MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 5 Highlights As 3 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 5 Highlights As 3 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with some memorable highlights on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS, the inaugural season of which took place back in 2017, sees some of the top prospects in mixed martial arts enter the cage in front of White and the matchmakers, looking to put in a performance worthy of a place on the UFC roster.

    Last year’s edition saw 46 fighters bag a deal with the sport’s premier promotion across 10 events, up on the 43 from 2022. Through four episodes of season eight, 17 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the fifth added another three talents to the UFC roster. That included light heavyweight Navajo Stirling, who delivered the highlight of the night in the final fight by delivering a one-punch knockout of Phillip Latu to punch his ticket to the big stake.

    Elsewhere, women’s flyweight Nicolle Caliari started the night with fireworks by submitting Corinne LaFramboise with a first-round armbar. While she earned a contract for her efforts, Yousri Belgaroui’s late TKO to get the better of Taiga Iwasaki wasn’t enough.

    The third contract went to Josias Musasa, who fell on the right side of a split decision against Ota Tanzilovi, a Georgian prospect who had upcoming Noche UFC headliner Merab Dvalishvili in his corner.

    The bout between Quemuel Ottoni, the first man to defeat Alex Pereira in MMA, and the undefeated Kody Steele was canceled during the event after the Brazilian withdrew. Steele is expected to be rebooked for another episode later this season.

    With that in mind, see below for the four results and moments that landed three athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Nicolle Caliari Def. Corinne LaFramboise Via Submission (Armbar): R1, 4:45

    Josias Musasa Def. Otar Tanzilovi Via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

    Yousri Belgaroui Def. Taiga Iwasaki Via TKO (Knee & Punches): R3, 2:34

    Navajo Stirling Def. Phillip Latu Via KO (punch): R2, 2:21

  • Demetrious Johnson Reveals Primary Reason Behind Retiring From MMA

    Demetrious Johnson Reveals Primary Reason Behind Retiring From MMA

    Demetrious Johnson turned pro in 2009 and after 15 long years, he finally announced his retirement from MMA during ONE 168: Denver. The former UFC flyweight champ has 12 title fight wins and boasts one of the longest win streaks (13) in the promotion.

    During his illustrious UFC run, Johnson walked through the flyweight division with ease. Although his one-sided beat downs didn’t gather a ton of PPVs, he’s now regarded as one of the best fighters of all time.

    Many believe that “Mighty Mouse” can still hang with the best flyweight fighters in the world, but here’s why the UFC legend retired from MMA at 38…

    Demetrious Johnson Reveals Why He Didn’t Find Mixed Martial Arts Fun Anymore

    In a YouTube interview recorded before his official announcement, Johnson talked about his retirement from MMA with Merab Dvalishvili. Right away, he mentioned that MMA isn’t fun for him anymore and he prefers competing in Jiu-Jitsu over it.

    Training and fulfillment are also two major reasons why Johnson retired despite being the reigning ONE flyweight MMA champ. He didn’t gain contentment from fighting because he was barely learning anything by spending 25 minutes or fewer in the cage with opponents.

    “I’m not going to fight anymore. And the reason why is, um, I don’t find mixed martial arts fun anymore. Reason why is because I find more fulfillment in doing Jiu-Jitsu because I feel it’s harder. I find more fulfillment in helping and training with different people.”

    Instead, “Mighty Mouse” will now try to master his BJJ which he claims to be a tougher sport, and reap the benefits of training as a retired fighter. He believes athletes feel more secure about showcasing their abilities when there’s no threat of their training partner facing them in the future.

    Here’s how he explained the concept using Dvalishvili’s example:

    “If I ever wanted to feel, how does, I want to feel Merab’s gas tank. I want to see how good he is. I want to feel his strength. The only way that would ever happen is if me and you were to fight each other. If I was a professional athlete, right, it would just never happen. But if I’m like, hey, I don’t care about winning. I don’t care about, you know, ever have an opportunity to fight you. Hey Merab, can I come train with you? Yeah, you’re like, Demetrious come train. And then when we train together, you’re not going to have like, I need to beat you, you’re trying to learn from me. I don’t know, I’ve never trained outside of training camp when I would fight.”

    Based on these statements, it is safe to assume that Johnson will surely compete in specific martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu. However, it is unlikely that fans will ever get to see him mixing it all up inside a cage.

    “Once I get ready for a fight and I beat somebody. It’s like, okay, I mean I beat him, I made this money, which is great. But I didn’t get to learn anything in that 25 minutes, if that makes sense.”

  • ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    The most expensive event in UFC history is right around the corner, and fans worldwide are gearing up for the celebration of Mexican Independence Day through it. In the last few days, Dana White has finally revealed how the event will feature several films showcasing Mexico’s contributions to combat sports.

    UFC 306 has already become a ground-breaking event for the promotion. From rebranding because of sponsors to higher streaming quality on TV to haptic seats for live viewers, there are many never-seen-before elements to look forward to.

    However, Riyadh Season Noche UFC tickets are quite pricey, and Daniel Zellhuber thinks White’s targeting the wrong audience with a high-profile event like this…

    Daniel Zellhuber Claims Dana White Is Targeting ‘Wrong Market’ With UFC 306’s Premium Ticket Pricing

    Zellhuber appeared on the Verse Us With Eric Nicksick podcast on YouTube to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 306. The Mexican prospect will face another rising talent in Esteban
    Ribovics in the second fight on the main card.

    Zellhuber revealed that his parents would be coming to The Sphere to watch his fight. His mother will travel out of Mexico for the first time, making the moment all the more special.

    However, when Nicksick asked “Golden Boy” about the tickets, he honestly admitted that White has relied on the wrong audience for UFC 306. He explained how unlikely it is for Mexican people to pay thousands of dollars for a ticket, especially when they can see Canelo Álvarez live for a much lower price nearby.

    “You know, it’s funny because I feel that Dana, he target the wrong market with that event. Yeah, in Mexico, we are always watching everything for free, you know, like Mexican people are not going to pay $3000 for a ticket and he’s like, yeah, $3000,the cheapest ticket. No, there’s no way and you know, we have illegal streams so yeah, nobody’s gonna pay anything, you know.”

    The UFC lightweight jokingly claimed that his coach expects him to get a quick knockout so they can watch Álvarez’s fight live.

    The Mexican fighter also mentioned illegal streams, trying to imply that the UFC CEO shouldn’t expect the PPV numbers to be exceptionally high either. Zellhuber admitted to UFC 306 being a spectacular event, though, and he’ll certainly try to make a name for himself by getting an impressive win on the main card.

  • Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil.

    While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look forward to attending a UFC event in a stadium, Dana White remains adamant about using arenas. He believes that the viewing experience is hindered in a stadium, but many argue that’s not the case, because most of the audience watches the event on a screen in an arena too.

    Here’s what Chael Sonnen thinks about the UFC using stadiums over arenas for events…

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Several Problems With Stadiums While Looking Back At Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle

    Sonnen discussed whether stadiums are the right venue for combat sports events on his YouTube channel recently. He was reacting to White’s latest comments about stadiums ruining the viewing experience for fans.

