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Category: MMA

  • UFC Lightweight Questions Interest In Grasso vs. Shevchenko At UFC 306, Says He ‘Doesn’t Even Care’

    UFC Lightweight Questions Interest In Grasso vs. Shevchenko At UFC 306, Says He ‘Doesn’t Even Care’

    Renato Moicano recently cast doubt on fans’ enthusiasm for the trilogy title fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC 306.

    “Bullet” is slated to meet flyweight champion Grasso in the Octagon for their third—and possibly final—showdown in the co-main event of this highly anticipated pay-per-view, set to unfold this weekend inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The two fighters first clashed at UFC 285 in March 2023, where Shevchenko lost her 125-pound title to Grasso via a fourth-round rear-naked choke in what had been a razor-close contest. Six months later, they squared off again at the first edition of Noche UFC, but the rematch ended in controversy when one judge scored the bout 47-47, resulting in a split draw that allowed Grasso to retain her flyweight crown.

    Following their rematch, Grasso and Shevchenko took on roles as opposing coaches for the 32nd season of “The Ultimate Fighter” earlier this year. However, contenders like Manon Fiorot have since questioned the rationale behind booking a trilogy fight.

    Now, “Money” echoes similar sentiments, expressing his lack of interest and raising doubts about the necessity of the upcoming showdown…

    Moicano Equates Grasso vs. Shevchenko Trilogy with Moreno vs. Figueiredo 3

    During a recent episode of Show Me The Money, Moicano delved into the Grasso vs. Shevchenko trilogy, offering his prediction for the upcoming clash alongside co-host Matthew Tanner. The UFC lightweight veteran expressed skepticism about whether the fight has genuinely sparked fan excitement, even admitting he has little interest in watching the bout himself.

    “I don’t even care about this fight, to be honest with you,” Moicano said. “Do you want to watch that [fight]?”

    Tanner then reminded Moicano of the storyline from the previous two encounters between Grasso and the former flyweight champion, highlighting how their rematch was overshadowed by a controversial scorecard. He also pointed out the age factor between the pair.

    “Money” ultimately backed Grasso as the likely victor but drew parallels to the unpredictable nature of the Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo trilogy.

    “[I will pick] Alexa Grasso just because you say all that stuff, brother. I’m not falling for it. I would not put that on a parlay because, in the first fight, Valentina was winning and then got caught by the choke, and in the second one, Valentina should have won, but the judges messed up. Who knows what’s going to happen in the third one? This is like Moreno and Figueiredo—you never know, man.”

  • UFC Commentator Questions If Valentina Shevchenko’s Age Will Play A Factor At Noche UFC 306

    UFC Commentator Questions If Valentina Shevchenko’s Age Will Play A Factor At Noche UFC 306

    Laura Sanko recently pondered whether Valentina Shevchenko’s age might emerge as a crucial variable in her upcoming title fight against Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC 306.

    Shevchenko is set to challenge reigning UFC flyweight champion Grasso in a highly anticipated trilogy bout, serving as the co-main event of this Saturday’s pay-per-view spectacle at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “Bullet” kicked off her dominant reign as the UFC’s 125-pound champion with a decisive unanimous decision win over Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231 in December 2018, setting the stage for an unstoppable title run. Shevchenko went on to defend her title an impressive seven times, cementing her legacy. However, her historic run hit a roadblock at UFC 285 in March 2023 when she was stunned by Grasso, succumbing to a shocking fourth-round submission.

    The two faced off once again in the main event of the inaugural Noche UFC last September. The result, still a hot topic of debate, ended in a polarizing split draw, with Grasso retaining her title. Despite the stalemate, Shevchenko appeared overwhelmed by the Mexican champion in parts, who got the better of most of the striking exchanges.

    Even before her loss to Grasso, Shevchenko, who turned 36 this March, showed signs of vulnerability during her title defense against Taila Santos at UFC 275 in June 2022. However, the Kyrgyz-born Peruvian narrowly avoided an upset, escaping with a razor-thin split-decision victory.

    All of this has sparked Sanko to question whether “Bullet’s” age might prove to be a deciding factor in the trilogy bout against Grasso…

    Sanko Wonders If Shevchenko’s Best Days Are Behind Her

    During a recent episode of One On One | MMA with Din Thomas, Sanko dove into a discussion about the upcoming Grasso vs. Shevchenko showdown. The UFC’s first female commentator posed an intriguing question to Thomas, asking whether the former flyweight queen could still maintain her razor-sharp edge at 36 or if time has begun to dull her once-dominant prowess.

    “Can you make that adjustment at 36?” Sanko asked. “I can say that as a mature woman of nearly 42. 36 is, you know, it’s not old, but it’s the beginning of what we call old in MMA. It’s the beginning of that if we’re being honest. So, I guess my question to you is: Can she make those adjustments at this stage in her career?”

    Thomas responded by acknowledging that while he’s not ruling out Shevchenko’s chances against Grasso, he believes 36 is the age when fighters often begin to struggle with the psychological demands of the sport, which could impact their performance.

    “The hard part is, physically, I think you could make them, but at 36, what I’m talking about is more psychological. At 36, you’re just in a different place psychologically, and you’re thinking about vacation and bills and what you’re going to do after the fight. Now, that may not be what we admit to, but that’s just what happens. We don’t like to admit that, but you just don’t want to slap a person in the face anymore after 36. It just… I don’t know if she can make those adjustments, but I’m not gonna count her out.”

    Prior to her defeat against Grasso, Shevchenko hadn’t lost to anyone in the UFC aside from Amanda Nunes. However, history has shown that many fighters over the age of 35 tend to exhibit signs of decline in their performances. This makes it all the more interesting to see how Shevchenko will rise to the challenge against Grasso, who is not only four years younger but brimming with momentum.

  • Noche UFC 306 Rising Star Details 3-Year Plan To UFC Title Shot

    Noche UFC 306 Rising Star Details 3-Year Plan To UFC Title Shot

    Daniel Zellhuber recently mapped out an ambitious three-year plan charting his course toward a UFC title shot.

    Zellhuber is gearing up to take on Esteban Ribovics in a lightweight clash on the main card of Noche UFC 306, set to go down this Saturday inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “Golden Boy” earned his spot in the UFC with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Lucas Almeida on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2021. However, his promotional debut a year later didn’t unfold as planned, as he suffered the sole defeat of his professional career at the hands of Trey Ogden.

    Despite this setback, the 25-year-old Mexican rebounded impressively, stringing together a three-fight win streak. Most recently, Zellhuber secured a decisive victory over Francisco Prado at UFC Fight Night in Mexico this past February.

    Noche UFC 306 offers Zellhuber a prime opportunity to steal the spotlight as he aims to ascend the ranks of the highly competitive lightweight division, with his sights set on securing a title shot in the near future…

    Zellhuber Sets Sights On Veterans To Break Into Lightweight Rankings

    During a recent interview on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick, “Golden Boy” shared his aspirations for the future, emphasizing that a potential victory over Ribovics at Noche UFC 306 could serve as the launch pad for his rapidly rising career.

    “I always have a plan with the team where I wanted to take my time,” Zellhuber said. “But again, now that I’m more confident in my skill set and more comfortable fighting and, you know, doing all these things, growing as an athlete, I feel that this fight is my way to put the entire 155-pound division on notice. I want to win this fight, and after that, I want a former top 15 opponent, like somebody who was already in the rankings.”

