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Category: MMA

  • Aljamain Sterling On Narrative That O’Malley Looked ‘Flat’: ‘Like Conor McGregor Against Khabib…’

    Aljamain Sterling On Narrative That O’Malley Looked ‘Flat’: ‘Like Conor McGregor Against Khabib…’

    After losing the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 306 on Saturday night, some questioned whether Sean O’Malley had an off night.

    Dana White in his post-fight press conference said that in his opinion, “Suga” didn’t look himself but this has since been dispelled by O’Malley himself.

    The former champ said that he was coming into the fight feeling great and there were glimpses of that in the fight.

    Despite it feeling fairly one-sided to a lot of people, O’Malley won two rounds on two of the scorecards meaning that he wasn’t that far away from retaining the belt via split decision.

    A former opponent of his disagrees with the idea that the main event played out how it did due to one man not firing, rather than Merab Dvalishvili being incredibly effective.

    Aljamain Sterling Disputes The Idea That Sean O’Malley Looked Off At UFC 306

    In his recap of UFC 306, Aljamain Sterling disagreed that O’Malley wasn’t firing on all cylinders at the Sphere this past weekend.

    The former bantamweight champion, who was in Dvalishvili’s corner, pointed to how “Suga” started the fight looking great, saying that this only changed once the challenger started to have success.

    Not to mention the third round, which he won on two scorecards, and the final round where he hurt his opponent with a body kick and tried to find the finish in the closing moments.

    Having faced O’Malley back at UFC 292, Sterling helped Dvalishvili prepare for him by replicating his style.

    When reflecting on the fight, he said that the defending champion came out exactly how they expected him to which meant they were able to execute their game plan.

    “I give credit where due, he was well prepared to say he looked flat makes no sense. The opening bell when he’s coming out with those faints, those hip twitches that he does so well where he’s shaking off to the side, shaking off to the other side and then looking for those long strikes. He came out exactly like Conor McGregor did against Khabib. Now I gave Merab that same exact look, coming out with the fingers, long, trying to hit the feints and trying to go to the body, trying to go up top.”

    Read also: Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs Nurmagomedov

  • Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    The next bantamweight title fight already appears to be lined up following the main event of UFC 306 this past weekend.

    Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere to become the new champion and was immediately asked about the prospect of facing Umar Nurmagomedov next.

    Though Dvalishvili doesn’t seem too sold on the idea, the UFC is clearly heading in this direction after Nurmagomedov defeated Cory Sandhagen in August.

    In a clash of two of the most feared grapplers in the UFC right now, a former UFC champion believes that cardio may be the difference between them.

    Demetrious Johnson Says Conditioning Could Be Key For Merab Dvalishvili Against Umar Nurmagomedov

    In his post-fight breakdown of the main event at Noche UFC, Demetrious Johnson spoke about the next step for the new king of the bantamweights.

    The former UFC flyweight champion said that when looking at Dvalishvili and how he matches up with Nurmagomedov, a few key differences stand out.

    “Mighty Mouse”, who recently announced his retirement, drew attention to the fact that whilst the champion is known for smothering his opponents, Nurmagomedov is usually less reliant on pressure.

    Johnson therefore believes that Dvalishvili’s seemingly endless gas tank could be his biggest weapon in this fight because we haven’t seen that same pace and output from the potential challenger.

    “This is going to be interesting because I feel his [Merab] conditioning is going to be the X-factor because we know he’s not going to stop, he’s going to be a busy bee around the Octagon to where this gentleman [Umar] has the high kicks, he’s very long, he’s very big and he also has the wrestling but he does not have the work ethic like this man [Merab]. Not saying he doesn’t have the work ethic, he doesn’t have just that, ‘I’m coming to smash you, I’m coming to smother you,’ like Khabib. This man [Merab] has that bear gene were he just comes and gets you where he’s [Umar] more strategic.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

  • What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    UFC 306 (Noche UFC) is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas last week, where the unique Sphere venue played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Fight Capital of the World.” Of note were title wins for Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko, as well as the biggest victory to date for surging fan favorite Diego Lopes.

    While the aftermath of the September 14 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the bantamweight title picture to the 205-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 307, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5, reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira will compete for the third time this year, once again in defense of the gold. Following knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, “Poatan” will next face a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns for her first defense. “Rocky” is set to meet the challenge of a former champion and fellow TUF 18 competitor in Julianna Peña.

    Sterling, Harrison, Holland Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 307

    Before Pereira and Pennington defend their belts in the “Beehive State,” a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who is looking to keep his ball rolling at 145 pounds following a successful divisional debut opposite Calvin Kattar earlier this year. To keep his pursuit of two-weight glory alive, “Funk Master” must blemish the perfect record of #6-ranked contender Movsar Evloev.

    Prior to that, another notable name will look to stake her claim for a shot at championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage as two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison makes her sophomore Octagon appearance. After submitting Holly Holm on debut at UFC 300, the former judoka will look to go two for two at the expense of Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City.

    And opening the main card will be the always entertaining Kevin Holland, whose second outing since returning to middleweight sees him matched up against top-10 competition in the form of Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over a number of prominent names on the prelims, including Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, José Aldo, and Carla Esparza.

    See below for the full UFC 305 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
    • Raquel Pennington (C) vs. Julianna Peña (women’s bantamweight championship co-main event)
    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (bantamweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight)
    • Nate Landwehr vs. Austin Hubbard (lightweight)
    • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington (women’s strawweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux (light heavyweight)
    • Mauricio Ruffy vs. TBD (lightweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Court McGee vs. Tim Means (welterweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. Cesar Almeida (middleweight)
    Kayla Harrison & Holly Holm
    Image: Cooper Neill/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Alexa Grasso Makes A Promise After Losing Title To Valentina Shevchenko At UFC 306

    Alexa Grasso Makes A Promise After Losing Title To Valentina Shevchenko At UFC 306

    Having been unseated from the flyweight throne at Noche UFC (UFC 306) this past weekend, Alexa Grasso is vowing to bounce back stronger.

