Swedish MMA fighter Samuel Bark enters his featherweight bout against Mate Sanikidze at Oktagon 79 with clear intentions: a convincing performance that positions him for a title shot while allowing him to showcase the Muay Thai techniques that define his fighting approach.
Samuel Bark Plans Pressure and Power at Oktagon 79, Eyes Title Shot After Sanikidze Test
Bark carries a 12-2 record into the contest, sitting at number six in the Oktagon featherweight rankings. The matchup takes place November 1st at Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czech Republic, forming part of the promotion’s milestone 1,000th fight celebration.
Bark’s fighting background provides context for his competitive approach. The Swedish fighter spent years competing in Thailand’s professional Muay Thai circuit, accumulating over 70 fights before transitioning to MMA. He earned the nickname “Sammon Decker” from his coach Sangtiennoi, who had a trilogy against legendary Dutch striker Ramon Dekker.
After establishing himself domestically in Sweden through multiple promotions, Bark moved into broader European competition with Cage Warriors and UAE Warriors, where he defeated former UFC fighter Ali Al Qaisi to capture the UAE Warriors featherweight title in May 2024.
Following his May 2024 championship victory in Abu Dhabi, Bark returned to action at Allstars Fight Night 10 in June 2025, competing for the AFN belt against Danish fighter Frederik Strauss. The competitive landscape at featherweight in Oktagon remains unsettled, with the champion position currently vacant as of October 2025. Victories against ranked opponents like Sanikidze would solidify Bark’s standing among the division’s elite and strengthen his case for a title fight.
On his fighting philosophy against Sanikidze, Bark stated his intent clearly, in an exclusive interview with Tim Wheaton of MMA News, he said:
“I want to display some Muay Thai, you know how they walk their opponent down with pressure. So like a lot of pressure, a lot of power. Punches, kicks, knees, elbows. I’m not sure. It depends on how much he walks back and runs away, you know.”
Bark’s professional activity level has been notable throughout his MMA career. Between December 2021 and May 2024, he accumulated 10 professional bouts while working to develop his striking-based approach within the MMA ruleset.
The Oktagon 79 event itself carries significance beyond this individual featherweight matchup. The show features reigning welterweight champion Ion Surdu defending his title against Andrej Kalašnik in the main event.
For Bark, victory on November 1st would represent another step toward his stated objectives of securing a title shot within Oktagon. His ability to implement his pressure-based Muay Thai game plan against Sanikidze will determine whether he achieves the statement victory he seeks.
Tyler Goodjohn will have his last dance in Leeds this weekend and also sees Paulie Malignaggi bowing out from competing in combat sports as well. Tyler Goodjohn will battle Paulie Malignaggi at BKB 47: Leeds Brawl 2 on October 18th. Tyler Goodjohn appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker to touch on his highly hyped retirement bout as the former BKB champion and BKFC title challenger throws down with the multi-time gloved boxing champ, Malignaggi.
When touching on the dual pronged meaning of his social media post that referred to this intriguing headliner being the last dance in Leeds, Tyler Goodjohn said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“I mean look, it was always going to be my last fight, you know. I’m bowing out and it’s going to be Paulie’s last fight as well. I mean look, he signed a three fight deal but, you know, he’s not getting past the first fight. So it’s going to be retirement. It’s going to be a retirement do for both of us, you know. It’s probably never happened before where both are going to retire on the same night. Yeah, he’s definitely not going to want to carry on with the bare knuckle journey after this fight.”
“And I’m done. I’ve got nothing else to prove. You know, I’m a pioneer in this game. I think slowly people are starting to see it now. I opened the door for everyone. I went to America. I’ve done all the madness, you know, the COVID stuff. I’m starting to get my respect now.”
“It’s not often I can get into a room or a street and people don’t recognize now. So, you know, this fight against Paulie; As Paulie said when we had the face off, he wants to give me the exposure. I’ve not had the exposure that I really should have had in my career. So, yeah, it’s a nice one to bow out on.”
When addressing the pieces of fighting a former IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight champion in terms of how further delving into how much this is an ideal fight to bow out on, Tyler Goodjohn stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“There wasn’t a fight as a, you know, boxer that I missed. Paulie, I was a big fan of Paulie, you know. The fight; you know, boxing fans will remember the night he fought Miguel Cotto with a broken jaw or a cheekbone or whatever it was. Like the guy is very, very tough. The guy is very, very good and I actually just put a picture of his resume out and like he’s fought everyone, man.”
“Everyone, like and I salute that, you know, because that’s how I like to be in my career. Like that’s; you know, he’s obviously been a two-weight world champion, but he’s had a lot of lows. He’s lost a lot of fights, you know, but he’s always come back and fought the best. So you really, you know; you really have to take your hat off to people like that [laughs].”
Tyler Goodjohn, the multiple levels of BKB related closure here, and his retirement aims
The former BKB champion previously left the promotion on bad terms as he pursued opportunities with BKFC. Upon returning to an ever growing BKB fold, Goodjohn has since made amends with promotional figureheads Jim Freeman and Joe Brown after having some cross words from the prior regime. When touching on how this final prizefight for him seems like it’s creating closure in a multitude of regards, Tyler Goodjohn quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],
“Yeah, definitely. You know, Jim [Freeman] and Joe [Brown] have been really good. They’ve stuck to everything they’ve said, you know, they’ve been really good. I can’t; no complaints at all. Then obviously, to give me this fight, the exposure. It’s just a massive fight to go out on. It’s great. I’ve not been totally honest with people how badly like, you know, my hands and my body’s been because I want it so badly, but at 34, people have got to remember there’s a lot of life [laughs] to live after fighting. You know, this is going to be my ninth bare knuckle fight.”
“But people forget that I fought at a very high level as a professional boxer and an amateur as well. You know, I had a lot of fights. I had 69 amateur fights and I had 19 professional boxing matches and like 10 of them were; 10 of them were like title fights, you know what I mean? 10 rounds, grueling 10 round title fights. So I’ve been up and about [laughs], up and about. On top of that, all the sparring and all the stuff, you know, all the behind the scenes that no one sees.”
Tyler Goodjohn continued, “It’s, 34 years of age. Maybe I could go on another couple of years but for what? I’m not really; and truly, after this fight against Paulie, what more can I do? Like and without being too disrespectful, people go, oh, be BKB champion again, I’ve done it. I done it in a historic fight against Sean George and even the champion now at my weight.”
“Liam Rees like, good fighter, champion, all this, but like no one knows who he is, you know? So, it’s like, after this Paulie fight, I could walk away and I want to get into coaching and who knows? Look, I could bring another bare knuckle superstar along.”
