MMA News

Author: Kyle Dimond

  • Coach: Israel Adesanya Won’t Be Champion When Leon Edwards Moves Up In Weight

    Coach: Israel Adesanya Won’t Be Champion When Leon Edwards Moves Up In Weight

    A win in the main event of UFC 304 will earn Leon Edwards the third ruby on his welterweight title.

    Since stunning the MMA world with his head kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, the Brit has defended his title on two occasions heading into this rematch with Belal Muhammad on July 27 in Manchester.

    Edwards has made it clear that he has big goals in mind for his title reign at 170-pounds where he hopes to break the great Georges St-Pierre’s records.

    Though he has no plans to permanently leave welterweight at any point soon, “Rocky” also hopes to challenge himself at middleweight at some stage.

    With several top names sitting at the top of the division, it could be a very different landscape at 185-pounds by the time Edwards makes his move.

    Dave Lovell Picks Out Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis As Potential Middleweight Fights For Leon Edwards

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Edwards’ head coach Dave Lovell was asked to give his opinion on who the middleweight champion will be when his fighter attempts to become a two-weight world champion.

    Israel Adesanya is set to challenge for the title that he has held twice before when he faces Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 next month but Lovell doesn’t believe that “The Last Stylebender” will be around for much longer.

    Edwards’ friendship with Adesanya makes a fight between them incredibly unlikely anyway but the Team Renegade captain doesn’t see this coming to pass.

    He believes that either the current holder or the man he won the title from, could be Edwards’ middleweight opponent.

    “I don’t think Israel [Adesanya] because in all fairness, I love him and Israel is my brother but I think he’s coming to the twilight of his career now. and if I was him, if he fights Dricus, maybe win the title, defend it once or even just win that title and retire because he’s earned enough, he’s got nothing more to prove. I wouldn’t like to see Leon fight Israel because we’re all close that way, we’re all friends so I wouldn’t like to see that.

    “Dricus maybe if Dricus is still hanging around. I think the easiest, well I take that back, one of the fights that I think would be a good fight for Leon to showcase his skills against a man, Mr Strickland, who’s a kind of come forward kind of style fighter which would suit Leon.

  • MMA News Today: Ryan Garcia Announces That He Will Be In Attendance At RIZIN Following Exhibition Rumors, Sean O’Malley Labels Conor McGregor A ‘Drug Addict’ In Recent Social Media Spat, & More

    MMA News Today: Ryan Garcia Announces That He Will Be In Attendance At RIZIN Following Exhibition Rumors, Sean O’Malley Labels Conor McGregor A ‘Drug Addict’ In Recent Social Media Spat, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 23, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Garcia sends a message to the Japanese fans
    • O’Malley fires back at McGregor and pulls no punches
    • Patchy Mix headlines Paris again on November 16

    Ryan Garcia Announces His Attendance For SuperRIZIN 3 This Weekend Amidst Exhibition Rumors

    Ryan Garcia has sent out a message via the RIZIN social media channels to announce that he will be in attendance at SuperRIZIN 3 this weekend.

    The Japanese promotion returns to Saitama Super Arena on July 28 where boxing star Manny Pacquiao will be in action against Rukiya Anpo.

    Garcia, who has been extremely controversial both before and after his recent fight with Devin Haney, has been recently rumored to have been given permission from Golden Boy to compete in an exhibition on RIZIN later this year.

    The video sees Garcia sending a message to the Japanese fans, when you can hear him over what appears to be construction work taking place in the background.

    “Hello, Ryan Garcia here. My announcement is this. I’m heading to Japan. Heading to Japan because I’m going to be at the RIZIN event and I know they’re making noise but guess what? I go louder, I go harder and I cannot wait to meet all my fans in Japan. Arigato from my heart to your heart, I love you. I’mma learn how to say I love you in Japanese. I’mma tell every Japan I love them, konnichiwa.”

    Sean O’Malley Unloads On Conor McGregor In Recent Social Media Exchange

    After they seemingly settled the beef not long ago, Conor McGregor couldn’t resist taking another slight dig at UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley.

    He quoted a post on X with a laughing face emoji that spoke about O’Malley pointing to a recent finding regarding how Ostarine can be transferred through sweat to explain his previous positive drug test results.

    “Sugar” didn’t take long to reply and when he did, he appeared to sever any chance of rebuilding this bridge with “The Notorious”.

    A pair of back-to-back posts made reference to McGregor’s current form inside the Octagon, UFC 303 withdrawal and referred to him a “drug addict” who “needs rehab”.

    Suffice to say that the former UFC champ champ is not going to take these comments lightly.

    Bellator Champions Series Announces Patchy Mix & ‘Baki’ For Paris Event On November 16

    The Bellator Champions Series is heading back to Paris on November 16 and so is the bantamweight champion Patchy Mix.

    He was last in action this past May where he closed the show at the French capital by defending his title via a controversial split decision win over Magomed Magomedov.

    Mix is now set to return for the second time this year when he faces Brazil’s Leandro Higo who is coming off of back-to-back wins.

    The co-main has also been announced with former Cédric Doumbé opponent Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov finally making his return as he looks to stay undefeated against Sweden’s Oliver Enkamp.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • ‘If This Is Real I’m Putting My Bank Account On Leon’ – Fans Call Foul After Leon Edwards Allegedly Makes The Craziest Basketball Trick Shot

    ‘If This Is Real I’m Putting My Bank Account On Leon’ – Fans Call Foul After Leon Edwards Allegedly Makes The Craziest Basketball Trick Shot

    Either Leon Edwards is the greatest athlete to have ever walked the earth or a video on UFC 304 fight week has been faked to make it seem that way.

    A short clip on social media shows the UFC welterweight champion going for a run through a park as he prepares to defend his welterweight title this weekend in Manchester.

    After some people on a basketball court call him over and ask for “headshot dead”, in reference to his iconic celebration at UFC 278, he is happy to oblige.

    The champ then proceeds to walk onto the court and without breaking his stride, catch a stunning left-foot volley out of the air that sends the ball flying into the basket on the other side, sending the people around him into pandemonium.

    MMA Fans React To Leon Edwards Trick Shot With Amazement And Skepticism

    The video has got fight fans questioning everything after seeing “Rocky” pull off what is either clever camera trickery or one of the greatest trick shots of all time.

    Having won the welterweight title with the same leg, everyone knows that his left side is capable of one-shot wonders, but this takes things to a new level.

    Unless, like many of the replies suggested, there is a clever social media play afoot…

    “The way he casually punted the ball and it goes in”

    “Leon after that:”

    https://twitter.com/Lizard69Talking/status/1815481892453401075

    “Surely no one thinks this is actually real lol”

    “This definitely took 69,420 times”

    “If he plays England win the Euros”

    https://twitter.com/1995/status/1815493227048538228

    “If this is real I’m putting my bank account on Leon”

    “Just wait and see. Belal about to take a tennis ball to decision.

  • Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’

    Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’

    Two very different styles will clash during the main card of UFC 304 this weekend as Paddy Pimblett takes on Bobby Green in a huge lightweight contest.

    “The Baddy” has gone to the scorecards in his last two fights after finishing his first three opponents inside the Octagon but he’s always dangerous.

