England and France means that Aspinall may be able to join their camp before they leave for Saudi Arabia.

      Nicksick did say that though the Brit isn’t in town, he did offer to help out in a different way, by giving them a list of names who may be of use as sparring partners to mimic Ferreira.

      “I was hoping that he’d [Aspinall] be out here and we’d get some training in and not saying it won’t happen, maybe it can before we get out of here because he’s like an hour flight away. He’s not too far away but he was gracious enough to send me some names of his training partners and guys that we could use and try to bring out here to help out Francis but he was all about it man and Tom’s been a great friend and a great guy to have in the circle.”

      Read also: Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

    7. ‘Bro Sent Himself An Email’ – Fans Unconvinced With Conor McGregor Showing Receipts Of ‘Negative’ PED Tests

      ‘Bro Sent Himself An Email’ – Fans Unconvinced With Conor McGregor Showing Receipts Of ‘Negative’ PED Tests

      A recent social media post from Conor McGregor on X was yet another example of him stating that he is ready to return to the Octagon.

      In a since-deleted image, “The Notorious” shared a screenshot from an email that was sent from Drug Free Sport International on September 23.

      Anyone who has seen a drug test result confirmation email from this organization before knows that this is usually what they look like.

      The email states, with a specific sample number, that McGregor’s recent test on September 13 has returned negative results when checking for performance enhancing drugs.

      “The Mac” shared this image with the following caption after it was recently announced that his long-awaited fight with Michael Chandler will not be happening next.

      “Most tested athlete on the @ufc roster x2. I deserve my fight date! #CleanAthlete”

      MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Negative Test Results

      Though the post has since been deleted by McGregor, the fans still weighed in with their thoughts on social media via responding to the original post and several others.

      Many were sceptical about the Irishman’s email and the negative test results.

      “Bro sent himself an email”

      https://twitter.com/DexterVro/status/1838518525033373834

      “[email protected]”

      “For some reason it’s funny to think of Conor just opening up something in Gmail like the rest of us.”

      “Bro has whiskey and beer running through his veins.”

      “If he’s clean then I’m Jesus. With his money you buy from the best chemists.”

      “Calling for fights while constantly partying and traveling, after you pulled out of your scheduled fight because of a pinky toe. Dude is insufferable”

      “Ill watch him fight but idk if he should anymore, just ride off into the sunset already. You’ve won.”

      Read also: BKFC President ‘100 Percent’ Confident Of Bare-Knuckle Future For Conor McGregor: ‘Why Wouldn’t You?’ 

    8. Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoît Saint Denis

      Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoît Saint Denis

      In the main event of UFC Paris this weekend, Brazil’s Renato Moicano is hoping to enter enemy territory and come away with the win.

      His bout with fellow top 15 lightweight Benoît Saint Denis is sure to be an exciting clash of styles at the Accor Arena.

      It’s also a big opportunity for Saint Denis, who will have the chance to headline a UFC card in his home country for the first time.

      In previous years, this honor has gone to Ciryl Gane but now it is time for the “God of War” to step up and bounce back from his loss to Dustin Poirier from earlier this year.

      Renato Moicano Says The UFC Chose The Wrong Opponent For Potential Star Benoît Saint Denis

      As a teammate of Poirier’s at American Top Team, Moicano was critical of the match-up between “The Diamond” and Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March.

      He believed that the promotion was trying to build up the Frenchman by giving him an opportunity that at that stage in his career, he didn’t necessarily deserve.

      Now that he is set to face Saint Denis for himself over five rounds on September 28, “Money” Moicano wants to ruin the promotion’s plans.

      He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that he understands why the promotion are big fans of his opponent but if they want to make him into a star, they picked the wrong opponent.

      “100% they trying to push Benoît Saint Denis and I’m not even mad, that is just business. I know Europe is a huge market, they don’t have many European fighters doing very well and Benoît Saint Denis is a dangerous fighter. He’s an aggressive fighter and UFC likes him, he’s young, you know? He’s young, European, good market, he can make good money for the UFC but guess what? UFC called the wrong guy because I’m going over there and I’m beating him.”

      Read also: Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly

    9. UFC Featherweight On How Ego Can Affect Topuria vs Holloway: ‘Max Knows Better…’

      UFC Featherweight On How Ego Can Affect Topuria vs Holloway: ‘Max Knows Better…’

      The main event of UFC 308 is one of the year’s biggest and best fights as the featherweight title is on the line in Abu Dhabi.

