MMA News

Author: Thomas Albano

  • Former Boxing Opponent Calls Jake Paul Out For MMA Debut After Training With Tom Aspinall

    Jake Paul has plenty to focus on right now. In addition to helping the PFL with its promotion of Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, Paul is preparing himself for his highly anticipated boxing showdown with Mike Tyson on Nov. 15 in Dallas.

    What comes next for “The Problem Child” in the aftermath of the Tyson fight is unknown. Will he try for another boxing match? Or will he finally look to make his PFL debut after signing with the promotion at the start of 2023?

    The younger of the Paul brothers has found plenty of success in the boxing ring regardless of who has come his way — all except for one person: Tommy Fury.

    Many have wondered when a rematch between the two will come, especially given Paul and Fury failed to come to terms on a rematch, and the Brit has fought just once since their initial encounter, defeating KSI in a highly lackluster outing in October 2023.

    Though one might expect that Fury would pursue a rematch with Paul in the boxing ring, it appears he’s open to doing battle in the cage, too.

    In a recent YouTube video, Fury showed off some of his time training alongside Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

    Tommy Fury Calls Out Jake Paul For PFL Debut After Training With UFC Champion Tom Aspinall

    In the video, Fury suggested that he is more than willing to cross over to MMA if it means getting his hands on Paul again.

    “Jake Paul’s in the PFL, isn’t he?” Fury said. “I’m going to smash his face in when I get better at MMA. I’ll beat him in boxing, and in the cage. A big useless prick. I reckon a year-and-a-half to two years of training until I’ll beat him in a [MMA] fight. It’ll be no problem in the cage.

    “He’s got the funds, he’s got the best trainers in the world, he’s got the best sparring in the world. So, he’s doing all right. But he’s no match for me. I swear to you, next time I fight him, I’ll knock him out.”

    Paul has not responded to Fury’s remarks as of writing.

    Since the loss to Fury, the Cleveland native has gone on to defeat Nate Diaz by decision and score knockouts against Andre August, Ryan Bourland, and Mike Perry.

  • Bryce Mitchell Open To Facing Movsar Evloev But Not On Short Notice: ‘You Know What Happened Last Time…’

    Bryce Mitchell Open To Facing Movsar Evloev But Not On Short Notice: ‘You Know What Happened Last Time…’

    Movsar Evloev is in need of a new opponent, and Bryce Mitchell may be willing to step up.

    The Russian was scheduled to face former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a battle of featherweight contenders at UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City.

    Sterling, however, was recently announced to be out of UFC 307 due to an injury. The UFC is intending to keep Evloev on the card as long as they can find a short-notice opponent.

    Mitchell appears to be willing to fulfill that role, throwing his name into the hat in a recent video interview with The Schmo.

    That said, he would take the fight if it could be delayed until right before the end of the year.

    Bryce Mitchell Says If He Gets Two Months, He’ll Step Up Against Movsar Evloev

    “[I heard Sterling] hurt his elbow,” Mitchell said. “You know what happened last time I took one on short notice. It was ugly. I’m wise enough to respect that I need a little bit more training. I want that fight. Give me two months, I’m down. That’s all I need. Two months. And I think that’s fair to ask.

    “And if he really wants that fight, two months is not that long of a wait for what they’re paying him. He can survive two more months without a paycheck. I think he should fight me in two months.”

    Mitchell, however, also did note that he wouldn’t want to take the fight from Sterling if he still wanted it — attesting to he and “Funk Master” being good friends.

    Mitchell’s most recent fight was also a short-notice bout, one that did not end particularly well for “Thug Nasty.” Stepping up on late notice against Josh Emmett at UFC 296, Mitchell was brutally knocked out in what was a late Knockout of the Year contender.

    After starting his career 15-0, the Arkansas native has lost two of his last three.

    Evloev, meanwhile, is undefeated at 18-0. He was most recently in action at January’s UFC 297, defeating Arnold Allen.

  • Conor McGregor’s UFC Comeback Saga Continues With Concerning Social Media Activity

    The Song That Never Ends could be the perfect theme song that goes along with the saga that is Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC. But, the question at this point is now if that comeback will actually ever happen.

    Questions about this comeback arose further last weekend when Michael Chandler — McGregor’s planned comeback opponent — was booked in a five-round battle against former foe Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of November’s UFC 309.

    While McGregor’s response in the immediate aftermath seemed to indicate he was uncertain of his Octagon status, UFC CEO Dana White claimed that a McGregor fight with Chandler was still possible after UFC 309.

    And in an interview with Ariel Helwani during the DAZN broadcast of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois, McGregor seemed to indicate he still wants to fight Chandler and wants to compete twice in 2025 in order to complete his UFC contract.

    Now, though, new social media activity from McGregor may have already caused major concern if those plans are still in fruition…

    ‘Like’ From Conor McGregor Hints At Him Potentially Never Returning To UFC

    X account ACD MMA made a post on the social media platform involving video of McGregor entering Wembley Stadium with a cigar in his mouth. ACD MMA stated, “Bro Conor McGregor is never coming back to MMA. This man is just enjoying his life.”

    The poster followed up with an update some time later, showing a screenshot that showed McGregor’s official X account “liking” the post.

    A fight between McGregor and Chandler has long been anticipated since the two were announced in early 2023 to be the coaches for season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.