    Whilst the Englishman’s physical prowess and submission skills are a big threat, the dangers that Green presents are very different.

    With this fight being the big number 50 on his pro record, the veteran lightweight contender is a slick boxer who often tricks opponents into overcommitting.

    A former UFC champion believes that this could be the story of the fight come Saturday night in Manchester.

    Alexander Volkanovski Expects King Green To Play The Matador Against Paddy Pimblett

    During his breakdown of the card on his YouTube channel, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski spoke about the difficulties of fighting someone like Green.

    Green often carries his hands by his side and will rely on his reaction time to get opponents to throw at him so that he can slip and counter with his fast hands and combinations.

    Pimblett has been working extensively on his striking in recent times and there have been questions in the past about how solid his technique is, when fists start flying.

    Volkanovski sided with Green when giving his picks for the card and he believes that a crucial aspect of this fight will be the 155-pound stalwart playing his usual game.

    “I’m going to have to go with Bobby Green, I think he’s the safer bet here. It’s going to be a three-round fight. Paddy Pimblett, yeah I find it, it’s going to be hard for him to take him down and get a finish. Can he go and upset, you know, hometown crowd. I don’t think that’s going to faze Bobby Green.

    “Again, Bobby Green’s going to put himself in positions where Paddy Pimblett’s going to feel he can fire and going to lull him into shots. I guarantee we’re going to see that pretty much straight away. I feel Bobby Green’s going to hit him, hurt him, maybe Paddy Pimblett would start trying to look for the shots straight after that. Does he get them? Or does he get hurt straight away? I’m not sure.”

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Dismisses Makhachev’s Chances In Potential Super Fight: ‘Islam Is Not Known For His Striking…’

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Dismisses Makhachev’s Chances In Potential Super Fight: ‘Islam Is Not Known For His Striking…’

    Leon Edwards has outlined his hopes of trying to become a two-weight world champion if he’s able to keep hold of the welterweight title this Saturday at UFC 304.

    His third title defense comes in Manchester against Belal Muhammad but whilst “Rocky” has plans to go up, the champion at the weight class below may have something to say about that.

    Lightweight king Islam Makhachev also wants a shot at champ-champ status in the near future and Edwards has been open to that idea in the past.

    Despite Makhachev being considered by many to be the most in-form fighter in the world right now, the welterweight champion’s coach believes that he isn’t a big threat to Edwards’ title.

    Dave Lovell Questions If Islam Makhachev Would Be Able To Cause Leon Edwards Problems

    During an interview with Submission Radio, Team Renegade’s Dave Lovell spoke about how he sees a fight between Makhachev and his fighter playing out.

    Lovell doesn’t believe that the lightweight champion is a major concern to Edwards for a few different reasons.

    As he points out, “Rocky” is very used to fighting the top grapplers in his weight class at this point and has proven to be very effective against them.

    With Makhachev moving up in weight there will be a clear size difference between the two men and that gives Lovell confidence that “Rocky” would be too big and too skilled should the fight ever happen.

    “Would he be big enough? Would he have the same effect that he has at his weight now? I don’t think so. Has he met a sharp shooter like Leon? No he hasn’t. Again, what can Islam bring to Leon? Size wise, Leon’s physically bigger than him, outreaches him.

    “So again, he’s going to resort to what he knows which is his wrestling so it’s just unfortunate that you look at the last guys Leon fought. Usman twice, Colby, all wrestlers. Now Belal, wrestler. So, Islam is not known for his striking. They’re known for their wrestling and basically, Leon’s improving, people don’t understand.”

  • Muay Thai Star Rodtang Jitmuangnon Returns To The US At ONE 169 In Atlanta

    Muay Thai Star Rodtang Jitmuangnon Returns To The US At ONE 169 In Atlanta

    A staggering fourth title fight has been added to ONE Championship’s debut in Atlanta and it features one of their biggest stars, Rodtang Jitumuagnon.

    As the biggest name in Muay Thai today, “The Iron Man” has become a social media sensation because of his always entertaining fighting style.

    Having featured on ONE Championship’s debut event in the United States last year (ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver), he’s now set to return to the US in November as reported by Sports Illustrated.

    The ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion will be putting his belt on the line in a rematch with England’s Jacob Smith at the State Farm Arena on November 8.

    They last met back in May of 2022 where Rodtang secured a unanimous decision win to advance in the flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix.

    The Thai star returned to action in June where he went three rounds with Denis Puric in a kickboxing bout that delivered one of the best fights of the year so far in ONE Championship.

    He last defended his world championship back in November of 2022 where he convincingly beat strawweight champion Joseph Lasiri over five rounds.

    This now makes for a total of four world championship fights for Atlanta, two in MMA and two in Muay Thai.

    Three-division champion Anatoly Malykhin will be defending his heavyweight title against Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane in the main event whilst two-weight king Christian Lee makes his long-awaited return to defend his lightweight crown against Alibeg Rasulov.

    The other title fight sees Tawanchai defend his ONE featherweight Muay Thai world championship against Jo Nattawut in a trilogy fight between the two Thai strikers.

    November 8 has also been rumoured to feature a boxing match between former UFC rivals Rashad Evans and ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

    Read also: Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

  • MMA News Today: UFC 304 Fighter Reacts To ‘Unbelievable’ Replacement Matchup On A Week’s Notice, Jake Paul Trolls Mike Perry After Dishing Out Battering, & More

    MMA News Today: UFC 304 Fighter Reacts To ‘Unbelievable’ Replacement Matchup On A Week’s Notice, Jake Paul Trolls Mike Perry After Dishing Out Battering, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 22, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Loughran is happy to be fighting Hadley instead
    • Paul taunts Perry with shot-by-shot comparison
    • Durden shares gruesome post-fight medical procedure

    Caolan Loughran Says Jake Hadley Is A Perfect Replacement Opponent At UFC 304

    Just one week out from UFC 304 this Saturday, Ireland’s Caolan Loughran had his fight and opponent switched around on short notice.

    Loughran was announced to be fighting UFC flyweight contender Jake Hadley after his previous opponent Ramon Taveras was declared injured and unable to make July 27.

    Though having a chance of opponents one week out from fight night is never ideal, “The Don” is very happy with his new fight.

    As well as the fact that he had been preparing to fight a southpaw which both Hadley and Taveras are, this England vs Ireland fight between two former Cage Warriors champions is sure to get the Manchester fans excited.

    Loughran spoke in an interview with Violent Money TV about how this fight ended up working out pretty well in his favour after all.

    “I was like f*** me, unbelievable. That’s a bigger fight domestically, going to have more buzz. He’s also a southpaw as we were preparing for. F****** let’s go, let’s do it, that’s what I was thinking.

    I actually get on alright with Hadley. Fair f****** respect to him for taking the fight, I didn’t have a fight there for like a day and I don’t know what the f*** was going on. I wanted to be on this card so fighters fight innit, fair f****** play to him but like I say, I half get on with the guy but I don’t need beef this time. This fight is going to be big anyway.”    

    Jake Paul Shares Comparison Photo Of Mike Perry’s Custom Chain After Stopping Him

    Jake Paul added to his current winning streak this past weekend when he stopped Mike Perry in the sixth round where his size and power was simply too much for the ‘King of Violence’.