    Grasso met Valentina Shevchenko once again in Saturday night’s co-main event inside Las Vegas’ Sphere, hoping to get the better of the MMA legend for a second time and close out their trilogy on top.

    That didn’t come to fruition, however, with “Bullet” instead leveling the score in their most one-sided fight thus far.

    After falling to a surprise submission first time around and subsequently failing to regain the belt in a tight rematch that was ruled a draw, Shevchenko left no doubt about her superiority at UFC 306, using a smothering wrestling attack to pitch a shutout on the scorecards.

    Given the difficulty many had predicting a winner in the lead-up, Grasso’s uncompetitive display came as a surprise. And reacting to the result herself, the Mexican has pledged better next time out.

    Grasso Thanks Fans, Promises Improvements

    A couple of days on from the end of her reign, which came at the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, Grasso made her first statement in relation to the result.

    The now-former champ thanked her fans for their support and unsurprisingly admitted that things went far from how she had hoped.

    That’s something she promised to rectify next time out when she attempts to work her way back toward the flyweight gold.

    “I want to thank you for all your support 🤍 It wasn’t the night I wanted,” Grasso wrote in Spanish. “I’ll get back to training and I promise the next fight will be much better.”

    While Grasso looks to rebound in her return down the line, Shevchenko will have her sights on cementing her second divisional rule and establishing the kind of dominance she was able to find first time around.

    It would appear likely that the first step in that pursuit comes against Manon Fiorot in early 2025. The Frenchwoman has established herself as a top contender by winning all seven of her UFC fights to date, including over Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield. She was also in Las Vegas last week to weigh in as the backup fighter for the UFC 306 co-main event.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Points Out Merab Dvalishvili’s Hypocrisy: ‘When Topuria Fought For The Title…’

    Umar Nurmagomedov Points Out Merab Dvalishvili’s Hypocrisy: ‘When Topuria Fought For The Title…’

    Umar Nurmagomedov doesn’t think newly crowned UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili has been consistent with his views.

    Dvalishvili secured a long-awaited crowning in the main event of this past weekend’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view, held inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    The Georgian closed out the show with a dominant grappling performance to unseat Sean O’Malley from the 135-pound throne, making good on his confident pre-fight predictions to end “Suga’s” reign.

    While the Montana native looks to work his way back to the gold in his return down the line, “The Machine’s” focus will soon turn to the start of his divisional rule. And the champ isn’t short on potential threats.

    Leading the pack appears to be Umar Nurmagomedov, who seemed to place himself as next in line for a shot by getting the better of Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi last month. The Dagestani was in attendance on Saturday night as his possible next opponent emerged.

    Dvalishvili, however, has remained consistent in dismissing “The Young Eagle” as a worthy contender, insisting that Nurmagomedov hasn’t done enough to earn an opportunity over Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Nurmagomedov Further Questions Dvalishvili’s Stance On His Title Shot

    Amid Dvalishvili’s frequent downplaying of his title credentials, Nurmagomedov has hit back on social media, claiming that real champs do not attempt to “choose” their opponents and urging the Georgian not to duck him.

    And in his latest post on the topic, the undefeated contender accused Dvalishvili of hypocrisy by comparing his UFC résumé to date — which “The Machine” has rejected as being title shot-worthy — with that of his friend and compatriot Ilia Topuria before he challenged for the featherweight gold this year.

    “When Merab’s friend, Topuria fought for the title, after 6 consecutive wins, and beating only one top 5 ranked opponent Josh Emmet, I don’t remember that Merab was desperately protesting against such ‘unfairness’.”

    It remains to be seen what will come in the immediate future for Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov. But with both the Dagestani and the in-form Figueiredo staking their claims, the UFC certainly has a big decision to make.

  • Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Michael Bisping recently laid out a possible route for Michael Chandler to secure his long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor, despite the American’s upcoming clash with his old rival, Charles Oliveira, looming on the horizon.

    “Iron” finds himself simmering with mounting bitterness, having been mired on the sidelines for an extended period while awaiting a fight with McGregor. Now, with that elusive matchup still out of reach, Chandler is set to face Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Chandler and Oliveira’s upcoming bout will serve as a rematch of their vacant lightweight title clash at UFC 262 in May 2021, where “Do Bronx” secured a second-round TKO victory to claim the championship.

    Chandler has been biding his time, eagerly awaiting his showdown with “The Notorious” ever since they faced off as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. Throughout this period, Chandler has stayed focused on his training while turning down opportunities to face other contenders.

    However, after encountering numerous setbacks in booking their bout, the two were eventually set to headline UFC 303 this past June, only for the bout to be scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor withdrew just two weeks before the event.

    The UFC 309 fight doesn’t entirely close the door on Chandler’s ambitious plans to face the former two-division UFC champion. In fact, Chandler remains optimistic, expressing confidence that his highly anticipated clash with McGregor could still come to fruition sometime in 2025.

    Bisping Discusses How Chandler Might Still Land McGregor Fight

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC lightweight division, particularly as Chandler is set to fight Oliveira in a high-stakes rematch.

    The UFC Hall of Famer acknowledged that while this bout doesn’t carry the same blockbuster allure as a fight with McGregor, it holds equal significance for “Iron.” A victory over “Do Bronx” could propel Chandler back into the heart of a second title contention conversation.

    “He’s stepping in against Charles Oliveira,” Bisping said. “We know this is a rematch. Of course, Chandler had some success in the first fight—he did hurt Oliveira, but he also got hurt himself. He got dropped, so this is a very relevant fight for Michael Chandler. It’s not the Conor McGregor matchup, but it is a fight that is relevant in the title picture. If Chandler can go out there, if he can beat Charles Oliveira, if he can get his hands on Islam Makhachev next, which is what he says he wants, and become the champion of the world, then he can get a fight with Conor McGregor down the line.”

