MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Dan Hooker’s Coach Feels Unlucky Mateusz Gamrot Let Down By ‘The Machine’: ‘That Should Have Been His Opportunity…’

    Dan Hooker’s Coach Feels Unlucky Mateusz Gamrot Let Down By ‘The Machine’: ‘That Should Have Been His Opportunity…’

    Dan Hooker secured one of his biggest career victories at UFC 305 in Perth when he upset Mateusz Gamrot to earn a top five ranking spot.

    It was a back-and-forth battle between the two lightweight contenders that ended in a split decision, after Gamrot started the fight well but faded over time.

    All of the credit went to “The Hangman” who, after suffering some tough defeats, has been able to build his way back into contention at 155 pounds.

    His display of heart and toughness pushed this bout towards winning the fight of the night bonus but of course, his Polish opponent also played his part and that’s something that Hooker’s coach wanted to highlight.

    Eugene Bareman Praises Mateusz Gamrot And Says He Has Veen Unlucky Because Of His Fighting Style

    In an interview with Combat TV, Hooker’s coach at City Kickboxing, Eugene Bareman, took a moment to show his appreciation for Gamrot as a fighter and competitor.

    He referenced how “Gamer” was locked in to be the back-up fighter for UFC 294 in case anything happened to the main event between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.

    When “Do Bronx” withdrew due to an injury, the UFC went with Alexander Volkanovski as the replacement instead despite Gamrot being ready to go, likely because it made for a bigger fight.

    Bareman, after praising Gamrot’s performance at UFC 305, said that he has been unlucky due to his fighting style which isn’t the most fan-friendly, even if he is extremely talented.

    “For a start, I got a lot of respect for Gamrot and his team. I thought it was very unfair what happened to him in Abu Dhabi, you know, when Volk stepped in when he was already the person that was there waiting to be the replacement and instead of choosing him, they chose Volk who was in no shape to fight.

    “I thought that should have been his opportunity and it was taken away by the machine, you know. The machine that is the UFC and I just thought he was a guy that has suffered a little bit because he doesn’t have the stereotypical fights that the fans necessarily want to see but I love watching the guy fight. The people that know about the sport, they appreciate his work and although it may not be a fan friendly kind of style of fight, the people that know really appreciate the way that he fights.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

  • Israel Adesanya’s Coach Says Du Plessis Defeat Better Than ‘Unexplainable’ Strickland Upset: ‘It Was A Good Loss…’

    Israel Adesanya’s Coach Says Du Plessis Defeat Better Than ‘Unexplainable’ Strickland Upset: ‘It Was A Good Loss…’

    For the first time in his MMA career, Israel Adesanya finds himself coming off the back of consecutive defeats inside the Octagon.

    This doesn’t tell the story of both the fights that took place a year apart, because though he didn’t get his hand raised on either occasion, the story of the fights were completely different.

    “The Last Stylebender” didn’t look himself at UFC 293 where he was shockingly upset by Sean Strickland before taking a year off to return at UFC 305.

    Despite not reclaiming the title against Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya appeared somewhat back to where he was before and looked to be gaining momentum in the fight until Du Plessis was able to capitalize on a few mistakes to earn a submission win in the fourth round.

    Adesanya’s head coach at City Kickboxing, Eugene Bareman, gave his thoughts on the fight during a recent interview with Combat TV.

    He came away feeling a lot more positive after this loss compared to the one from last year because they were able to learn from clear and obvious mistakes that will only lead to improvements, unlike UFC 293 which left the team scratching their heads.

    “He made some mistakes which you can only, in my opinion, put down to fatigue and the fatigue, you can put down to the work that Dricus was able to do so you can’t do nothing but applaud that. It was a loss but you know, it was a good loss. Me and Israel can walk away from that loss and it’s measurable, it’s tangible. You can put that down, this is why this happened, this is why that happened. The Strickland fight is just a bit unexplainable to us. That’s much harder to get over cuz it’s like well what happened there.”

    Eugene Bareman Gives Credit To Dricus Du Plessis For An Aspect Of His Game That They ‘Didn’t Anticipate’

    Bareman agrees with the common consensus that heading into the fourth round, it looked like the momentum was swinging towards Adesanya in the later rounds.

    However, it was Du Plessis’ finishing ability that ended up deciding the fight after he was able to wobble the former champion on the feet and take his back for the rear-naked choke win.

    As he previously stated above, Bareman puts these crucial mistakes down to Adesanya being fatigued and while this is something they worked on during his training camp, the City Kickboxing boss revealed that he was surprised by how effectively the champion is able to weaponize his conditioning.

    He said that Du Plessis may not be a perfect fighter but he’s always making his opponents work hard to try and capitalize on his weaknesses.

    “It looks like he has some holes in his defense, he also makes you work to take advantage of those holes, you know what I mean. It’s tough work out there. Yeah, the holes are there but it’s tough work to find them and it just fatigued Israel and fatigued Israel and fatigued Israel and it slowly, slowly got to Israel to the point where he was so fatigued, Dricus was able to take advantage of it. That was probably something I didn’t anticipate happening as much as it did and I just had an expectation that Israel would be able to push through that.”

    Read also: Sean Strickland Responds To Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘Big Bro Advice’ As Rapper Wanted UFC Star To Not Talk About Him Anymore

  • Sean Strickland Responds To Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘Big Bro Advice’ As Rapper Wanted UFC Star To Not Talk About Him Anymore

    Sean Strickland Responds To Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘Big Bro Advice’ As Rapper Wanted UFC Star To Not Talk About Him Anymore

    It is common knowledge in MMA circles that Sean Strickland has a rocky relationship with Colson Baker, a.k.a. Machine Gun Kelly. Back in February 2024, the former UFC champ ran into the rapper during a Power Slap event where he commented about MGK’s outfit.

    The interaction went south quickly and Strickland had to be escorted out of the venue. Since then, he’s frequently talked about Kelly’s clothes and lifestyle. Megan Fox, who’s currently dating Baker, even reached out to Strickland via Instagram DMs regarding some of these remarks.