“But, you know, like I say, as a 34 year old man now, let’s face it, I’m on the decline. The scar tissue on my face is a joke. So, I’m having to fight most; well, my last three fights, pretty much blind really because the blood and the scar tissue damage. Yeah [laughs], I just don’t really want it for; I’ve got this last one. I can go, you know what, all in. Let’s go. But there’s got to come a time.”
Tyler Goodjohn continued, “There’s got to come a time. And if the fighter can come up; it’s not often the fighter comes up with that. Do you know what I mean? Usually it’s someone else like trying to tell, persuade someone to retire and all that, but I feel it. I felt it in training for this fight. I mean I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life, a lot, lots. I’m very proud of myself how I’ve just got on with it.”
“But I’ve not been enjoying it. The discipline side of me is incredible and everything gets done impeccably. Do you know what I mean? Like to the max. But I’m just not loving it. I just, I haven’t got the love for it anymore. You know, it hurts [laughs]. Training hurts. What people forget is as well as a professional, we’re not training to keep fit and and training at 70%. We’re there, you know, I can only speak for myself, but I imagine most professional combat sportsmen, when you go into training, you’re giving 110% every time.”
Tyler Goodjohn continued, “I’m training twice a day, six days a week. People will be like, I’m my own worst enemy when I should take rest and everything else. But you know, when I’m switched on to a fight, man, I’m locked in. It’s an obsession. Again, I think most other fights was; fighters will say the exact same thing. It’s an obsession.”
“So yeah, the last 16 weeks have been hard with everything that’s going on outside in my life and, you know, in the mix of that, I’m also fighting a guy who’s a former two-weight world champion. So discipline, man. Super disciplined.”
South African mixed martial artist Elbert Lukas Steyn is preparing for one of the biggest moments of his career at PFL Africa 2 in Johannesburg. The undefeated fighter, nicknamed “Pikachu,” has built a reputation for his grappling ability and submission finishes, but his journey to this stage has been far from straightforward.
Elbert Lukas Steyn
Steyn’s entry into combat sports began through wrestling, a path he describes as the toughest discipline he has ever undertaken. “With wrestling, you get your cauliflower ears, your experience, and the most important thing is the discipline that you learn over the years,” Steyn said during an interview with MMA News leading up to the event. His achievements included qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games at 17, but making weight was a major challenge. “I used to cut down to 63kg… that was killer for me at that time.”
His introduction to MMA came almost by accident. Growing up without internet access at home, Steyn happened upon a downloaded George St-Pierre highlight reel on a friend’s hard drive. “When I saw what this guy was doing to people, I just fell in love with it,” he said. The energy of the sport’s crowds, particularly in GSP’s hometown of Montreal, also left a mark. By the age of 15, he was training with an MMA career in mind.
In his amateur years, Steyn struggled with nerves and the pressure of competition. “I hated MMA as an amateur. I feared the cage, I feared the feeling, I feared the pressure,” he said. That led to a six-year break from competition after defending a local amateur belt. He returned to training through wrestling, was offered a fight within two months, and made his professional MMA debut. The shift in mindset was immediate. “The moment I walked out as a pro, I knew this is what I was going to do, before I knew the outcome of the fight.”
A key factor in overcoming those pre-fight anxieties was a change in perspective. “The anxiety I felt doing nothing for those six years was much worse than losing in front of millions of people… or rather be the loser on the screen than the loser watching the screen,” Steyn explained. He learned to manage the adrenaline dump that can sap fighters in competition, describing the challenge as “more mental fatigue than fitness.”
PFL Africa 2 represents both a personal and professional milestone for Steyn. The event is part of the Professional Fighters League’s expansion on the continent, with the Johannesburg card showcasing some of Africa’s top talent in tournament action. Steyn, facing Moroccan opponent Abderrahman Errachidy in a catchweight bout, is eager to make the most of the opportunity.
“From my point of view as a South African fighter, we didn’t really have many mentors from our country to look up to,” he said. “To be part of a platform this big… I’d match PFL with the UFC. The level is there, if not surpassing it.” He sees fighting at home as a chance to inspire the next generation and to perform in front of a local crowd without the prohibitive travel costs that South African fighters often face.
Mark Hulme enters the quarterfinals of the Tipsport Gamechanger Middleweight Tournament this weekend at Oktagon 74 with the intensity and humor that have defined his fighting career. As Hulme faces Czech athlete Dominik Humburger in Prague on August 9, he approaches the contest as the next high-stakes chapter in a journey marked by an unapologetic fighting ethos.
Mark Hulme
The South African welterweight is candid about what draws him to the brutality of MMA and the moments that follow. “A fight is like, obviously there’s consequences,” Mark Hulme says. “Everything I do builds up to that fight. I get to a point where I can’t even listen to people talking sh* because they’re interrupting my time to think about the fight.”
With a string of finishes and several notable submissions, he earned his spot in the quarterfinals after dispatching former Oktagon finalist Andreas Michailidis in under two minutes earlier this year. When asked whether he’s chasing a knockout or a submission against Humburger, Hulme is pragmatic. “I didn’t shoot for no takedown on Andreas. I just did what any sane fighter would do. When he was on his back, I jumped on him and I tried to knock his fucking head off, bro. Pretty much the same for Dominic Humburger.”
The South African’s fighting attitude is a trait that was on full display as he reflected on his celebration rituals in the cage. “Sometimes I just get too affectionate,” he jokes, recalling the post-fight camaraderie. “I’m so overwhelmed with joy that the fight is over that, you know, sometimes I f*ing kiss my opponent. Like, thank you for dancing with me. I understand what your intentions were. My intentions were bad as well, but we’re good now, bro.”
Hulme, who trains alongside UFC star Dricus Du Plessis, routine outside the cage is driven. After landing in Prague, he and his team immediately tracked down a gym and put in a session before settling into their temporary accommodation. “We landed at 8:30, dropped our luggage off at 9, walked 3K to the gym, put in a solid hour, 20, hour 30. Recouped, juices just flowing. Walked back, found a spot to eat, then chilled at the Airbnb. Living a good life, man.”
For Hulme, fighting is stripped of artifice. “People write the sport for the simplicity of it. I’m getting in there to do damage. I almost like it more when there’s no trash talk… I’m honored to fight Dominik Humburger. Anything I’ve said about him is absolutely true, but I’m not gonna – no, I love my opponent.”
As for the lucrative prize money at stake in the Gamechanger tournament? Mark Hulme laughs, “Honestly, I think I might just listen to my girlfriend and the way she advises me. Some of my fantasies include a farm, guns, cattle. Crypto. That’s a lot of power, man.”