    “The Count” went on to suggest that if Chandler manages to capture the 155-pound title, it could pave the way for a future showdown with McGregor. Although McGregor’s prolonged absence from the Octagon would undoubtedly raise questions and draw heavy scrutiny, his undeniable star power could still secure him the fight.

    “Even though Conor McGregor shouldn’t get a title fight and you’ll all say I’m crazy, the man is super popular, and numbers talk, right? Money talks, bullsh*t runs the marathon. If Chandler is the champ, and Chandler said that McGregor’s road back to the Octagon only goes through him, we could see Chandler vs. McGregor for the lightweight strap. But there’s a lot of ifs and buts.”

    Chandler has been absent from the Octagon for nearly two years now. His last appearance came against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, where “Iron” suffered a third-round submission loss despite a valiant showing. Meanwhile, McGregor has remained on the sidelines ever since suffering a devastating leg break during his trilogy bout against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s coach recently heaped praise on Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless fighting style.

    “The Machine” turned in arguably the best performance of his career when it mattered most, dominating Sean O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, to claim the 135-pound title.

    The bout played out precisely as many experts had foreseen, with Dvalishvili applying relentless aggression from the opening bell to the final horn. His barrage of takedowns and commanding grappling exchanges completely neutralized O’Malley’s striking arsenal.

    Dvalishvili was all gas, no brakes, taking “Suga” down at will and dictating the pace for the majority of the contest. By the end, the victor was clear, with Dvalishvili claiming UFC gold via a decisive unanimous decision from the judges.

    Following Dvalishvili’s victory, a whirlwind of speculation has erupted over who will step up as the Georgian’s first title challenger. Throughout fight week, the newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion has consistently floated Deiveson Figueiredo as the most deserving opponent. At the same time, Dvalishvili has shown a noticeable disinclination to face the undefeated Nurmagomedov next.

    Mendez Foresees How Potential Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Clash Would Play Out

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Mendez was asked to weigh in on how a potential title showdown between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov might unfold. The renowned MMA coach lauded ‘The Machine’s’ incredible cardio, predicting that the reigning champion would present a formidable challenge for his protégé. However, he noted that the Dagestani has certain advantages that could shift the momentum in his direction.

    “It’s going to be fought on the standup, it’s going to be fought on the ground,” Mendez said. “I believe we’re sharper on the stand-up. I believe we’re sharper on the ground. I believe what he has is incredible cardio, and that’s a big part that’s to his advantage. I don’t know of anybody in the bantamweight division that has that kind of advantage. He’s got incredible cardio, so if you’re going to go with him and it’s going to go five rounds, you’ve got to be prepared to go five hard first rounds because that’s what this guy is all about. He’s got an incredible gas tank; he kind of reminds me of Cain Velasquez in the bantamweight division.”

    Mendez went on to reveal that Nurmagomedov is poised to be the next challenger for Dvalishvili’s title. According to him, discussions for the potential showdown are already underway, though he expressed some uncertainty about how things will unfold in the near future.

    “As far as I know, it [the fight] is being offered. It’s just a matter of whether they can work out the deal. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, right? So even though I’m telling you this, it may be something else. I do know that we are supposed to be the next challengers after this [Noche UFC 306]. That’s why he [Nurmagomedov] was there. Why did they show him as the next challenger for the title? Why did Joe Rogan even bring it up if they weren’t trying to build up the next fight? It’s the next fight. Now, will it happen? Let’s see.”

    Nurmagomedov is riding a six-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon and is fresh off a commanding unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi this past August.

    The younger cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has been campaigning for a title shot ever since his last victory, but Dvalishvili has put his challenge on ice. Now, only time will reveal who the reigning champion selects as his next opponent.

  • Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

    Conor McGregor’s Coach On Whether Islam Makhachev Can Outdo Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Legacy

    It almost seemed written in the stars that after Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev would take over in his place.

    What wasn’t predictable at the time was that Makhachev would go on to be arguably the best fighter in the sport today.

    The current lightweight champion has been so impressive since winning the belt at UFC 280 that it has led to the conversation of whether he’s better than “The Eagle” ever was.

    Another big question is whether Makhachev will ever be able to overtake his close friend’s legacy after Nurmagomedov retired with an undefeated record of 29-0.

    Though there isn’t competition between them, the 32-year old was always going to have high expectations hanging over him.

    John Kavanagh Outlines How Islam Makhachev Can Potentially Overtake Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Though Makhachev doesn’t have the option of beating Nurmagomedov’s undefeated run, there are ways that he can accomplish feats that the former champion didn’t.

    The current 155-pound king has spoken a lot about wanting to move to welterweight in the near future though those plans seem to have been put on hold now that Belal Muhammad, who does parts of his camps with Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, has become the 170-pound champion.

    In a recent interview with Islam Babadzhanov, John Kavanagh gave his take on if and how Makhachev can pull out in front of “The Eagle”.

    The long-time coach of Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland also pointed to the lightweight champion adding a second belt to his collection which Nurmagomedov never had the option to do.

    “Wow. I’m sure there is [a chance for him to outdo Khabib] but it’s hard. You know, Khabib had obviously such a fantastic run. Maybe Islam can do a ‘champ champ’ and go up some weight classes. We will see.”

    Read also: ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

  • VIDEO: Fan Goads Brian Ortega About Tracy Cortez Relationship After UFC 306 Loss

    VIDEO: Fan Goads Brian Ortega About Tracy Cortez Relationship After UFC 306 Loss

    Brian Ortega recently became embroiled in a fiery altercation with a fan who hurled comments at him about ex-girlfriend, Tracy Cortez, following his defeat at Noche UFC 306.

