MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Fabian Edwards believes his brother, former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, was made to defend his title in “unfair” conditions this past summer.

    After withstanding challenges from both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, Edwards returned for his first assignment of 2024 three months ago.

    “Rocky” was tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Belal Muhammad on home soil, with their rematch headlining UFC 304 in Manchester, England this past July.

    Edwards ultimately failed in that goal, with “Remember the Name” putting on a dominant display to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and ensure he exited the Co-op Live with the welterweight gold in his possession.

    Fabian Edwards Laments Time For Brother’s UFC 304 Title Defense

    During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow ahead of his own upcoming title fight, Fabian reflected on the end of his brother’s reign at the hands of Muhammad in Manchester.

    The younger of the fighting siblings pointed to the 5 AM start time as a major factor in Leon’s defeat at UFC 304. The decision to keep timings on the US pay-per-view schedule is just the latest instance of “Rocky” being made to compete in “unfair situations,” according to Fabian.

    “You know what it is? It was the time,” Fabian said. “I know everyone will say, ‘Oh, the time,’ or whatever, but most people couldn’t even stay awake until that time. So having to fight (for) a world title fight at that time? Come on. I’ve said it to everyone, how he performed in that fight was exactly how the last couple of weeks in training was. We were just like, putting it off because you do find things.

    “That’s just the way it goes. Leon’s never had an easy path,” he continued. “Even once he became champion, he’s always had unfair situations given to him, but it is what it is. He will be back.”

    It remains to be seen what lies next in the career of Leon Edwards, but he vowed to bounce back and “rise again” in his first post-fight remarks on social media.

    For now, the UFC star will have his focus and energy on the exploits of his brother, as Fabian gets set for a second opportunity at dethroning Johnny Eblen in Saudi Arabia next weekend.

  • Kevin Holland Tells Troll He Feels Like A ‘Total Piece Of Sh*t’ After UFC 307 Injury Loss

    Kevin Holland Tells Troll He Feels Like A ‘Total Piece Of Sh*t’ After UFC 307 Injury Loss

    UFC middleweight Kevin Holland is understandably not pleased with the manner in which he fell to defeat in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

    Holland had an opportunity to break into the top 10 at 185 pounds at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City. He was matched up against Roman Dolidze after returning to the weight class in style at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk this past June.

    While he left the Polish veteran injured after finding an armbar at UFC 302, the grappling exchanges against Dolidze saw “Trailblazer” on the receiving end of a painful night.

    After attempting to break the Georgian’s control in round one, an awkward twist on the ground resulted in Holland audibly reacting to an injury. And although he managed to see out the round before clutching his rib, the bout was waved off before the second frame.

    Holland Agrees With Abusive Internet Troll’s UFC 307 Take

    No fighter in the sport is safe from those in the MMA community who choose to unload on them in defeat, and that’s especially the case when an injury leads to a fight’s conclusion.

    Holland was evidently the recipient of such messages from trolls post-UFC 307, and he revealed an interaction with one in a recent Instagram Story.

    An attached image showed DMs from a user who berated him by branding him a “sh*t fighter.” While some would either ignore the troll or perhaps hit back, Holland went a different route.

    “Can’t have a response to everyone but yeah I feel like a total piece of sh*t,” Holland captioned his Instagram Story. “My bad to all the ones who put some bread on the line or told they friend I was gonna win. I’m a p*ssy.”

    Holland also agreed with the troll while directly responding to them.

    With the unfortunate result in Utah, “Big Mouth” has now lost three of his last four. Prior to returning to middleweight, Holland dropped back-to-back decisions opposite Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page.

  • Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    It would appear that what went down at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City has further spurred the comeback fire underneath former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.

    Having hinted at a return from retirement earlier this year, two matchups appeared of interest to the Brazilian at this past weekend’s pay-per-view. Before her former opponents Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña collided for the title she vacated last year, ex-teammate Kayla Harrison had her second UFC outing.

    Following the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s Octagon debut in April, Nunes questioned why she hadn’t been called out. While her name remained absent from Harrison’s lips at UFC 307, the same can’t be said for “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    After regaining the 135-pound title in the co-main event, Peña made good on her promise to address Nunes inside the Octagon, believing her to be far from done as an active fighter.

    Whether it was that callout or Harrison’s performance earlier in the night, somebody seemingly got the Brazilian legend’s attention…

    Did UFC 307 Awaken ‘The Lioness?’ Nunes Requests Call From The Boss

    While Nunes remained silent in the immediate aftermath of Peña’s title win and subsequent callout, she emerged on social media this week with a message for UFC CEO Dana White.

    MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, a Brazilian journalist, provided context behind her Instagram video video, noting that Nunes was singing along to “Outdoor,” a song created by Brazilian samba group Só Pra Contrariar.

    The original lyrics include, “Oh please call,” and, “I Miss you so much.” Nunes is said to have altered the lyrics to, “Call me, please.”

    If Nunes does officially commit to a return, it remains unclear whether her goal will be regaining the title, settling the score with Peña, or having a long-awaited showdown with former teammate Harrison.

    Regardless, should predictions of “The Lioness” meeting the winner of the expected Peña vs. Harrison clash come to fruition, she’ll have the chance to kill two of those birds with one stone.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Set For Combat Sports Return vs. Former UFC Champ

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Set For Combat Sports Return vs. Former UFC Champ

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page will enter a different realm of the fight game for his next taste of competition.

    2024 has marked Page’s debut year in the UFC, having had his switch from Bellator confirmed shortly after the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired his former employer.

    The Brit has had mixed success, arriving with a strong showing opposite Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in Miami but falling short of a rise into title contention against the undefeated Ian Garry at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

    Against the Irishman, Page had his grappling deficiencies exposed. That, evidently, is an area “MVP” is looking to improve in before making his return to the Octagon.

    The Londoner’s focus will entirely be on his ground game in the coming weeks as he gears up to compete in a grappling match under the Polaris banner.

    News of Page’s debut in the promotion was reported by Ariel Helwani, who revealed that the 37-year-old will face former interim UFC champion Carlos Condit at the London-held Polaris 30 event on November 2.

    While he’s never been submitted in professional MMA, two of Page’s three defeats came by way of grappling. Before Garry utilized control to get the job done this year, Logan Storley pulled off a similar gameplan across five rounds to win interim Bellator gold back in 2022.

    Condit, meanwhile, announced his MMA retirement in September 2021. The decision followed a defeat to Max Griffin two months prior, which brought “The Natural Born Killer’s” late-career win streak to an end.

    During his memorable MMA stint, Condit defeated the likes of Thiago Alves, Dan Hardy, and Rory MacDonald. In 2012, he got the better of Nick Diaz to capture the interim UFC welterweight title, subsequently falling short against Georges St-Pierre.

  • ‘Get In Line’ – Kamaru Usman Laughs Off Joaquin Buckley’s UFC 307 Callout

    ‘Get In Line’ – Kamaru Usman Laughs Off Joaquin Buckley’s UFC 307 Callout

    Joaquin Buckley did the unthinkable at UFC 307 by becoming only the second fighter ever to knock out Stephen Thompson. He tried to grapple the veteran striker from the get-go. but “Wonderboy” could get back to his feet quickly every time.

    Based on the official scorecards, the third round would’ve decided the winner of the fight but Buckley sealed the deal with an overhand right. Interestingly, it was similar to the overhand superman punch Anthony Pettis landed to knock out Thompson five years ago.

    “New Mansa” called out Kamaru Usman after the victory but it seems like the former champ has no intentions of entertaining that fight…

    Kamaru Usman Admits Joaquin Buckley’s Calling Him Out At UFC 307 Was Better Than The Conor McGregor Callout

    In the latest Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast, Henry Cejudo asked Usman about Buckley calling him out after the impressive KO win at UFC 307. The American fighter is now 5-0 at welterweight and is clearly riding an impressive win streak.

    However, “The Nigerian Nightmare” outright laughed at the callout and asked Buckley to get in line since the latter’s not the only welterweight to call out the former kingpin recently.

    “Take a number and get in line! I believe he’s probably, what, the 10th, 11th guy? I don’t know how many guys have called me out. It is what it is. It’s obviously, like DC said, it’s a more reasonable callout for him because he is on the streak. He’s been doing good work inside there. I believe he was losing that fight and it was just a way to be relentless and find the shot, eventually, to get that finish. So, you know, hats off to him.”

    However, Usman gave Buckley his props for winning against “Wonderboy” in the best way possible. He also agreed with Daniel Cormier that this was a much more sensible callout than his last fight.

    From the looks of it, Buckley will have to yet again wait for his dream opponent. A couple more memorable wins would make him an undeniable title challenger, though.

  • Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev

    Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev

    Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt for the third time in 2024 at UFC 307. He stopped Khalil Rountree via TKO in the fourth, further skyrocketing his popularity.

    Pereira’s exciting fighting style and consistency are second to none in the UFC at the moment. With five title fight wins already, he’s solidified his legacy and fans now expect to see him in the heavyweight division or take on Magomed Ankalaev.

    Kamaru Usman has all the praise in the world for “Poatan” after his UFC 307 victory. So much so, that he called the UFC light heavyweight kingpin the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world over Islam Makhachev.

    Kamaru Usman Explains Why Alex Pereira Is His Pound-For-Pound Best Fighter Despite Islam Makhachev Having More Tools

    On the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound With Kamaru & Henry podcast on YouTube, Usman and Henry Cejudo debated who deserves to be the P4P best fighter after UFC 307. While “Triple C” still gave the title to Makhachev, Usman had a new opinion after “Poatan” dismantled Rountree’s game plan masterfully.

    According to the former UFC welterweight champion, fighters in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions should be judged differently. At anything over 200 pounds, having a strong ground game is a challenge because of the strength and energy required.

    “I have to admit when, and this is a part of being a man, you have to admit when you feel like you’ve made an error. And in the revelation lately, what I’ve come to is, I realized I’ve been judging Alex Pereira based on what I would be judged at. There’s a lot more men that weigh, walk around on this earth close to 170 to 185 pounds.”

    So, Usman no longer holds Pereira accountable for not showcasing his grappling because it is simply not prevalent enough in his weight division. He’s been decimating the top light heavyweight and middleweight contenders with ease, which is enough for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to call him the P4P best UFC fighter.

    Usman broke down the UFC 307 main event and appreciated how Pereira looked calm throughout the fight. Against a dangerous southpaw like Rountree, he decided to rely on his jab instead of the left hook that usually wins him matches.

    “I think he is pound-for-pound king because of the way he’s able to fight. Not the way he’s able to fight but the way he’s able to make his opponents fight and the way he’s able to dispose of his opponents. I love Islam and his abilities, I think Islam of course has more tools in the shed but for what you have to work with, Alex Pereira I believe he’s the pound-for-pound.”

    The UFC welterweight acknowledged that fighters with relentless wrestling like Merab Dvalishvili have been succeeding in the UFC lately. However, he also pointed out that such a fighting style is usually present in lower weight classes, and even Magomed Ankalaev wouldn’t replicate Dvalishvili’s style at light heavyweight.

    “I can’t be biased to the standard that I’m held to. The standard that Islam is held to because there’s a lot more men that weigh Islam’s size and my size than they do Alex Pereira’s size. So, with what Alex Pereira has to work with, he’s disposing of these guys that way so I have to give that to him.”

  • ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    Alex Pereira is easily the biggest star in the UFC right now. Other big names in the promotion are either nearing retirement or losing fights while the Brazilian just keeps showing up every two months and knocking his opponents out.

    Pereira’s UFC 307 title defense against Khalil Rountree was widely regarded as an impressive performance in MMA circles. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin survived the challenger’s best punches and offense in the first two rounds, then broke him down in the third and fourth.

    Pereira boasts a wealth of experience in kickboxing but has become a top draw in MMA within just 14 pro fights. According to Daniel Cormier, if the former UFC middleweight champion keeps improving his skill set, the best might be yet to come…

    Daniel Cormier And Chael Sonnen Discuss Why Alex Pereira Taking Over MMA Doesn’t Make Sense

    During the latest Good Guy / Bad Guy episode on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, UFC vets Cormier and Chael Sonnen talked about Pereira’s meteoric rise. He’s one of the top pound-for-pound athletes in the UFC, and despite not speaking English, boasts millions of fans worldwide.

    Although many complain that “Poatan” is yet to be tested by a solid grappler, Cormier considers it a silver lining. He believes the Brazilian had already won six title fights with a rather finite skillset and he’s only going to improve from here.

    Pereira has been training with Glover Teixeira throughout his MMA career and the latter is as knowledgeable in grappling and BJJ as it gets. If the UFC champ can add takedown defense and decent grappling to his arsenal as well, Cormier is right in predicting Pereira to be unstoppable. José Aldo is a great example of an elite striker who reached unprecedented heights by mastering the ability to defend takedowns.

    “On Saturday, it seemed like we saw the best Pereira. But did we? We saw a great Pereira doing the thing that he does so well. But he’s an amateur. So, he’s going to get even better. So, now you got a guy that’s a world champ already, with a very limited skillset that every new skill he picks up, is going to just add to his toolbox. Like how scary is it? When we truly, the idea of what we get when Alex Pereira is complete because, right now, as I said, he just won his 10th fight. He only has 12 mixed martial arts fights in total.”

    Indeed, Pereira has yet to face grapplers who can test his ground game properly. For instance, Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad shut down precise strikers like Sean O’Malley and Leon Edwards, respectively.

    If “Poatan” can get past Magomed Ankalaev or heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, though, he will undoubtedly become one of the scariest fighters on the planet by far.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    Israel Adesanya watched closely as UFC 307 went down this past weekend, where a former foe of his was back in action.

    The former two-time middleweight champion is always able to offer unparalleled analysis when Alex Pereira is stepping inside the cage.

    They’ve faced each other on four occasions in various rule sets, and despite his prior losses to “Poatan,” Adesanya is the only man to beat him in the UFC.

    Via the reactions video on his YouTube channel, FREESTYLEBENDER, fans got the chance to watch “The Last Stylebender” enjoy a fun fight and devastating performance from Pereira to cap off the night.

    Israel Adesanya Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Ruthless Display At UFC 307

    Now that he’s not competing against him and they’re in different weight classes, Adesanya is able to join the ranks of all the fans that enjoy watching Pereira do what he does best.

    Throughout his reaction, he constantly drew attention to things that Pereira is doing or thinking based on his experiences of fighting and studying “Poatan.”

    Despite a strong start to the fight from the challenger, Adesanya believed that Pereira was only going to get stronger as the fight went on.

    “Round two, if ‘Poatan’ gets past this or doesn’t get knock him out, I think he’ll be fine. Khalil is better early on… I think he has to. If not, ‘Poatan’ is gonna get those leg kicks going again.”

    Adesanya also pointed out in-between rounds how well the champion is able to recover in tough fights, whispering about how he knows all too well about this.

    “He’s a f****** demon bro. I felt it.”

    The third round came to a close and the former champ made the call that Pereira was going to close out proceedings in the fourth round now that he had really found his groove in Salt Lake City.

    “I can feel it, I can feel it. Now it’s gonna be ‘Chama’ time.”

    Throughout the fourth round, Adesanya repeatedly called for Pereira to switch up his approach and target the body which he eventually did, ending the fight after a barrage of strikes that Rountree somehow withstood.

    “Good on him, he lasted longer than I thought he would but at least someone else took him to the fourth round, shows how good Khalil is.”

    Adesanya rounded out his thoughts on the fight by talking about what is in front of both Pereira and Rountree going forward.

    “He’s got some hard fights in front of him but he’s that guy right now, he’s on… honestly, that’s how I called it but I thought it was going to be early but shout to Khalil ’cause heart. Fighting with a broke nose, f***** eye and intelligence not to blow his nose in the fight, respect and his stock goes up after this, so yeah, what a moment.”

  • John McCarthy Slams Referee For ‘Destroying’ UFC 307 Fight: ‘Stop, Quit, Retire!’

    John McCarthy Slams Referee For ‘Destroying’ UFC 307 Fight: ‘Stop, Quit, Retire!’

    Former renowned MMA referee John McCarthy was among those less than impressed with the work of one official at UFC 307 this past weekend.

    Plenty of talking points emerged from Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Utah. Unfortunately, not all of them focused on the actual fighting held inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.

    Instead, questionable judging and outright terrible refereeing caused a heap of discourse online. The latter of those conversations was down to the work of Dave Seljestad.

    In his final assignment of the night, Seljestad was the third man inside the cage for Cesar Almeida and Ihor Potieria’s middleweight preliminary contest. It proved to be a painful bout for the Ukrainian, who was on the receiving end of a low blow and at least four eye pokes. Despite his complaints, the fouls were largely ignored by the referee.

    And — as if “The Duelist” didn’t have reason enough to feel hard done by — he was granted just seconds in dominant clinch positions before Seljestad decided to separate the fighters, much to the bemusement of the commentary team and MMA masses.

    It doesn’t take one of the most experienced refs the sport has seen to outline what Seljestad did wrong. But for those still needing an explanation…

    McCarthy On UFC 307 Ref: Congratulations, You ‘Sh*t The Bed!’

    During the latest episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside Josh Thomson, McCarthy reacted to the officiating controversy from UFC 307.

    The veteran referee did not mince his words when it came to Seljestad’s performance, accusing him of trying to make the fight about himself and urging him to give up his career as third man inside the cage.

    “I’ll tell you what, the referee absolutely destroyed this fight. It was bad,” McCarthy said. “Potieria got eye poked probably five to six times in this thing. I know the referee. He’s been around forever. He’s been reffing in Utah for over 20 years. … Look at when he’s checking the fighters and he starts doing this big swooping motion over the tape of the glove, and he makes it dramatic. You go, ‘Dude, I don’t know if you realize, this isn’t about you.’

    “He f*cking broke them off of clinches. Guy gets into a clinch on the fence, 10 seconds and he separates them. You look and you go, ‘It’s all about you isn’t it? … Congratulations, Dave Seljestad. You made a fight bad,” McCarthy continued. “You absolutely just sh*t the bed. It was horrible. You did something completely outside of what the rules for the sport are. … What are you in there for? … Stop, quit, retire! The sport has passed you by and you’re not doing your job, so you’re no good for anybody.”

    Seljestad’s lack of action regarding Almeida’s fouls and egregiously quick clinch separations caused a stir on social media, with many going as far as to brand it the worst performance from a referee in UFC history.

    Suffice to say, he may struggle to get on the officiating lineup when the promotion returns to Utah…

  • Matt Brown: Poirier ‘Took McGregor’s Soul’—Questions His Future in MMA

    Matt Brown has raised questions regarding Conor McGregor’s mindset and future in the sport after a planned fight with Michael Chandler fell through. There is speculation about what’s next for the former two-division champion. 

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory. While speaking about McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown pointed out that McGregor is not grinding like others in the sport and doubts fans will see the same McGregor ever again. 

    While looking back on the fight, Brown feels Poirier changed McGregor in more ways than people realize. 

    “When that [fight] happened, it looked to me that Dustin took his soul that day,” Brown said. “I think we all felt that. Maybe we didn’t know it would be as severe as it is. We thought Conor’s a warrior, he’ll be back soon. But when you back and you watch that fight, Dustin took his f*cking soul.”

    Brown added, “I thought Nate Diaz might have taken a little bit the first time, but Conor bounced back from it. Whatever Dustin did to him, I think Dustin actually took his soul, and he no longer had the desire to compete anymore.”

    UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects the megastar to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    UFC 307 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Salt Lake City last week, where the Delta Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Beehive State.” Of note were title fight wins for Alex Pereira and Julianna Peña, as well as important victories for Kayla Harrison and Joaquin Buckley.

    While the aftermath of the October 5 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 145-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 308, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on October 26, reigning featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria will compete for the second time this year, this time in defense of gold. Following a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to capture the crown, “El Matador” will next face the challenge of BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker looks to continue his fine winning form in 2024. “The Reaper” is set for a second attempt at sharing the cage with Khamzat Chimaev following their canceled headliner in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Ankalaev, Murphy, Magomedov Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 308

    Before Topuria defends his belt and Whittaker looks to secure a shot at regaining champ status in the Middle East, a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes surging featherweight Lerone Murphy. Despite an impressive main event win over Edson Barboza earlier this year, “The Miracle” will be defending his #12 spot in the rankings against Dan Ige, who is returning for the first time since his same-day assignment opposite Diego Lopes this past June.

    Prior to that, Pereira’s next challenger at light heavyweight could be decided as #2-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev shares the cage with the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić

    And opening the main card will be a familiar face in the Middle East, Sharabutdin Magomedov. Two of “Bullet’s” Octagon wins have come in Abu Dhabi, with the other going down in Saudi Arabia. The Russian will make the walk inside Etihad Arena again on Oct. 26, this time to throw down with Armen Petrosyan.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the welterweight clash between ex-lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos and Geoff Neal, which is currently slated to top the preliminary portion of the event.

    See below for the full UFC 308 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Max Holloway
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
    • Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
    • Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Justin Tafa
    • Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
    • Middleweight: Bruno Silva vs. Ismail Naurdiev
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
    Magomed Ankalaev
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt has a big decision to make as the final fight on his current UFC deal approaches.  The former UFC champion is slated to meet Mile Johns in a bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 247 on Nov. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Garbrandt has gone 2-3 in his last five fights and is coming off a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. 

    With such name recognition, the UFC would likely want to re-sign him, or he could have interest from other promotions if he tests out the free agent market. “No Love” stated in a recent interview on the Jaxxon Podcast that he’s looking to stay with the promotion. 

    “(I’m) still going through some things with the UFC. This is my last fight on the contract, so (I’ve) got to get together with them and see what we can come up with,” Garbrandt said (H/T to MMA Junkie). “I’d love to (re-sign). I love the UFC – I think especially where the sport is going. I love mixed martial arts. Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in. But, you know, money talks.”

    – Cody Garbrandt

    Chasing Fulfillment

    Garbrandt is looking to get another shot at the title before he hangs up his gloves because he doesn’t feel fulfilled from his bantamweight title run after winning the title from Dominick Cruz. 

    “For me, it’s not being satisfied,” Garbrandt said. “I think winning the title, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I won it and was like, ‘That’s it?’ because I think I fixated on it for so long and visualized myself doing it, and when I did it, it wasn’t like this huge surprise, ‘Oh sh*t, I did it.’ Obviously, I was happy for the people around me that were with me from the beginning.”

    Garbrandt added that he hopes to five for another 5-8 years but knows how unpredictable the fight game can be.

  • Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    UFC 307 featured Mario Bautista getting his hand raised and securing the biggest win of his career when he got a split decision nod from the judges over Jose Aldo inside the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    The fight had some moments, but most fans criticized the lackluster bout. In the third round, there was controversy as Bautista stalled for time when he clinched Aldo up against the fence and walked away with the win.

    Coming out of the fight, UFC President Dana White gave his thoughts on the fight and the referee’s decision to let Bautista hold Aldo against the cage for so long.

    “I always think that the referee should be more active on that, 100%, especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall,” White told the media. “You guys aren’t going to f—king let up on this, are you? I guess we’ll get into it.

    If you’re judging a guy, whether it is control, if it’s this or that, if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? Right? And if you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just madness.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference

    Not Winning The Fight

    White continued by noting that it showed Bautista didn’t want to strike and stand with Aldo, so he used the fence. He feels that it’s the referee’s job to prevent that from happening. 

    “When they see it continually happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you keep breaking them up…I mean, it’s common sense when the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and not win the fight. As a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference
  • Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Umar Nurmagomedov is looking increasingly likely to be the next contender for the bantamweight title that changed hands at UFC 306.

    Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t sold on the idea following his win over Sean O’Malley last month but with several other top contenders either booked or coming off of losses, it doesn’t look like he will have much choice in the matter.

    Nurmagomedov has only fought one contender in the top 15, Cory Sandhagen, meaning that his first title defense if he was to win the belt would open up a lot of opportunities. With the biggest name in the division in “Suga” returning to the role of contender, it’s not likely to be long before he’s back in a big fight even if the fighters around him in the rankings stay active.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Sean O’Malley Would Deserve To Fight Umar Nurmagomedov When He’s Champion

    There’s a strong chance that O’Malley finds himself in a title fight unless the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo or Petr Yan are able to make a statement when they meet.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke about how O’Malley would be at the top of their priorities if he’s successful against Dvalishvili.

    “Suga” has recently undergone surgery but if the timelines end up working out, which you’d imagine they will given his recent update, Abdelaziz said that O’Malley deserves this opportunity even if he is coming off a loss.

    “Sean O’Malley just have a surgery. The plan was Umar beat Merab and after that Umar gives Sean O’Malley a title shot coming off a loss because I believe Sean O’Malley deserves it. He built the division, he made everybody money, why not give the guy love for making the 135 (division) exciting as it is today.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

  • Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Alex Pereira made it clear in his post-fight interview at UFC 307 that he has no plans to leave the light heavyweight division right now.

    “Poatan” has flirted with both moving up to heavyweight and returning to middleweight but said himself that competing at 205-pounds is a sweet spot for him right now. Though his clash with Khalil Rountree in the main event delivered an entertaining fight, many expected Magomed Ankalaev to be his opponent in Salt Lake City.

    The #2-ranked contender will instead face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 later this month where if he wins, there surely can be no denying him.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Magomed Ankalaev Has To Be Next For Alex Pereira

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gave his thoughts on the current title picture at 205-pounds. He believes that Pereira’s statement on remaining at light heavyweight gives him no option but to face Ankalaev if he defeats Rakić in Abu Dhabi.

    Abdelaziz also pointed to some of his other fighters that have also had to campaign for a long time in order to get their title shots. He said that like the examples he gave, Ankalaev will make up for this long period of waiting by being champion for a significant period of time.

    “It would be embarrassing if he did this. He clearly said he’s not running, it would be clearly running but listen, let’s see what happens. Ankalaev needs to focus on Rakić but if I’m a champion and I believe I’m the best in the world, I’m going to fight anybody and listen, remember Islam Makhachev take him a long time to get there but when he’s there, he’s there for a long time.

    Khabib, Kamaru, these guys wait for a long time to become a champion, they hang around for a while and I believe this is going to be the deal for Ankalaev.” 

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Reflects On Brutal Loss To Alex Pereira At UFC 307: ‘Didn’t Win The Title But I Grew’ 

  • PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins

    PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins

    UFC 307 was a big night for the women’s bantamweight division due to two match-ups that took place right at the top of the rankings.

    Julianna Peña was able to reclaim the 135-pound title by defeating Raquel Pennington via split decision in the co-main event.

    Earlier on in the night, Kayla Harrison cemented her status as the next in line by defeating Ketlen Vieira via a unanimous decision.

    Harrison’s return to the Octagon wasn’t without comment from her former home, the PFL, who received some criticism for posting about her loss to Larissa Pacheco on the same evening.

    The use of Harrison’s time spent in the PFL didn’t stop being talking point there after the promotion’s founder commented once again on the day after UFC 307.

    Donn Davis Says PFL’s Women’s Division Would ‘Crush’ The UFC’s, Lays Down A Challenge To Prove It

    In a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis made a statement that was followed by a challenge to the UFC regarding the strength of their female roster.

    He took Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, who are set to face off on October 19, and put them up against the champion and top contender in the UFC’s 135-pound division.

    Davis makes it clear that he would back Cyborg and Pacheco over Peña and Harrison and even offers to put money on it.

    Following Dana White’s harsh comments regarding the success of the PFL in his post-UFC 307 press conference, Davis wrote “#DanaScared” underneath the post.

    “It is clear from UFC 306 that @PFLMMA female division would crush @UFC. I am so confident… winner take all. PFL: Cyborg + Pacheco. UFC: Harrison + Peña. $2m to each fighter… losing company pays $8m total fighter purses”

    Read also: Kayla Harrison On Being Bloodied For The First Time At UFC 307: ‘That Threw Me…’

  • Alex Pereira’s Last Kickboxing Rival Claims He’s Not MMA’s Top Striker

    Alex Pereira’s Last Kickboxing Rival Claims He’s Not MMA’s Top Striker

    The main event of UFC 307 was a fun fight but ultimately, the elite level striking of Alex Pereira was too much for Khalil Rountree. As a former two-weight world champion in GLORY kickboxing, the current light heavyweight champion is one of the best strikers in the history of MMA.

    Ahead of his latest title defense, “Poatan” was asked about other kickboxers following in the footsteps of him and Israel Adesanya and there was one name that was mentioned specifically. Artem Vakhitov was the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, winning a majority decision back in 2021 after the Brazilian got the nod the first time around.

    Now, he’s hoping to carve out his own path in mixed martial arts.

    Artem Vakhitov Says That Alex Pereira Is Too Limited To Be Considered The Best Striker In MMA Today

    After suffering an injury on his MMA debut, Vakhitov has earned consecutive first-round finishes and will now fight for a spot on the UFC roster.

    He faces Islem Masraf on this week’s edition of Dana White’s Contender Series where his 2-1 pro record will be overlooked due to his kickboxing background and history with the current light heavyweight champion.

    Despite now having his own experiences with adapting to MMA, Vakhitov doesn’t believe that his former foe is the best striker in the sport today.

    He said to Submission Radio that “Poatan” can’t be in the conversation due to his reliance on his signature strike, the left hook.

    “I don’t think he’s really the best striker because to have just one good punch, it doesn’t mean that he’s really good striker. The real striker is someone who has a lot of combinations, very different opportunities. He just taught well one punch and delivering it but it doesn’t mean that having good distance and other stuff so I think he’s not really good striker because of it.”

    When asked who he would pick as the best striker in MMA today if it isn’t Pereira, he provided one name who will headline UFC 308 later this month.

    “I like the style of Max Holloway but I really couldn’t say who’s really the best one. I like who he’s fighting and I believe he could be the best one.”

    Read also: Tom Aspinall Significant Favorite For Potential Alex Pereira Fight After UFC 307

  • Tom Aspinall Significant Favorite For Potential Alex Pereira Fight After UFC 307

    Tom Aspinall Significant Favorite For Potential Alex Pereira Fight After UFC 307

    Alex Pereira’s latest victorious performance didn’t do enough to convince oddsmakers that he could be competitive against the UFC’s interim heavyweight king.

    Pereira boosted his claim for 2024’s Fighter of the Year by recording a third successful title defense in quick succession at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Utah.

    Having turned away threats to his reign from Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, Salt Lake City’s Delta Center played host to Pereira’s return, as he was tasked with stalling the title ambitions of Khalil Rountree.

    Despite being down two rounds early on, “Poatan” ultimately achieved that feat by rallying to brutally stop “The War Horse” in round four.

    While celebrations in the Brazilian’s camp will be ongoing, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could lie next in his future.

    Aspinall vs. Pereira Odds Have ‘Poatan’ At +300

    There appears to be three options for Pereira: a continued stay at 205 pounds to defend his belt, a return to middleweight in pursuit of regaining the 185-pound title, or an attempt at history up at heavyweight.

    When it comes to the last of those options — which doesn’t seem to be on the table judging by Pereira’s post-fight remarks — oddsmakers are evidently not fancying the light heavyweight champ’s chances.

    Future odds posted by BetOnline.ag have Pereira as a significant +300 underdog in a possible bout with Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

    Aspinall has held the interim gold since last November. He’s been unable to unify the title owing to Jon Jones’ reluctance to fight him, with “Bones” and the UFC instead favoring a rescheduled showdown with Stipe Miocic next month.

    In the meantime, the Brit has successfully defended his strap against Curtis Blaydes this past summer. Should Jones retain his place on the throne and subsequently retire this year, Aspinall could find himself promoted to undisputed status.

  • Sean O’Malley Adjusts UFC Return Timeline Days On From Surgery: ‘I Want To Be Back ASAP’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is looking to get back in the cage earlier than initially forecast.

    O’Malley looked set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines in the aftermath of his defeat to Merab Dvalishvili. “Suga” had his reign ended in convincing fashion at the Sphere-held UFC 306 (Noche UFC) event last month.

    Following the setback, it was revealed that the American had fought through a torn labrum on the night and would require surgery. When detailing that, O’Malley suggested he could be out for as long as one year.

    But after revised estimates put a potential comeback forward to the summer of 2025, O’Malley’s hunger to return to winning ways now has him assessing a possible return in the very first quarter of next year.

    O’Malley Targets UFC Return As Soon As March 2025

    During a UFC 307 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, O’Malley once again spoke about his situation having recently undergone surgery on his pre-fight injury.

    “Suga” claimed to be feeling good following the procedure and is anticipating a quick return to physical activity.

    “Got surgery Thursday. Today is Saturday, it’s been f*cking two days. I feel f*cking great. I’m gonna come back better than ever,” O’Malley said. “I’ll be back next week to sparring. No, I do think I am going to do everything right. I’m going to recover as fast as I possibly can, and I’m gonna get back. Everyone is like, ‘Don’t come back too soon.’ I’m coming back the right amount of soon. I wanna be back ASAP.

    “I want to get these fights in while I’m still, you know, young enough. I turn 30 this month. I want to recover, do everything right, but I want to get back in there April, May, June latest,” O’Malley continued. “I think I can be back before that. March even would be crazy, but who knows?” 

    It remains to be seen what will await O’Malley inside the cage when he is ready to make the walk again.

    While Dvalishvili has responded to “Suga’s” post-fight antics by offering a rematch, it stands to reason that the Georgian will need to get past the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov if that is to remain a possibility upon O’Malley’s return.

  • Kayla Harrison On Being Bloodied For The First Time At UFC 307: ‘That Threw Me…’

    Kayla Harrison On Being Bloodied For The First Time At UFC 307: ‘That Threw Me…’

    Kayla Harrison may have extended her undefeated UFC record this past weekend, but not everything went her way second time around inside the Octagon.

    Five months on from an emphatic arrival at the expense of former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm, Harrison returned for her second taste of action on MMA’s biggest stage at UFC 307.

    Saturday’s pay-per-view main card opened with the two-time PFL title winner facing off against the #2-ranked Ketlen Vieira, who didn’t go away in the fashion that her underdog odds perhaps would have suggested.

    And although there was little doubt about who would have their hand raised after three rounds, the Brazilian did have moments of success, including a clean elbow in the clinch that bust Harrison open.

    Harrison Reacts To Adversity In UFC 307 Fight After Eating Brutal Elbow

    During her post-fight press conference, Harrison reflected on her successful performance in Salt Lake City, which has seen her start life in the UFC with consecutive wins over top-five opposition.

    While she was able to steamroll through Holm en route to a submission, the Ohio native had to settle for a hard-fought decision on Oct. 5. And it even left Harrison tasting something new inside the cage — her own blood.

    “That threw me, I’m not going to lie to you. Nineteen fights in, I’ve never seen my own blood in the cage. But it feels good,” Harrison said. “I feel like I’m going to grow from this tonight. It’s a really good learning opportunity for me, and tomorrow, we’re going to go back to the house, rewatch the fight and dissect it. Tomorrow’s a new day – lots of room for improvement for me.”

    Although she didn’t put the kind of stamp on her UFC 307 performance that she had anticipated, Harrison’s third outing in the promotion is still expected to come with gold on the line.

    Newly crowned queen Julianna Peña snubbed the two-time Olympic gold medalist post-fight, however, instead making good on her promise to call out retired former opponent Amanda Nunes.

  • Khalil Rountree Reflects On Brutal Loss To Alex Pereira At UFC 307: ‘Didn’t Win The Title But I Grew’ 

    Khalil Rountree Reflects On Brutal Loss To Alex Pereira At UFC 307: ‘Didn’t Win The Title But I Grew’ 

    Khalil Rountree had nothing but respect for victorious opponent Alex Pereira following their title fight at UFC 307 this past weekend.

    The pair headlined Saturday’s pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, battling for the right to exit the Delta Center as UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Defending king “Poatan” was heavily favored to do so, having already turned away threats to his reign from Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year. Rountree, though, turned out to be the Brazilian’s toughest test to date.

    The challenger got off to a strong start, winning the opening two rounds on all three scorecards. But after getting on the board in round three, Pereira went to work in the fourth frame.

    An onslaught of strikes left Rountree’s face swollen and bloodied, and Pereira was ultimately able to close the show in what marked his first taste of the championship rounds since capturing the middleweight crown almost two years ago.

    Rountree Releases First Statement On UFC 307 Title Defeat

    Soon after having his title ambitions stalled in the “Beehive State,” Rountree took to social media to reflect on the result and experience.

    Following his failure to unseat Pereira, “The War Horse” paid tribute to “Poatan,” thanking the Brazilian for bringing out a “new version” of him at UFC 307.

    “I didn’t win the title but I grew last night. @alexpoatanpereira thanks for helping me see that I’m ready to take on the world,” Rountree wrote. “You showed amazing skill, you brought out a version of me that I needed to experience. You’re the champ for a reason, much respect. But I now know what I am capable of.

    “#saltlakecity you guys were amazing and gave me such a memorable experience. I appreciate all of the positive messages from everyone around the world. @danawhite @espn @espnmma and the entire @ufc staff, thanks for giving me a home, a place to have purpose and providing me with challenges to overcome,” Rountree continued. “Brazil 🇧🇷 you guys have a strong champion, be proud. I will take time to heal from this, I’ll be back even better, it’s inevitable. I’m grateful. Never give up on yourself, always fight hard, uplift your communities and find ways to make the most out of life.”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Rountree, who was granted his first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage from #8 in the rankings.

    With that, an upset win would have marked the 34-year-old as the lowest-ranked fighter to capture gold in their division. And although that didn’t come to fruition, things initially looked promising through 10 minutes.

  • MMA Analyst Explains How Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Performance Differed From Win Over Israel Adesanya

    MMA Analyst Explains How Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Performance Differed From Win Over Israel Adesanya

    Alex Pereira has defended the UFC light heavyweight three times in 2024 while breaking Ronda Rousey’s record of the quickest turnarounds between three title defenses.

    Although many believed Khalil Rountree to be a much easier opponent than former champs Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka, “The War Horse” gave Pereira one of his toughest UFC fights. The challenger won the first two rounds and compelled the champion to make several adjustments.

    Luke Thomas, like countless others, has all the praise in the world for Pereira’s UFC 307 performance. While breaking it down, he explained how “Poatan” handled Rountree and Israel Adesanya in vastly different ways…

    Luke Thomas Breaks Down Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win Over Khalil Rountree By Comparing It To His First MMA Win Over Israel Adesanya

    Thomas reacted to the UFC 307 main event on his YouTube channel recently. Right away, he shut down people claiming that the light heavyweight kingpin shouldn’t have faced trouble against the no. 8 ranked person in the division.

    Then, the analyst explained how Rountree forced Pereira to change his traditional game plan that involves inside leg kicks, jabs to the body, head kicks, and most importantly, the left hook. None of these elements seemed to work against “The War Horse” in the first two rounds following which “Poatan” relied on his left jab and gradually mixed things up.

    “I cannot overstate to you how difficult that is for most fighters, including most elite fighters. Most elite fighters have a game. This is what they do. And if that doesn’t work, and they’re still five, ten, 15 minutes, they have no other gear to go to. And in fact, I’m going to say this in a complimentary way, that is what ultimately happened to Khalil Rountree. He had a game and it was very very potent but once Poatan was able to like plug little holes in it and it began to leak, there was no going back.”

    Thomas highlighted how hard it is for fighters, regardless of skill and experience, to ditch their game plan mid-fight. To explain this further, he compared the significant strikes stats for the UFC 307 main event to the first UFC fight between Pereira and Adesanya.

    Against Rountree, the Brazilian landed 72% head strikes, 13% body strikes, and 14% leg kicks. Against Adesanya at UFC 281, he landed 46% head strikes, 29% body strikes, and 24% leg kicks. Although both fights ended similarly, the difference in Pereira’s approach is evident.

    “This is proof positive. He didn’t have to work for the jab [against Adesanya] nearly as much in this one and the jab is obviously relevant to the body too, but. look at how much the jab to the top of the head was absolutely critical.”

  • Stephen Thompson Releases First Statement After Knockout Loss To Joaquin Buckley At UFC 307

    Stephen Thompson Releases First Statement After Knockout Loss To Joaquin Buckley At UFC 307

    Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley fought in the UFC 307 prelims and after two competitive rounds, “Wonderboy” was knocked out in the third. This was just the second KO/TKO loss of his career.

    Interestingly, Buckley took out Thompson with a leaping overhand right preceded by a literal jump. Five years ago, Anthony Pettis launched himself with the help of the cage and knocked out the Karate specialist with a similar bouncing superman punch.

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger was doing great until he wasn’t, though. Here’s what he said after the crushing KO loss at UFC 307…

    Stephen Thompson Looks Back At First KO Loss To Anthony Pettis As Joaquin Buckley Used A Similar Technique At UFC 307

    “Wonderboy” took to Twitter recently to discuss his second UFC loss in a row. He admitted to not remembering how he got to the hotel and was humble in defeat as usual.

    The veteran simply wanted to thank the fans for their continued support. Salt Lake City is known for its energetic crowd which, contrary to many other venues, shows up even before the main card begins. UFC 307 was no different, and Thompson seemed delighted with the fans cheering during his walkout.

    The American fighter also pointed out that both KO losses in his career resulted from overhand rights. While Pettis used the Octagon to gain momentum, Buckley backed up “Wonderboy” against the cage to land the knockout punch.

    “Just got back to the hotel, although we don’t know how I got here. But again, I get knocked out by an overhand. Once by Pettis, either on the cage or off the cage. Either way, it is what it is. I want to say thank you to all of my fans. You guys really showed out for me as I walked out there. You guys have shown me so much support over the years and I really do appreciate it.”

    Based on the scorecards revealed later, it seems like the third round would’ve decided the outcome of the fight. Derek Cleary had it 19-19 going into the third while Sal D’Amato and Stephen Faragher had it 20-18 for Buckley and Thompson, respectively.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

    Alongside Alex Pereira brutally breaking down Khalil Rountree, a major highlight of UFC 307 was the controversial officiating. Four fighters won via split decision, including Mario Bautista who beat José Aldo.

    Fans didn’t seem happy with Bautista keeping the former UFC featherweight champ in a clinch. The rising bantamweight prospect couldn’t secure a single takedown despite ten attempts and even during the clinch, he prioritized control over damage which was unusual.

    Bautista belongs to the same team as Sean O’Malley and the latter’s coach Tim Welch backed his fighter for trying to win the fight. However, he was instantly called out for doing so…

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Explains Why Mario Bautista Played It Safe Against José Aldo At UFC 307

    While reacting to UFC 307 on his YouTube channel, Tim Welch looked elated for Bautista winning his seventh fight in a row. With a couple more wins, he can aim to enter the top five and eventually fight for the UFC bantamweight title.

    To be fair, Bautista has always been an active fighter inside the Octagon. His wins over Ricky Simón and Jin Soo Son are great examples of the same. He possesses several tools, including shoulder strikes and knees that work like a charm during a clinch.

    According to Welch, the American fighter kept it safe against Aldo to make sure he won the fight and got the full pay. While this is an understandable take, the coach was instantly called out for heavily criticizing Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling-heavy game plan against O’Malley.

    “People are pissed about it. But you got to remember, Mario’s got a family and if he loses the fight, he makes half the amount of money he would’ve if he would win the fight. He’s not going to make a crazy amount of money, a big win bonus, if he goes and sits and slugs it out and potentially gets KO’ed by one of the nastiest strikers ever. He went in there with good game plan, he came in in shape, he did what he had to do to win the fight and if you were in that position, you’d probably do the same.”

    Some fans also pointed out that Dvalishvili was more active than Bautista. The UFC bantamweight champion not only secured several takedowns at UFC 306 but also remained active on the ground. So, Welch favoring Bautista after rejecting Dvalishvili didn’t sit well with many.

    Comments on Tim Welch's YouTube video calling him a hypocrite
    Image: Tim Welch on YouTube

    It is worth noting that Welch has recently admitted to “Machine” having a great game plan against O’Malley at UFC 306. However, it seems like most people in the MMA circle still remember him trying to claim “Suga” won and rooting for damage-based scoring in fights.

  • ‘That Is A Terrifying Man’ – Fans React As Alex Pereira Comes From Behind To Mangle Khalil Rountree With Strikes At UFC 307

    ‘That Is A Terrifying Man’ – Fans React As Alex Pereira Comes From Behind To Mangle Khalil Rountree With Strikes At UFC 307

    Khalil Rountree brought a challenge, but Alex Pereira managed to bring out another legendary performance — comeback style this time — as he finished the challenger to retain the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 307.

    Rountree got off to a strong start with his activity, landing singular shots and doing a good job of getting away from the fence. Pereira was doing work with leg kicks, but he found himself in some trouble in the second round. “The War Horse” rocked “Poatan” with a strong right hook and followed that up by landing a big head kick.

    Rountree, however, appeared to be gassed by this point. Pereira, sensing a tired out foe, picked things back up in the third frame. The Brazilian worked his jab and landed combinations, finding openings and busting up Rountree’s nose.

    Pereira’s output increased greatly in the fourth round, as he poured it on and continued to damage his challenger — to the point his nose may have been broken.

    “The War Horse” tried to survive, but with blood pouring down his rocked body, Pereira landed a combination with a pair of body shots that dropped him, bringing the fight to a stop.

    Alex Pereira Puts On Battering To Finish Khalil Rountree In Fourth Round At UFC 307

    Moving up to light heavyweight last year after his middleweight title run came to an end, Pereira captured the then-vacant championship with a win over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295. He then defended the title this year against Jamahal Hill and Procházka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.

    Rountree, meanwhile, entered his first title challenge on a five-fight win streak. He had most recently fought in December, scoring a finish of Anthony Smith.