MMA News

Author: Kyle Dimond

  • Dricus Du Plessis To Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘Pull Out Of The Fight!’

    Dricus Du Plessis To Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘Pull Out Of The Fight!’

    Despite the previous tensions between Dricus Du Plessis and his first title challenger, Israel Adesanya, the champion has shown his opponent some respect ahead of August 17.

    “Stillknocks” does have a lot of appreciation for what the former champion has been able to accomplish in his career.

    For all of the plaudits that “The Last Stylebender” has rightfully earned during his six-year run with the UFC, Du Plessis questions whether he can continue fighting at this level.

    The champ believes that Adesanya’s time at the top may have run it’s course and has theorized whether he still has that same hunger inside of him at this stage.

    Dricus Du Plessis Says He Would Try To Pull Out Of The Fight If He Was In Israel Adesanya’s Shoes

    In a recent interview with New York Post Sports, Du Plessis was asked what he would do if he was in his opponent’s shoes if, like he says, Adesanya doesn’t have enough left in the tank to become middleweight champion again.

    His response was a joke about avoiding the fight altogether at this stage, but he went on to explain more about what he sees as the key difference between them.

    With him being just around the corner from his first title defense as Adesanya looks to become a three-time middleweight champion, he believes that the two men are just at very different points in their careers heading into UFC 305 in Perth.

    “Well if I was in his shoes right now, I would find a way to pull out of this fight to be honest because I’m coming. I’m feeling great, I’m feeling the best I’ve ever felt and that’s the banter in me, getting ready for that but in all honesty, to go and say he doesn’t have the fire, I think the fire might be there. But, it’s just too small. My fire is just shadowing his fire, maybe that’s why I don’t see the fire in him because of the fire in me.”

    Read also: PHOTOS: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya’s Custom Shorts For UFC 305

  • UFC Middleweight Brendan Allen: ‘I Used To Be A Big Fan Of Robert Whittaker. Not Anymore’ (Exclusive)

    UFC Middleweight Brendan Allen: ‘I Used To Be A Big Fan Of Robert Whittaker. Not Anymore’ (Exclusive)

    Several big fights are to take place in the UFC’s middleweight division following the title fight this weekend between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.

    Whilst Sean Strickland is still in the mix for a shot at either man, the outcomes of some clashes between other top contenders could reveal the next in line.

    The UFC’s return to Paris on September 28 sees #4 take on #7 in the co-main event as Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen meet for the first time.

    Though their fight would likely be a title eliminator in most circumstances, the five round co-main event of UFC 308 in October between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev also has the potential to set either man up for a shot at the belt.

    Brendan Allen Says That He No Longer Sees Robert Whittaker & Other Top Contenders The Same Way

    In a recent interview with MMA News, Allen was asked to give his thoughts on this rescheduled match-up between Whittaker and Chimaev that could have an impact on his bout with Imavov.

    When approaching the subject of the former champion, he spoke about how his opinion of Whittaker has changed over the years.

    Allen is currently riding a seven-fight win streak that puts him right in the mix with the top names at 185-pounds.

    As a result, he now sees his fellow contenders as competition rather than fighters that he is able to admire from the outside looking in.

    “I used to be a big fan of Robert [Whittaker], I’m not really anymore but I used to be a big fan. I’m just, I don’t know, it’s like maybe it’s just one of those things, how the idols become your rival type thing. Now I just like, I don’t f*** with any of y’all. I want y’all to know that I don’t f*** with any of y’all. So, I don’t know, I just mind my business and try to stay to myself just because I don’t want any problems with nobody but as soon as someone ask me something, I’m going to answer how I want to answer and then they’re going to feel some type of way and whatever.”

    Read also: VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

  • Darren Till’s Detailed Advice To Israel Adesanya On How To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You’re A High Level Striker So You Know What Am On About…’

    Darren Till’s Detailed Advice To Israel Adesanya On How To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You’re A High Level Striker So You Know What Am On About…’

    Former UFC middleweight contender Darren Till and Israel Adesanya have had an interesting relationship with one another during their careers.

    When Till made the decision to move up to middleweight, he was immediately on the radar of the champion at the time.

    As a former title challenger at 170-pounds, his win over Kelvin Gastelum immediately put him in the mix and with both Till and Adesanya being specialist strikers, the match-up sold itself.

    The fight never did materialize after “The Gorilla” suffered three consecutive losses before parting ways with the promotion.

    His final outing inside the Octagon came at UFC 282 where he faced the man that would go on to become champion and defend the title against Adesanya this weekend at UFC 305.

    Darren Till Gives Breakdown & Advice For Israel Adesanya On How To Beat Dricus Du Plessis

    In a post on X, Till gave Adesanya some advice based on what he learned in his fight with Dricus Du Plessis in December of 2022.

    The scouse fighter was submitted in the third and despite taking a beating in the opening round, he was able to have some success in the striking ranges against “Stillknocks” in the second.

    His accurate combinations were much too fast for Du Plessis at the time and this is where he believes that Adesanya may be able to capitalize.

    Till passed some knowledge on to “The Last Stylebender” about drawing reactions from the champion as well as standing his ground instead of fighting off of the back foot.

    “Got some advice for Izzy on how to fight DDP on Saturday. Lots of feints… he reacts to them so much and throws from the hills. Then you can step back. Have a look and either for for the punch combo or knee maybe a kick. Ur a high level striker so u know what am on about. Everyone on here won’t have a clue but they will try to understand it. Only the elite strikers get it.

    “As he rushes in also do what you did against rob and I did the same. Urs knocked rob out as where as mine didn’t but still same same. DDP will rush in. Instead of standing back or going back like most of these silly stupid strikers do. Stand ur ground and just hit him with either again the punch combo or even a knee up the middle. I personally love the elbow as they are lunging in but it’s whatever suits at that time and whatever you have practiced. Hope this advice goes well with you IZZY.”

    Read also: Mateusz Gamrot Promises More Entertainment In UFC 305 Return Against Dan Hooker: ‘I Know How Is Politics In The UFC…’ 

  • Report: AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes Targeted For Undercard Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut

    Report: AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes Targeted For Undercard Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut

    A huge lightweight matchup is reportedly being set for the debut of the PFL PPV Super Fights series, which features the MMA return of Francis Ngannou.

