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Category: MMA

  • ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    A battle of middleweight contenders in the co-main event of UFC Paris saw Nassourdine Imavov come out on top over Brendan Allen.

    Allen was in complete control of the fight in the first round, bringing virtually all of the activity. But in the second frame, the momentum shifted swiftly. Imavov won the grappling battle in that round, taking advantage of a tired “All In” and displaying strong shots from the top ground position.

    The American’s striking seemed off in the second stanza, and that stretched into the third, with his French counterpart landing the better strikes and having control of the fight on the mat.

    Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    Nassourdine Imavov Keeps Momentum Alive With Decision Win Over Brendan Allen In Paris

    https://twitter.com/blondedmma/status/1840146075002302757

    Imavov has now won three straight since his no contest with Chris Curtis at UFC 289. The Frenchman’s win streak has also seen him score a majority decision over Roman Dolidze and a controversial finish of Jared Cannonier.

    Meanwhile, Allen’s seven-fight winning run was snapped in Paris, a streak that saw him earn victories over Curtis, Paul Craig, and Bruno Silva.

  • 2024 PFL Europe 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights: Stevie Ray Lands ‘Scottish Twister’

    2024 PFL Europe 3: Playoffs Results & Highlights: Stevie Ray Lands ‘Scottish Twister’

    The 2024 PFL Europe Playoffs took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    Having broken onto the scene with its regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun its pursuit of further prominence around the globe.

    In 2023, that took sizable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season. And the sophomore campaign moved closer to its lucrative conclusion in Lyon, France today when the playoff bouts went down inside the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

    After the season bouts all eyes were on local favorite and former PFL global lightweight finalist Stevie Ray as he returned from retirement to headline on home soil.

    “Braveheart” thrilled his home crowd by notching his self-created submission, the Scottish twister, for the second time in his career to submit Lewis Long in the very first round.

    While the event was broadcast on DAZN for select countries, it was unfortunately not available to audiences in the United States. However, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.

    2024 PFL Europe Playoffs Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Stevie Ray def. Lewis Long via submission (Scottish twister): R1, 4:21
    • Catchweight (150lbs) Co-Main Event: Rob Whiteford def. Roger Huerta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Mark Ewen def. Yassin Chtatou via submission (D’arce choke): R1, 2:30
    • Bantamweight Playoff: Lewis McGrillen def. Dean Garnett via KO (left hook): R3, 1:45
    • Bantamweight Playoff: Alexander Luster def. Julian Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 1:15
    • Welterweight Playoff: Florim Zendeli def. Jack Grant via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Welterweight Playoff Bout: Daniele Miceli def. Ibrahima Mané via TKO (uppercut & punches): R1, 1:26

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight Playoff: Jakub Kaszuba def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight Playoff: Connor Hughes def. Ignacio Capella via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoff: Shanelle Dyer def. Valentina Scatizzi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Women’s Flyweight Playoff: Paulina Wiśniewska def. Karolina Wójcik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight Showcase: Lorenzo Parente def. Stefano Catacoli via submission (armbar): R1, 1:45
    • Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Matiss Zaharovs def. Brian Hyslop via submission (rear-naked choke): R2, 4:18
    • Women’s Flyweight Showcase: Gemma Auld def. Weronika Pietruszka via TKO (punches): R1, 4:50

    Gemma Auld Def. Weronika Pietruszka

    Matiss Zaharovs Def. Brian Hyslop

    Lorenzo Parente Def. Stefano Catacoli

    Paulina Wiśniewska Def. Karolina Wójcik

    Shanelle Dyer Def. Valentina Scatizzi

    Jakub Kaszuba Def. Daniele Scatizzi

    Daniele Miceli Def. Ibrahima Mané

    Florim Zendeli Def. Jack Grant

    Alexander Luster Def. Julian Lopez

    Lewis McGrillen Def. Dean Garnett

    Mark Ewen Def. Yassin Chtatou

    Rob Whiteford Def. Roger Huerta

    Stevie Ray Def. Lewis Long

  • VIDEO: Bryan Battle Riles Up French Crowd With ‘All-Time Promo’ After Beating Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    VIDEO: Bryan Battle Riles Up French Crowd With ‘All-Time Promo’ After Beating Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    Bryan Battle may have come out on top with a finish at UFC Paris, but he also may have made himself public enemy No. 1 in France with his post-fight promo…

    Battle put on a solid striking display before scoring a finish in the second round of his fight with Kevin Jousset. He then landed a brutal flurry of strikes that resulted in a referee’s stoppage, giving “The Butcher” the victory.

    The American flipped the home crowd off following the fight as the fans inside Accor Arena expressed displeasure in their compatriot losing.

    Battle then took to the mic and encouraged the French crowd to continuously rain down the jeers they were bringing to him.

    Bryan Battle Encourages Boos From Crowd After Finish Of France’s Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    “Keep booing me, baby” Battle said. “Keep booing me. I love it. I love it. Listen, listen. People have been booing me and doubting me since I started training. I love it. The more you boo me, the stronger I get, baby! I’m used to this. Nobody can stop me!”

    https://twitter.com/ElonRakhmonov/status/1840129268816457741
    https://twitter.com/MacMallyMMA/status/1840128187159982307
    https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1840130076740071565

    The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner now improves to 6-1 (1 NC) in the UFC. He is unbeaten in four straight and five of his last six fights.

    Meanwhile, the loss snaps a five-fight win streak Jousset was coming into this fight with and marks his first setback in the UFC.

  • ‘Arguably The Greatest Knee I’ve Seen In MMA’ – Fans React As Farès Ziam Knocks Matt Frevola Out Cold At UFC Paris

    ‘Arguably The Greatest Knee I’ve Seen In MMA’ – Fans React As Farès Ziam Knocks Matt Frevola Out Cold At UFC Paris

    In his native France, Farès Ziam pulled off a vicious knockout that seemed to come out of nowhere to score a late victory over Matt Frevola on the main card of UFC Paris.

    Ziam appeared to show continued improvement over the course of the fight’s first two rounds, seemingly in a comfortable lead as the contest headed into the third.

    It was there, however, where Ziam unleashed violence that no one saw coming.

    With the two of them against the fence, Ziam turned Frevola and landed a stunning knee to the head that dropped the American out cold to score a KO of the Year contender.

    Frevola was unconscious for several minutes after the finish.