Hulme understands the consequences and possibilities that come with every step into the cage. But when asked what fans can expect, he returns to his core: “9th of August. Come watch me. Leave it all in the cage. Above all, f* them, love yourself. Do something you love and make better choices.”
Sasha Palatnikov sees a lot of big potential bouts for himself under the banner of Dirty Boxing Championship inlcuding against the figurehead of the promotion. Palatnikov did battle with Phile Hawes at DBX 2 on June 14th with the former winning by way of disqualification which led to an expletive laden post-fight speech by Palatnikov. Palatnikov appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts ahead of the DBX 2 contest and when asked if he had any direct experience working with Mike Perry directly with ‘Platinum’ while he was in his DBX promoter role, Palatnikov said,
“No, I’ve never actually. I’ve met Mike Perry a couple times but like the only thing I know, I mean my homie D-Rod [Daniel Rodriguez] beat his ass (laughs) in the UFC. So that was kind of the only interaction that I’ve ever had. But it’s like all respect. But otherwise yeah, like it’s awesome to see him doing what he’s doing and who knows? If he wants to get in there and compete in his own promotion, that’s something that I would definitely be interested in potentially doing down the road. So who knows? Maybe after this fight, there’s some potential opportunities to fight some pretty big big names.”
DBX 2 being tied into Palatnikov’s “number one thing” as a martial artist
When responding to a characterization that this DBX 2 clash represented a good time to be getting aligned with Dirty Boxing Championship with Jon Jones also having a partial ownership stake in the company, Sasha Palatnikov stated,
“Yeah, No. For sure. I mean it is a very new promotion but at the same time like all the, I guess all the, you can say, talking heads that are involved with the promotion seem to be pretty mainstream and people are talking about it. People seem to like the show, like the idea. Yeah, it’s always interesting when a new promotion comes to the front of the combat sport world especially with kind of what’s going on at the moment. Things with GFL didn’t pay off and a lot of fighters were kind of waiting on that including myself.”
“So yeah, it’s good to have more competition, more ability to compete in that space. As for me as one of my goals getting into the combat sports world was I wanted to be able to have the ability to fight in so many different rule sets. As a martial artist that’s like my number one thing is; and this experience. Just having all this experience and going traveling around the world and doing the things that I enjoy doing is part of all of that.”
Palatnikov continued, “Yeah, I think it’s only a good thing because it might; I don’t know, it might not be for you but for my mind, in my point of view like a lot of the things I see going on in the world of MMA, it’s very monopolized. I feel like a lot of guys are missing out on competition in their prime years. So I’m just excited that I’m still considered in stuff like this where I get opportunities to fight.”
Jeremy Kennedy is quite studious of the featherweight MMA scene and offered up recent thoughts on former opponent Aaron Pico’s potential in the UFC as well as Jose Aldo seemingly hanging up the gloves following his previous defeat. Kennedy appeared on MMA Canada and covered several subjects ahead of his rematch against Adam Borics on June 12th in the PFL Smart Cage.
Reflecting on his Bellator 286 first round win over Aaron Pico and touching on what Pico’s ceiling could be in the UFC after relatively recently signing with the MMA powerhouse, Jeremy Kennedy said,
“I think that’s an exciting signing for them, man. He’s a fun fighter, he’s young, got a lot of potential, and just another name to that division, you know. Like right away when they were going to put him with Movsar [Evloev], I thought that’s an exciting fight, you know, that’s cool.”
“Again [Patricio] Pitbull coming in, he’s a little older now and near the end of his career. Could have been cooler a couple years ago but you have Patchy Mix coming over. It’s just kind of cool to see these guys, you know… I just think it’s a good addition to the roster.”
Jeremy Kennedy on Aiemann Zahabi’s Win and Jose Aldo’s Retirement at UFC 315
Jeremy Kennedy also offered up his thoughts on the recent Aiemann Zahabi win in Montreal over Jose Aldo with the former multi-time UFC featherweight champion intimating that he is choosing to hang up the gloves now. When expounding up his viewpoint regarding that notable fight at UFC 315, Kennedy stated,
“Yeah, I mean he looked good. He just kind of; when you fight for that long, you’ve done it, there’s not much more left to do, you know. I think he’s just kind of had it. I thought he won personally. First two rounds were him. He finished horribly of course and that always leaves an impact on the audience and and the judges and whatnot.”
“But yeah, I think he looked good for his age and the mileage on his body. He’s one of the all-time greats at ’45 and ’35, you know, he’s one of the best ever. So he’s still one of my favorites to watch and I just think his time’s done. He’s just; he’s done with the sport. He’s done it all, man.”
When responding to the interesting anecdote about fighters who have beaten Aldo at featherweight including Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and now Zahabi, Kennedy quipped,
“That’s insane. Yeah exactly, like he; man, he’s so good still. Even his losses weren’t very like decisive. Bad losses to [Mario] Bautista and Merab [Dvalishvili] even. He’s good, man.”
Whether you’re looking to dodge bullies, boost your mood, or just get in shape without the gym dread, Brad Pickett’s advice is simple: get moving, have fun, and maybe learn how to throw a punch.
Brad Pickett, the man who made “One Punch” more than just a nickname, has spent years carving out a legacy as both a fighter and a coach in British MMA. From humble beginnings in the boxing ring to the bright lights of the UFC, Pickett’s journey is a masterclass in what happens when grit meets a good left hook. But beyond the knockouts and the trilby hats, Pickett’s real knockout punch might just be his belief in the power of martial arts – not just for building champions, but for shaping better humans.
Brad Pickett
“One Punch” Brad Pickett began his combat sports journey with boxing and found success before before transitioning to MMA in his mid-20s. He rose quickly in the UK scene, capturing the Cage Rage British Featherweight Championship in 2005 and defending it the following year. Pickett’s career expanded internationally when he joined World Extreme Cagefighting, where he earned a notable submission victory and defeated future UFC champion Demetrious Johnson. He went on to compete in the UFC, earning multiple post-fight bonuses and a reputation for exciting fights.
After retiring from active competition, he became Head Trainer and a Director at Great Britain Top Team, where he mentors new fighters and shares his passion for MMA. He is considered a pioneer in British MMA, inspiring a generation of athletes with his work ethic and technical skill.
Exercise Benefits
In an exclusive interview, assisted by NetBet UFC Betting, Brad Pickett emphasized the value of training and physical activity. He said,
“Any form of training or physical activity is always going to be beneficial. Sometimes, if people are out of shape, it can be hard to get started. But if you just bear with it and make yourself a little uncomfortable every day—not so uncomfortable that you want to quit, but just a little—you’ll get into some sort of fitness routine. Once you’re in shape, it’s fine.”