    “The American Gangster” brought up the time he spent $70 in 2003 to watch Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle. It is one of the most memorable matches in WWE history because Lesnar landed on his face while attempting a Shooting Star Press on Angle who was a bit too far away.

    “Brock hits this flip off the top rope, breaks this – I mean it’s this terrible thing, we had no idea. We’re asking this, so are other people with us. What, what, what is happening? And we weren’t towards the roof by the way. Like, if you looked at for the very worst seat in the house, if you were to turn around and look for it, you wouldn’t even be able to recognize the person. They were that far away, it’s just the ring was so much even further away and this is because it was in a stadium.”

    Despite being in the venue when this happened, Sonnen recalls being confused alongside tons of viewers. This was because he could not see the screens properly and the ring was very far to understand what was going on. The UFC veteran highlighted that he didn’t have cheap tickets and wasn’t sitting in the seats furthest from the ring.

    Sonnen then brought up that most stadiums in the US don’t have a roof. While other sports like soccer can continue in rain and relatively bad weather, the same isn’t true for MMA. As a viewer himself, the former UFC title challenger claims that the bigger the venue, the worse is the live viewing experience.

    “I would feel that the bigger venues you go to, the worse the experience gets. I know the further you’re going to park away, I know the longer you’re going to wait in line. I know to get a hot dog is going to take you that much more time,”

    While understanding why fighters would want to perform in sold-out stadiums, Sonnen agrees with White that the UFC should stick to arenas and refrain from stadium shows. On the flip side, many fans would still argue that most of the problems he’s mentioned exist in arenas as well, and stadiums can help many more people watch the event together.

  • Kayla Harrison On Amanda Nunes Rift: ‘Don’t Play With My Homies!’

    Kayla Harrison On Amanda Nunes Rift: ‘Don’t Play With My Homies!’

    Kayla Harrison recently opened up about her lingering rivalry with Amanda Nunes, voicing her wish for the Brazilian to come out of retirement.

    One of the MMA world’s most tantalizing “what if” matchups has long centered around a potential showdown between Harrison and Nunes. Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, spent the majority of her MMA career in the PFL before making her highly anticipated UFC debut this past April. The former PFL women’s lightweight champion’s move to the UFC sparked renewed speculation about a possible clash with “The Lioness”.

    The biggest hurdle to making this super fight a reality is that Nunes had already hung up her gloves following a unanimous decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. That was nearly a year ago when “Doug” made her first Octagon appearance against Holly Holm at UFC 300.

    Harrison and Nunes share a rich history, having long expressed mutual interest in facing off ever since their days as training partners at American Top Team (ATT) in Florida. However, following her shocking loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 269 in December 2021, “The Lioness” chose to sever ties with the gym.

    Nunes later disclosed that her decision to leave ATT was fueled by unease, as she often found herself training alongside two fighters who could potentially become her opponents, Harrison and Yana Kunitskaya, making her departure feel inevitable.

    Harrison Hopes For Nunes’ Return to Settle Unfinished Business

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, the former Olympic gold medalist shared her thoughts on Nunes, who had hinted at a possible comeback after witnessing Harrison’s victory over Holm at UFC 300. However, since then, Nunes has gone completely silent, leaving Harrison and fans in suspense over whether the long-anticipated showdown will ever happen.

    The 34-year-old Ohio native clarified that there’s no bad blood between her and “The Lioness”, yet she remains hopeful that the former two-division UFC champion will come out of retirement to face her.

    “Selfishly, I hope that she does [come out of retirement], but again, I have no beef with Amanda other than her trying to throw American Top Team under the bus,” Harrison said. “You don’t play or don’t f**k with my homies. But listen, if she’s happy and she’s living her dream, that’s great, but selfishly, I would love for her to come back so that I can put all of the noise to rest.”

    Harrison, who is gearing up for a high-stakes bantamweight showdown against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 next month, emphasized that her primary focus is locked on the upcoming fight. She added that her sights are set on capturing the title first before entertaining any potential matchup against Nunes.

    “Again, one step at a time: Ketlen first, then the title, and then Amanda, if she wants some.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski recently likened Merab Dvalishvili’s resilience to his own in his prediction for Noche UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili is set to challenge reigning UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the headlining bout of the highly anticipated pay-per-view event, slated to take place this Saturday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Despite riding the wave of an impressive 10-fight win streak, “The Machine” had to tirelessly push for his long-awaited title shot. Now, standing in his path is one of the UFC’s most skilled strikers. While Dvalishvili is widely believed to hold the grappling edge, he plans to use constant forward pressure and sharp boxing to wear O’Malley down.

    Dvalishvili has long proven his ability to turn his cardio into a relentless force, making it one of the defining strengths of his fighting style. Volkanovski believes this unmatched endurance is what truly sets him apart in his upcoming showdown with “Suga”…

    Volkanovski Says Keeping Dvalishvili At Bay Is A Tough Task

    In a recent prediction video for Noche UFC 306 on his YouTube channel, “The Great” shared his thoughts on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili matchup. The former UFC featherweight champion acknowledged that while “The Machine” boasts exceptional wrestling prowess, he remains susceptible to O’Malley’s razor-sharp striking accuracy.

    “Is he [Dvalishvili] gonna be open to being hit? Yes, I believe so,” Volkanovski said. “I think Sean O’Malley’s eye is incredible. His movement’s gonna make it a little bit hard, but his relentless takedown pressure, or his pressure on takedowns, I think he’s gonna eventually get it unless he gets knocked out. I don’t care how good your footwork is, you’re not going to keep Merab away from you unless you put his lights out. That’s the only way you don’t get taken down. I think Merab is going to eventually get the takedown. I don’t care how good Sean O’Malley’s footwork is, the clinch is going to be there.”

    Volkanovski went on to say that Dvalishvili shares the same unyielding, never-back-down mentality that he himself possesses, a trait that makes fighters like them incredibly difficult to defeat.

    “I believe, like myself, there are quite a few fighters out there who just never give up. They’re constantly there, just grinding and grinding, and it’s just too much for people. For someone like Merab, I feel like the only way I see him losing is by getting knocked out. That’s how I’ve always seen myself. I’ve always been quite confident, but I don’t believe anyone’s going to go out there and out-grind me or out-work me.”

    While “The Great” predicted that Dvalishvili could clinch a win by methodically imposing his will over the entire 25-minute bout, he also warned that the ever-present danger of a knockout from O’Malley looms large.

  • Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White recently lauded Al Haymon, the mastermind behind Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), for securing the iconic MGM Grand as the venue for Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming bout.

    On September 14, White will be in a rare showdown in Las Vegas as two major combat sports events clash. Alvarez is set to defend his unified super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga at the MGM-owned T-Mobile Arena, while the UFC makes history by hosting the first-ever live combat sports event at The Sphere with Noche UFC.

    Over the past two years, the UFC has consistently hosted four pay-per-view events annually at the T-Mobile Arena. For years, MGM held a firm grip on all prime live sporting venues along the Las Vegas Strip. That all changed in September 2023, when the Madison Square Garden Company shattered the monopoly by unveiling The Sphere, a cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind venue featuring 16K wraparound LED screens and immersive sound technology.