    MGK finally broke the silence on Strickland and advised the fighter to not talk about him anymore. Unsurprisingly, the former UFC middleweight kingpin already has a response…

    Machine Gun Kelly Asks Sean Strickland To ‘Shut The F** Up’ After Calling Him Racist And Homophobic

    Baker opened up about his interactions with Strickland on the latest episode of IMPAULSIVE podcast, hosted by Logal Paul and Mike Majlak. The hip-hop artist claimed that he would’ve avoided meeting the UFC star in the first place if he had been aware of the latter’s racist and homophobic statements.

    “I don’t know this guy from a crumb of bread, Right, I didn’t know who he was when I met him. I got hip afterward that he’s like, insanely racist and homophobic and just not my type of guy so I would have never even wanted to shake hands him with him in the first place. But, he also is just a representative of every person who’s too scared to just be themselves because if you’re comfortable as yourself, you don’t care who anybody else is.”

    Kelly then suggested Strickland to live his life and stop commenting on him. The rapper called the UFC fighter insecure for caring about other people’s appearance and verbally bashing them for it.

    Baker stated that Strickland would most likely respond to his aforementioned remarks which would be more detrimental to the fighter.

    “He’s so dumb that I’m going to tell him right now. You should not keep saying stuff because it just makes me look better but you’re going to keep saying stuff so I know that you’ll react and say more things but you’re, you just shouldn’t. As a person who’s just giving you big bro advice, learn this, shut the f**k up! And don’t speak on me anymore. And live your life, but you won’t, and I’m going to continue laughing at you because you’re a f*****g idiot.”

    MGK wasn’t wrong as Strickland has already replied to him on X. Yet again, he has targeted the rapper for his tattoos and accused him of drinking blood. He also claimed to be more comfortable hanging out with online trolls instead of the singer.

    All in all, it is safe to assume that the beef between Strickland and MGK is far from over. Fans of both celebrities are already engaging in heated online debates and it is unlikely that the two sides will find common ground soon.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Calls Merab Dvalishvili ‘Scary’ But Highlights Major Flaw In His Game: ‘Too Close To The Fight Now To Fix’

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Calls Merab Dvalishvili ‘Scary’ But Highlights Major Flaw In His Game: ‘Too Close To The Fight Now To Fix’

    Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili will fight for the UFC bantamweight championship on September 14, 2024, at the Sphere, Nevada. While the champion is already one of the most popular MMA fighters out there, Dvalishvili has all the hype around him due to his ten-fight win streak in the UFC.

    Both O’Malley and Dvalishvili have defeated former UFC bantamweight champ Petr Yan. “Suga” knocked out Aljamain Sterling for the title after that win, while “The Machine” defeated another former champ Henry Cejudo.

    Despite their evenly matched resumes and countering fighting styles, Tim Welch has explained why O’Malley will defeat Dvalishvili at Riyadh Season Noche UFC…

    Tim Welch Reveals Why It Is Hard To Train For Sean O’Malley And What Makes Merab Dvalishvili An Intimidating Opponent

    O’Malley’s coach Welch reviewed Dvalishvili’s latest training footage and other antics on his official YouTube channel recently. He pointed out that “The Machine” is a tough opponent due to his relentless pace, level changes, and cardio.

    However, he could not help but notice how Dvalishvili can be hit while shooting for takedowns. On top of that, he loses balance when he punches going forward making him extremely vulnerable against an accurate striker like O’Malley.

    “Loses balance a little bit on the punches. Falls forward and that’s something that definitely could get him in trouble here and it’s too close to the fight now to fix. Really lunging in here, throwing the overhand right, bringing his back foot with him which is another thing that could get you in trouble. You saw it with Aljo.”

    Welch believes that “The Machine” cannot improve his balance in the coming weeks, and the UFC bantamweight champion will capitalize on it. The Sterling fight is a good example of “Suga” catching opponents as they lunge towards him.

    According to the coach, it is hard to find training partners who can properly replicate O’Malley’s style during sparring. This should be another key factor in the favor of the champ.

    “I’m thankful that I’m not having to be a trainer training someone against sugar because it would just be so hard to find sparring partners that can do anything remotely close to him. And then you find sparring partners that try to mimic him. They do their best at mimicking him.”

    Although Welch is confident about O’Malley winning via knockout, he explained why Dvalishvili is not an easy opponent at all. He breathes through his mouth for long durations without any impact on his pace. He can take quite a few shots as well so “Suga” must be prepared for the challenger forcing takedowns on him.

    “Merab doesn’t even like, control his breath. He doesn’t even think about controlling his breath. He just, he’ll just breathe in, he’ll be mouth breathing the whole time and he’ll be able to keep up the pace. That’s one thing that’s scary about him. He’ll be able to just keep up the pace the whole time. Just at that, frantic breathing, frantic pace, that’s one of the things that make him really dangerous.”

  • ‘Shame To Ask For A Title Shot’ – Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Kamaru Usman’s Case To Fight Belal Muhammad For UFC Welterweight Championship

    ‘Shame To Ask For A Title Shot’ – Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Kamaru Usman’s Case To Fight Belal Muhammad For UFC Welterweight Championship

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is easily one of the most hyped prospects in the UFC due to his undefeated record and 100% finish rate. His 18 pro wins include ten submissions and eight knockouts.

    Even in the UFC, Rakhmonov has racked up six consecutive finishes without much trouble. After submitting Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson, he’s now waiting to face Belal Muhammad for the UFC welterweight championship.

    Here’s what Rakhmonov thinks of other welterweights like Kamaru Usman asking for a title shot and how he plans to defeat the champion…

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Brings Up Kamaru Usman’s Three Consecutive Losses To Deny His Title Shot Against Belal Muhammad

    Rakhmonov recently appeared on the Submission Radio YouTube channel to discuss his future in the UFC. He seems certain about fighting for UFC welterweight gold next and highlighted that no one in the division deserves it more.