    First reported by @MagicM_MMABets on X, former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee is expected to be returning to take on one of the biggest prospects in the sport, Paul Hughes.

    This was later confirmed by several other media sources, including MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.

    Hughes Set For Major Matchup In Second PFL Assignment

    Ireland’s Hughes made his debut for the promotion earlier this year after signing to the PFL, stopping Bobby King in the second round at a Bellator Champions Series event following his run in Cage Warriors.

    “Big News” made it clear after that fight that he had big-name opponents in mind, and that’s certainly what he’s got on his hands on October 19 should these reports come to fruition.

    McKee, meanwhile, put in a standout performance at February’s PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia when he submitted longtime PFL veteran Clay Collard in the first round.

    Now he will look to welcome Hughes to the very top tier of competition in this promotion in a clash between Bellator’s biggest homegrown talent and one of the PFL’s most exciting additions.

    Main-event billing for what is shaping up to be the biggest card of the year for the PFL goes to the long-awaited clash between Ngannou and Renan Ferreira, who knocked out Bellator champion Ryan Bader at the previously mentioned PFL vs. Bellator card.

    In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg faces Larissa Pacheco in another highly anticipated and long-awaited meeting between the two dominant female forces on the combined PFL and Bellator rosters.

    A location is yet to be confirmed for this event, though it has long been expected to be taking place in Saudi Arabia.

  • Eric Nicksick On Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Unhappy With Belal Muhammad During Training: ‘Punking Belal In Front Of Everybody…’

    Eric Nicksick On Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Unhappy With Belal Muhammad During Training: ‘Punking Belal In Front Of Everybody…’

    Xtreme Couture’s Eric Nicksick may be regarded as one of the best coaches in the sport but that doesn’t mean he’s not able to learn things from others in the same field.

    Since making the decision to retire on top of the sport, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has seamlessly transitioned into a coaching role.

    Not only has he achieved a lot of success in the corner of other fighters, athletes will often share stories of how far coach Khabib will push people in training.

    He appears to have taken up a similar coaching style to that of his late father, and if it worked for Abdulmanap, why fix what isn’t broken.

    Eric Nicksick Recalls Key Lessons He Was Able To Take Away From Watching Khabib Nurmagomedov Coach

    During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Nicksick reflected on what it was like getting to watch Nurmagomedov lead sessions at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.

    He reflected on one story in particular that showed him how professionalism is key to what they do alongside working hard in the gym.

    “Those guys do it at the highest standard at the highest level. One of the funny things too was Belal Muhammad brought a guest that was not cleared by Khabib and then like Khabib was not happy about that and just like kind of made me realize like I sometimes open my doors too much and allow people to come and train that we don’t get vetted through the system.”

    Nicksick went on to explain that Nurmagomedov walked a fine line between being actually annoyed by this scenario, whilst having fun with it at the same time.

    “You could feel like he was joking but he wasn’t, he was serious about it and Belal was like, ‘Oh dude, I’m so sorry,’ you know, and he goes, ‘I don’t know who this guy is.’ Then like the best part is like Khabib and I are sitting here and he kind of looks at me and he’s like, ‘Yeah Eric, are you going to let a guy in your gym that you don’t know, maybe he’s fighting one of your guys,’ like just kind of punking Belal in front of everybody, it was funny. But obviously, Khabib let the guys still continue to train but there was a process to that.”

    Read also: Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

  • Brendan Allen On Long Title Run For Belal Muhammad At Welterweight: ‘A Lot Of Switches That Need To Be Flipped’ (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen On Long Title Run For Belal Muhammad At Welterweight: ‘A Lot Of Switches That Need To Be Flipped’ (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen watched on at UFC 304 as his long time friend Belal Muhammad finally got his shot at the welterweight title.

    The middleweight contender was incredibly happy to see the challenger get his hand raised and hear “and new”, after beating Leon Edwards over five rounds in Manchester.

    Allen, who is preparing for a big co-main event clash in Paris with Nassourdine Imavov, was able to take motivation from this as he also seeks his first title shot.

    The #7-ranked contender sees his friend keeping hold of the belt at 170-pounds as long as he’s able to lock down the mental aspects of being a champion.

    Brendan Allen Believes Belal Muhammad Will Stay Welterweight Champion As Long As He’s Motivated

    Muhammad is now set to go from hunter to hunted after chasing the welterweight title for such a long time.

    While this means he won’t be needing to call opponents out in order to climb the ladder anymore, it does mean shifting his mentality now that he has achieved his goal.

    The welterweight division isn’t short on dangerous challengers either, with the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov likely being the next man in line.

    During an interview with MMA News, Allen spoke about whether he believes his friend will be able to establish a long reign as champion by continuing his win streak.

    He said that due to knowing Muhammad well, he believes he certainly has the skills and confidence to do so but the key is staying just as motivated and hungry as he was on the way up the mountain.

    “I do, I think it’s as long as he wants it you know. As long as he’s motivated and hungry, I think he can hold it as long as he wants just because he has the skill. It’s just. I haven’t personally been in the situation of obviously being a champion yet at that level but they say there’s a lot of switches that need to be flipped in the way that you translate your thinking in order to find a different motivation and hunger. So, I think as long as he does that and continues to want it, I think he’ll be just fine. He has such a strong fight IQ, he’s good everywhere, he knows what to do and when to do it. So yeah, I really think he can.”

    Read also: ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

  • Alexander Volkanovski Feels UFC 305 Main Card Fighter Is ‘Due’ For A ‘Big KO Finish’: ‘Very Dangerous On The Feet…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Feels UFC 305 Main Card Fighter Is ‘Due’ For A ‘Big KO Finish’: ‘Very Dangerous On The Feet…’

    The UFC is headed back down under this weekend for UFC 305 which takes place in Perth, Australia on August 17.

    As expected, there’s a lot of Australasian representatives on the card in some big fights and that’s certainly the case for heavyweight fan favorite Tai Tuivasa.