    This allowed the UFC to stage one of its most expensive events on September 14, despite PBC securing the date with MGM Resorts International. Last year, White outpaced Canelo by launching the inaugural Noche UFC at T-Mobile Arena after the UFC claimed the date first. Alvarez fought Jermell Charlo two weeks later at the same venue.

    The UFC and Canelo have previously locked horns over scheduling conflicts on the same night. However, White gained the upper hand on November 2, 2019, when Alvarez’s light heavyweight title fight against Sergey Kovalev was delayed by nearly two hours to avoid competing for viewers as Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal fought for the inaugural BMF title in the main event of UFC 244.

    The UFC CEO initially wasn’t thrilled when PBC also locked in the September 14 date for a Canelo fight, but now he appears unfazed by the rival spectacle…

    White Commends PBC For Going Head-to-Head with Noche UFC

    During a recent interview with Vegas PBS, White was asked if the UFC was sending a message by going head-to-head with a Canelo event on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. The UFC head honcho, however, took the high road, praising PBC’s Haymon for his promotional acumen in securing both the September 14 date and the T-Mobile Arena for the showdown.

    “I knew that there was going to be an event. You have to assume it’s going to be Canelo that night,” White said. “It is what it is. They’re going to do their thing; we’re going to do our thing. Al Haymon slid in there and stole that date from us, which I’ve got to give him props for. Al Haymon is a boxing promoter who is very, very bright, very sharp, and what makes him fascinating as a boxing promoter is that when you think of all the promoters throughout life, whether it’s P.T. Barnum, Vince McMahon, or [Bob] Arum, you’ve seen them a million times. Al Haymon is in the shadows; he’s a guy that you’ve never seen, yet he is one of the biggest fight promoters in the boxing business.”

    White further added that if PBC hadn’t locked down the T-Mobile Arena for that same date, the UFC wouldn’t have opted for The Sphere as the venue for Noche UFC.

    “Props to him; he [Haymon] slid in and stole my date at MGM. But if that didn’t happen, I believe everything happens for a reason. If that doesn’t happen and things don’t line up the way they did, I’m not at The Sphere, I’m not first, and a lot of other things. So this was meant to happen, and the fact that we’re going head-to-head with him that night—MGM is guaranteeing the gate to them, they’re guaranteeing them the money no matter whether they sell tickets or don’t. We actually sold the tickets that we’re selling.”

    Noche UFC boasts a stacked roster of Mexican fighters and will showcase two title fights. Headlining the event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili. In the co-main event, Alexa Grasso will put her UFC flyweight championship on the line in a trilogy bout against former champion Valentina Shevchenko.


  • Merab Dvalishvili Downplays Importance Of Takedowns vs. Sean O’Malley

    Merab Dvalishvili Downplays Importance Of Takedowns vs. Sean O’Malley

    UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t see successful takedowns as the be all and end all of his title challenge this weekend.

    Having won 10 straight inside the Octagon, a run that most recently had triumphs over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo added to it, Dvalishvili is set to compete with UFC gold on the line for the very first time.

    The Georgian will look to bring about his crowning moment at the expense of reigning kingpin Sean O’Malley, whom he’ll headline the Noche UFC pay-per-view alongside at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Many in the community have gone back and forth with their predictions on who will exit the unique venue on Sept. 14 with the 135-pound belt in their possession. Most agree, however, when it comes to where each fighter will find their likely method of victory.

    But Dvalishvili says fans shouldn’t be shocked if he wins in spite of O’Malley’s takedown defense holding firm…

    Dvalishvili On Grappling Narrative: ‘I Beat José Aldo & I Wasn’t Able To Take Him Down!’ 

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Dvalishvili looked ahead to his long-awaited first opportunity at achieving title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this Saturday night.

    In terms of the expected approach and suggestions that the ground marks the only location in which the challenger can emerge victorious, “The Machine” pointed to his past success opposite renowned striker José Aldo as evidence that he can wrest the title away from O’Malley without succeeding in takedown attempts.

    “Lots of MMA fans, very casual, they don’t — if they’re not watching MMA very close or they’re not training, they just say things,” Dvalishvili said. “I am number one contender. I am fighting for the belt. I am good everywhere, even striking when I need to strike. I beat José Aldo and I wasn’t able to take him down. That means I can strike too. Maybe it was boring, (but) not because of me. José Aldo was being smart.”

    While Dvalishvili will look to prove as much should O’Malley withstand his inevitable grappling initiations on Saturday night, there’s little doubt where the Georgian’s main advantages over the champ lie.

  • Kayla Harrison On UFC Bantamweight Title Shot Snub: ‘Dana Is A Man Of His Word…’

    Kayla Harrison On UFC Bantamweight Title Shot Snub: ‘Dana Is A Man Of His Word…’

    Former PFL star Kayla Harrison is set to return at UFC 307 where she faces Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the bantamweight division.

    With Vieira being ranked at #2 and Harrison at #3, the next title contender will surely be whichever woman gets her hand raised in Salt Lake City.

    However, some fans, and Harrison herself, questioned after her debut at UFC 300 whether she would need to get another win before jumping right into the title picture.

    Coming into the UFC as an already established name and dominating a former champion in Holly Holm like she did was a perfect introduction for the former Olympic Judoka.

    Rather than being frustrated that she isn’t in the next women’s bantamweight title fight which takes place the very same night, Harrison believes that it is only a matter of time.

    Kayla Harrison Isn’t Bitter About Not Getting Next Bantamweight Title Fight

    When Amanda Nunes made the decision to retire and vacate her bantamweight title, many expected that Juliana Peña would be in the equation to fight for the belt.

    Instead, Raquel Pennington became the champion after defeating Mayra Bueno Silva which then set the new titleholder up for a first defense against the number one contender in Peña.

    Harrison spoke in an interview with MMA Fighting about how it doesn’t bother her that there was an order for who gets the next title shot because of where the division was at after Nunes stepped away.

    She referenced how the UFC and Dana White had an agreement with Peña which they didn’t break even if putting Harrison straight into a title fight after her debut would have been a big move by the promotion.

    Instead, she’s focused on beating Vieira and challenging the winner in the near future.

    “I’m ready for everyone in the division, I’m ready to go out there and prove that I am the best in the world and I deserve to be UFC champion. Having said that, I think that a lot people wanted me to fight for the title but from what I understand, Dana is a man of his word and he made a promise to Juliana and so it’s her turn now but you know, whoever wins that fight, enjoy it while you can. That’s all I got to say about that.”

    Read also: Alexa Grasso Explains ‘Pausing’ Double-Champ Ambitions Ahead Of Noche UFC Title Defense

  • Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Between them, UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall know a thing or two about getting opponents out of there.

    Both men are incredibly fast and accurate strikers who often rely on reading their opponents and lining them up for the perfect shot.

    The major talking point heading into O’Malley’s second title defense at UFC 306 this weekend is whether he can land that on Merab Dvalishvili without being taken down and smothered.

    “Suga” isn’t going to be an easy opponent to get hold of and though his distance control and timing makes him very dangerous on the feet, Aspinall believes that it’s his decision making that is his biggest advantage in this fight.