      Undefeated champion Ilia Topuria has smashed his way through this division whilst facing very little adversity coming back the other way.

      After stopping Alexander Volkanovski earlier this year, he now faces the other all-time great 145-pounder of this era in Max Holloway.

      Holloway likely would have reigned as the champion for a long time if it wasn’t for Volkanovski, when you look at his record.

      Now we will find out whether “Blessed” can regain the gold against a dangerous but less experienced opponent.

      Jonathan Pearce Believes That Max Holloway’s Experience May Be Crucial

      There weren’t any signs in Topuria’s title-winning performance that he was suffering from a lack of experience, even if he can get heated on fight week.

      UFC featherweight Jonathan Pearce believes that Holloway’s decision-making could be a defining factor in this fight because he knows when to engage with Topuria and when to stay on the outside.

      “Blessed” has been known to throw caution to the wind from time to time but as we saw at UFC 300, he’s at home in the chaos.

      When asked whether he thinks these two men will be able to replicate something similar to this iconic moment from earlier this year, Pearce gave this response.

      “I think so but I don’t think Topuria’s ready for that. I think he can hang with it for a while but I think he doesn’t have the experience that Max has if that happens. I think that Max knows better than to step in sometimes. He won’t let his ego get in control where you got a younger fighter that just needs to believe in himself.”

      Pearce is set to face Pat Sabatini on October 12 at the UFC Apex.

      Read also: ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

    10. BKFC President Teases Riyadh Season Collaboration: ‘Conor Had A Great Meeting…’

      BKFC President Teases Riyadh Season Collaboration: ‘Conor Had A Great Meeting…’

      BKFC continues to be on the up, no doubt thanks to Conor McGregor, who became a part owner of the promotion earlier this year in April.

      The UFC superstar certainly brings a lot of eyes and attention to whatever he’s doing, which in turn gives the promotion a lot more bargaining power than they once had.

      With “The Notorious” now attached, they can look to expand into areas that wouldn’t have been possible without the profile that the Irishman brings to the table.

      In his latest public appearance that got fans talking online, McGregor was in attendance at Wembley Stadium this past weekend for the Riyadh Season-backed Joshua vs Dubois event.

      It appears that “The Mac” had some business to attend to after enjoying himself in London.

      David Feldman Says Conor McGregor Has Already Held Meetings About BKFC-Riyadh Season Collaboration

      In a recent interview on the Energized Show, BKFC founder David Feldman spoke about the promotion’s upcoming plans for the near future.

      Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority have been able to make a huge impact on boxing by making events bigger and better than ever before.

      If BKFC was able to get in on the act in any way, it could be huge for the growth of the promotion and the sport of bare-knuckle boxing as a whole.

      When asked about whether a collaboration with Riyadh Season would be possible at some point down the line, Feldman said that there may be an update on that not too far away.

      Feldman said that McGregor has already been in talks to try and make this happen.

      “Yeah, news coming. Conor had a great meeting with them yesterday. Fantastic news coming.”

      Read also: ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

    11. Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly

      Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly

      There has been a lot of talk over whether UFC 309 will be the last time that Jon Jones competes inside the Octagon.

      The heavyweight champion recently said himself that this is looking “more than likely” now that his title defence is official for November 16 in New York.

      Many expected that his initially planned fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 last year would be his last dance but this was pushed back by a year by Jones’ injury.

      Now, as they enter what may be his final training camp, Jones’ long-time coach Brandon Gibson gave his thoughts on whether this is the curtain call for “Bones”.

      Brandon Gibson Says He Believes That UFC 309 Will Be Jon Jones’ Last Fight

      In a recent interview with From The Stands, Gibson was asked whether he believes, as a close friend of Jones’ for many years, that this truly is it.

      There has been a lot of criticism from the fans regarding the fight with Stipe Miocic with Jones regularly responding to the idea that he should be fighting interim champion Tom Aspinall instead, or at least sticking around to fight him after UFC 309.

      Gibson said that in his opinion, he thinks the champion will walk away but that isn’t a reflection on where his current skill level is at.

      The coach believes that Jones could continue to stay at the top of the sport for years to come but in the interest of leaving on his own terms, we could see the consensus greatest of all time leave his gloves inside the Octagon inside Madison Square Garden.