    “T-City” finally met Diego Lopes in the Octagon on the main card of one of the most highly anticipated pay-per-view events last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, Ortega never found his footing in the bout, as Lopes came dangerously close to finishing him in the opening round. From there, the rising Brazilian star unleashed a relentless assault throughout the fight.

    By the final bell, Ortega was left battered and bruised, his left leg nearly crippled from Lopes’ unforgiving barrage of leg kicks. In the end, Lopes secured a unanimous decision victory.

    Ortega and Lopes were originally set to face off in a featherweight showdown as the co-main event of UFC 303 in June. However, the 33-year-old Californian had to withdraw on the day of the event due to health complications stemming from a difficult weight cut, even after the fight was moved to lightweight.

    Ortega Shows Frustration When Linked To Cortez

    As Ortega made his way backstage after a disheartening loss to Lopes, a fan in the crowd taunted him with a cruel remark, shouting that, after losing the fight, Cortez surely wouldn’t want him now.

    “Tracy ain’t not want you no more,” the fan said. “Tracy’s done with you.”

    What the naysayer likely didn’t anticipate was that ‘T-City,’ already reeling from his defeat, would charge at him in a fit of fury, ready to confront the taunts head-on. However, before things could escalate, security intervened, pulling Ortega back and preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.

    The romantic connection between Ortega and Cortez became one of the UFC’s most talked-about love stories. The pair dated for nearly two years and were even rumored to be engaged at one point. Frequently seen together at UFC events or supporting each other from their respective corners, the couple never hesitated to flaunt their affection on social media.

    However, the couple called it quits early last year, and their highly publicized separation fueled a flurry of speculation. Yet, despite the public drama, the real reason behind their breakup remains cloaked in mystery.

  • Jon Jones: Stipe Miocic Fight At UFC 309 Is ‘Gonna Be The Last Time’

    Jon Jones: Stipe Miocic Fight At UFC 309 Is ‘Gonna Be The Last Time’

    Jon Jones’ return to the Octagon was confirmed this past weekend after the UFC announced more details for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    It has been clear for a long time now that “Bones” would be defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was postponed due to a long-term injury.

    They are once again booked to headline MSG in November and though this match-up taking place on this card has been known but not made official, there is one other big question hanging over this fight.

    Many expected that at UFC 295 last year, there was a strong possibility that both Jones and Miocic would retire after meeting each other inside the Octagon for the first time.

    Despite Dana White’s wishes, that still looks to be on the cards.

    Jon Jones Says That UFC 309 Will Be ‘More Than Likely’ His Last Dance

    There has been a lot of debate about Jones returning to defend his heavyweight title against Miocic.

    Most of this has revolved around interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who believes that he should be getting the opportunity to unify the belts later this year.

    Jones has made it pretty clear that this fight against the surging Brit isn’t a priority for him and he doubled down on that in a recent interview.

    As the consensus greatest of all time was leaving the Sphere after being in attendance at UFC 306 this past weekend, he was stopped and asked about how he’s feeling before returning from another long lay-off.

    The heavyweight champ told Clocked N’ Loaded that he’s raring to go.

    “I feel great, yeah, I feel really, really good. I’m about 250 pounds, lean and strong.”

    Jones was also asked whether he thinks that this will be the final fight of what will potentially end as a 30-fight career following his first heavyweight title defense.

    Though the writing has been on the wall regarding the status of his career after UFC 309, he personally confirmed that this is looking like his last ride.

    “This is gonna be the last time. Gonna be the last time. More than likely.”

    Read also: ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

  • Kamaru Usman Tells Merab Dvalishvili To ‘Embrace’ Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge: ‘I Had Colby Covington’

    Kamaru Usman Tells Merab Dvalishvili To ‘Embrace’ Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge: ‘I Had Colby Covington’

    Following his bantamweight title win in the main event of UFC 306, the promotion was clearly looking to set Merab Dvalishvili up for his first title defense.

    Joe Rogan asked the new champion what he thought about the match-up with Umar Nurmagomedov, which is likely next for him.

    Despite the broadcast capturing Nurmagomedov’s reaction live from the Sphere, Dvalishvili didn’t answer the question that had been posed to him.

    He instead spoke about having a conversation with Dana White first and later, in his post-fight press conference, stated once again that in his opinion, Deiveson Figueiredo is more deserving of the next title shot.

    Kamaru Usman Advises Merab Dvalishvili To Face Umar Nurmagomedov Challenge Head-On

    In an interview with Dvalishvili on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman had offered some words of advice to the title challenger before UFC 306 got underway.

    The former welterweight champion said that the Georgian fighter should look to capitalize on his time as champion by securing the biggest fights possible, meaning that he should welcome a fight with Nurmagomedov rather than pointing to alternatives.

    During his post-event recap alongside Henry Cejudo, Usman once again stressed why he thinks that Dvalishvili should be pushing for this fight.

    Having already made the case that it’s the biggest fight out there for him right now, Usman also believes that this kind of challenge could elevate the new champion.

    Every great fighter needs great rivals to push themselves further than before and “The Nigerian Nightmare” believes that Nurmagomedov offers that.

    He referenced his own welterweight title reign and how his two tough fights against Colby Covington were highly significant moments in his career that helped take him to another level in terms of popularity and influence within the organisation.

    “Merab is not afraid but I know he’s worried about a guy like Umar and sometimes those are the guys that really put you on that next level. Merab might come out there and look like freaking the best we’ve ever seen. So you, and I needed that dance partner. Colby Covington gave me that and so that’s what Merab, at this point, I think if I had any advice for Merab, it’s too embrace that. It’s too embrace that. You’re right, when they did ask him that question, he kinda danced around it.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • Robert Whittaker: Alexa Grasso Didn’t Want To Be In There Against Valentina Shevchenko

    Robert Whittaker: Alexa Grasso Didn’t Want To Be In There Against Valentina Shevchenko

    Valentina Shevchenko closed out her trilogy with Alexa Grasso in dominant fashion in the co-main event of UFC 306.