    After the fight, “Platinum” tipped his hat to his opponent, putting out the following message on social media to show his appreciation to the fans for their support.

    “Congrats @jakepaul , shout out to @NateDiaz209 who went 10 rounds with him. Thanks to everyone who came out.”

    Paul, on the other hand, was not so humble in victory as he chose to readdress a certain aspect of the build to the fight.

    Perry had worn a custom chain of Paul’s head with blood and bruises all over his face which “The Problem Child” shared after the bout next to a photo of Perry’s face being in a similar position.

    VIDEO: Cody Durden Shows Himself Getting Substantial Stitches After Ruthless Loss To Bruno Silva

    Cody Durden gave fight fans a glimpse into what happens once a fighter exits the Octagon following his loss this past weekend at the Apex.

    Durden was stopped in the second round following a devastating uppercut from Bruno Silva which was followed up on until referee Chris Tognoni waved the fight off.

    The flyweight contender was left wearing some significant damage on his face as a result and decided to shine a spotlight on a side to the game that many don’t see.

    Posting on X, Durden shared a video of himself getting stitches from medical personnel during his post-fight medical.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Classy Neil Magny ‘Tips Hat’ To Ian Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘If You Go Out There & Try To Do A Little Bit Too Much Against MVP…’

    Classy Neil Magny ‘Tips Hat’ To Ian Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘If You Go Out There & Try To Do A Little Bit Too Much Against MVP…’

    Ian Machado Garry maintained his undefeated record at UFC 303 where he handed Michael “Venom” Page his first loss inside the Octagon.

    The two dynamic welterweight strikers went the full three rounds in the main card opener where Garry’s takedowns and ground control proved to be the difference.

    He received some criticism from fans for this performance after not backing up some of his words about how the striking battle would play out.

    Garry’s been known to ruffle some feathers during his UFC tenure, not least during the build up to his fight with the veteran 170-pound competitor Neil Magny.

    The two men met at UFC 292 last year where the rising contender said some things about Magny that didn’t really resonate with a lot of the fans.

    Despite their previous tensions, there is no bad blood towards the Irishman at least from Magny’s point of view as has been clear in the past.

    Neal Magny Praises Ian Garry For His ‘Smart’ & ‘Patient’ Performance At UFC 303

    During a recent interview with James Lynch for InsideFighting, Magny spoke about his former opponent’s last outing.

    The welterweight staple is set to return on August 24 where he looks to make it back-to-back wins since his loss to Garry when facing Michael Morales.

    He believes, like many, that the clash between Garry and Page came right down to the wire where it was eventually decided by the slimmest of margins.

    “Yeah I watched it, it’s one of those fighters where it’s a tough call. When you have so much time to prepare for a fight, every move you make has to be very calculated where had one guy or the other slipped up one way or the other like had MVP [been] able to stuff one takedown, it would change the outcome of the fight. Had Ian Garry missed one takedown it could change the outcome of the fight, had MVP landed one more significant strike it could change the outcome of the fight so it was just one of those fights that was close going into it and anything can literally happen.

    “That fight literally came down to who made the least amount of mistakes. I mean even some of the takedowns that Ian Garry was able to score on MPV, it didn’t really come from like, ‘Oh I’m going to set up a shot with my strikes and feint and get in this way.’ It was off a caught kick or something like that and he took full advantage of it.”

    Where some fans criticized Garry for relying on his grappling skills to make the fight a more gruelling affair, Magny credited him for this.

    He spoke about how when you’re up against an opponent like Page, doing anything other than keeping it simple can result in a rough awakening.

    “It was a very close fight I was definitely impressed with the grappling display that Ian Garry was able to pull out of that fight. I definitely tip my hat to the performance that Ian Garry. It was one of those fights that is very difficult to prepare for because if you go out there and try to do a little bit too much against MVP, you end up waking up looking at the ceiling so he fought a very smart fight, a very patient fight and was able to get it done.”

    Read also: Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

  • Teammate & Friend Gives Update On Khamzat Chimaev’s Future Plans, Says He Is Training With ‘Boxing National Team’ For Comeback

    The last few years have been anything but plain sailing for Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC.

    Issues with fighting in the United States have made it harder for the UFC to book him fights but the much bigger problem has been his own health.

    “Borz” has been kept relatively inactive for a long time largely due to his current condition which seems to have significantly impacted his progress in MMA.

    All of this could have been put behind him in June when he was set to return against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

    A win over a top contender in Whittaker in Saudi Arabia will have finally put Chimaev back on track and where he should be – but this wasn’t to be as he was forced to withdraw from the fight a week out due to illness.

    With the hopes of returning later this year at what will likely be UFC 307, there is still hope that he can return to form inside the Octagon.

    Guram Kutateladze Says Khamzat Chimaev Is Back Training With October Return In Mind

    Georgian lightweight contender Guram Kutateladze is a close friend and training partner of Chimaev’s at Allstars Training Center in Sweden.

    During a recent interview with James Lynch for Sportskeeda MMA, he spoke about how Chimaev is progressing after overcoming the illness which led to Ikram Aliskerov taking his place last month.

    Kutateladze had some promising and hopeful things to say about the middleweight contender’s current situation.

    He believes that we will see him in Abu Dhabi in Octoberm which will be roughly one year on from his last appearance where he defeated Kamaru Usman via majority decision at UFC 294.

    “It was unfortunate but again, we have to keep positive thoughts, positive mentality. He’s feeling better now. He’s been for a few weeks in Caucasian Mountains, breathing fresh air, mountain air and training there with his team. With his brothers and team and I think boxing national team too so hopefully, as he said himself, we gonna see him in Abu Dhabi in October and I’m sure 100% that he will be ready and as always, energized.”

    Read also: Daniel Cormier Questions Why People ‘Discredit’ Sean Strickland As Number One Contender: ‘He Beat Costa Better Than Whittaker Did!’ 

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Former UFC Flyweight Got Him Interested In BKFC: ‘Just Watch One Fight & You’ll Be Hooked!’

    Conor McGregor Reveals Former UFC Flyweight Got Him Interested In BKFC: ‘Just Watch One Fight & You’ll Be Hooked!’

    During Conor McGregor’s first press conference as a part owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, he spoke about how he first got interested in the promotion.

    For many, BKFC will come with a big barrier to entry because of the raw and brutal nature of the sport once the gloves are off.

    Others will see this as a draw because by taking away the gloves, you’re one step closer to it being a true fight between two athletes rather than a sporting contest.

    It was very much love at first sight for McGregor, who has always been passionate about boxing and supporting his fellow fighters.

    His route into the sport and BKFC specifically came though a former member of the UFC roster.

    Conor McGregor Says Former UFC Fighter Bec Rawlings Was His Introduction To BKFC

    The success of BKFC owes a lot to former UFC fighters making the jump over and bringing some added attention and eyeballs with them.

    Australia’s Bec Rawlings competed seven times in the Octagon before she was released by the promotion, which led to her finding her way to BKFC as one of the first fighters to make this switch.

    “Rowdy” competed at the promotion’s very first event back in June of 2018 where she became the inaugural women’s featherweight champion.