    Farès Ziam Lands Brutal KO Of The Year Contender With Vicious Knee On Matt Frevola’s Head

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1840116288762343532

    Ziam has now won four straight and has lost just twice since making his UFC debut in late 2019.

    Frevola, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back fights and has dropped four of his last seven.

  • VIDEO: Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage After Confirmation Of UFC Return Date

    VIDEO: Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage After Confirmation Of UFC Return Date

    For the first time since his 2021 return, Nick Diaz will be back in the Octagon once again, taking on Vicente Luque as part of the main card for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

    Following the announcement of that rescheduled contest, Diaz posted a teaser to his Instagram page, showcasing footage of a training session to the tune of Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.”

    Diaz and Luque were originally scheduled to face off at UFC Abu Dhabi early last month before the fight was postponed due to travel issues on the side of the Stockton native.

    Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

    Diaz last fought in the Octagon at UFC 266, losing a rematch with old foe Robbie Lawler by way of TKO.

    That fight was Diaz’s first since his infamous UFC 183 main event bout with Anderson Silva — a fight in which Diaz failed a drug test and was nearly banned for life by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

    Diaz’s last UFC win came against BJ Penn at UFC 137 well over a decade ago.

    Luque, meanwhile, has suffered defeat in three of his last four, most recently losing to Joaquin Buckley in Atlantic City back in March.

  • VIDEO: Ailín Pérez Submits Opponent Before Twerking In Her Face At UFC Paris

    VIDEO: Ailín Pérez Submits Opponent Before Twerking In Her Face At UFC Paris

    Another finish and another post-fight show from Ailín Pérez, as she scores a first-round submission of Darya Zheleznyakova on the preliminary card of UFC Paris.

    Pérez was able to bring the fight to the ground and locked up Zheleznyakova in an arm-triangle choke, scoring the submission quickly in the opening round.

    Following the submission, in classic Pérez style, she started to twerk, notably doing so in the direction of her opponent.

    Ailín Pérez Twerks In Darya Zheleznyakova’s Face After Submitting Her At UFC Paris

    Pérez has now won four straight in the Octagon, scoring her first finish since 2022 in this bout. The Argentine did, however, miss weight by 0.5 pounds for this fight.

    Zheleznyakova, meanwhile, is now 1-1 in the Octagon since coming over from ARES FC.

  • Alex Pereira Sheds Light On Talk Of Middleweight Return: ‘I Just Needed A Break’

    Alex Pereira Sheds Light On Talk Of Middleweight Return: ‘I Just Needed A Break’

    In his relatively short time in the UFC thus far, Alex Pereira has quickly earned a pair of championships and status as a top name in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.

    Some are eyeing a potential move to heavyweight for Pereira, who defends the UFC light heavyweight championship next weekend against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. But he has previously noted that he could be looking at a move back down to middleweight in the wake of Dricus Du Plessis retaining the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

    In a new interview with The Schmo, “Poatan” stated the move to 205 pounds was done in order to take a break from tough weight cuts.

    “I would like [a fight with Du Plessis] to be at middleweight,” Pereira said. “I told everybody that I just needed a break from 185, from all those weight cuts. I feel good, I feel healthy right now.”

    Pereira, who was also a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in GLORY Kickboxing, made his UFC debut as a middleweight at UFC 268. He quickly won three straight before challenging Adesanya, his old kickboxing foe, for the middleweight title at UFC 281.

    Pereira won via fifth-round finish but was knocked out by Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 287.

    Pereira then moved up to light heavyweight, defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 before defeating Jiří Procházka  at UFC 295 for the light heavyweight title.

    Pereira has since defended the 205-pound title against Jamahal Hill and Procházka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.

  • Chael Sonnen Compares Alex Pereira To Legendary Freestyle Wrestler John Smith: ‘Greats Think Differently’

    Chael Sonnen Compares Alex Pereira To Legendary Freestyle Wrestler John Smith: ‘Greats Think Differently’

    Chael Sonnen, like millions of others, is a huge fan of Alex Pereira, who has won two UFC belts and defeated five champs in just two years. His stoic persona matches his appalling fighting style amazingly well, and despite not speaking English, he has won the fans over with his flashy knockouts and consistency.

    “Poatan” has already headlined UFC 300 and UFC 303 in 2024. He’ll defend the light heavyweight championship again at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree and walking away with an impressive win is bound to skyrocket his popularity even further.

    While the world keeps theorizing the reason behind Pereira’s unprecedented rise, Chael Sonnen believes that the secret could be quite simple…

    Chael Sonnen Believes Alex Pereira To Be A Genius With Simplicity Like John Smith, One Of The Greatest Freestylers Of All Time

    Sonnen invited Mike Soccio onto his YouTube channel for a podcast where they discussed all things combat sports, including Pereira. According to the writer, “Poatan” might be extremely clever in training with Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 307 because the latter absolutely despises Rountree.

    Unsurprisingly, Strickland has been going off on Rountree in recent interviews. From claiming that “The War Horse” is in a cult to calling him a beta male, the former UFC middleweight champion has left no stone unturned in explaining why he doesn’t like Pereira’s next opponent.

    “Turns out Pereira is legit. It turns out he’s an actual badass and when an actual badass. Right? Everybody’s a gangster until a gangster walks in the room. And it turns out, Pereira is actually the tough guy even though he didn’t have the sport and he doesn’t have a black belt in anything.”

    Soccio believes this could be Pereira’s way to get under Rountree’s skin without having to be the bad guy. He thinks that it’s a genius move, but Sonnen assumes things are a lot simpler for the UFC light heavyweight champion.

    “Clearly he’s a genius. But I agree with you. I don’t think it’s deeply thought out. I don’t think his book would have a whole bunch of chapters to it. I bet you it’s something really simple.”

    Sonnen looked back at the time when he asked John Smith about winning the Olympic Games gold in 1988 against all odds. Smith’s response that he just decided to be the world champion in 1988 made “The American Gangster” realize how a lot of greats hardly care about external factors.

    Sonnen puts Pereira in a similar category. He doesn’t think “Poatan” is trying to scare his opponents through mental warfare or trash talk. Instead, he’s deeply focused on improving himself and taking out any opponent put in front of him.