    The two were scheduled to be the main event of UFC 303 until McGregor reportedly suffered an injury to his toe in training camp.

    The Dubliner has not been seen in the Octagon since his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He has since acquired a part-ownership in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    Meanwhile, Chandler’s fight with Oliveira will be his first since losing to Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. “Iron” and “Do Bronx” previously met for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 262, a fight that the latter won via second-round TKO.

  • ‘Did To AJ What AJ Did To Ngannou’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia & Others React As Daniel Dubois Dominates, KOs Anthony Joshua

    ‘Did To AJ What AJ Did To Ngannou’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia & Others React As Daniel Dubois Dominates, KOs Anthony Joshua

    In what has to go down as one of the most one-sided and jaw-dropping upsets in recent professional boxing history, Daniel Dubois retained the IBF heavyweight championship with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Dubois became just the second man to knock out Joshua — and only the third to beat him — in his professional career. The defending champion put on a display that was flat-out dominant and one of the most brutal beatings Joshua received in the ring.

    “Dynamite” brought this pace right from the get-go, rocking the former two-time unified heavyweight champion in the first round and dropping him before the frame’s conclusion.

    The pace did not stop, and Dubois appeared three steps ahead of Joshua. In fact, he rocked “AJ” again in the closing seconds of the third round, knocking him down before the bell sounded.

    Dubois knocked Joshua down again in the fourth stanza, and he appeared to do so for a second time before it was ultimately ruled a slip.

    Things ultimately ended in the fifth, just as Joshua finally seemed to buckle Dubois with a right hand, putting him on the back foot. The fan favorite charged in an attempt to attack but was cracked and dropped by a counter right hook that landed on the button.

    Joshua was unable to answer the 10 count, giving Dubois the win and ensuring the championship wouldn’t change hands.

    Daniel Dubois Puts On Beating, Retains IBF Heavyweight Title With KO Of Anthony Joshua

    https://twitter.com/ChampRDS/status/1837602954385162592

    Dubois has now won three straight since his unsuccessful challenge of Oleksandr Usyk in August 2023. He became interim IBF heavyweight champion with a finish of Filip Hrgović in June and was promoted to full-time champion when Usyk — then-undisputed heavyweight champion — was stripped of the IBF title.

    Meanwhile, this loss snaps a four-fight win streak that Joshua was on since dropping back-to-back WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight championship decisions to Usyk.

    Joshua had previously held the IBF title from his win over Charles Martin in April 2016 (and going on to pick up the WBA and WBO titles in the process) until his infamous June 1, 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua regained the titles in a rematch with Ruiz that December.

  • Conor McGregor Reveals Preferred Opponent For UFC Return After Chandler vs. Oliveira Booking

    Conor McGregor Reveals Preferred Opponent For UFC Return After Chandler vs. Oliveira Booking

    After last weekend’s announcement of Michael Chandler competing later this year in a fight that does not involve him, many are now left questioning what is next for Conor McGregor in the UFC.

    UFC CEO Dana White announced last weekend that Chandler will not be facing McGregor next. Instead, “Iron” will face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.

    White added at the time that they were looking at some point in 2025 for McGregor’s next fight, reiterating comments he made a month earlier following the Dana White’s Contender Series season premiere that McGregor will not compete in 2024.

    In the immediate aftermath, McGregor expressed confusion about his placement in the UFC following the booking of Oliveira vs. Chandler 2. A week later, however, the former UFC two-division champion has seemed to have changed his tone.

    In an interview with Ariel Helwani during the DAZN broadcast of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois on Saturday night, McGregor claimed he’s unbothered by waiting until 2025.

    Conor McGregor Still Wants Michael Chandler, Says It Is A ‘Must’ To Fight Out UFC Contract

    “It will be 2025,” McGregor said. “It is what it is. I just take it on board and just rock on. And my job is just to be in the gym, be in the gym, be in shape. One thing is for sure: whenever it is, and wherever it is, I will be 100 percent ready. That’s all I can focus on right now.”

    McGregor added that it is a “must” to compete twice in 2025. McGregor has two fights remaining on his current UFC contract but said he was unsure what happens when he becomes a free agent.

    White, last week, stated that McGregor vs. Chandler is not completely shut down and could still happen after Chandler fights Oliveira.

    When asked about who he wants across the cage from him in his return, McGregor, while uncertain, claimed plans are still unchanged in his mind. He wants to finish his business with Chandler.

    “Man, who knows now?” McGregor said. “It does not matter. I’d like it to be Chandler; I’d like that to be squared away. I wish him well against Oliveira, but let’s see how it goes.”

    McGregor has not been seen in the UFC since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

    Chandler and Oliveira, meanwhile, previously fought in the main event of UFC 262 in 2021, facing each other for the then-vacant UFC lightweight championship. “Do Bronx” scored the win via second-round TKO.

  • Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition

    Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition

    The fate of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is more uncertain than ever, but Charles Oliveira says he’s open to fighting McGregor as long as a certain stipulation is met.

    After even more time has passed without a set date for McGregor vs. Chandler, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed just prior to Noche UFC (UFC 3060 last weekend that Chandler has opted to take a fight with Oliveira.

    The clash between “Do Bronx” and “Iron” will serve as a five-round co-main event for UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It will be a rematch from their lightweight title bout at UFC 262 and Chandler’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier at the same venue two years earlier.