    After a brief stint in Bellator, she returned to BKFC in 2022 and last fought under their banner in December of last year.

    McGregor spoke at a press conference for BKFC’s upcoming event in Spain about his initial experience with watching the promotion and how Rawlings was the first domino that set this path in motion.

    “Just watch one fight and you’ll be hooked, like me. Now I started this, I watched a lady I know through the UFC named ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings and she was a female world champion in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. I was just taken back by what the sport was, what it was about.

    “Any real fighter, any real true fighter, inside of them knows that to have a bare knuckle fighting world championship is a real feather in the cap and then once I came down live to see an event, I was blown away by it.”

    Read also: VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

  • MMA News Today: Jon Jones Provides Update On Next Fight After Misdemeanor Charges, Charles Oliveira Raises $80,000 For Children, & More

    MMA News Today: Jon Jones Provides Update On Next Fight After Misdemeanor Charges, Charles Oliveira Raises $80,000 For Children, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 19, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Jones targets November return
    • Oliveira gives back via charity auction once again
    • Cejudo says Cortez is better than she showed

    Jon Jones Lays Out Specific Timeline For His Return Following Misdemeanour Charges

    After being charged with two misdemeanours following the encounter that he had with a drug-testing agent at his home, Jon Jones appears to be preparing for his return.

    The UFC heavyweight champion was set to make his first title defense at UFC 295 last year in New York when facing off with Stipe Miocic.

    When he withdrew due to injury, it was suspected that we could see “Bones” back one year later and that is his clear focus as of right now.

    He posted the following message on X which with the specific timeframe of 16 weeks being mentioned, would schedule his return roughly for November 8th which is just three days out from being a full year since he was set to compete at UFC 295.

    “Tomorrow, I’ll be 37 years old !! I’m 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like I’m in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but I’m happy with it considering the surgeries I recently had. 16 more weeks to become the beast , that’s exactly what I will do. #Champion2024.”

    Charles Oliveira Raises Huge Sum For Children In Need Via Signed Glove Charity Auction

    Charles Oliveira is continuing to help raise money for charity by using his own star status in Brazil to benefit others.

    “Do Bronx” took part in a charity auction several months ago that was hosted by soccer star Neymar Jr. where a fan won the opportunity to get special access to his fight preparations.

    The latest auction saw Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. take up the hosting role where a signed glove from Oliveira was up for grabs.

    Through this one small act, the former UFC champion was able to raise a staggering $80,000 to go towards supporting children in need.

    Henry Cejudo Critiques Tracy Cortez’s Performance Against Rose Namajunas

    Tracy Cortez’s teammate Henry Cejudo believes that she had much more to show in the main event this past weekend in Denver.

    Cortez stepped into the headliner on short notice to replace Maycee Barber and face Rose Namajunas, with the fight going the full five rounds.

    Cejudo, who admitted that he was somewhat surprised by the way that Namajunas approached the fight, believes that Cortez didn’t have her best performance on the night.

    He said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that the replacement fighter didn’t play to her strengths enough in the fight which ended up costing her, stating that she will be back stronger after learning this lesson.

    “Tracy didn’t show up, man. I just don’t know how to say it; man, that’s not the Tracy that we know. I watched the fight again, and she never once attempted the takedowns; after she attempted one takedown, that’s it, there’s no level changes involved. I talked to her on Saturday afterward and just said, ‘Hey, just keep your head up, dude. It was an experience, but I just know you’re better than that, Tracy’.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Conor McGregor Feels A BKFC Fighter Commands Respect From All Other Combat Sports: ‘Not One Bad Word About A Bare-Knuckler…’

    Conor McGregor Feels A BKFC Fighter Commands Respect From All Other Combat Sports: ‘Not One Bad Word About A Bare-Knuckler…’

    Conor McGregor was drawn to bare knuckle because of how intense and raw the sport is by taking away the gloves.

    His decision to become a part owner in BKFC obviously comes from a business stand point where he knows he can add major value to this promotion on the rise.

    At the same time, it’s clearly something that “The Notorious” is very passionate about because of the mindset of the fighters that step into such an unforgiving arena.

    He believes that the sport of bare knuckle has one thing over any other combat sport and that’s the respect for the athletes.

    Conor McGregor Says Competing In Bare Knuckle Comes With A Certain Amount Of Respect

    Ask any boxer about whether they want to compete in MMA and you’re sure to get an answer along the lines of not wanting to spend time training their grappling skills.

    However, ask most boxers or MMA fighters about competing in bare knuckle and the issue isn’t that it’s a new skillset for them to learn, it’s that it’s too damaging.

    McGregor believes that this puts the athletes in BKFC on a pedestal in combat sports which makes them a small minority in an already very unique profession.

    “The Notorious” spoke at his first press conference for the promotion where he used Mike Perry as a reference for how fighters can come and reinvent themselves in the promotion.

    He believes that competing in this sport comes with a certain amount of respect in the combat sports world because frankly, most wouldn’t sign on the dotted line.

    “Make a new name for yourself. Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here, the ‘King of Violence’ he titles himself. He’s had such a rise in the sport, now he’s up against a little dweeb of a thing in a fight this weekend that we’re all rooting for him.

    “This is the real deal. No one in this combat sports space can speak one bad word about a bare knuckle fighting world champion and that for me, is money in the bank.”

    Read also: VIDEO: Jake Paul & Mike Perry Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of Boxing Match

  • UFC Featherweight Brands Ilia Topuria ‘Better’ Than Max Holloway, Touts Spaniard As Closest To Jon Jones In P4P Debate

    UFC Featherweight Brands Ilia Topuria ‘Better’ Than Max Holloway, Touts Spaniard As Closest To Jon Jones In P4P Debate

    One of the most anticipated fights of the year is sure to be what many expect as the next UFC featherweight title fixture.

    For many years, Max Holloway has been considered to be the second-best 145-pound fighter on the planet as he wasn’t able to solve the problem that is Alexander Volkanovski.

    With new champion Ilia Topuria steamrolling his way up the featherweight ladder and taking Volkanovski out in February, his first title defense against “Blessed” is one of the best match-ups in MMA today.

    A current featherweight contender believes that in giving Topuria the edge in this fight, he isn’t just better than Holloway, he’s one of the top two in the world today.

    Nathaniel Wood Says Ilia Topuria Is In The Pound-For-Pound Conversation On Skill Alone

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, London’s Nathaniel Wood spoke about the title fight that is set to go down in his division.

    “The Prospect” is set to return at UFC 304 where he takes on Daniel Pineda after going 3-1 since making the move up from bantamweight.

    He believes that whilst Holloway may have the best chance of anyone else in the mix, “El Matador” is the more skilled fighter overall.

    “See, I see Ilia Topuria as one of the pound-for-pound best at the moment. I think he’s better than Max but I feel like Max could cause him problems with his style and Max is obviously as tough as they come. I do think out of that top 10, if anyone was to beat Topuria, I’d put it on Max Holloway.”

    Elaborating on his high praise for Topuria, Wood put this in context regarding the debate at the top of the pound-for-pound ladder.