      “I do [think it’s his last fight]. This is a dangerous game. It’s a dangerous game and it’s not one that treats an aging fighter kindly. I always encourage all my fighters to be out before, to be able to pick their exit and Jon, more than any other fighter I believe, has earned and deserves to be able to pick and choose when he leaves. I think he has plenty more in the tank, I see his skill set every week against high-level opponents, I think right now he’s better than he’s ever been, oh my goodness. He’s really developed into an amazing heavyweight… I think he can continue to fight the very best for a long time to come but he’s also deserved to exit if he chooses to do so.”

      Read also: ‘Selfish’ UFC Told To Financially Compensate Michael Chandler For Conor McGregor Wait

    12. Valentina Shevchenko Says Judges Influenced Noche UFC 306 Game Plan

      Valentina Shevchenko Says Judges Influenced Noche UFC 306 Game Plan

      After what happened at last year’s Noche UFC card, Valentina Shevchenko made it perfectly clear that she wanted a trilogy fight with Alexa Grasso on neutral ground.

      The current UFC flyweight champion failed to reclaim her title in the second fight with Grasso after the bout was controversially scored as a draw.

      Shevchenko had no problem stating that the result was an outcome of their fight taking place on a card that was set to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.

      Though she won the belt back at UFC 306 with a dominant performance on the same exact weekend one calendar year later, the “Bullet” says that she was forced to change up her approach as a result of the location of the fight.

      Valentina Shevchenko Says That She Adapted Her Game Plan To Counter Biased Judging At UFC 306

      In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Shevchenko was asked whether the fight taking place at Noche UFC once again made her nervous about the way that the judges would score the fight.

      The champ went on to reveal that the setting of UFC 306 at the Sphere made her adjust her game plan in order to try and counter any potentially biased scoring.

      “I knew exactly what had happened last time and now even being the bigger event, it’s like all about the culture, all about celebrating the Mexican culture and having the Mexican champion on the card, of course definitely everyone want to celebrate. Definitely I know exactly what is like how much pressure on my shoulders and I just say they don’t leave me any other choice.”

      Shevchenko received some criticism for putting on a boring display in the co-main event where the majority of the fight saw her controlling Grasso with her wrestling.

      She revealed that this was somewhat intentional because if the judges were going to value Grasso’s success higher than hers, her best route to victory was to shut her opponent down entirely.

      “I knew going into this fight that I cannot let this happen again. I didn’t have another choice. Don’t let her have this successful combination, not even one. That’s why it was like pure, I was faster in the striking so she could not respond on my striking and definitely I wanted to show them my skills in the ground game.

      “It was like no choice for me, they didn’t leave me another one. Just only completely destroy the game plan of Alexa and show that she cannot do anything. Not in the striking, not in the wrestling, not in the grappling.”

      Read also: Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    13. Michael Chandler Responds To Fan Who Says Conor McGregor Ducked Him: ‘I Knew All Along…’

      Michael Chandler Responds To Fan Who Says Conor McGregor Ducked Him: ‘I Knew All Along…’

      Michael Chandler has spent a long time talking about Conor McGregor, his actions outside of the cage and whether their fight was going to happen or not.

      After the many months of trying to focus on himself, this ended up paying off once it was announced that the fight wouldn’t be next for “Iron” Mike.

      He will instead face Charles Oliveira in a rematch over five rounds at Madison Square Garden, for UFC 309.

      Given the number of times McGregor has teased an imminent UFC return, it would be understandable that his opponent would be left with a bad taste in his mouth.

      However, a recent post from Chandler on social media points to the idea that he isn’t frustrated after waiting all this time, only for the fight to not happen.

      It also appears that Chandler doesn’t hold any hard feelings towards McGregor for this period of his career where he has been left to his own devices.

      Michael Chandler Says That The Conor McGregor Fight Not Happening Is ‘Water Under The Bridge’

      A fan on X tagged Chandler and McGregor in a post, claiming that in the middle of this major news cycle, it has been left out that “The Notorious” ducked the fight.

      This isn’t the way that “Iron” Mike sees the outcome as is apparent in his response.

      Chandler suggests that the fight taking place was always something that he had reservations about, but that doesn’t mean he is letting it bother him.