    The former champion was able to reclaim the title after a controversial rematch that ended in a draw, following their first encounter where she was shockingly submitted.

    Though the second fight between them was very close, no one has been clamouring to see a fourth contest between them after how one-sided the trilogy was, this past weekend.

    The takedowns from Shevchenko totally shut down Grasso’s boxing skills and aside from a few submission attempts, she wasn’t able to stop the challenger’s takedowns which led to her being stuck on the floor for the majority of the duration.

    Robert Whittaker Questions How The Match-Up Was Ever Close After Watching UFC 306

    On a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his analysis of the co-main event.

    He pointed to the fact that there was a huge gap between them this time around compared to their prior encounter at last year’s Noche UFC.

    Even though Grasso was able to secure one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when she submitted Shevchenko at UFC 285, she was down on the scorecards at the time.

    Having seen how easy the “Bullet” made the fight look at points inside the Sphere, Whittaker questioned how this match-up was ever competitive.

    “They’ve fought three times now. I don’t know how Grasso won the first, well I do, she was losing until she submitted Shevchenko right? And then I don’t know how the second one was a draw because this third fight like Grasso did nothing. I don’t want to come down hard on her okay because maybe she was just shut down that heavy but it was a draw last fight.

    “I don’t know, it didn’t look like Grasso wanted to be in that fight. It looked like a significant level difference this time around.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

    ‘That Was A Fluke Too’ – Former UFC Champ Questions O’Malley’s Win Over Sterling After UFC 306

    Merab Dvalishvili proved in the main event of UFC 306 that he had the counter to Sean O’Malley’s style.

    The new bantamweight champion was able to close the distance on “Suga” and implement his grappling and despite several close scorecards, the challenger was seemingly in control of the fight for the vast majority of the duration.

    O’Malley did have some success with his striking, especially in the final moments of the fight but he wasn’t able to catch Dvalishvili in the same way that he was able to his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.

    The “Funkmaster” has openly admitted that he made some crucial mistakes in that fight back at UFC 292 that as we saw this past weekend, could have been very different if Sterling had more effectively closed the gap on his opponent.

    Henry Cejudo Reviews Sean O’Malley’s Performance At UFC 306

    On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, former bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo weighed in with his thoughts on the fight.

    “Triple C” took this opportunity to gloat about how he correctly predicted how the main event would play out based on what he has seen from both men.

    Having faced both Sterling and Dvalishvili in the past, Cejudo felt that the challenger would be too much for O’Malley over five rounds.

    He also believes that O’Malley’s title back at UFC 292 was a “fluke” after he was able to stop Sterling without really having his grappling game put to the test.

    Cejudo made reference to how he was able to put up a better fight against Dvalishvili at UFC 298, where he lost via unanimous decision.

    “What can I say? I predicted these things. Sean is not accustomed to going five rounds and he is no accustomed to people on his legs and I just felt like, I still go back and say hey, that fight with Aljamain Sterling, that was a fluke too. Aljamain was still in that fight and people thought I was just hating. It’s like no, I’ve been in there with Merab, I did a whole lot better than Sean did when I fought Merab. I mean I took down Merab, like Merab is lucky that I had that groin injury.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals What He Said To Enrage Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Merab Dvalishvili captured the UFC bantamweight championship at Noche UFC 306, and while it was a dominant performance, it also came with one of the most bizarre openings to a fight in recent memory.

    In the opening seconds, Dvalishvili could be seen mouthing off, but it wasn’t to opponent O’Malley. Rather, the Georgian challenger appeared to be in an argument with the champion’s corner, particularly his coach Tim Welch.

    Referee Herb Dean brought a swift halt to the bout to warn Dvalishvili for talking to O’Malley’s corner. Dean also gave a warning to Welch for what commentators referred to as “excessive coaching.” Dean would warn O’Malley’s corner later on in the fight.

    The bizarre nature of the pause left many fans confused and looking for clarification. This came especially when the UFC commentary team mentioned that O’Malley’s corner may have initiated the conversation with the title challenger.

    On social media the following day, Welch provided clarification on what he was saying.

    Tim Welch Reveals What He Told Merab Dvalishvili, Tips His Cap To The New Bantamweight Champion

    This is not the first time O’Malley’s corner has been at the center of controversy for talking with a fighter.

    As shown by the UFC documentary on Roku earlier this year, O’Malley’s corner appeared to communicate with Aljamain Sterling when O’Malley challenged him for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 292. “Sugar” to connect with Sterling not long after and finished the fight from there.

    On this occasion, O’Malley struggled with the grappling expertise of Dvalishvili, Sterling’s friend and teammate, as he was taken down several times and nearly submitted in a unanimous decision.

    O’Malley had successfully defended the title just once, defeating longtime rival Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299.

    Dvalishvili, meanwhile, has now won 11 straight fights inside the Octagon.

  • Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

    It would not be far off to say that the performance of Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC (UFC 306) was perhaps the worst he’s ever had in the Octagon — and it ultimately cost him the UFC bantamweight championship.

    O’Malley appeared to struggle with the pressure and takedowns brought on by Merab Dvalishvili as the two faced off in the main event at the Sphere. Though “Suga” gave the Georgian some trouble in the fight’s final round, Dvalishvili ended up scoring a unanimous decision to win the title.

    Not long after the loss, O’Malley made a brief statement on social media, noting the disappointment left in his performance and the result.

    “Over promised under delivered. Sorry. Love you guys,” O’Malley wrote.