    There has been some supposed reassurance that Chandler’s planned fight with McGregor, which has been long awaited since the two were announced as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in early 2023, can still happen following the Oliveira bout. But given the Brazilian’s status as as former lightweight champion who is still high up in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, it brings about questions as to how Oliveira vs. Chandler 2’s outcome could impact plans for both the UFC lightweight title and McGregor.

    In an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira said he does not blame Chandler for waiting as long as he did. However, he himself would not have had the same patience.

    That said, Oliveira was also asked about choosing between another crack at the lightweight gold and McGregor.

    Charles Oliveira Says He’d Fight Conor McGregor As Long As He’d Get Title Shot In Next Fight: ‘Why Not?’

    Ultimately, Oliveira said if he was forced to pick between the two, he would lean toward the title fight. But, the ex-titleholder said he would be down to fight McGregor if it guaranteed him a title fight in the next outing.

    “Am I next in line if I beat McGregor? If that’s the plan, then I’m 100 percent in. But if you say, ‘No, you have to choose one of the two,’ I’m definitely going for the title,” Oliveira said. “If I have the opportunity to fight Conor and we make a lot of money, because he sells a lot and so do I — and we would definitely brow the roofs off with this pay-per-view —, not to mention the money off the purse, and I’m still next for the belt, I would definitely do it. Why not?

    “(My managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino) know what my plan is. I want the fights that take me to the belt. I’ve been posting a lot these days, ‘Waiting for the boss to call,’ and the UFC definitely sees that. Diego and ‘Macaco’ came with the Chandler fight, and I’m definitely much closer to the title with a win over Chandler. I’ll just stay focused now. Chandler is super tough and deserves all the respect. He knows how much I respect and care for him, so it’s definitely going to be a great fight.”

    Oliveira will be looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 300. “Do Bronx” defeated Chandler for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 and defended the title against Poirier at UFC 269. He controversially lost the title on the scale before UFC 274 and then lost a vacant title fight with current champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.

    The UFC lightweight title is next expected to be defended in early 2025 in a fight between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.

    Chandler is 2-3 in the UFC, with victories over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson in addition to his losses opposite Poirier, Oliveira, and Gaethje.

    McGregor, meanwhile, has not fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout with Poirier at UFC 264.

  • VIDEO: Former UFC Lightweight Damir Ismagulov Sleeps Opponent With Brutal Spinning Kick

    VIDEO: Former UFC Lightweight Damir Ismagulov Sleeps Opponent With Brutal Spinning Kick

    Damir Ismagulov’s post-UFC tenure is off to a strong start.

    After already winning his first fight outside the UFC earlier this year, Ismagulov took on Oberdan Tenório at Alash Pride 100.

    Just a couple of minutes into the contest, Ismagulov landed a devastating spinning kick right on the button, dropping Tenório out cold for the win.

    Damir Ismagulov Improves To 2-0 Since Departing UFC With Jaw-Dropping Kick

    After a 19-1 run to start his career, which included winning the Alash Pride Lightweight Tournament in 2016 and the M-1 Global lightweight championship in 2017, Ismagulov signed with the UFC.

    The Kazakh lightweight made his UFC debut in Australia in December 2018, defeating Alex Gorgees. He won his first five Octagon bouts, which also included wins against Joel Álvarez, Thiago Moisés, and Rafael Alves.

    Ismagulov, however, lost to Arman Tsarukyan in December 2022. He initially announced his retirement on January 1, 2023, but later fought out his UFC contract with a loss to Grant Dawson that July.

    The former ranked UFC contender returned to competition in July of this year, scoring a decision over Dimitry Klimov.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Merab Dvalishvili captured the UFC bantamweight championship at Noche UFC 306, and while it was a dominant performance, it also came with one of the most bizarre openings to a fight in recent memory.

    In the opening seconds, Dvalishvili could be seen mouthing off, but it wasn’t to opponent O’Malley. Rather, the Georgian challenger appeared to be in an argument with the champion’s corner, particularly his coach Tim Welch.

    Referee Herb Dean brought a swift halt to the bout to warn Dvalishvili for talking to O’Malley’s corner. Dean also gave a warning to Welch for what commentators referred to as “excessive coaching.” Dean would warn O’Malley’s corner later on in the fight.

    The bizarre nature of the pause left many fans confused and looking for clarification. This came especially when the UFC commentary team mentioned that O’Malley’s corner may have initiated the conversation with the title challenger.

    On social media the following day, Welch provided clarification on what he was saying.

    Tim Welch Reveals What He Told Merab Dvalishvili, Tips His Cap To The New Bantamweight Champion

    This is not the first time O’Malley’s corner has been at the center of controversy for talking with a fighter.

    As shown by the UFC documentary on Roku earlier this year, O’Malley’s corner appeared to communicate with Aljamain Sterling when O’Malley challenged him for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 292. “Sugar” to connect with Sterling not long after and finished the fight from there.

    On this occasion, O’Malley struggled with the grappling expertise of Dvalishvili, Sterling’s friend and teammate, as he was taken down several times and nearly submitted in a unanimous decision.

    O’Malley had successfully defended the title just once, defeating longtime rival Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299.

    Dvalishvili, meanwhile, has now won 11 straight fights inside the Octagon.

  • Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    It would not be far off to say that the performance of Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC (UFC 306) was perhaps the worst he’s ever had in the Octagon — and it ultimately cost him the UFC bantamweight championship.

    O’Malley appeared to struggle with the pressure and takedowns brought on by Merab Dvalishvili as the two faced off in the main event at the Sphere. Though “Suga” gave the Georgian some trouble in the fight’s final round, Dvalishvili ended up scoring a unanimous decision to win the title.

    Not long after the loss, O’Malley made a brief statement on social media, noting the disappointment left in his performance and the result.

    “Over promised under delivered. Sorry. Love you guys,” O’Malley wrote.

    Sean O’Malley Admits Bad Night, Dana White Says He Looked ‘Flat’

    Though there were bizarre circumstances at the start of the fight, the opening rounds saw Dvalishvili make a statement with several takedowns and a couple of guillotine attempts that troubled O’Malley. The defending champ landed the fight’s strongest strikes toward the end of the third round, but that was after another four minutes of grappling masterclass from the Georgian.

    Several front kicks to the midsection left Dvalishvili hurt and in danger in the fifth round, but O’Malley did not turn up the intensity, and it was too little, too late.

    Even UFC CEO Dana White noted the poor performance from O’Malley, saying he looked “flat.”

    “He didn’t look sharp. He didn’t look crisp,” White said at the UFC 306 post-fight press conference.

    Dvalishvili has now won 11 straight fights after dropping his first two Octagon outings. He also gained an ounce of revenge for his teammate and good friend Aljamain Sterling, who O’Malley knocked out at UFC 292 to capture the bantamweight gold.

    O’Malley retained the title once, defeating Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in March.

  • ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    In a fight that will definitely go down as one of the weirdest title fights in UFC history, Merab Dvalishvili gains revenge on behalf of his team and secures the UFC bantamweight championship, defeating Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306: Noche UFC.

    After a start that saw Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s corner be warned for verbally sparring with one another during the fight’s opening seconds, Dvalishvili had a strong performance in the first, thanks to a couple of takedowns and a guillotine choke attempt.

    Dvalishvili continued his dominance in the second round, scoring a couple more takedowns and rode it out in top position. Dvalishvili had another choke attempt in the second round’s closing seconds when more bizarreness unfolded. The Georgian kissed O’Malley’s back, causing O’Malley to fire off a punch to the back of Dvalishvili’s head before the end of the round.

    The third round proved to be more even, with Dvalishvili continuing to find success on the ground, but O’Malley delivering the fight’s strongest strikes in the final minute of the round. Dvalishvili needed just a minute or so in the fourth round to score another takedown, working over O’Malley in top position and continuing to pummel to keep control of the defending champion.

    Even with O’Malley stuffing takedown attempts in the latter rounds, Dvalishvili was dominant when he got on top. Dvalishvili even rocked O’Malley in the closing seconds of the fourth round — a round in which he completely outlanded O’Malley by approximately 60 punches.

    Dvalishvili looked to stay on the outside in the fifth round but had to deal with damaging front kicks from O’Malley. Dvalishvili, however, managed to survive the round and landed two additional takedowns.

    One judge scored the fight 49-46 and the other two 48-47, all in Dvalishvili’s favor.

    Merab Dvalishvili Captures Bantamweight Championship With Strong Decision Win Over Sean O’Malley

    https://twitter.com/MovsarUFC/status/1835198312867045704
    https://twitter.com/chitoveraUFC/status/1835198227202949422

    Dvalishvili has now 11 straight wins after dropping his initial two in the Octagon, coming into the UFC off Dana White: Looking for a Fight.

    O’Malley suffers the second loss of his MMA career. O’Malley won the championship with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling – Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate – at UFC 292. O’Malley retained the title against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in a rematch from O’Malley’s first UFC loss.

  • ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    Fight fans and UFC featherweight division – if you didn’t believe in Diego Lopes, do you now?

    In a fight that was originally supposed to happen at UFC 303 before Brian Ortega’s day-of pull-out due to a 103-degree fever, Lopes ended up making a statement scoring a win in a featured bout at Noche UFC 306.

    Lopes managed to drop Ortega in the fight’s opening minute, but Ortega managed to survive a follow-up flurry from the rising featherweight contender.

    The former featherweight title challenger was rocked again during the second round, with Lopes landing a head kick before knocking him down with a vicious leg kick. That combined with a series of leg kicks throughout the fight appeared to do damage and leave a welt on one of Ortega’s legs.

    Lopes rocked Ortega hard with a combination in the third round, dropping him once more, though Ortega was able to get up and throw down until the final horn.

    Diego Lopes Puts On Dominant Display In Victory Over Former Title Challenger Brian Ortega

    Lopes earned respect in his UFC debut, a short-notice loss to Movsar Evolev at UFC 288, and he’s now won five straight since.

    Ortega, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four, including an unsuccessful challenge of Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title at UFC 266 in September 2021.

  • ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    In perhaps one of the most competitive and thrilling fights that we’ll see in the UFC this year, Esteban Ribovics managed to just narrowly eke out a victory over Daniel Zellhuber at Noche UFC 306.

    The fight was even throughout, with both men seemingly equal in their striking and damage. Both men displayed high-level striking, trading with one another throughout as momentum and advantage continuously shifted over the course of their 15 minutes of battle.