    Talking about Usman, “Nomad” pointed out that the former UFC welterweight kingpin has lost three UFC fights in a row. This includes two losses to Leon Edwards and a decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. So, he expects the “Nigerian Nightmare” to get back in the win column before fighting for the title again.

    Based on the translation provided by Submission Radio, here’s what Rakhmonov said about Usman:

    “Yeah, I don’t know what he’s thinking about, like, I think it’s kind of shame to ask for a title shot after losing three fight straight. Like, in my head, I cannot get my head around it. But, yeah, it is what it is.”

    Rakhmonov also suggested that Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry should fight in a title eliminator next. If he beats Muhammad, he looks forward to defending the title for the first time against one of these opponents.

    “There’s few good guys in the division who are very close to title shot. I can say that Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry. And maybe they should fight each other and the winner should be next for the title after me.”

    All in all, Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov for the UFC welterweight title looks all but confirmed. The challenger has admitted to being ready for a fight anytime in 2024, so the UFC might announce the final date once the champion confirms his availability.

  • Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Dan Hardy Reacts To UFC Erasing Francis Ngannou, Compares With Own Experience

    Francis Ngannou found himself in the news without doing anything the week before the press conference for his PFL debut.

    “The Predator” may be gearing up for his long awaited MMA return where he will face Renan Ferreira on October 19 but the legacy he left behind in the UFC will never be forgotten.

    The MMA leader found themselves receiving some criticism during fight week for UFC 305, after claims that they had tried to erase Ngannou from the promotion’s history books due to his name being edited out during the Countdown episode preview.

    Though Dana White did apologise for this and put it down to a miscommunication, it certainly wasn’t the first time that the UFC have tailored things to better suit the promotion.

    Dan Hardy Says Francis Ngannou’s UFC Erasure Was Sad But Not Surprising Based On Track Record

    During a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the discourse regarding the UFC’s conduct around the career of their former heavyweight champion, who left the promotion on less than stellar terms.

    “The Outlaw” spoke about the comparisons between Ngannou’s treatment and that of Randy Couture, who also left to sign with another promotion and wasn’t remembered fondly by the UFC as a result.

    “It was sad to see and it didn’t surprise me unfortunately and I did see what Dana’s reply was about the fact that the editors had assumed that’s what he would have chosen and what he would have wanted and look, they were probably right because it’s happened so many times in history. Ngannou and Randy, they’re two fantastically credible names in the sport.”

    Hardy was also able to draw from his own experiences, even if his was on a smaller scale.

    The current Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe left the promotion in 2021 after some disagreements with the UFC, both publicly and privately.

    He recalled how he was seemingly wiped from the history of UK MMA during an event in London where his wife, Veronica, was in action.

    Despite being the first Brit to challenge for a UFC title when he faced Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight belt, “The Outlaw” was nowhere to be seen across the celebrations of the sport in this region.

    “My history in the UFC is far more mediocre in comparison but even so, at UFC London when Veronica was on the card, there’s posters of all the UK fighters on all of the underground tubes and everything and of course, I’m not there. It does happen, they do it a lot.

    “It makes no difference to me, I can dye my hair red and walk down the street and people will remember my fights. It’s just kind of a weird thing to see and for people like Randy and Ngannou, they need to be celebrated because they’ve inspired so many people, myself included. They shouldn’t be omitted, they’re part of the fabric of the sport and I think the fans will always remember that.”  

    Read also: PFL CEO Contradicts President’s Rejection Of Muhammad Mokaev: ‘He Could Absolutely Be The Future Face Of Flyweights Within PFL’

  • PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years.

    From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.

    The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.

    Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is

    In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.

    The Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe believes that Ngannou versus Ferreira is the very highest level in the heavyweight division.

    For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.

    “We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”

    With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.

    “But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”

    Read also: Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

  • Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

    Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

    UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira hasn’t been able to miss as of late and this wave of momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

    From headlining UFC 300 to stepping in as the replacement main event for UFC 303, “Poatan” has become a leading figure in MMA but there’s potentially one more thing he can do to take his star level up another notch.

    Pereira isn’t short on challengers in the light heavyweight division but the prospect of seeing him move up to heavyweight to put his power to the test against the biggest and baddest men on the roster, would be must-see.

    It certainly seems to be on the table in the near future, which is crazy when you consider that he entered the promotion as a middleweight contender.

    First, he will be defending his title against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 but the champion was never intending to be in MMA for a long time.

    Pereira has effortlessly made the jump to 205 pounds and his coach, who knows a thing or two about winning titles, believes he can do the same at heavyweight when the time is right.

    Glover Teixeira Says Alex Pereira Fighting At Heavyweight Would Be ‘No Problem’

    Glover Teixeira never intended to be a coach but said that being in Pereira’s corner was something that naturally happened over time.

    The former light heavyweight champion has become very close with the former GLORY kickboxer and during that time, he’s been so impressed with how great of a student Pereira is.

    Having spent so much time alongside him, Teixeira knew that moving up the weights was only a matter of time.

    In a recent interview with RG.org, he spoke about how he warned Pereira that middleweight would only last him so long and how the prospect of seeing his fighter at heavyweight is something he looks forward to, rather than worries about.

    “We talked about it since the beginning. I said to him, ‘You’re going to get bigger because of the wrestling training, and eventually you’re going to have to move up,’

    “I think I feel comfortable now with 205 [pounds], happy with the weight cuts,” Teixeira said. “But also I’ll be happy if he moves up. I think he has the potential to beat anyone at heavyweight. The guy is a beast, man. His strength is like a heavyweight, he hits like a heavyweight. So it’ll be no problem.”

    Read also: Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

  • Conor McGregor Appeals To Mick Maynard For Irish Fighter Who Didn’t Receive A Contract Despite Impressive Road To UFC Win

    Conor McGregor Appeals To Mick Maynard For Irish Fighter Who Didn’t Receive A Contract Despite Impressive Road To UFC Win

    Conor McGregor has always been a great advocate for his fellow Irish fighters when it comes to supporting them and giving them exposure, thanks to his huge following.