    Zellhuber further expressed his desire to face seasoned divisional veterans like Michael Johnson or Bobby Green as his pathway to breaking into the rankings. Afterward, the DWCS graduate aims to take on highly ranked contenders by 2026, with the ultimate goal of challenging for the lightweight title in 2027.

    “I have Michael Johnson on my mind, even Bobby Green. It’s funny because I talk with Chase Hooper on Instagram. I texted him like, ‘Hey, you want to fight?’ and he answered me. Then it’s funny because we ended up being kind of like friends. I was trying to talk bullsh*t, but it didn’t work. I want one of those guys who was already there but is recently coming out [of rankings]. Then, by the end of next year, I want to fight a top 15 opponent, and start 2026 with a top 10, close the year with a top five, and then in 2027, a championship fight. I like to have everything planned. I feel that’s also why I’m being successful in my career because I don’t like to do things just like, ‘Yeah, let’s do this.’”

    “Golden Boy” heads into his bout with Ribovics as the betting favorite, likely owing to his significant height and reach advantage. However, “El Gringo” is no easy matchup—he brings a lethal combination of knockout power and grappling skills, making this showdown a thrilling contest that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

  • Kamaru Usman Rectifies Merab Dvalishvili’s Misconception About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov

    Kamaru Usman Rectifies Merab Dvalishvili’s Misconception About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov

    Umar Nurmagomedov would appear to be next in line for whoever comes out on top in this weekend’s UFC 306 main event.

    Champion Sean O’Malley looks to earn his second title defense when he takes on Merab Dvalishvili at the Sphere.

    However, in the lead up to this fight, Dvalishvili has explained why he doesn’t believe that Nurmagomedov is currently at the front of the pack.

    The cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated at 18-0 but his only win over a ranked opponent was his most recent outing against Cory Sandhagen, which elevated him all the way to the #2-spot.

    Dvalishvili has instead made the case for former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo being his first challenger if he becomes champion on September 14, after winning three in a row since moving up to 135 pounds.

    Kamaru Usman Argues Why Merab Dvalishvili Should Be Lobbying For Umar Nurmagomedov Fight Next

    On a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Dvalishvili once again explained why he doesn’t think Nurmagomedov has got enough high-level wins to justify a title shot.

    There’s no denying that this would be a big fight for the UFC considering the legacy of Nurmagomedov’s family name and that’s something that Usman addressed.

    After hearing Dvalishvili’s reasoning, he looked to get across to him why fighting Nurmagomedov should be an option that he considers rather than disregarding him.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” spoke about how it’s important for a champion to make the most of their time at the top by getting the biggest possible fights out there, which right now in the bantamweight division, means taking on the undefeated contender.

    “I get it, if we’re going by the rankings senses, it makes more sense 100% but, at the same time, we have to understand and I want you to understand this. This is one thing I’m gonna tell you Merab. If by God’s grace you are the champion, you have to understand that as the champion, now I have to use this belt, this position to accumulate as much income as I can at that time because time waits for nobody.

    “At some point, we’re gonna get old, we’re going to change and the belt is going to change hands, there’s going to be new champions even whether you retire the champion or not. There’s going to be a new champion so the job, the goal, is to pull in as much as you can while you’re in that position and we can’t deny that a fight with a guy like yourself and Umar Nurmagomedov would be a bigger sell than a fight with Deiveson Figueiredo at this time, even though Figueiredo is still, I think, a big name.

    Read also: Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

  • Merab Dvalishvili Wants To Avenge Aljamain Sterling Loss, Prove O’Malley Got ‘Lucky’

    Merab Dvalishvili Wants To Avenge Aljamain Sterling Loss, Prove O’Malley Got ‘Lucky’

    Merab Dvalishvili has been chasing a shot at the bantamweight title for a long time now but there was one major obstacle in his way.

    For a long time now, he has been training partners and close friends with Aljamain Sterling, who held the 135-pound belt for over two years.

    Sterling’s reign came to an end at UFC 292 last year where he was stopped by Sean O’Malley in the second round.

    Sterling debated whether the referee on that night, Marc Goddard, was guilty of an early stoppage and this is something that Dvalishvili has been very vocal about.

    Now he has the opportunity to get revenge for his teammate by taking the belt off of O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere.

    Merab Dvalishvili Says He Wants To Prove That Sean O’Malley Was ‘Lucky’

    During a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Dvalishvili spoke passionately about his thoughts on the Sterling vs O’Malley fight.

    He doesn’t see why the official would call the action when he did because despite the defending champion being dropped, he continued to move before taking several follow-up shots that led to Goddard stepping in.

    The challenger says that this gives him more motivation ahead of September 14 where he wants to show that “Suga” had luck on his side on that night in Boston.

    “I want to win this fight and I want to show the world he’s just a regular [guy] and he just got lucky because yeah, he did throw punch, he did clip Aljamain Sterling but Marc Goddard really helped him because when Aljo was down, he was keep moving, he was trying to grab the leg, he was moving and where Marc Goddard called him to move, he moved and then he stopped. If you tell him move and then he move, why you stop it you know. Me, when I fight, before the fight in locker room when referee comes I always tell referee, ‘Hey, if I get clipped, don’t stop me. Let me fight, I rather sleep, I rather die. Then, of course, you stop me but long as I’m moving, I’m doing something, please don’t stop me because I don’t need you.’

    “Aljo was still in this fight but I was so mad when Marc Goddard stop the fight early again. So yeah, this is also like you said Henry, this is avenge this loss.”

    Read also: Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

  • Israel Adesanya Predicts Which Nation Will Dominate UFC’s Future: ‘In A Few Generations…’

    Israel Adesanya Predicts Which Nation Will Dominate UFC’s Future: ‘In A Few Generations…’

    MMA is truly a global sport and we’re watching first hand as new regions become serious hotbeds for nurturing talent.

    All it takes is for one fighter from a certain part of the world to have some success and the right infrastructure to be put in place, and it can lead to a revolution.

    That’s happening right now in Mexico following the investment that the UFC has made with things like the Performance Institute in Mexico City.

    After Brandon Moreno became the first Mexican-born UFC champion back in 2021, which was quickly followed by Alexa Grasso and Yair Rodríguez (interim title), it was clear this would inspire more young people in Mexico to train in mixed martial arts.

    Though there’s certainly a larger Mexican presence in the sport right now than ever before, that’s only going to continue growing in the future.

    Israel Adesanya Says Mexico Can Become A Leading Country In Mixed Martial Arts

    Mexico already has such an incredible legacy in combat sports due to the country having boxing as its national sport, and Israel Adesanya is excited to watch that continue to grow in MMA.

    In his preview for the second annual Noche UFC event this weekend with UFC 306 taking place inside the Sphere, the former two-time middleweight champion spoke about how Mexico could become a major player in the sport in years to come.

    “That from boxing, a lot of kids who would have maybe gone into boxing would start doing MMA and not just doing kickboxing or Jiu-Jitsu, like MMA as a whole and then it’s going to be, in a few generations you’ll see like a wave of Mexican fighters who have that Mexican spirit. You’ll see them like just dominating the UFC. Could be, who knows how many generations but kind of is already happening slowly.”