    Tom Aspinall Credits Sean O’Malley’s Ability To Thrive Under Pressure As A Potential Difference Maker

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4awHfVkGspA

    On a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, the interim heavyweight champ broke down the main event that is set to take place this weekend.

    When looking at O’Malley’s game and some of his previous fights, Aspinall drew special attention to how relaxed he is inside the Octagon.

    This allows him to stay loose, clear-minded and creative. which the Brit believes is what makes him so effective under the bright lights.

    “The timing is fantastic and as I said, how calm he is is something that I can really respect because being in there, having so much pressure on you, especially when you talk about title fights, he just makes really, really good decisions at a really good time and that’s really difficult to do.”

    O’Malley’s ability to be so calculated in the moment helps him to pick his shots and predict what his opponents are going to do next, which will be crucial against Dvalishvili at UFC 306.

    While “Suga” isn’t without his critics, Aspinall admitted that it was his big step-up against Petr Yan at UFC 280 that really sold him on O’Malley as a legitimate contender in the bantamweight division.

    “That’s only something you can do when you’re super relaxed, you can’t do that when you’re stiff in there. You have to be like almost at that playful mindset. I was kind of on the fence with him thinking ‘yeah, he’s getting fed a couple of easy opponents and this, that and the other.’ It’s the Yan fight for me ‘cuz he showed a lot or grit in that as well. We all knew how good Yan was coming into it and then it was a tough fight, in my opinion, it could have gone either way but just the grit that he showed in there. I think he got a lot of fans’ respect, at least for me anyway.”

    Read also: Teddy Atlas Says Sean O’Malley Could Cross Over To Boxing Successfully: ‘He Has The Instinct, The Talent…’

  • Director Tells Viewers At Home What To Expect From Noche UFC 306

    Director Tells Viewers At Home What To Expect From Noche UFC 306

    Hosting the first ever sporting event at the Sphere this weekend has brought a lot of opportunity to the UFC, but also a lot of hurdles to overcome.

    Whilst the venue that will play host to UFC 306 on September 14 is state of the art for those in attendance, it comes with a lot of unanswered questions.

    A lot has been made about the tribute to the Mexican people that the event is themed around but for the fans at home that won’t be sat in front of the enormous screen, would it feel any different to a regular PPV card in a standard arena?

    UFC director Craig Borsari and his team have put extensive work into this specific area to make sure that even the fans that aren’t in the building get to witness something unique and special.

    UFC Director On Improving Viewing Experience For Fans At Home

    In a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Borsari detailed the steps that they had to take when considering how they could make the viewing experience for fans watching around the world feel as close to the live event as possible.

    It would have been easy for the promotion to put on a spectacle inside the Sphere and try to adapt this venue for their regular style of PPV broadcasts, but that wasn’t going to cut it.

    Borsari spoke about how, in order to make this event feel special and really get across the feeling of being inside the Sphere from the opposite side of a screen, they brought in new staff and equipment to facilitate the best possible broadcast.

    “One of those principles you just touched on which is we wanted the viewer at home to have an experience as close to being inside the Sphere as possible which required us to bring in two separate TV trucks in addition to our normal A and B unit fight trucks, a separate director so Glenn Weiss is the director who will sit in one of those trucks, a whole separate set of cameras that will be designed to capture all of the content on the media plane in a way where we’re not going full frame in the broadcast but it feels as if you’re seated in the 300 or 400 level inside the Sphere watching the show.

    “We could have gone about this and not put those TV trucks in place and not put those separate cameras in place and really brought you a visual experience that’s vert similar to any pay-per-view we would go on any given Saturday night, but this is a unique event and we took a very unique approach and felt that it was important for viewers at home to get the sense of the volume of the space that they’re in and try to experience that. I mean there’s nothing like being there but we wanted to come as close as we possibly could.”

    Read also: UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

  • Alexa Grasso Explains ‘Pausing’ Double-Champ Ambitions Ahead Of Noche UFC Title Defense

    Alexa Grasso Explains ‘Pausing’ Double-Champ Ambitions Ahead Of Noche UFC Title Defense

    UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso wants to become a member of the two-division titleholders’ club, but not at the expense of her teammates and fellow countrywomen.

    Grasso’s next fight is one of the main attractions on offer at this weekend’s Noche UFC (UFC 306) pay-per-view event, set to go down inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    The Mexican champ will appear in the co-main event on Sept. 14, once again sharing the cage with Valentina Shevchenko. After dethroning “Bullet” before retaining possession of the belt with a split draw in her first defense, Grasso is looking to close the book on their rivalry by securing a two-win lead.

    Should that come to fruition on Saturday night, Grasso will turn her attention to other contenders at 125 pounds. And that’s despite harboring aspirations elsewhere…

    Grasso Favors Team’s Supremacy In UFC Over Second Title For Herself

    During a recent interview for Stake, Grasso assessed the remaining goals she has in the UFC, including the pursuit of gold in a second weight class.

    Unfortunately for those ambitions, the flyweight queen has teammates and compatriots pursuing glory of their own both above and below. And with her preference being total domination for her team from strawweight to bantamweight, she’s happy to put talk of a divisional switch on ice for the time being.

    “I would love to be a two-weight world champion. It is such a big question and goal for me,” Grasso said. “However, I have friends in the (other) weight classes such as Loopy Godinez in the strawweight division and Irene Aldana in the Bantamweight division, and our team’s goal is to all be champions in each of our weight classes. So I would have to pause that dream for now.”

    While Godinez will be absent, Aldana will join Grasso as one of many Mexican standouts set to compete on the promotion’s celebratory Mexican Independence Day card this weekend, which has been branded a “love letter” to the nation by UFC CEO Dana White.

    Both women will look to bring victories back to Mexico. Such a feat would also see the country maintain its sole reigning UFC champion, with Grasso emerging from her trilogy opposite Shevchenko still on the flyweight throne.

  • Jon Jones Reacts To Inclusion On Dana White’s MMA Mount Rushmore

    Jon Jones Reacts To Inclusion On Dana White’s MMA Mount Rushmore

    There is always going to be debate amongst the fans about who would make it onto an MMA version of Mount Rushmore.

    Even when looking exclusively at the UFC, that can be difficult to narrow it down to just four spots considering how many fighters have made huge impacts and left behind incredible legacies.

    The recent retirement of Demetrious Johnson at ONE 168 appeared to circulate this topic once again, alongside a lot of the recent conversation surrounding Jon Jones.

    On a recent episode of First Take, Dana White named his top four in UFC history, which was always going to provoke further conversation from the fans.

    He listed arguably the greatest to ever do it in Jon Jones, the biggest star the sport has ever seen in Conor McGregor, the leading pioneer in women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey, and one of the best representatives for the sport, Georges St-Pierre, as his picks.

    Jon Jones Reacts To Being Named In Dana White’s UFC Mount Rushmore

    Despite not fighting since March of last year, Jon Jones has been heavily talked about by both the fans and the UFC President in recent times.

    White has come out in defence of “Bones” several times due to questions regarding his upcoming fight with Stipe Miocic, not fighting interim champion Tom Aspinall and the debate of whether he deserves to be listed as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport.