    “The Notorious” recently couldn’t help but show his appreciation for a UFC hopeful that somehow, despite ticking a lot of boxes, wasn’t offered a spot on the roster.

    Ireland’s Danni McCormack is the Invicta strawweight champion and was given the chance to step into a fight on the Road to UFC Series this past weekend.

    Whilst it was a tough encounter, McCormack rallied in the third round to show what she is made of before winning a unanimous decision, up at flyweight it’s worth adding.

    Her post-fight interview caught the eye of McGregor who gave his seal of approval, which means a lot coming from the man that delivered several of the most iconic moments on the mic in the sport’s history.

    “THIS IS A PROMO! In at the drop of a hat to beat and maul the much bigger girl. Finishing with a call out of the UFC’s current strawweight champion who is from the same region as her just beaten opponent. Magic! IRISH GOER WAR CRY! @danawhite announce her signing brother this is magic! @dannimccormack! FORGED ARMY!”

    Conor McGregor Continues To Push For Danni McCormack’s UFC Signing

    McCormack’s story has been closely linked with McGregor’s for her entire journey in mixed martial arts.

    She met McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, whilst being out in Las Vegas for UFC 189 where “The Mac” faced Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title.

    After promising Kavanagh that she’d go on to be one of his fighters, she kept her word and trains out of SBG Dublin to this day.

    On the week after the fight, McCormack revealed that she had not been offered a contract by the UFC though she has been told to stay ready in case they come calling on short notice.

    McGregor once again stood in McCormack’s corner and pushed for her to get a contract regardless of needing to step in on short notice.

    “Mick Maynard my man what’s the craic, we have a story and a journey to witness here! Irish Warrior Woman! Tough as it gets! Let’s roll, @Mickmaynard2 @ufc“

    Read also: ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

  • Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

    Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad came into UFC 304 as the underdog but he certainly didn’t look like it in the early hours of the morning in Manchester.

    The welterweight title challenger largely dominated Leon Edwards to become the champion via a unanimous decision verdict.

    After Edwards had already beaten top grapplers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, many assumed that he would have no problem thwarting the heavy wrestling approach of Muhammad, but this wasn’t the case.

    Having been inside the Octagon with him for 25 minutes, a former opponent of the current champion saw this performance coming from him and successfully predicted it ahead of time.

    Gilbert Burns Reveals Correct Pre-Fight Prediction & Breakdown For UFC 304

    During a recent episode of the Believe You Me Podcast, Michael Bisping was joined by former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    Burns is looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats next time out when he faces Sean Brady, both of whom whom were beaten by Muhammad during his undefeated run to the title.

    “Durinho” revealed during the interview that he wasn’t surprised by what went down in Manchester and had in fact, told Bisping ahead of time.

    After going through his messages, the former middleweight champion was able to find the message which correctly called that “Remember The Name” would get his hand raised on July 27 and how he would do it.

    Bisping read the message aloud having asked Burns for his prediction, only to then forget to mention it during the live broadcast.

    “Tough fight but I believe Belal’s going to make it a dog fight. I think that’s the only way for him to win and I believe he will do that. Randy Couture style dog fight. Inside dirty boxing mixed up with the wrestling.” 

    Read also: Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

  • Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

    Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

    At 41-years-old, Stephen Thompson knows that he is much closer to the end of his run in mixed martial arts than the start of it.

    Whilst he has been more than happy to take on the new blood at the top of the welterweight division, like his next clash against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, there are still some big fights for “Wonderboy” before he walks away.

    Two names stand out the most at 170-pounds due to their striking pedigree which would allow Thompson to do what he does best, rather than spending his final fights defending takedowns.

    Ian Garry met Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 where the undefeated Irishman continued his ascent up the rankings by relying on his takedowns to get the win.

    Both opponents are fights that many would like to see Thompson step into but he only agrees with one of the two options.

    Stephen Thompson Explains Why He’s Open To Fighting Ian Garry But Not Michael ‘Venom’ Page

    During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on the Believe You Me Podcast, Thompson gave his thoughts on facing Garry and Page before he hangs up the gloves.

    Garry, who is ranked higher than “Wonderboy” at #7, is a fight that he’s certainly up for but he can understand why the Irishman may not be so keen on it given his undefeated run.

    “I think it would be great, especially Ian Garry but at this point in time, I kind of see where he’s at like he’s just looking for the gold. I don’t think he would even want to give me a chance. I’m ranked #9, he’s close to the title, I think he’s looking for that next.”

    From the moment that “MVP” signed to the UFC, seeing Page and Thompson square off was a potential match-up that got fans excited because they’re both such specialist strikers.

    However, both men took an early stance that the fight probably wouldn’t deliver because they’re too similar to one another, which would create a stand-off.

    “And MVP, I think it would be, I think the fans would love that fight but…”

    After Bisping jokes that it would be nothing but both men keeping their hands down and circling one another, Thompson expanded on why he isn’t that interested in that fight even if it appears to be something that the fans want to see.

    “That’s the thing, I think it would just be that. Just moving around and staring at each other the whole time. We’re both counter strikers, you know, we got that karate background, we want guys to come forward so they run into our techniques, so we can work our angles, so we can blitz but when you have another counter striker on the other side of the Octagon with you, it could possibly be one of the most boring fights ever and I think people would boo it. I think people would boo that fight, I really do man.”

    Thompson also made reference to Garry’s fight against Page where he looked to press the action rather than counterstriking with “MVP”.

    He gave this as his reasoning for why the Garry match-up wouldn’t have the same outcome as the one against Page.

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

  • ‘I Didn’t Trust Myself Enough’ – Kamaru Usman Reveals How Khamzat Chimaev Loss Was Eye-Opening For Him

    ‘I Didn’t Trust Myself Enough’ – Kamaru Usman Reveals How Khamzat Chimaev Loss Was Eye-Opening For Him

    Kamaru Usman last fought in the UFC in October 2023 against Khamzat Chimaev. “Borz” absolutely dominated the first, as he had Usman’s back for the most part and was either landing unanswered shots or trying for submissions.