    With Mexican talent from top to bottom, Adesanya rounded out his thoughts by saying that this weekend’s card should be a fantastic display of that fighting spirit that Mexican fighters are so well known for.

    “I look forward to it. I like seeing Mexicans, like I think even with this card, it’s going to bring that spirit. I think you’re going to see some crazy fights, some really crazy fights just cuz the essence of Mexican fighting.”

    Read also: Israel Adesanya Hails Latest UFC Fighter From CKB As ‘Evolved’ Version Of Him

  • ‘Is It A Requirement For His Sparring Partners To Never Throw Anything Back?’ – MMA Fans React To Latest Conor McGregor Training Video

    ‘Is It A Requirement For His Sparring Partners To Never Throw Anything Back?’ – MMA Fans React To Latest Conor McGregor Training Video

    Having withdrawn from his scheduled return at UFC 303 in June, it appears that Conor McGregor is back working towards his new date.

    Nothing has been confirmed as yet for when “The Notorious” will step back inside the Octagon to face Michael Chandler.

    Given the amount of time since he last competed and the videos that are often posted on social media, one of which came out recently, fans have had their doubts about whether the fight will ever happen.

    McGregor posted a video of his return to sparring on social media, showing him working quite extensively on his clinch game, defending some takedowns and of course, landing his legendary left hand.

    Though this would seem to be an encouraging sign that the wheels are once again beginning to turn, we have been here several times in recent history.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmCOhw5ssx0

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Return To Sparring In New Footage

    Suffice to say that the fans who commented below the footage posted on The Mac Life’s YouTube channel weren’t overly impressed by what they were seeing.

    There has been a lot of clips of McGregor sparring in recent months and that has seemingly led to two conclusions.

    One being that this doesn’t necessarily mean his return is drawing closer and two, that the videos are all fairly similar to one another.

    “All of these Conor sparring videos seem like a never ending bad fever dream at this point.”

    “2days off the coke looking good”

    “I love Conor but I’m so sick of this footage already. I see zero progression, it’s like he lives in an echo chamber of yes men. How has no one told him how stiff he’s gotten? How has no one showed him how much his stance has changed and affected his fighting? Like this footage is useless.”

    “Is it a requirement for his sparring partners to never throw anything back?? Can’t improve when all u do is beat up low level guys.”

    “Year 2033: Conor has released a new sparring footage and calls out out the champions of every weight class.”

    “Sparring champion that’s about it coz that’s all he does”

    “His sparring partners are told to not push him to boost his confidence, but thats the problem, he never have a ‘normal’ sparrings that actually make him uncomfortable as a result he gets knocked the fak out.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

  • Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

    Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

    Ray Longo, a longtime coach for UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili, has hit back at some comments recently made by Dana White.

    Dvalishvili is set to ride a 10-fight winning run into his first title challenge this weekend, which comes in the main event of the highly anticipated Noche UFC 306 pay-per-view at the Sphere.

    While the overall card has had its critics, the headliner between the Georgian contender and reigning champion Sean O’Malley has created significant intrigue and drawn a variety of predictions.

    There was a time a few weeks ago, however, when some feared for the matchup’s place on the card after Dvalishvili revealed a deep-looking cut sustained in training on social media.

    “The Machine’s” decision to publicly display the cut caused debate, with the UFC CEO being among those unimpressed by Dvalishvili’s antics.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    After Aljamain Sterling leapt to Dvalishvili’s defense and branded White’s reaction “over the top,” coach Longo has now shared a similar sentiment.

    Longo On Dvalishvili’s Cut: ‘One Thing Dana Was Really Wrong On…’

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Longo looked ahead to Dvalishvili’s long-awaited first opportunity to reach the mountaintop in the UFC.

    The veteran trainer was asked about the cut suffered by the Georgian in training, which became one of the hottest topics in the lead-up to Noche UFC 306.

    Longo dismissed the importance of revealing such a blemish to an opponent like O’Malley, and he strongly pushed back on White’s reaction to “The Machine’s” social media activity.

    “I’m not the social media guy, so I don’t get it. But you have to expect this sh*t with these kids today. They film everything. They film tying their shoelaces,” Longo said. “He’s been a camera guy since the second I met him. He’s crazy with the camera. But look, if it was a knee injury, I’d say that would be a problem. Now you’re gonna target something. (But) he’s gonna get cut in the fight. It is what it is. He’s gonna get punched in the face. … A cut’s a cut, and if it opens up, I don’t think it’ll have an impact on the fight.

    “One thing Dana was really wrong on was he called him a dummy. He’s far from a dummy,” Longo continued. “(Dvalishvili’s) very intelligent. He’s a humble guy, got humble beginnings. He’s fighting for his country. There’s certain guys that that type of sh*t means a lot. He’s one of them. He’s (O’Malley’s) gonna have to beat this kid dead, that I guarantee you.”

    Dvalishvili will look to display a different type of intelligence come fight night in Las Vegas on Saturday by using his fight IQ to secure a memorable title crowning inside the Sphere.

    His opportunity to do so comes in the final fight of the 10-fight lineup, on which he’ll mark the second championship challenger to make the walk after Valentina Shevchenko’s attempt to achieve two-time status at Alexa Grasso’s expense.

    While “The Machine” trains in Las Vegas with John Wood these days, he’s still expected to have the likes of coach Longo and teammate Sterling in his corner this weekend.

  • Israel Adesanya Hails Latest UFC Fighter From CKB As ‘Evolved’ Version Of Him

    Israel Adesanya Hails Latest UFC Fighter From CKB As ‘Evolved’ Version Of Him

    On the latest episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, City Kickboxing saw it’s eleventh fighter get signed to the UFC roster.

    Navajo Stirling came into the UFC Apex with an undefeated MMA record after making the transition from being a professional kickboxer.

    After a strong opening round against Phillip Latu, the Kiwi fighter found the finish in the second round with a perfect one-punch counter knockout that earned him a contract.

    Given their backgrounds, physiques and home gym, there was always going to be comparisons drawn between Stirling and his teammate, Israel Adesanya.

    Israel Adesanya Says Teammate Navajo Stirling Is The Evolved Version Of Him

    Though Adesanya knew that people were going to compare Stirling to his game, “The Last Stylebender” says that it’s not that simple.

    Both men are very technical strikers that use their range and accuracy to pick opponents apart, which is what Stirling did earlier this week.

    However, Adesanya believes there’s a clear difference between them as he referred to his teammate as the evolved version of himself in a recent YouTube video.

    In his Contender Series fight, Stirling looked to showcase some of his grappling skills in the first round and though he was unsuccessful at securing the takedown, it demonstrated his willingness to compete in all ranges.

    The former two-time UFC middleweight champion said that this is what separates the two of them.

    “Navajo is his own beast and you’ll see his own style show. If you think he’s like me now, I think he’s better than me like he’s evolved like the next version because of his grappling intelligence as well, which I have but I just don’t use them but he actually uses it and yeah. Maybe because he’s young, 26, skilled.”

    Read also: Former UFC Fighter Rejects Jon Jones For MMA Mount Rushmore: ‘People Outside The Sport Don’t Know Him!’