    The Aussie slugger was on a great run of results heading into his main event clash with Ciryl Gane in September of 2022, following five consecutive stoppage victories.

    Since suffering a defeat to Gane, he is winless inside the Octagon and has lost four in a row with two coming via knockout and the other two by submission.

    Tuivasa now finds himself in a spot where he needs to get back in the win column and fortunately for him, he’s in a match-up that should suit him.

    Alexander Volkanovski Picks Tai Tuivasa To Bounce Back In A Big Way At UFC 305

    Tuivasa is set to meet fellow heavyweight striker and knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik this weekend as top 15 heavyweights throw down in Perth.

    During his recent breakdown of the card, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski predicted a big win for Tuivasa to silence the critics.

    He highlighted how despite “Bam Bam” coming in as the underdog this time around, he’s in a good position to cause an upset with his back against the wall and the Australian fans behind him.

    “Home crowd, against a striker, I like them odds. I like them odds. Again, Rozenstruik is an incredible striker, I think he did a lot of kickboxing even before UFC so he’s no easy fight but I mean I feel like Tai Tuivasa is going to come out and land a finish. I think he can get the big KO finish. He’s due for one so I’m going to go ‘Bam Bam’. Again, everyone loves ‘Bam Bam’ and another way to keep this big day of fights in Perth rolling is a big ‘Bam Bam’ knockout and shoey afterwards.”

    Read also: Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

  • Rising UFC Middleweight Contender Predicts UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘The Two Styles Don’t Match At All…’

    Rising UFC Middleweight Contender Predicts UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘The Two Styles Don’t Match At All…’

    One of the biggest fights of the year goes down this weekend at UFC 305 when Dricus Du Plessis looks to defend the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya.

    The two men have been on a collision course with one another for some time now, with all roads eventually leading to Perth, Australia on August 17.

    However, an interesting match-up doesn’t always make for the greatest of fights, especially when you have someone that is as skilled in one area as Adesanya.

    The former two-time champion presents a difficult test for Du Plessis who usually relies on his power, aggression and output to get his hand raised. which won’t be easy against the precision striking of “The Last Stylebender”.

    One of the division’s most exciting contenders believes that the clash of styles will end up going the way of the challenger.

    Caio Borralho Believes That Israel Adesanya Has The Advantage In This Style Match-up

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Caio Borralho said that he believes Adesanya’s style will be a perfect counter to the constant forward motion of the champion.

    Borralho has gone 6-0 in the middleweight division and will now look to put himself in the title picture when he faces Jared Cannonier in his first main event spotlight.

    He sees that unlike what Sean Strickland was able to do against Adesanya in the shock upset at UFC 293 last year, Du Plessis doesn’t have the right style to stop the former champ from reclaiming the top spot.

    “I think this time, I think Adesanya is going to win this fight. I think stylistically, the two styles doesn’t match a little, doesn’t match at all. I think Dricus just goes forward, try to punch and push the pace up, but I think Israel Adesanya is going to manage the distance all the time, circle up and kick a lot on Dricus and I think he can win by decision during the fifth round or maybe a good knockout in the third round if Dricus gets tired.”

    Read also: Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’

  • ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    Jon Jones may be the most skilled mixed martial artist that the sport has ever seen.

    What can easily be forgotten about when it comes to the skills that “Bones” brings to the table is his high-level grappling which he rarely uses.

    For the majority of his run in the light heavyweight division, Jones chose to strike with opponents instead which shows how well-rounded he is.

    Fans did get another quick glimpse at his grappling ability in his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane, where he was able to quickly secure a takedown and guillotine submission to become world champion in another weight class.

    With all of this being said, large sections of the MMA fanbase haven’t been willing to give Jones his flowers as of late due to the ongoing conversation around him and the interim champion, Tom Aspinall.

    MMA Fans React As Jon Jones Holds His Own With Gordon Ryan

    A recent video on social media showed yet another look at Jones’ high-level grappling as he mixed it up on the mats with Gordon Ryan.

    As well as being a big and powerful athlete, Ryan is one of the best jiu-jitsu competitors ever and at least in this clip, “Bones” is able to hold his own.

    As is the case with everything that Jones posts as of late, many of the replies underneath were in reference to a potential fight with Aspinall, which fans have been very outspoken about.

    Whilst some believe that this fight is to make instead of having him return against Stipe Miocic, others have sided with the heavyweight champion and believe that the Aspinall hype train has gotten out of hand.

    “And people act like he won’t do this to Aspinall in a f***in heartbeat”

    “BREAKING NEWS Dana White’s burner account gets leaked under the account name ‘blonded’”

    “I realized after he cooked Gane”

    “People don’t realize how small Gordon Ryan is compared to Tom Aspinall.”

    “Jones would beat Aspinall easily. Respect the GOAT”

    https://twitter.com/DeWizard7/status/1821771447137636662

    “No way you think Gordon Ryan was actually trying???”

    “I don’t wanna hear anybody saying Aspinall beats him”

    Read also: TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

  • Francis Ngannou’s Touching Gesture To Coach Who ‘Doesn’t Have A Family’: ‘It Was Enough To Move This Man To Tears…’

    Francis Ngannou’s Touching Gesture To Coach Who ‘Doesn’t Have A Family’: ‘It Was Enough To Move This Man To Tears…’

    When MMA fans first came across Francis Ngannou, many bought into him because of his destructive one punch knockout power that made him a must-watch addition to the UFC’s roster.

    It was then his story, and some incredible highlight reel knockouts, that really helped to turn “The Predator” into a big star in the combat sports world.

    As a result of his incredible journey in life to achieve his dreams after coming from humble beginnings, it’s no surprise that Ngannou is a great person.

    He represents combat sports so well by being a tremendous human being so it was no surprise to see the amount of support he received after what he went through earlier this year.

    Eric Nicksick Shares Recent Moment From The Gym Where Francis Ngannou Shared His Appreciation For One Of The Coaches

    There is sure to be many people that have crossed paths with Ngannou that would be able to talk about the character of the former UFC champion.