    Sean O’Malley Admits Bad Night, Dana White Says He Looked ‘Flat’

    Though there were bizarre circumstances at the start of the fight, the opening rounds saw Dvalishvili make a statement with several takedowns and a couple of guillotine attempts that troubled O’Malley. The defending champ landed the fight’s strongest strikes toward the end of the third round, but that was after another four minutes of grappling masterclass from the Georgian.

    Several front kicks to the midsection left Dvalishvili hurt and in danger in the fifth round, but O’Malley did not turn up the intensity, and it was too little, too late.

    Even UFC CEO Dana White noted the poor performance from O’Malley, saying he looked “flat.”

    “He didn’t look sharp. He didn’t look crisp,” White said at the UFC 306 post-fight press conference.

    Dvalishvili has now won 11 straight fights after dropping his first two Octagon outings. He also gained an ounce of revenge for his teammate and good friend Aljamain Sterling, who O’Malley knocked out at UFC 292 to capture the bantamweight gold.

    O’Malley retained the title once, defeating Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in March.

  • ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    ‘Not The Funnest Fight’ – Daniel Cormier Compares UFC 306 Co-Main Event To Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

    The first three fights on the UFC 306 main card had everyone hyped up. Ronaldo Rodriguez, Esteban Ribovics, and Diego Lopes secured decision wins but the back-and-forth action compensated for the lack of finishes.

    There was a mixed reaction towards the co-main and main event of the night in MMA circles, though. Alexa Grasso was completely dominated by Valentina Shevchenko in their trilogy after the exciting first two fights. Similarly, Sean O’Malley had a few good moments but had no answer for Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling and pace.

    Daniel Cormier compared the two title fights at UFC 306 and explained what made the main event relatively better than the co-main…

    Daniel Cormier Claims Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Was More Exciting Than Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko Despite Similar Outcome

    Cormier recently admitted Grasso vs. Shevchenko to be lackluster while reacting to UFC 306 on his YouTube channel. He hesitated but called “Bullet” the better fighter between the two.

    Although Dvalishvili had a similar game plan against O’Malley, the former UFC double champ credited “Suga” for maintaining threats throughout the fight. On the flip side, Grasso spent much of the fight trying to get back on her feet and gathering failed submission attempts.

    “It was not the funniest fight. It felt like the Merab fight was a little more intriguing because of the danger that Sean O’Malley always seemed to possess. But, Alexa just got dominated and she’s going to have to figure that out. She seemed to spend a lot of time trying to fight off of her back because she knew she would get taken down. But all that did was allow for time to run and when time runs and you’re on your back, you’re losing. Sure, she had some good submission attempts but that’s not enough.”

    “The Machine” beat O’Malley via decision comfortably but the latter landed several good shots and won the last round with constant body shots. Fans could sense a finish whenever the fight went to the feet.

    The former women’s UFC flyweight champion, according to Cormier, could not gain Shevchenko’s respect in striking or on the ground. He expected Grasso to show more urgency and hopes that she fixes these holes in her game going forward.

  • Former UFC Champ Describes Brian Ortega’s ‘Moral Kind Of Victory’ Against Diego Lopes At UFC 306

    Former UFC Champ Describes Brian Ortega’s ‘Moral Kind Of Victory’ Against Diego Lopes At UFC 306

    Diego Lopes beat Brian Ortega via decision at UFC 306 to rise to the top ranks of the UFC featherweight division. He almost secured a finish in the first, but unsurprisingly, Ortega showed unbelievable toughness and survived until the final bell.

    Lopes earned a takedown and controlled Ortega for nearly three minutes while the latter struggled to get going throughout the fight. The prospect outstruck the former title challenger and fans are excited to see him face the likes of Max Holloway or Ilia Topuria for UFC featherweight gold.

    Lopes is the new talk of the town after his dominant win, but former UFC champ Michael Bisping has found a silver lining for Ortega as well…

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Diego Lopes Couldn’t Finish Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    Bisping heavily appreciated Lopes for getting the better of Ortega at UFC 306 while reacting to the event on his YouTube channel. However, he believes that losing via decision is better for the veteran than being finished.

    “Lopes, was kind of, he wanted to test his ground game. He wanted to send a message, he wanted to choke him out, and beat Brian Ortega at his own game. Because of that, he kind of allowed Brian to get back into the fight and see the final bell. There’s a moral kind of victory if you’re Brian Ortega and you see the final bell. Trust me, as a fighter, you want to lose by decision rather than getting finished. And there were finishes multiple times for Diego Lopes.”

    “The Count” explained that trying to submit Ortega on the ground worked against Lopes. “T-City” used his experience to get a guard quickly and rejuvenate himself.

    Bisping had an interesting theory about the knockdown in the first too. He claimed that the right hand knocked Ortega out and the left hook pushed him back to his senses. The former UFC champ feels the fight could have been stopped early if the Brazilian fighter stuck to striking.

    Although he couldn’t get a finish, Lopes’ stock is higher than ever. He can either fight another top-ranked contender in a title eliminator or get the opportunity to grab the UFC featherweight title next.

  • ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    ‘That’s What A Fair Fight Looks Like…’ – Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov, & Other MMA Fighters React To Merab Dvalishvili’s Grappling Masterclass Against Sean O’Malley At UFC 306

    In a fight that will definitely go down as one of the weirdest title fights in UFC history, Merab Dvalishvili gains revenge on behalf of his team and secures the UFC bantamweight championship, defeating Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306: Noche UFC.

    After a start that saw Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s corner be warned for verbally sparring with one another during the fight’s opening seconds, Dvalishvili had a strong performance in the first, thanks to a couple of takedowns and a guillotine choke attempt.

    Dvalishvili continued his dominance in the second round, scoring a couple more takedowns and rode it out in top position. Dvalishvili had another choke attempt in the second round’s closing seconds when more bizarreness unfolded. The Georgian kissed O’Malley’s back, causing O’Malley to fire off a punch to the back of Dvalishvili’s head before the end of the round.