  • Chael Sonnen Brands Noche UFC 306 Fight The ‘Most Under-Promoted’ Of 2024

    Chael Sonnen Brands Noche UFC 306 Fight The ‘Most Under-Promoted’ Of 2024

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen wants to know why more people aren’t being “hyped up” for one important Sphere showdown this weekend.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will stage its second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day on Saturday, Sept. 14. Rather than the T-Mobile Arena, this year’s edition of Noche UFC will take place within the unique surroundings of the Sphere.

    Tasked with topping the lineup are two champions in bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley and flyweight queen Alexa Grasso. Before “Sugar” defends against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event, the Mexican will complete her trilogy with Valentina Shevchenko.

    The rest of the card isn’t the deepest and has been criticized by some. But the non-title fights on offer does include one blockbuster rearranged collision between featherweight veteran Brian Ortega and the fast-rising Diego Lopes.

    Different predictions are flying for the contest, which comes a few months after their UFC 303 co-headliner fell through on the day of the event due to sickness suffered by “T-City.”

    After that debacle, Sonnen sees the fight as one of the most highly anticipated of the year. But the ex-middleweight and light heavyweight contender doesn’t believe the promotion has done justice to that…

    Sonnen: There Is A ‘Very Bizarre Feel’ Around Ortega vs. Lopes

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to this weekend’s major PPV event in Las Vegas, specifically the most marquee bout on the undercard.

    While Lopes has established himself as one of this year’s leading fan favorites and will face a former two-time title challenger and longtime contender in Ortega, Sonnen doesn’t think the bout is being promoted nearly enough.

    That has baffled “The American Gangster,” who went as far as to describe the fight as one of the most “sought-after” of 2024 thus far.

    “Brian Ortega, Diego Lopes — this thing is so wildly interesting,” Sonnen said. “Talk about a backstory, by the way. You know how helpful that is? … When you promised the world a fight and then all of a sudden you take it away. But it’s not being promoted, guys. Why is that? I’m just asking a question, making an observation. Why is it not being promoted?

    “This is one of the most sought-after fights in a period of time. Can I say all of 2024? Short-term memory with a little bit of exaggeration, yeah, it’s one of them. Absolutely it is,” Sonnen continued. “There is a very bizarre feel around this contest. There is a bizarre feel because nobody’s covering the contest! people are not talking about it. People are not getting you hyped up about it. That’s very peculiar. … This is one of the great fights of 2024. This is the most under-promoted fight of 2024.”

    While it may not be getting spoken about to the extent it should be in the build-up, both Ortega and Lopes will look to ensure that the leading headlines surround their winning performance on Sunday and the days that follow Noche UFC 306.

  • Former UFC Fighter Rejects Jon Jones For MMA Mount Rushmore: ‘People Outside The Sport Don’t Know Him!’

    For many, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is a shoo-in when selecting four names for the Mount Rushmore of MMA. Not for this former fighter, however…

    The topic of creating an MMA Mt. Rushmore has returned to the surface this week after UFC CEO Dana White selected his four names during a video for ESPN MMA’s social media channels.

    White chose Jones and Georges St-Pierre, two names that were among the consensus picks and widely selected by the MMA Masses. But he caused debate by putting them alongside Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.

    The list marked a significant change from his Mt. Rushmore from 2020, which saw Jones joined by Amanda Nunes, Chuck Liddell, and Royce Gracie.

    Many have been quick to dismiss the presence of “The Notorious” Irishman and “Rowdy” on White’s list, but one former UFC fighter recently took issue with another of his ex-employer’s selections…

    Alvey Dismisses Jones’ MMA Mount Rushmore Credentials

    The topic of White’s frequent backing of Jones’ greatness and pound-for-pound status has become a running joke in the MMA community. A previous one in years gone by surrounded Sam Alvey, who managed to remain on the roster despite amassing the lengthiest winless streak in the promotion’s history.

    Well, when world’s collide…

    In the comment section of an MMA Fighting Instagram post detailing White’s Mt. Rushmore picks, Alvey rejected Jones as a worthy candidate for one of the four spots. According to “Smile’n,” the former light heavyweight kingpin hasn’t done enough for the sport and is barely even known outside of it.

    Sam Alvey

    “Y’all know I’m not a (Jon) Jones fan. He cheats too much, but he hasn’t done anything that’s spectacular for the sport,” Alvey wrote. “He’s been good for a long time, but his pay-per-view numbers aren’t great, his finishes used to be great, and people outside of the sport can’t name him.

    “Ronda and (Conor McGregor) are food (picks), Gracie has to be on it, and honestly, I would put Dana White there,” Alvey added.

    Alvey departed the UFC in 2022 after his run without a victory stretched to nine straight fights. He’s since bounced back in one MMA outing and secured a title crowning under the Karate Combat banner.

    Had he remained in the UFC till now, perhaps his Jones blasphemy would have marked the tipping point for White anyway…

  • Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    When all is said and done in his career, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley wants to be part of a conversation that Conor McGregor is not.

    Comparisons have long been made between the surging O’Malley and McGregor, the sport’s unrivaled biggest superstar who became the first two-division champion during his prime years in the cage.

    While “Sugar” remains in pursuit of the Irishman’s stardom and legacy, he expects to close the gap in a big way and perhaps even replace him as the UFC’s top-drawing name with an emphatic title defense this weekend.

    After recording his first successful retention at the expense of Marlon Vera this past March, O’Malley is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at the Sphere.

    O’Malley has long suggested he has what it takes to replicate the feats of McGregor, his longtime idol. But when his career is concluded, “Sugar” wants to go above and beyond the Dubliner by securing a place in a coveted discussion.

    O’Malley Targets GOAT Status, Something McGregor Isn’t In The Running For

    During an interview with ESPN, O’Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of the year to date, which sees him top the lineup for the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    As always, an O’Malley fight week has brought up McGregor as a topic, given the parallels many have drawn between their careers and social media presence.

    The bantamweight champ, though, insists there’s a major difference in what he’s attempting to achieve in the sport of MMA as compared to the legacy left behind by the inactive Irishman.

    “Who brought the most excitement to fights? Conor McGregor, 100 percent,” O’Malley said. “He’s a dork, but it’s the truth. But no one thinks Conor is the greatest of all time. Greatest fighter of all time is Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev is up there. I’m trying to be both. I’m three fights away from being considered one of the greatest of all time and one of the most exciting of all time. There’s a difference in what I’m trying to do.”

    O’Malley will plan on taking a big step closer to joining the likes of Jones and Georges St-Pierre in GOAT talk when he takes to the cage inside the Sphere on Saturday, Sept. 14.

    And beyond this weekend’s clash, “Sugar” has long teased a venture up to featherweight in pursuit of ‘champ-champ’ status. Such an accomplishment would no doubt increase his chances of reaching his lofty ambitions on the sport’s biggest stage.

  • Gilbert Burns Admits ‘Mistake’ Of Listening To Multiple Nutritionists Cost Him In Sean Brady Fight

    Gilbert Burns Admits ‘Mistake’ Of Listening To Multiple Nutritionists Cost Him In Sean Brady Fight

    Gilbert Burns recently confessed that his decision to follow advice from multiple nutritionists was a costly error, one that ultimately contributed to his loss against Sean Brady.