    The third round proved to be the most intense and thrilling, starting with Zellhuber dropping Ribovics in the opening minute.

    Then, about a minute or so later, Ribovics landed a right hook that wobbled Zellhuber, with Ribovics nearly finishing him against the fence — but Zellhuber fought back and managed to survive.

    Ultimately, neither man swept the scorecards in any of the three rounds. Ribovics, however, managed to just score a split decision.

    Esteban Ribovics Narrowly Defeats Daniel Zellhuber In Fight Of The Year Contender

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1835158120676704301

    Ribovics has now won three straight after initially dropping his UFC debut last year.

    Zellhuber, meanwhile, sees a three-fight win streak snapped.

  • ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    Norma Dumont will have a major opportunity in her next outing after putting on a well-rounded performance in a victory over Irene Aldana that closed out the UFC 306 preliminary card at The Sphere.

    But the story of the fight is more centered around the mark or, rather, the nasty gash that was left on Aldana in the fight’s aftermath.

    Late in the second round, Aldana and Dumont accidentally clashed heads, resulting in Aldana being busted open. While the cutman did his best to work with the cut, the cut still lingered into the third round, and the blood was definitely affecting Aldana.

    Dumont continued to deliver an all-around beating, and Aldana was left with perhaps one of, if not the, nastiest and deepest lacerations that has been seen in the Octagon.

    Irene Aldana Left With The Nastiest Gash On Face In Loss To Norma Dumont

    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1835136936245104763
    https://twitter.com/TrickstahhW3M/status/1835136738248855689

    This marks Dumont’s fifth straight victory in the Octagon, improving to an 8-2 record in the UFC.

    Aldana, the former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger, has traded wins and losses on a consistent basis since mid-2019, going 4-4 in her last eight.

  • ‘Best Striker In The UFC’ – Belal Muhammad & Others React To Ignacio Bahamondes’ Brutal KO At Noche UFC 306

    ‘Best Striker In The UFC’ – Belal Muhammad & Others React To Ignacio Bahamondes’ Brutal KO At Noche UFC 306

    Crisp and brutal striking once again proved key to success for Ignacio Bahamondes, as he scored a first-round finish while competing on the preliminary card of UFC 306.

    Bahamondes managed to drop opponent Manuel Torres earlier in the first round and followed up with ground-and-pound, but Torres managed to survive and throw up his guard.

    Torres returned to his feet and lunged forward with his counter attack. That proved to be his downfall, however, as Bahamondes landed another cracking right hand, finishing the fight from there.

    Ignacio Bahamondes Impresses With Another First-Round Finish At The Sphere

    https://twitter.com/themmalegend/status/1835127561459785868

    Bahamondes has now won five of six fights since dropping his last contest in 2021. Bahamondes entered the UFC off a brutal knockout of Edson Gomez during the 2020 season of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    Torres, a DWCS alum in his own right, suffers his first Octagon defeat and sees a six-fight win streak snapped. He had entered tonight’s fight off a quick submission of Chris Duncan in February.

  • Dana White Reacts To Demetrious Johnson’s MMA Retirement: ‘I Was Defending Him From The Fans!

    Dana White Reacts To Demetrious Johnson’s MMA Retirement: ‘I Was Defending Him From The Fans!

    Demetrious Johnson has long cemented his place in the minds of MMA fans as one of the greatest of all time and the greatest flyweight the sport has ever seen.

    Many in the MMA community are celebrating and reflecting on Johnson’s performances and accomplishments in the sport after he announced his retirement at ONE Championship’s event in Denver, Colorado on September 6.

    Though the latter years of Johnson’s career saw him in Asia’s ONE Championship, he is best known as the inaugural and long-reigning king of the UFC’s flyweight division.

    In an interview with John Morgan, UFC CEO Dana White was given his chance to react to the retirement of “Mighty Mouse.” White stated that he has long praised Johnson’s abilities, even claiming to be the former flyweight champ’s biggest defender.

    “If you go back to when he was here, I was defending him from the fans,” White said. “Who’s defended Demetrious Johnson more than me? Good for him. Incredible career he had, and I’ve never had a problem with Demetrious Johnson.”

    Demetrious Johnson ‘Absolutely’ Will Find Himself In UFC Hall Of Fame, Says Dana White

    Johnson made his professional MMA debut in 2007, winning 10 straight before a loss to Brad Pickett. He then won four more fights, including his first two UFC matchups against Norifumi Yamamoto and Miguel Torres, before unsuccessfully challenging then-UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in October 2011.

    Johnson subsequently dropped to flyweight upon the UFC’s establishment of its 125-pound division in 2012, defeating Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez to become the inaugural champion.

    This would start Johnson’s six-year dominance over the weight class, going to defend the championship 11 straight times, setting a still-standing UFC record in the process.

    Johnson lost the championship to Henry Cejudo at UFC 227 in August 2018 and was traded by the UFC to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren.

    “Mighty Mouse” went on to win the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix in 2019 but was knocked out for the only time in his career against Adriano Moraes in their 2021 title fight. Johnson won their rematch in August 2022 to capture the ONE flyweight title.

    The American defended the title in a trilogy fight with Moraes in May 2023 — the final fight of Johnson’s career and ONE’s debut in the US.

    Though Johnson’s UFC run ended in the trade and in ONE Championship, White said that with his accomplishments, there is no doubt he’ll be in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    “Absolutely,” White said matter-of-factly.

