MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Israel Adesanya: ‘I Almost Forgot How Great I Was’

    Israel Adesanya: ‘I Almost Forgot How Great I Was’

    Israel Adesanya is gearing up for his next challenge as he faces Nassourdine Imavov in the headliner of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. The fight is set to take place on February 1, 2025, at The Venue in Riyadh. Despite focusing on the bout ahead, Adesanya hasn’t forgotten the obstacles he’s encountered on his path to greatness.

    Once undefeated with a 20-0 record and a dominant reign as middleweight champion, Adesanya’s journey has been marked by highs and lows in recent years. His first professional defeat came against Jan Błachowicz at UFC 259 in an attempt to claim the light heavyweight title. Following this setback, he successfully defended his middleweight belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

    Adesanya’s reign faltered at UFC 281 when Alex Pereira dethroned him, but he reclaimed the title in emphatic fashion with a stunning KO of Pereira at UFC 287. However, his momentum took another hit when Sean Strickland defeated him by decision at UFC 293. Adesanya then fell short again this past August, losing to Dricus Du Plessis by submission in a bid to regain the title.

    Now, Adesanya views his upcoming fight against Imavov as a pivotal step toward title contention. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on his skills and resilience:

    “Because I can – and I’m really, really, really good at it. I almost forgot how great I was, but then recently I just realized like, ‘Fck, I’m good at this sht.’ I forget because – reasons, but yeah, it’s good to remind yourself. I keep saying, ‘Ya’ll must have forgot.’ F*ck, I almost forgot.”

    Adesanya emphasized his commitment to improvement and showcasing his full range of skills in mixed martial arts:

    “I love the way things are playing out. It’s about me and just improving and really showing what I can really do in the full range of mixed martial arts. You’ve got a motherf*cker swinging at you, trying to take your head off – you better be up.”

    Reflecting on his career, Adesanya said:

    “I’ve achieved my dreams in this game. I still have some more dreams to achieve, but the main ones I have (achieved). (I want to) just enjoy this sht. I’m going to definitely get a submission (before I retire). That’s definitely a big one. I don’t even care about the belt. I want to get someone’s fcking ankle or neck.”

    Adesanya’s fight against Imavov could reignite his path to reclaiming UFC gold, as he continues to push the boundaries of his career and legacy.

  • Donald Cerrone Commits To UFC Comeback In 2025 With Return To The Drug-Testing Pool

    Donald Cerrone Commits To UFC Comeback In 2025 With Return To The Drug-Testing Pool

    Donald Cerrone seemingly meant serious business when he said he’s making his return to active competition to set new records.

    In October, Cerrone revealed his eagerness to step back into the UFC Octagon, aiming to achieve the impressive feat of 50 career bouts under the Zuffa banner — an accomplishment that already includes 48 combined fights in the UFC and WEC.

    However, one significant hurdle to Cerrone’s comeback was his candid admission of working with a company for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and using other steroids in recent years. But that obstacle is now behind him, as the 41-year-old from Colorado has officially rejoined the UFC’s anti-doping agency testing pool, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD).

    “Cowboy” confirmed the update during his recent appearance on The Pacman Jones Show, revealing that once he’s cleared by the testing agency, he plans to pursue his goal of fighting just two more times — likely in the middleweight division.

    “I just re-entered the testing pool so I have to be six months clean,” Cerrone said. “Probably June or July we’ll make the comeback. I’m coming back for two more. Just two more. I want 50 fights [under the] UFC. I promised the wife no matter what happens, no matter the outcomes – two more and that’s it… I think it’ll be [at middleweight] is what I’m coming back at. We’ll see my weight as I start to pick up my training.”

    https://youtu.be/8R0RG5e7JQA?si=YRlodqjOt8a5v3iP

    Cerrone retired from active competition after a challenging run of six consecutive losses in the Octagon, with the ultimate setback being a second-round submission defeat to fellow veteran Jim Miller at UFC 276 in July 2022.

    Over the course of his storied career, “Cowboy” racked up an extraordinary 18 post-fight bonuses, ranking second in UFC history only behind Charles Oliveira. Moreover, he shares the spot for the second-most wins in UFC history with 23, tied with Andrei Arlovski, and holds the second-highest number of finishes, with 16.

  • Ex-UFC Fighter: If He Retired Tomorrow, Alex Pereira Is Already A Hall Of Famer

    Ex-UFC Fighter: If He Retired Tomorrow, Alex Pereira Is Already A Hall Of Famer

    Alex Pereira continues to build an extraordinary legacy in MMA, earning praise from fans and fighters alike. Currently the UFC light heavyweight champion, Pereira previously held the middleweight title before moving up in weight.

    Pereira’s meteoric rise began with an impressive 6-1 record that earned him a title shot at 185 pounds. And at UFC 281, he defeated Israel Adesanya via TKO to claim the belt. However, he lost the title back to Adesanya via KO at UFC 287.

    Transitioning to light heavyweight, Pereira captured the division’s crown at UFC 295, defeating Jiří Procházka via TKO. He has since defended the title against the Czech star in a rematch, as well as against Khalil Rountree and Jamahal Hill, securing all victories with decisive finishes.

    UFC analyst and former fighter Alan Jouban believes Pereira’s accomplishments warrant a place in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    “If he retires tomorrow, nobody in the history of the UFC has done what he has done in such a short amount of time,” Jouban said on SiriusXM’s MMA Today. “Look at what he has done. It’s unprecedented, so I would say yes.”

    Jouban elaborated on what sets Pereira apart from other champions.

    “Not only is he a guy that has this mystique, that has this following of kids and people of all ages, and has carried the UFC on his back, but the one thing that he does better than anybody else in the UFC is that he puts a bow on it and he finishes fights.”