    The former UFC welterweight champion bounced back in the second and third rounds, though. He won several striking exchanges and didn’t allow his opponent to do anything effective with takedowns.

    As fans around the world eagerly wait for his return, Usman revealed his learnings from his last fight and why it wasn’t a five-rounder…

    Kamaru Usman Missed The Opportunity To Make Khamzat Chimaev Fight A Five-Rounder Due To Lack Of Confidence

    Usman discussed his last loss to Chimaev on the Weighing In podcast, hosted by John McCarthy and Josh Thomson. Right away, “Nigerian Nightmare” remembered that he had lost a close decision to Leon Edwards six months earlier and was stepping in to fight on 10 days’ notice.

    “That was the issue. And that’s why Trevor, my coach Trevor Wittman tells me all the time that I’m one of the best, if not the best, at building in a fight and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t trust myself and my abilities because that fight, it could’ve been a five-rounder.”

    Even though he had fought in 10 consecutive five-round UFC fights at this point, Usman avoided asking the promotion to make the Chimaev fight a five-rounder too. This was primarily because he didn’t trust his ability to withstand a 25-minute bout without a proper camp.

    However, Usman admitted to not being satisfied with the decision loss to Chimaev. This was an eye-opening moment for him, as he made sure to trust himself again. He also looked back at his coach Trevor Wittman’s remarks who proudly claims Usman to be one of the best in getting better in fights over time.

    “I wasn’t training as I would be if I had a fight and I went through a camp and so, with that being said that, I didn’t trust myself in that sense. So then you get in a fight and I realize I haven’t fought a three-round fight in, I don’t remember last time I fought a three-round fight. So, I’ve built myself up to get in a position to where you can build over the course of five rounds. And so now that it’s not that, it was very very difficult for me to be okay with that result.”

    From the looks of it, Usman has had enough time to rejuvenate physically and mentally after losing the UFC welterweight championship. In his return, he might fight for the title again or aim to avenge his loss to Chimaev in a five-rounder.

  • ‘I’ve Essentially Had Two Camps For This Guy’ –  Robert Whittaker Lays Down Confident Plan To Get Past Khamzat Chimaev & Fight For UFC Middleweight Gold

    ‘I’ve Essentially Had Two Camps For This Guy’ –  Robert Whittaker Lays Down Confident Plan To Get Past Khamzat Chimaev & Fight For UFC Middleweight Gold

    Robert Whittaker, since moving up to middleweight in the UFC, has only lost thrice. Two of these losses came against Israel Adesanya, and he most recently lost to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290.

    Although Whittaker’s been unable to reclaim his UFC middleweight title since 2019, he’s defeated top contenders such as Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, and Ikram Aliskerov.

    “Bobby Knuckles” will now face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. Here’s what he thinks of fighting another intimidating contender and how he plans to emerge victorious…

    Robert Whittaker Reveals Several Reasons That Make Him Confident About Beating Khamzat Chimaev

    Whittaker appeared on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently and discussed the state of the UFC middleweight division. When asked about his next fight, “The Reaper” highlighted that he’s had two camps preparing specifically for Chimaev which is naturally a huge advantage.

    “I’ve essentially had two camps for this guy, right? I think skill-set wise, I’m probably at the best I’ve been. I’ve been especially most prepared for Khamzat, theoretically speaking as I could be, right?”

    The former UFC middleweight kingpin also feels great physically and mentally. He likes fighting in the Middle East, which is luckily where UFC 308 takes place.

    Whittaker didn’t hold back when asked about his strategy going into the Chimaev fight. He’s aware of the explosive wrestling his opponent brings in the early rounds. However, he’s certain about neutralizing Chimaev’s wrestling and turning the tides as the fight goes on.

    “Yeah, definitely that high-paced start and his wrestling prowess. It’s quite simple. You know, you got to worry about how hard he’s going to push the wrestling envelope in the first few rounds. And then, like, what I’m going to do after that, after I stop the takedowns, after I get back up or whatever, and just taking the fight to him.”

    Whittaker has racked up two impressive wins in 2024. By ending the year with a win over a huge name like Chimaev, he’ll most likely earn a title shot.

  • Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

    Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

    Kamaru Usman has lost three fights in a row in the UFC but he’s still regarded as one of the best welterweight fighters in the world. Many believe he deserved to win his last fight against Khamzat Chimaev or it should’ve been a draw.

    There are plenty of contenders in the UFC welterweight division for the new champion, Belal Muhammad. Although fans and the champion himself have acknowledged Shavkat Rakhmonov and Jack Della Maddalena as worthy title contenders, it is worth noting that Usman is ranked higher than both.

    While talking about his imminent return to the Octagon, “Nigerian Nightmare” compared his journey to former champs Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. He also revealed certain bitter truths about MMA fans…

    Kamaru Usman Shares The Struggles Of Active Champions Like Himself, Israel Adesanya, and Alexander Volkanovski

    Usman recently appeared on the Weighing In podcast hosted by John McCarthy and Josh Thomson. After claiming that he’s better than Muhammad in every department, the former UFC champ remembered how hard he worked at the peak of his career.

    “I was entertaining and entertaining and entertaining was the thing for me. I didn’t care what I was going through. I didn’t care what I was dealing with. I didn’t care what I was battling physically, mentally, emotionally. Didn’t matter to me, I was going to jump in there and perform and perform and perform. And the same thing with Israel Adesanya which is why you saw ton of those title defenses and I’m sure Alexander Volkanovski, who also came out and expressed.”

    Usman relates to Adesanya and Volkanovski because they were active champs as well. Like them, he sidelined injuries and ignored recovery to go out there and entertain the fans as much as possible.

    The future UFC Hall of Famer admitted to benefitting a lot from his championship run. However, he called out fans who immediately turn on champions after they lose their belts. Without realizing how hard it is to maintain dominance at the top of the sport, people call former champions washed or question their legacy.