    “Durinho” stepped into the main event of UFC Vegas 97 last weekend, hoping to reignite one final push for the welterweight title. However, his plans were decisively derailed as Brady overwhelmed him over five punishing rounds with a relentless barrage of takedowns and grappling mastery, ultimately handing Burns a unanimous decision loss—his third consecutive defeat.

    Burns was hopeful that a victory over Brady would put him back on the road to championship contention. Heading into fight week, he was confident in both his training and recovery, feeling physically prepared. Yet, he still wasn’t able to perform at his full potential when it mattered most.

    The 38-year-old Brazilian was dismayed by his showing. However, in the aftermath of the loss, he has finally pieced together what went wrong in the lead-up to the bout…

    Burns Attributes Bad Weight Cut On Confusion With Multiple Nutritionists

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Burns opened up about his loss to Brady, revealing that his preparation was compromised by poor decision-making. “Durinho” admitted that leading up to the fight, he consulted several nutritionists and then complicated matters by blending their advice with his own approach.

    This misstep led to a problematic weight cut, which ultimately reflected in the fight, as he felt lethargic and lacked his usual sharpness in movement.

    “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I had a lot of energy; I felt great,” Burns said. “But Thursday I had a hard weight cut at night, and Friday morning I had a very hard weight cut in the morning, and I think that was the result. That’s why I think I felt very sluggish. I felt bad, but I do believe it was my recovery. Before I point fingers at everyone, I have my nutritionist, Marcelo Ferro, who does an amazing job. But my mistake was listening to two other nutritionists and the UFC a little bit.”

    “So, another nutritionist that is a good friend of mine, Lucas, and coach Carl Gebhardt—I went to California to do all the tasks, and instead of doing the things that I do with Marcelo, I was kind of doing a little bit of coach Carl, a little bit of Marcelo, and a little bit of Lucas. So, at the end of the day, I didn’t follow through with anyone’s plan. I took a little bit from each one and kind of did my own plan. So when I made weight, I did great, but when I saw the recovery, I did a little bit from all three nutritionists, and it kind of didn’t work out.”

    Burns said in a backstage interview with the UFC that he’s uncertain about the future of his career. His last victory came at UFC 287 in April 2023 against Jorge Masvidal. “Durinho” once rode the momentum of a six-fight win streak, but since his failed bid at the title against former champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in February 2021, he has struggled to regain his footing with a consistent winning run.

  • Dan Hooker: ‘Master Of Mental Warfare’ O’Malley Getting Under Dvalishvili’s Skin

    Dan Hooker: ‘Master Of Mental Warfare’ O’Malley Getting Under Dvalishvili’s Skin

    Dan Hooker recently noted that Sean O’Malley is expertly playing mind games with Merab Dvalishvili in the build-up to their Noche UFC 306 clash.

    “Sugar” is slated for his second UFC bantamweight title defense, where he’ll square off against Dvalishvili in the headlining bout of the highly anticipated pay-per-view event, set for this Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    O’Malley claimed the 135-pound title with a knockout victory over Dvalishvili’s teammate and close ally, Aljamain Sterling, at UFC 292 in August 2023. He went on to defend his belt in dazzling style against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 this past March, putting on a striking masterclass for the full 25 minutes to avenge the lone blemish on his UFC record.

    The 29-year-old Montana native has consistently torn through his competition with his extraordinary fighting style, as evidenced by the nine performance bonuses he’s racked up in just 12 Octagon appearances. In addition to his high-caliber skill set, O’Malley is equally adept at using his charisma and quick wit to engage in verbal sparring outside the cage.

    “The Hangman” believes it’s O’Malley’s silver tongue that truly sets him apart, as he skillfully uses his sharp words to rattle his opponents, with Dvalishvili now falling into the same trap…

    Hooker Predicts Dvalishvili Could Fall To O’Malley Just Like Sterling

    During a recent interview with mainevent, Hooker weighed in on the upcoming O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. “The Hangman” praised the reigning champion’s ability to expertly use his reach advantage to dominate with his striking.

    Drawing comparisons between “The Machine” and Sterling’s fighting styles, Hooker noted that it would be fascinating to see how Dvalishvili approaches O’Malley differently than his teammate did.

    “He is incredible at controlling that distance, a sniper, an absolute sniper from range, and that’s the big thing I see in this fight—how will Merab cover that range? Because it’s a very similar style, a very similar opponent to Sean’s last one, Aljamain Sterling. Sterling and Merab have two very similar styles of wrestling; they shoot, and they’re really looking to take you down and put you on your back.”

    Hooker emphasized “Sugar’s” knack for skillfully employing trash talk to unnerve his opponents in the build-up to a fight. He pointed out that this tactic worked perfectly against Sterling, causing him to make crucial mistakes that led to his defeat. The 34-year-old Auckland native also believes O’Malley is successfully getting inside Dvalishvili’s head, which could spell trouble for the Georgian fighter.

    “‘Sugar’ Sean is a master at mental warfare. He was able to, you know, at the press conference, at the weigh-in, get into Aljamain Sterling’s head. So Aljamain, rather than being patient, taking his time, and setting up to cover that distance, really rushed it. He panicked and rushed. I can already sense that ‘Sugar’ is getting under Merab’s skin, and we still have so much time to go. We still have the weigh-in, the press conference, and media day. There’s still a lot of time to cover and a lot of time for ‘Sugar’ Sean to use that mental warfare.”

  • Brian Ortega Refuses To Predict Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight: ‘Lesson Learned’

    Brian Ortega Refuses To Predict Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight: ‘Lesson Learned’

    Despite falling short on two attempts at claiming the UFC featherweight title, Brian Ortega is still very much in the mix at the top of the division.

    “T-City” currently occupies the #3-ranking spot at 145 pounds following his win over Yair Rodríguez last time out in Mexico City.

    He’s now set to return at UFC 306 where a win over rising star Diego Lopes could set him up for a third chance at winning the gold.

    The featherweight belt is set to be defended next month at UFC 308 in one of the most anticipated fights of the year between the champion Ilia Topuria and the former titleholder, Max Holloway.

    Though Ortega is excited to watch that one play out, he doesn’t have a prediction for who takes the victory in Abu Dhabi.

    Brian Ortega Says He Doesn’t Take Either Topuria Or Holloway For Granted After Being Proven Wrong

    The way that Ortega sees it, giving a prediction for the main event of UFC 308 would be counting out one man and that’s not something he is prepared to do.

    He was asked if he had a pick for the fight during a recent interview with Submission Radio where he responded by saying that he isn’t sure who will claim the victory.

    Having faced Holloway back in 2018 and been very impressed with Topuria’s title-winning performance against Alexander Volkanovski, he’s remaining on the fence for this one.

    “I don’t know man… and I’m not even trying to be political, I have no idea. Topuria is someone who surprised me obviously last time so I learned very quickly not to say or go against him, lesson learned. Max is another guy that you don’t want to go against, lesson learned. Then when you look at the styles, you have Topuria who has more of a traditional boxer style, you have Max with his just a machine of punches and then unorthodox boxing style but it’s very effective.”

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • Jorge Masvidal Gives Stamp Of Approval For Noche UFC 306 Card: ‘Some Future Champions…’

    Jorge Masvidal Gives Stamp Of Approval For Noche UFC 306 Card: ‘Some Future Champions…’

    Jorge Masvidal appears to be buzzing with excitement over the Noche UFC 306 card.