    He believes that whilst the current featherweight champion doesn’t have the accolades just yet, his talent and performances prove that he belongs just below the greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    “Gotta be Jon Jones, I don’t see how anyone can ever go against him, obviously if you’re going off of the CV. Now, Ilia Topuria, I think pound-for-pound one of the best just the way he moves. I think if you look at him on the CV, okay he’s obviously just become the champion. Okay, how can you say he’s the pound-for-pound but you just know when someone’s special and me personally, I think he is.

    “I’ve said before I think he’d be the hardest fight for me in the division when he wasn’t even ranked I think in the top 10, because you can just see when someone’s got that something. Obviously, Alex Pereira, he’s just that knockout machine, you know what I mean but skill set wise, I think Topuria’s a better fighter, better athlete all round.”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett: ‘Fickle’ MMA Fans Will Be Back On My Side After I Knock Bobby Green Out At UFC 304

  • VIDEO: Imitator Makes Conor McGregor Crack Up With Question About Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov In BKFC

    VIDEO: Imitator Makes Conor McGregor Crack Up With Question About Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov In BKFC

    Conor McGregor’s first question that he faced at his very first press conference for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship was seemingly asked by himself.

    “The Notorious” was in attendance at his debut media event since becoming a part owner of the promotion in April as they promoted BKFC heading to Spain on October 12.

    The first question that came his way was delivered via an impression of “The Mac” himself as McGregor was asked whether he thinks his former UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov could ever make some quick money by competing in BKFC if needed.

    “There is a well known rat, who owes his b******* off to the Russian government. You know, would you get that man to BKFC if that man needed a dollar or two, you know. He clearly needs the money to pay back the Russian government, the man is a fool of a thing. With bare knuckle, a man versus a man, let it all end there in the coliseum, the Conor-seum. Let’s make it happen, that little scurrying rat.”

    McGregor, who laughed throughout, responded with one of his most iconic press conference lines.

    “It sounds like I’m talking, who the f*** is that? Who the f*** is that guy?”

    Conor McGregor Slams Khabib Nurmagomedov Over Financial Reports

    After taking a moment to laugh about the impression, McGregor did answer the question to some degree about the former UFC lightweight champion who has recently been in the news over financial issues with the Russian government.

    “The Notorious” spoke about how Nurmagomedov walked away from MMA, let alone stepping into bare knuckle which, as McGregor said himself, requires a certain type of person and mindset.

    “The guy won’t even fight, come on. The one thing that really attracts me to this game is these are bad men and women here in this f****** company, for real, these are bad men and women. You’ve got to be, you’re all talking about cutting each other up. A jab splits the skin in this game so the stakes are on another level, the intensity is on another level and again, it’s what drew me to this.

    “The Russian who, he’s not even a Russian, he doesn’t represent Russia. He owes his b*******, he’s gone running. I’d love to fight one of these m************ in bare knuckle but they won’t fight so.”

    McGregor did say during the press conference that with two fights left on his UFC contract, competing in BKFC at a later date is something that he is interested in.

  • MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Has ‘Eyes On’ BKFC Move After Seeing Out UFC Contract, Magomed Ankalaev Talks Neutralizing ‘Aggressive’ Francis Ngannou During Sparring, & More

    MMA News Today: Conor McGregor Has ‘Eyes On’ BKFC Move After Seeing Out UFC Contract, Magomed Ankalaev Talks Neutralizing ‘Aggressive’ Francis Ngannou During Sparring, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 18, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • McGregor teases BKFC future
    • Ankalaev was forced to shut Ngannou down
    • Curtis doubles down on Costa call-out

    Conor McGregor Says Competing In BKFC Could Be An Option After UFC Run

    Conor McGregor has completed his first press conference for BKFC since becoming a part-owner of the promotion in April.

    He spoke ahead of BKFC 67 where “The Notorious” seemed to suggest that part of his investment in this company could see him take off the gloves and jump in the ring.

    McGregor, who is still expected to make his long-awaited UFC return later this year against Michael Chandler, told the media that he has two fights left on his current deal.

    Referring to the fighters that are set to compete on October 12 in Marbella, he said that he’s not just here to talk about these athletes but potentially mix it up with them also.

    “For me, I’ve a bit of business left with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, two fights left on my contract but for sure, we’ve got three lightweights up here on the deas and you know I have my eye on all of this. I’m not up here just as an owner, player-manager I’ll title myself on this one.”

    https://twitter.com/oocmma/status/1813909981617619434

    Magomed Ankalaev Recalls Heated Sparring Session With Francis Ngannou

    During a recent appearance on the Badaev Podcast, light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev told a story about an encounter that he had with Francis Ngannou.

    Ankalaev claims that the two men sparred with one another some time ago until the former UFC heavyweight champion started to become overly aggressive towards him.

    He was left with no option but to try and avoid any danger by grabbing hold of his sparring partner until the end of the round.

    Ankalaev also states that he believes the reason Ngannou was going so hard at him in sparring was because he had knocked out one of his friends back in 2019.

    “I saw that [Ngannou] wanted to drop me. He was generally aggressive. I quickly went to his feet, put him down and held him. I was waiting for the time to run out so I could say ‘don’t come near me again’. Then we found out the reason – it turns out he is a friend of [Dalcha] Lungiambula whom I had knocked out before.”

    Chris Curtis Calls To Fight Paulo Costa And Says It Will Be Much More Entertaining Than Costa’s Fight With Sean Strickland

    Chris Curtis is continuing to call for a fight with former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa for his next outing.

    In a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, “Action Man” said that a match-up between himself and Costa would be a much more entertaining affair than Costa’s last outing against Curtis’s friend and teammate, Sean Strickland.

    Curtis reflected how he studied “Borrachinha” extensively for that fight but the styles simply didn’t gel well in the co-main event of UFC 302.

    He believes that he and Costa would make for a far better watch because unlike Strickland, he will be willing to stand in front of the Brazilian to trade strikes.

    “I cornered Sean that fight. When he took that fight…I literally went back, watched all of the Costa fights, and I had like a freakin’ four-page bulletin report on what to do…everything that Costa does, when he does it, why I think he does it,” Curtis said. “I just think it’s a fight that I match up well with.

    “Costa’s usually a really fun guy to watch but the Strickland fight was just weird for him because Sean’s a weird guy to fight,” Curtis continued. “I think me and Costa, I think we can just sit there and beat on each other until somebody falls, and I’m okay with that. Sean doesn’t want to fight that way. He’s not trying to get his head bust in. I will gladly stand in front of you and we will just swing at each other.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Charles Johnson Slams Commentary Team Over Call For UFC Fight Night Denver Win: ‘Put Some F*cking Respect On My Name’

    Charles Johnson Slams Commentary Team Over Call For UFC Fight Night Denver Win: ‘Put Some F*cking Respect On My Name’

    Charles Johnson continued his excellent winning form in the UFC’s flyweight division this past weekend in Denver.

    In one of the sleeper fights of the entire UFC Fight Night lineup, he faced Joshua Van in a great contest that saw Johnson secure a devastating finish in the third round.

    This win makes him undefeated in his last three Octagon appearances after previously losing three in a row in 2023 before putting that in the rear-view mirror so far this year.