    Not many know him better than Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick who described his fighter in an interview with MMA Fighting as a “forward thinker” who is “always trying to leave people better off than when he found them”.

    When asked to give an example of the kind of person Ngannou is behind closed doors, a moment that recently took place in the gym jumped right into his mind.

    Nicksick told the story of how a potentially underappreciated member of the coaching team at the gym, Nathan Pettit, was a recent recipient of Ngannou’s kindness and gratitude.

    “Oh 100%. Nate Pettit is one of our coaches at the gym and Nate’s just one of the hardest workers you’re going to see in the room like the guy’s constantly holding the pads for people, constantly on the road. He’s a dog like he’s just a guy that’s like if you walk in the gym right now, Nate’s working and he doesn’t have a family, doesn’t have a life, his life is this gym. So Nate came up to me, we were putting the new cages together, Nate came up to me with like tears in his eyes, this is like two weeks ago and he’s like, ‘Dude, Francis just handed me a cheque and just said thank you for everything that you do.’

    “I don’t know what the amount was, I didn’t even ask but it was enough to move this man to tears, to an emotion. I said to Francis later on, I was like hey, thanks for hooking up Nate. He’s like, ‘Of course bro, I see how hard he works and I want to pay him for all the time he’s given to others that maybe it’s not reciprocated back to him.’ So you know, just keeping it in the house, keeping it in the family the way he takes care of his coaching staff and the people around him. Nate had a huge role in helping Francis beat Stipe Miocic, Nate ran those wrestling practices along with Dennis Davis so paying it forward to Nate man, that’s just the type of person that Francis is.”

    Read also: Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

  • ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    Belal Muhammad has never been the type of person that tends to avoid engaging in the occasional social media back-and-forth and this hasn’t changed since he has become champion.

    In fact, since winning the title at UFC 304, the new titleholder has been exchanging words with the division’s former champion, Kamaru Usman.

    What started with one post from Usman where he criticized some comments from Muhammad in an interview has now seen them both retaliate.

    Usman’s response specifically focused in on Muhammad’s comments about his cameo appearance in Black Panther, which of course, “Remember The Name” had a counter for.

    In the final statement, at least at this current time, Muhammad revisited the first post that kicked off this conversation, bringing up a point about Usman referring to his win over Leon Edwards.

    MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad Gets The Last Laugh For Now

    Though a lot of fans would likely rather see the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov challenge Muhammad for the welterweight title next, this social media feud with Usman has been entertaining to say the least.

    Both men have been able to get in some good jabs at one another and it appears that the current 170-pound king has had the final word.

    The combat sports community on social media reacted underneath Muhammad’s recent post.

    “Nah Belal really read that back a few times to cook up some more shit. Keep it comin champ”

    “Belal Twitter fingers on point right now. Me sitting back enjoying the back and forth”

    “Bully bringing receipts…..”

    “Ur making bruh cry please stop”

    “Your last KO was when Bush was president in high school. Stop bro the king of Decisions”

    “Belal kinda cooking rn ngl”

    “Damn. Going for the knees is a shot below the belt…”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis Or Adesanya

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis Or Adesanya

    Islam Makhachev will have been happy to see Belal Muhammad become the welterweight champion at UFC 304 after the training they have done together in the past.

    However, there is a sense that this result messed with the future plans of the lightweight champion.

    Had Leon Edwards defeated Muhammad and secured his third title defense, Makhachev would have been high on the list of his potential challengers having laid out his ambition to become a two-weight world champion in the near future.

    He now finds himself in a similar situation as to the one Kamaru Usman had during his welterweight title reign where he wanted a second belt but a friend of his, Israel Adesanya in Usman’s case, is the champion of the weight class above.

    Just like how Usman briefly flirted with the idea of skipping over Adesanya’s division to jump up two weight classes instead, Makhachev has mentioned competing at middleweight.

    Javier Mendez Gives His Take On Islam Makhachev Fighting At Middleweight

    Though the idea was brushed off by the current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, maybe there is a future where Makhachev moves from 155 to 185.

    He still has contenders to face in his own division and is set to be out for a bit longer due to a recently disclosed hand injury but the lightweight king has big ambitions.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, his coach Javier Mendez spoke about what this would mean for Makhachev, revealing that whilst nothing serious has taken place, they have spoken about the idea.

    “Islam said that middleweight would be kind of something but he’d have to put on some muscle so this is not just me, this is Islam thinking the same thing that yeah if it did ever come through, so it’s really not ideally something that we’re really looking at but it was something that was discussed but he’d have to put on some size if that was ever to happen.”

    Mendez went on to say that whilst it would obviously be a tough and unheard of task to accomplish, he can understand why Makhachev would want to do it because it would define his legacy.

    “If he was able to pull something like that off, if that ever was materialized and he did pull it off, that would put him in the top three pound-for-pound of all time.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

  • Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    During Belal Muhammad’s current winning streak which now sees him at the top of the welterweight division, a lot has been made about the company he has chosen to keep.

    “Remember The Name” has got a solid and small team around him but he has also decided in recent times to do some work alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

    This was especially true heading into Muhammad’s fight with Sean Brady, which produced his best performance inside the Octagon at that time.

    It was also a part of the narrative heading into his title fight with Leon Edwards last month.

    Whilst the champion at the time had dealt with American wrestlers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, how would he match-up with someone that has been training with some of the best grapplers in the sport?

    Javier Mendez Says Belal Muhammad’s Coaches Deserve More Credit For UFC 304 Win

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, AKA head coach Javier Mendez said that people got too carried away with giving ‘coach Khabib’ credit for Muhammad’s recent title win.

    Whilst the welterweight challenger did manage to get some work in with “The Eagle” before heading to Manchester, Mendez revealed that it was only for a very small amount of time in the grand scheme of the training camp.

    He said that while Nurmagomedov did contribute and would have added some extra value, the credit for this win on the coaching side of things deserves to be aimed at Muhammad’s long-time team instead.