    He further praised Pereira’s ability to deliver thrilling performances.

    “You put Alex Pereira in the main event slot on any card, any time of the year, people are going to leave there with a smile on their face because they got to see a knockout. They got to see a devastating knockout early. You don’t have that trust in a lot of other fighters. But you know with Alex Pereira in there, somebody’s going to get knocked out, and it’s all that we’re going to be talking about the next day.”

    • Read More: Chris Curtis Accuses UFC Vegas 101 Opponent Of Underhanded Tactics: ‘Couple Weeks Ago, 2 Russians Show Up…’

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Admits He Doesn’t Like His New MMA Role

    Khabib Nurmagomedov has transitioned into coaching in MMA since retiring from active competition. However, the former champion has admitted that the new role isn’t exactly his favorite.

    Nurmagomedov holds a legendary record in MMA, having been the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion, a title he held from April 2018 to March 2021.

    With an impeccable career record of 29 wins and zero losses, Khabib is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. His achievements were further solidified with his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2022. His final fight at UFC 254 in October 2020 ended with a submission victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Despite stepping away from active competition, Khabib continues to guide his teammates to success. However, when it was announced that Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov would compete back-to-back at UFC 311, “The Eagle” expressed mixed feelings about his coaching responsibilities.

    “I don’t like [coaching], but I have to be here,” Khabib said in video uploaded by Demetrious Johnson. “It’s gonna be a very big night for us at UFC 311, with Tagir [Ulanbekov], Umar for the title, and Islam defending his belt. I cannot be home; I have to be here, but I don’t like this.”

  • Matt Brown Says It’s ‘Clear’ Conor McGregor Will Not Fight In The UFC Again

    Matt Brown Says It’s ‘Clear’ Conor McGregor Will Not Fight In The UFC Again

    Conor McGregor’s much-anticipated return to combat sports has been a topic of speculation, particularly since his last UFC bout in 2021 ended with a severe leg injury in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.

    Initially slated to face Michael Chandler in July, the matchup fell through due to a broken toe. Despite this, UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly stated that the Irishman will eventually return to the Octagon.

    However, McGregor himself has hinted that his comeback might take a different route. The former two-division UFC champion recently claimed that discussions are underway for a potential boxing match against social media star and occasional boxer Logan Paul. If this materializes, it would mark a shift away from McGregor’s UFC roots.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his perspective during a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, expressing doubts about McGregor’s return to the UFC.

    “Does he fight Logan Paul? That’s a good question. I don’t know. I’m going to say I don’t know,” Brown remarked. “Does he fight in the UFC? I think that’s a clear no. Does he fight outside the UFC? I think it’s always possible for him to fight outside the UFC, if the UFC allows it. I don’t know if the UFC is going to get behind it. I just don’t know how those deals are going to play out. But does he fight in the UFC? No, and I’m going to leave it at that. He won’t be in the UFC. I don’t think he’ll fight in the UFC ever again.”

    Brown believes the financial incentive to fight Logan Paul far outweighs the challenges of facing elite UFC opponents.

    “There’s so much money to be made doing a Logan Paul fight. Of course, he would do that. He doesn’t have to come back and fight a f*cking Islam [Makhachev] or something or Dustin Poirier or [Nate] Diaz or anything. He just [has to] go and box a guy who is not a pro boxer.”

    As the combat sports world awaits McGregor’s next move, the possibility of a lucrative boxing spectacle with Logan Paul adds another layer of intrigue to his storied career.

  • Robert Whittaker Explains How Alex Pereira Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker Explains How Alex Pereira Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev

    Robert Whittaker has expressed interest in the potential matchup between UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev.

    Whittaker, who recently faced Chimaev at UFC 308 and suffered a quick submission loss that also resulted in displaced teeth, shared his thoughts on the hypothetical bout during a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast.

    Rumors of a possible Pereira-Chimaev fight emerged after “Poatan” hinted at an unexpected next opponent. For Whittaker, the prospect of Chimaev moving up to face the Brazilian is intriguing.

    “I saw a rumor that Chimaev might go up and fight Pereira,” Whittaker said. “Imagine that. Chimaev (will win). Not easily, Chimaev though. Unless the heavyweight strength changes the dynamic. Chimaev will get the takedown, and it’s just that he’s good at what he does; he plays into his strengths.”

    Despite leaning toward “Borz’s” grappling ability as the deciding factor, Whittaker acknowledged the light heavyweight champ’s striking prowess and conditioning as potential game-changers, particularly if Chimaev fails to maintain a relentless pace.

    “But let’s say hypothetically, Chimaev slows down, gasses a little bit, Pereira won’t,” Whittaker added. “He can strike asleep, dead tired—dude’s been doing it his whole life. He’ll kill Chimaev in a standup.

    “It won’t be like that (Kamaru) Usman-Chimaev fight, where Usman was kind of outboxing him a little bit at that period when Chimaev got tired. It will be a slaughter. But does it go that far?”

    As speculation builds around this potential matchup, Whittaker’s analysis highlights the contrasting styles of the two fighters: Chimaev’s elite grappling against Pereira’s striking mastery.

  • Jiří Procházka Shrugs Off Jamahal Hill’s Trash Talk Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘My Actions Will Talk’

    Jiří Procházka Shrugs Off Jamahal Hill’s Trash Talk Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘My Actions Will Talk’

    Jiří Procházka doesn’t appear to be in the mood to entertain Jamahal Hill’s attempts at getting under his skin ahead of their upcoming bout.

    Procházka is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with Hill at UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    Both Procházka and Hill are coming off devastating knockout defeats at the hands of reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in their last Octagon appearances. Since their bout was booked, “Sweet Dreams” has made some bold comments about the Czech fighter’s style. Hill went so far as to compare their losses to Pereira, claiming that while he was caught accidentally at UFC 300, Procházka was “done bad” at UFC 303.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, “Denisa” mentioned that he’s aware of Hill badmouthing him but has no intention of responding in kind to the American’s antics.