He added that finding an activity you enjoy makes exercise feel less like work and more like learning a new skill. “You’ll focus on learning techniques and skills, and forget you’re getting tired. At the end, you’ll be exhausted, but in a good way.”
Pickett highlighted the practical and psychological benefits of martial arts, he contionued: “Martial arts are a very good life skill to have. It’s not about being the person who goes around fighting. In fact, most of the toughest people you’ll meet who know combat sports are calm and relaxed – they don’t need to fight. There’s no benefit in fighting someone who can’t defend themselves. For people who might be targeted, like the weak or bullied, having martial arts skills is a good deterrent. You don’t see bullies picking on someone who boxes or is a world champion.”
Science supports Brad Pickett’s views on the benefits of exercise. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens the heart, and improves circulation/ It also helps manage blood sugar and insulin levels, lowering the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Exercise also benefits mental health. It releases chemicals in the brain that improve mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Even small increases in activity can have significant effects.
Donald Sanchez is back in his home town ready to sell the joint out as he collides with the number one pound for pound ranked BKFC fighter. Sanchez will look to unseat David Mundell from his middleweight championship throne in the headliner of BKFC 75 on June 6th. When the title challenger was asked on Bare Knuckle Bowker about how much it adds to the fight being on home soil, Sanchez said
“It’s actually pretty stressful fighting in your hometown. People don’t realize that and Dave [Feldman] keeps saying that I only want to fight here. I fight wherever BKFC sends me. So it’s cool. I’ve got tons of support out here. I get the energy from the people but I had to really lock in these last couple weeks and and seclude myself from everybody, you know, last minute ticket buyers and whatnot. So it’s fun. It’s high up here, the altitude, the elevation, and I’m used to it on the daily. So there’s the perks that I get out of this.”
Donald Sanchez and the variable of high altitude familiarity here
While we haven’t really seen gas tank issues with David Mundell per se, Sanchez’s familiarity with the heightened elevation of New Mexico can be a notable variable within this particular fight here. As he expounded upon those dynamics, Sanchez quipped,
“Well we haven’t seen his gas tank because no one’s pressured him. No one’s put him on his feet except maybe like Julian Lane put him on his feet and gave him trouble. But once I’m able to go in there and put the pressure on him and and in the elevation, you know, you’re sucking in less oxygen out here and I really think he’s looking down on that. I don’t think he’s taking it seriously. So we’re about to find out.”
When asked if he thinks ‘Redneck’ is overlooking the altitude component before preparing to defend his BKFC middleweight belt in the coming days, Donald Sanchez stated.
“Well he keeps mentioning that. Pushing to our limits and and that’s all it’s about, you know. So huge credit goes to them but I also have a whole team of coaches and they push me daily. I have straight boxing coaches, I have a an older MMA coach, and it takes a good mixture of everything. So I have the right individuals around me pushing me.”
A hunch or a leak? Dustin Poirier’s teammate appeared confident when predicting a month and opponent for his farewell fight in the UFC.
It initially appeared as though fans had seen Poirier make the walk for the final time this past summer. After a vintage knockout of Benoît Saint Denis in March, the former interim UFC lightweight champion had one last opportunity to achieve undisputed status.
But while he gave it his all through four rounds against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in Newark, “The Diamond” succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the final frame of the pay-per-view main event.
The veteran’s Octagon interview suggested that an official retirement was on the way, but the fire beneath Poirier has not fully diminished. And after pondering a farewell fight, the Louisianan has appeared to make that decision final.
A man who knows Poirier well from their ongoing stint as teammates over at American Top Team recently picked one out…
Dawson Predicts Poirier vs. Gaethje 3 In February 2025
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Dawson spoke on the current status of Poirier’s career and apparent plans to compete one final time before hanging up the gloves.
While reiterating his belief that “The Diamond” is not yet done, “KGD” predicted a February 2025 return for his ATT training partner but insisted that didn’t come from a place of insider knowledge.
“I think he’ll fight in February. I don’t have any insider information,” Dawson told MMA News. “I don’t know anything. There’s no (set) date or anything like that. I just don’t think he’s done. I’ve texted him a couple times and he sounds like a man who wants to fight again.”
But when pondering a date for his own next appearance inside the Octagon, the same month reared its head…
“Let’s do February, on Dustin’s card.”
In terms of an opponent, Dawson was 100 percent certain in stating that a rumored clash with former ATT standout Colby Covington is not on the table. Instead, the 30-year-old displayed a grin while producing a different name.
“I know for a fact he’s not fighting Colby Covington. I called him and asked him about it, and he said, ‘Heck no.’ He said something a little worse than ‘heck,’” Dawson said, before smiling and taking a long pause when asked who he thinks Poirier will face. “Justin Gaethje.”
Shot-in-the-dark prediction, educated guess or a statement of fact? We’ll let you decide.
Regardless, it would appear that Poirier’s mind is indeed made up and that his memorable championship clash with Makhachev won’t mark the final chapter in his story.
I will.
Once more into the fray, into the last good fight I’ll ever know. Live and die on this day, live and die on this day https://t.co/N9H3j2OR5p
UFC welterweight prospect Bryan Battle doesn’t see anything special in the arsenal of ranked contender Ian Garry.
Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion, has extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with eight victories since signing with mixed martial arts’ leading promotion in 2021.
The latter half of the Irishman’s UFC career thus far has seen him rise the ranks against stiffer competition, defeating notable names in Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page en route to #7 in the pecking order at 170 pounds.
Despite that run and his firm prediction of title success soon enough, not everyone has been impressed by “The Future” and the manner with which he’s emerged victorious in two fights this year.
That evidently includes a welterweight peer in Battle…
Battle Likes His Chances Against Garry
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Battle assessed the skillset of Garry, who sits among the top contenders that the TUF 29 winner has his sights on for the future.
“He’s not — I mean, you’ve gotta give a motherf*cker credit where credit’s due. He’s undefeated. He’s been undefeated in the UFC,” Battle said. “One thing I’ve come to appreciate in the UFC is no matter how someone looks to an extent, if they’re being successful in the UFC, then that means they’re good.
“Eye test and like, my opinion, is that he’s not that good,” Battle continued. “But you have to give credit where credit’s due. He’s out there, he’s doing his thing. He’s fast. He’s sharp. I think I would whoop his ass, but you know, whatever. Hopefully he stays undefeated until we fight each other. Hey, I’d be interested to see how he does against an elite grappler, you know what I’m saying?”
Perhaps Battle will get the chance to prove his remarks correct inside the Octagon down the line.