    “What about his coaches? What about Lou? What about his other coaches? Mike Valley, you know, what about them? I mean they were with him through this whole time so to me, it isn’t anything other than what they did as coaching staff because Khabib only put like maybe a week – two weeks to help him on this one and the rest he spent with his coaches. So, to me, I don’t like the narrative when they make it look like Khabib made the big difference when yeah he helped him but his coaches made the difference.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to wait three years to get his shot at a rematch with Leon Edwards.

    After their first fight ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, both men put together impressive winning streaks before meeting against at UFC 304.

    In that time, Muhammad was very open about his dislike of Edwards for not wanting to fight him, but with that being said, he was honest about a potential trilogy fight between them.

    “Rocky” could seemingly put himself back in the title picture with a bounce-back win, and the champion acknowledged that.

    Belal Muhammad Questions Whether Leon Edwards Will Recover From Loss & Corner Conflict

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad gave his thoughts on the current state of the 170-pound division and whether he expects to cross paths with Edwards once again.

    He believes that whilst “Rocky” can certainly put his name back in the mix if he goes away and beats a fellow top contender, he doesn’t know whether that will happen.

    Muhammad said that it will be an uphill battle for the former champion to come back as the same fighter with the same hunger, after what took place in Manchester.

    He also made reference to how Edwards could be dealing with a fractured team after what happened inside the Octagon on July 27.

    The Brit’s head coach Dave Lovell, in trying to motivate his fighter, asked him whether he wanted him to wave the fight off and call it a night to which Edwards seemingly told him to “shut the f*** up”.

    Muhammad said that this factor may mean it’ll take some time before Edwards is on his radar once again.

    “There’s not a lot of guys that you’re looking at like this is a clear number one contender, this guy’s clear number one contender, so Leon could go out there, get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix. But, it all just comes back mentally.

    “I don’t know if him and his coach are gonna have like a break-up party now because they looked pretty bad in the corner right. There’s a lot of turmoil there so I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of blame and a lot of embarrassment coming from that team and a lot of just embarrassment from himself.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

  • Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    A lot has changed since Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis first faced off inside the Octagon at UFC 290 last year.

    The middleweight title has been exchanged between them without them fighting inside the Octagon, but that changes at UFC 305 on August 17.

    At the time, Adesanya would have been considered to be a big favorite against the challenger, even after Du Plessis stunned the MMA world by stopping Robert Whittaker.

    However, the South African fighter then went on to defeat Sean Strickland for the 185-pound belt. This was after “The Last Stylebender” was convincingly beaten by the short-notice title challenger Strickland at UFC 293, making this upcoming fight very different.

    One of the biggest arguments that can be made for the champion retaining the title in Perth is the awkward timing and movement that Du Plessis brings into the cage.

    We saw how Strickland was able to stifle Adesanya’s offense and whilst Du Plessis may not have the same defensive ability, he’s very unpredictable.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the former two-time champion said that he doesn’t expect this to be a problem for him despite “Stillknocks” presenting some issues.

    He compared him to a former opponent of his in Marvin Vettori, who Adesanya has faced and beaten twice, with one added element to his game.

    “A bit like Vettori to be honest but he’s just more of a risk taker than Vettori. So yeah, I don’t think I’ll have an issue dealing with what he brings but it’s the intangibles, the unknown unknowns. He takes way more risks than Vettori so that’s what makes him really dangerous.”

    Israel Adesanya Says Du Plessis Fight Isn’t Personal Despite ‘Blasphemous’ Comments

    This fight has had a long time to build and in that time, things have been said that likely aren’t going to be forgiven and forgotten when the dust settles.

    Du Plessis’ comments about being the first African champion kicked this feud off and whilst Adesanya wants to make him pay for that, he doesn’t believe that this bout is on the same level as some of his great rivalries in the past.

    “The Last Stylebender” told Mike Bohn that he won’t move past what his next opponent said but that doesn’t mean it’s personal for him.

    “Nah, I haven’t even fought the guy yet. Those rivalries with Whittaker and Pereira, those are etched in history. Me and this guy haven’t even fought yet. We tried to fight, it never happened, so now we’ll fight and set the score. But nah, it’s not really personal. What he said was blasphemous cuz without myself, Francis and Kamaru, he wouldn’t be able to be champion. So, what he said was really blasphemous and he’ll take accountability for what he said.”

    Read also: Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

  • Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Despite solidifying himself as the number one contender in the lightweight division with his latest win, Arman Tsarukyan has got some time on his hands.

    The 27-year old stated that he was offered the lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev on the same night that he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

    He turned that opportunity down due to wanting more time to prepare and with Dustin Poirier stepping into his place at UFC 302, more time is certainly what he’s ended up with.

    Makhachev was previously gearing up for a return to Abu Dhabi in October but a recently announced hand injury means that his huge rematch with Tsarukyan will be pushed back once again.

    Instead, the next in line for a shot at the 155-pound title is keeping himself busy by coaching a similar series to The Ultimate Fighter, alongside another big name on the UFC roster.

    Arman Tsarukyan Describes What It’s Like To Coach Against Khamzat Chimaev On Russian Reality TV Series

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM

    It was announced several months ago that Tsarukyan was set to feature on a reality TV series where both he and Khamzat Chimaev will coach competing teams.

    Hype Reality 3 sees them go up against one another and as you can always expect when you have world class athletes involved, things are getting competitive as Tsarukyan detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “It’s good and I want to beat him, he wants to beat me so I train my fighters very well to win [against] his fighters.”

    He went on to say that whilst both men are doing what they can to ensure the best results for their teams, tensions haven’t boiled over like they have done in previous seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

    “No, we have good relationship with Khamzat and that’s why we just like a sport you know. Who is going to win, nothing else, no drama.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

  • ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    Despite making it clear that his preferred option is to stay with the UFC, flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is teasing a new destination.

    “The Punisher” fought out his UFC contract following his latest win at UFC 304 over Manel Kape.

    In his post-event press conference, Dana White announced that they would not be resigning Mokaev despite his clear ability, due to his outside of the cage conduct which includes him admitting to sucker punching Kape on fight week.

    Though White remarked that he will make a fine addition to the PFL’s roster, Ray Sefo made it clear that this isn’t going to happen.