  • Update Provided On Gruesome Eye Injury Suffered By Rongzhu In UFC Fight Night Loss

    Update Provided On Gruesome Eye Injury Suffered By Rongzhu In UFC Fight Night Loss

    Perhaps the most noteworthy finish of UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady on Saturday night came in the featured bout of the preliminary card, as Rongzhu suffered a gruesome facial injury at the hands of Chris Padilla.

    Padilla landed an elbow that went directly to one of Rongzhu’s eyes, swelling it shut and forcing the cageside doctor to step in. The fight was ultimately waved off in the American’s favor in the second round.

    Rongzhu was transported to the hospital following the fight.

    Rongzhu ‘Could Not Open His Eye’ After Being Transported To Hospital Following Loss To Chris Padilla

    In the latest update on his health, Rongzhu’s manager told Alex Behunin of MMA Mania late Saturday night that the fighter suffered multiple fractures in his face. He added that Rongzhu still could not open his eye.

    This fight marked his first fight back in the UFC after winning the Road to UFC season 2 lightweight tournament, defeating Shin Haraguchi in the final back in February.

    Rongzhu previously went 1-2 in his first stint with the UFC, defeating Brandon Jenkins but losing to Kazula Vargas and Ignacio Bahamondes alongside a pair of weight misses.

  • ‘Khabib Bout To Jump In Himself’ – Fans React To Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator Title Defense, Khabib’s Corner Face Crank

    ‘Khabib Bout To Jump In Himself’ – Fans React To Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator Title Defense, Khabib’s Corner Face Crank

    Usman Nurmagomedov continued to live up to the high praise of his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has called him the future of the sport, by recording successful lightweight title defense against Alexandr Shabliy in the main event of Saturday’s Bellator Champions Series event in San Diego.

    From the beginning, Shabliy looked to use a quick right hook to his advantage, especially on the counterattack. But Nurmagomedov managed to score a takedown in the first round, though his challenger quickly shook him off.

    The two had a back-and-forth striking second round, and the third round proved to be the quietest of the bunch. Nurmagomedov did, however, still appear to be the fighter with more activity.

    The champ got quite the scare in the fourth round thanks to a one-two and a knee early in the round, turning away after the attack. But as it turned out, Shabliy poked him in the eye.

    Nurmagomedov then had his own moment of success later in the round, rocking his fellow Russian with a high kick and bringing him back to the mat, looking for a submission. The moment was topped by a shot of Khabib Nurmagomedov, in his cousin’s corner, doing a mock face crank of his own on UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Shabliy was unable to pull the trigger and do much in the fifth round until it was too little, too late. Nurmagomedov won 50-45 on one judge’s scorecard and 49-46 on the other two to retain the title.

    Usman Nurmagomedov Nearly Sweeps Scorecards In Successful Bellator Lightweight Title Defense Over Alexandr Shabliy

    Nurmagomedov claimed the lightweight title with a win over Patricky Pitbull at Bellator 288. He then retained in wins over Benson Henderson and Brent Primus (the latter overturned to a no contest) during the unfinished Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix.

    Shabliy, meanwhile, had a nine-fight win streak entering this fight, including victories over Tofiq Musayev and Pitbull during the same tournament.

  • Lorenz Larkin, UFC & Strikeforce Vet, Earns Title Shot At 38 With Quick Bellator Champions Series Knockout

    Lorenz Larkin, UFC & Strikeforce Vet, Earns Title Shot At 38 With Quick Bellator Champions Series Knockout

    Even at 38 years old, Lorenz Larkin is not slowing down.

    Now, his next fight will present a likely last opportunity to earn gold thanks to his win at Saturday’s Bellator Champions Series event in San Diego.

    Larkin, a former UFC and Strikeforce fighter, faced Levan Chokheli in the co-main event at Pechanga Arena. The Georgian appeared set to present some challenge after catching a kick from Larkin and knocking him down.

    Chokheli, however, allowed the veteran back to his feet, a decision that proved to be a costly mistake when Larkin landed a right hand that wobbled Chokheli moments later.

    That started a flurry, paving the way for the American to score a TKO finish in just under two minutes.

    Lorenz Larkin Stops Levan Chokheli Quickly To Earn Bellator Welterweight Title Shot

    Larkin has now won nine of his last 11 fights and will take on Bellator welterweight champion Ramazan Kuramagomedov at some point to be determined.

    “The Monsoon” challenged for the same belt in his Bellator debut back in 2017 but fell to Douglas Lima. That result came off the back of a two-fight win streak in the UFC, with wins over Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny concluding his four-year stint on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Chokheli, meanwhile, sees a three-fight winning run snapped. He is now 4-3 under the banner of Bellator, which was acquired by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in late 2023.

  • ‘Belal vs. Brady Rematch For An Early Bedtime’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews After Brady Beats Gilbert Burns In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    ‘Belal vs. Brady Rematch For An Early Bedtime’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews After Brady Beats Gilbert Burns In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Though not all fans were happy about the performance, the rising Sean Brady earned the biggest win of his MMA career thus far on Saturday night, defeating Gilbert Burns in the UFC Fight Night main event.

    Brady brought most of the activity in a relatively quiet opening round. He continued his pace into the second, although Burns’ power was on display from the get-go, stumbling his American counterpart early with a right hand.