    “He had decided that he, it had nothing to do with that guy beat my brother or my family’s been to court. Or he’s the gold medalist or I’m still in college and has never been done. It had nothing to do, he had decided that he was going to be Olympic champion,” Sonnen continued, “These greats, though, right? These greats, they think differently and it’s not always more complex. Sometimes, it’s more basic and I just say that because I think that Pereira is probably the more basic.”

  • Legendary MMA Referee References Georges St-Pierre Fight To Explain Judges Having Wildly Different Scorecards

    Legendary MMA Referee References Georges St-Pierre Fight To Explain Judges Having Wildly Different Scorecards

    Scoring and controversy go hand in hand in MMA. The sport is still relatively new, and tons of decisions over the years have left the fans divided, enraged, and dissatisfied, among other things.

    From Dominick Reyes losing against Jon Jones to Paddy Pimblett getting the nod against Jared Gordon, there are countless examples of controversial MMA decisions. Such incidents can occur at an amateur event as well as during a UFC title fight, which explains why the MMA community expects the scoring system to get more objective.

    Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks is easily one of the most questioned decisions ever, and Marc Goddard broke it down to explain how scorecards in MMA can vary greatly…

    Marc Goddard Reveals Unnoticed Factor That Made Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks A Split Decision From Unanimous

    Goddard recently appeared on the talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel to deliver a masterclass on MMA scoring. When asked about judges having contradictory scorecards after a fight, the renowned referee brought up GSP’s last defense of the UFC welterweight title before leaving the sport temporarily.

    Goddard started by explaining that 15 scores had to be submitted by three judges across the five rounds between St-Pierre and Hendricks. Fourteen of these 15 scorecards were identical. One judge scored the first round for Hendricks, which turned the majority decision into a split one.

    “It’s perfectly understandable why he scored it that way because if you look at the fight and you’ll see there’s a certain point in the first round when Johny’s against the cage. He’s defending a double leg, George is in on a double with him and he throws a series of elbows and you know yourself, being elbowed in the head is not a nice experience and depending on what’s between your ears, that can make a hollow sound or a dull sound. But you look, it was a series of elbows, he was physically marked up by them. And if you look, go back and watch that fight, and as you see those elbows come in, who’s the judge that sat right underneath where they’re happening, Nelson ‘Doc’ Hamilton. And he saw something which was used in his. It was a close round, but at that point, it was enough to swing him.”

    Goddard pointed out that the judge who scored the first round for Hendricks (the ref says it’s Nelson Hamilton mistakenly, but it was Glenn Trowbridge) was seated right next to the fighters during the sequence when “Big Rig” landed some vicious elbows on GSP while defending a double leg. According to the referee, the impact of these elbows would’ve been obvious to one judge in a way it wasn’t for the other two.

    By using this example, Goddard wanted to point out how real-time scoring is very different from what the fans see. Based on their sitting position, all judges get a different viewing angle and hear differently which naturally affects their decisions.

    The acclaimed MMA figure further explained that in contrast to popular understanding, a split decision signifies a close fight. However, because fans have usually placed bets and they’re very passionate about their favorites, split decisions are often instantly seen as robberies.

    “There’s so many factors that come into play when you’re looking at MMA, not just on the highest level. This is regardless of level. There’s so many factors, line of site, your view, how you hear things, how you see things, etc,” Goddard continued, “You know, obviously, if you’re cut or swollen during the fight, the judges can see it. All these factors mate and it’s so like, like I said when the public jump on something because of it’s something they heard and obviously all their misunderstanding on top of that, it just snowballs and exasperates it. And it’s mindblowing!”

    By bringing up several minor factors that MMA fans ignore as viewers, Goddard aimed to highlight how likely it is for scorecards to be different, especially in close fights. However, the popular sentiment is that scorecards should be unanimous in most cases and a split decision means that at least one judge got it wrong.

  • Jorge Masvidal Touts Bellator Star As A ‘Future UFC Champion’: ‘He’s On Another Level Right Now’

    Jorge Masvidal Touts Bellator Star As A ‘Future UFC Champion’: ‘He’s On Another Level Right Now’

    Jorge Masvidal recently lauded a Bellator champion, declaring that he envisions this fighter as a future titleholder in the UFC.

    The individual in question is none other than Masvidal’s teammate at American Top Team (ATT), reigning Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen.

    Eblen launched his professional MMA career under the Shamrock FC banner in July 2017, quickly rising through the ranks. After just four fights, he caught the attention of Bellator MMA, making his promotional debut in March 2019, securing a commanding decision victory over Chauncey Foxworth.

    Eblen extended his undefeated streak by dethroning Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 in July 2022, capturing the middleweight title in the process. The 32-year-old native is coming off a split decision victory over 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay at the highly anticipated PFL vs. Bellator event this past February.

    “Gamebred” sees immense potential in Eblen and confidently predicts that he is destined for an even greater future in the sport…

    Masvidal Claims Eblen Shines Brighter Than Other Training Partners At ATT

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal was asked about the fighter who has challenged him the most during training sessions at ATT, as he charts his own MMA comeback. The former BMF titleholder acknowledged that while all his training partners are high-level competitors, Eblen stands out as someone who appears to be in a league of his own.

    “Gamebred” expressed his belief that Eblen could eventually make his way to the UFC and has the potential to become a champion in the world’s premier MMA promotion.

    “Everybody I shake hands with and train with, they’re all pushing me; they’re all freaking pushing me, man. But I got in some good quality rounds with Johnny,” Masvidal said. “Johnny’s getting ready to scrap, and f**k, he’s like on another level right now; he’s hitting the gas pedal very hard. He’s a real nightmare right now at the gym for everybody he’s going with. I’m never gonna name anyone, but there are a lot of guys Johnny’s going in there with, man, and he’s putting in good work. I think this guy’s going to be a future UFC champion.”

    Eblen is preparing to defend his title in a rematch against former rival Fabian Edwards on the main card of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, scheduled for October 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eblen boasts an impressive undefeated record of 15-0, with six of those victories achieved through submissions.

  • Marc Goddard Offers Masterclass On How Takedowns Are Scored In MMA Fights

    Marc Goddard Offers Masterclass On How Takedowns Are Scored In MMA Fights

    Marc Goddard recently provided an in-depth explanation of how takedowns are evaluated in MMA fights.

    The value of takedowns in the estimation of MMA judges remains a very polarizing and complex issue, especially considering that judging is one of the most crucial elements of the sport.