The first step in his pursuit of closing the gap on Garry in the welterweight division comes later this month in the French capital, where “The Butcher” is tasked with stalling the rise of another highly touted up-and-comer in City Kickboxing’s Kevin Jousset.
Great time catching up with @BryanBattle10 as he prepares to fight next at #UFCParis on 9/28
The next UFC heavyweight title fight would appear to be pitting arguably the greatest of all time against the best fighter we have seen in this weight class inside the Octagon.
Despite the pedigree that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic bring to the table, there are two other names that the majority of fans would rather see face off with “Bones”.
Interim champion Tom Aspinall is seen by many as the future of the division and with his speed and ability to finish fights, he’s a test that many want to see Jones face.
Though he may have never competed at this weight, the idea of seeing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira move up is another incredibly enticing prospect following the run that he has been on, which has turned him into one of the biggest names in the sport.
Mario Bautista Gives His Take On How Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall & Jon Jones Match Up
Elsewhere on the main card, Bautista is set to take on his biggest challenge to date when he faces off with a legend of the game in Brazil’s José Aldo.
The bantamweight contender spoke in a recent interview with MMA News about whether he thinks Pereira would be able to mix it up with the heavyweight division’s two current champions.
He explained why, in his opinion, Aspinall would be the tougher match-up for the elite striker at 205-pounds.
“It’s hard to say, it’s very interesting you know. He has that power and I think Jon Jones did fight at 205 too so I’d give him a shot at Jon Jones. Tom Aspinall, he can move pretty fast for how big he is so that’s the iffy one for me.”
In a follow-up question, Bautista was asked whether this means that based on MMA math, he would also pick Aspinall to beat Jones, therefore seeing him come out on top in this little fantasy round-robin tournament.
“I think he could. Tom Aspinall, for how big he is and how fast he moves, I don’t think Jon Jones has kind of seen anything like that so I would go with Tom on that one.”
Though Marshall is focused on keeping this dream going by continuing to pick up wins and evolve as a martial artist, he does have another pursuit and passion.
The 25-year-old doesn’t carry the nickname “Fire” just because that’s what he always looks to bring when stepping inside the cage.
Alongside his MMA career, Marshall works as a firefighter, though for obvious reasons, that’s currently on hold because of his fight career.
Francis Marshall Talks About The Rewarding Nature Of Being A Fire Fighter
In a recent interview with MMA News, Marshall spoke about his love for being a firefighter where getting to help others is incredibly rewarding for him.
Competing as a professional athlete has become a career option for him at this stage in his life so his other job has had to be left in the background for the time being.
That being said, it isn’t something that he plans on leaving behind for good depending on what happens during his MMA journey.
The 155-pound fighter said that being there for others in their most desperate time of need isn’t something he takes for granted, even if he’s competing at the highest level in MMA.
“Right now, I’m on the leave of absence from work so I’m training full-time. I got to see where my future goes. Obviously, I would love to fight forever and then see what happens after that but I mean, it’s a great career. It’s a great job, it’s great to help people like that. It was always like, you’re going to someone’s house on the worst day of their life like nobody wants that. So you kind of go there with the respect of that, with the courtesy, like you don’t wanna ruin their day anymore than it is. You’re going there to help so whatever that homeowner or that resident needs in that time, that’s what we’re kinda there for.”
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has made it very clear that competing at a higher weight class is in his future plans.
The pound-for-pound #1 wants to add a second belt to his collection after giving Alexander Volkanovski the opportunity to do the same on two occasions.
Having had a behind the scenes look at one of Makhachev’s earlier UFC fight weeks, Ricky Glenn is surprised that it hasn’t happened already.
Makhachev’s coach and long-time teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov cut a lot of weight in order to make 155-pounds and it caused issues at points in his career.
Whilst the current champion hasn’t had too many concerns in recent years, Glenn recently recalled his experiences of watching what he would put himself through to make the 155 pound limit.
Ricky Glenn Recalls Watching Islam Makhachev Train Like A ‘Zombie’ During Tough Weight Cut
Glenn is set to return this weekend at UFC 305 where he will compete at welterweight for the first time in his UFC career against Song Kenan.
When giving his thoughts on Makhachev’s current title reign, Glenn recalled how he previously shared a training room with him during fight week for the Iowa native’s UFC debut back in 2016.
He said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see someone stop the current champion in the future if he remains at lightweight, with what he puts his body through to make the weight.
In fact, this fight week that Glenn was reflecting on saw Makhachev bounce back from his one and only career defeat, when he was knocked out by Adriano Martins at UFC 192.
“He’s just on a whole other level and he cuts a lot of weight. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved up because man, I’ve shared a training room with him. I think it was, it might have been my debut fight, he fought Chris [Wade] but days before weigh-ins and just zaps. Could barely move and they’re just throwing punches like this fast, it’s just super slow, like a zombie.
“But, he makes the weight somehow and can recover but I’d be worried eventually if he can’t recover good enough, someone’s going to TKO or knock him out I think with cutting that much weight. It’s impressive how much he cuts and fills back up.”
Several big fights are to take place in the UFC’s middleweight division following the title fight this weekend between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.
Though their fight would likely be a title eliminator in most circumstances, the five round co-main event of UFC 308 in October between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev also has the potential to set either man up for a shot at the belt.
Brendan Allen Says That He No Longer Sees Robert Whittaker & Other Top Contenders The Same Way
In a recent interview with MMA News, Allen was asked to give his thoughts on this rescheduled match-up between Whittaker and Chimaev that could have an impact on his bout with Imavov.
When approaching the subject of the former champion, he spoke about how his opinion of Whittaker has changed over the years.
Allen is currently riding a seven-fight win streak that puts him right in the mix with the top names at 185-pounds.
As a result, he now sees his fellow contenders as competition rather than fighters that he is able to admire from the outside looking in.
“I used to be a big fan of Robert [Whittaker], I’m not really anymore but I used to be a big fan. I’m just, I don’t know, it’s like maybe it’s just one of those things, how the idols become your rival type thing. Now I just like, I don’t f*** with any of y’all. I want y’all to know that I don’t f*** with any of y’all. So, I don’t know, I just mind my business and try to stay to myself just because I don’t want any problems with nobody but as soon as someone ask me something, I’m going to answer how I want to answer and then they’re going to feel some type of way and whatever.”
UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen believes the result of Dricus Du Plessis’ upcoming first title defense will be determined by which version of Israel Adesanya shows up.
Seven months on from reaching the throne with his perfect UFC record intact, Du Plessis will look to add another achievement to his ever-growing résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage by successfully defending the title for the first time.