    The third round proved to be more even, with Dvalishvili continuing to find success on the ground, but O’Malley delivering the fight’s strongest strikes in the final minute of the round. Dvalishvili needed just a minute or so in the fourth round to score another takedown, working over O’Malley in top position and continuing to pummel to keep control of the defending champion.

    Even with O’Malley stuffing takedown attempts in the latter rounds, Dvalishvili was dominant when he got on top. Dvalishvili even rocked O’Malley in the closing seconds of the fourth round — a round in which he completely outlanded O’Malley by approximately 60 punches.

    Dvalishvili looked to stay on the outside in the fifth round but had to deal with damaging front kicks from O’Malley. Dvalishvili, however, managed to survive the round and landed two additional takedowns.

    One judge scored the fight 49-46 and the other two 48-47, all in Dvalishvili’s favor.

    Merab Dvalishvili Captures Bantamweight Championship With Strong Decision Win Over Sean O’Malley

    https://twitter.com/MovsarUFC/status/1835198312867045704
    https://twitter.com/chitoveraUFC/status/1835198227202949422

    Dvalishvili has now 11 straight wins after dropping his initial two in the Octagon, coming into the UFC off Dana White: Looking for a Fight.

    O’Malley suffers the second loss of his MMA career. O’Malley won the championship with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling – Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate – at UFC 292. O’Malley retained the title against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in a rematch from O’Malley’s first UFC loss.

  • Noche UFC 306 Results & Highlights: Merab Dvalishvili Decisions Sean O’Malley

    Noche UFC 306 Results & Highlights: Merab Dvalishvili Decisions Sean O’Malley

    Noche UFC (UFC 306) took place tonight from the Sphere in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Sean O’Malley put his bantamweight title on the line against Merab Dvalishvili. While in the co-main event, Alexa Grasso looked to defend her flyweight title in a trilogy bout with former champ Valentina Shevchenko. 

    Noche UFC 306 Results: Main Card

    • Bantamweight Championship Main Event: Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47×2) 
    • Flyweight Championship Co-Main Event: Valentina Shevchenko def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (50-45×3) 
    • Featherweight: Diego Lopes def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27×2)
    • Lightweight: Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Flyweight: Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode’ Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Norma Dumont def. Irena Aldana via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 
    • Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres via TKO: R1, 4.02
    • Strawweight: Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui via submission: R1, 3.02
    • Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Edgar Cháirez via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 
    • Bantamweight: Raul Rosas Jr. def. Aoriqileng via unanimous decision (29-28×3) 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Ketlen Souza def. Yazmin Jauregui

    Ketlen Souza earned the first finish of UFC Noche with a submission of Yazmin Jauregui in the first round of their strawweight bout.

    Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres

    In this lightweight matchup, Ignacio Bahamondes earned a first-round TKO of Manuel Torres.

    Main Card Highlights

    Ronaldo Rodriguez def. Ode’ Osbourne

    In this flyweight bout, Ronaldo Rodriguez earned a unanimous decision against def. Ode’ Osbourne.

    Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber

    Esteban Ribovics earned a split decision against Daniel Zellhuber in what was a potential fight of the year.

    Diego Lopes def. Brian Ortega

    Diego Lopes got it done on the scorecards against Brian Ortega in their featherweight bout.

    Valentina Shevchenko def. Alexa Grasso

    In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko regained her women’s flyweight title with a unanimous decision against Alexa Grasso.

    Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O’Malley

    In the main event, Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley on the scorecards to claim the UFC bantamweight crown.

  • ‘Valentina Dvalishvili’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Shevchenko’s Total Domination Over Alexa Grasso At UFC 306

    ‘Valentina Dvalishvili’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Shevchenko’s Total Domination Over Alexa Grasso At UFC 306

    In the co-main event of UFC 306, Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed the UFC flyweight title from Alexa Grasso in their third meeting.

    The former champ was able to execute a game plan that saw her strike from distance before securing takedowns and dominating the fight with her wrestling, making for an impressive display but a slow fight.

    Grasso was able to threaten with several submission attempts but none of them were close enough to really sway any of the rounds in her favor as she was beaten 50-45 across all three scorecards.

    Despite them now being 1-1-1 in their trilogy of fights, this was by far the most one-sided of their encounters and with many believing that Shevchenko deserved to win the rematch, there isn’t likely to be one more fight between them as of right now.

    MMA Fans React To The Conclusion Of Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko’s Trilogy

    The first-ever trilogy of fights between two women in the UFC has come to an end with Shevchenko once again reigning at the top of the flyweight division.

    MMA fans and fellow fighters reacted to the dominant grappling display from the “Bullet” inside the Sphere.

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    ‘This Dude Is Going To Be One Of The Greats’ – Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling, & Other UFC Fighters React To Diego Lopes’ Dominant Win Over Brian Ortega At UFC 306

    Fight fans and UFC featherweight division – if you didn’t believe in Diego Lopes, do you now?

    In a fight that was originally supposed to happen at UFC 303 before Brian Ortega’s day-of pull-out due to a 103-degree fever, Lopes ended up making a statement scoring a win in a featured bout at Noche UFC 306.

    Lopes managed to drop Ortega in the fight’s opening minute, but Ortega managed to survive a follow-up flurry from the rising featherweight contender.

    The former featherweight title challenger was rocked again during the second round, with Lopes landing a head kick before knocking him down with a vicious leg kick. That combined with a series of leg kicks throughout the fight appeared to do damage and leave a welt on one of Ortega’s legs.

    Lopes rocked Ortega hard with a combination in the third round, dropping him once more, though Ortega was able to get up and throw down until the final horn.

    Diego Lopes Puts On Dominant Display In Victory Over Former Title Challenger Brian Ortega

    Lopes earned respect in his UFC debut, a short-notice loss to Movsar Evolev at UFC 288, and he’s now won five straight since.