    Despite his excellent performance against Van, Johnson did have one issue when he came to watch back the fight and that was the commentary, as he revealed in a recent interview on SiriusXM’s MMA Today.

    “The only thing that kinda surprised me was hearing the commentary after the fight. But other than that, and hearing the judging, betting lines and stuff. But, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is I went in there and did exactly what I said I was gonna do.”

    Charles Johnson Says UFC Commentary Didn’t Give Him The Credit He Was Due

    Johnson went on to explain where his issues with the commentary came from, believing he wasn’t give enough credit for the work he did inside the Octagon.

    “InnerG” specifically referencef the first round, which he believes he comfortably won despite a judge scoring it for his opponent and the commentators spending more time talking about Van’s work in the opening five minutes.

    “We’re three minutes into the first round and I’ve landed 28 strikes to his four and all you’ve heard up until that point is, ‘This is what Van does, Van is applying pressure. Van is doing this.’ That’s all you heard. The round ends and I’m 40-16 on strikes and, for me, I try to separate personal but everything’s personal to me, that’s just me, that’s how I am.

    “Business, everything, everything’s personal, but I know how much those opinions matter in judging, in everything. They hear it, they can hear it too. So hearing it after the fight when I felt like I was in full control from the moment the fight started, never worried about anything. He threw big punches, never really landed anything.”

    Johnson also referenced how he was excited to watch back the fight in order to hear Dominick Cruz’s thoughts on the fight having been a big fan of the bantamweight legend as a fighter and analyst over the years.

    Ultimately, he doesn’t believe that he received the praise he deserved for that performance.

    “The type of guy I was walking into, I’ve fought higher caliber guys. I fought two guys that are ranked in the top 10 in my career already and lost close decisions to them, you know? It’s just put some f****** respect on my name, basically.”

  • Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’

    Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’

    Paddy Pimblett will look to go undefeated in six Octagon appearances when he returns at UFC 304 on July 27.

    His fight with King Green is sure to draw lots of attention, like all of Pimblett’s fights have since the former Cage Warriors champion signed to the promotion and debuted back in 2021.

    “The Baddy” quickly became a big name on the UFC roster, but he has recently hinted at the idea of taking his huge profile elsewhere in order to cash in on a big payday.

    Pimblett revealed that his clash with Green in Manchester will be the last on his UFC contract, suggesting that he could be tempted to step inside a boxing ring if someone was to offer him a lot of money to do so.

    Paddy Pimblett Open To Boxing Jake Paul Once His UFC Contract Expires

    During a recent interview with BestOnlinePokerSites, Pimblett once again referenced how he could be tempted to step through the ropes if he gets the right offer.

    The Scouse fighter was giving his opinion on Jake Paul’s return to the ring this Saturday night against Mike Perry. He gave props to “The Problem Child” before stating that he also wouldn’t mind stepping in there with him, referencing his mindset when it comes to the fight game.

    “Give Jake Paul his dues for that one. I didn’t think he’d fight someone like Mike Perry. He’s fought a load of f****** clowns. Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley when they were both over 40, Anderson’s a Thai boxer and Woodley’s a wrestler – but Mike Perry is a boxer, he’s a striker, he’s got hands. So I’ll be honest, Jake Paul has gained a little bit of respect from me.

    “If Jake Paul sends a contract over for a couple of million dollars and wants to fight me, let’s do it. We’re prize fighters at the end of the day. That’s what people forget. We do this to get paid. It’s all about money.”

    In the same interview, Pimblett also gave his reaction to Conor McGregor downplaying the card for UFC 304, which will see the Octagon return to the North of England.

    The lightweight contender responded and again referenced wanting to compete in a boxing match if he receives an offer after this next contest.

    “That’s a mad one, and I really like Conor – but if anyone ever put his name on a contract and sent it to me, I’d be like, cha-ching! You never know. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be negotiating after this fight. One of these f*****g stupid influencers might get on and want to have me a boxing match for a couple of million. And I’ll be in!”

  • Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire on top of the sport in 2020, there was always going to be talk of what could possibly bring him back.

    “The Eagle” never had the same motivations as most other fighters, and his decision to retire after his title defense over Justin Gaethje wasn’t something that was a big long term plan.

    The passing of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov meant that Khabib would step away following a promise to his mother despite being just one win away from the coveted 30-0 that his father wanted to achieve.

    Regardless of recent reports regarding his financial situation, money was never the aim for the undefeated lightweight king, and it certainly appears that the UFC already tried this option.

    Chael Sonnen believes that we could have seen Nurmagomedov back inside the Octagon if the promotion had switched tact with him…

    Sonnen: UFC Should Have Offered Khabib Fights At A Different Weight Rather Than Increased Money

    During a recent YouTube video, Sonnen suggested that the UFC was wasting its time by attempting to offer Nurmagomedov more money to continue fighting.

    As he recalls, the promotion tried to keep him around to at least hit the 30-0 mark but “The Eagle” has proven to be a man of his word.

    In Sonnen’s opinion, the financial figure wasn’t the number that they should have been offering the all-time great 155-pound fighter. He believes discussions about competing in a different weight class would have been a much more effective way to entice Nurmagomedov back for one last dance.

    “I have maintained for you that when those negotiations were going on and they were attempting to change numbers, they were changing the wrong number,” Sonnen said. “The same reason that 30-0 became 29-0. It wasn’t commas and zeros. It was the weight class.

    “If they would have had one more, sat him down, and really negotiated, and made it 170 pounds, you would have seen Khabib fight or at least, you’d have been a lot more likely,” Sonnen added.

    The champion never had particularly easy weight cuts, and if you look at his entire career, competing outside the lightweight division is one of the only boxes that he never checked off.

  • MMA News Today: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Reportedly ‘Did TNA Numbers’ On PPV, Jake Paul & Mike Perry Verbally Spar In Pre-Fight Face To Face, & More

    MMA News Today: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Reportedly ‘Did TNA Numbers’ On PPV, Jake Paul & Mike Perry Verbally Spar In Pre-Fight Face To Face, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 17, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Meltzer claims that Diaz vs. Masvidal did ‘horrible on PPV’
    • Paul & Perry trade words before July 20
    • City Kickboxing’s Jousset gets a big home fight in Paris

    Report States That Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal’s Boxing Match Massively Underperformed On PPV

    On a relatively quiet week for combat sports, former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met inside a boxing ring.

    Many felt that their rematch earlier this month ended up being a better fight than expected, and the live attendance at the Honda Center appeared to be a good turnout.

    But a recent report suggests that despite the event being heavily spoken about, fans were not willing to pay the pay-per-view price to watch it live.

    Dave Meltzer stated on a recent episode of Observer Radio that the event did not perform well, comparing it to wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action (TNA), which has always had a tough time competing against the WWE before the two companies started working together as of late.

    “It did horrible on PPV, it did TNA numbers. I’m not exaggerating. I knew it would not do well, but I was absolutely stunned how poorly it did. Nobody bought the fight. People are sick of seeing MMA fighters do boxing.”

    Jake Paul & Mike Perry Come Face To Face Ahead Of July 20

    Jake Paul returns to the ring this Saturday as he faces one of his toughest tests to date in BKFC star Mike Perry.