      Instead, he hopes to take positives away from this time off, having spoken about changing his mindset by reflecting on his previous fights and looking at where he wants to be.

      “Water under the bridge. I knew all along it was a long shot…I took the time to calibrate and plan this Chandler 2.0 season.”

      Read also: Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    14. Paddy Pimblett Gives Latest Update: ‘Only Card That I Could Possibly Fight On…’

      Paddy Pimblett Gives Latest Update: ‘Only Card That I Could Possibly Fight On…’

      After fighting three times in 2022, Paddy Pimblett has only fought once per year in 2023 and in 2024 thus far.

      “The Baddy” hasn’t been able to stay as active as he would have wanted and now that he has a top 15 ranking next to his name in the UFC’s lightweight division, he’s waiting for the right opportunities.

      Having submitted King Green at UFC 304 in July, a big fight awaits Pimblett on his return regardless of when that ends up taking place.

      He recently spoke about what his timeframe is looking like right now whilst being in attendance at Cage Warriors 178 this past weekend to support his Next Generation MMA teammates.

      Paddy Pimblett Says UFC 210 Or Early Next Year Are The Options For His Return

      In an interview backstage at the event, Pimblett revealed that it’s looking unlikely that he will fight before the end of the year.

      In both 2022 and 2023, he competed on the final PPV card of the year, earning victories over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson.

      “The Baddy” stated that if he does fight for a second time in 2024, it will be three in a row for competing on PPV in December with UFC 310 on December 7 being the only possibility.

      However, an issue with that date is the potential opponent that Pimblett has had in mind for some time now.

      He has gone back-and-forth with Renato Moicano who is set to return in this weekend’s main event in France against Benoît Saint Denis.

      With that fight in mind, Pimblett said that he may need to wait until 2025 before making his seventh appearance inside the Octagon.

      “I have no idea at the minute. I think the only card that I could possibly fight on is December again in Vegas but nothing’s been said at the minute. I know Moicano’s fighting next week, can’t see him coming back soon enough for December so could end up being next year, early next year.”

      Read also: Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    15. Boxing Expert Welcomes Dana White Into Boxing With Open Arms: ‘We Need You!’

      Boxing Expert Welcomes Dana White Into Boxing With Open Arms: ‘We Need You!’

      This past weekend saw another huge boxing event in collaboration with Riyadh Season with Wembley Stadium drawing in a huge crowd for Joshua vs Dubois.

      Several days before, UFC President Dana White made the trip over to Ireland for Walsh vs. Runowski, a boxing event that was hosted on UFC Fight Pass amongst other major broadcasting platforms.

      White spoke ahead of the event about whether he is finally going to fully make a move into boxing which has been teased for many years at this stage.

      The sport is arguably the strongest it has been in a long time right now and could become even more exciting if the MMA leader’s CEO joins the conversation.

      Teddy Atlas Says Dana White Could Have The Same Impact As Turki Alalshikh In Boxing

      In a recent interview with Submission Radio, boxing expert Teddy Atlas said that he would welcome White into the sport with open arms.

      He believes that the way that White has been able to build the UFC into what it is today is by executing one simple idea, giving the fans what they want.

      This was missing from boxing for a long time until, as Atlas states, Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority started to invest heavily in the sport.

      For a long time, the biggest fights in boxing were held back by promoters not working together or negotiations that became stand-offs.

      Atlas believes that White, like Alalshikh, would place the emphasis back on seeing the best fight the best whenever it is possible.

      “I say come on in! Come on in! We need you! Turki Alalshikh has helped boxing tremendously by making fights that the promoters couldn’t make, they didn’t want to make… Dana White does that.

      “He’s been doing that forever over at the UFC. Yeah I know it’s one guy in charge. ‘Oh but Teddy, he’s the dictator…’ Listen, if a dictator ain’t chopping heads off and he’s getting things done, sometimes maybe we can learn a little something. Maybe at least it gives us direction, it gives us rules, we could use rules in this world right now, we could use direction in this world right now.”

      Read also: Former Boxing Opponent Calls Jake Paul Out For MMA Debut After Training With Tom Aspinall

    16. UFC Commentator Shines A Light On Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate: ‘Captivating A Worldwide Fanbase…’

      UFC Commentator Shines A Light On Paddy Pimblett’s Teammate: ‘Captivating A Worldwide Fanbase…’

      European promotion Cage Warriors has got a proven track record from taking the top talent from the region and getting them into major promotions like the UFC.