    The MMA community often finds itself at odds over the criteria used for scoring takedowns, especially in grappling-heavy contests, leading to contentious and often unsatisfactory results in high-stakes matches.

    With over 20 years of experience, Goddard has solidified his status as one of the most venerable referees in MMA, having officiated numerous marquee matchups in the UFC and other top promotions. Considering his extensive background, it’s evident that the 50-year-old official has a nuanced understanding of the ins and outs of the game.

    Goddard Outlines How MMA Judges Focus On Inflicted Damage When Scoring Fights

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard was prompted to elaborate on the influence of takedowns on judges’ scoring in an MMA bout. The renowned referee pointed out the absurdity of the belief that simply scoring a takedown and finishing a round on top guarantees a fighter wins that round. He emphasized that not all takedowns carry the same weight and that judges perceive them differently.

    “People think that if you finish the round on top or you take someone down that you’ve won the round; it’s so absurd,” Goddard said. “Not all takedowns are the same, obviously, as not all punches and not all kicks are the same. So if I take you down, if I just run into you and bundle you to the ground and I land in a closed guard or a half guard, yes, it’s an offensive action; yes, it can be given some credit, but it bears absolutely no significance compared to somebody who, like I said, comes back to the effectiveness, the damage, and the impact.”

    Goddard elaborated that in a fight, judges hone in on the damage a fighter inflicts on their opponent, viewing it as the primary metric for scoring while everything else merely serves as a supporting detail – even in the context of a takedown.

    Meaning, the type of takedown is considered by judges.

    “If I clinch with you and I hip tie you or suplex you over my head and slam you or bang you into that mat with impact, again, that could outdo 12 or f**king 13 outside bundles or trips you had before when we fight. Make no mistake about it; the number one criterion, the preeminent factor that a judge will consider, is damage. That’s what it is. It used to be the word ‘impact’; they never liked the word ‘damage,’ but let’s be honest: you’re in a fight, and my job is to damage you within the realms of the rules to render you potentially unable to continue in that fight anymore.”

  • ‘You Want Anyone But Umar. Paper Champ’ – MMA Fans React To Merab Dvalishvili Offering Sean O’Malley Title Rematch

    ‘You Want Anyone But Umar. Paper Champ’ – MMA Fans React To Merab Dvalishvili Offering Sean O’Malley Title Rematch

    Merab Dvalishvili recently found himself under fire from MMA fans after extending an offer to Sean O’Malley for a title rematch.

    “The Machine” seized the UFC bantamweight title by dethroning O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 earlier this month, where he thoroughly outmatched “Suga” with his masterful grappling prowess and six takedowns throughout the bout.

    Despite the outcome, O’Malley has since contested the judges’ scorecards, taking to X to argue that he actually won the fight. The former champ also disclosed that he needs surgery to address a hip injury but assured fans he’ll be back in action by next summer.

    For Dvalishvili, the debate surrounding his first title defense has intensified, with many pointing to the likely #1 contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, as the rightful challenger. However, the Georgian champion has shown little enthusiasm for facing the undefeated Dagestani in his next bout.

    Dvalishvili Slammed By MMA Community Over O’Malley Rematch Offer

    “The Machine” recently took to X to respond to O’Malley’s repeated claims that he never truly lost their bout. Dvalishvili proposed that they settle the score once and for all by running it back at UFC 309, set for November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He went on to say that after silencing O’Malley’s doubts, he’s ready to take on whoever the UFC throws his way next.

    “I hear O’Malley thinks he won the fight and is looking for a rematch,” Dvalishvili tweeted. “If he wants it, he can have it. Let’s do it on November 16th at the Garden, and then I’ll still defend the title against whoever the UFC wants me to fight next. What do you think? @SugaSeanMMA”

    Dvalishvili’s proposal sparked an array of reactions across the MMA community, with many speculating that the newly crowned champion might be attempting to dodge a showdown with Nurmagomedov. Even O’Malley and Nurmagomedov added their voices to the chorus of disapproval.

    O’Malley fired back, revealing he’s scheduled for hip surgery on October 3, and urged Dvalishvili to take on Nurmagomedov in the meantime.

    “Getting surgery Oct 3rd. I fought you with one hip and still beat you. Round 1,3,5. I’m the champ. Fight Umnar.”

    Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov doubled down on his accusations, claiming that Dvalishvili is avoiding a potential clash with him.

    “He’s ready to fight with anyone except Umar Nurmagomedov.”

    One fan chimed in, backing the Dagestani’s claim.

    “You want anyone but Umar. Paper champ.”

    Amidst the flood of negative comments, one fan stood out, applauding “The Machine” for embracing the role of an active champion.

    “Honestly, you might be the craziest champion we’ve had, but at least you’re going to be active, so you’re fine by me.”

    Another fan dismissed Dvalishvili’s proposal, branding it an unfounded offer.

    “You know he’s getting surgery… Baseless offer.”

    One fan jokingly declared that he’d like to be the next to challenge the Georgian champion.

    “If I asked real nice, could I fight you for the belt Merab?”

    “Umnar is not that scary, bro.”

    https://twitter.com/BigBass_69/status/1839617314439737777

    “No. Stop ducking Umar. F**king lame.”

    https://twitter.com/iAmFroggyFresh/status/1839691017039061229

    “The way you’ve been trying to duck Umar is crazzy.”

    “No one wants to watch that again, Merab…least of all your boss, Dana”

    https://twitter.com/CDLessThanDoug/status/1839656512932753700
  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Provides His Prediction For Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Provides His Prediction For Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Stephen Thompson recently shared his forecast for the UFC 307 main event clash between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree.

    “Poatan” is set to defend his UFC light heavyweight title for the third time, this time against Khalil Rountree in the headlining bout of the upcoming pay-per-view on October 5, taking place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Pereira enters this fight riding high off back-to-back successful title defenses against former champions earlier this year. His most recent victory came in June at UFC 303, where he delivered a stunning second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in their short-notice rematch.

    Since joining the UFC in November 2021, the Brazilian’s trajectory has been steadily skyward. After conquering the middleweight division, he made the leap to light heavyweight, and with just one victory at 205 pounds to earn a title shot, he seized gold with a TKO win over Prochazka at UFC 295 last November.

    Meanwhile, “The War Horse” is making his return after serving a 4.5-month suspension for testing positive for a steroid hormone, with the sanction lifted on September 18. He is currently riding a five-fight win streak, with his latest victory being a third-round knockout of Anthony Smith last December.