    “I don’t care what he’s saying because it’s not just primarily about me, it just shows what what is in his head,” Procházka said. “Man, I don’t care about what other people say about me because when you know how this works, how to work the mental of the human body, so how people can speak about others and why they speak about others, especially when he don’t know me personally. He knows just my fighting style and in that, he’s totally out with his commentary.”

    Procházka went on to explain why he chooses not to engage in trash talk, stressing that he’s more than willing to settle the score with Hill once the Octagon gates closes.

    “So that’s why I don’t care about these trash talks because. Do you know how the true confident man, a real man [looks] like? He don’t know. He don’t need to say some sh*t about others, to speak about his strong sides and about the weaknesses in his opponent because he’s self-confident too much to not do that… I’m going there, I will show my best, and I will show that to all the world that I’m the best, and that’s all. My actions will talk.”

    Prior to his latest defeat to Pereira in a short-notice title fight this past June, Procházka secured a second-round finish over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300.

    Meanwhile, Hill’s loss to “Poatan” marked his return to the Octagon after a memorable title win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in January 2023. “Sweet Dreams” was forced to vacate his title in July 2023 due to an injury.

  • Joe Rogan Praises ‘Insane Tank Of A Human’ Daniel Cormier’s MMA Career: ‘He Was A Killer’

    Joe Rogan Praises ‘Insane Tank Of A Human’ Daniel Cormier’s MMA Career: ‘He Was A Killer’

    Joe Rogan has expressed high admiration for Daniel Cormier, applauding his remarkable achievements as an undersized heavyweight and a light heavyweight champion.

    During his illustrious MMA career, Cormier earned UFC titles in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, holding them simultaneously at one point. As his career concluded, he competed as a heavyweight, cementing his legacy in the division.

    Cormier’s résumé includes victories over elite fighters such as Stipe Miocic, Alexander Gustafsson, Anthony Johnson and Dan Henderson. After retiring, he transitioned to a new role, joining Joe Rogan and Jon Anik as a commentator for UFC pay-per-view broadcasts and other programs.

    “Daniel was a light heavyweight champion and heavyweight champion,” Rogan said on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. “He was a two-division world champion and was dominating in a weight class in Strikeforce that he didn’t even belong in – heavyweight. He’s like 5-(foot)-11 – he’s not a big guy.

    “He’s just such an insane tank of a human being. His wrestling was so insane and just his will was so insane. He dominated two different divisions. He was a killer. The nicest f*cking guy you’d ever meet in your life. If you were hanging around him, you would never believe that he could pick up anybody in the room and smash them on their head.”

    In 2022, Cormier’s storied career was honored with his induction into the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Names The One Trait He Would Take From Another Fighter

    Alexander Volkanovski Names The One Trait He Would Take From Another Fighter

    Throughout his long reign as the featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski proved himself to be one of the most well-rounded fighters that we have ever seen in the UFC. His striking has always been his strongest attribute, as seen in his three wins over a fellow all-time great in Max Holloway.

    His grappling has also been incredibly effective whether it was offensively against the likes of Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez or defensively like in his first meeting with Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. However, in a recent Q&A video on his YouTube channel, “The Great” was asked an interesting question.

    When debating what attribute he would take from another fighter to improve his own game, Volkanovski looked outside the box because he is already totally confident in his skills as a mixed martial artist and his athletic ability.

    “I was going to say just pick a young fighter and be 18 again.”

    Volkanovski ended up going with one key factor in combat sports that can’t be significantly improved no matter how much training you put in. In his fourth pro fight, the former champion suffered the first loss of his career as he was stopped by Corey Nelson back in 2013 at Australian FC 5.

    He would then go another 24 fights before he would be finished by another opponent. Now, with three knockout losses on his record, Volkanovski has been stopped in back-to-back fights following his defeats to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

    The 36-year old seemingly took this into consideration when giving his answer, under the belief that this additional attribute would make it so much harder to opponents to come out on top against him.

    “I mean who’s got, I mean Max had the chin and I still think like that would still be a crazy chin. But I’d say yeah, chin, cuz that’s how I’ve always looked at it. This is how it’s always been for me going through my career. You always know that someone can catch you, that’s just the game. I’ve always said it’s going to be hard for somebody to actually beat me. I mean Islam had that very close fight, that first one. So there’s only very, very few, if any, that can take me to a decision and beat me that way. Obviously you could say Islam did, it was a very close fight but I’ve always said that anyone can catch you, right… If you could sit there and have the chin where you take away that only opportunity for someone to beat ya, you’re going to be pretty hard to beat, that’s for sure.”

  • Paddy Pimblett Teases Huge Fight Announcement: ‘See You At The Top’

    Paddy Pimblett Teases Huge Fight Announcement: ‘See You At The Top’

    Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett is gearing up for a huge fight next time out after putting together six consecutive wins inside the Octagon. The 29-year old submitted King Green in his latest outing at UFC 304 in July to enter the lightweight rankings at the #13-spot.

    Many expect that “The Baddy” will be back in action when the UFC returns to home soil for the Brit with a Fight Night card set to take place at the O2 Arena in London on March 22. With some of the names around him already matched up, that creates some interesting discussion regarding who may be next for Pimblett.

    From the moment that he arrived in the UFC, the scouser has been one of the most talked about fighters in the promotion and that goes a long way when it comes to securing big fights. Pimblett isn’t ever going to be short on other contenders calling him out and that works to his advantage.

    One name that has already put himself in the mix is the #8-ranked Mateusz Gamrot who would be a solid step up for Pimblett given his stature in the division. However, in a recent YouTube video, he seemed to hint at an even bigger opportunity.