    “Now, I’m in a place where, okay, with all of that comes a lot of injuries. All the things that you’ve been dealing with, it kind of catches up to you. And now I’m just in a position to, where I’m trying to heal all of that. Because you know, you stack up all these injuries over time and it starts to diminish your performances to where people start to forget just how good you are, just how much time you spent building your career, doing the things that made you successful to where they start, oh, he’s washed. Which is how disrespectful are MMA fans. How disrespectful are they, oh he’s washed, oh he can’t do this anymore.”

    Such behavior naturally doesn’t sit well with Usman. Now that he no longer has the pressure to defend a championship, though, he looks forward to returning to the Octagon at his best and reminding everyone of his skills.

  • Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    The future appears to be bright for Caio Borralho after pulling off a decision win over Jared Cannonier in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card at the Apex.

    The two had a hard-fought battle filled with plenty of strikes. Borralho’s kicks seemed to get the better of Cannonier in the first round before the former title challenger found a groove with his punches in the second.

    They were even in terms of striking numbers in the third, but “The Natural” managed to get “The Killa Gorilla” wobbly late in the frame. Cannonier battled back in the fourth round by delivering with his power, forming heavy damage around one of Borralho’s eyes.

    The Brazilian managed to gain the fifth round, however, by dropping Cannonier with a one-two in the closing minutes and nearly scoring the finish.

    “I caught him with some good jabs, and I think all these jabs hide my left hand, and when I (was) touching with my left hand, he felt (it) all the times,” Borralho told Megan Olivi for ESPN. “But he’s so durable, you know? He’s so tough. He’s been with the best in the world so many years. Crazy. He was in the UFC in 2015. That was the year of my last defeat, my second MMA fight.”

    Caio Borralho Claims He Is A New Champ On The Rise

    Borralho ventured his way into the UFC after a pair of wins over Aaron Jeffrey and Jesse Murray on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. Since then, “The Natural,” representing the Fighting Nerds team, has surged upward in momentum by defeating the likes of Paul Craig, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Makhmud Muradov prior to Cannonier.

    Now with bigger opportunities in his future, in addition to his callout of champion Dricus Du Plessis in the Octagon, Borralho is expecting to be placed in the top five of the middleweight ranking when they’re updated next week.

    “I hope to see my name on Tuesday in the top five of this division,” Borralho said. “You know I’m coming for my belt. The mantra of this training camp was to show the new champ arrived. And I think everybody saw that (there is) a new champ on the rising [sic] – a guy that never gives up and (has) all skills.”

  • ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

    The Conor McGregor roller coaster ride continues, and now there appears to be more doubt (once again) that McGregor may not face Michael Chandler this year.

    In new posts on social media, McGregor showed off training footage. However, it came with a curious new hashtag: #FreeTheMac.

    McGregor followed this post up with a simple, four-word message: “When I get free.”

    This has caused great speculation that McGregor may be asking to be released from his UFC contract. The Irishman, whose frequently delayed fight with Chandler was most recently expected to take place at UFC 310 in Las Vegas this December, reportedly has two fights remaining on his current deal with MMA’s leading promotion.

    This also comes days after Belal Muhammad stated that Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman are both being considered as title challengers for a welterweight title fight that could take place at the December pay-per-view.

    The booking of a title fight may cause great concern about McGregor vs. Chandler at the event, as a title fight has not been featured under a McGregor bout since UFC 196 in 2016.

    Conor McGregor Saying He Wants Out Of UFC Contract?

    https://twitter.com/TheSyedHaq/status/1827419547327922282

    A little less than two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White told the media that McGregor would not fight in 2024. This caused the former two-division champion, in a now-deleted tweet, to encourage fans to tell White they want McGregor vs. Chandler to take place in December.

    The pair were set to fight after both men coached The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year, but the rest of 2023 went without any announcement of a fight.

    Official confirmation finally came from White following UFC 300, with the two set to battle at UFC 303 in June. But a Dublin press conference earlier in that month was suddenly canceled the day before, and it later emerged that McGregor had suffered a toe injury and chose to withdraw from a fight for the first time in his career.

  • Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    There is a realistic possibility that we could be seeing Jiří Procházka competing in a new weight class next time out.

    Just as he did some time after UFC 303, Procházka continued to tease a drop down in weight in a new video on his YouTube channel.

    In the video, the Czech star mentions feeling ready to fight again now, but he is currently waiting for the right conditions to go into a matchup sharp in mind, body, and spirit.

    The interviewer then asks Procházka about the weight he plans to return at. The former light heavyweight champion states that if Dricus Du Plessis were to win at UFC 305, he would look at the possibility of moving down to middleweight. The South African retained the middleweight championship earlier this month at UFC 305, submitting Israel Adesanya.

    “I’ll clear things up a bit there and take the belt,” Procházka said. “But I feel good and strong in the light heavyweight division, even though the guys there are a bit heavier, almost all of them. So I have to say that I have no problem physically and strength-wise, or in any way, with clearing them out.

    “But it would certainly be a challenge for me to go for the belt in the (middleweight) division and then move (back) up. But I’ll really let it flow and see how it unfolds.”

    Jiří Procházka Eyeing Move Down To Middleweight To Challenge Dricus Du Plessis

    Procházka is coming off an unsuccessful challenge of Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 303 in June. The result marked the second time in about seven months that the two clashed over the championship.

    Pereira recently teased his own move down to middleweight to challenge Du Plessis and try to become a simultaneous two-division champion, having already held the 185-pound gold before his move up to 205 pounds.

    Procházka was also asked about rumors of a potential fight with another former light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill. “Sweet Dreams” fell in his own challenge of “Poatan” at UFC 300 — the same card that saw Procházka finish Aleksandar Rakić.

    The Czechia native poured cold water on such rumors during this interview.

    “There hasn’t been any negotiation or discussion with the manager, or anyone else yet,” Procházka said. “I just sent one message regarding Hill, just as an informational note, and I’m not sure if anything has progressed or if someone let something slip. But for now, it’s all just speculation.”