    Despite being a UFC veteran since 2016, Rountree has often been viewed as someone who hasn’t quite realized his full potential. However, UFC 307 will finally give him his long-awaited first shot at the gold.

    Thompson Believes Pereira vs. Rountree Will Come Down To Who Outstrikes The Other

    During a recent interview with Bodgog Canada, Thompson shared his thoughts on the upcoming Pereira vs. Rountree title fight at UFC 307. While “Wonderboy” clearly favored the the reigning champion, he didn’t shy away from commending Rountree’s top-tier striking ability. He predicted that with both being more comfortable on the feet, the fight will likely be stand-up heavy and determine who the better striker is.

    “I’m leaning towards Pereira as well, but I think it’s a great fight because both guys are very dangerous fighters,” Thompson said. “Khalil Rountree has got some of the best striking as well; it comes from that Muay Thai background, so basically this is going to be a Muay Thai fight. This is going to be a standup battle, toe-to-toe, to see who’s going to be the better striker.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RDauugAV1A&t=475s

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger further explained his clear inclination toward “Poatan,” citing Pereira’s impressive track record. Thompson highlighted Pereira’s devastating one-punch knockout power, coupled with his significant reach advantage, as key factors that make him a formidable force against Rountree.

    “Obviously, I’ve got to lean towards my man Alex Pereira just because of his credentials and what he’s done in the 185 and 205 [pound] divisions in the UFC. I mean, he’s got a left hook with one-hitter-quitter power. Now, Rountree is big and strong, but can he close the gap? Alex Pereira’s got the longer reach, he’s very calm, and he’s very precise—he’s like a sniper out there when it comes to his strikes. It’s a very hard fight, but I think it’s going to be exciting.”

    “Wonderboy” is also set to compete at UFC 307 in a welterweight bout against Joaquin Buckley, marking his return to the Octagon after a 10-month break.

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month for Noche UFC, MMA’s leading promotion has gone back on the road for a card inside the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

    In a first, heavyweight standout Ciryl Gane won’t be topping the lineup. Instead, the Sept. 28 event sees Benoît Saint Denis as the main attraction for the French crowd as he does battle with Renato Moicano.

    Nassourdine Imavov can also expect a good reception for the co-main event. The top-five middleweight contender will look to advance his title ambitions on home soil by ending the winning run of Brendan Allen.

    Ahead of the event, 27 out of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Ailín Pérez’s 0.5-pound miss of the bantamweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Paris ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 12 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • Sean Strickland Details Leaving UFC Champion Coach’s Gym Because He Was Not A ‘Leader’: ‘Don’t Think He Carries The Passion For It…’

    Sean Strickland Details Leaving UFC Champion Coach’s Gym Because He Was Not A ‘Leader’: ‘Don’t Think He Carries The Passion For It…’

    Sean Strickland appears to have landed in the perfect gym for his training style.

    For starters, his heavy emphasis on sparring is helped by how many fighters are always passing through the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas.

    He has also been able to develop a great relationship with the head coach, Eric Nicksick, who is able to handle Strickland’s zany energy.

    Before he found his way to Xtreme Couture, the former UFC middleweight champion was training out of another top gym – but it didn’t suit him quite as well.

    Sean Strickland Compares The Coaching Styles Of Eric Nicksick And John Wood

    Syndicate MMA, also in Las Vegas, is another gym that has achieved a lot of success at the highest level of the sport.

    Veteran coach John Wood has been in the corner of several UFC champions, including Weili Zhang and most recently, Merab Dvalishvili.

    Strickland eventually decided to leave Syndicate before making his way to Xtreme Couture, for a few different reasons.

    One of those reasons was his connection with Nicksick that was very different to the relationship that he had with Wood, due to their different coaching styles.

    On a recent episode of Nicksick’s Verse Us podcast, Strickland explained the difference between them and why he felt more at home after making the switch,

    “Let’s say John wrote an entire book on MMA and you’re like, ‘Oh that’s a good book,’ and say Eric would write a pamphlet, that pamphlet will take you farther than that book, you know what I’m saying? Because like Eric is a leader. He knows how to implement it, he knows how to push it and he knows how to do it.

    “John, on the other hand, he’s more of like, I don’t think he carries the passion for it like you watch, you come to a Monday practice, Eric’s f****** involved bro. The amount of energy he brings, like he is f****** involved. You go to a Syndicate practice, it’s like, ‘Alright we’re going to do wall stuff for like five minutes’.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

  • Kayla Harrison Discusses Worst Case Scenario If Julianna Peña Wins Title: ‘That Would Really Piss Me Off…’

    Kayla Harrison Discusses Worst Case Scenario If Julianna Peña Wins Title: ‘That Would Really Piss Me Off…’

    When it was revealed that Kayla Harrison would not be challenging for the UFC bantamweight title next time out, her goal became very clear.

    At UFC 307, she will fight Ketlen Vieira on the same night that Raquel Pennington defends the title against Julianna Peña.

    If Harrison is able to go out there and put on a dominant performance like she did on her Octagon debut at UFC 300, there will be no denying that she is next for the winner of the co-main event.

    The former PFL star is raring to go with dreams of becoming a UFC champion seemingly now within her reach.

    There is one potential issue with her plan and that involves hearing “and new” on October 5, in Salt Lake City.

    Kayla Harrison Says Juliana Peña Taking Time Off As Champion Would Be Frustrating For Her

    Harrison has made it pretty clear that though the belt is her main objective, beating Peña for it would be an added incentive following their back-and-forth comments in recent times.

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, it was mentioned that if Peña does win the bantamweight title back, it could be a while before we see her defend it.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” hasn’t fought in over two years and has never been the most active fighter on the roster to begin with.

    Harrison said that though she doesn’t want to waste her energy thinking about a problem that is out of her hands, it would be very frustrating for her if she has to wait for Peña to defend the belt.

    “I try not to [think about the long breaks] because control what you can control and trust the UFC, trust that they have a plan but yeah, that would really p*** me off. I’m looking to stay active so hopefully… all is well, I can’t control it. It’s out of my hands but yeah.”

    Read also: UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals…’

  • Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight…’

    Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight…’

    As a veteran referee, Marc Goddard has been the third man in the Octagon for some of the most iconic UFC fights of all time.