    Burns appeared to land some of the fight’s strongest shots in the third frame, seemingly damaging Brady in a stuff and scramble. The Philadelphia native, however, managed to land knees to the body, fighting back and scoring the takedown to close out a highlight sequence featuring the two men.

    Brady’s activity did not slow down in the fourth round, with many believing Burns needed to turn up the aggression and let his hands go in the fifth stanza. “Durinho” partially landed a jumping knee, but it wasn’t enough.

    The favored American was able to score a takedown, riding out the round on top and scoring the unanimous nod from the judges.

    Sean Brady Scores Decision Win Over Former Title Challenger Gilbert Burns

    Brady has now won back-to-back fights after suffering the lone loss of his MMA career against current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in October 2022.

    Former welterweight title challenger Burns, meanwhile, has now lost three straight.

  • ‘UFC Has Never Seen A Striker Like Natália Silva’ – Fans React After Silva Puts On Masterclass To Beat Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    ‘UFC Has Never Seen A Striker Like Natália Silva’ – Fans React After Silva Puts On Masterclass To Beat Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    A rising face at flyweight, Natália Silva will be in for a huge opportunity in her next outing after pulling off a win over former women’s strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    The first round was tight between the two, with Silva landing better strikes but Andrade working around the cage as the two traded and scrapped throughout the opening five minutes.

    “Bate Estaca” continued to press in the second round, but her fellow Brazilian was able to answer every time, stopping takedowns and working the distance with strikes.

    Silva did not slow down, sweeping the scorecards against the former UFC champion.

    Natália Silva Puts On Impressive Display With Strong Win Over Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    Silva has now won 12 straight and improves to 6-0 in the UFC. Her last loss in MMA came against Marina Rodriguez in December 2017.

    Andrade, meanwhile, had won back-to-back fights at 115 pounds prior to this performance and has now lost four of her last six.

  • ‘One Of The Grossest Things I’ve Ever Seen’ – Fans React As Vicious Elbow To The Eye Forces Doctor Stoppage In UFC Fight Night Featured Prelim

    ‘One Of The Grossest Things I’ve Ever Seen’ – Fans React As Vicious Elbow To The Eye Forces Doctor Stoppage In UFC Fight Night Featured Prelim

    Chris Padilla brought about a vicious injury on his opponent, earning him a win in the featured preliminary bout of UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady.

    Rongzhu, Padilla’s opponent, appeared to be landing the higher quality strikes at a better pace, but the American flashed his power, foreshadowing the fight’s conclusion.

    Late in the second round, Padilla landed an elbow that landed directly on the eye of the Road to UFC standout. Rongzhu’s eye was completely shut by the attack, bringing in the cageside doctor, who quickly called a stop to the bout.

    Chris Padilla Picks Up Doctor’s Stoppage Win After Brutal Elbow Strike To Eye

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832552240625693004

    Padilla has now won five straight with all but one win coming via a finish. He is also now 2-0 in the UFC after submitting James Llontop in April.

    Meanwhile, this marked Rongzhu’s first UFC fight since three straight wins on Road to UFC between 2023 and 2024. He previously competed for the UFC three times between 2021 and 2022, going 1-2.

  • VIDEO: Canadian Prospect Lands Insane Spinning Wheel Kick KO At Battlefield Fight League Event

    VIDEO: Canadian Prospect Lands Insane Spinning Wheel Kick KO At Battlefield Fight League Event

    Canadian MMA prospect Radley Da Silva has made a statement in a big way.

    The featherweight up-and-comer scored a highlight KO that will likely go down as one of the most exciting, violent, and rare of this year at a regional event on Friday night.

    Da Silva faced Drake Randall in the main event of BFL 81 in Vancouver, British Columbia, defending the Battlefield Fight League featherweight championship.

    Seconds into round two, following an exchange that seemed to stumble Randall a bit, Da Silva landed a spinning wheel kick that dropped Randall out cold.

    This win marked Da Silva’s second BFL title defense, with the 6-1 pro previously submitting Caleb Moctezuma at BFL 80 this past May.

    Da Silva won the BFL featherweight title at BFL 79 in February, defeating Maxime Soucy via decision.

    After dropping his professional MMA debut in July 2013, the man known as “Snake Eyes” has now won six straight. With that, he called for an opportunity to make his mark in the UFC next.

  • Jorge Masvidal Reveals UFC Response After Requesting Leon Edwards Fight For Return

    After his loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 last year, Jorge Masvidal appeared to take his curtain call in MMA, retiring from competition after a lengthy career that featured a sudden rise to superstardom in 2019.

    But it now seems that Masvidal truly isn’t done with the sport.

    In a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Masvidal revealed that he is planning to return to the UFC, reiterating plans that he made during the time of his boxing match with Nate Diaz a couple of months ago.

    Masvidal dropped a decision to Diaz in that fight, which left a bad taste in his mouth. He added that he couldn’t stay away from the fight game, and he couldn’t get ready for more training and fights without venturing back into MMA.

    “I definitely did (retire) from sports and all martial arts,” Masvidal said. “I retired for about…45 to 60 days. And then it just hit me. I was like, I’m not retired. I can’t. I started training, I started doing something, and this boxing opportunity fell in my lap; great opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up.