    Pimblett told fans via his channel that they can expect to see some news very soon with contracts hopefully being signed in the not too distant future. He ended the video with a phrase that has become specifically tied to one man.

    “I’m coming for that belt, so I’m looking for higher ranked fighters now,” Pimblett said. “I’m sure you will see a fight announcement soon enough. I’ve said yeah, the opponent said yeah, just need to get stuff signed. So, you know the score, everyone. Like, comment, subscribe, and I’ll see you at the top.”

    “See you at the top” has been a reoccurring saying of the former title challenger Michael Chandler during his time in the UFC. Chandler himself had mentioned Pimblett as a potential option following his loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 and the #7-ranked contender would be a huge matchup for him. Given the magnitude of this fight, it’s hard to imagine it taking place in England, especially if Leon Edwards was correct when he said that he would be headlining the card.

  • New Global Fight League Calls Out PFL Over Treatment Of Patrício Pitbull

    New Global Fight League Calls Out PFL Over Treatment Of Patrício Pitbull

    Patrício Pitbull has been very outspoken about his desire to leave the PFL after claiming that he has not been offered any fights in the second half of 2024. The Bellator champion states that during preparations for a recent return, the fight was cancelled and he was not given a new date or opponent.

    The Brazilian recently posted a series of messages on social media where he provided the latest update in his communications with the promotion. Pitbull started by saying that following a call between the PFL’s Pete Murray and his management, it was made clear that he will not be granted his release from the promotion with his contract running out in May.

    He criticized the promotion for claiming to be fighter first whilst planning to book him in April next year instead of allowing him to be active. In one of several posts, the champion wrote:

    “It’s really absurd and disappointing that I have to come on X to voice all this. Do the right thing and release me @PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL. I was a @BellatorMMA fighter and it no longer exists. The promotion is gone and so should I.”

    There has been a lot of talk about the PFL, its format and its growth in recent years and the same is sure to be the case for the Global Fight League. The GFL is set to launch next year after announcing its huge roster and plans for the team-based season format.

    The GFL also claims to be putting the fighters first and has implemented systems like a revenue share and retirement fund in order to prove this stance. The new promotion on the block recently commented on the recent situation regarding Pitbull and his PFL contract by criticizing the way that he has been treated.

    “The GFL was designed, in part, to avoid these kinds of issues. ‘Fighters’ are athletes, and more importantly, people. They needn’t be treated merely as commodity. We hope there is a positive resolution to this issue for @PatricioPitbull.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Denied UFC PI Access Due To Umar Nurmagomedov’s Presence: ‘This Guy Will Get What’s Coming To Him!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Denied UFC PI Access Due To Umar Nurmagomedov’s Presence: ‘This Guy Will Get What’s Coming To Him!’

    It seems the UFC is taking the growing feud between upcoming opponents Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov very seriously.

    Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are set to collide at the first pay-per-view of the new year, with the pair marking one of two championship fights scheduled for UFC 311 on Jan. 18.

    Before Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan run it back for the lightweight gold in the main event, Inglewood’s Intuit Dome will play host to “The Machine’s” first defense of the bantamweight belt, which he captured at Sean O’Malley’s expense this past September.

    Much to his dismay, the Georgian is tasked with stalling the charge of the undefeated Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili has been vocal in dismissing the Dagestani’s title shot worthiness, and that topic has caused considerable animosity between the pair.

    And that looked likely to boil over both backstage and on stage at the UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, after which the champ threatened to travel to Dagestan to slap Nurmagomedov for what he perceived as ‘disrespect’.

    But Dvalishvili evidently won’t need such travel to cross paths with his upcoming opponent, with the pair both currently training in “Sin City.”

    The UFC, however, is taking no chances.

    “It’s all good – this guy will get what is coming to him on January 18th,” Dvalishvili wrote in the caption of a video on X, during which the Georgian explained how he’d been turned away from the UFC Performance Institute due to Nurmagomedov’s presence inside.

    Regardless, the champ won’t have too much longer to wait before having the chance to lay hands on the unbeaten Russian inside the cage.

    While Dvalishvili is unhappy with the choice of opponent, and his teammate Aljamain Sterling has made his thoughts on the short-notice booking known, “The Machine” is still confident of blemishing Nurmagomedov’s record and cementing his grip on the bantamweight gold.

  • Brandon Royval Calls For Venue Change After Crucial Manel Kape Fight Announced For UFC Apex

    Brandon Royval Calls For Venue Change After Crucial Manel Kape Fight Announced For UFC Apex

    UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royval believes the magnitude of his next fight lends itself to a better environment than the Apex.

    2024 was a successful year for the #1-ranked Royval, who entered it off the back of a disappointing performance in his title challenge against Alexandre Pantoja last December.

    First, a short-notice opportunity to run it back with Brandon Moreno in Mexico arose, and “Raw Dawg” made the most of it by outpointing the former champion. And eight months later, Royval returned to a win streak by turning away the charge of Japan’s Tatsuro Taira.

    With that, the 32-year-old is firmly back within the championship conversation at 125 pounds. And to earn another chance at the gold, Royval must now get past Manel Kape.

    The pair were recently announced as the headliners for the March 1 UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas. Like his win over Taira, the clash is currently slated to take place with a limited crowd at the low-capacity Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    But given the likely title stakes — not to mention both men’s ability to put on a show inside the Octagon — Royval thinks that should change…

    “Kape and I is a dope ass fight,” he wrote on X. “We should make this happen in front of an audience.”

    For “Starboy,” the bout offers the chance for him to secure a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage. The former Rizin champ originally called his shot for a rematch versus Pantoja next year after a dominant victory over Bruno Silva in Tampa earlier this month.