    He’s seen his fair share of show stealing knockouts, jaw dropping comebacks and epic encounters that fans will talk about for decades to come.

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard spoke about some of the most memorable fights that he has officiated.

    Find any interview with the Brit talking about this specific question and he always gives the same answer, taking you back to one night in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Marc Goddard Talks About When Israel Adesanya & Kelvin Gastelum Pushed Each Other To The Limit

    At UFC 236, the co-main event of the evening was the highlight of the night even when it was followed by Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 2.

    Israel Adesanya met Kelvin Gastelum with the interim middleweight title on the line and the pair produced an all-time classic.

    This one will always stand out to Goddard when he looks back on all of the fights that he has played a part in, he said.

    “Then number one is, every day of the week, twice on a Sunday, is Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.

    “You find one moment in your life when you think, ‘I’m not going to go away’. In this fight, you had two guys in the exact same moment that wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t believe what I was watching unfold in front of me. I remember that there’s a clip at the beginning of the fifth round and Israel’s looking across him saying, ‘I’m prepared to die.’ Now I didn’t, I’m not looking at this, I’d seen it afterwards but honestly mate, that fight when you got two fighters that went into the deepest, darkest depths of their soul and they went into the deepest, darkest waters imaginable or possible in a fight and I was right alongside them, standing three-foot away, witnessing this unfold.”

    Goddard also said that the fight produced an emotional moment both on that night and when he watches the fight back, after seeing how far both men were able to push each other.

    “As soon as I know they’re safe, I f****** run off with my head in hands and I won’t be ashamed to say, I’ve cried after that fight watching it back because it was ungodly what those guys did. It was ungodly.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

  • ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses…’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest.

    As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since.

    “Funkmaster” was pretty open about the fact that he didn’t want to fight “Suga” when the UFC wanted him to.

    Having just defended his title against Henry Cejudo, Sterling wanted some time off, instead of jumping back into another training camp.

    He spoke about this and how it affected him in the podcast episode.

    “For a guy who’s already depleted, it’s not like I had a lot to lose so to do that drastic weight cut in such a short amount of time, I knew I was like fighting an uphill battle. I’m like, you know, I told my manager no probably like five different times but eventually, somehow, I was eventually convinced to take it.”

    MMA Fans React To Aljamain Sterling Talking About The Decision To Fight Sean O’Malley

    Sterling has come out and said that though he could have and probably should’ve put his foot down to have the best chance of winning this fight, he was persuaded to take it and that’s how it played out.

    However, fans are beginning to become a little fed up over Sterling talking about how his loss was partly down to being cajoled against his wishes to take the fight.

    They voiced their opinions in the comment section underneath the video.

    “He’s done nothing but makes excuses while refusing to give Sean credit.”

    “The more Aljo talks, the more I realise I don’t actually like him”

    “Excuses delusions, misplaced blame and anger and victim mentality effect some fighters so much they can’t see reality. Tyrone Woodly and Aljo are 2 of the damn worst.”

    “Who else is sick of all this victimhood.”

    “Dana hated both of these guys as champions.”

    “Sean o malley had broken ribs and couldn’t grapple and he still fought aljo and whooped him”

    “Bro is STILL talking about this?? Aljo, let it go man.”

    “You got merked, accept it like a man.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Following a successful maiden event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month, the mixed martial arts leader returns to action across the Atlantic.

    This weekend sees the Octagon in Paris, France for the third time. While the previous two UFC Fight Nights in the country’s capital have been headlined by Ciryl Gane, the Sept. 28 event presents the opportunity for another French standout to make a splash.

    In the main event, exciting lightweights Benoît Saint Denis and Renato Moicano go to battle. Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as top-five middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov defends his spot opposite the in-form Brendan Allen.

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, September 28, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

    With that said, you can check out the full weigh-in results below!

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano (156lbs) vs. Benoît Saint Denis (156lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov (186lbs) vs. Brendan Allen (186lbs)
    • Featherweight: William Gomis (146kbs) vs. Joanderson Brito (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Jousset (169lbs) vs. Bryan Battle (170lbs)
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere (146lbs) vs. Gabriel Miranda (146lbs)
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam (156lbs) vs. Matt Frevola (156lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba (205lbs) vs. Ivan Erslan (206lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy (205lbs) vs. Da Woon Jung (205lbs)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (155lbs) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (155lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus (136lbs) vs. Vince Morales (135lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez (136.5lbs)* vs. Dariya Zheleznykova (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez (125lbs) vs. Victor Altamirano (126lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle (136lbs) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Bolaji Oki (156lbs) vs. Chris Duncan (156lbs)

    *Ailín Pérez missed the bantamweight limit by half-a-pound, forfeits 20 percent of her purse

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

    Many rules have been a bone of contention in MMA circles as they can vary across promotions. For instance, the UFC doesn’t allow knees to grounded opponents or 12-6 elbows, unlike ONE Championship. On the flip side, moves like eye pokes, groin strikes, and headbutts are banned across all major promotions for obvious safety reasons.

    Obeying the rules of the promotion and the commission you’re fighting under is very important for fighters. Jon Jones lost to Matt Hamill via DQ because he landed multiple 12-6 elbows and similarly, Petr Yan lost his UFC bantamweight championship for landing an illegal knee on Aljamain Sterling.

    Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch believes a couple of rules in MMA should change to stop fighters from exploiting them…

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals How Aljamain Sterling Exploits A UFC Rule And Wishes To Get It Changed

    Welch was asked about the MMA rules he would change on his official YouTube podcast, recently. Right away, he mentioned that fighters should be able to upkick opponents on top of them.

    It is worth noting that upkicks from the ground to a standing opponent aren’t illegal in the UFC. In fact, Niko Price and Jon Fitch finished their opponents via upkicks in the promotion.

    However, it is illegal to upkick an opponent while their knees are down. Back in May 2021, Randa Markos was disqualified for kicking Luana Pinheiro from the ground while the latter’s was sitting on the ground.

    Charles Oliveira is notorious for landing upkicks too. He threw one at Islam Makhachev that could’ve knocked the Dagestani fighter out. Even against Tsarukyan, he landed an illegal upkick as the opponent’s knees were grounded following which the referee warned “Do Bronxs” and stopped the action temporarily.