    Before they can meet on July 20 in a change of opponent for Paul, who was scheduled to be taking on Mike Tyson on this date, the two men came face to face.

    As you can expect from two bold characters, there were some certainly unique moments during their conversation. That included, at one point, both men seemingly doing “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan impressions.

    The highlight of the entire video was certainly the following quote from Perry, who has always had an unparalleled way with words…

    “Your little baby green punches can’t even f****** reach my brain stem bro. I’m gonna dig through your eyeball and find your memories.”

    Paul responded in the same way that pretty much everybody else would when being told that by the “King of Violence.”

    “Please don’t do that. Please don’t do that Mikey.”

    Kevin Jousset Books Home Fight In Paris Against Former TUF Winner

    Rising UFC welterweight and City Kickboxing fighter Kevin Jousset has got his next assignment, and it’s sure to be a bucket list one for him.

    The French fighter will finally be getting the opportunity to compete in front of his home fans when he makes the walk on September 28 in Paris.

    MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that Jousset is set to make his third Octagon appearance against The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner Bryan Battle.

    Having competed in Australia and Las Vegas since signing to the promotion, it’s time for “Air” to get the home fighter treatment following his impressive winning streak.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush entered the UFC Hall of Fame as a part of the 2024 class, as the fifth winner of the Forrest Griffin Community Award.

    Dariush received praise for the work he has done with multiple organizations to help those living in the likes of Iraq and Haiti.

    Standing on the stage alongside legends of the sport, the active lightweight contender came away with a few moments that he will always remember fondly.

    One of those was being able to stand there alongside Frankie Edgar, who was a big inspiration for his own career, and was inducted into the Modern Wing.

    Another moment was an observation that Dariush made about some former rivals burying the hatchet with one another.

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Heart-warming Exchange Between Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva & ‘Shogun’ Rua

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dariush reflected on one particular moment that stayed with him from the Hall of Fame ceremony.

    Chael Sonnen has had his fair share of iconic rivalries, with many of his biggest fights coming against Brazilian opponents.

    International Fight Week saw Sonnen get inducted for his first fight with Anderson Silva, alongside two other Brazilian legends in Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

    Dariush recalled how he was able to watch them all interact with one another as he reflected on how much their dynamic has changed over the years.

    “The other cool part was “Shogun” was there and Wanderlei was there, we’re all from the same gym right. Three guys from basically Kings or Chute Boxe or from that lineage to get awards was cool and finally, at one point, I saw, it was like this.

    “Wanderlei was sitting here, “Shogun’s” here and Chael was right here in the middle and I’m behind them all and I just thought to myself, bro, 10 years ago if this situation was happening, I don’t think Chael would be getting out of this room alive but look at them now. Hanging out, speaking to each other and just being gentlemen. That was probably the coolest part to see, everybody’s moved on from the drama from previous.”

    Read also: Dustin Poirier Limits Opponent Options For Next Fight To 7 Major Names: ‘Definitely One Of Those Guys’ 

  • Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones has found himself arguing with fans on social media fairly regularly during his recovery process before he hopes to return later this year.

    The UFC heavyweight champion is expected to face former champ Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was cancelled due to Jones’ injury.

    In the meantime, many fans believe that his next opponent should instead be Tom Aspinall, who won the interim title and will now be defending it at UFC 304 later this month.

    Though the case has been made for Aspinall, Alex Pereira also became a part of the conversation following another dominant performance from the light heavyweight champion at UFC 303.

    A former UFC champion at both heavyweight and light heavyweight believes that Jones’ toughest test is also likely to be his next one.

    Randy Couture Says Experienced Stipe Miocic Has The Best Chance Of Beating Jon Jones Right Now

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Randy Couture gave his take on who presents the biggest challenge to Jones and the heavyweight title right now.

    Despite giving Aspinall and Pereira their dues, Couture pointed out how their experience competing at the top of the heavyweight division does leave a few question marks next to both men in potential match-ups with “Bones”.

    With that in mind, “The Natural” sided with the man that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight of all time, former champion Miocic.

    It has been three years since Miocic last competed inside the Octagon but Couture chose to go with the tried and tested competitor at this current time.

    “I think right now, because of experience, Stipe’s probably got the best shot at beating Jon. Aspinall has that raw physical ability and is still green enough and young enough that he’s going to be tough for Jon to deal with, especially if Jon waits any longer because he’s getting stronger and stronger each time out and I think the longer Jon waits, the better he’s going to be, he’s going to be in full stride by the time that fight happens so it’s interesting. Pereira has some things to prove, moving up is no easy task.

    “It’s one thing to cut weight and move down and there’s still some questions there even but moving up and dealing with the bigger guys, and Jon’s answered that question already dealing with the bigger guys, it’s a different thing… certainly has all the ability in the world, Pereira does, and he’s a hell of a competitor and he’s just demonstrated that again. I think anybody’s crazy if they don’t think you better strap them on if you’re stepping in there with him because he’s gonna bring it.”

    Read also: Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

  • Dricus Du Plessis On ’10-8′ Trash Talk Win Over Israel Adesanya, Post-UFC 305 Prediction

    Dricus Du Plessis On ’10-8′ Trash Talk Win Over Israel Adesanya, Post-UFC 305 Prediction

    The build-up to UFC 305 is sure to be an interesting experience for Dricus Du Plessis, given the tension that surrounds his first title defense.

    Despite them both trading comments for a year now, it still feels like the rivalry between the champion and his challenger, Israel Adesanya, is yet to hit fever pitch.

    Du Plessis, however, doesn’t see the war of words as anything other than giving back the same energy that he receives from opponents.

    He was asked about dealing a ’10-8′ scorecard to Israel Adesanya during their recent verbal exchange, in an interview with the Hack Check Podcast. The South African said that he’s always ready to bite back if others think they can push him around.

    “If you were coming at me, listen, I will never ever be bullied or pushed around. It’s not going to happen so I’m always good to go. If you treat me with respect, if we make it about the fight only, that’s the way I’m going to handle it. I mean, look at myself and Whittaker, look at myself and even Darren Till, he was chilled when we were at a presser. Every single guy that I fought before this, it wasn’t necessary because even look at Strickland, I was respectful and it wasn’t the trash talking at all up until he tried to bully me with the mic. That’s not gonna happen and that’s exactly what happened there [against Israel Adesanya].”

    Dricus Du Plessis Predicts That Israel Adesanya Will Retire After UFC 305

    Despite the fact that both men clearly do not see eye-to-eye on some subjects, Du Plessis has given Adesanya his dues for the career that he has had.

    The champion is confident that he is steps ahead of the returning Adesanya at this point but that doesn’t mean he feels the need to discredit “The Last Stylebender”.

    Du Plessis also said in the interview that he expects his opponent to announce his retirement from MMA following their fight on August 17, in Perth.

    He once again gave Adesanya props for what he has achieved and said that he has “earned” his retirement if he fails to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “Yes. I don’t give it a lot of thought because it doesn’t really matter to me. It’s irrelevant to me but yes probably. But, like I said, it’s not really something I think about and it’s irrelevant to me. Yeah, I mean, the guy’s done it all in the sport. He’s had, to say a great career would be almost underselling. He’s had one of the greatest careers ever so he’s earned it and it’ll be a great time [to retire him].”