    After being named in White’s Mount Rushmore list, Jones showed his appreciation via an Instagram story that he posted with the following caption next to the video.

    “Big compliment from the boss, he’s not talking about the best fighters. He’s talking about fighters who changed the game.”

    Regardless of whether he belongs at the top of the P4P list right now, it’s undeniable that Jones has had a massive impact on the sport during his long and successful career.

    Read also: UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

  • Daniel Cormier Describes High Stakes For Brian Ortega At Noche UFC: ‘If You Can’t Beat These Young Up & Comers…’ 

    Daniel Cormier Describes High Stakes For Brian Ortega At Noche UFC: ‘If You Can’t Beat These Young Up & Comers…’ 

    Daniel Cormier says the UFC’s upcoming Sphere show marks a crucial moment for Brian Ortega’s continued stay toward the top of the promotion.

    Plenty of storylines are set to play out at this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view, with the most intriguing of which below the two championship headliners being a highly anticipated featherweight clash on the main card.

    A few months on from the same-day cancellation at UFC 303, Ortega and the surging Diego Lopes will give their matchup a second go at reaching the steel surroundings of the Octagon.

    For “T-City,” he’ll be fighting 10 places down the rankings against one of the most in-form contenders in the division. With the hype surrounding Lopes in mind, Cormier thinks a victory could net Ortega another shot at title glory.

    But a defeat? For “DC,” that could be all she wrote for Ortega’s appearances at the top of UFC cards…

    Cormier: Lopes Fight ‘Telling’ On Where Ortega’s Career Is At

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to Saturday’s event and assessed what’s at stake for one of the highest-ranked names on the lineup.

    While Ortega cemented his spot high up the pecking order by submitting Yair Rodríguez in his comeback fight this past February, “DC” believes a setback against the #13-ranked Lopes could be fatal for his continued stay at the top.

    “I think this fight is going to be very telling as to where Brian Ortega is in his career,” Cormier said. “If you can’t beat these young up-and-comers, it becomes difficult to stay where you’ve lived your entire career. Ortega has lived at the top of the card for as long as we can remember.

    “f he loses to a guy like Lopes — a guy who’s on a run, a guy who’s making his way to the top of the division — it becomes a bit of a changing of the guard,” Cormier continued. “But I think that happened in Mexico City. Brian Ortega was supposed to go lose to Yair Rodríguez. He got the job done and he looked very impressive in doing so. So this is a massive opportunity. … Ortega wins this fight, he’s gonna be right on the shortlist of guys that can compete for the belt.”

    Ortega will look to avoid the first of those fates mentioned by Cormier by stalling Lopes’ charge up the featherweight ladder come fight night at the Sphere on Sept. 14.

    Should the two-time title challenger accomplish that feat, he’ll no doubt place a close eye on the upcoming 145-pound championship clash between kingpin Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi.

  • Dana White Reveals If Interim Lightweight Title Fight For Arman Tsarukyan Is Possible With Islam Makhachev Injured

    Dana White Reveals If Interim Lightweight Title Fight For Arman Tsarukyan Is Possible With Islam Makhachev Injured

    Dana White has shut down Arman Tsarukyan’s calls for an interim UFC lightweight title to be created while champion Islam Makhachev recovers from a hand injury.

    Makhachev and Tsarukyan were originally expected to run it back for the former’s gold at the upcoming UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi next month. But a physical issue for the Dagestani forced him out.

    Soon after, the Russian-Armenian contender expressed a willingness to wait until December should their title fight be rearranged. But if a return isn’t possible for the champ until 2025, he’d like to instead compete for an interim belt.

    And in his latest comments to Red Corner MMA, Tsarukyan suggested that a 2024 comeback is indeed off the table for Makhachev, once again sparking talk of a second title in the lightweight division.

    “I was informed that this fight will not happen this year, it will take place early next year. … It’s from the UFC, but this is the nature of our sport: everything can change in a moment. That’s why I am keeping myself in shape. I am in camp now.

    “It’s not about fighting Islam for me, it’s about becoming the champion,” Tsarukyan continued. “Any of the top five could fight for the interim title – (Dan) Hooker, (Michael) Chandler, (Charles) Oliveira, (Justin) Gaethje or (Dustin) Poirier…although they don’t deserve it because all four of them are coming from a loss, at least three of them.”

    But that sentiment doesn’t appear to be shared by the promotion’s higher-ups…

    White On Interim Title Talk: ‘Islam’s Fought So Many Times…’

    During a recent interview with Manouk Akopyan, White provided an update on the lightweight title picture and addressed recent talk of a matchup for an interim belt.

    The UFC CEO suggested plans are coming together for Makhachev’s next defense. And despite Tsarukyan suggesting it won’t be until early 2025, White dismissed any notion that an interim title could be created in the Dagestani’s absence.

    “Islam’s fought so many times and is always willing to jump up and take a fight. So no, there won’t be an interim title,” White said. “When he’s ready to go, we’ll go. We have plans. We’re looking at it right now, when he would fight. … Yes, (Tsarukyan’s) the number one contender.”

    Tsarukyan previously name-dropped options like Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje when discussing a possible interim title fight. Evidently, though, that is not a possibility while he awaits a likely rematch with Makhachev in 2025.

    Interestingly, the UFC has been less firm on its avoidance of interim title fights in the past.

    The promotion previously created a second heavyweight belt to be contested by Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane in August of 2021. That was despite then-champ Francis Ngannou’s team claiming “The Predator” was ready to accept his first defense for the very next month.

    Ngannou ultimately unified the title against Gane in January 2022. While Makhachev is expected to make his return in January 2025 at the earliest, no such interim title has been created for the summer/early fall this time around.

  • Teddy Atlas Says Sean O’Malley Could Cross Over To Boxing Successfully: ‘He Has The Instinct, The Talent…’

    Teddy Atlas Says Sean O’Malley Could Cross Over To Boxing Successfully: ‘He Has The Instinct, The Talent…’

    According to legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley could compete with the best in boxing.

    O’Malley’s hands were on full display during his rise to prominence on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. After a memorable knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a contract, a further five foes were stopped with strikes before “Sugar” found himself challenging for gold last year.

    And the Montana native took full advantage of the opportunity, using his slick counterstriking to finish Aljamain Sterling in the second round of their pay-per-view main event in Boston.

    As he continues to stake his claim for the ‘best boxer in MMA’ crown, O’Malley has frequently touched on the possibility of a venture to the ring down the line, notably targeting WBA lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis.

    While he thinks that might mark the UFC star biting off more than he can chew, Atlas does agree that success awaits O’Malley in the punching-only realm…

    Atlas: O’Malley Has The Abilities Of ‘A Pure Boxer’

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Atlas acknowledged O’Malley’s boxing ambitions ahead of the bantamweight kingpin’s second title defense this weekend in Las Vegas.

    The renowned boxing coach and analyst highlighted the skills that would make “Sugar” a formidable foe inside the ring, even going as far as to compare his striking talent to that of a “pure boxer.”