To do so, the South African is tasked with stalling the three-time ambitions of Adesanya in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 305 pay-per-view, set for the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
In the lead-up to his comeback from an 11-month layoff post-shock defeat to Sean Strickland, Adesanya has dismissed regaining the 185-pound gold as being his focus, instead stating that he’s back to “take heads.”
Whatever his motivation is, Allen thinks it has to be strong enough to bring back the formidable Adesanya who got the better of names like Alex Pereira and Paulo Costa if he’s to have his hand raised on August 17…
Allen On Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘If It’s The Motivated Izzy…’
The #7-ranked contender suggested the result will be determined by which iteration of Adesanya returns to action. Rejuvenated and motivated? ‘And new’. Lackluster? ‘And still’.
“To be honest, I really don’t care (who wins). I don’t like either one of them,” Allen told MMA News. “I’m gonna watch it, of course, because I want to see. But I don’t care. I think we’ll see what Izzy comes back and how he’s been. I think that’s a big tell; what Izzy comes back. Is it a resurged, re-energized Izzy? Or is it like, ‘I don’t know if I wanna be here.’ It’s easy to talk it, it’s easy to watch it, it’s easy to fake it. But you can’t fake it when it’s fight time. That’s the only time we’ll know for sure.
“Obviously Dricus is super confident. He’s at the height of his career. He’s insanely confident, insanely lucky,” Allen continued. “I don’t know, man. I don’t really care who wins. To me, it just depends which Izzy comes back. if it’s the motivated Izzy, I would say Izzy. If it’s the Izzy that fought like, Paulo or Alex the last time, that Izzy is a tough Izzy to beat, man. … If it’s the lackluster one, i don’t think he’s gonna win. Dricus is just gonna keep pushing the pace.”
But before attention on the middleweight division turns to that co-headliner in the French capital this fall, all eyes are on the impending grudge match between Du Plessis and Adesanya Down Under.
UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month.
Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the event, much to the American’s frustration.
With five-round co-main events becoming more common, Allen says he pushed for that against “The Sniper,” but the Frenchman refused. Having had three of his last four outings scheduled for 25 minutes, the 28-year-old is not pleased about Imavov’s apparent reluctance to prepare for the longer distance…
Allen Tells Imavov: You Want To Fight For The Title? 5 Rounds Is How You Do It
During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to his second Octagon appearance of 2024, which comes a few months on from his memorable victory over Chris Curtis in their barnburner at the Apex.
That result added to “All In’s” five-round experience, and Imavov isn’t short on it himself having gone the 25-minute distance with both Sean Strickland and Roman Dolidze, as well as recently entering a fourth frame with Jared Cannonier prior to the TKO stoppage.
Despite that, though, Allen says the three-round stipulation for the Paris co-main event is entirely down to Imavov and his team, a decision he has a firm view on.
“Some people just need all the deck in their favor to try to win. But it’s not gonna be enough. I’m still gonna win,” Allen told MMA News. “I accepted the five rounds; I asked for the five rounds. I’ve heard the explanations but I still don’t agree or understand it. But it’s above my pay grade. I think it’s bullsh*t that 10 and 12 guys are main event over four and seven, where we have title contentions possibly surrounding our fight.
“I think it’s kind of a b*tch move that he (Imavov) doesn’t want to accept five rounds. Even as a co-main, he doesn’t want to accept five rounds,” Allen continued. “You wanna fight for the belt? You wanna stake your claim? Like, that’s how you do it. You go out there and win a five-round fight, even if it doesn’t go five rounds. … I don’t fully understand his reasoning, but I understand their logic. Some people just need all the cards in their favor as much as possible.”
Regardless, Allen will still be looking to deliver a standout performance in the French capital to stake his claim for a long-awaited first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Having already won seven straight, perhaps the addition of the #4-ranked contender to his ever-growing résumé is the piece of the puzzle Allen needs to secure his spot opposite the champion next time out.
UFC welterweight veteran Neil Magny still has his eyes on the ultimate prize, and he’s being spurred on by similar late-career success stories.
Magny has long had the largely unwanted ‘gatekeeper’ label attached to him at 170 pounds, a weight class in which he holds the records for most wins, most fights, and most Octagon time.
His most recent victory over Malott came in memorable fashion, as Magny overcame a two-round deficit to stall the highly regarded Canadian’s expected arrival into contention with just 15 seconds remaining at UFC 297 this past January.
And it’ll be a similar assignment for Magny later this month, with the New York City native tasked with defending his spot against another up-and-comer in the unbeaten Michael Morales at the UFC Fight Night on August 24. The bout will mark his first fight since signing a new four-fight contract.
The welterweight vet is expecting to have his hand raised, and more than just keeping out the hungry prospects, he still has his eyes on gold…
Magny Wants To Be More Than Just ‘Competitive’ As He Approaches 40
During an interview with MMA News, Magny looked ahead to his second Octagon outing of 2024 and reiterated his continued championship hopes on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Title success at such a late age is rare, but certainly not unheard of. Magny specifically pointed to the careers of Glover Teixeira and Randy Couture, both of whom had gold wrapped around their waist after passing 40.
“I have the opportunity to go out there and show them (UFC) I’m still able to be one of the best guys in the world,” Magny said. “Realistically, I have to look at what some of the guys have done before; look at guys like Glover Teixeira and that kind of thing. Glover Teixeira was not only able to be competitive well into his early forties, but also win a championship at 42.
“So, when I look at guys in MMA for longevity, I’m not just looking at guys who were able to just show up to fight and have a coin toss, ‘Maybe I win, maybe I lose.’ I’m looking at the guys who were able to compete at a high level,” Magny continued. “Glover Teixeira, Randy Couture; those guys are the actual examples for the guys that managed to be successful and very competitive well into their forties. For me, that’s my standard. Those are the guys that have done it before, that let us know it could be done.”
Magny will look to move closer to joining the likes of Teixeira and Couture in the champs’ club by making it two wins from two fights against highly touted prospects in 2024.
The UFC just announced their August 24 card headlined by Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho with Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales serving as the co-main event.
Neil Magny will have plenty of chances to extend his lead for multiple UFC records after extending his stint on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
Magny — a welterweight veteran who boasts the most wins, most fights, and most Octagon time in the division’s history — has exchanged wins and losses since 2022. But he’s coming off a major result from UFC 297 this past January, where he stalled the surge of the highly touted Mike Malott.
And following that major comeback in Canada, “The Haitian Sensation” has been rewarded with a fresh UFC contract.
The 37-year-old, who has competed inside the Octagon ever since a successful debut at UFC 157 in 2013, revealed to MMA News that he’s put pen to paper on a new four-fight deal with the promotion.