      The same can be said for Liverpool-based gym Next Generation MMA, which has been able to grow significantly in recent years.

      Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann are very much the team captains of the gym in that sense but with Nathan Fletcher recently signing to the UFC from the same stable, the next wave of fighters from the north of England are making their way over.

      Amongst them is one of the most exciting fighters in Europe right now, who, after missing out on his chance to compete on the Contender Series this year, is back on home turf this weekend.

      John Gooden Tells Fans To Keep An Eye On Liverpool’s Luke Riley

      Liverpool’s Luke Riley is an undefeated (9-0) featherweight who in many ways, is Pimblett’s protégé and right-hand man.

      He was set to fight for his UFC roster at the Apex this year until his bout with Kevin Vallejos fell through due to visa issues.

      Instead, Riley will be returning to Cage Warriors, where he has had all of his pro fights, to headline an event for the first time.

      Ahead of his attempt to hit double digit wins when he faces Alexandre Junior at the BEC Arena in Manchester on September 21, UFC commentator John Gooden highlighted the potential future star via the official UFC Fight Pass YouTube channel.

      “Freak athleticism, lighting speed and surgical accuracy are all features of Riley’s unmissable fight style. Currently running an unblemished 9-0 record with a knockout tally of six, 25-year-old Riley is on the brink of captivating a worldwide audience.”

      Gooden spoke about some of the incredible fights that Riley has produced in his career, making his contests an absolute must-watch.

      In particular, his clash with Alexander Lööf at CW 160 last year was nominated for the UFC Fight Pass fight of the year and stands out as one of the best bouts in the history of Cage Warriors.

      Gooden continued to highlight why Riley is one of the most exciting strikers outside of the UFC right now, breaking down his love for throwing combinations.

      “Riley’s fights are always exciting. I’m sure you’re picking up on his love for the knockout and he earns this with really beautiful, technical boxing. It is pretty rare to see such success from a combination fighter in MMA. So few are able to do it well, there are big risks in closing the distance and firing off multiple shots whilst wearing little four ounce gloves but when you have Riley’s speed, defensive hygiene and the delicate details of a watch maker, your work stands out.”

      Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    17. Raul Rosas Jr. Explains Call For UFC 306 Bonus: ‘The People Showed Up Because Of Me’

      Raul Rosas Jr. Explains Call For UFC 306 Bonus: ‘The People Showed Up Because Of Me’

      Bantamweight prospect Raul Rosas Jr. got proceedings off to a strong start for the Mexican fighters at UFC 306.

      The 19-year-old earned his fourth win inside the Octagon, third in a row, by defeating Aoriqileng via unanimous decision.

      It was a fight where Rosas needed to dig deep in the third round to come away with the victory after his opponent took the second on all three scorecards.

      His grappling sealed the win and in his post-fight interview, the rising contender made a bold claim when speaking to Joe Rogan.

      Rosas called for a performance bonus only for several highlight reel finishes and a legitimate Fight of the Year contender to follow later on in the night.

      Raul Rosas Jr. Says He Could Have Earned A Bonus For Filling The Sphere In The Opening Fight Of The Night

      In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Rosas explained why he chose to call for a performance bonus during his post-fight interview.

      He stated that part of his call for an extra 50k was instinct having finished his three other wins inside the Octagon in style.

      Though he agrees that he didn’t deserve the bonus after how the rest of the night played out, Rosas does make one case for why he could have gotten it.

      In most other cards that take place in front of a full-size audience, the venue usually has a fair few empty seats until later on in the evening.

      This wasn’t the case at UFC 306 this past weekend where the fans made sure that they were in their seats ready for the opening contest in the early prelims.

      Rosas believes that he was a big part of that, having been given the role of curtain jerker.

      “It was just heat of the moment you know like since I’m used to getting finishes and asking for it after, it was just like, it just came out. But either way, the way that my argument to say that I would deserve it, like don’t get me wrong, it was a unanimous decision so obviously I’m okay with not getting it because I should have got a finish but if I would have got it, my argument be that the people showed up because of me, you know.

      “The event was packed because of me. Like I’m saying because they were there since early because I was on the prelims. I’m not trying to be cocky but a lot of people tune in to watch me fight so with them putting me on the first fight on the prelims, I made a lot of people show up and tune in on their TVs right away so that would be my argument for the 50Gs but honestly, I agree I didn’t do enough.”