    “He can cross over because he has the instinct, the talent, the abilities of a boxer, a pure boxer,” Atlas said. “He’s got the legs. He’s got the eyes. He sees things real good. He’s got long arms. He’s got quick hands. He’s versatile, and he can use the ring and move around and get angles. He can set traps. He’s a great, great natural counterpuncher. If you wait in front of him, he gets out first and puts punches together – smart and educated punches. Smart combinations, up and down. Tricking combinations. They’re advanced combinations, they’re not primitive combinations. They’re not just basic combinations, they’re combinations of a top fighter.

    “If you walked into a room, and he was on TV and you wouldn’t see that he’s not wearing shoes, and you saw him strike, you might think you’re watching a boxing match,” Atlas continued. “He’s that smooth. He’s that natural with it, that comfortable with it. He controls range and distance beautifully, and he can punch. He gets good power. Wiry guys usually can’t get good power.”

    And while he’s not sure O’Malley could get the better of a well-rounded boxer like Davis, he wouldn’t rule the UFC champ out if he were to turn his sights to other names like Ryan Garcia.

    “I’m not knocking him, but I wouldn’t take ‘Tank’ Davis. I’m not saying the other guy is a walk in the park at all. Obviously, not at all. But I’d take Garcia because ‘Tank’ Davis, to me, is the more well-rounded fighter,” Atlas stated. “There are more things to worry about. He can punch. He can counterpunch. He can get you. There are so many facets to his game, and he’s so consistent. Garcia hasn’t shown us that can be consistent.”

    For now, O’Malley’s focus remains on the cage, inside of which he’ll look to make another emphatic statement with his fists on Saturday night when he faces the threat posed by Merab Dvalishvili.

    The pair are set to headline Noche UFC, the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Aljamain Sterling Replaces Israel Adesanya On P4P List, Diego Lopes Falls Ahead Of Noche UFC

    UFC Rankings Report: Aljamain Sterling Replaces Israel Adesanya On P4P List, Diego Lopes Falls Ahead Of Noche UFC

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound:  Israel Adesanya has found himself off the P4P list for the first time in years. Weeks on from his failed bid to achieve three-time champ status against middleweight kinpgin Dricus Du Plessis, “The Last Stylebender” has lost his #15 spot to former bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Natália Silva’s triumph over Jéssica Andrade on Saturday was enough to elevate her into the female P4P discussion. She’s debuted in the rankings at #14, leading to Ketlen Vieira falling out entirely. Above her, Andrade has slipped by two positions to #13, providing small boosts for Kayla Harrison (#11) and Virna Jandiroba (#12).

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: As expected, Silva has slotted in one place outside the top five at 125 pounds, occupying Andrade’s previous position. That’s left the former strawweight queen two spots worse off at #8.

    Women’s Bantamweight: After Pannie Kianzad parted ways with the UFC, she’s been removed from the 135-pound rankings. Her vacant spot has been filled by Ailín Pérez (#15). Further up, Norma Dumont (#8) has moved above her fellow countrywoman Karol Rosa (#9).

    Flyweight: While he hung up his gloves this past weekend, Matt Schnell has remained ranked for the time being. His loss to Cody Durden has seen him fall three places to #13, with his victorious opponent up two spots to #12.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Bizarrely, the surging Diego Lopes has fallen at 145 pounds just days out from his showdown with Brian Ortega at Noche UFC. Previously ranked #12, the Mexico-based Brazilian has dropped one place behind Bryce Mitchell. That’s despite the Arkansas native not being in action since a brutal knockout loss to Josh Emmett last December.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: Sean Brady is within touching distance of the top five at 170 pounds following his main event win over Gilbert Burns. While he’s risen to #6, “Durinho” has fallen to #8. Lower down, Kevin Holland has returned to the rankings at #15, a spot he shares with Neil Magny. That’s despite “Trailblazer” being scheduled to stay at middleweight for the time being.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Belal Muhammad Shares Heartwarming Story Of His Parents Getting ‘Superstar Treatment’ Now That He’s UFC Champ

    Belal Muhammad Shares Heartwarming Story Of His Parents Getting ‘Superstar Treatment’ Now That He’s UFC Champ

    Belal Muhammad ran through the UFC welterweight division to finally face Leon Edwards at UFC 304. Before becoming the champ, he already boasted nine consecutive impressive wins over Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and many top contenders.

    Edwards dominated the striking exchanges in his first fight with Muhammad, but it was ruled No Contest because of an eye poke in the second. Many assumed that “Remember the Name” was no match for “Rocky” and the challenger even had to wait over a year to get the title shot.

    Now that the dust has settled around Muhammad being the UFC welterweight kingpin, he’s revealed how life has changed in the past few weeks…

    Belal Muhammad Reveals How Life Has Changed Since Becoming UFC Welterweight Champion

    Muhammad was recently asked about his experience as a UFC champion on the Believe You Me podcast, hosted by Michael Bisping. He outright mentioned that people have been trying to associate with him a lot more, and there’s been a huge influx of supporters as well.

    Because he’s now stacked with media-related commitments as a champ, Muhammad misses his regular training days. He also had to change his phone number for the first time since high school, as he’s repeatedly getting calls.

    Amidst the obvious downsides of stardom, Muhammad shared that his parents have reaped the benefits of him winning the UFC championship as well. His father has been showing the belt to his peers while his mother is being asked for pictures at grocery stores.

    “I’m getting random calls. So, I had to change the number that I had since high school. But, more you know, for the most part, it’s just seeing my dad be able to celebrate it, right? He’s showing his friends the belt, my mom’s, people are asking my mom for pictures at, you know, the grocery store. So, seeing them get that superstar treatment, is a sweet part for me.”

    Making his parents proud by becoming a UFC champion is a delight for Muhammad. He looked back at the 2020 riots in Chicago during which his father’s cell phone store was looted and destroyed. With his hard work, he’s been able to help his family recover from the financial and emotional losses.

  • ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    Belal Muhammad has been as vocal as he can be since winning the UFC welterweight championship against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. His ten-fight unbeaten streak in the division finally led to him winning gold, and he’s now firing back at all his doubters.

    As impressive as Muhammad was in his last fight, fans are now eager to see him defend his belt. From Sean Brady to Kamaru Usman to Shavkat Rakhmonov, the division is stacked with contenders as well.

    While admitting to Rakhmonov most likely being his next opponent, Muhammad has laid down the perfect plan for the rest of the top UFC welterweights….

    Belal Muhammad Reveals How Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Ian Garry, and Jack Dalla Maddalena Can Enter The UFC Welterweight Title Picture

    Muhammad discussed the current state of the UFC welterweight division in the Believe You Me podcast by Michael Bisping on YouTube. Although he thinks that Rakhmonov’s win over Stephen Thompson doesn’t make him a clear contender, he suggested the UFC wouldn’t want to lose on a potential star by testing him once again before the title shot.

    So, with Rakhmonov bagging the next title shot in the division, Muhammad suggested these fights for other top contenders:

    “If I’m matchmaker, I’m looking at Sean Brady versus Usman. And I’m looking at Ian Garry against Leon. And you know, Jack Della, I think he’s out, he’s injured, but even him against, because he’s not even proven himself. He was getting beat by Gilbert Burns until he caught Gilbert Burns at the last minute, so I would give him another test. Maybe, like an MVP.”