    But after Dana White was quick to dismiss that as a possibility, Kape now has his next assignment in the calendar, as he looks to wrest Royval’s top contender status away in 2025 en route to the flyweight throne.

  • Jon Jones On His 5-Year Plan, Including Last UFC Fights: ‘Money Is A Motivator…’

    Jon Jones On His 5-Year Plan, Including Last UFC Fights: ‘Money Is A Motivator…’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones acknowledges that his storied professional fighting career is nearing its twilight. With only a handful of fights left in him, the MMA star is focused on securing lucrative matchups to maximize his earnings during the remainder of his career.

    Jones is coming off an impressive TKO victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Looking ahead, he has expressed a preference for a fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira over interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall. He views the potential matchup with Pereira as more financially rewarding.

    “Money is a motivator,” Jones shared on Alex Gonzalez’s YouTube channel. “I think most people lie if they said they weren’t motivated by money. But also, I’ve been doing the UFC work just out of love, too. I really love what I do. I really love making money. I really love writing my name down in the history books and being a guy who’ll be able to live forever through the UFC record books. That all means a lot.”

    Jones also recounted advice from UFC CEO Dana White that has shaped his approach to career and finances.

    “Dana told me a long time ago, ‘Jon, money will never be your issue because I never want you to worry about money. It will always come to you for the rest of your life.’ And it seems like the less I think about money, the more it comes to me. It just starts falling in my hands these days, and I’m grateful for it.”

    Looking to the future, Jones has mapped out his plans for the next decade. In the short term, he hopes to compete in at least one or two more fights over the next five years while pursuing other ambitions.

    “Within the next five years, I want to win one more fight, maybe even two, and try to make as much money as possible in the UFC,” Jones said. Beyond fighting, he has aspirations to transition into acting. “I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I think I do pretty good on camera, and I’ve done little commercials and things like that. Every time I’m on set, everybody’s like, ‘Bro, it’s hard to believe that you’re a fighter. You conduct yourself just like all of our professional actors.’”

    As he envisions his life a decade from now, Jones’s focus shifts to family.

    “10 years from now, I just want to be the best dad I can be,” he shared, emphasizing his desire to leave a lasting legacy both in and out of the Octagon.

  • ‘Jamahal Can’t Handle This’ – Fans React To Jiří Procházka’s Latest Unique Training Video Ahead of UFC 311 Return

    ‘Jamahal Can’t Handle This’ – Fans React To Jiří Procházka’s Latest Unique Training Video Ahead of UFC 311 Return

    Jiří Procházka is turning heads with his unique training methods ahead of his next fight.

    Scheduled to face another former light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill at UFC 311, Procházka is looking to work his way back toward the gold after an already storied career.

    The Czech star captured the title at UFC 275 with a victory over Glover Teixeira during a remarkable 12-fight winning streak. However, he later vacated the belt without making a defense due to an injury. And lost the chance to regain the belt opposite Alex Pereira last year UFC 295.

    Procházka bounced back with a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 300 this past April, only to lose again to Pereira via TKO at UFC 303 in a bid to reclaim the championship.

    Hill, Procházka’s upcoming opponent, is also coming off a KO loss to Pereira at UFC 300, where the light heavyweight title was at stake.

    Recently, “BJP” shared a training video on X showcasing his unconventional approach: walking on a treadmill while shadowboxing and practicing various striking techniques.

    The video quickly sparked fan reactions, with many chiming in to share their thoughts on his distinctive preparation.

    UFC 311 will take place on Jan. 18, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. A lightweight championship bout between current kingpin Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan is scheduled to headline the event.

  • Ian Garry Responds To Kamaru Usman Sharing Old DMs: ‘I Had A Lot Of Respect For Him’

    Ian Garry Responds To Kamaru Usman Sharing Old DMs: ‘I Had A Lot Of Respect For Him’

    In the lead up to his scheduled fight with Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa, Ian Machado Garry was very vocal about some of the other top contenders in the welterweight division. The #7-ranked competitor specifically called out the likes of Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman for turning down fights with him which led him to accepting a fight against someone ranked lower than him.

    This didn’t end up playing out as Garry instead received the call to step into the co-main event of UFC 310 to face Shavkat Rakhmonov in a title eliminator. When Covington took his place to take on Buckley in the final UFC event of 2024, this only provided the Irishman with even more fuel.

    Following his comments, Usman responded during an episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast alongside Henry Cejudo. The former welterweight champion shared DMs that Garry had sent him during his title reign to show respect and admiration to “The Nigerian Nightmare”.

    Garry gave his thoughts on Usman revealing these messages during a recent interview with Spaceport Sweden. He says that at the time, he did go out of his way to praise the best welterweight in the world. However, his opinion of Usman has since changed now that he has become a competitor of his at 170-pounds.

    The 27-year old doesn’t take back what he once said but did state that he no longer has that same level of respect for Usman.

    ”I had a lot of respect for him, until he turned me down. That’s a fact. He turned the fight with me down and that’s it. I had a lot of respect for him.  I had a lot of respect for him and his career and everything that he did as the champion. And when I was a young kid watching the sport and I was an amateur and I’m watching him fight Gilbert Burns for the world title during COVID and I’m like ‘f**k, this guy’s one of the best we’ve seen’. That was the opinion the world had of him at that point. When that same guy turns down a fight against you, it changes the way you think about him. So I had respect for Kamaru, might be still a little bit, but not much after you turned me down, not much. And I don’t care what his excuses are. I don’t care what his excuses are. You put, you turn down the fight. In my mind, you’re a b***h.” 

  • Former Bellator Prospect With 9-1 Record Asks Dana White For UFC Shot In 2025: ‘I’m Unstoppable!’

    Former Bellator Prospect With 9-1 Record Asks Dana White For UFC Shot In 2025: ‘I’m Unstoppable!’