    A post on social media from Mokaev showed him receiving a new pair of gloves and with some clever sleuthing, some have tried to predict where he will be applying his trade in the near future.

    Violent Money TV reported that upon closer inspection of the inside of the glove, it appears to have been produced by the brand Top Ten.

    Top Ten became the exclusive apparel provider for Bahrain-based promotion BRAVE CF earlier this year, which suggests that this could be his new home.

    Mokaev fought five times under the BRAVE banner before signing to the UFC in November of 2021.

    MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev – BRAVE CF Theory

    When Mokaev’s UFC departure was made official, signing to the PFL seemed like the clear and obvious next step for him – until it wasn’t anymore.

    Whilst there are plenty of other promotions that could welcome Mokaev if he wishes to stay active at this point in his career, BRAVE may be the one that makes the most sense due to their prior relationship.

    MMA fans, however, reacted on social media with more questions to this hypothetical answer.

    “Mokaev is funded by the Bahrain royal family and is part of Team KHK, it was inevitable to anybody that knows his ties to Bahrain that he’d end up in Brave.”

    “Mokaev will go on a mad submission streak and claim two belts at Brave CF and the UFC will have egg on their face. Pin this tweet”

    “Nice, his fights will be seen by hundreds of people”

    “He is gonna be making $100 per fight”

    https://twitter.com/StricklandSzn/status/1821510540822249565

    “Never heard of Brave fc”

    https://twitter.com/osubucks2024/status/1821513305862672399

    “ACA I believe. Doesn’t matter. Will still watch him.”

    “Back to the regionals for Mokaev.”

    https://twitter.com/wrldw4r/status/1821523763390816768

    Read also: Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

  • Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Magomed Ankalaev was announced to be returning at UFC 308 in October but the opponent had some left scratching their chins.

    The 32-year old contender is ranked as the #2 in the division behind the former champion and the last man to challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title, Jiří Procházka.

    Though he does have a no contest from his first fight with Johnny Walker and a draw against Jan Błachowicz, Ankalaev is undefeated since his UFC debut and has won ten in a row (excluding the two previously mentioned blemishes).

    Following his win in a rematch with Walker earlier this year, many expected that Ankalaev would be next the title challenger after Jamahal Hill’s failed attempt to reclaim the belt at UFC 300.

    Though it makes sense why Pereira would then instead be booked for a rematch with Procházka on late notice at UFC 303, Ankalaev would surely then be the next one up.

    However, he is now set to face Aleksandar Rakić, who is coming off of a loss to Procházka, in Abu Dhabi.

    Robert Whittaker Jokes That Magomed Ankalaev May Simply Not Be In The UFC’s Good Books

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his reaction to this fight being put together.

    Whittaker, who will also feature on UFC 308 in a co-main event clash with Khamzat Chimaev over five rounds, was also surprised to see Ankalaev back in action against someone other than Pereira.

    He laid out how there are two thought processes behind this fight with one being that “Poatan” has earned a rest and his number one contender would rather be active in the mean time.

    Whittaker also laid out how this decision may have been made due to the relationship that Ankalaev currently has with the UFC, which has been rocky to say the least in recent years.

    “Pereira deserves a break, he took that second fight with what’s his name and won it in outstanding fashion and then his toe was broken so he deserves a break. I guess I can look at it like… UFC really don’t like Ankalaev. Like when he fought against Błachowicz to that draw, they were just like cross his name out. They’re like yeah, like he didn’t have great rapport after that fight right. So that or it’s exactly as you said, Pereira needs some time out, Ankalaev doesn’t want to sit out forever. Or, bear with me here, they’re prepping him to fight Aspinall.”

    Read also: ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

  • ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    The UFC has always had a reputation for giving the fans the fights that they want to see but right now, it appears that what they want most is something they can’t have.

    Jon Jones is, by many people’s estimations, especially Dana White’s, the best to ever step inside the Octagon and after winning the heavyweight title, it makes sense that he would want to take on arguably the best UFC heavyweight ever, Stipe Miocic.

    Some had issues with the fight when it was first announced for UFC 295 last November due to the amount of time that Miocic has been out for and the fact that his last fight was a loss.

    This outcry only became far louder when an injury to Jones pushed the fight back another year, with Tom Aspinall then going on to become the interim champion.

    Fans have been constantly calling for Jones to unify the heavyweight title next against Aspinall, rather than fighting Miocic, even if that simply isn’t going to happen.

    MMA Fans Continue Relentless Push For Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall

    With Jones even offering up a phone number that people can call if they want to see the Aspinall fight happen, he’s very aware of fan sentiment because he sees it under everything he posts.

    The heavyweight champion’s latest social media video shows him doing lengths in the pool and even that wasn’t safe from scrutiny regarding the Aspinall fight.

    “Just when you thought it was safe …”

    https://twitter.com/Jabjitsu/status/1820974319112953884

    “When are you fighting Tom?”

    “You should consider getting into the deep end with Tom.”

    “Ducks do like to swim, after all.”

    “Jon training the Triathlon to run away from Aspinall.”

    “Relinquish your belt”

    https://twitter.com/Fargolde/status/1820965971357790689

    “Tom owns u lil buddy. Less swimming more fighting.”

    “Imagine how good it’d feel to be back in the octagon fighting contenders instead of holding up a division.”

    Read also: BREAKING: Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

  • ‘Dana Will Offer Him 2k/2k To Fight On DWCS’ – MMA Fans React As Mijaín López Retires After 5th Olympic Wrestling Gold

    ‘Dana Will Offer Him 2k/2k To Fight On DWCS’ – MMA Fans React As Mijaín López Retires After 5th Olympic Wrestling Gold

    A record has been set at the 2024 instalment of The Olympic Games by Cuban wrestler Mijaín López.

    In fact, López was able to check off two Olympic records with his latest gold medal win by becoming the oldest medallist in the history of the competition at 41 years old.

    He has also become the first athlete to win a staggering five consecutive gold medals in the same event by winning the top prize in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and now 2024.