    Brady is coming off a dominant win over Gilbert Burns and beating a former champion like Usman would legitimize his title shot. Ian Garry could build a similar claim to the title by beating Edwards, considering not many were convinced by his win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page.

    Last, but not least, Jack Della Maddalena took out Burns after being dominated for two rounds. He can have an illustrious striking matchup with MVP, who would want to bounce back from his loss as well.

    It’s hard to assume whether the UFC will finalize any of these matchups, but the kingpin has his eyes set on all the potential threats to his title.

  • ‘Am I A Snitch?’ – Henry Cejudo Drops Inside Information On Sean O’Malley’s Camp For Merab Dvalishvili Fight

    ‘Am I A Snitch?’ – Henry Cejudo Drops Inside Information On Sean O’Malley’s Camp For Merab Dvalishvili Fight

    At this point, it’s common knowledge in MMA circles that Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley aren’t good friends. Both fighters have discredited each other’s fighting styles and skills frequently; from the looks of it, things haven’t improved yet.

    In the latest Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast episode, O’Malley trolled the hosts by leaving in just 30 seconds. In his brief time, he appreciated Kamaru Usman, asked Cejudo how he let Aljamain Sterling take him down so easily, and left.

    As the UFC bantamweight champion left, Cejudo explained how the former’s camp hasn’t been ideal at all…

    Henry Cejudo Fires Back At Sean O’Malley For Exposing His Injuries Ahead Of Merab Dvalishvili Fight

    Cejudo and O’Malley are from the same city and unsurprisingly, they share training partners. “Triple C” remembered his loss to Dvalishvili and how O’Malley tweeted the injuries Cejudo was struggling with during his camp.

    Following a similar route, the former UFC double champ mentioned that three of his training partners have attended O’Malley’s camp for the Dvalishvili fight. While avoiding specific details, Cejudo hinted that “Suga” cannot get up from bottom positions which is naturally a huge problem against a relentless grappler like Dvalishvili.

    “He doesn’t know how to get off of bottom, he’s having trouble. I’ve had training partners, I have three training partners that gone out there that’s all told me the same s**t. Just like when I’m injured, he always knows, he’s tweeted out like hey, when I lost to Merab Dvalishvili, he knew that I was injured. You know, that’s what happens when you live in the same city. People know other people that will say s**t.”

    This potential training issue, combined with their long history of trolling each other, explains why Cejudo is so confident about Dvalishvili walking out as the new UFC bantamweight champion at UFC 306.

    “It’s a match made in heaven for a guy like Merab. He just needs to be here, he just needs to be careful in those two rounds and as the fight goes on, I can see Merab Dvalishvili f****g taking him out. Am I a snitch? Am I a snitch, Kamaru?”

    The former champ also discussed how O’Malley might be compelled to fight him after losing to “The Machine”. Although he’s planning to move down to flyweight, he could halt those plans based on the outcome of Riyadh Season Noche UFC’s main event.

  • UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

    UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

    Dana White recently claimed responsibility for the noticeable enhancements in WWE’s production quality.

    Last September, the UFC and WWE united to form a formidable force in the world of combat sports: TKO Group Holdings. Since their merger, the company has thrived, reaching new levels of success and redefining industry standards.

    WWE fans have experienced a wave of changes recently, with a dramatic shift in production quality. The exit of WWE co-founder Vince McMahon ushered in a major transformation in the company’s operations.

    Following the creation of TKO Group under the Endeavor banner, WWE continued its forward momentum. However, the departure of longtime executive Kevin Dunn marked a significant milestone for the production team.

    Taking over from Dunn, former ESPN executive Lee Fitting stepped into the role of head of media and production this past January. Under his leadership, WWE fans have witnessed a wave of fresh, dynamic camera work, with new angles and walking shots that were previously unseen in WWE broadcasts. The UFC CEO proudly attributes these changes to his own impact…

    White On WWE’s Production Changes: ‘Our Team Has A Lot Of Influence Over What’s Going On’

    During a recent interview with Johnny Resendiz, White was questioned about the possibility of the UFC adopting innovative camera angles and production techniques, similar to the ongoing changes WWE has been implementing.

    The UFC head honcho asserted that many of the recent changes WWE has undergone are largely the result of his MMA promotion’s production team playing a key role behind the scenes.

    “Don’t you find it weird that we got involved in WWE not too long ago, and now they’re experimenting with that?” White said. “Our production team has a lot of influence over what’s going on.”

    Although both combat sports powerhouses now operate under the same umbrella, White has repeatedly dismissed the idea of a competitive crossover between WWE and UFC. He emphasized that any transition between pro wrestling and MMA is handled individually, with no formal plans for cross-promotion between the two worlds.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach: ‘King’ Belal Muhammad Turned The Tables On UFC

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach: ‘King’ Belal Muhammad Turned The Tables On UFC

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently expressed that Belal Muhammad has earned the right to dictate his own terms now that he has claimed the UFC welterweight championship.

    “Remember the Name” made waves by toppling 170-pound champion Leon Edwards with a commanding unanimous decision victory at UFC 304 this past July in Manchester. The highly anticipated rematch followed their initial clash in March 2021, which ended in controversy when an accidental eye poke in the second round forced Muhammad out, resulting in a no contest.

    Muhammad has invariably demonstrated his dominance in the Octagon, as highlighted by his remarkable 11-fight unbeaten streak. But he has struggled to earn the respect he deserves.

    However, now that the 36-year-old Chicago native has claimed the title, he’s elevated his trash-talking game and flipped the script on his critics. Mendez fully supports the shift, believing Muhammad has earned the right to bask in the spotlight…

    Mendez On Muhammad’s New Attitude: ‘They Belittled Him, Now Belal Is The Man’

    During a recent episode of the Javier Mendez Podcast, the esteemed MMA coach shared his thoughts on Muhammad’s shift in approach after capturing the UFC welterweight title. Mendez remarked that despite being overlooked for years, even with an impressive win streak, Muhammad has now rightfully earned the power to dictate his own path.

    “Look at Belal Muhammad, look at what he had to do,” Mendez said. “That poor guy had to do everything, waiting; he was undefeated for how many fights, and he’s knocking on the door, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, he didn’t deserve it,’ and he kept pushing. He finally got his shot, and he did what he needed to do—he won a decisive victory over Leon Edwards. And now, it’s like, who’s doing all the talking? Now Belal is doing all the chirping because they belittled him, and now Belal is the man. Now he’s in charge, and I kind of love what he’s doing because it was done to him.”

    Mendez further added that now, as a champion, “Remember the Name” has the power to pick his next opponent.

    “He bided his time, and now he’s the king. I don’t care what you say—he can do whatever he wants, chirp as much as he wants. He can chirp all he wants because he’s the champ, and that was done to him. He got his opportunity, and he rose to the occasion, coming out with the victory. So now he’s the champ, and now he’s calling the shots like he wants to. Obviously, at the end of the day, the UFC decides who they’re going to give him, but he can decide the date. If he turns down an opponent, then obviously he doesn’t have to fight that opponent, but I don’t think Belal is going to do that. Right now, why not have fun with it like he’s doing?”