    The UFC is set to return to Seattle, Washington in the new year with a Fight Night event hosted at the Climate Pledge Arena in February 22. With multiple big fights already announced for the promotion’s first trip back to Seattle for the first time since 2013, there is one fighter who isn’t currently signed to the UFC who is attempting to call his shot.

    Lance Gibson Jr. is a 9-1 lightweight who was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. The 29-year old fought six times in Bellator and after departing the promotion last year, he has produced back-to-back first-round finishes on Muckleshoot Fight Night in 2024.

    As he goes on to mention in a social media video, Gibson is the son of a former UFC fighter and Canadian MMA pioneer. Lance Gibson Sr. competed twice inside the Octagon at UFC 24 and UFC 29 in 2000. “Fearless” now believes that this is his time to join the UFC roster and with the Octagon finally making its return to his local arena, the stars have fallen into place.

    Gibson Jr. posted the following caption alongside an Instagram video where he made the case for why he deserves to be signed to the UFC so that he can make his debut on this card.

    “What better time than now? Let’s make this happen together. Like, Share, and Comment tagging @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby and let them know who you want to see on UFC Fight Night Seattle Feb 22nd, 2025. Tag #FearlessForUFC Thank you all for your love and support I couldn’t do it without you.”

    The video itself sees Gibson Jr. stood outside the venue where he delivers this message alongside clips from his and his father’s highlight reels.

    “Dana, Sean, I’ve been on your radar for a while now. You’ve seen what my dad did 25 years ago at UFC 24, March 10th, year 2000. I was born 10 minutes from this arena and I was raised on the mats in Seattle, Washington. This city knows my name. I fought for the pacific northwest my entire career. Fight after fight, I’ve shown I’m fearless. I’m ferocious. I’m unstoppable but most importantly, I’m one of a kind. I’ve dreamt my entire life of being able to fight in the UFC Octagon. What better time than now.”

  • Conor McGregor Backs Mike Perry’s Challenge To Former UFC Champion For BKFC Return

    Conor McGregor Backs Mike Perry’s Challenge To Former UFC Champion For BKFC Return

    Mike Perry is seeking a high-profile retired fighter to face off against in his BKFC return in 2025, and Conor McGregor likes one of his options.

    At the BKFC Hollywood event in Florida this past weekend, Perry took the spotlight during an in-ring interview and was asked about his future plans. The 33-year-old quickly called out former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, who was present in the crowd, as the opponent he’s eager to face next.

    “Who should face me next? I see Robbie Lawler in the crowd and I think he should take the gloves off, and he should step inside the square circle against ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry.”

    “Platinum” hasn’t stepped into the squared circle since his stunning knockout win over former UFC fighter Thiago Alves at BKFC Knucklemania IV in April. He further emphasized that Lawler is the ideal opponent to add to his flawless bare-knuckle record.

    “Listen, man, I’m the best to ever be up in this ring [with] no gloves. There’s nobody [that’s] ever done it like me, and I’m waiting for my chance to shine again. The world tried to take things from me. I’m ready for my next opportunity and it doesn’t seem like anybody [wants] to step up to the line. So what I thought is Robbie Lawler might just be tough enough to do it.”

    BKFC part-owner Conor McGregor, who had previously claimed to have fired Perry from the promotion, recently took to X to give an enthusiastic endorsement for the potential Perry vs. Lawler showdown.

    “What a show,” McGregor tweeted. “Perry vs. Lawler? Gimme.”

    https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870664376329416732

    https://x.comff/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1870664376329416732

    “Platinum” was last seen in action in July, when he stepped in on short notice to face Jake Paul in a boxing match after an ulcer flare-up delayed Mike Tyson’s fight with Paul until November. Unfortunately for Perry, he was knocked out in the sixth round of the bout.

    Perry remains undefeated in BKFC with a perfect 5-0 record, boasting impressive knockout victories over former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Luke Rockhold.

    Meanwhile, Lawler called time on his fighting career after a decisive 38-second knockout victory over Niko Price at UFC 290 in July 2023. While “Ruthless” once commanded fear in the Octagon, his final stretch saw him struggle, posting a 3-6 record in his last nine appearances.

  • Former UFC Fighter Vows To Never Train Without A Cup Again After ‘Fracturing Penis’

    Former UFC Fighter Vows To Never Train Without A Cup Again After ‘Fracturing Penis’

    2024 has been a year that Mateus Mendonça will be glad to see the back off as we head into 2025. The Brazilian featherweight kicked off his year with a split decision loss to Jesus Aguilar in Mexico City that brought his current run in the UFC to an end.

    The 25-year old was cut from the promotion after suffering three consecutive losses off the back of earning his spot on the roster via the 2022 season of the Contender Series. However, he has already returned to the win column by producing a kneebar submission in just 20 seconds at CFC 23 in Rio de Janeiro this past October.

    Whilst Mendonça is clearly a very talented grappler, he has been forced to make some serious adjustments to the way he trains on the mats. In a recent interview with AgFight, he revealed how a grappling session without any protection led to an injury that is eye-watering through reading about it alone.

    The 14-fight pro revealed how an unintentional knee led to him fracturing his penis as if he didn’t already have enough on his plate this year.

    “I went to train jiu-jitsu at my teacher’s gym the day before I returned to Sao Paulo,” Mendonça told AgFight. “During the second roll, [my partner] hit my private parts with his knee when I was trying to pass the guard. I felt an incredible amount of pain and ran to the bathroom. It started to burn. But then the pain went away and I kept going.

    “A month later, training normally without pain, I started to notice some problems. I started to move and there was a lump. So I went to the hospital. When I got there, the doctor did an exam and immediately transferred me to another hospital for surgery.”