    Welch, though, believes that the upkicks to a grounded opponent should be legal in the UFC. Another tactic he dislikes is fighters staying in a safe front headlock position to rest up as they cannot be kneed during the time.

    Welch called out Sterling for exploiting the grounded fighter rule sometimes and a great example of this is when “Funkmaster” took on Henry Cejudo. During multiple exchanges when Aljo would shoot for a takedown and fail, he would immediately bend his knees, leaving Cejudo with no viable moves.

    “The upkicks. If some f*****g guy’s on top of you, on his knees, whatever, you should be able to upkick him to his f*****g lips. I think that front headlock one too. People shoot into a front headlock and they can hang out there without getting damage and almost rest there. I mean, Aljo does it sometimes but to be able to knee the top of their head, boom, boom, boom, so they can’t rest there. So if you shoot in a front headlock, you fail on a shot, you got to pull the half guard and get to your back or you got to make a move. Not just sit in that frontlock thinking I’m safe.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Since losing his UFC featherweight title in February 2024, Alexander Volkanovski has been out of action and fans are happy to see him getting the well-deserved time off. However, the former champ is now back to training and is already talking about potential matchups.

    Volkanovski was the featherweight kingpin for five years, defending the belt as frequently as possible. He also fought the UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev twice and for all these memorable moments, no one’s complaining about his expectation to get an immediate title rematch.

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is still a month away, though. In the meantime, Volkanovski would be happy to take a big money fight with Conor McGregor and then try to reclaim the UFC featherweight title…

    Alexander Volkanovski Thinks It’s Feasible To Fight Conor McGregor Before Rematching Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway For The Title

    From Topuria and Holloway to Diego Lopes and McGregor, Volkanovski discussed several potential opponents for his return on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently.

    “The Great” is open to fighting McGregor before he gets the rematch with the winner of Topuria vs. Holloway. Both fighters have had dominant winning streaks in the featherweight division and have beaten big names like Holloway and José Aldo.

    With McGregor eager to book his UFC return as well, Volkanovski stated that he could fight “The Notorious” in late December or early 2025. He can focus on fighting the UFC featherweight champion later in 2025.

    “It’s like title fights, exciting fights, and maybe, short notice fights, that’s the things that excite me, you know what I mean? So, now, I’m, you know obviously doing good now, back in training. Training hard in that as well, but yeah just what excites me. It’s just doing a contender fight in featherweight division, that doesn’t really get me out of bed. It would have to be a build on the line to get me excited and obviously, the Conor Mcgregor fight is very exciting.”

    Volkanovski admitted to only wanting title fights, exciting fights, or short-notice fights for his return. Although he has no plans to be in a title eliminator against Lopes, the McGregor fight is definitely exciting for him and it wouldn’t impact his imminent rematch for the title as well.

    The former UFC P4P No. 1 fighter also explained why he would choose to fight McGregor over Ilia Topuria at the moment.

    “That’s a tricky one. I mean, obviously, I want that, I want that match back with Ilia, right, yeah? But I mean, right now, well, I don’t know exactly what’s happening in February. If Ilia wins, I don’t even know where he would want to fight. I don’t think, you know, I think they might be talking about maybe Sydney or something. I don’t think Ilia is going to want to fight there. So, who knows how long it is going to be. Is he gonna wait another six to seven months? So, I’ll say Conor McGregor right now, because then I could still do Ilia straight after that.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Agrees To Fight Diego Lopes Over Winner Of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway On One Condition

    Alexander Volkanovski Agrees To Fight Diego Lopes Over Winner Of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway On One Condition

    Before anyone could say Jack Robinson, Diego Lopes has become the No. 3 ranked UFC featherweight contender in the world. He lost his Dana White’s Contender Series fight in September 2021 and racked up two wins in Lux Fight League and Fury FC before making his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev on short notice in May 2023.

    Although Lopes lost the Evloev fight, his impressive performance solidified his position in the promotion. Since then, he’s won five fights in a row and following the latest victory over Brian Ortega, he’s eyeing a title fight or a title eliminator with Alexander Volkanovski.

    The former UFC featherweight kingpin has finally revealed what would compel him to take on Lopes instead of the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway…

    Alexander Volkanovski Reveals The Only Scenario Where Fighting Diego Lopes Would Make Sense For Him

    Volkanovski appeared on the Submission Radio YouTube channel to clear the air around his next fight. When asked about Lopes, “The Great” stuck to what he’s been saying ever since losing the title. He’ll return to fight for the undisputed UFC featherweight championship and he’ll share the Octagon with Lopes if a title is involved.

    Volk presented a scenario where either Holloway or Topuria might need time off after their UFC 308 showdown. He remembered that Holloway also has the BMF belt and can move up weight classes which might incentivize the UFC to make an interim title fight.

    “If it was going to be him next, you know, something would have to happen to one of the guys, you know, from the fight where they get injured or move divisions or whatnot, you know. And there’s an interim title or something like that, obviously I’m not scared of nobody but I’ll fight for the title and that’s that. So that’s the only way that sort of happens, but you know you never know what happens right? Like the boys, the guys are fighting. Max has got a BMF belt. What’s he going to do if, you know? If Max wins, what’s his next fight? Is he defending the featherweight belt straight away or is he going BMF so that could open the door for maybe a, you know, an interim or something.”

    So, an interim title fight is the only thing that would motivate Volkanovski to fight Lopes. Volk being Volk, he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a non-title fight with the Brazilian prospect. However, he seems adamant about returning to only fight for the featherweight belt for now.

  • PFL Superstar Highlights ‘Firecracker’ Of A Fighter Who Is Going Under The Radar At UFC Paris

    PFL Superstar Highlights ‘Firecracker’ Of A Fighter Who Is Going Under The Radar At UFC Paris

    PFL star Brendan Loughnane recently said that he feels a fighter on the UFC Paris card has the potential to deliver an electrifying performance, yet everyone is overlooking him.

    The fighter Loughnane is spotlighting is Morgan Charriere, who’s gearing up to face Gabriel Miranda in a featherweight showdown on the main card of this Saturday’s Fight Night event at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

    Charriere made a memorable promotional debut with a spectacular first-round knockout of Manolo Zecchini during last year’s inaugural UFC Paris event. “The Last Pirate” boasts a professional record of 19-10-1, with an impressive 11 victories by knockout.

    However, since his explosive debut, Charriere has only made one additional Octagon appearance, where he lost to Chepe Mariscal via a split decision this past April. Despite the setback, Loughnane is confident it doesn’t define the 28-year-old Frenchman’s true potential.

    The former PFL featherweight champion believes Charriere possesses all the tools to turn the tide and become a force to be reckoned with, while also carrying immense star power in his homeland.

    Loughnane Has Followed Charriere’s Journey Since His Time At Cage Warriors

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Loughnane shared his thoughts on the upcoming Charriere vs. Miranda bout at UFC Paris. The seasoned British fighter revealed that he’s been tracking “The Last Pirate’s” career since his Cage Warriors days and confidently vouched for Charriere’s ability to deliver an electrifying performance for the fans.

    “I watched him in his Cage Warriors days, mate, he’s up for it, let me tell you,” Loughnane said. “Really, really dangerous fighter. I watched him on his rise through Cage Warriors, and it’s great to see him now progress onto these stages with the UFC. Let’s see how far he can go—another firecracker.”

    Loughnane went on to praise the UFC for the smart decision to feature Charriere on the UFC Paris card, noting that the Frenchman is a massive draw in his home country.

    “It’s good that they’re building him up through these French cards, getting this whole crowd behind him because, from what I’m seeing—I’ve not personally been to France—but watching MMA from the outside, and with [Cédric] Doumbé and all that, they really get behind their own. It looks like they’re really getting behind their fighters and Morgan’s definitely one they can rally behind. He’s fan-friendly, talks the talk, walks the walk, and I love watching him fight.”

    Before making his way to the UFC, Charriere competed under the Cage Warriors banner, where he carved out an impressive run and eventually captured the featherweight championship, finishing with a record of 6-3 in the promotion.

  • Brendan Allen Argues Why Benoît Saint Denis Should Not Headline UFC Paris

    Brendan Allen Argues Why Benoît Saint Denis Should Not Headline UFC Paris

    Brendan Allen believes he, not Benoît Saint Denis, deserves the spotlight as the headliner of the UFC Paris fight card.

    The UFC is making its much-anticipated return to the “City of Lights” this weekend at the Accord Arena in Paris, exactly one year after its last event, with a Fight Night event packed with French talent.

    Headlining the upcoming event is a lightweight showdown between Renato Moicano and Saint Denis. Meanwhile, the co-main event promises fireworks as Allen faces Nassourdine Imavov in a high-stakes middleweight clash that could have serious implications in the division.

    When announcing the fights last month, UFC CEO Dana White emphasized Allen’s seven-fight win streak, positioning him on the verge of title contention. Believing his bout holds greater weight, “All In” argues that, from a competitive standpoint, his matchup carries far more significance than the Moicano vs. Saint Denis clash, which he feels lacks meaningful consequence.

    Allen On Saint Denis Headlining UFC Paris: ‘Just Put Him On The Card, People Will Still Come Watch’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fightingo, Allen voiced his frustration over not being selected to headline UFC Paris.

    “All In” admitted he felt a slight sense of disrespect, considering his fight is a potential title eliminator yet was relegated to the co-main event. He argued that the Moicano vs. “God of War” matchup should have taken the co-headliner spot, given that neither fighter holds a high ranking in the division.

    “I feel like it’s a little disrespectful to me and not just to me, but to Imavov as well,” Allen said. “Our fight has potential title implications wrapped around it, whereas this is #11 and #14 [#12], I think, if I’m not mistaken. The two guys in the main event should be the co-main event under us.”

    Allen went on to say that while Saint Denis is understandably popular in his home country, fans will show up regardless to support their fellow compatriot no matter his card position. However, the 28-year-old South Carolina native emphasized that both he and Imavov have global recognition

    “I get it, Saint Denis is super famous here, but at the end of the day, people are going to come watch the fight no matter what, whether he’s on the co-main or the main [event]. Just put him on the card—people are still going to come watch. But when it comes to worldwide MMA and fans, everyone knows me and Imavov are the real main event. I just felt, being as we’re so close to a title, one of us is obviously going to move forward into that potential opportunity. That’s why I feel like we should have fought five rounds.”

  • UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals…’

    UFC Superstar Kayla Harrison On The Importance Of Being A Role Model: ‘You’ll Never See Me With DUIs Or Scandals…’

    Kayla Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the crucial role of being a positive influence, particularly for the younger generation. She stands as a beacon of mastery in women’s combat sports. Her unmatched accomplishments speak volumes, positioning her as the very definition of greatness.

    Harrison began her judo career in 2008, swiftly dominating her competition at both the Junior and World Judo Championships with an unstoppable streak. She then carried that momentum into the 2012 London Olympics, where she etched her name in history by securing the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in judo.

    Harrison replicated her Olympic triumph at the 2016 Rio Games, claiming her second gold medal in the 78 kg division. Following this historic achievement, the 34-year-old Ohio native set her sights on the world of MMA. She made her debut under the PFL banner in July 2018, and within just two years, she ascended to the top, capturing the promotion’s women’s lightweight championship.

    After an impressive 16-1 run in the PFL, Harrison made her long-awaited UFC debut in spectacular fashion, dismantling former champion Holly Holm at UFC 300 this past April – that too in bantamweight, a weight class she had never previously competed in.

    Harrison’s career has been marked by nothing but success, and she remains focused on staying above the fray in her quest to be a shining example for others to follow.

    Harrison On Being Role Model: ‘I Take It Very Seriously’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison was asked about leveraging her popularity to inspire young girls to pursue MMA. The former PFL lightweight champion expressed that being a role model is a responsibility she takes to heart, and it remains one of her ongoing goals.

    “My goal is always to be the light in the world that I want to see,” Harrison said. “I take being a role model very seriously. I consider it an honor and a responsibility.”

    She emphasized that this is why she makes a conscious effort to avoid any controversy, ensuring that kids can look up to her as a positive example.

    “That’s why, hopefully, knock on wood; as long as I don’t have a nervous breakdown, you’ll never see me with DUIs or scandals or anything like that because of how I carry myself. I want little girls and boys all over the world to know that if you work hard, surround yourself with people who believe in you and believe in yourself; there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.”

    Harrison is preparing for her second appearance in the Octagon, where she’ll face Ketlen Vieira in a pivotal clash at UFC 307 that could serve as a bantamweight title eliminator. The pay-per-view event is set to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.