“I just signed a new four-fight contract,” Magny said. “We have four more to go out there and get the job done; continue to climb the ranks, continue getting things done, and keep moving forward.
“I’m happy (with the money), definitely thrilled,” Magny continued. “We invested a lot of real estate for my family and I after this fight, so I’m definitely thrilled about it.”
Magny To Kickstart New UFC Deal Against Another Rising Name On Aug. 24
After putting a stop to Malott’s charge for the time being, the #12-ranked contender must once again defend his position on the ladder from a man outside the top 15, the undefeated Michael Morales.
The Ecuadorian will have the biggest assignment of his young career to date when the pair collide at the upcoming Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 24.
At 16-0 as a professional, the 25-year-old has shown significant promise to date, most recently by recording his fourth UFC victory at the expense of Australia’s Jake Matthews last November.
While Morales will have ambitions of a rise into contention by the end of this month, Magny has proved time and again that he is no easy path into the welterweight rankings, and “The Haitian Sensation” will look to show that once more by blemishing the prospect’s record.
Evloev has been a force of nature since arriving in the Octagon and whilst he hasn’t had the finishes to really gather hype around his winning streak, his record speaks for itself.
Sterling has also not always received tons of praise for his fighting style but his high-level grappling combined with awkward striking, makes him a very tough test for his Russian opponent.
A fellow 145-pound contender on the UFC roster is excited to see how the two men match up with one another once the Octagon door closes.
Youssef Zalal Breaks Down Aljamain Sterling Vs Movsar Evloev At UFC 307
Youssef Zalal will look to secure back-to-back victories during his second stint in the UFC when he returns to face Jarno Errens on August 10.
In a recent interview with MMA News, the Moroccan fighter broke down how he sees the match-up of top contenders and grapplers going down in Salt Lake City.
Zalal made reference to how a clash of two grappling specialists often turns into a striking match between them as they cancel one another out on the floor.
He also provided the theory that based on what he has seen from both, this could be a wrestling versus jiu-jitsu affair.
“Those guys, I think it’s either gonna see a striking match the whole time and I think you’re gonna see one either wrestling and the other one jiu-jitsu. I feel like when the Russian fought Diego Lopes, you could see the jiu-jitsu kind of felt a little bit [off] right. I mean Diego Lopes’ jiu-jitsu is pretty good too so that’s why that, and I think Aljamain is a really good grappler obviously.
“so I think you’re going to see a little battle on that part or it’s going to be a full-on striking match whenever you put two grapplers together so I’m pretty interested to see how the match-ups and the styles go on that part.”
It appears that Francis Ngannou is gearing up for his long awaited return to MMA, after what has been a difficult year for the former UFC heavyweight champion.
A teammate of his said that “The Predator” appears to be building up some steam in training, and he’s doing it with fire in his eyes after what he has been through.
Tim Johnson Says Francis Ngannou Is Slowly Returning To The Gym With Motivation
Former UFC and Bellator veteran Tim Johnson is set to make his return in the main event of PFL 7 this weekend where he takes on Denis Goltsov.
During his training camp at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, he crossed paths with his teammate and fellow PFL fighter as he works his way back.
Johnson gave an update on Ngannou during a recent interview with MMA News, stating that one of the baddest men on the planet is slowly coming back to speed.
“He’s been in the gym, getting his wheels greased again. Kind of going slow but he’s in no rush like he doesn’t, it’s not like he’s fighting in eight weeks or anything but yeah he’s been back in the gym, feeling big, strong, like he always has.”
Johnson also said that Ngannou appears to be doing okay mentally from what he has been able to take away from their conversations.
He said that if anything, the heavyweight knockout artist is now in a position where he is using this difficult time in his life as fuel.
“He seems to be, yeah. I talked to him a little bit and as a father to father, I told him, me and my wife gave him our sympathies. I couldn’t imagine it, that’d be the worst scenario in any parents life and he seems to be harnessing it and utilizing it.”
There are plenty of competitors coming through that all hope to square off with Topuria down the line and the champ is certainly someone that Hyder Amil has got in his sights.
Hyder Amil Believes He Matches Up Well With Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria
Undefeated featherweight contender Amil maintained his perfect start to life in the UFC this past weekend, where he stopped Jeong Yeong Lee in the first round.
As he continues to climb up the rankings, he has a potential path to the top already laid out in front of him in his mind.
He spoke in a recent interview with MMA News about how once he makes it to title contention, after taking out England’s Arnold Allen along the way, he hopes that Topuria is still the champion.
Amil said that alongside a fight with Holloway not being ideal, he believes that he has the ability to cause the current titleholder some serious problems if their paths were to cross inside the Octagon.
“I need someone in top 30-20, then maybe another person or two, fight Arnold Allen, knock him out and then fight Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway. Ideally I fight Ilia Topuria. Max Holloway has kind of connections to my team, that would be a great fight also but stylistically, I would mess up Ilia Topuria. I don’t care what anyone says.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker expects his division’s title picture to soon have another Australian making waves.
Whittaker is one of the most experienced high level competitors in MMA today. He has been considered to be right at the top of the 185-pound weight class ever since 2017 when he became the interim champion by defeating Yoel Romero at UFC 213, and he’s still in the title picture to this day.
With that in mind, “The Reaper” is an excellent judge of whether fighters have what it takes to swim with the sharks. In his opinion, one of his close teammates and training partners is just waiting for the opportunity to live up to his potential…
Robert Whittaker Says Teammate Jacob Malkoun Has What It Takes To Fight The Best In The World
Speaking in an interview with MMA News, Whittaker was asked to name some of the fighters he will always tune in to watch as a fan favorite himself.
“Well, my teammate, Jacob Malkoun, he’s certainly one that I watch, obviously. But I think that he’s still flying under the radar,” Whittaker said. “I think he had a couple unfortunate weird losses but he’s back in that winning column now and he’s a guy that could fight someone in the top 10 tomorrow I think and like, handedly get his hand raised.”
The 28-year old Malkoun has had an up and down run so far in the UFC since debuting back at UFC 254 in 2020 with just four professional fights under his belt.
He has since secured four wins in seven outings, the latest of which came in March when he stopped Andre Petroski in one of the most unique endings to a fight in some time.
Whittaker believes that his teammate is more than equipped to compete at the top level of the division and hopes that he will get his opportunity to prove that in the near future.
“I think Jacob will beat a lot of people. Like, I cannot stress enough how much trouble he gives me in the gym and I think I’m the best in the world,” Whittaker continued. “He gives me trouble every single day, so the world’s his oyster. I want to see him get a top 10 fight and just cement that.”