    For every setback both in life and in combat sports, there is always a valuable lesson to be learned. For Mendonça, he has come away from this experience with one clear message that he is using to warn others. If you don’t want this to happen to you, the solution is simple.

    “It’s a good idea to warn everyone. All the guys who train jiu-jitsu, grappling, MMA, anything that involves contact: wear a cup to avoid accidents. This had never happened to me. It was the first time and look what happened. I had to have surgery. I had to be out of action for two months.”

  • Ian Garry Believes He’s Winning The Fans Back Over: ‘Seeing The True Me’

    Ian Garry Believes He’s Winning The Fans Back Over: ‘Seeing The True Me’

    Ian Machado Garry has been a somewhat divisive character since he first arrived in the UFC in 2021. The Irishman has always been an incredibly self-confident fighter who believes that he is destined to be at the top.

    His ascent up the welterweight ladder rubbed some fans up the wrong way though, particularly in his fights with Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Criticism from other fighters added to the aura surrounding Garry being one of a fighter with something to prove amidst a lot of doubts and negativity.

    It certainly seems like the #7-ranked welterweight has started to change his public perception following his performance at UFC 310. For a start, Garry put his money where his mouth is by stepping in to face Shavkat Rakhmonov on short notice in the co-main event.

    He went on to produce an impressive performance and proved to be Rakhmonov’s toughest test to date when many expected the undefeated “Nomad” to maintain his 100% finishing rate. There is also the fact that Garry’s relationship with the fans certainly hasn’t been hurt by his allegiance and friendship with one of the most beloved fighters in the sport, Charles Oliveira.

    In a recent interview with Spaceport Sweden, the 27-year old spoke about his changing perception and the reaction he got after he showered “Do Bronx” with praise in both English and Portuguese. He believes that though he’s always going to try and entertain, he wants people to be invested in his journey and story.

    ”I feel like the fans are just seeing the true me. We’ve started making this vlog on YouTube, which is doing really well. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out. It’s just showing me and my personality more and the fans are seeing it and understanding it. That’s always what I’ve wanted from my Instagram and we’re in a world where social media matters. I’m in the entertainment business, right? I’m a fighter. I’m a competitor. But I’m in the entertainment business. We want people to tune in. We want people to watch. We want people to see and connect. When I think about my Instagram and what I’m doing, I want people to understand and connect to me as a human, as a fighter, as a father, as a husband, whatever it is. It’s why my family matters to me so much. I want people to see that I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my team. I love the way we travel and I want people to see that be inspired by it.”

  • Robert Whittaker ‘Playing With The Idea’ Of Light Heavyweight Switch: ‘I’m A Big Dude…’

    Robert Whittaker ‘Playing With The Idea’ Of Light Heavyweight Switch: ‘I’m A Big Dude…’

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has firmly shut the door on the possibility of returning to welterweight, but he has left another door ajar…

    Whittaker will enter the new year off the back of a crushing defeat, having been submitted in the opening round by a brutal face crank at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi this past October.

    While wins earlier in the year over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov had the Australian approaching a chance to regain the 185-pound crown, “The Reaper” is now out of the championship conversation for the time being.

    And when he returns in 2025, it seems Whittaker is pondering the prospect of inserting himself into a different one.

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker noted that a return to welterweight — the division he went 3-2 in under the UFC banner before switching to middleweight — is not on the cards. A move up, however, could be.

    “Me, I wouldn’t go down. I can’t go down,” Whittaker said. “I’m still playing with the idea of going up to light heavy, dude. I’m a big dude, much bigger than people think I am. I don’t know.”

    Should Whittaker follow through on that, he’d be chasing a man he was previously in pursuit of at 185 pounds.

    After a brief stint on the middleweight throne, Alex Pereira secured two-division glory in just his second fight at light heavyweight. He’s since defended the gold on three occasions in 2024, establishing himself as one of the promotion’s leading stars.

  • Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t fazed about competing at a more low-key event to kick off his 2025 campaign.

    Having risen to prominence on MMA’s biggest stage in quick time, “The Last Stylebender” competed on pay-per-view lineups 14 times in a row between his knockout win over Derek Brunson at UFC 230 in 2018 and submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Australia this past August.

    That setback this year marked Adesanya’s second straight, coming 11 months on from his shock removal from the throne at the hands of Sean Strickland. The Nigerian-New Zealander now finds him out of the championship conversation for the first time in years.

    And with that will come a return to UFC Fight Night action for the first time since his headliner with Brad Tavares in 2018, as he does battle with the surging Nassourdine Imavov at the event in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

    Given that card’s location and the habit since 2020 for many events to take place within the crowdless surroundings of the Apex, Adesanya isn’t expecting the magnitude of his next fight to feel as different as some have predicted.

    “I still get paid. There’s still a referee, it’s two of us in there, there’s a crowd. It’s not like in the f*cking Apex or something, so it doesn’t feel any different,” Adesanya said during an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel. “I think people are making it out to be something how they would react to it, but they’re not in my shoes. They’re not in my shorts.

    “It’s a Saudi Arabia Fight Night, first of all. I still get paid. It still feels like you’re fighting Israel Adesanya. This is the biggest fight of his (Imavov’s) life. I have to be the one to halt that,” Adesanya continued. “It still feels the same. It doesn’t feel any different.”

    While he expects to feel the same making the walk, Adesanya will hope to get a different result than in his two previous outings.

    Having admitted that he’s toward the end of his career as an active fighter, “The Last Stylebender” will look to ensure that his stint in the UFC doesn’t conclude on a losing skid by defeating Imavov for his first win since a memorable knockout of Alex Pereira in April 2023.