    Read also:

  • UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’

    UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’

    Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that his return at UFC 304 will be the last fight on his current UFC contract.

    Though it seems unlikely that “The Baddy”, who has become a huge star in the promotion, will look to leave rather than re-signing, he did speak about the ability to make money in the boxing world.

    Pimblett getting his hand raised on July 27 against King Green (formerly Bobby Green) in Manchester would make him undefeated in six Octagon appearances and will likely see him be ranked in the top 15.

    From a negotiation standpoint, this gives him a lot of bargaining power to increase his purses when renewing his contract.

    A fellow lightweight contender gave Pimblett some props for the way that he has handled business on the global stage.

    Beneil Dariush Praises Paddy Pimblett For Holding Leverage In Future Plans

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Beneil Dariush spoke about Pimblett’s current contractual situation.

    Rather than attacking the Scouse fighter for potentially looking to make the most money possible, Dariush spoke about this wave of fighters who use combat sports as a way to boost their own profiles rather than attempting to be the best in the world.

    He says that whilst he isn’t sure whether “The Baddy” came into the promotion with this plan in mind, Pimblett has made himself a big name which will follow him whether he’s in the UFC or not.

    Dariush gave credit to his fellow lightweight for potentially having the option on the table to go undefeated inside the Octagon, before walking away to explore a different path.

    “There’s like this new idea going on in MMA. Get your name out there, become what I guess you would call an influencer, become an influencer, then you have the ability to make money anywhere, not just the UFC, sometimes you don’t even have to fight. Paddy’s definitely done that well. I don’t know if that was his goal but obviously clearly he’s gotten a lot of attention and he’s got a lot of followers. That being said, that gives him a lot of leverage. A lot of leverage regarding negotiations.

    “If he ends up winning this fight, I’m sure the UFC will work with him and they’re going to match him but if not, he can also go anywhere else. That being said, if he ends up leaving, you gotta give him credit. If he wins all his fights and leaves, that’s pretty amazing.”

    Read also: Fanmio CEO Releases Statement After Being Sued By Nate Diaz, Accuses Ex-UFC Star Of ‘Salacious & Defamatory’ Claims

  • Randy Couture Explains Why Francis Ngannou Was ‘Rubbed The Wrong Way’ By PFL: ‘There’s Been A Little Blip After The Boxing’

    Randy Couture Explains Why Francis Ngannou Was ‘Rubbed The Wrong Way’ By PFL: ‘There’s Been A Little Blip After The Boxing’

    After signing with the PFL in May of 2023, there is still no news regarding when Francis Ngannou will be making his debut in the SmartCage.

    Several factors have led to this postponement like the success he had against Tyson Fury in boxing and the tragic loss of his son earlier this year.

    The one big development regarding his career in the PFL was the recent announcement that PFL Africa will launch in the second quarter of 2025, with the former UFC heavyweight champion acting as the Chairman.

    This was a crucial aspect in his decision to sign with the promotion following his UFC departure but Randy Couture believes it may have been even more significant regarding his future in the PFL.

    Randy Couture Says Francis Ngannou’s PFL Africa Role Has Been Crucial To His Continued Involvement

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, PFL commentator Randy Couture said that the confirmation of PFL Africa could have helped to keep Ngannou with the promotion.

    The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion stated that he believes that Ngannou may have felt at odds with the promotion after the PFL vs Bellator Champions event earlier this year.

    When Renan Ferreira stopped Ryan Bader in the main event, the PFL looked to set up the Brazilian as their big-money signing’s debut opponent in the SmartCage but Ngannou didn’t seem overly enthused by the idea.

    Couture says that it can’t be underestimated how much this role as Chairman of PFL Africa means to Ngannou because of his want to give back to others who come from similar backgrounds.

    “I think there’s been a little blip after the boxing and Fury and then losing in the next one and they were pushing him to say, ‘Yes I want to take on Renan Ferreira,’ the winner of this champions vs champions and Francis was there at cage side and I think that rubbed Francis the wrong way a little bit.

    “But, at the end of the day, this opportunity to be the Chairman for PFL Africa is what kept him there [at PFL] and I think it means a lot to him. As much as him continuing to develop his legacy and establish himself as one of the best heavyweight mixed martial artists in the world and certainly an amazing boxer at this stage of things too, I think this chairmanship in Africa means a lot to him and he wants to do something special for his countrymen.”

    Read also: UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

  • MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 16, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Sonnen believes Jones’ misdemeanor charges could be less serious than they appear to be
    • Sterling books grappling match on Karate Combat
    • Romero announces plans for his next fight

    Chael Sonnen Questions Whether Jon Jones’ Case Has Been Over Exaggerated

    Jon Jones is dealing with another controversial police charge following an interaction at his house with a drug-testing agent.

    The UFC heavyweight champion has been charged with two misdemeanors where, if proven guilty, he could face fines or even jail time.

    His former rival, Chael Sonnen, has some issues with the way that this process has been carried out following the initial reports from April.

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Sonnen questioned both why the decision has taken so long based on the evidence they have and whether the case has been exaggerated with the misdemeanor charges.

    “The agents came and did what they did but there is a significant difference guys, in being a jerk and being a criminal. There’s a significant difference in being rude and committing a crime and it’s annoying for me to have to read this about Jon and read that he’s got to deal with this. It’s annoying for me even if not the municipality that I live in…

    “it’s annoying to me that on a double hit misdemeanor where there are not witnesses because – there’s a witness there but they’re not supporting the claim. There isn’t video cameras of everything but there is video surveillance and it doesn’t support the claim. It seems like a tough one and it still took those guys four, five, six [months], however long this is to make a decision even in this case.”

    Aljamain Sterling Set To Compete on Karate Combat’s Pit Submission Series On July 25

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is set to make his Karate Combat debut on the Pit Submission Series.

    The striking-focused promotion recently started opening up their events with several grappling bouts to kick off the show.

    Sterling is set to compete on July 25 in Nashville at Karate Combat 48, where he faces Jay Jay Wilson.

    “Funkmaster” has competed in several grappling matches in recent times with this being his first since he made his successful move up to featherweight with a win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.

    The event is set to be headlined by the heavyweight title rematch between Sam Alvey and Antônio Arroyo.

    https://twitter.com/KarateCombat/status/1813033307564875936

    Yoel Romero Says He’s Fighting Corey Anderson For The Bellator Light Heavyweight Title On October 19

    Despite rumours of him making the jump to BKFC, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero appears to be gearing up for his Bellator return.

    “Soldier of God” has been inactive since his decision win over Thiago Santos in February at PFL vs Bellator and according to him, he’s now set up for a title shot.

    Romero recently spoke in an interview on the Overdogs Espanol podcast where he claimed that he will be fighting Corey Anderson for the light heavyweight title on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

    The Bellator Champions Series is currently set to host events in Chicago on October 12 and Paris on November 16. While there is no event announced as of yet for Saudi Arabia, the PFL is expected to stage another pay-per-view in Riyadh this fall, with names like Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg expected to take part.

    Perhaps Romero has leaked the date for that major show…

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