    The $2.3 billion, one-of-a-kind venue, the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, will come alive as Noche UFC 306 takes center stage this Saturday in celebration of Mexican Independence Day. UFC CEO Dana White has boldly hailed the upcoming pay-per-view as “the greatest live sporting event of all time,” and the promotion is sparing no expense to ensure it delivers on its monumental hype.

    The fight card will be headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who will make his second title defense against Merab Dvalishvili. Meanwhile, the co-main event will showcase the third, and likely final, meeting between UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Alongside these high-profile bouts, the rest of the lineup is filled with fighters of Mexican descent.

    According to White, the UFC has funneled more than $20 million into the event, with a vision of transforming it into an extraordinary extravaganza by utilizing the Sphere’s 16K wraparound LED screens and immersive auditory experience. The MMA promotion plans to showcase six 90-second vignettes between fights, weaving together a cinematic narrative that celebrates the significant role of Mexicans in combat sports. To further elevate the spectacle, each fight will unfold in what the UFC top brass refers to as “different worlds,” projected across the dome-shaped screen.

    Masvidal believes that Noche UFC 306 will deliver a groundbreaking experience, elevated by an electrifying lineup of fights set to captivate the fans…

    Masvidal Believes Noche UFC 306 Will Propel Rising Fighters Toward Title Contention

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Gamebred” radiated excitement for Noche UFC 306 and the unparalleled venue experience the event is set to deliver with its top-tier production quality.

    The former BMF champion highlighted the Mexican-heavy fight card, confident it will serve as a launchpad for several rising stars to emerge as future title contenders.

    “I don’t know if it’ll [the venue] impact the way they fight so much,” Masvidal said. “It’s going to be an experience, though, because I’ve been in there [the Sphere] for a 3D show, and it was amazing. It was mind-blowing—the graphics, the stuff—but obviously, they’re not doing that now. But I still think they’ll play a lot of the graphics on their projectors and stuff, so it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I really wish I could have made it to this event. The card is stacked from top to bottom with a lot of up-and-coming talent. It’s going to be f**king amazing, maybe even some future world champions on this card right here. So I think it’s a great, great card, man.”

    Masvidal eagerly voiced his anticipation for the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili showdown, noting that both fighters are perfectly balanced, thanks to their diverse and well-rounded skill sets.

    “The main event is one that I’ll be watching closely, brother. I’ll be watching the main event 100%. I’m a big fan of both of them. I love Merab’s style—just coming forward, does not give a f**k, does not know how to get tired. This guy just has an unbelievable gas tank, is pretty good at wrestling, and now he’s mixing it up better, where he’s throwing punches and getting right to it. But Sean is a sniper—one shot, one kill type of guy. Great athlete with great distance, great timing, and the longer arms, so it’s going to be a battle. I think whoever can keep it more real is obviously going to win, but it’s going to be a battle no matter what. I think it’s going to end up being a really good fight, or maybe I can see Sean maybe catching him early too—you never know.”

  • Brian Ortega On Diego Lopes Fight: ‘I Either Put You On Your Shield Or You Put Me On Mine!’

    Brian Ortega On Diego Lopes Fight: ‘I Either Put You On Your Shield Or You Put Me On Mine!’

    When Brian Ortega was first announced to be taking on Diego Lopes in the co-main event of UFC 303, fans circled that one out as a fight that you can’t afford to miss.

    The two featherweight contenders have got two of the most exciting styles in the division and neither man is known for backing down from a scrap.

    Unfortunately, Ortega was forced to pull out of the fight due to illness but after Lopes defeated Dan Ige on that night, the pair were rescheduled for UFC 306.

    It’s a big fight for the former two-time title challenger to once again put himself in the mix at the top of the 145-pound weight class.

    However, if you think that that’s going to make Ortega switch up his approach, you’re sorely mistaken.

    Brian Ortega Says He’s Going To Go To War With Like-Minded Individual At UFC 306

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ortega told the fans what they can expect to see from his fight at the Sphere this weekend.

    Rather than using his experience against the surging Lopes or looking to fight a bit more reserved, he’s excited to compete against another man that is always willing to wade into the fire to come away with the victory.

    “It’s like I told everybody, I said that you have someone who refuses to lose on the feet and refuses to lose in the stand-up so when I say that, I bet you have no idea who I’m talking about. That’s why this is an exciting fight, you get to fight almost like a version of yourself. Tad bit different styles, same mentality.”   

    Ortega closed things out with one final message, promising that the judges aren’t going to be needed for this fight but he won’t be the one that requires any assistance.

    “Someone is going to get finished, guaranteed. You know me, you’ve seen me. I either put you on your shield or you put me on mine. I’m not going out on my shield.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

  • Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    For a long time now, the faces at the top of the UFC’s featherweight division have remained the same cast of elite level competitors.

    Ilia Topuria breathed a lot of new life into the 145-pound title mix after he took the title off of the long-time champion, Alexander Volkanovski, earlier this year.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, Diego Lopes will look to enter that conversation by taking out another of the division’s stalwart contenders in Brian Ortega.

    With Volkanovski watching closely as Topuria defends the belt for the first time against Max Holloway at UFC 308, there are some very exciting potential fights on the horizon for Lopes if he’s able to get past “T-City” on September 14.

    Diego Lopes Says Max Holloway Is His Dream Fight Whether It’s For A Title Or Not

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Lopes gave his thoughts on who he would rather face out of that trio of world class fighters.

    With four consecutive wins under his belt since a defeat on his late notice debut, the Brazilian finds himself in a big opportunity to leap up the top 15 rankings if he can take out Ortega, who holds the #3 position right now.

    None of these fights are that far away for him if he puts on a big performance at the Sphere on Saturday night and though he rates all three men highly, his preference is to fight Holloway.

    Lopes sees a clash with “Blessed” as his ideal scenario because of the respect that he has for the BMF champion.

    That being said, he did also mention inevitably facing the current champion Topuria down the line as two of the division’s most exciting additions in recent years are sure to meet at some stage.

    “Bro, I’m big fans for the Max and the Volk but my dream fight is Max. My dream fight is Max, a lot of respect for Max. The guy stay in the UFC for so long time, the guy fight everybody, everybody in the rankings, everybody in the UFC. Max is my dream fight, title or no title. Max is my dream fight for so much respect for your career but for who you want to fight for the title, I don’t know bro. I think the division needs the new face you know, I think it’s me and Ilia is the big fight for everybody, for the new face.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

  • PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    UFC President Dana White sparked conversation this week after revealing the four figures that would make it into his MMA Mount Rushmore.

    Unsurprisingly, White picked out the names that he believes have left behind the greatest legacies in the UFC and have made the biggest impact on the sport as a whole.

    Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre are all incredibly deserving of their recognition for different reasons.

    After the fans had their say on who they would exchange for their own personal lists, the founder of the promotion that hopes to stand side-by-side with the UFC in the future weighed in with his thoughts.

    Donn Davis Lists Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan & Dana White As His Mt. Rushmore Picks

    Via a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis revealed who would make it into his exclusive club for their contributions to the sport.

    Rather than naming four fighters, he went slightly outside the box by listing two influential figures who have helped bring the sport to a whole new level.

    Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey were the two shared picks between White and Davis for the sheer amount of attention they have brought to MMA, with Rousey being credited for breaking down barriers in women’s MMA.

    However, where they differ is in Davis’ two non-fighter picks, one of which was the UFC President, who Davis attributes with “Built the industry”.

    It’s undeniable that White has been a massively significant figure when looking at the growth of the sport and in that same vein, the PFL founder included UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his list.

    Not only does Rogan regularly feature on PPV broadcasts, his Joe Rogan Experience Podcast being one of the biggest in the world will have exposed so many new fans to the sport.

    As Davis wrote in his social media post, Rogan has played a crucial role in “Explaining the sport to masses” which has helped to remove barriers to entry and stigmas surrounding mixed martial arts.

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • PFL Champion: Only One Active UFC Fighter Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley

    PFL Champion: Only One Active UFC Fighter Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley

    Sean O’Malley had clear star potential from the moment that he impressed Dana White with his Contender Series debut that earned him a UFC contract.

    Having been the main event in his last two outings where he won the bantamweight title and defended it, “Suga” is back to headline his biggest event to date.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, he will be the last man to walk out at a historic event hosted inside the Sphere for Noche UFC.

    Given the demographic that O’Malley is able to connect with and his polarizing qualities, there’s no denying that he’s one of the biggest names in the sport right now.

    However, a former PFL winner recently made the case for why there is another fighter on the roster that is currently the brightest active star that the promotion has.

    Brendan Loughnane Says Ilia Topuria Is A Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley Right Now

    Ilia Topuria put in some incredible performances during his path to becoming featherweight champion.

    After capping that off by stopping Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, “El Matador” really cemented himself as one of the top names in the UFC right now.

    What some fans may not have realized at the time is the amount of support he has in Europe from both his Spanish and Georgian fans.

    This was proven in front of our very eyes when he took the belt back home to Spain and walked out, as the champion, in front of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid.

    Looking at social media numbers alone, Topuria has a bigger following on Instagram with 4.5 million to O’Malley’s 4.3 million, despite the fact that “Suga” has been a notable name in the UFC for longer.

    On a recent episode of Uncaged by talkSPORT MMA, 2022 PFL featherweight champion and 2024 finalist Brendan Loughnane made the case for why Topuria takes the top spot right now.

    “Do you know what? There’s one man that we’re missing out on here that’s totally missed the conversation. Ilia Topuria, I’d put above him [O’Malley] right now, I really would. He’s walking out at the Bernabéu! Ilia Topuria has just knocked out our guy Volk who is pound-for-pound, wherever you put him, he’s in that conversation. He’s doing the same thing that Sean’s doing. I’ve never seen anyone captivate an audience quite like, well obviously bar Conor McGregor, let’s take Conor McGregor out of this, I would put Ilia above Sean O’Malley right now. Just due to the fact of the way he finished Volk.

    “Sean’s got great finishes along the way, he’s obviously finished Sterling and all that but I’m talking personally. I just, this Ilia Topuria thing and the train that’s moving at the minute, again I don’t want to keep going on about this Bernabéu thing but do you know how big, well I know you know, but that is humongous and I just know what’s going on because I have the same manager as this guy. I know the type of deals he’s getting, I know the type of circles he’s moving in, he’s had less fights than Sean in the UFC I believe and I just feel like his train is moving a little bit faster at the minute, maybe I’m completely wrong.”

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad recently shared why he still relishes trading verbal jabs with Leon Edwards, even after securing a victory over “Rocky”.

    Muhammad scored a controlling unanimous decision win over Edwards, capturing the UFC welterweight crown in their much-anticipated rematch in Manchester this past July.

    The clash at UFC 304 was a re-run, as their first meeting in March 2021 ended in controversy when a brutal eye-poke from Edwards prevented “Remember the Name” from continuing past the second round, resulting in a no-contest.

    Muhammad was riding an impressive 10-fight unbeaten streak, boasting victories over tough opponents like Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and Stephen Thompson. However, despite his dominant run, he had to tirelessly campaign for over a year to secure a title shot, as “Rocky” and his team continuously dismissed him as an unworthy challenger for the belt.

    “Remember the Name” faced a barrage of criticism and skepticism throughout his journey, and since toppling Edwards at UFC 304, he hasn’t held back in voicing his disdain…

    Muhammad’s Grudge Against Edwards Stems From Being Overlooked

    During a recent interview with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, Muhammad was questioned why he continues to take digs at Edwards even after decisively defeating him. The newly crowned welterweight champion explained that his frustration with the Jamaican-born Brit arose from being repeatedly dismissed in the title conversation.

    Now that he’s beaten “Rocky”, Muhammad says Edwards’ teammates have begun making excuses, which only fuels his desire to keep taking shots at his former opponent.

    “It got to me, it pissed me off,” Muhammad said. “And that’s why even now, where I hate to even bring up fights, when I beat a fighter, I never want to kick a man when he’s down. But Leon, I’ll kick when he’s down, I don’t care. I’m gonna make him pay because they said I wasn’t worth it, they said he was gonna walk through me, they said I was going to be an easy fight.”

    “And for me to go out there and beat him the way I did, and now for him to go ghost—nobody even knows what happened to him—and for his team to come out with little excuses, like saying, ‘Oh, he had a bad back the whole time,’ and Leon comes out and says, ‘Oh, I didn’t get good sleep,’ like bro, just own up to it. I was better than you. I am better than you. That’s the difference between great fighters and the ones that fizzle out—they always come up with excuses for every loss.”

    Since his recent victory, Muhammad has elevated his trash-talking game, regularly firing back at critics on social media. The 37-year-old Chicago native has also been locked in a heated war of words with former champion Kamaru Usman, stoking the flames for a potential showdown, while also teasing his first title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • Merab Dvalishvili On Sean O’Malley: ‘Can’t Even Defend His Jacket, How’s He Going To Defend His Belt?’

    Merab Dvalishvili On Sean O’Malley: ‘Can’t Even Defend His Jacket, How’s He Going To Defend His Belt?’

    UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili isn’t about to let Sean O’Malley forget about the time he donned the champion’s jacket.

    A matchup a long time in the making will go down this weekend, as O’Malley puts his gold on the line against Dvalishvili in the main event of the Noche UFC (UFC 306) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.

    To earn his long-awaited first shot at title glory at the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, the Georgian challenger has won 10 straight, most recently at the expense of Henry Cejudo this past February.

    Both Dvalishvili and O’Malley were in attendance for Cejudo’s previous outing, which came against “The Machine’s” teammate Aljamain Sterling in Newark last year. After the then-champ defeated “Triple C,” he faced off with “Sugar” inside the Octagon.

    While the attention was expected to be on those two, Dvalishvili stole headlines by putting O’Malley’s red jacket on and vaulting the Octagon wall.

    If the Montana native’s “defense” of his jacket is anything to go by, Dvalishvili has no doubt about who will exit the Sphere with the bantamweight title in their possession this weekend…

    Dvalishvili Recalls O’Malley Jacket Incident: ‘What Kind Of Man Is He?

    During a recent interview for UFC.com, Dvalishvili looked ahead to his opportunity to unseat O’Malley from the throne and avenge his friend and training partner’s defeat in Boston 13 months ago.