  • Dan Hardy Backs Cédric Doumbé As Jake Paul’s First MMA Opponent: ‘That Could Be A Good One’

    Dan Hardy Backs Cédric Doumbé As Jake Paul’s First MMA Opponent: ‘That Could Be A Good One’

    It would appear that Dan Hardy is onboard with the idea of PFL star Cédric Doumbé welcoming YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to the cage.

    Paul has risen to prominence in combat sports courtesy of his efforts in the ring. The Cleveland native has built a professional record of 11-1 that’s largely comprised of wins over aging MMA veterans. Most recently, he got the better of 58-year-old boxing great Mike Tyson for Netflix’s controversial first entry into the fight game.

    Following that, “The Problem Child” has continued to boast big aspirations, once again vowing to become a world champion and calling out the likes of Canelo Álvarez. And with that, past talk of an MMA transition has quietened.

    Paul previously looked close to a first cage appearance after signing with the Professional Fighters League at the start of 2023. During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the head of fighter operations for PFL Europe — pondered the polarizing ex-Disney star’s potential MMA arrival.

    “I was excited about the idea that Jake Paul would have a go at mixed martial arts. And I thought to myself he’s going to come to MMA with the same energy, we know he’s got a wrestling background as well,” Hardy said. “He’s in a weird situation, isn’t he? Because who do you match (him) up against?”

    Talk of Paul’s debut in the sport most recently returned to the surface when former Glory Kickboxing champ Cédric Doumbé included him on the list of possible 2025 opponents while addressing the crowd in Lyon at the PFL Europe championship event this month.

    In the eyes of Hardy, the Frenchman is a realistic opponent option for Paul.

    “Cédric Doumbé had mentioned a few different people he would fight, and Jake Paul was on the list. Doumbé’s got a great kickboxing background, but he only has a few fights in MMA. And he’s a striker, so he’s not going to want to grapple with Jake Paul,” Hardy continued. “Doumbé’s a bit older, but he’s definitely smaller. That could be a good one, even in boxing, I think Cédric Doumbé vs. Jake Paul would be a lot of fun.”

    There remains no timeline on an MMA venture for Paul, whose most recent tease regarding a combat sports assignment explicitly mentioned the boxing realm once again.

    Doumbé, meanwhile, is seemingly eying up a rematch with Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov after the controversial end to their headline clash in Paris earlier this year.

  • Jim Miller Reveals Issue He Continues To Battle Despite 45-Fight UFC Career: ‘I Still Have Difficulty…’

    Jim Miller Reveals Issue He Continues To Battle Despite 45-Fight UFC Career: ‘I Still Have Difficulty…’

    UFC lightweight Jim Miller may have enjoyed a record-breaking career in mixed martial arts, but he still says he suffers from “imposter syndrome” at times.

    The 41-year-old New Jersey native is still going strong inside the Octagon, most recently submitting Damon Jackson in under three minutes at November’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside the prestigious Madison Square Garden.

    That outing extended Miller’s lead in a number of UFC records, including most wins (27), most fights (45), and most first-round finishes.

    But despite a storied tenure in the sport and on its biggest stage, “A-10” doesn’t always feel as though he belongs.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Miller was candid about that issue. While his status would no doubt lend itself to the freedom to do so, the fan favorite admitted he often struggles when it comes to making requests such as arena appearances instead of Apex fights.

    “I still feel like I deal with a little bit of imposter syndrome,” Miller said. “It’s hard for me to even say that stuff. My job is to fight, and that’s what I do. I’m not a matchmaker. I’m not any of that stuff. I’m a fighter, so that’s what I focus my time on.

    “I know that I am well-respected and I appreciate the hell out of that, and some of the conversations that I have with guys like Sean Shelby or (Joe) Rogan, I do feel that I’ve earned their respect,” Miller continued. “I still have difficulty making those callouts, like saying, ‘Hey, no more Apex cards for me. Jim always wants the big cards – only numbered events at this point.’ That’s a tough one for me.”

    Miller did, however, go out of his way to make a rare callout for his next fight.

    The veteran is eyeing up a legend vs. legend clash with the recently victorious Cub Swanson, who brutally knocked out Billy Quarantillo in Tampa earlier this month.

  • Dan Hooker Doubts Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claims: ‘He’s Just Working Off McGregor’s Playbook’

    Dan Hooker Doubts Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight Claims: ‘He’s Just Working Off McGregor’s Playbook’

    While Ilia Topuria and his team have teased a move up to lightweight, it appears not everyone believes that the UFC featherweight champion will make such a jump.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, teased that Topuria is looking at a move up to lightweight, even if it means leaving the UFC flyweight title he won just 10 months ago behind.

    The expectation had been that Topuria would have a rematch with the man he took the belt from, Alexander Volkanovski, at some point in 2025. But “El Matador” caused a stir during a radio appearance in Spain when he suggested he’s competed at 145 pounds for the last time.

    One key lightweight contender, Dan Hooker, thinks that talk from Topuria and his camp is just that — talk.

    Dan Hooker Doesn’t Believe Ilia Topuria Will Make Jump To Lightweight

    During his own recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker described Topuria’s remarks as “classic s***” that stems from McGregor’s own playbook from 2015-16.

    “It’s pretty evident that he’s just working off the line one from McGregor’s playbook, which is keeping your name in the headlines,” Hooker said. “So, all I kind of see from it is that Ilia Topuria is keeping his name in the headlines — like the guy doesn’t fight that often. I think he just fights Volk next year.”

    Topuria won the featherweight title by knocking out Volkanovski at UFC 298. He then successfully retained the title at UFC 308, becoming the first man to knock out former champion Max Holloway.

    It should be noted the featherweight division is not cleaned out, with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evolev each making their claims of late for a potential title shot down the line.

    Hooker, meanwhile, won his third straight fight at UFC 305 in August, defeating Mateusz Gamrot in an entertaining upset.