June was a big month for the UFC’s middleweight division with several top contenders in action as the upcoming title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya draws closer.
Former champion Robert Whittaker could have announced himself as the number one contender had Khamzat Chimaev not withdrawn from their main event in Saudi Arabia.
Whittaker ended up facing Ikram Aliskerov where he produced a dominant display to earn a first-round finish.
Earlier in the month, there was controversy in the division after Nassourdine Imavov stopped Jared Cannonier in a call that many believe was made too soon.
Referee Jason Herzog waved the fight off in the fourth round with fans believing that he stopped the fight too early despite some worrying signs from Cannonier.
Robert Whittaker Does Not Envy The Thankless Role Of Being A MMA Referee
In an exclusive interview with MMA News, Whittaker said that he feels some sympathy towards MMA officials for the thankless jobs that they do.
“The Reaper” didn’t agree with the stoppage of that fight but he also didn’t want to be too negative about the call that Herzog made in this instance.
He stated that he understands the frustration of being on the wrong end of an early stoppage and having faced Cannonier in the past, knows that there is no quit in him.
However, Whittaker said that he does not envy the role of the referees, specifically referencing how they never get credit but will always get criticized when a mistake is made.
“Mate, being a ref’s hard. It’s a hard gig and it’s easy to point the finger at a ref for being trigger happy or pulling a fight too late or pulling a fight too short but man, the reality is their job is so hard. So hard. Nobody talks about a ref doing a good job, they only get hammered when they make a mistake or when it’s not to the liking of the fans. It’s a hard gig and I don’t have an opinion on it.”
Here are the some of the other topics Whittaker discussed in the exclusive interview that you can watch in the video above:
Being upset with the media for misrepresenting his injury issue heading into the Aliskerov fight
Reacting to his first KO finish in seven years
On refereeing and how he would change judging in MMA
Explaining his decision not to weigh in at UFC 305 as the backup fighter
Discussing Sean Strickland, Bo Nickal, and Conor McGregor
Predicting how a rematch goes against Dricus Du Plessis
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes the recently incarcerated Cain Velasquez is “paying a crazy price” following his arrest.
While fights continue each weekend, trash talk flies, and signings and extensions hit the headlines, one story has gripped the entire MMA and combat sport community in recent weeks.
Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight titleholder and widely-respected mixed martial artist, was arrested on February 28 for attempted, premeditated murder. The arrest and charge came after Velasquez allegedly pursued and intended on shooting a man named Henry Goularte, who’s accused of molesting one of Velasquez’s young relatives.
After reportedly shooting and injuring the man’s stepfather, Velasquez was arrested, charged, and later denied bail by Judge Shelyna Brown, much to the fury of his attorney and supporters.
In recent days and weeks, a host of fighters, pundits and personalities have flocked to support the former UFC star. Per ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the likes of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Scott Coker, Kamaru Usman, and Brandon Moreno have all penned letters of support for Velasquez to the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Including UFC President Dana White and Khabib Nurmagomedov, there were 37 letters written to the judge on behalf of Cain Velasquez to allow him bail. Unfortunately, bail was denied.
Meanwhile, alleged child molester Harry Goulaerte was released with zero dollar bail. pic.twitter.com/4gORWnDIXv
Now, the UFC’s 145-pound kingpin has given his thoughts on the tragic incident. Like many, Volkanovski has highlighted what he perceives to be an injustice.
Volkanovski: Velasquez Case Shows The Law Can Be Pretty Messed Up
During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Volkanovski, who holds gold in the promotion Velasquez twice ruled in, suggested the Californian is paying a “crazy” price for his actions, something that he believes shows a clear double standard in how these cases are handled.
“Yeah, it is unfortunate. You see some people doing shit like that and they almost get (just) a slap on the wrist,” Volkanovski said during his conversation with James Lynch. “And then you see someone like that, who in the heat of the moment, you can see the emotions that would’ve been involved in something like that.
“Then he’s gonna be paying a crazy price, when these other guys get a slap on the wrist, which is just complete bullshit. Obviously, someone’s not gonna be thinking completely straight when some shit like that happens.”
According to Volkanovski, a father himself, White’s take was exactly right.
“This hits close to home. Anyone with a kid is gonna know. I think Dana hit the nail on the head,” Volkanovski further told MMA News. “He did exactly what everyone says that they would do if they were in that situation. That’s true. It’s ridiculous. Obviously, laws are laws, but, I mean, some things need to come into play.
“You can’t treat this as just a crazy act of madness. Let’s be real. He would’ve been emotionally unstable in that situation. That has to come into play, especially when your kid is involved… I’m hoping he doesn’t get in too much trouble for it. I don’t know. The law can be pretty messed up sometimes,” concluded Volkanovski.
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is eying a matchup with Conor McGregor before he eventually calls it quits.
Volkanovski is set to make his next featherweight title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) in the upcoming UFC 273 headliner. He’s coming off of a largely dominant win over Brian Ortega at UFC 266.
Volkanovski was supposed to face Max Holloway next before Holloway pulled out with an injury. Jung is the next man up, but a fight with McGregor remains on the 145-pound champion’s mind.
“Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, Aldo, Max, and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.
Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)
“You talk about the payday and the circus around it would be great, but at the same time, when you talk about legacy that’s definitely—and he’s undefeated at featherweight, too. So that’d mean something.”
McGregor hasn’t competed at featherweight since he won the unified title over José Aldo at UFC 194. He went on to fight at welterweight and lightweight, eventually earning the 155-pound title over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.
Volkanovski fought at welterweight and lightweight to begin his professional career on the Australian regional scene, but a majority of his career has been at featherweight. Volkanovski went on to allude to the flexibility when it comes to the weight class that a McGregor fight would be competed at.
“I don’t think he’s making featherweight anytime soon [LAUGHS]. Obviously, with that fight, you’d do it at any weight. I’d do that at welterweight if I had to, whatever. We’ll see. I’ll just worry about Zombie, cause Zombie’s in front of me, and we’ll see. You might get some drunk tweets from Conor again and maybe we can ride off that, see what happens from there… 100% I would (fight McGregor at welterweight). I’d fight him at any weight.”
Volkanovski earned the featherweight title over Holloway at UFC 245, before winning a controversial split decision in an immediate rematch at UFC 251. He’s arguably one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history and continues to climb the ranks in the all-time great discussion.
McGregor is targeting a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break at UFC 264. It’s unclear what weight McGregor will fight at for his return, but a fight with Volkanovski may not be out of the cards as soon as this year.
You can view MMA News’ full interview with Alexander Volkanovski below!
Do you think we’ll ever see Alexander Volkanovski vs. Conor McGregor?
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