    The Georgian was quick to run with the jacket story soon after the May 2023 PPV event, even obtaining a replica and claiming to have stole O’Malley’s clothing item.

    That trend has unsurprisingly continued during Noche UFC fight week, with the challenger linking his ability to don O’Malley’s jacket with his plan to have his championship belt wrapped around him next.

    “I want to take his belt now,” Dvalishvili said. “I already took his jacket. I have a question for you. He can’t even defend his jacket, how’s he going to defend his belt?

    “He give me jacket first, and then after he was crying. What kind of man he is? When you give somebody something, you should not cry and take back. Especially, he was crying in front of boss,” Dvalishvili added.

    Given the pair’s previous in-person interactions, fans can perhaps expect some heat between the two when they take to the stage for Thursday’s press conference and Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.

  • Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    UFC CEO Dana White isn’t concerned about criticisms of the lineup for this weekend’s highly anticipate pay-per-view at the Sphere.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day this Saturday, Sept. 14. Las Vegas is once again the host location, but the Octagon will be in vastly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, this year’s edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. Ever since confirming the event, White has been consistently promising a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    While the jury is still out on whether the Sphere production will deliver on that, many have already made their minds up when it comes to the lineup set to accompany it on fight night.

    Although the top of the card boasts two championship clashes as Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso defend their titles, in addition to a high-stakes featherweight bout between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes, the undercard hasn’t exactly created the kind of excitement many had anticipated.

    The UFC CEO, however, sees things differently. And he’s perhaps readying up another compilation of the doubters to post following UFC 306…

    White Hits Back At Those Slamming Sphere Card

    During a recent interview with KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas, White looked ahead to his promotion’s major PPV event this weekend, which he claims has cost the UFC upwards of $20 million.

    In terms of media members and analysts expressing disappointment over the lineup for Noche UFC, the CEO recalled the negative sentiments some had about UFC 300 in the lead-up.

    “First of all, we made these fights to be badass fights that night. We want fights that represent Mexicans and the history of how they fight in Mexico. I guarantee you that we have done that,” White said. “This event is so big, so different, and so special, yes, this is the type of event you put those type of guys in.

    “I deal with this every time we put on a fight. Going into UFC 300, the critics, the ‘experts’, all the people who know about fighting talked about that UFC 300 wasn’t a good card,” White continued. “I’ve dealt with this my entire career. You hear these kind of things from, you know, the ‘experts’. All the experts about fighting are in this building (UFC Headquarters) right here. So, yeah, we’re very confident in the card and the fighters.”

    Much of the criticism surrounding UFC 300 focused on the main event, which saw Alex Pereira defend his light heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill. The bout came together on relatively late notice after other options failed to come to fruition.

    This time around, it would appear that the MMA community was expecting a deeper card than has come together for Noche UFC. But regardless, those set to be in action will look to make the most of their position on the prominent lineup and deliver enthralling violence inside the Sphere.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is surprised at how wide the odds are for Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes’ upcoming Sphere showdown.

    Below two championship headliners that will see Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso put their titles on the line, there’s little doubt over which undercard bout carries with it the most intrigue and highest stakes at Noche UFC (UFC 306) this weekend.

    After a difficult weight cut and subsequent illness led to Ortega’s withdrawal on the day of UFC 303 this past June, “T-City” and Lopes will give their matchup a second attempt at reaching the Octagon on Sept. 14.

    While Ortega sits further up the featherweight rankings, Lopes is highly touted and riding a wave of form that has established him as a fan favorite. With that in mind, plenty are expecting him to ascend into the top five at the veteran two-time title challenger’s expense.

    But when it comes to predictions of “T-City’s” downfall, Volkanovski has told doubters to hold their horses…

    Volkanovski Picks Ortega To Upset Lopes At UFC 306

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski broke down and predicted the three major matchups set to play out at the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    The Australian will have a vested interest in Ortega vs. Lopes, which marks a key battle in his division and sees one of his former opponents in action.

    And while the man he delivered a beating to at UFC 266 back in 2021 will enter the cage as a sizable underdog this Saturday night, “Alexander the Great” thinks Ortega has the skillset to grind out a decision triumph and halt Lopes’ charge up the featherweight ladder.

    “I mean, Lopes is great. A very, very good jiu-jitsu guy,” Volkanovski said. “I’m surprised that Ortega’s such an underdog. I’m gonna call my pick straight away and say Ortega. Being such an underdog…pretty good odds on Ortega for this fight. Again, Lopes is very good, but I’m surprised, stylistically, how much of an underdog Ortega is.

    “Great jiu-jitsu, both of them. We all know Ortega’s known for his jiu-jitsu, incredible jiu-jitsu. Lopes is a really good jiu-jitsu artist,” Volkanovski continued. “We did see with Movsar (Evloev), he was still able to control him (Lopes) a bit. … I just feel Ortega’s gonna be okay on the ground. I don’t think Lopes is gonna have something that (Ortega) hasn’t seen before. … I’m quite surprised that he’s the underdog. … Lopes is gonna find it hard to put his lights out. Ortega’s chin is like a Max Holloway chin. … I’m leaning towards Ortega. … I’m gonna go with a decision win.”

    Ortega will look to prove Volkanovski’s assessment of the matchup correct come fight night at the Sphere.

    And should he accomplish that feat, “T-City” will likely join his former opponent in pursuit of challenging the winner of Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway’s title clash in Abu Dhabi next month.

  • Sean O’Malley Baffled By Merab Dvalishvili’s Confidence: ‘He’s Sloppy, He’s Slow…’

    Sean O’Malley Baffled By Merab Dvalishvili’s Confidence: ‘He’s Sloppy, He’s Slow…’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley doesn’t know where upcoming opponent Merab Dvalishvili is getting his self-belief from.

    O’Malley is just days away from his second defense of the 135-pound title. And just over a year on from his crowning at the expense of the previously long-reigning Aljamain Sterling, “Sugar” is tasked with dispatching of “Funk Master’s” teammate.

    Challenging the champ in the main event of this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view is Merab Dvalishvili, who will look to ride his 10-fight winning run all the way to a memorable crowning moment inside the Sphere.

    When it comes to his chances of doing so, the Georgian hasn’t been short on confidence. And that’s even extended beyond his strengths on the ground, with “The Machine” insisting that takedowns aren’t essential to his success on Sept. 14.

    That confidence is confusing, according to O’Malley.

    O’Malley: Dvalishvili Has ‘Never Fought Someone Like Me’

    During a recent interview for UFC.com, O’Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024, the first of which saw him avenge a 2021 defeat to Marlon Vera in defense of his gold at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    As he did in that outing and many before, the Montana native is once again expecting for his speed and slick striking to make the difference against an opponent he branded “sloppy” and “slow” on Saturday night.

    “(This) fight is not going to go the way he thinks it’s going to go,” O’Malley said. “This fight is going to end brutal. The way he blitzes in, the ways he’s sloppy. He is slow. It is not going to end well for him. I do not understand where the confidence comes from. I know he’s beat a bunch of guys, but he’s never fought anyone like me.”

    O’Malley will look to make good on that prediction come fight night, where all eyes will not only be on his highly awaited showdown with Dvalishvili but also the unique surroundings in which the event is set to take place.