  • ‘Give Him Adesanya’ – MMA Fans React As Caio Borralho Outlasts Jared Cannonier In UFC Fight Night Main Event War

    ‘Give Him Adesanya’ – MMA Fans React As Caio Borralho Outlasts Jared Cannonier In UFC Fight Night Main Event War

    Caio Borralho represents the Fighting Nerds with pride and continued to do so with the biggest win of his career in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event, scoring a decision over Jared Cannonier.

    Borralho got Cannonier in trouble during the opening round, picking him apart with his kicks. The veteran contender and former title challenger, however, got himself on the board in the second rframe when he started to find his groove in his punching, which included a brief wobble of “The Natural” late in the round.

    The two had an action packed third stanza and were just about even in terms of significant strikes landed, especially to the head. Borralho, however, ended up getting Cannonier wobbly. And even when “The Killa Gorilla” tried to fight back with his power, he stumbled, showing he was still rocked. Cannonier, however, was able to survive the round.

    Borralho continued to bring heavy pressure in the fourth round, but the 40-year-old brought his power, landing damaging shots. By the end of the frame, notable swelling could be seen around one of Borralho’s eyes.

    But late in the fifth round, Borralho delivered again, landing a one-two that dropped Cannonier. The Brazilian scrambled and got to work with strong ground-and-pound. The American, however, managed to survive the attack and a subsequent choke attempt.

    That was enough for the judges, as two scored the fight 49-45 and one 48-46, all for Borralho.

    Caio Borralho Rocks Jared Cannonier Twice, Solidifies Himself As Middleweight Contender At UFC Fight Night

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1827576506367021335
    https://twitter.com/SpxrtsMxster/status/1827577433865765054

    Borralho has won all but two of the fights in his professional career thus far. He’s 6-0 in the Octagon after winning a contract through a victory over current Bellator fighter Aaron Jeffrey on Dana White’s Contender Series. He entered this fight coming off a knockout of Paul Craig at UFC 301, and Borralho will now find himself in the mix of top middleweight contenders.

    Borralho used his post-fight interview to call out Dricus Du Plessis, who retained his UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, last weekend.

    Cannonier, meanwhile, has now lost two straight and three of his last five, stretching back to his unsuccessful challenge of then-champion Adesanya at UFC 276 in the summer of 2022.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, ranked middleweights Jared Cannonier (#5) and Caio Borralho (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Angela Hill faced Tabatha Ricci in a strawweight matchup. The event also featured this year’s TUF finales.

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight Main Event: Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (49- 45×2, 48-46)
    • Women’s Strawweight Co-Main Event: Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Middleweight (TUF 32 Finale): Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder via TKO: R2, 1.49
    • Featherweight (TUF 32 Finale): Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli via KO: R2, 1.30
    • Welterweight: Michael Morales def. Neil Magny via TKO: R1, 4.39 
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan via submission: R2, 4.12

    Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight: Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 
    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese def. Jose Medina via split decision via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev def. James Llontop via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30)

    Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo via KO: R1, 1.02 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo

    Making her UFC debut, Wang Cong took just over a minute to KO Victoria Leonardo in their flyweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan

    Gerald Meerschaert came from behind to submit Edmen Shahbazyan with an arm triangle in the second round.

    Michael Morales def. Neil Magny 

    In this welterweight bout, Michael Morales got it done with a TKO of Neil Magny in the first round.

    Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli

    Mairon Santos earned a UFC contract after finishing Kaan Ofli in the TUF 32 featherweight finale.

    Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder

    Robert Valentin earned a spot in the UFC after stopping Ryan Loder in the TUF 32 middleweight finale.

    Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill

    In the co-main event, Tabatha Ricci earned a unanimous decision win against Angela Hill.

    Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier

    In the main event, Caio Borralho earned a unanimous decision against Jared Cannonier.

  • ‘Ricci & Hill Did Not Skip Cardio Day’ – MMA Fans React To Barnburner In UFC Fight Night Co-Main Event

    ‘Ricci & Hill Did Not Skip Cardio Day’ – MMA Fans React To Barnburner In UFC Fight Night Co-Main Event

    Tabatha Ricci and Angela Hill delivered an intense and high-action co-main event at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    Ricci looked to bring the pressure to Hill right away in the first, as the two traded throughout the course of the opening round. That led to plenty of trading over the course of the fight’s 15 minutes.

    The high pace saw “Baby Shark” control the action in the first frame, but the second presented a much closer story. Ricci again looked to take charge and bring pressure in the pocket. Her American counterpart, however, looked to answer her attacks with counters and seemed to land the cleaner shots. The Brazilian did manage to score a takedown during the stanza.

    Hill managed to put up a strong third round to try to solidify things in her favor. However, all three judges ultimately gave the nod to Ricci with scores of 29-28.

    Tabatha Ricci Scores Decision Win In Closely Contested, Striking-Filled Battle With Angela Hill

    https://twitter.com/RichardAMann/status/1827566006954324398
    https://twitter.com/CharlieQuinnMMA/status/1827564787309441407

    Ricci has now won back-to-back bouts and has emerged victorious from six of her last seven. She is now most likely guaranteed a spot in the top 10 of the UFC’s strawweight rankings.

    Hill, meanwhile, is now 2-2 in her last four fights.

  • VIDEO: Mairon Santos Folds Opponent With Brutal Left Hook To Win TUF 32 Featherweight Tournament

    VIDEO: Mairon Santos Folds Opponent With Brutal Left Hook To Win TUF 32 Featherweight Tournament

    Mairon Santos introduced himself to the UFC in style, scoring a highlight knockout of Kaan Ofli to claim the crown for the featherweight portion of The Ultimate Fighter season 32.

    Santos got the better of his Team Grasso teammate during the opening round at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, scoring better with his strikes.

    Then, in the second round, Santos landed a right-left combination that faceplanted Ofli. A few follow-up shots later and the referee stepped in to give the tournament championship to Santos.