      Read also: Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

    18. Two Russian MMA Fighters Killed In Moscow Shootout Controversy Involving Ramzan Kadyrov

      Two Russian MMA Fighters Killed In Moscow Shootout Controversy Involving Ramzan Kadyrov

      A shoot out involving several figures connected to MMA at a Russian retailer has led to at least two dead and seven injured.

      Several MMA fighters were involved in the incident and have connections with Ramzan Kadyrov’s Akhmat Fight Club.

      The controversial Chechen leader has become a significant figure in the MMA landscape due to his relationship with several high profile fighters including Khamzat Chimaev.

      This particular case is said to have taken place due to a personal and business conflict regarding Russian retailer Wildberries, which Kadyrov was then brought into.

      The two victims of the shooting were reported to be MMA fighters Islam Elmurziev and Abubakar Mestoev.

      Shocking Details Emerge On Moscow Raid & Shooting At Business Headquarters

      The shoot-out happened at the companie’s headquarters in Moscow following an attempted merger of the company with Russ Group from Wildberries founder Tatyana Bakalchuk, who is Russia’s richest woman.

      Her ex-husband, Vladislav Bakalchuk, reportedly led these raids as a response to the merger which has also been publicly criticized by Kadyrov – who Bakalchuk called for support.

      Vladislav has since been detained and will be charged for his actions that took place during his ongoing divorce process.

      In a response to the charges, Bakalchuk’s attorneys labelled them as “absurd” and claimed that the group of “colleagues” that he was with were attending a “pre-arranged meeting to resolve a corporate conflict.”

      Intellinews.com reports that Russian media ignored the entire situation for the most part.

      On her Telegram channel, Tatyana Bakalchuk wrote this message to address the situation and her former husband.

      “Yesterday’s lawlessness resulted in the lives of our office security staff being cut short. We are confident that the perpetrators will be punished in accordance with the law.

      “Armed men stormed into our office, they started shooting, it was mayhem. Vladislav, what are you doing? How will you look your parents and children in the eye?”

      There are endless details about this shocking case, including a second raid at another office that took place on the same day.

      To find out more on the ongoing case via the following thread on X, posted by journalist Al Zullino.

      Read also: ‘Pereira Shoots On Khalil’ – Rountree’s Coach Makes Bold Prediction Ahead Of UFC 307 Title Fight

    19. Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

      Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

      Following the official announcement for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, Tom Aspinall was confirmed to be the back-up.

      Many have been campaiging for the interim champion to get the next shot at Jones’s heavyweight title, rather than the rescheduled clash with Miocic.

      Dana White said himself in a recent press conference that Aspinall is next for whatever happens in this division and will therefore, be in New York ready to make weight if required.

      However, this then opens up the question of whether Jones or Miocic would even contemplate fighting Aspinall on short notice, if either man does pull out before November 16.

      Daniel Cormier Calls Chael Sonnen ‘Gullible’ For Thinking That Jones & Miocic Agreed To Fight Aspinall

      In a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy, Chael Sonnen asked Daniel Cormier whether he could confirm that Aspinall being the back-up means that Jones and Miocic had to sign off on it.

      Cormier’s response was to laugh at Sonnen for even suggesting that this would be a possibility, labelling him as “gullible”.

      “No, it does not mean that. What it means is now we have another opportunity for disappointment. See that’s the difference between living, hey, that’s the difference between growing up in a mansion and growing up in the ghetto. In the ghetto, you learn to expect disappointment. You learn to be let down, that is just the way it is. So guess what Chael, now you have an opportunity to be let down so step into my shoes once. If one of those dudes get hurt, neither one of them is fighting Tom Aspinall. You’re out of your mind, no way.”

      To illustrate his point, Cormier pointed to UFC 295 last year where Jones did pull out of the fight but there was a back-up fighter on hand.

      Despite Sergei Pavlovich being ready to take his place, Miocic chose to wait for “Bones”, instead which led to the creation of the interim title which was won by Aspinall.

      Cormier finished his statement by making a bold prediction of what will actually happen if either man withdraws.

      “When Jon Jones got hurt the first time, Sergei Pavlovich was the back-up fighter, who fought? Who fought? If somebody gets hurt, get ready for Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, mark my words.”

      Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

    20. Umar Nurmagomedov: People Expect Me To Perform Like Khabib Every Time

      Umar Nurmagomedov: People Expect Me To Perform Like Khabib Every Time

      From the moment that he arrived in the UFC, Umar Nurmagomedov was never going to be your usual Octagon debutant.

      The bantamweight contender is the older brother of Usman Nurmagomedov and the cousin of the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired on top of the sport.

      After everything that the senior Nurmagomedov was able to accomplish in the UFC, there is always going to be high expectations for his own family to live up to that name.

      “The Eagle” didn’t just have success at the highest level of MMA, he was able to completely dominate opponents to the point where he made the toughest stylistic fights look easy.

      This has had a knock-on effect on Umar Nurmagomedov, in the way that some fans perceive him.

      Umar Nurmagomedov Says Some Fans Get Underwhelmed When He Isn’t “The Eagle”

      During an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Nurmagomedov spoke about the way that some fans are not impressed by him because he isn’t as dominant as his elder cousin.

      The #2-ranked contender in the bantamweight division, who is likely next in line for a title shot, is putting on great performances but that doesn’t mean that his style or the way that he wins is the same as when “The Eagle” stepped inside the Octagon.

      With an undefeated record of 18-0, Nurmagomedov was asked by Kamaru Usman whether exceeding the legendary 29-0 record is something that he thinks about.

      He responded by saying that he isn’t looking to replicate his cousin’s career despite people often measuring him by that same level.

      “I think it’s going to be difficult to become too close [to] this man and even right now, everybody when we’re going to the cage, when we fought, everybody wait, we’re going to do same job and our wins not bring to people same emotional [effect], you know, because Khabib was maul everyone.

      “He go inside, finish him or broke [opponent], he did in the cage like great job and people, to see Nurmagomedov fight, they think we’re going to do same and when we win, they said, ‘Ah it’s like regular fighter, he just win’.”

      Read also: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Bemoans Sean O’Malley’s Lack Of ‘Killer Instinct’ After Hurting Merab Dvalishvili

    21. Henry Cejudo Accused Of Playing Hurt Until Favorable Matchup Is Offered

      Henry Cejudo Accused Of Playing Hurt Until Favorable Matchup Is Offered

      Number four ranked UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has already fought many of the top fighters in his weight class.

      His last outing against Umar Nurmagomedov was seen by many as a title eliminator but after losing that contest, he’s back to the drawing board.

      In the aftermath of the division crowning a new champion this past weekend at UFC 306, “The Sandman” has called for a fight that a lot of fans have wanted to see for some time.

      Unfortunately for Sandhagen, it looks like former champ Sean O’Malley is going to be taking some substantial time off – meaning that if he wants to stay active, he’ll need to look elsewhere.

      Cory Sandhagen Says That Henry Cejudo Isn’t Interested In Fighting Unless It’s A Perfect Opportunity For Him

      When looking at the other top bantamweights that Sandhagen could fight next, a few names stand out.

      Former champion Petr Yan is one spot ahead of him in the rankings but the Russian hasn’t been able to remain active for some time now.

      MMA legend José Aldo could be an option, but he would need to get past Mario Bautista at UFC 307 first which would, again, leave Sandhagen waiting.

      Deiveson Figueiredo is a very exciting option but “The Sandman” recently revealed that the former UFC flyweight champion turned down a fight in December.

      That leaves former flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo – but Sandhagen isn’t very confident in this fight being booked.

      He believes that Cejudo is far too focused on calling his shots and taking the most favorable fights that he possibly can, remaining on the sidelines until they appear.

      Sandhagen told James Lynch in a recent interview with Fanatics View that he sees “Triple C” as someone who isn’t interested in a fight, until it suits him perfectly.

      “Henry’s another guy that kind of makes me nervous. It’s not in like a fight sense but in like a way like is this guy actually gonna show up? I feel like Henry’s kind of thing right now is to say that he’s hurt until there’s a match-up that he really wants and then he goes after that one, you know?

      “it does irk me a little bit that Henry gets to just come back and then have every single fight that he’s asking for and I think that that’s gotta like, that can’t be the case. Like he just got beat pretty significantly by Merab. You can fight down the rankings a little bit and fight some guys that we’ve beaten before if you want to work your way up, but you don’t get to just be like this figure that calls his fights and gets them every single time.”