    After proving himself to be the best in the world from Beijing to London to Rio to Tokyo and now Paris, he ended what will forever be a legendary run in the sport by taking off his shoes and leaving them on the mat to mark the end of his Greco-Roman wrestling career.

    Not only did he make history as one of the greatest competitors to ever grace the games, he sealed the historic win in dominant fashion.

    His former training partner Yasmani Acosta Fernández is another elite wrestler but as a fellow Cuban, he was never able to get ahead of López in the pecking order.

    After becoming a Chilean citizen, he took home the silver after being convincingly beaten 6-0 by his former countryman.

    MMA Fans React To Mijaín López Retiring After Making History

    Wrestling is always going to be a crucial aspect of mixed martial arts and so many top fighters have achieved success in the cage after coming through this background.

    With that in mind, MMA fans reacted on social media to the record-setting Olympian going out on top as López left Paris with another emphatic performance.

    “Man if he went to ufc he woulda dominated the heavyweight division easily n been rich”

    “If he also boxes as well as other Cubans he would be dangerous in the UFC”

    “Get this kid a ufc contract”

    “Dana will offer him 2K/2k to fight on DWCS”

    “That’s one of the most unbelievable achievements in sports history…20 years…no bronzes…no silvers…GOLD. Everytime”

    “Teach him how to strike Muay Thai/kick boxing and get him some gloves. UFC champ recipe”

    “This generations karelin”

    https://twitter.com/beerijuanasj/status/1820978100324462833

    Read also: BREAKING: Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

  • Former Fighter On Du Plessis Getting Under Adesanya’s Skin: ‘Reacts Incredibly Emotionally’

    Former Fighter On Du Plessis Getting Under Adesanya’s Skin: ‘Reacts Incredibly Emotionally’

    Israel Adesanya faces a new test when he returns at UFC 305 to try and reclaim the middleweight title in a fight with Dricus Du Plessis.

    “The Last Stylebender” has had his rivals in the past and whilst his story with Alex Pereira has defined big parts of both men’s careers, and the likes of Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland weren’t big fans of his, this one is different.

    No opponent has been able to bring this kind of intensity out of the former champion quite like Du Plessis has. due to his comments on bringing the title back to Africa.

    This opens up the debate whether Adesanya fights best when he’s relaxed or amped up.

    Megan Anderson Says That Israel Adesanya’s Emotion Could Help Or Hinder Him At UFC 305

    In a recent preview video of the UFC’s return to Perth on her own YouTube channel, former UFC fighter Megan Anderson spoke about the war of words between Du Plessis and Adesanya.

    Things appeared to have calmed down (a little) on this front if their most recent encounter was anything to go by but there is clearly still some tension there which could come back around on fight week.

    Anderson believes that Adesanya’s previous interactions with the champion don’t paint the best image for him unless, of course, he can use this dislike of Du Plessis to raise his game another level.

    “If anything has shown us, anytime these two get together, Israel reacts incredibly emotionally. He is saying things that we’ve never heard him say before, he is really just going out there and just being so incredibly passionate about this. How much of that is Dricus really revving up this whole rivalry between them and this is getting under Israel’s skin, we’re going to find out. But, whether it hurts him or helps him perform, that’s the biggest question for me.”

    Read also: Coach Dismisses Outcome Of Decade-Old Sparring Session Between Adesanya & Du Plessis: ‘We’ve Heard Stories Of AJ Being Knocked Out In Boxing…’

  • Coach On Donald Trump Calling Khabib Nurmagomedov Favorite UFC Fighter

    Coach On Donald Trump Calling Khabib Nurmagomedov Favorite UFC Fighter

    Shortly after his latest corner assignment in Abu Dhabi last Saturday, Khabib Nurmagomedov received some kind words from a figure that has been on record as a big fan of his.

    The former US President Donald Trump has always been tied to the sport of MMA to some degree and just like any fight fan, he has his favorites.

    Trump has mentioned the former lightweight champion in the past and even posted on social media about it, after meeting him whilst in attendance at UFC 302.

    During a recent stream alongside Adin Ross, he said that “The Eagle” is number one on his own personal list.

    Nurmagomedov’s long-time coach turned fellow corner Javier Mendez gave his reaction to this in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA.

    “No I haven’t seen it and I’m not surprised, Donald Trump has spoken always highly about Khabib and what a great fighter he thinks and also, Donald Trump from the very beginning back when the UFC just started and they would get into the Trump Towers, their hotels and Donald Trump was one of the few people that took a chance on them back in the day. So, Donald Trump’s an MMA fan so not surprising that he would choose ‘The Eagle’ because we all choose ‘The Eagle’, I choose ‘The Eagle’.”

    Javier Mendez On Why The UFC Decided To Release New Conor McGregor & Khabib Nurmagomedov Footage

    On July 15, the UFC released the latest episode of their “UFC Muted” series on YouTube which strips away the commentary so you can hear audio from fights that wasn’t possible before.

    The subject of this particular instalment was sure to bring attention due to it being no-commentary clips of the biggest fight in UFC history, Conor McGregor vs “The Eagle”.

    Mendez was asked to give his thoughts on why the UFC decided to release this footage at this time in particular.

    He explained how in his opinion, this was done to keep Nurmagomedov in the spotlight ahead of his return to the corner this past weekend, where he helped his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to stay undefeated against Cory Sandhagen in the main event.

    He said that the promotion knows what they’re doing and if they can’t have the former champion back inside the Octagon, they’ll look to make the most out of his star quality in other ways.

    “I believe the UFC’s genius at what they do. I believe they’re building the ‘young eagle’ situation because Khabib was in the corner and they showed the corner. Why would you show the corners if you’re not trying to build that as a corner. So no, UFC, they go with the algorithm, they know what they’re doing and I believe that’s what they’re doing. They’re building up Khabib as the next great coach and he is. He’s on track to being the next great coach if not the greatest coach. So I believe the UFC is playing that narrative because that’s a smart move on their part.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White has stuck to his guns regarding the expected upcoming heavyweight title fight between the champion Jon Jones and the returning Stipe Miocic.