    Mairon Santos Puts On Striking Display, Lands Brutal KO To Claim TUF 32 Featherweight Title

    Santos entered this season as one of the most experienced featherweights, coming in with a 13-1 record and having recently fought in the LFA. His only MMA loss heading into the season came at the hands of another TUF alumnus in Dan Argueta.

    Santos defeated Edwin Cooper Jr. and Guillermo Torres to advance to the finals.

    On the other side, Ofli, the former HEX Series featherweight champion, defeated Nathan Fletcher and Roedie Roets to advance to tonight’s fight.

    The Ultimate Fighter season 32 was coached by UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko ahead of their trilogy fight at UFC 306 on September 14.

  • ‘Did What Garry Couldn’t’ – Fans React As Michael Morales Drops Neil Magny With Spinning Elbow, Stays Undefeated With Relentless Ground & Pound

    ‘Did What Garry Couldn’t’ – Fans React As Michael Morales Drops Neil Magny With Spinning Elbow, Stays Undefeated With Relentless Ground & Pound

    Michael Morales continues to be on the rise in the UFC’s welterweight division. And with a finish of Neil Magny now on his record, it will be interesting to see if this nabs the Ecuadorian a spot in the rankings at 170 pounds.

    The still-unbeaten Morales put on a brutal and dominant performance with his striking at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, particularly with a spinning elbow that landed and knocked Magny down with about 100 seconds left in the first round.

    Morales subsequently made his way on top of Magny, landing strong ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in for the first-round TKO.

    Michael Morales Puts Beating On Neil Magny To Remain Undefeated At UFC Fight Night

    After a win over Nikolay Veretennikov on Dana White’s Contender Series, Morales is now 5-0 in the Octagon, scoring finishes of Trevin Giles and Adam Fugitt in addition to decisions over Max Griffin and Jake Matthews.

    Magny, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last five fights. This is “The Haitian Sensation’s” first time being knocked out since a loss to Santiago Ponzinibbio in November 2018.

  • Gerald Meerschaert Surpasses Anderson Silva Record With Incredible Comeback Submission Of Edmen Shahbazyan At UFC Fight Night

    Gerald Meerschaert Surpasses Anderson Silva Record With Incredible Comeback Submission Of Edmen Shahbazyan At UFC Fight Night

    There is a new record holder for most finishes in UFC middleweight history, and his name is Gerald Meerschaert.

    Meerschaert’s history-making performance came in comeback fashion on top of that, going from nearly getting finished by Edmen Shahbazyan to scoring a second-round submission in the opening bout of the UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho main card.

    The veteran 185lber was in trouble early in the sophomore stanza when Shahbazyan dropped him with a body shot. “The Golden Boy” got right to work with fast-paced ground-and-pound, looking to finish Meerschaert off as “GM3” covered up and looked to move away.

    Fortunately for the 36-year-old, a lot of the punches from Shahbazyan went off the arms, allowing Meerschaert to stay in the fight.

    The once highly touted prospect stayed on the ground as he stopped his attack, which also played right into Meerschaert’s favor. The grappling specialist was able to make his way into an arm-triangle and score the submission.

    Gerald Meerschaert Sets New Record For Most Finishes In UFC Middleweight Division History

    The tap-out was Meerschaert’s 12th finish in the UFC middleweight division, his 11th via submission.

    The longtime divisional mainstay now moves to 37-17 in his career and has won two straight and three of his last five fights.

    Shahbazyan, meanwhile, is now 2-2 in his last four following a three-fight losing skid. He has not strung together consecutive wins since 2019.

  • VIDEO: Debutant Wang Cong Kicks Off UFC Fight Night With Devastating One-Punch Knockout

    VIDEO: Debutant Wang Cong Kicks Off UFC Fight Night With Devastating One-Punch Knockout

    Wang Cong brought a vicious beginning to UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho, as well as her Octagon career, thanks to a brutal knockout to claim victory in just 62 seconds in the card’s opening bout.

    With the win, Cong set the second-fastest knockout in UFC women’s flyweight history.

    The Chinese fighter connected with a solid one-two, which saw a right cross connect on the button and drop opponent Victoria Leonardo in vicious fashion.

    Wang Cong Drops Victoria Leonardo In Just One Minute With Strong Right Hand

    This was Wang’s first win since defeating Paula Luna on Road to UFC this past May.

    She made her professional MMA debut in 2022, competing for promotions such as UAE Warriors and Kunlun Fighting World Championship while going 4-0 with two finishes.

    Leonardo, meanwhile, has now lost four of five since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020.

    Saturday’s event will be headlined by a crucial middleweight contest between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and the fast-charging Caio Borralho. Elsewhere, the likes of Neil Magny and Angela Hill will make the walk to the Octagon.

  • Late Medical Issue Leaves UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho One Bout Down

    Late Medical Issue Leaves UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho One Bout Down

    An Apex card that was already questionable in the minds of some fans received a hit just as the broadcast of UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho started.

    The broadcast opened with the commentary team announcing that the preliminary card bout between two TUF 32 participants, Zygimantas Ramaska and Nathan Fletcher, was scrapped due to a medical issue for Fletcher. According to UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald, the cancellation came just minutes before the card was scheduled to begin.

    This knocked the lineup down to five preliminary card fights and five main card bouts.

    Zygimantas Ramaska vs. Nathan Fletcher Canceled Due To Medical Issue Minutes Before UFC Fight Night Begins

    Both men competed on season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, which was coached by UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and former champion and upcoming challenger Valentina Shevchenko.

    Ramaska defeated Bekhzod Usmonov in the opening round of the featherweight tournament in a fight considered one of the best of the season. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission did not medically clear him on late notice to move on to the semifinals.

    Fletcher, meanwhile, was defeated by Kaan Ofli in the opening round, and any potential plans for him to replace Ramaska in the tournament were dashed the week prior when it was discovered he had a broken fibula.

    Ofli and Mairon Santos compete later tonight in the featherweight final of the show, while Ryan Loder and Robert Valentin compete in the middleweight finale.