    Muhammad has embraced the idea of defending his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov, all while engaging in a fiery social media exchange with Kamaru Usman. The question of who will stand across from Muhammad for his first title defense remains up in the air, and only time will reveal his next challenger.

  • Alexa Grasso Targets Champ vs. Champ Super Fight After Valentina Shevchenko

    Alexa Grasso Targets Champ vs. Champ Super Fight After Valentina Shevchenko

    UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso returns at UFC 306 where she hopes to put this chapter of her career behind her.

    Over the past two years, the Mexican star has only had one opponent in mind, former champion Valentina Shevchenko.

    After shockingly submitting her to win the title back at UFC 285, the two women met in a rematch at the first ever Noche UFC this time last year where the fight was controversially scored as a draw.

    This Saturday, Grasso will look to end the trilogy by beating Shevchenko once again so that she can move on to new and exciting challenges that await her at flyweight.

    Alexa Grasso Tees Up Future Plans For Upcoming Title Defenses, Dream Fight & Two-Weight Goals

    Grasso knows that beating the “Bullet” for a second time will require her to be at her absolute best but that doesn’t mean she isn’t excited for what could be in store for her down the line.

    In a recent interview with Stake.com, she spoke about how a champion vs champion clash with strawweight queen Weili Zhang is something that really piques her interest.

    ”Weili Zhang is my dream fight. It will be one of my biggest fights to date. She is strong, powerful and well rounded. She is a great fighter and I even heard she would love to test herself at 125, so I would love to welcome her.”

    At the same time, Grasso knows that the flyweight division has several contenders who have emerged during the time that she has been locked into the Shevchenko trilogy.

    The champion is happy to defend the belt against the next worthy challenger which, in her opinion, is Manon Fiorot at this time.

    “I’m not the one who chooses these things, I think Manon Fiorot is more deserving of the title shot than Rose. She has been in the division longer and she has a bigger win streak. She was also next in line before she got injured, so I would like to fight Fiorot.”

    Grasso also added that if she is able to keep hold of the flyweight title, she would like the opportunity to make history.

    After becoming the first female Mexican UFC champion, she wants to hold two gold belts in the air, but is also conscious of doing what is best for her teammates.

    “I would love to be a two weight World Champion, it is such a big question and goal for me. However, I have friends in the upper weight classes such as Loopy Godinez in the Strawweight division and Irene Aldana in the Bantamweight division and our team’s goal is to all be champions in each of our weight classes so I would have to pause that dream for now.”

    Read also: Coach Vows: ‘No Way’ Merab Dvalishvili Suffers Ben Askren-Like Knockout At UFC 306

  • Usman Nurmagomedov Sets Undefeated 100-0 Combined Record Target For Family: ‘I Have Goal For This’

    Usman Nurmagomedov Sets Undefeated 100-0 Combined Record Target For Family: ‘I Have Goal For This’

    Usman Nurmagomedov recently announced an ambitious goal for the Nurmagomedov family: to achieve an undefeated combined record of 100-0 collectively.

    Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Alexander Shabliy in the main event of Bellator Championship Series 4, held at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego last weekend.

    Usman hails from the legendary Dagestani fighting team, carrying on the family legacy as the younger brother of UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov and the cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    “The Eagle” is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Although he may have retired from active competition in October 2020, the Nurmagomedov legacy lives on. Usman, following in his cousin’s legendary footsteps, is determined to etch the family name deeper into MMA history…

    100-0 Dream for Nurmagomedov Family Requires Usman and Umar to Win 35 More Bouts

    During the post-event press conference following his victory over Shabliy last weekend, Usman shared his ambitious vision of reaching an almost unblemished 100-0 collective record for the Nurmagomedov family by the time he hangs up his gloves.

    “We want to make like 100-0,” Nurmagomedov said. “Inshallah, one day it’s going to be 100-0, almost 100, not exactly 100. I have [goal] for this, like I have realized, and we’ll see what’s going to happen. You know, the world is changing every second—you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

    Both Usman and Umar currently boast flawless professional records of 18-0, while “The Eagle” retired with an undefeated 29-0. Together, this puts the Nurmagomedov family’s collective record at 65-0.

    To achieve their bold vision of a 100-0 record, Usman and Umar—both still early in their careers—must secure 35 more victories combined, all while maintaining their undefeated streak.

    Usman secured his second successful defense of the lightweight title, a belt he originally claimed in November 2022. His unanimous decision victory over Brent Primus at Bellator 300 in October 2023 was overturned to a no contest after Nurmagomedov tested positive for a banned substance.

  • Movsar Evloev On Aljamain Sterling’s PED Accusations: ‘Where I’m From, Girls Talk Like That’

    Movsar Evloev On Aljamain Sterling’s PED Accusations: ‘Where I’m From, Girls Talk Like That’

    Movsar Evloev recently clapped back at Aljamain Sterling after being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

    Evloev is gearing up to put his undefeated record on the line against Sterling in a high-stakes featherweight clash on the main card of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    As their fight draws near, “Funk Master” took to social media, hurling serious accusations at Evloev. He boldly suggested that his upcoming opponent is among those slipping under the radar while using PEDs.

    Evloev promptly dismissed the allegations, firing back with a series of posts on X. He even shared a photo of what appeared to be urine samples, subtly suggesting a recent visit from the UFC’s anti-doping partner, Drug Free Sport International.

    However, Sterling escalated his accusations, asserting that the rumors surrounding Evloev closely mirror the speculation that once swirled around his former opponent, T.J. Dillashaw, before he eventually tested positive for PED use.

    Evloev on Sterling’s Cheating Allegations: ‘Everybody Thinks I’m Using Something Because I’m Strong’

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Evloev fiercely rebutted Sterling’s PED allegations. The undefeated Russian dismissed “Funk Master” for speaking without solid evidence, stating that he prefers to let his actions speak for themselves when the two are locked inside the Octagon next month.

    “I don’t know what the point of this is, but I don’t care,” Evloev said. “We have doping control here, and I’m always clean. I’m happy being in the UFC because I know there is good doping control, and I can be confident knowing that my opponent also takes a doping test. So if you talk without proof, you know where I’m from—girls talk like that, and men don’t talk like that. And yeah, I can’t wait to beat his a**, and in four weeks, we’ll see.”

    Evloev went on to say that many accuse him of cheating simply because he outmatches his opponents in strength and possesses exceptional cardio. However, he emphasized that, in reality, he’s a clean fighter who trains hard to achieve his physical advantages.

    “Everybody thinks that I’m using something because, like, I’m strong, I breathe well, and I’m never tired. I’m clean, 100%. I eat well, I sleep well, I train hard—everything to be as strong as I am. And if you’re lazy, you can talk like that.”

    Evloev currently boasts an impressive undefeated professional record of 18-0, with eight of those victories coming in the UFC. He most recently secured a unanimous decision win over Arnold Allen at UFC 297 in January. The 30-year-old native of Sunzha has also claimed notable victories against elite fighters such as Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, and Hakeem Dawodu.

    • Read More: Aljamain Sterling Accuses Sean O’Malley Of Being Given The ‘Jake Paul Route’ By The UFC: ‘Stacking The Deck Against His Opponent’