    Ortega, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four, including an unsuccessful challenge of Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title at UFC 266 in September 2021.

  • ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    ‘And That, Ladies & Gentleman, Is Mexican Style’ – UFC Fighters All Praise After Daniel Zellhuber & Esteban Ribovics Put On War For The Ages At UFC 306

    In perhaps one of the most competitive and thrilling fights that we’ll see in the UFC this year, Esteban Ribovics managed to just narrowly eke out a victory over Daniel Zellhuber at Noche UFC 306.

    The fight was even throughout, with both men seemingly equal in their striking and damage. Both men displayed high-level striking, trading with one another throughout as momentum and advantage continuously shifted over the course of their 15 minutes of battle.

    The third round proved to be the most intense and thrilling, starting with Zellhuber dropping Ribovics in the opening minute.

    Then, about a minute or so later, Ribovics landed a right hook that wobbled Zellhuber, with Ribovics nearly finishing him against the fence — but Zellhuber fought back and managed to survive.

    Ultimately, neither man swept the scorecards in any of the three rounds. Ribovics, however, managed to just score a split decision.

    Esteban Ribovics Narrowly Defeats Daniel Zellhuber In Fight Of The Year Contender

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1835158120676704301

    Ribovics has now won three straight after initially dropping his UFC debut last year.

    Zellhuber, meanwhile, sees a three-fight win streak snapped.

  • ‘You Can’t Have A Close Fight Against A Mexican…’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Judges Giving Ronaldo Rodriguez Win Over Ode Osbourne In UFC 306 Banger

    ‘You Can’t Have A Close Fight Against A Mexican…’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Judges Giving Ronaldo Rodriguez Win Over Ode Osbourne In UFC 306 Banger

    The PPV main card of UFC 306 kicked off with a bang as Ronaldo Rodriguez and Ode Osbourne delivered a fantastic flyweight fight.

    With a stunning use of the Sphere’s visuals as a backdrop, the two men went back-and-forth with Rodriguez taking the unanimous decision.

    The Mexican fighter had to face some serious adversity in the first round after being dropped by Osbourne and caught in a triangle choke that looked to be the end of the fight.

    He battled his way back into the fight and though his comeback was impressive, the scorecards appeared to suggest that the following rounds were less competitive than they were in reality.

    With two judges scoring the fight 29-27 for Rodriguez, some fans were left scratching their heads, questioning whether they just watched the same fight.

    Adalaide Byrd and Ron McCarthy both gave the victor a 10-8 in the second round which brings up the debate as to why that is a more dominant round than the first was for Osbourne.

    MMA Fans React To Questionable Scorecards In UFC 306 Main Card Opener

    Rodriguez’s performance was certainly worth praising but not necessarily to the point where there was a clear 10-8 round.

    Fans reacted on social media as the 25-year old flyweight picked up another win for the Mexican fighters at Noche UFC.

    https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1835149025458233810
    https://twitter.com/BriarNelson10/status/1835148792020058251

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights

  • ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    ‘Has There Ever Been A Worse Cut In The UFC?’ – Justin Gaethje, Gilbert Burns, & Others React To Irene Aldana’s Nasty Facial Injury At Noche UFC 306 [Graphic]

    Norma Dumont will have a major opportunity in her next outing after putting on a well-rounded performance in a victory over Irene Aldana that closed out the UFC 306 preliminary card at The Sphere.

    But the story of the fight is more centered around the mark or, rather, the nasty gash that was left on Aldana in the fight’s aftermath.

    Late in the second round, Aldana and Dumont accidentally clashed heads, resulting in Aldana being busted open. While the cutman did his best to work with the cut, the cut still lingered into the third round, and the blood was definitely affecting Aldana.

    Dumont continued to deliver an all-around beating, and Aldana was left with perhaps one of, if not the, nastiest and deepest lacerations that has been seen in the Octagon.

    Irene Aldana Left With The Nastiest Gash On Face In Loss To Norma Dumont

    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1835136936245104763
    https://twitter.com/TrickstahhW3M/status/1835136738248855689

    This marks Dumont’s fifth straight victory in the Octagon, improving to an 8-2 record in the UFC.

    Aldana, the former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger, has traded wins and losses on a consistent basis since mid-2019, going 4-4 in her last eight.

  • ‘I Mean It Looks Cool But I Don’t See What The Hype Was About’ – MMA Fans Provide Early Reactions To Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere

    ‘I Mean It Looks Cool But I Don’t See What The Hype Was About’ – MMA Fans Provide Early Reactions To Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere

    UFC 306 is still yet to hit the heights that the fans were expecting with the PPV main card yet to come as of this writing, but there have been a lot of talking points already.

    Most importantly, the prelim action delivered with a fantastic flyweight fight between Joshua Van and Edgar Chairez and several impressive finishes.

    However, the reaction from fans online pointed to many being underwhelmed at how the Sphere was being utilized but there have been a few glimpses of what is still in store.

    Several transitions of the background itself have produced some very impressive visuals that have certainly added to the spectacle from the opposite side of a screen.

    MMA Fans React To The Early Stages Of UFC 306 Inside The Sphere

    UFC 306 had a lot to live up to and as a result, the reaction online was always going to somewhat critical due to the high expectations.

    The fans were promised something special and though the main card is set to be the real attraction that differentiates itself from anything we have ever seen from the MMA leader, fight fans on social media weighed in with their thoughts from the prelim card at Noche UFC.

    A post from Ariel Helwani on X attracted several criticisms of the event thus far.

    Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen chimed in with a brilliant take, describing the backdrop that surrounded the featured prelim between Irene Aldana and Norma Dumont.

    https://twitter.com/JohnnyEblen/status/1835129123670310964

    Read also: Noche UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Live Results & Highlights