    “But even when I was doing boxing, even though I loved it, it just doesn’t compare to MMA. I just couldn’t picture myself getting ready for more fights and not being in MMA.”

    Jorge Masvidal Plans UFC Return, Wants To Face Leon Edwards

    Masvidal informed the UFC of his intention to return last month. He does not need a new contract, as he retired with two fights remaining on his UFC deal at the time of his retirement.

    Since Masvidal did a formal retirement, however, he will need to enter the UFC’s anti-doping program for a minimum of six months before making an official return to the Octagon. Those rights can be waived by the promotion if they deem necessary.

    There is one name on Masvidal’s mind for a return fight: Leon Edwards. The two have had bad blood spanning back to UFC Fight Night London in 2019, an event headlined by Masvidal knocking out Darren Till and Edwards defeating Gunnar Nelson.

    “Gamebred” and “Rocky,” live in an ESPN interview, got into an altercation that saw Masvidal land his infamous “three piece and a soda” on Edwards.

    “Give me f*cking Leon Edwards, bro,” Masvidal said. “Is he an up-and-coming guy? What would you call him? A veteran? Ex-champion? Whatever you call that mother******, give me that. Let’s go. We’ve got a built-in history. (The UFC) has got the whole promo.

    “He’s 0-1 against me. Let’s go. Let’s do the fight at the end of the year, next year. That’s it. Let’s get it done. And then, after I knock his ass out, guess what? They’ve got to give me the title shot.”

    But Masvidal admitted the UFC isn’t so sure of the idea.

    “Of course, I did (asked to fight Edwards in his return). Man, the first thing I told his (Hunter Campbell’s) a**. Yeah, they shut it down,” Masvidal said. “Said they won’t do that. Okay, we’ll see who’s next.

    “I heard he doesn’t want to fight,” Masvidal continued. “Who knows [why]? Maybe because I beat the f*** out of that guy, almost knocked him out.”

    Masvidal said he would only fight an up-and-comer if he feels it’s the right kind of fighter.

  • Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    The future appears to be bright for Caio Borralho after pulling off a decision win over Jared Cannonier in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card at the Apex.

    The two had a hard-fought battle filled with plenty of strikes. Borralho’s kicks seemed to get the better of Cannonier in the first round before the former title challenger found a groove with his punches in the second.

    They were even in terms of striking numbers in the third, but “The Natural” managed to get “The Killa Gorilla” wobbly late in the frame. Cannonier battled back in the fourth round by delivering with his power, forming heavy damage around one of Borralho’s eyes.

    The Brazilian managed to gain the fifth round, however, by dropping Cannonier with a one-two in the closing minutes and nearly scoring the finish.

    “I caught him with some good jabs, and I think all these jabs hide my left hand, and when I (was) touching with my left hand, he felt (it) all the times,” Borralho told Megan Olivi for ESPN. “But he’s so durable, you know? He’s so tough. He’s been with the best in the world so many years. Crazy. He was in the UFC in 2015. That was the year of my last defeat, my second MMA fight.”

    Caio Borralho Claims He Is A New Champ On The Rise

    Borralho ventured his way into the UFC after a pair of wins over Aaron Jeffrey and Jesse Murray on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. Since then, “The Natural,” representing the Fighting Nerds team, has surged upward in momentum by defeating the likes of Paul Craig, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Makhmud Muradov prior to Cannonier.

    Now with bigger opportunities in his future, in addition to his callout of champion Dricus Du Plessis in the Octagon, Borralho is expecting to be placed in the top five of the middleweight ranking when they’re updated next week.

    “I hope to see my name on Tuesday in the top five of this division,” Borralho said. “You know I’m coming for my belt. The mantra of this training camp was to show the new champ arrived. And I think everybody saw that (there is) a new champ on the rising [sic] – a guy that never gives up and (has) all skills.”

  • ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

    The Conor McGregor roller coaster ride continues, and now there appears to be more doubt (once again) that McGregor may not face Michael Chandler this year.

    In new posts on social media, McGregor showed off training footage. However, it came with a curious new hashtag: #FreeTheMac.

    McGregor followed this post up with a simple, four-word message: “When I get free.”

    This has caused great speculation that McGregor may be asking to be released from his UFC contract. The Irishman, whose frequently delayed fight with Chandler was most recently expected to take place at UFC 310 in Las Vegas this December, reportedly has two fights remaining on his current deal with MMA’s leading promotion.

    This also comes days after Belal Muhammad stated that Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman are both being considered as title challengers for a welterweight title fight that could take place at the December pay-per-view.

    The booking of a title fight may cause great concern about McGregor vs. Chandler at the event, as a title fight has not been featured under a McGregor bout since UFC 196 in 2016.

    Conor McGregor Saying He Wants Out Of UFC Contract?

    https://twitter.com/TheSyedHaq/status/1827419547327922282

    A little less than two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White told the media that McGregor would not fight in 2024. This caused the former two-division champion, in a now-deleted tweet, to encourage fans to tell White they want McGregor vs. Chandler to take place in December.

    The pair were set to fight after both men coached The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year, but the rest of 2023 went without any announcement of a fight.

    Official confirmation finally came from White following UFC 300, with the two set to battle at UFC 303 in June. But a Dublin press conference earlier in that month was suddenly canceled the day before, and it later emerged that McGregor had suffered a toe injury and chose to withdraw from a fight for the first time in his career.