      Read also: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Bemoans Sean O’Malley’s Lack Of ‘Killer Instinct’ After Hurting Merab Dvalishvili

    22. Paul Craig Outlines Plan To ‘Out-MMA’ Bo Nickal At UFC 309

      Paul Craig Outlines Plan To ‘Out-MMA’ Bo Nickal At UFC 309

      Paul Craig is the next fighter in line to try and halt the undefeated winning streak of super middleweight prospect, Bo Nickal.

      Following Nickal’s third consecutive win and finish last time out against Cody Brundage at UFC 300, this is his biggest step up to date.

      Craig may be coming off of two losses but they’ve come to two of the top fighters in the division right now in Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho.

      With his lethal submission skills, “Bearjew” is a huge threat to anyone once the fight hits the floor, which makes this match-up against Nickal’s stellar wrestling pedigree even more interesting.

      Paul Craig Says He Doesn’t Plan On Trying To Outwrestle Bo Nickal

      Ahead of their meeting at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden, Craig spoke about this fight in a recent YouTube video that was put up on his podcast (Leather’d Podcast) channel.

      The Scotsman spoke about his expectations for this fight and how he is preparing to take on the 28-year-old that no one has been able to handle thus far.

      Craig said that though working on his wrestling defense is obviously an important aspect of his training for this fight, he doesn’t want to become too focused on it because he isn’t going to suddenly be able to beat his opponent at his own game.

      Instead, he believes that his key to victory in this fight is to win the contest in all other areas, rather than attempting to beat Nickal in a wrestling match.

      “With someone like Bo Nickal, you’re not going to learn to wrestle like him within a fight camp so it’s wise to say that yep, I’m going to be working on these wrestling defenses but what I should be working on is good footwork, good striking and good grappling and that’s the keys to victory. We’re not going to outwrestle him, we’re going to out-MMA him.”

      Read also: Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

    23. Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

      Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

      The UFC 306 main event may not have been received that well by some sections of the fanbase but it did see the bantamweight title change hands.

      Merab Dvalishvili appeared to be in control for the vast majority of the fight against Sean O’Malley, even if the scorecards tell a different story.

      Though “Suga” was able to hurt his challenger in the fifth and final round, Dvalishvili’s movement, takedowns and reading of the fight were very effective.

      His performance massively impressed the #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen who, since the fight, has called next to face O’Malley.

      Cory Sandhagen Gives His Post-Fight Analysis Of UFC 306 Main Event

      In a recent interview with James Lynch for Fanatics View, Sandhagen gave his thoughts on this past weekend’s bantamweight title fight.

      He started by saying that his prediction for the fight had switched as the fight approached, after further consideration.

      “I thought O’Malley was going to catch him until I started getting a little bit closer to the fight and I started talking to other people and getting their opinions and what they thought and blah, blah, blah. I was honestly, and not to change my mind because I’m really bad at calling fights, but I did change my mind in this one and go Merab toward the end of it.

      “Once I started to reflect on how badass it is to go on a 10 or 11 fight win streak and then also never be finished or anything like that, even though he does get clipped in some of his fights, the shots that he got clipped in weren’t necessarily, like they were lead hooks, they weren’t really things that O’Malley even throws, but I thought Merab did awesome.”

      One of the aspects of the fight that Sandhagen was most impressed by was Dvalishvili’s ability to close the distance and shoot for takedowns without putting himself in harm’s way.

      This was always going to be where O’Malley was at his most dangerous but it didn’t end up playing into the outcome.

      “I thought he fought the fight that you should fight if you have Merab’s skill set against O’Malley. I think he moved when he needed to move. The thing that I was most worried about is Merab’s just a very excitable guy and I was worried that he was gonna not be patient and he was going to bounce around and then make a mistake by going in and he was completely patient. He was cool in there, expect for the whole Tim Welch and his thing in the beginning of the fight but man, he just did such an amazing job and that’s a really, really good win because O’Malley is a really serious fighter.”

      Finally, “The Sandman” said that he enjoyed watching this high-stakes clash at the Sphere despite some of the criticisms that it received from fans.

      “I know that a lot of fans were bored with that one or whatever but I really do like watching chess matches and I think that that was Merab just out-chessing O’Malley and that was exciting for me to watch.”

      Read also: ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss