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Category: MMA

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    According to Chael Sonnen, all boxes needed for a major upset are being ticked ahead of the UFC 307 main event.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Utah this week to stage its latest pay-per-view from Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. Two championship clashes are set to headline, with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira closing the show.

    Having defended his gold successfully against both Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka thus far this year, “Poatan’s” reign will next meet the threat of a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    Many questioned the booking, suggesting the UFC avoided giving Magomed Ankalaev a deserved shot in order to keep Pereira’s ball rolling with another striking matchup.

    But for Sonnen, that line of thinking is among many reasons why he thinks an upset is “brewing” at UFC 307…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Rountree Has All The Makings Of An Upset

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the upcoming PPV main event in Utah.

    While Pereira will enter as a heavy favorite given his winning form in 2024 to date, “The American Gangster” suggested that some differences in the narratives leading up to his latest defense could present a major threat to his reign.

    “This fight card has the potential to be the one. You wanna know why, Daniel? It is brewing for an upset,” Sonnen said. “I’m not giving you a prediction, but I’m telling you now, everything that could be wrong for Pereira in terms of the commonalities that everyone that’s ever been upset has faced — finding yourself in a match that’s harder than the audience knows, finding yourself in a match that’s more dangerous than you’re aware, finding yourself in a match where this guy’s gonna play your game.

    “I’m not arguing that Khalil is cleaner or more talented of a kickboxer than Pereira,” Sonnen continued. “But I will argue for you, Pereira can hit you one time and put you down, Khalil only has to hit him one time and Khalil will put him down.”

    Rountree will be hoping that Sonnen is correct and those apparent pre-fight factors pave the way for his shock crowning in Salt Lake City this weekend.

  • Nassourdine Imavov Sees ‘No Danger’ For Him In The Middleweight Division After UFC Paris Win

    Nassourdine Imavov Sees ‘No Danger’ For Him In The Middleweight Division After UFC Paris Win

    UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov is seemingly expecting a smooth sailing all the way to port championship down the line.

    Imavov further advanced his ambitions of a title crowning this past weekend in Paris, where the Frenchman recorded a crucial victory in front of his home fans at the Accor Arena.

    Tasked with defending his top-five spot opposite Brendan Allen, things got off to a difficult start for “The Sniper.” But after dropping round one, Imavov rallied to take frames two and three to secure the decision triumph in his own backyard.

    Having now won three straight fights, all over names inside the top 10, Imavov has placed himself well in the championship picture and could be in line for a title eliminator next time out.

    And be it in that bout or a future shot at the gold, the rising 29-year-old sees no opponent who can pose a real “danger” to his plans…

    Imavov Confident Of Superiority Over Entire UFC Middleweight Roster

    During his appearance at the post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Imavov reflected on his successful outing on home soil and looked ahead to his continued path toward the middleweight mountaintop.

    When asked to pinpoint the biggest threat to his goals in the division, the confident Frenchman stated that he sees little challenge when it comes to sharing the cage with the top names at 185 pounds.

    “There’s no danger in this division,” Imavov said. “I showed once again that I’m a very well-rounded fighter. I can fight striking, I can fight grappling, I can fight wrestling. I can do it all.”

    For now, Imavov will have his eyes on some other big fights in the division. First comes Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev’s rescheduled clash in Abu Dhabi later this month, the winner of which could be next in line.

    That would seemingly be behind Sean Strickland, who is expected to be granted his rematch against current champ Dricus Du Plessis, potentially by the end of this year.

  • UFC Veteran Picks Justin Gaethje Over Dustin Poirier & Paddy Pimblett As Renato Moicano’s ‘Glaringly Obvious’ Next Opponent

    UFC Veteran Picks Justin Gaethje Over Dustin Poirier & Paddy Pimblett As Renato Moicano’s ‘Glaringly Obvious’ Next Opponent

    Renato Moicano has won four fights in a row for the first time in his UFC career. Headlining UFC Paris couldn’t have been better for the Brazilian as he put a beating on Benoit Saint-Denis in front of the latter’s home crowd and gave an entertaining post-fight interview yet again.

    Moicano has emerged as an anti-hero in the UFC lightweight division. He disses fellow fighters and the crowds but the “Money Moicano” gimmick has sat extremely well with the fans.

    Moicano is arguably at his career best in terms of momentum and popularity right now. According to Chael Sonnen, Justin Gaethje is the ideal next opponent for the American Top Team fighter…

    Chael Sonnen Explains How Justin Gaethje Could Make Renato Moicano A UFC Star

    Sonnen discussed Moicano’s next UFC opponent on his YouTube channel recently. Although the UFC Paris winner called out the likes of Dan Hooker and Paddy Pimblett in his post-fight interview, “The American Gangster” has many reasons to believe that Gaethje is a better matchup.

    “Moicano’s next fight is Justin Gaethje. Now, that is exactly what my response would be. For me, that’s like glaringly obvious.”

    For starters, Gaethje is coming off a loss but he’s still one of the biggest draws in the promotion. The fight with Moicano gives the former title challenger hope to restart his run while for the Brazilian, it is a great opportunity to make himself known to as many mainstream fans as possible.

    “If you got over on Dustin Poirier, you could then do anything. Fight for titles, main events, there’d be no argument that you couldn’t fit nicely into. And, Justin Gaethje brings those same accolades but there’s one difference which is you don’t have to be as careful with the bookings of Gaethje because he is not a in a situation where he’s saying my next one is my final.”

    With a win over Gaethje, Moicano will have a name big enough to headline most of his events and even fight for the title. Sonnen’s thought process here isn’t new, to be fair. The UFC usually pits rising stars against veterans to build new names.

    This is where Moicano’s age comes in, though. He’s not a prospect and in fact, has been in the UFC for over ten years. At 35, he’s likely on his final title run at lightweight and would want the biggest matchups out there.

    According to Sonnen, Gaethje makes more sense than Poirier because “The Diamond” is adamant about retiring after his next fight and he might be hesitant to agree to Moicano who’s yet to become a top draw.

    Sonnen also declined Pimblett as a potential opponent for Moicano because they both portray a likable heel personality. Instead of booking them against each other and derailing at least one hype train, the UFC would want to build them both and capitalize on a much bigger fight later on.

  • Julianna Peña Talks Beef With ‘Worst Roommate Ever’ Raquel Pennington: ‘Thirteen Years In The Making…’

    Julianna Peña Talks Beef With ‘Worst Roommate Ever’ Raquel Pennington: ‘Thirteen Years In The Making…’

    Julianna Peña recently opened up about her long-standing feud with Raquel Pennington, which has simmered since their days on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in 2013.

    Many fans might not remember that both Peña and Pennington were part of Team Miesha Tate against Team Ronda Rousey during season 18 of the MMA reality show. Despite both appearing on the show, the two bantamweights never clashed. Now, over a decade later, fate has finally aligned them for a long-awaited showdown inside the Octagon.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to take her second shot at the women’s bantamweight crown when she faces reigning champion Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Although Peña and Pennington were teammates on The Ultimate Fighter, they were often at odds. Despite their friction, the Washington native went on to win the season with a dominant first-round knockout over Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy, while ‘Rocky’ was forced to withdraw early from the competition due to injury.

    Peña Intends To Make Pennington Regret Past Behavior At UFC 307

    During a recent interview with SHAK MMA, “The Venezuelan Vixen” reflected on her time during TUF 18, when she and her now rival Pennington were roommates. The former UFC bantamweight champion revealed that she had been nothing but helpful and supportive during their stint but claimed that ‘Rocky’ was consistently rude to her.

    “Raquel and I have had our history of little spats,” Peña said. “If you watch The Ultimate Fighter, she was doing things and saying things that I disagreed with, and it gets to be one of those—I don’t know if you saw that Netflix series Worst Roommate Ever—where they just have these like terrible roommates, and I’m like, I’m doing all of your dishes, I’m giving you makeovers, I’m teaching you how to walk like a runway model. Why are you so horrible to me? Why are you making my life a living hell?””

    Peña boldly declared that she plans to hold Pennington accountable for her past transgressions and settle their animosity when they clash inside the Octagon at UFC 307 this weekend.

    “For me, it’s just one of those things where I would much rather get it over with. This has been 13 years in the making, and it’s time for the worst roommate ever to get their due justice.”

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Uses Rising Lightweight Star Example To Explain Why MMA Is Not A ‘True Sport’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Uses Rising Lightweight Star Example To Explain Why MMA Is Not A ‘True Sport’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently shared his perspective on why he believes mixed martial arts doesn’t qualify as a genuine sport.

    MMA has skyrocketed as one of the most rapidly rising one-on-one competitive sports since the early 2000s, and it’s showing no signs of losing steam. Though it has faced its share of triumphs and challenges since its inception, the sport has steadily transformed, adapting and expanding into a global sensation.

    Despite its polarizing beginnings, MMA has grown into a highly regarded discipline. With standardized guidelines and safeguards in place, strict measures ensure not only the fighters’ safety but also uphold the integrity of the competition as a whole.

    However, Mendez, while pointing to Paddy Pimblett as a prime example, explains why he believes MMA has yet to fully qualify as a true sport.

    Mendez Thinks MMA Fans Gravitate Toward ‘Must-Watch TV’ Matchups

    During a recent episode of his podcast on YouTube, Mendez shared his thoughts on the UFC light heavyweight title bout between reigning champion Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree. He also addressed the controversy surrounding “The War Horse’s” legitimacy as a true contender.

    The American Kickboxing Academy founder defended Rountree’s deserving place in the title picture, but the conversation quickly shifted to a broader critique of why he believes MMA—and boxing—don’t qualify as true sports.

    According to Mendez, in MMA, particularly within the UFC, fan favorite and the most popular fighters often dictate who gets to fight them next, driven more by audience demand than by merit alone – like most other sports would be.

    “How many times do I say this is not a true sport? It’s [MMA] never been a true sport,” Mendez questioned. “Boxing is also not a true sport either and never will be, as long as people can choose who they want to put on because pay-per-view numbers and eyeballs on the screen create this situation. Boxing too, because if it were a true sport, you wouldn’t have people in the WBA or WBC saying, ‘I’m not fighting that guy.’ They win a WBA title, and the next thing you know, they don’t want to fight certain opponents, so they move on. Why? Because they can. Is it a true sport? No, because if it’s a true sport, you would fight X amount against X amount.”

    The renowned MMA coach went on to say he wouldn’t be shocked if Pimblett gets the next crack at the UFC lightweight title. He explained that “The Baddy” is a fan-favorite with undeniable star power, drawing in massive attention, and the fans want to see him at the top.

    “This is not that way. Paddy Pimblett doesn’t deserve to be there. A lot of people think, ‘Yeah, well, you know what, if Paddy gets the next title fight, good for him. They’ll tell me he does deserve it.’ A lot of people want to watch him; he’s very entertaining. He’s a must-watch TV, you know, so you watch him because he’s a must-watch TV. He creates the need, you want… Paddy’s a needle mover.”

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    “Big” John McCarthy recently addressed Sean O’Malley’s coach after Tim Welch sought clarification on the controversial excessive coaching incident at UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over “Suga” to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 306 earlier this month. While the outcome was unquestionably clear at the end of the day, the fight took an unusual turn just moments after it began.

    “The Machine” suddenly paused mid-action, gesturing furiously toward his opponent’s corner, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in. Dean reprimanded Dvalishvili for interrupting the match and also gave Welch a warning for overstepping his coaching boundaries, citing the ‘excessive coaching’ rule.

    In the days following the fight, Welch broke his silence on the controversial incident, admitting he did shout at Dvalishvili but claimed he only told him to “be patient.” He also acknowledged that some of his instructions for O’Malley included “The Machine’s” name, brushing it off as merely a case of normal coaching and insisting it had no impact on the outcome of the bout.

    However, veteran referee McCarthy believes Welch’s actions crossed a line and constituted clear misconduct…

    McCarthy Cautions Welch On Interference with Opponents During Fights

    During a recent appearance on the WEIGHING IN podcast, Welch posed a question to McCarthy, asking how he would have handled the situation if a similar incident to UFC 306’s main event unfolded under his watch.

    The renowned MMA referee responded candidly, stating that he would have swiftly issued Welch a stern warning. Furthermore, McCarthy made it clear that if the behavior persisted, he wouldn’t hesitate to eject Welch from the arena in accordance with official refereeing guidelines.

    “I’m being honest, I would have talked to you in the beginning,” McCarthy said. “I would have said, ‘Hey, look, I need you to understand I cannot have you talking to the opponent in any fashion. So when you say ‘Merab, you’ve got to look out,’ even if it’s a call sign for you guys, you’re making it sound like you’re talking to the opponent. So right away, I would have said, ‘Hey, I’m telling you now, stop. We talked about this. If you do it again, I’m going to remove you from this arena,’ which I don’t want to do.”

    “Obviously, that would affect your fighter and everything, so it’s the last thing you want to do. But yeah, it’s right in the rules that you can talk to Sean all you want, and we want you to be able to coach and talk to him and give him good, you know, feedback, but we cannot have you in any fashion talking to the opponent or talking to the referee during the round.”

    Welch also faced significant backlash when footage surfaced from UFC 292 in August 2023, where he allegedly attempted to mislead Aljamain Sterling, trying to lure him into a reckless charge toward O’Malley.

  • Glover Teixeira Explains Addition Of Sean Strickland To Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Camp 

    Glover Teixeira Explains Addition Of Sean Strickland To Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Camp 

    UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has been getting help from an ex-opponent and fellow former middleweight titleholder while in Utah for his upcoming defense.

    Pereira has returned to the “Beehive State” for the first time since his debut at 205 pounds in July 2023, which saw him get the better of Jan Błachowicz on the scorecards.

    Since then, “Poatan” has achieved two-division champ status and successfully defended the light heavyweight crown twice. And having violently stopped Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, Pereira’s third assignment of 2024 headlines UFC 307 this weekend.

    The Brazilian looks set for another striking showdown, this time opposite a fellow knockout artist in Khalil Rountree. And to boost his chances of another victory, Pereira and his team have turned to Sean Strickland.

    Teixeira Touts Strickland’s Ability To Hang With Pereira In Training

    During a recent interview with The Schmo, Glover Teixeira was asked about the impact Strickland’s presence has as Pereira’s camp for UFC 307 comes to a close in Salt Lake City.

    While the American was emphatically flattened by Pereira when they shared the Octagon in 2022, Teixeira suggested that “Tarzan” is one of few who can go toe-to-toe with the former GLORY Kickboxing champ in sparring.

    “Sean is, you know, incredibly tough. He’s good everywhere. He’s a great mixed martial artist,” Teixeira said. “He knows how to train well, you know? And he’s a guy that can, to be honest, hang with Alex. Alex can push his pace a little more. We love that Sean (came) over here today and helped Alex.”

    Pereira will hope that his work with Strickland and the others who’ve been a part of his latest fight camp pays dividends on Saturday night, when “The War Horse” will have a monumental upset over the Brazilian standout in his sights.

  • Kamaru Usman Honest About Pennington vs. Peña At UFC 307: ‘Looks Like She Doesn’t Wanna Be There…’

    Kamaru Usman Honest About Pennington vs. Peña At UFC 307: ‘Looks Like She Doesn’t Wanna Be There…’

    Kamaru Usman recently shared his thoughts on the Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña championship fight at UFC 307.

    Pennington is gearing up to make her first defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title against former champion Peña. The bout is set to co-headline the highly anticipated pay-per-view event this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    “Rocky” delivered a commanding performance at UFC 297 this past January, decisively defeating Mayra Bueno Silva to capture the vacant 135-pound title. The belt had been left up for grabs after former two-division champion Amanda Nunes retired following her one-sided rematch victory over Peña at UFC 277 in July 2022.

    Meanwhile, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to make her long-awaited return to the Octagon after a two-year absence. Peña made UFC history as the only woman to defeat Nunes, submitting ‘The Lioness’ at UFC 269 in December 2021. However, her reign was short-lived, with Nunes reclaiming the bantamweight crown just seven months later.

    Usman Predicts Peña Will Test Pennington But Favors ‘Rocky’ To Retain Her Title

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ weighed in on the Pennington vs. Peña title clash at UFC 307. Usman noted that the defending champion has appeared a bit lackluster in her previous outings, whereas the challenger possesses the resilience that could turn this into a very interesting contest.

    “I think Julianna Peña is a complete dog,” Usman said. “But I just think Raquel Pennington is a little bit too solid. She does have a couple of fights where she comes in and looks like she doesn’t really want to be there sometimes, and I know that’s in the past. I’m hoping that stays in the past because Raquel Pennington, the bantamweight champion now, once you become that champion, you get that extra ‘umph’ behind you knowing that you are the best in the world.”

    The former UFC welterweight champion further expressed his confidence that “Rocky” will emerge as a more well-rounded fighter when facing the formidable Peña. Usman predicted that while “The Venezuelan Vixen” will undoubtedly present Pennington with one of her toughest challenges yet, the reigning champion will ultimately hold on to her title.

    “She’s [Pennington] just a little too solid with her stand-up, with her Muay Thai, her knees—just really solid there in the clinch. Because I’m telling you right now, Julianna Peña does really good work there… Raquel Pennington has shown that she can be good in those types of positions, so I’m gonna have to go with Raquel Pennington here, even though Julianna Peña is a complete dog, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she comes in and pulls off that upset.”

  • UFC Legend Cites Potential Alex Pereira Weakness That Khalil Rountree Could Exploit: ‘Did Not Work For Him When He Fought Izzy…’

    UFC Legend Cites Potential Alex Pereira Weakness That Khalil Rountree Could Exploit: ‘Did Not Work For Him When He Fought Izzy…’

    Alex Pereira has become a superstar during his time in the UFC, where his elite kickboxing background has been put to devastating use.

    “Poatan” is one of the best strikers we have ever seen inside the Octagon and he’s delivered some incredible highlights in his run so far.

    In the third defense of his light heavyweight title at UFC 307 this weekend, he will face another powerful striker in Khalil Rountree.

    Many find it hard to imagine how Rountree will win a stand-up battle against the champion but there is one chink in Pereira’s armour that could cost him.

    Stephen Thompson Says Alex Pereira’s Aggression Could Be A Problem For Him At UFC 307

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Stephen Thompson spoke about Pereira’s unique approach to striking in MMA.

    “Wonderboy” will also be in action on Saturday night in Salt Lake City where you’re sure to see his wide range of kickboxing weapons on display against Joaquin Buckley.

    Rather than the evasive and dynamic style of Thompson, Pereira’s kickboxing approach is far more aggressive and on the front-foot.

    He doesn’t move around all that much and will usually stand right in front of his opponents.

    The champion is so powerful and confident in his ability to land his own shots that he doesn’t tend to move out of the way of his opponents’, when they launch something back his way.

    As it did in his MMA rematch with Israel Adesanya, Thompson questioned whether this could be dangerous for him against an opponent like Rountree.

    “It [the aggression] did not work for him when he fought Izzy, you know. That’s kind of the same thing that he got caught in was in that brawl and he was taking shots but he wasn’t evading any, he was still in the face trying to throw and he got clipped and he went down. I mean he relies a lot on his toughness, he’s a very durable fighter for a guy to be fighting so much but yeah man, that’s dangerous. If you get there with another striker, especially Khalil Rountree, Khalil Rountree is a powerful guy.”

    Read also: Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique…’

  • Kayla Harrison Warned That She Could ‘Be In Trouble’ Against Ketlen Vieira At UFC 307

    Kayla Harrison Warned That She Could ‘Be In Trouble’ Against Ketlen Vieira At UFC 307

    UFC 307 this Saturday in Salt Lake City brings huge implications for the women’s bantamweight division.

    With the title set to be defended in the co-main event of the evening, there’s a huge match-up earlier on in the night that could decide the next title challenger.

    Former PFL star Kayla Harrison made a big impact on her Octagon debut at UFC 300, where she dominated Holly Holm before finding the finish.

    A lot of the narrative heading into her next fight has been about the former Olympic gold medallist getting the next shot, but to do that, she must get past Ketlen Vieira.

    Henry Cejudo Says Ketlen Vieira Can Be A Big Test For Kayla Harrison On The Feet

    It cannot be overlooked how big of an opportunity this fight also is for Brazil’s Vieira.

    As the #2-ranked contender in the division, a win will also guarantee her a title shot thanks to the wins she has been able to accumulate in recent years.

    Vieira did lost a split decision to the current champion Raquel Pennington but beating Harrison will be a massive statement for her.

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo outlined where he believes that Vieira could win this fight despite the confidence that surrounds Harrison right now.

    “It’s hard to bet against a girl like Kayla Harrison but I think out of all the girls right now at 135-pounds that could match her strength, because you know Vieira’s a Judo blackbelt as well and she’s got, in my opinion, she has better hands than Harrison. So it’s going to come down to the wrestling and I do feel like Kayla Harrison is going to bring the wrestling in and that’s just what’s going to change it. But, if Vieira can keep it on her feet, I think Kayla could be in trouble dude. Her striking is no joke man.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

  • ‘Who Was The Real God Of War Last Night?’ – Fans React After Renato Moicano Wins At UFC Paris Despite Severe Broken Shoulder [Graphic]

    ‘Who Was The Real God Of War Last Night?’ – Fans React After Renato Moicano Wins At UFC Paris Despite Severe Broken Shoulder [Graphic]

    Renato Moicano’s dominant victory in the main event of UFC Paris this past weekend was made even more impressive by some news that came out in the aftermath.

    Kevin Iole shared images of a gruesome shoulder injury that the Brazilian lightweight contender had suffered, as the journalist understood, in the second round against Benoît Saint-Denis.

    Moicano, however, later clarified that this was the result of an injury that he had suffered during his training camp, 3 weeks before the fight.

    He refused to pull out of the UFC Paris main event and as a result, would end up earning his fourth consecutive win at 155 pounds.

    “I hurt my shoulder 3 weeks ago… but I couldn’t pull out of a main event… thank you my team for helping me training like that e get me ready for the fight”

    As the x-ray clearly shows, Moicano fought Saint-Denis with a cleanly broken shoulder bone, that jutted out out of skin.

    MMA Fans React To Renato Moicano’s Injury Details

    MMA fans were already quick to shower Moicano with praise following his devastating display in the French capital.

    After taking Saint Denis down early in the fight, he earned a 10-8 round across all three scorecards due to some ruthless ground and pound that led to his opponent wearing significant damage on his face.

    The fight was then stopped at the end of the second round after the doctor declared that the Frenchman couldn’t see out of one eye.

    On social media, MMA fans reacted to Moicano revealing more details about his injury:

    “Moicano’s stock is massively up after last night.”

    “Savage. That’s no bs injury neither. Who was the real God of war last night #easymoney“

    “Mcgregor pulled out for a pinky toe yall”

    “I had the same injury… I couldn’t even sleep at night because the pain was too much… idk how he did this against a super tough opponent”

    “You hear that? I don’t want to ever hear BSD’s staph excuse again”

    “Damn is this why he started to slow down a bit? $$$Moicano”

    “When Moicano Wants Money, Moicano is invincible”

    “Benoit being like ‘I can see out of my left one’ is SAVAGE”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique…’

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique…’

    The unorthodox style of Dricus Du Plessis has prompted a lot of discussion during his rise up the middleweight ladder.

    He was criticized for being far too sloppy from a technique standpoint, but despite that, continued to rack up wins en route to becoming UFC champion.

    Du Plessis recently commented on this himself, by responding to a breakdown of some of the striking techniques that he uses.

    “Stillknocks” made fun of the analysis, claiming that he doesn’t think about or plan any of the things that the video suggested but just does what comes to mind in the moment – which has proven to be very effective for him.

    “Wonderboy” Explains Why Du Plessis Is Effective On Auto-Pilot Despite Questionable Technique

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, one of the greatest strikers in UFC history, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, gave his thoughts on Du Plessis’ style.

    As an elite kickboxer, the former welterweight title challenger was able to explain why it’s difficult for even someone as skilled and experienced as him, to fight an unpredictable opponent.

    He believes that Du Plessis’ lack of finesse or “good technique” is what makes him a difficult opponent to strike with because he’s hard to read.

    Thompson says that the middleweight champion’s mindset when it comes to making adjustments in the fight is a part of that, because he’s fighting on instinct for the most part.

    “It’s so weird, I can see how people would have a lot of difficulty fighting him because he does a lot of pulling techniques, he does spinning techniques and it’s like with no real good technique and I understand where he’s coming from when people are like breaking down his fights. He’s out there not thinking about it but it’s all in the training how he’s developing all of this, even though he’s not thinking about it, what he’s doing is working because it’s years of preparation, doing all the sparring and things like that. So you’re not thinking about it but at the same time, your body is doing it without you even knowing it.”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

  • ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    ‘Fight Of The Year Across Any Promotion’ – MMA Fans React After Wild PFL Europe Brawl Features 14 Knockdowns!

    This past Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, PFL Europe 3 produced possibly the best fight to have ever taken place in the Smart Cage.

    After his previous opponent withdrew, Lewis McGrillen stepped in as an alternate to face Dean Garnett in the semi-final play-offs of the bantamweight tournament.

    What followed was an unbelievable back-and-forth war between the two Brits that featured a staggering 14 knockdowns in just 12 minutes.

    The majority of them came from McGrillen, who is known for knocking opponents out cold but Garnett kept recovering and getting back to his feet.

    That was until the fifth round where a heavy shot landed and sent Garnett face down to the canvas, giving “McGrizzla” a spectacular walk-off KO moment.

    MMA Fans React To Fight Of The Year Contender In PFL Europe

    In what will surely go down as one of the best fights of the year, if not one of the greatest bouts in the history of UK MMA, McGrillen vs Garnett sure did turn some heads.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to one of the wildest contests that you’re ever likely to see.

    “Fight of year across any promotion”

    “This is unreal, both fighters just biting down on the mouthpiece and going for the knockout. Pure fighting.”

    “Both of these guys have jaws made of STEEL!!!”

    “Gotta be the greatest fight in UKMMA history. Best scrap I’ve seen live”

    “Crazy fight , I almost missed the Bryan Battle fight because this was the best fight I have seen all year. Insanity from both fighters.”

    Read also: Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

  • Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

    Alex Pereira Makes Charity Bet With Khalil Rountree Over UFC 307 No Takedown Promise

    Khalil Rountree has made it clear that he intends to stand and strike with Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 307.

    The light heavyweight title challenger has won four of his last five fights via knockout, and is certainly capable of striking with anyone in the division.

    However, “Poatan” is a whole different beast when it comes to the stand-up game thanks to his incredible career in kickboxing before he made the switch to MMA.

    Rountree’s coach John Wood also stated that they intend to strike in Salt Lake City because that’s where they will get the best out of his student’s skill set, rather than trying to change his approach because of the opponent that’s in front of them.

    Pereira Says He Won’t Be Convinced Unless Rountree Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is

    Despite this clear statement from his opponent, Pereira isn’t convinced that Rountree will stick by his word once they meet inside the Octagon.

    The champion is so effective on the feet that even when he faces fellow strikers, they often divert to using grappling as a plan B.

    Pereira commented on this during a recent interview with Kevin Iole before fight week.

    Through his coach, Plinio Cruz, “Poatan” suggested a wager that would give him confidence in Rountree’s pre-fight assertion that he will keep the fight on the feet.

    “Honestly bro, everybody that said that [they will keep the fight standing] before ended up shooting a takedown on this guy so it’s hard to believe. Alex said that the only way that he’ll believe [is] if Khalil go out in public and say, ‘I promise, I promise that I’m not going to shoot a takedown on this guy and if I do, I’m going to donate a percentage of my purse for charity.’ Then Alex will believe him and say let’s bang.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira Rejects Blame For Magomed Ankalaev’s Title Wait: ‘Such A Boring Style Of Fighting…’

  • VIDEO: UFC 307 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree & Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña

    VIDEO: UFC 307 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree & Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña

    Fight week for the UFC 307 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

    Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree and the co-main event between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by an intriguing championship clash, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (11-2) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023. He’s since retained possession of the belt by getting the better of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 this past April and Procházka in their short-notice UFC 303 rematch.

    If “Poatan” is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Rountree (13-5, 1 NC). “The War Horse” will ride a five-fight win streak into his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, most notably getting the better of former championship challenger Anthony Smith in brutal fashion last time out.

    Before those two run it back in the main event at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, one of three women’s titles in the UFC will be at stake.

    The women’s bantamweight gold will be contested by current champ Pennington (16-8) and former divisional queen Peña (11-5), as they settle a rivalry that began to brew during their time on The Ultimate Fighter season 18 in 2013. While “Rocky” will return eight months on from her capturing of the then-vacant strap, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to make the walk for the first time since losing the title in her rematch with Amanda Nunes over two years ago.

    Ahead of those two contests in Utah, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 307 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 307 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sETTkhCsqKI
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Date For Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Defense

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Date For Islam Makhachev’s Next UFC Title Defense

    Khabib Nurmagomedov has seemingly confirmed when reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will return to action.

    Makhachev has had just one outing in 2024 — a hard-fought submission win over Dustin Poirier at the Newark-held UFC 302 event to record his second defense of the 155-pound title.

    For the third straight year, the Russian was then being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual October pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi. But an injury that required surgery scuppered those plans and ruled Makhachev out for the remainder of 2024.

    Talk quickly arose of a possible interim title fight for top contender Arman Tsarukyan. But after UFC CEO Dana White was quick to dismiss that notion and insist plans were coming together for the champ’s return, the next lightweight title fight may have now had its date leaked…

    Khabib Leaks January UFC Title Defense For Makhachev

    During a recent interview (via Ushatayka), Khabib provided an update on Makhachev’s return after injury stalled plans for a second assignment in 2024.

    While he stayed short of confirming a location or opponent, “The Eagle” did reveal that his protégé has accepted a bout offer from the UFC for an event in January 2025, likely UFC 311.

    “UFC offered us a fight already, in January. We accepted it,” Nurmagomedov said. “UFC will announce very soon where it will take place and who will be Islam’s opponent. I will not make an announcement myself, but I can say that we are focused on January.”

    Although his name wasn’t mentioned, there’s little doubt about Tsarukyan’s status as next in line for a shot at title glory following his decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April.

  • Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

    Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

    It appears that the only light yet to be confirmed as green for a possible Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett lightweight clash is the UFC’s.

    Moicano made a statement in this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event, which saw him make the walk in enemy territory to face Benoît Saint Denis in his backyard of Paris, France.

    While “God of War” was hoping to bounce back from his knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in front of his home fans, Moicano had other plans. The Brazilian landed a takedown early and proceeded to put a brutal beating on Saint Denis.

    The Frenchman was left badly bleeding and swollen after just one round, and the damage ultimately led to the doctor calling off the fight before the start of the third frame.

    Moicano was his usual charismatic and unpredictable self on the microphone post-fight. But an aspect that perhaps could have been foreseen was his callouts, one of which saw the continuation of his back and forth with a rising name…

    Pimblett Gives Short & Sweet Response To Moicano

    During Pimblett’s surge up the lightweight ladder, Moicano has frequently dismissed his credentials and vowed to blemish his UFC record should they be placed opposite one another inside the cage.

    And with “The Baddy” now ranked following his submission of Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the fight certainly makes more sense than ever.

    Moicano evidently thinks so, as he named Pimblett alongside Dan Hooker as his potential opponents following a destructive beatdown of Saint Denis in Paris.

    The Liverpool native was quick to respond on social media, unsurprisingly welcoming the chance to quieten the Brazilian and forge a path into the top 10 at 155 pounds.

    “Let’s do this,” Pimblett wrote.

    Pimblett’s win over Green marked his sixth since signing with the UFC in 2021. The former Cage Warriors champion had previously gotten the better of notable names like Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon.

    Moicano, meanwhile, is now riding a four-fight winning run inside the Octagon. After a lengthy injury layoff followed a quick submission victory over Brad Riddell in late 2022, the Brazilian has returned this year in style by reeling off three triumphs over Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and Saint Denis.

  • Ailín Pérez Defends Celebration After She ‘Khabib’d The Russian’ At UFC Paris

    Ailín Pérez Defends Celebration After She ‘Khabib’d The Russian’ At UFC Paris

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Ailín Pérez insists she was well within her rights to celebrate in the way she did this past weekend.

    The Argentine fighter featured on the preliminary portion of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Paris, France. She was hoping to extend her winning run to five at the expense of Darya Zheleznyakova.

    Pérez did just that, once again showing her grappling superiority. This time, however, she didn’t require the scorecards, forcing a tap from her Russian opponent with an arm-triangle choke inside the first round.

    Rather than the performance, though, the main talking point seemingly came in the aftermath, which saw “Fiona” celebrate by twerking in the face of her opponent moments after the submission.

    Pérez Rejects ‘Disrespectful’ Claims After Twerking In Defeated Opponent’s Face

    Pérez’s celebration split opinion in the community, with some branding it a disrespectful move on the part of the Buenos Aires native.

    But the Argentine was quick to dismiss that notion, instead claiming to have been subjected to disrespect from her opponent pre-fight.

    “My friend @arielhelwani, Darya said some very disrespectful things about me before the fight so I had to do it,” Pérez wrote. “I would love to tell you more about it on your NEW show #AilinNurmagomedov“

    And that wasn’t the only post-fight tweet that saw a Nurmagomedov theme.

    In another, the victorious Argentine claimed to have “Khabib’d the Russian” inside the Octagon at Accor Arena.

    “I Khabib’d the Russian and then twerken on her #UFCParis#AilinNurmagomedov“

    Plenty of Pérez’s other posts saw her targeting flyweight contender Tracy Cortez, who got her own back following “Fiona’s” weight miss after previously being branded unprofessional by the Argentine for needing to cut her hair off to make the limit.

    It remains to be seen what will come next for Pérez, but she certainly has her sights set high.

    Prior to missing weight, the rising bantamweight suggested she’d call for UFC CEO Dana White to place her in a main event for the first time following the Paris card, preferably against Kayla Harrison.

  • Alex Pereira Rejects Blame For Magomed Ankalaev’s Title Wait: ‘Such A Boring Style Of Fighting…’

    Alex Pereira Rejects Blame For Magomed Ankalaev’s Title Wait: ‘Such A Boring Style Of Fighting…’

    When it comes to the promotion’s decision not to grant Magomed Ankalaev a title shot, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira thinks the Russian only has himself to blame.

    Pereira is currently in Utah ahead of his third defense of the 205-pound belt, which he captured last November to secure a rapid rise to double-champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Following knockout wins over Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, many expected “Poatan’s” next assignment to be dealing with a new kind of threat — the grappling strength of Ankalaev.

    But despite the Makhachkala native sitting at #2 in the rankings and going unbeaten across his last 12 fights, the promotion went in a different direction. At UFC 307 this Saturday night, it will be the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree having his shot at unseating Pereira.

    Pereira: Title Shot Snub Entirely Down To Ankalaev

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Pereira looked ahead to his third outing in quick succession, which headlines this weekend’s pay-per-view inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.

    One of the main topics entering fight week remains the promotion’s choice of opposition for the Brazilian ex-kickboxer. “Poatan,” however, believes Ankalaev’s pursuit of blame can go no further than his own doorstep.

    “Honestly, it’s not my fault that Ankalaev have such a boring style of fighting that nobody wants to watch, that the guys don’t want to put him in,” Pereira said. “I’m ready to fight the guy. He’s ready to fight me, so whenever they put that fight. People talk about my ground (game), so there’s a good chance I’m going to show everybody.”

    Talk of a supposed lackluster style has long been used against Ankalaev during his rise. But having brutally knocked out Johnny Walker this past January, the Dagestani will hope to further dismiss that narrative when he shares the Octagon with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi late next month.

    Pereira, meanwhile, has frequently expressed a willingness to meet the challenge of Ankalaev. Before potentially focusing on that next, he must avoid the power shots of “The War Horse” on Oct. 5.

  • X-Ray Shows Extent Of Shoulder Injury Renato Moicano Fought Through At UFC Paris, Dana White Reacts

    X-Ray Shows Extent Of Shoulder Injury Renato Moicano Fought Through At UFC Paris, Dana White Reacts

    Some already thought that Renato Moicano’s doctor’s stoppage win over Benoît Saint Denis was impressive enough as it was. But new information coming out in the aftermath of the fight has made it just that much more so.

    As it turned out, Moicano suffered a severe shoulder injury during the fight, powering his way through the second round with it. Kevin Iole was the first to obtain and share photos of the damaged shoulder, including a gruesome X-ray.

    Dana White Brands Renato Moicano A ‘Beast’ After Fighting Through Injury To Win UFC Paris Main Event

    UFC CEO Dana White took notice of the injury and was blown away, sharing his thoughts in Iole’s Instagram comments.

    “Kids a BEAST!!!!!!”

    Moicano put a beating on Saint Denis over the course of the first round. While the Brazilian did not do much in the second frame, the damage his French opponent sustained was enough to warrant the doctor stepping in to halt the bout.

    With the result, Moicano has now won four straight and six of his last seven as he continues to rise up the 155-pound rankings.

    After a long winning streak, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now been finished in back-to-back fights, having previously lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    With Moicano’s win, it will be interesting to see if a fight with Paddy Pimblett will come next given “The Baddy’s” call out of him after UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    It was not the best of nights for Brendan Allen at UFC Paris, coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial co-main event clash of top middleweight contenders.

    Allen appeared to be in complete control of the fight over the first five minutes, laying into Imavov and delivering most, if not all, of the activity in the first round. But the American seemed to fatigue from there.

    That led to the Frenchman taking control, especially in the grappling realm. Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    This fight did not do Allen any favors as he aims to finally capture a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. And current champ, Dricus Du Plessis — someone who Allen is not fond of — let him know it on social media after the performance.

    Dricus Du Plessis, Brendan Allen Trade Barbs On Social Media After Allen’s Loss At UFC Paris

    Allen was not going to let Du Plessis’ comments go unnoticed, giving him a response back. “All In” reiterated a past claim, stating that the South African has been avoiding him during his rise up the middleweight ranks.

    Allen saw a seven-fight win streak snapped as a result of his loss in Paris.

  • Benoît Saint Denis Makes First Statement After Devastating UFC Paris Beating At The Hands Of Renato Moicano

    Benoît Saint Denis Makes First Statement After Devastating UFC Paris Beating At The Hands Of Renato Moicano

    Benoît Saint Denis displayed a valuable amount of heart and resilience during the main event of UFC Paris. But it wasn’t enough, as the damage he took forced the doctor to wave off the contest against Renato Moicano after two rounds.

    Moicano put a battering on the Frenchman, causing great swelling and damage along his face — especially his eyes. Moicano appeared to take the second round off as Saint Denis battled back.

    But as the doctor checked him out after the second, it became apparent that “God of War” was unable to see out of his right eye, forcing the bout’s end.

    Saint Denis took to social media to state his thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.

    Benoît Saint Denis Gives Respect To Renato Moicano After Loss At UFC Paris

    https://twitter.com/BenoitSt_Denis/status/1840336809638699156

    “It wasn’t my day, this sport is tough but amazing,” Saint Denis wrote in French. “Thank you all for your continued support. Proud to have been able to represent the (French flag) in the octagon. Respect to my opponent @moicanoufc for facing me at home and congratulations to him.”

    Moicano, who battled through his own injury, expressed gratitude to Saint Denis after the fight, even inviting him to train together at some point.

    After dropping his UFC debut, “God of War” won five straight, but he has now lost back-to-back outings. Saint Denis was finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.

  • Khalil Rountree’s Coach Breaks Down Alex Pereira’s ‘Ugly’ Striking

    Khalil Rountree’s Coach Breaks Down Alex Pereira’s ‘Ugly’ Striking

    With UFC Paris: Moicano vs. Saint Denis done and dusted, fans can look forward to witnessing the return of Alex Pereira at UFC 307. The light heavyweight champion will aim to defend his title for the third time this year against Khalil Rountree.

    Although Rountree wasn’t the ideal title contender based on rankings, many believe him to be an excellent matchup for “Poatan”. The Brazilian has been knocking people out with left hooks and kicks, and Rountree has been very successful since incorporating Muay Thai into his striking.

    Here’s what Rountree’s coach thinks of the champion’s striking and how he plans to do the unthinkable at UFC 307…

    Khalil Rountree’s Coach Explains How To Beat An ‘Unstoppable Striker’ Like Alex Pereira Or Sean O’Malley

    Wood is still exhilarated by his student Merab Dvalishvili beating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. While discussing Rountree’s UFC 307 fight on the Inside Fighting YouTube channel, he remembered how “Suga” seemed like an unbeatable striker, but Dvalishvili exposed several holes in his game.

    “You know, just like, using O’Malley again. [Sean] Was this unstoppable striker and this and that. There’s always, there’s layers, there’s layers to the onion that you have to peel back for the game plan.”

    Although Rountree is unlikely to grapple like Dvalishvili to neutralize his opponent’s offense, his coach claims that there are several things to capitalize on. Wood acknowledged that Pereira’ striking can look ugly and unconventional but it works like a charm.

    For starters, Pereira has explosive knockout power which always keeps his opponents at bay. On top of that, Wood thinks that by performing rather unusual moves, the Brazilian lures his opponents to enter the pocket following which the fight usually ends.

    “One, the guy’s got hammers for hands. Two, I think he lulls people into that like, you know, ‘hey, I’m making mistakes’ and you know, ‘come and get me.’ And then, boop! You’re waking up on the canvas,” Wood continued,” No matter sometimes how ugly things might look or maybe unconventional but unconventional works just as well as conventional, if you know what you’re doing.”

    Without revealing a lot, Wood shared that Rountree’s game plan heading into UFC 307 is to avoid aggressing unnecessarily. The coach understands that the light heavyweight kingpin only needs one good shot, so he’ll ask his fighter to remain patient and look for real openings.

    “That’s my job to make sure that we don’t fall into any of those traps. You’re going to see this, and his hands are down and he’s leading with his face. He wants to get you, you know, no, there’s reasons he’s doing that.”

    Wood has a fair assessment of Pereira’s striking game. Will it help Rountree finally win UFC gold at UFC 307, though?

  • ‘Looks Like He Fought 10 Rounds’ – MMA Fans React As Renato Moicano Disfigures Benoît Saint Denis In Brutal Beating At UFC Paris

    ‘Looks Like He Fought 10 Rounds’ – MMA Fans React As Renato Moicano Disfigures Benoît Saint Denis In Brutal Beating At UFC Paris

    Benoît Saint Denis was left with quite the battle scars on his face as the doctor stepped in to stop his UFC Paris fight with Renato Moicano.

    The Brazilian put on a completely dominating display in the opening round, taking the fight to the ground early and having over four minutes of control time there. He landed some vicious ground-and-pound on Saint Denis, busting up his face.

    Moicano appeared to take the second frame off, as Saint Denis pressed forward. The damage, however, was not getting any better.

    The doctor observed “God of War” and his severely swollen eyes after the second round, and it was determined that Saint Denis’ vision in his right eye was obscured, causing the fight to be waved off.

    Benoît Saint Denis Left Battered As Doctor Steps In To Stop UFC Paris Main Event vs. Renato Moicano

    Moicano has now won four straight and scored three finishes in this stretch. He called out Paddy Pimblett following the fight after “The Baddy” expressed interest in fighting him post-UFC 304 this past July.

    After winning 13 of 15 to start his MMA career, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now dropped back-to-back outings after previously getting finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 in March.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, ranked lightweights Renato Moicano (#11) and Benoît Saint Denis (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Nassourdine Imavov faced Brendan Allen in a middleweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00  
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28×3)  
    • Featherweight: William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via TKO: R2, 3.47 
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via KO: R2, 0.27
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola via KO: R3, 2.59

    Preliminary Card: 

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) 
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy def. Da Woon Jung via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Dariya Zheleznykova via submission (arm-triangle choke): R1, 3:52
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Chris Duncan def. Bolaji Oki via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:35

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Chris Duncan Def. Bolaji Oki

    Ailín Pérez Def. Dariya Zheleznykova

    Main Card Highlights

    Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola

    In this lightweight matchup, Farès Ziam got it done with a brutal KO of Matt Frevola in the third round.

    Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda

    Morgan Charriere unleashed a brutal left hook to KO Gabriel Miranda in the second round of their lightweight matchup.

    Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset

    In this welterweight contest, Bryan Battle upset the Paris crowd with a TKO of Frenchman Kevin Jousset in the second round.

    William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito

    William Gomis got it done on the scorecards against Joanderson Brito in their featherweight bout.

    Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen

    Nassourdine Imavov earned a unanimous decision against Brendan Allen in their middleweight bout.

    Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis

    In the main event, Renato Moicano silenced the Paris crowd with a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Benoît Saint Denis. The doctor waved off the fight at the end of round two after Saint Denis was deemed not able to see out of his right eye.