    This match-up has been controversial ever since Jones was forced to push the fight back a year due to an injury – which then led to Tom Aspinall winning the interim title and defending it this past month.

    White has said that he expects the winner of that fight to then unify the division against Aspinall, stating after UFC 304 that it would be a great shame if both Jones and Miocic retire after their eventual clash, as many expect them both to do.

    He recently cleared the air once again on what he believes are the next steps for the heavyweight division now that Aspinall has defended his title whilst we await Jones’ return.

    Dana White Says That Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Deserve To Fight One Another But Owe It To Aspinall Afterwards

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, White addressed the idea that some of the fans believe that Aspinall deserves to fight Jones next rather than Miocic.

    He believes that this decision comes down to the two men that were originally set to meet at UFC 295 last November because of what they’ve done in the sport.

    However, he also clarifies that in his opinion, the winner of the heavyweight title fight should then have to pay it forward by giving Aspinall the chance to fight for the undisputed title before riding off into the sunset.

    “He [Aspinall] looks like the future of the heavyweight division right but at the same time, he’s working his way up. He’s climbing up the ladder and everybody’s like, ‘He deserves this and he deserves that.’ He doesn’t deserve anything. He looks great and he looks like he’s going to be the guy. You’ve got Stipe and Jon who have paid their dues, they’ve been here forever, they fought everybody, they fought all the fights that you could possibly fight. These guys deserve to fight each other.

    “Whoever wins that fight, I think that they owe it to Aspinall to fight him and give him the opportunity that they’ve been given. When you look at Jon Jones and Stipe, they beat all the guys right? And you’re either gonna be the guy that’s gonna cement your legacy forever or you’re gonna hand the torch off the way that it was handed off to you guys by all the guys that came before you.”

    Read also: Conor McGregor Brands Donald Trump’s Pick For His Favorite UFC Fighter A ‘Campaign-Ending Decision’

  • Israel Adesanya’s Coach Feels ‘Real African’ Comments From Dricus Du Plessis A Smart Marketing Ploy: ‘Conor Not Being Able To Get Inside Khabib’s Head…’

    Israel Adesanya’s Coach Feels ‘Real African’ Comments From Dricus Du Plessis A Smart Marketing Ploy: ‘Conor Not Being Able To Get Inside Khabib’s Head…’

    The main event of UFC 305 features one of the biggest rivalry match-ups of the year finally take place as middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis meets former titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    August 17 in Perth would have been a fight that fans were looking forward to regardless but comments that were made over a year ago, at this point, have made this one drastically more tense.

    Before he was even the number one contender, Du Plessis spoke about bringing the belt back to Africa as the first true African champion because he lives and trains in South Africa to this day.

    A coach of Adesanya’s at City Kickboxing in New Zealand gives the champion credit for what he believes was an intentional move to stir the pot.

    Michael Angove Says That Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments Were Intentional

    Michael Angove spoke in a recent interview with The Scrap about Du Plessis’ comments that made this fight mean a whole lot more than Adesanya becoming a three-time champion.

    Angove suggested that given Adesanya’s personality and pride, the current champion must have known that he would get a reaction by saying what he did.

    “We may as well start there as that’s what kicked it all off. Dricus is many things but he isn’t stupid. That was a calculated statement, I make no apologies for suggesting that’s calculated. You know that a guy from Nigeria with ‘broken native’ written across his chest, with the continent of Africa across his chest, is going to feel very, very attached to his homeland.

    “Clever marketing, well done Dricus, he knows the whole history of South Africa as well. That’s going to motivate people, it’s great, it’s built this fight to a much higher level than it might have been otherwise and here we are and I think there is a pretty fair degree of animosity there based on that. Great marketing, great way to get under someone’s skin and the world is now watching.”

    Despite believing that Du Plessis made this personal on purpose, Angove doesn’t necessarily blame him for doing so.

    He explained how both selling the fight and trying to emotionally manipulate an opponent are two aspects of the sport and they both matter at this level.

    “That’s the nature of the fight game, it’s smart. Everyone plays both marketing and mind games and at the highest level, at the elite level, those things can make a difference. Conor not being able to get inside Khabib’s head made a difference. Conor not being able to get inside Nate Diaz’s head made a difference. You saw the difference when Conor made people insane with rage versus guys who were just focused and let it wash over them.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley Puts Umar Nurmagomedov Among ‘Lot Of Options’ For Future Opponent: ‘Max, Ilia, Figgy…’

  • ‘Bro Gave Out Belal’s Number’ – Fans React After Jon Jones Posts Phone Number To Canvass Support For Tom Aspinall Fight

    ‘Bro Gave Out Belal’s Number’ – Fans React After Jon Jones Posts Phone Number To Canvass Support For Tom Aspinall Fight

    Jon Jones was sure to have a close eye on the recent co-main event of UFC 304, which featured a man that he has spoken about a lot recently in Tom Aspinall.

    The Brit defended his interim title on home soil by stopping Curtis Blaydes in the opening minute of their rematch, before going on to call Jones out.

    He simply said that he has nothing personal towards “Bones” but believes he’s the better fighter and would like the opportunity to prove it before the heavyweight champion potentially retires, after his rescheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic.

    Jones gave a quick and to the point reaction to that fight but eventually, the constant call from fans to make the fight happen has led to a follow-up post from the consensus greatest of all time.

    MMA Fans React To Jon Jones’ Tom Aspinall Fight Hotline

    In a recent post on X, Jones appeared to share a phone number that links to Glenview, Illinois.

    The caption on the screenshot says that anyone that wants to see this heavyweight title unification happen should contact this number where Jones will be available over the coming days.

    He later urged that in the case the phone is switched off, people should still contact this number via text so he can get back to them – which is clearly some kind of joke that he’s playing on someone.

    Fans reacted to this slightly odd post from the heavyweight champion on social media and tried to guess whose number it actually is.

    “Dom Reyes watching his phone blow up”

    “Who tf did you just dox bro”

    “If this is Chael’s number, it would be the best prank ever”

    “Dc watching his phone blow up”

    “Ariel helwani’s number probably”

    “Bro gave out Belals number”

    Read also: Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract