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Category: MMA

  • Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’ 

    Israel Adesanya In ‘Way Better Headspace’ Post-UFC 305 Than After Sean Strickland Loss: ‘I Actually Enjoyed The Performance’ 

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya may be on the first losing skid of his career, but the latest defeat has left him better off mentally.

    Adesanya made his return to action just under a year on from his setback last September, returning to Australian soil to challenge for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold in the main event of UFC 305.

    “The Last Stylebender” took a hiatus from the sport after being shockingly thrust off the throne by Sean Strickland at the Sydney-held UFC 293, citing his frequent activity as a factor that hampered his performance.

    During his break, Adesanya refined his preparation and placed increased emphasis on areas such as nutrition and strength. And upon his return, the Nigerian-New Zealander played his part in one of the year’s best championship fights, going toe-to-toe with Du Plessis for the best part of four rounds.

    Adesanya was ultimately submitted in the penultimate frame, a result that has halted his planned rise to three-time champ status and sent him on the first run of defeats his career has seen.

    While some might have expected such a fact to leave him in a similar place as the period post-UFC 293 last year, “The Last Stylebender” says that is far from the case…

    Adesanya Happy To Have ‘Showcased’ More At UFC 305

    During an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on his unsuccessful title challenger inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, this past weekend.

    The former two-time middleweight kingpin continued to show humility and positivity in defeat, acknowledging that it wasn’t his night but insisting he was pleased with the performance he put in.

    That is a far cry from how he looked at the surprise setback at the hands of Strickland 11 months ago.

    “For me, I’m like, you know what? It’s cool. It was his night. Good for him,” Adesanya said. “This morning, I remember thinking like, ‘What’s next?’ … People think I need to get this one back. Nah, I’m chill. We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what’s next. I haven’t really thought that far (ahead). I just know I want to keep training, I want to keep getting better.

    “I’m in a better headspace than I was after the last fight — way better,” Adesanya continued. “I actually enjoyed the performance, and I felt like I got to showcase a lot more of who I am, rather than just fighting injured and not really showcasing who I am. I just want to get back to the gym after this trip.”

    It remains to be seen what could come next for Adesanya, who appeared firm in dismissing any retirement talk in the aftermath of the UFC 305 main event.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Has Little Sympathy For Steve Erceg After UFC 305 Knockout: ‘That’s What You Get For Lying!’

    Muhammad Mokaev Has Little Sympathy For Steve Erceg After UFC 305 Knockout: ‘That’s What You Get For Lying!’

    Former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev appeared to enjoy watching Steve Erceg experience a difficult night at the office this past weekend.

    Erceg was among the home fighters in action at the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, taking to the Octagon amid crowd adoration inside the RAC Arena. Unfortunately for the recent flyweight title challenger, he joined the likes of Tai Tuivasa and Junior Tafa on the list of unsuccessful Aussies on fight night.

    “AstroBoy’s” co-main event opposite Kai Kara-France didn’t reach the first horn, with the New Zealander earning a quick knockout to complete his emphatic return to action Down Under.

    The difficult result for Erceg came just three months on from a competitive battle with champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil, where he came inches away from upsetting the odds and capturing the flyweight gold.

    But Erceg has now had his pursuit of a second title opportunity quickly stalled, and Mokaev, for one, seems to be taking joy from that fact…

    Mokaev Cries Karma After Erceg Flattened By Kara-France At UFC 305

    While Erceg isn’t one for trash talk and heated feuds, he did recently get on the wrong side of Mokaev after giving his take on the Dagestan-born Brit’s sudden UFC exit.

    After the promotion chose not to re-sign “The Punisher, with Dana White citing issues away from the cage, Erceg claimed that Mokaev had displayed disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff.

    The free agent was quick to dismiss those allegations, and he reiterated that Erceg is a ‘liar’ while reacting to an image of the Aussie following his first knockdown at the hands of Kara-France at UFC 305.

    ‘That’s what u get for lying,” Mokaev wrote.

    After this past weekend’s result, Erceg has slipped to #8 in the flyweight rankings. Mokaev, meanwhile, lost his place high up the pecking order following the completion of his contract at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he got the better of Manel Kape in a lackluster affair.

  • Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Count Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall among those majorly impressed by Dricus Du Plessis’ performance Down Under this past weekend.

    Du Plessis made the walk at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to put his middleweight gold on the line against the returning Israel Adesanya. The pair met in the UFC 305 main event, following an undercard that included standout wins for the likes of Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.

    “The Last Stylebender” couldn’t make it three wins from three for Auckland’s City Kickboxing gym, with his South African counterpart finding a submission in round four to emerge victorious from a competitive and enthralling headliner.

    Having long been doubted owing to his unusual approach to fighting, Du Plessis has no doubt been enjoying his victory lap, laughing at those who spoke ill of his chances against Adesanya.

    “Stillknocks” has been getting increased respect and praise from many after successfully defending his gold for the first time, and not many plaudits have come grander than those of the interim heavyweight champ…

    Aspinall On Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘Just Looked Fantastic Out There’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall reacted to his promotion’s latest PPV event and the matchup that concluded it inside the RAC Arena.

    Aspinall shared a common sentiment when it comes to deciphering what it is about Du Plessis that makes him so effective. Whatever it is, the heavyweight champ is impressed, so much so that he placed the South African among the most intelligent athletes currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “DDP, you can’t count this guy out,” Aspinall said. “I watch fights as a fan, but I also watch fights as a fighter to try and pick up little nuances, and I love to study different styles. For me personally, DDP is a guy who I’m baffled by, in all honesty. I’m completely baffled by his style because you watch him and, to be brutally honest, he looks a little bit inferior to his opponents in terms of technique, but it’s amazing to watch because he obviously isn’t inferior.

    “The gameplans that this guy and his coaches are doing are absolutely unbelievable. Me personally, I think he’s one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and his team must be very, very smart as well,” Aspinall continued. “The guy just finds a way to win. He’s extremely physically strong. … He looks a little bit messy, and I’m sure we all can agree on that. But he makes up for it in spirit, his will to win, and persistence. If he doesn’t get what he’s going for, he will keep going and grind his opponents down until he gets it. He just looked fantastic out there (at UFC 305).”

    Like Aspinall, plenty have been confused by Du Plessis’ style and continued success, be it more fellow fighters, veteran analysts, or fans.

    But the South African has evidently found an approach that works incredibly well for him, and having proved his detractors wrong yet again, perhaps questions surrounding his unorthodox strategies will die down as his title reign continues on its way.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    UFC Rankings Report: Dricus Du Plessis Lands Above Sean O’Malley On Pound-For-Pound List

    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 305, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Dricus Du Plessis closed out the latest pay-per-view by once again proving his doubters wrong, emerging from a competitive main event against the great Israel Adesanya with the middleweight gold still in his possession. The South African has been rewarded with a five-place rise up the P4P ladder, leaving him one position above his bantamweight counterpart Sean O’Malley at #6.

    Adesanya, meanwhile, has fallen two spots to #15, with his and Du Plessis’ former opponent Sean Strickland going the same distance the other way to replace “The Last Stylebender” at #13.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: There were moves unrelated to UFC 305 on the female P4P list, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington suddenly dropping two places to #8, now leaving her below flyweight contenders Rose Namajunas (#6) and Erin Blanchfield (#7).

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Viviane Araújo has been pushed out of the top 10 to #11. Her two-spot slide has paved the way for Amanda Ribas and Karine Silva to rise to #9 and #10, respectively.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: Kai Kara-France made an emphatic return this weekend by knocking out recent title challenger Steve Erceg inside the first round. He’s remained unmoved at #4, however. “AstroBoy,” meanwhile, has slipped to #8, swapping positions with Matheus Nicolau (#7).

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Among the biggest victors to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, who is this week’s biggest mover in the rankings. After falling on the right side of a split decision against the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot, “The Hangman” has climbed six spots to #5. “Gamer,” on the other hand, has fallen three positions to #8. Further down, Hooker’s rise has resulted in drops for Rafael Fiziev (#10) and Renato Moicano (#11).

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik made it back-to-back wins in 2024 this past weekend, outpointing home favorite Tai Tuivasa across three rounds. As a result, “Bigi Boy” has risen by two places to #10. His defeated opponent, meanwhile, finds himself three spots worse off at #13.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’

    Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’

    Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

    Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    Adesanya started the bout with impressive precision, appearing to have the fight under control. However, Du Plessis dramatically altered the course of the contest in the championship round, landing a torrent of potent blows that left the former champion reeling. The South African expertly seized the opening to lock in a decisive rear-naked choke to conclude the bout.

    Though the build-up to this fight was marked by a fierce exchange of verbal jabs, particularly revolving around the cultural clash narrative, Adesanya and Du Plessis left the animosity behind once they settled their differences in the Octagon.

    After the fight concluded, the middleweight rivals were seen exchanging cordial words in the Octagon before the result was announced. “Stillknocks” promptly paid tribute to his opponent, hailing the Nigerian-born Kiwi as a “legend” and a future “Hall of Famer.” In turn, “The Last Stylebender” hinted at a potential future camaraderie with Du Plessis, even suggesting they might hang out as he spoke with UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier.

    Adesanya On Du Plessis: ‘I Don’t Think He’s A Bad Person’

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Adesanya opened up about the exchange he had with Du Plessis after their bout. “The Last Stylebender” revealed that their words were filled with mutual respect and that his perception of the South African fighter has since evolved.

    “Oh, he just gave me a lot of props, a lot of love, a lot of respect,” Adesanya said. “I accepted it and I shook his hand. Then, after his interview, when we were leaving the cage, we just talked. He said ‘sorry,’ maybe—I can’t remember—but he just gave me a lot of props. He said, ‘Hey, you know, I’m a big fan,’ and of course, I was like, ‘I know.’ And I said, ‘Look, look how far we’ve come from way back then—who would have thought? Now we’re here.’ I was like, ‘f**k yeah,’ and then we hugged. I said, ‘Look, I respect you, I appreciate you.’ I don’t think DDP is a bad person. I don’t know him. Again, we’re not friends, we don’t know each other, but we can be cool—we’re cool, and I respect him.”

    Adesanya further stressed that any lingering grudges against Du Plessis are now a thing of the past.


    “It was never beef. Again, when I say beef, it’s just like you have to fight someone—you don’t have to like them. You don’t have to like them. Again, he didn’t like me, I didn’t like him, but I think now we have a healthy respect for each other. I won’t say we’re BFFs or we’re friends, but if I see him, it’s love. I’ll give him a hug, I’ll dap him up.”

    The rivalry between Adesanya and Du Plessis had seen its ups and downs over the past year, starting when Adesanya held the title, and Du Plessis vowed to become the UFC’s first “true African champion.”

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach ‘Very, Very Impressed’ With UFC 305 Fighter: ‘Unbelievable, Calm, Relaxed…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach ‘Very, Very Impressed’ With UFC 305 Fighter: ‘Unbelievable, Calm, Relaxed…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, lavished Carlos Prates with accolades for his standout performance against Li Jingliang at UFC 305.

    Prates added another show-stopping finish to his resume last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, where he made history by becoming the first to knock out Chinese veteran Jingliang.

    “The Nightmare” wielded his straight left like a guided missile, landing it repeatedly throughout the night and forcing Jingliang to retreat towards the fence. Once “The Leech” was cornered in the second round, the Brazilian unleashed a devastating right hook, immediately followed by a thunderous left hook that shattered Jingliang’s defenses and sent him collapsing to the canvas.

    With three fights and three spectacular finishes in the UFC, coupled with an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series that secured his contract, Prates has swiftly become a fan favorite, even earning the admiration of Mendez, thanks to his lethal striking artistry…

    Mendez Hails Prates’ Striking As ‘Something To Behold’

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Mendez shared his admiration for Prates’ performance at UFC 305. The head coach at American Kickboxing Academy praised ‘The Nightmare’ for his elite striking skills, which he noted are seamlessly combined with an impressive fight IQ. Mendez also expressed his eagerness to see more of Prates, especially his ground game, in future bouts.

    “You remember I told you I never seen Carlos Prates?” Mendez said. “And what an unbelievable, calm, relaxed sniper that guy is. When he hurt Li, he didn’t even go for the kill; he kept his distance and kept picking him apart. I was so, so impressed with him, and now I understand why he was the favorite and why they’re so high on him. This guy, his striking—man, he’s something to behold. Let’s see what he does with the ground game, because there was no ground game with Li Jingliang.”

    “He didn’t even try to take him down, and he’s never been stopped either, so this guy just kept picking him apart, you know, with sniper shots. I mean, God, it was unbelievable. I was very, very impressed with his fight IQ—very impressive fighter. Looking forward to seeing him again. Next time I see something with him on it, I’ll definitely tune in because he’s impressive to watch.”

    “The Nightmare” has now demolished nine consecutive opponents by knockout, including every one of his Octagon appearances, with no opponent surviving beyond the second round. With such explosive knockout prowess, Prates is positioning himself as a formidable force in the UFC, with a bright future as a serious title contender on the horizon.

  • Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Magomed Ankalaev Over LHW Title Drama: ‘Bro, You Light Work For Me!’

    Jamahal Hill Claps Back At Magomed Ankalaev Over LHW Title Drama: ‘Bro, You Light Work For Me!’

    A lot of MMA fans were surprised to see that Alex Pereira’s next UFC light heavyweight title defense will be against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 in October.

    Despite Rountree having an impressive run of finishes with back-to-back wins last year, many expected to see Magomed Ankalaev get the next shot at “Poatan”.

    Instead, Ankalaev will be taking on Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 where a win over another top contender will surely see him earn a second shot at the 205-pound title.

    He was unsurprisingly critical of the UFC’s decision to book Pereira against Rountree Jr. but some of his comments struck a nerve with another one of the light heavyweight division’s big names.

    Jamahal Hill Says He’d Be Willing To Fight Magomed Ankalaev At UFC 308

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Jamahal Hill gave his reaction to Ankalaev’s comments after the announcement.

    Hill believes that Ankalaev has looked to gain popularity from the fans by coming at him to try and win some of them over.

    The former champion also referenced how the Dagestani fighter hasn’t always been in the UFC’s good books, believing that he has bitten his tongue this time around rather than publicly slamming the promotion for not booking him as the next title challenger.

    “I made a reaction video about the Khalil Rountree and Alex Pereira fight announcement and there was one guy in particular who yeah, I will agree he’s been given the run-around by the business right and I’m assuming now, he’s learned his lesson now to watch his mouth ‘cuz as you know, we talking about Mrs, I ain’t even going to, little ‘Frudamed Gankalaev’, ankle grabber, whatever you want to call him. This dude just can’t stop trying to like clout chase in whatever way he can. bro like, you fought to a draw, you had your chance, you had your chance of winning the title.

    “Now, I am one of the people that agree that he should have been next in the title shot above Khalil Rountree, and I spoke on this. But, for you to say like, say I’m crying because I spoke on an obvious fact of the game that affects everybody in our weight class and things like that, I see what you tried to do bro. You see that the whole fan base, they’re kinda against me, they kind of want to throw s*** on me and s*** like that. You think that you can get some cool points by jumping on that bandwagon and trying to call me out. Stop it bro, stop it bro. I would expect a low IQ move like that from you, you know what I mean. You don’t want to say anything about the fight being announced because you’ve now learned your lesson from the time whenever you lost, talking about you don’t want to fight for the UFC…and now they have now smacked your hand and now you know to watch your mouth and stay in check.

    Hill ended the video by saying that he would be open to stepping in to face Ankalaev if, for whatever reason, Rakić is unable to compete on October 26 in Abu Dhabi.

    “Sweet Dreams” was originally scheduled to make a quick turnaround after losing the title but withdrew from UFC 303 in June due to an injury.

    “They don’t even like you enough to let you fight [for the title] over the #8 dude! So chill out bro, chill out tryna get cool points bro, focus on other s***. You got a fight coming up against Rakić, shout out to Rakić cuz’ he’s very well capable of putting your a** out. But, best believe if my phone ring and they need somebody to come step in and handle you, bro you’re light work for me. You’re light work for me and I can’t wait to show that.”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

  • Former UFC Champions Pick Out The Perfect Fight For Israel Adesanya After UFC 305 Loss: ‘I Like His Chances…’

    Former UFC Champions Pick Out The Perfect Fight For Israel Adesanya After UFC 305 Loss: ‘I Like His Chances…’

    Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman recently took on the role of matchmakers, speculating on Israel Adesanya’s next move following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

    “The Last Stylebender” succumbed to a fourth-round submission loss against the reigning UFC middleweight champion in his quest to reclaim the title for a third time last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    Although Adesanya showcased sharp striking and strong defensive wrestling in a highly competitive fight, Du Plessis turned the tide in the fourth round with a relentless barrage of punches that left the Nigerian-born Kiwi staggered. With great presence of mind, “Stillknocks” swiftly secured a takedown and moved in to seal the deal with a rear-naked choke.

    Following the defeat, a fleeting moment in the Octagon hinted that Adesanya might be contemplating retirement. As he removed his gloves, fans held their breath, thinking he was about to make an announcement during his post-fight interview with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. However, it turned out that Adesanya’s gesture was merely a false alarm, with no real intention behind it.

    Now, after suffering the first submission loss of his career and enduring back-to-back defeats, “The Last Stylebender” finds himself at a pivotal crossroads. To reclaim his place in the title picture, he’ll need to embark on a challenging climb back to the top.

    Cejudo and Usman have pinpointed several middleweight contenders they believe would make compelling matchups for Adesanya’s next fight…

    Cejudo and Usman Split On Adesanya’s Next Possible Opponent

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo and Usman weighed in on who might be the ideal next opponent for Adesanya. “Triple C” proposed that the former middleweight champion should square off against Paulo Costa in a rematch, viewing it as a quick path back to title contention. Cejudo believes this matchup could position Adesanya for a shot at the winner of the anticipated Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland title fight.

    “If I’m Israel Adesanya, I’m looking to fight a troll in Paulo ‘Borrachinha’ too, you know, do a rematch with ‘Mr. Secret Juice’—a winnable fight for him,” Cejudo said. “Then he just waits, sees, and hopes that a guy like Sean Strickland wins, and then boom, he’s at the title once again.”

    Usman, however, took a different stance, questioning why Adesanya would bother facing Costa again when he’s already bested him. “The Nigerian Nightmare” instead argued that instead of revisiting old ground, Izzy should set his sights on new challenges.

    “Why would we go ‘Borrachinha’?” Usman said. “He’s lost to Israel Adesanya, lost to Sean Strickland, lost to Robert Whittaker. Why would we go to ‘Borrachinha’? Give him new blood, give him something that’s going to be intriguing. And there are intriguing fights right now. You’ve got the French dude [Nassourdine] Imavov—that is going to be a fantastic fight. You’ve got Khamzat Chimaev, which was the buildup for potentially that middleweight title picture when Israel was champion.

    “Those are fantastic fights, those are huge, and those are amazing fights where I actually think you can’t say that’s not a good fight. Because we’ve had this debate before, and we both agree—what happens when Israel Adesanya gets back up from Khamzat Chimaev? What happens when he’s able to not get taken down, stand there, and start to sharpshoot? We’ve had that debate before, and I like his chances.”

    While Adesanya maintains he’s far from done, he’s not setting a timeline for his next fight. With a 4-4 record in his last eight Octagon appearances, Izzy now faces the harsh reality of reassessing his path forward.

  • Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

    Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

    Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

    “Stillknocks” retained his UFC middleweight championship in commanding style last weekend, submitting Adesanya with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a thrilling contest at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    In a fiercely contested bout where neither fighter held back, Du Plessis displayed remarkable grit and determination. As the fight entered the championship rounds, the South African unleashed a relentless flurry of punches that left “The Last Stylebender” reeling. Seizing the momentum, the defending champion secured a takedown and swiftly transitioned to lock in a decisive submission.

    Despite a rivalry that had flared up and taken an ugly turn on multiple occasions, Du Plessis and Adesanya finally put their animosity to rest after their historic clash. The bout, steeped in a fierce cultural clash narrative, marked the UFC’s first-ever all-African title fight.

    Adesanya, originally born in Lagos, Nigeria, and later relocating to New Zealand at a young age, had previously accused Du Plessis of undermining the legacy of the “African Kings”. This tension began when “Stillknocks” had boldly claimed he wanted to be the ‘real’ African UFC champion.

    The title of “African Kings” was a prestigious moniker bestowed upon Adesanya, alongside Usman and Francis Ngannou, during a time when the trio simultaneously held UFC belts, representing the continent on the global stage.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” provided a nuanced perspective about the heated feud heading into UFC 305 and also his thoughts on where Du Plessis fits into UFC’s African elite.

    Usman Includes Du Plessis In UFC’s African Elite

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman delved into Du Plessis’ victory over Adesanya at UFC 305. However, the conversation quickly escalated into a lively debate when the former UFC welterweight champion voiced his displeasure over Cejudo’s lighthearted remark – where he dubbed Du Plessis the “Real African King.”

    “I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have necessarily meant in the way that Israel might have taken it,” Usman said. “But you have to be careful because it’s dangerous—it’s very, very dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we’re in a position to influence the masses in the world. So, with power—I say it all the time—with great power comes great responsibility. When you have that platform and you have that mic in your hand, you have to be careful with what you say.”

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to emphasize that Du Plessis is actually the fourth African champion.

    “So to say, ‘Oh, I’m the real African,’ that’s completely crazy. And for you [Cejudo] to say that perpetually, ‘Oh, he’s the real African king,’ I know you’re just joking, but it’s not—this is how division continues to be perpetuated. Dricus Du Plessis is the fourth African champion right now, so there are four horsemen. We’ve moved on from the three kings to where now it’s four horsemen. So to continue to perpetuate this whole ‘Oh, African king’ or this or that, that’s ridiculous.”

  • What’s Next After UFC 305? Full Confirmed Noche UFC Main Card For The Sphere On September 14

    What’s Next After UFC 305? Full Confirmed Noche UFC Main Card For The Sphere On September 14

    UFC 305 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Perth, Australia, last week, where the RAC Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest visit Down Under. Of note were victories for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, former interim flyweight title challenger Kai Kara-France, and lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker.

    While the aftermath of the August 17 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the middleweight title picture to the bantamweight and women’s flyweight championship conversations.

    At Noche UFC (UFC 306), an event set to celebrate Mexican Independance Day inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 14, reigning 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley will compete for the second time this year. After defeating Marlon Vera, “Sugar” will make his second defense of the gold in a long-awaited grudge match against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as flyweight queen Alexa Grasso completes her trilogy with the legendary Valentina Shevchenko. The pair previously fought to a draw at the first installment of Noche UFC last September and have since coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter.

    Ortega & Lopes Among Those Setting The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 30

    Before O’Malley defends his championship and the promotion’s top female flyweights run it back again, a mix of veterans and prospects will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their positions on the major card.

    That includes former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega and the up-and-coming Diego Lopes, who will give their matchup a second chance at making it to the Octagon. After a same-day withdrawal from “T-City” saw the Mexico-residing Brazilian face and defeat Dan Ige at International Fight Week instead, Lopes will have the opportunity to crack the top five in rearranged clash with Ortega.

    Prior to that, highly touted Mexican prospects Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez will open the main card against Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively, while notable names like Irena Aldana and Raul Rosas Jr. will feature on the prelims.

    See below for the full UFC 306 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Sean O’Malley (C) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight championship main event)
    • Alexa Grasso (C) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (flyweight championship co-main event)
    • Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (featherweight)
    • Daniel Zellhuber vs. Estaban Ribovics (lightweight)
    • Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne (flyweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
    • Irena Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
    • Edgar Cháirez vs. Kevin Borjas (flyweight)
    • Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
    • Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng (bantamweight)
    Diego Lopes
    Image: UFC.com
  • Aljamain Sterling Explains Why Kai Kara-France’s Win Over Steve Erceg Was A Bad Stoppage

    Aljamain Sterling Explains Why Kai Kara-France’s Win Over Steve Erceg Was A Bad Stoppage

    Kai Kara-France made a real statement with his performance in the co-main event this past Saturday night in Perth.

    It was a battle of top flyweight contenders at UFC 305 and “Don’t Blink” showed why he still belongs in title contention following consecutive defeats.

    He was able to stop Perth’s own Steve Erceg in the opening round, after dropping him with a huge overhand shot that caught the former title challenger clean.

    Some follow-up strikes led to him earning a performance bonus for his third knockout or TKO win in the UFC’s 125-pound weight class.

    While it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the night, a former champion did have a point to address after seeing the stoppage.

    Aljamain Sterling Says Steve Erceg Was Still Intelligently Defending Himself At The Time Of UFC 305 Stoppage

    In his post-UFC 305 breakdown on his YouTube channel, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling discussed the stoppage in this fight.

    “Funk Master” has spoken before about his loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, where he believes the referee jumped in too early when he was still intelligently defending himself despite taking some follow-up strikes after being dropped.

    Sterling made the same case for Erceg in this fight after seeing how, in his opinion, “Astro Boy” was still in the fight even though his opponent was putting strikes together to get the finish.

    “Now, the stoppage was a little odd for me. Like yeah he was hurt beforehand but then he’s starting to recover. My only gripe with the stoppage is you see the guy turn and you see him cover and then you see him trying to get up, he gets hit once, like let him eat a couple because it’s not like it’s catching him clean on the chin right? That would be clear, you’re not intelligently defending yourself but if you at least are smart enough to put an arm up, it’s like, ‘Hey, this is better here. It might rattle my head a little bit but it’s better here than just taking clean shots to the dome.’

    “If you can be conscious enough to do that, I think the refs should pay attention to those scenarios. Yes, the whole sequence, I’m not a ref. I’m not a ref but from a fighter’s standpoint, we think about these things and I don’t even think Erceg even like really was protesting or anything but I’m sure he was still in the back of his mind like, ‘I don’t want to be that guy but I’m still kinda annoyed because I could have maybe fought through that and weathered the storm.’ Who knows, we would never know now.”

    Read also: Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling & Other MMA Fighters React To Dricus Du Plessis Submitting Israel Adesanya At UFC 305

  • Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’

    Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’

    Dricus Du Plessis has always had his fair share of critics during his UFC run, despite being undefeated inside the Octagon.

    During his climb up the middleweight ladder, many were critical of his ability to fight at a constant pace over three rounds due to him becoming visibly tired in some of his earlier fights.

    Even since there has been an improvement from “Stillknocks” in this area, there is often conversation about his unorthodox, and at times reckless-appearing approach which lacks finesse – but has been incredibly effective for him.

    This was case and point in the main event of UFC 305 this past weekend where he was able to walk down and catch Israel Adesanya with big looping punches to hurt him and find the submission win in the fourth round.

    Unfortunately for those that don’t rate the champion’s technique, he has been keeping receipts.

    Dricus Du Plessis Reminds Steve Erceg Of His Criticism After UFC 305

    After successfully defending the middleweight title for the first time, Du Plessis made sure to circle back to a few people who had doubted him or talked down on his ability during fight week.

    There are clear elements of his game that you wouldn’t necessarily teach a young fighter but the champ knows how to make it work for him.

    One of the criticisms that clearly he took notice of was Steve Erceg labelling him as a 6/10 overall fighter due to some of his more unpredictable tendencies.

    Erceg was stopped in front of his home fans in Perth this past weekend with Kai Kara-France securing a massive first-round win in the co-main event.

    Via his Instagram story, Du Plessis took a moment to remind the former flyweight title challenger of what he had said after they ended up on opposite sides of the win column on August 17.

    MMA fans reacted to the champion getting the last word in via social media.

    “Dude has all the receipts. He’s coming for everyone.”

    “this guy is against the whole world right now”

    “Tbf erceg gave himself a 7, it seems like he just has a really high bar”

    “If everyone doubted me like how they did I’d come back for everyone too”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

  • Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’

    Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’

    Dan Hooker delivered one of the stand out performances at UFC 305 to ascend up the lightweight division by beating Mateusz Gamrot.

    It’s been some time since “The Hangman” was in the mix at the top of the 155-pound weight class but that is certainly the case after he pulled off the underdog win over one of the top contenders.

    In his post-fight interview following the Fight of the Night clash, Hooker spoke about the number of exciting options that he now wants to chase down after this win.

    Part of his declaration to the matchmakers sitting cage side included Conor McGregor, which took some by surprise.

    “Look at me now! I want them all brother! I want the BMF, I want Conor McGregor, I want a title eliminator, I want everything brother! I want it all Sean, I want it all Hunter!”

    Dan Hooker Explains “Troll” Motivation Behind Conor McGregor Call Out

    In a post-fight interview with TheMacLife, Hooker explained why he chose to mention McGregor’s name inside the Octagon after getting his hand raised.

    Of course, McGregor is still the biggest fight out there across the entire sport, let alone the lightweight division, which means he often gets called out and has done for nearly a decade.

    Hooker’s call to namedrop “The Notorious” wasn’t necessarily financially motivated, though that is a huge incentive for trying to get this fight.

    He said that this decision was made more because he thinks it would be hilarious to get this fight instead of McGregor being welcomed back to the UFC by Michael Chandler, which fans have waited so long to see at this point.

    Hooker was defeated by Chandler back when “Iron” Mike made his UFC debut in 2021 so taking the biggest fight of his career away from him would be sweet revenge.

    “I didn’t necessarily call him out, I just said like, because I am absolute troll, so it’s like the biggest troll move you could do of all time is to snake that fight off Chandler. Like he waits all that time and then Conor just fights me anyway, like that would be gold. I would feel like the biggest snake troll of all time.”

    Read also: Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘You Just Have To Love The Internet’

  • Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ 

    Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ 

    UFC featherweight Josh Culibao was disappointed not to have his hand raised on home soil, especially given his view on the judges’ scoring.

    Culibao was among the Australians in action at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, facing Ricardo Ramos during the preliminary card. The Sydney native’s most recent win came in the promotion’s previous visit to the city in February 2023, with Culibao submitting Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 284.

    After that result, the 30-year-old fell to his first career skid, dropping consecutive decisions to Lerone Murphy in London and Danny Silva in Las Vegas. And UFC 305 saw “Kuya” fall on the wrong side of a split verdict for the second straight fight.

    Culibao’s clash with Ramos was extremely close, with the Brazilian coming back into the fight after appearing in danger of getting finished early on. The Aussie received criticism from some for his showboating during the bout, with many pointing to it as the reason he was unable to secure victory.

    Culibao, though, believes he still deserved the nod…

    Culibao Apologizes To Fans After Narrow UFC 305 Loss

    Hours on from his defeat at the RAC Arena, Culibao took to social media with his first comments since having his run of losses extended to three.

    After giving credit to his opponent, “Kuya” apologized to his supporters. Culibao did, however, still express disagreement with the score reached by two of three judges cageside.

    “It is what it is, hats off to you @ricardoramosmma you brought the fight and made a great dance partner,” Culibao wrote. “Sorry to all my fans and supporters out there. I couldn’t get it done. I felt I still won the fight but that’s not up to me to decide. Glad I still got to go out and perform and put on a show for the Aussie crowd.”

    It remains to be seen what will come next for Culibao, who is months away from his first winless year in the UFC since 2020, in which he was stopped by Jalin Turner at lightweight and fought to a split draw with Charles Jourdain in his return to 145 pounds.

  • Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight

    Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight title at UFC 305 by submitting former champion Israel Adesanya in a back-and-forth encounter.

    Though he was able to secure the tap in the fourth round, it was the striking from “Stillknocks” that led to the finish.

    His unorthodox and sometimes reckless approach to moving through ranges whilst looking to land big punches found a home and hurt “The Last Stylebender” which was the beginning of the end.

    On his YouTube channel, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley gave his immediate reaction to the main event where he highlighted Du Plessis’ blitz assault and gave props to both men.

    “DDP has some funny a** like blitzes that just looks so sloppy and weird but he connects somehow and they’re heavy f****** punches and Izzy did look good. He looked like he was in good shape, defended that good takedown a few times. Like he said, he made a few small little mistakes. I mean I thought he was winning a decision, close fight. DDP showed why he’s the champ.”

    Sean O’Malley Believes Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland 2 Will Be Another Close Fight

    In the aftermath of this past weekend’s event in Perth, it appears that the next time Du Plessis will be back inside the Octagon will be for his first rematch in the UFC.

    The South African champion won the title by defeating Sean Strickland earlier this year in a split decision, that the American passionately believes he should have gotten.

    O’Malley gave his thoughts on that fight having already seen how difficult it was to separate them at UFC 297.

    “Sean Strickland is fighting the winner, we already knew that. DDP versus Sean Strickland 2, the first fight was very, very, very close, could have gave it to Sean Strickland. He was the champion at the time and I feel like if you’re going to beat the champ in a split decision, it’s got to be more dominant than that so that was a very, very close fight, that’s going to be a fun one to run back.”

    “Suga” went on to say that he believes this particular match-up is won or lost by who performs better on that night due to their styles.

    “I think those guys can fight 10 times, it’s a coin flip every time. I don’t think it’s going to be f****** one guy is going to dominate. Those two styles are just going to be whoever shows up better on that night.”

    Read also: Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

  • Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will seemingly have the chance to end her 2024 on a win streak in “The Sunshine State.”

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion recently confirmed its schedule for the remainder of 2024, with 15 events set across nine different cities. Tasked with closing out the year is Tampa, Florida, where a UFC Fight Night will take place on December 14.

    While the card remains without a main event as it stands, one notable matchup has been reported. According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, the #8-ranked Dern (14-5) is set to run it back with Amanda Ribas over five years on from their first meeting.

    Dern Set For Chance To Avenge First MMA Loss At UFC Fight Night Tampa

    When they share the Octagon for a second time on Dec. 14, Dern will be looking to avenge her loss to Ribas and finish the year with consecutive triumphs.

    Dern, an ADCC and no gi BJJ (black belt) world champion, enjoyed an unbeaten start to MMA life. But she had her record blemished following seven straight wins when she ran into Ribas in 2019, losing by way of unanimous decision.

    While a four-fight win streak brought Dern back into contention, the grappling specialist has been inconsistent ever since and recently tasted her first losing skid after defeats to Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    Having bounced back by outpointing Loopy Godinez in Abu Dhabi this month, Dern will look to enjoy a run of victories to reignite her title ambitions.

    Mackenzie Dern
    Image: @ufc/X

    Lemos will hope to put a stop to those plans by repeating her feat from five years ago. The Brazilian currently finds herself ranked at both strawweight and flyweight, with her most recent outing coming in defeat opposite Rose Namajunas at 125 pounds.

    She’ll now return to the weight at which she earned a bonus with a TKO of Luana Pinheiro last November, looking to defend her #5 spot against her fellow Countrywoman Dern.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    The coach of UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis likes the idea of his man facing Alex Pereira, but not as “Poatan” has proposed.

    Du Plessis maintained his grip on the 185-pound crown at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, adding a first successful defense to his resume at the expense of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    Their entertaining main event and the South African’s feat of becoming the first to submit “The Last Stylebender” remains a hot topic, but talk is also already turning to what could lie next for him.

    Judging by Dana White’s recent remarks, that would appear likely to be a rematch with Sean Strickland, the man from whom Du Plessis captured the middleweight gold this past January. But one other notable name recently put his name into the mix.

    Reigning light heavyweight and former middleweight kingpin Alex Pereira was on hand with his post-UFC 305 reaction, teasing a returning to the 185-pound division to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    That callout got a positive response from Du Plessis’ coach. Well, sort of…

    Du Plessis’ Coach Accepts Pereira Fight — On One Condition

    During a backstage interview with Submission Radio at the RAC Arena, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser reflected on his man’s triumph Down Under and looked ahead to what could be next.

    In terms of Pereira’s social media post, the Team CIT head trainer green lit a clash between Du Plessis and “Poatan,” but only if it sees the South African receive an opportunity at achieving two-weight glory.

    “No, I won’t give him (Pereira) the joy to go down to 185; we’ll just go up,” Visser said. “He (Du Plessis) doesn’t want to beat him (at middleweight because) he’ll say that (they’ve) gone down, he was fatigued, and whatever. So no, we’ll go up.

    “I’m sure that the UFC will be okay with it, if that’s what he’s said, (and) I know Dricus is game. So we’ll go up, we won’t wait for him to come down,” Visser continued. “He’s fighting in October, so I really hope that the UFC gives us this blessing for December.”

    For now, Pereira will be preparing for his surprise return at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City this fall, with the Brazilian set to put his light heavyweight belt on the line against Khalil Rountree on October 5.

    What would come after a potential victory over “The War Horse” remains to be seen, but it seems that a possible middleweight return now sits alongside frequent heavyweight teases for “Poatan.”

  • Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’

    Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’

    Things didn’t go to plan for heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa at UFC 305, as his lengthy losing skid got further extended by Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

    Since rising to a career high #3 in the rankings when a knockout of Derrick Lewis put him on a five-fight winning run, fan favorite Tuivasa has experienced nothing but defeat inside the Octagon.

    This year began with “Bam Bam” suffering a fourth straight loss, with Marcin Tybura adding to the woes of the Australian’s setbacks opposite Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov.

    And at this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, it was the turn of Rozenstruik to get in on the action. “Bigi Boy” followed up on his headline win over Shamil Gaziev earlier in 2024 by comfortably outpointing Tuivasa in enemy territory.

    Tuivasa On UFC 305 Setback: ‘We Live To Fight Another Day’

    Following his latest defeat, Tuivasa soon took to social media with his first comments.

    In a post on Instagram, “Bam Bam” acknowledged the effort he put into camp and expressed understandable disappointing at failing to have his hand raised in front of his home fans Down Under.

    Nevertheless, the Aussie won’t be kept down, with the 31-year-old telling his fans that he “lives to fight another day.”

    “Fuck. What a sport,” Tuivasa wrote. “I put my all into this camp and didn’t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans I put my all into this didn’t get the treats. My bad 😌 love you all the real ones ❤️ Live to fight another day. AUSSIE FANS I LOVE YOU C**TS BEST IN THE BIZZO 🥰🥰 We live to fight another day 😌” 

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for Tuivasa. He had previously outlined his intention to return for a third fight this year following UFC 305. Whether or not that plan remains after Saturday’s loss is unclear.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

    Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis had nothing but kind words for the parents of defeated opponent Israel Adesanya this past weekend.

    The pair appeared to have one of the more heated rivalries seen on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year, centered around Du Plessis’ controversial remarks last year about becoming the first Africa-residing champion.

    After that paved the way for a tense UFC 305 fight week and some emotional press conference exchanges, “The Last Stylebender” and “Stillknocks” did battle in the main event, with the latter finding the submission in round four.

    The two rivals quickly patched things up inside the Octagon, showing immense respect for one another following an enthralling and competitive headliner. And that trend continued backstage at the RAC Arena, where the families of both fighters embraced.

    Du Plessis, Adesanya Families Enjoy Respectful Interaction Post-Fight

    Footage captured by MMA Junkie soon after UFC 305 showed Du Plessis and Adesanya catching up behind the scenes, with the champ gifting the Nigerian-born New Zealander a custom-made, South Africa-themed jacket.

    While Adesanya shared some words with his victorious opponent’s family and coach, Du Plessis interacted with the former two-time titleholder’s parents, thanking both for “raising a warrior.”

    “You have an incredible son,” Du Plessis said at one point during the interaction.

    During his post-fight press conference, the champ opened up on his brief conversation with Adesanya’s family and the gift he had prepared for his challenger.

    “I will never disrespect your parents, and he said he understands that,” Du Plessis said. “We’re not friends because on a personal level, we do not see eye-to-eye. But warrior-to-warrior, and after spending time (with him) in that octagon and what he’s achieved in the sport, you can’t not respect that man.

    “To give him that jacket was a reminder, a token of appreciation and a thank you for this,” Du Plessis continued. “It’s a memory for me, it’s such a massive moment in my life. I brought the jacket here specifically to give it to him.”

  • Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling, & Other MMA Fighters React To Dricus Du Plessis Submitting Israel Adesanya At UFC 305

    Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling, & Other MMA Fighters React To Dricus Du Plessis Submitting Israel Adesanya At UFC 305

    Both men appeared to take round one to feel each other out and get their striking going. Adesanya landed strong starts early but appeared to get caught by Du Plessis later in the round.

    Du Plessis changed his gameplan in the second and looked for takedowns quickly, scoring multiple takedowns and fighting against wizzers from Adesanya. Du Plessis threatened a choke on more than one occasion. Adesanya appeared to get some sort of knockdown off a punch, but Du Plessis fell into him, knocking Adesanya down and allowing Du Plessis to get back into grappling control against the fence.

    Both men had their moments during the third round, with Adesanya rocking Du Plessis with a spinning back elbow, and Du Plessis stunning him with combinations. But the New Zealander was landing more on the feet, with his work to Du Plessis’ body of note.

    Adesanya continued to get the better of Du Plessis on the feet and troubled him in the fourth. That is, until Du Plessis blitzed back, getting to Adesanya’s back and bringing him back to the ground. There, Du Plessis finally locked in the same rear-naked choke he looked for in the second round and scored the submission.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis gave respect to Adesanya, squashing their beef.

    Meanwhile, despite the assumption a rematch between DDP and Sean Strickland will be next, and Alex Pereira defending the light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree in October, Pereira took to social media to tease a move back down to 185 to challenge Du Plessis.

    Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya To Remain Middleweight Champion

    https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1825035282686611801

    Du Plessis and Adesanya had a heated confrontation following UFC 290, where Du Plessis knocked out Robert Whittaker to earn a future title shot.

    Du Plessis entered tonight with a nine-fight win streak, having not lost since dropping the KSW welterweight title in October 2018. Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January to win the UFC middleweight title.

    This marked Adesanya’s first fight since his heavy upset loss to Strickland at UFC 293, losing the middleweight championship after regaining it from Alex Pereira at UFC 287. Adesanya had previously won the belt with a knockout of Whittaker at UFC 243 in October 2019, successfully defending the title five times before dropping it to Pereira at UFC 281.

  • UFC 305 Results & Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya

    UFC 305 Results & Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya

    UFC 305 took place tonight from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis put his middleweight title on the line against former champ Israel Adesanya. While in the co-main event, Kai Kara-France took on Steve Erceg in a flyweight matchup. 

    UFC 305 Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya via submission: R4, 3.38  
    • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg via TKO: R1, 4.04  
    • Lightweight: Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 27-30)
    • Welterweight: Carlos Prates def Li Jingliang via KO: R2, 4.02  

    Preliminary Card

    • Heavyweight: Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa via technical submission: R1, 4.56
    • Featherweight: Ricardo Ramos def. Joshua Culibao via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)  
    • Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill def. Luana Santos via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26) 
    • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns via TKO: R3, 0.48

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight: Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
    • Flyweight: Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll via submission: R1, 2.39

    Only one fighter missed weight at the weigh-ins, with Jesus Aguilar tipping the scales 1.5 pounds over the flyweight limit. 

    The early preliminary card begins at 6:30 PM ET, the preliminary card at 8:00 PM ET and the main card at 10:00 PM ET. Make sure to catch all the UFC 305 results and highlights as they happen below! 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Jesus Aguilar earned the first finish of UFC 305 with a guillotine submission of Stewart Nicoll in the first round of their flyweight bout.

    Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns

    In this featherweight bout, Jack Jenkins got it done with a TKO of Herbert Burns in the third round.

    Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa

    Valter Walker earned a technical submission win after an apparent verbal tap by Junior Tafa at the end of the first round of their heavyweight matchup.

    Main Card Highlights

    Carlos Prates def Li Jingliang

    Carlos Prates earned a walk-off KO against Li Jingliang in the second round of their welterweight bout.

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik def Tai Tuivasa

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik got it done by split decision against Tai Tuivasa in their heavyweight bout.

    Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot

    In this lightweight bout, Dan Hooker earned a split decision win against Mateusz Gamrot.

    Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg

    In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France got back in the win column with a first-round TKO of Steve Erceg.

    Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya

    In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight crown after locking in a rear-naked choke to submit Israel Adesanya.

  • ‘I’m Certain Steve Is Better Than What He Showed’ – MMA Fans & Fighters React As Kai Kara-France Produces First Round KO Win At UFC 305

    ‘I’m Certain Steve Is Better Than What He Showed’ – MMA Fans & Fighters React As Kai Kara-France Produces First Round KO Win At UFC 305

    Kai Kara-France is back in the win column by knocking out Steve Erceg in the first round at UFC 305. The fight started slow with both fighters making reads. However, an overhand left from the New Zealander in the final minute dropped Erceg, eventually ending the fight.

    Kara-France was on a two-fight losing streak heading into his UFC 305 co-main event bout. Although his split-decision loss to Amir Albazi was criticized by many, he needed a win to re-enter the title picture.

    With his UFC 305 win, Kara-France has reminded fans of his threatening style and ability to finish the fight spontaneously. On the flip side, many of Erceg’s supporters have admitted to expecting a better striking display from “Astroboy”.

    Fans Back Kai Kara-France To Fight Alexandre Pantoja For The UFC Flyweight Championship Next

    https://twitter.com/Trending_Memers/status/1825022780167106976

    After bagging his thirteenth first-round finish, “Don’t Blink” asked for a title fight in his post-fight interview. Fans admire his explosive fighting style, and a win over Erceg could be enough for the UFC to hand him a title shot.

  • ‘Poirier vs Hooker 2 Anyone?’ – MMA Fans React To Dan Hooker Edging Out Mateusz Gamrot In UFC 305 War

    ‘Poirier vs Hooker 2 Anyone?’ – MMA Fans React To Dan Hooker Edging Out Mateusz Gamrot In UFC 305 War

    Dan Hooker will find himself back in the upper echelon of the lightweight division once again after UFC 305, as he defeated Mateusz Gamrot in a closely contested war.

    Gamrot got off to a strong start in the opening round, landing damaging shots on Hooker and nearly locking him in a submission. Hooker, however, seemed to show some fire in the closing seconds of the round.

    That fire continued into the second round, as “The Hangman” brought forth plenty of pressure against Gamrot, including some sharp elbows. That said, Gamrot did not relent in his offense either.

    The third ultimately proved to be a very even round, with both men trading control throughout.

    Two judges gave the fight to Hooker, giving the win to the Oceania fighter.

    MMA Fans React To Hooker’s UFC 305 Win Over Gamrot

    Hooker has now won three straight and will be likely in for a big opportunity in his next outing. The New Zealander himself mentioned in his post-fight interview a BMF title fight with Max Holloway, a showdown with Conor McGregor and a title eliminator (or interim title fight) with Arman Tsarukyan.

    This fight snapped a three-fight win streak for Gamrot, meanwhile. Entering this fight, only he and Tsarukyan had wins in their most recent fights out of those in the top five of the lightweight contender rankings.

  • ‘Tui Tuivasa Is Giving Me Tony Ferguson Vibes’ – MMA Fans React To ‘Bam Bam’ Earning Ridiculous 30-27 Scorecard Despite Getting Dominated At UFC 305

    ‘Tui Tuivasa Is Giving Me Tony Ferguson Vibes’ – MMA Fans React To ‘Bam Bam’ Earning Ridiculous 30-27 Scorecard Despite Getting Dominated At UFC 305

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik may find himself back in the top-10 of the UFC’s heavyweight rankings come next week, but the story after his win doesn’t come from his performance, but that of one judge’s scorecard.

    Rozenstruik pieced up Tai Tuivasa in their UFC 305 encounter, being technical with his striking and doing serious damage. Tuivasa hurt his leg with a leg check in the second round, and Rozenstruik nearly finished with a couple of flurries in the round.

    But while one judge saw the fight 29-28 Rozenstruik, and another 30-27 Rozenstruik, a third judge, Howie Booth, scored every round for Tuivasa — despite unanimous agreement from MMA media and MMA fans that Rozenstruik won rounds two and three.

    MMA Fans And Media Blast Judge Who Awarded Tai Tuivasa A 30-27 Card Despite Being Dominated By Jairzinho Rozenstruik

    https://twitter.com/Qutb_Patia/status/1825007703942455721
    https://twitter.com/fawadalijourno/status/1825007700393996291

    Rozenstruik has now won three of his last four fights.

    Tuivasa, meanwhile, has dropped five straight.

    UPDATE: The judge who scored the fight for Tuivasa has been relieved of his duties for the rest of the night.

  • ‘Mini Poatan’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Carlos Prates Flatlining Li Jingliang In Brutal UFC 305 Knockout

    ‘Mini Poatan’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Carlos Prates Flatlining Li Jingliang In Brutal UFC 305 Knockout

    Carlos Prates has become the first fighter to knock out Li Jingliang in his 29 pro fights. The Brazilian welterweight entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series and has now racked up three wins in the promotion.

    “The Nightmare” displayed his striking prowess at UFC 305 from the get-go but never rushed to the finish. He knocked down Jingliang a couple of times before finally landing the knockout blow in the second.

    “The Leech”, as usual, showed heart and walked forward even while taking Prates’ best shots. This is the first time he has suffered two consecutive losses in his pro record.

    While it’s unclear what’s next for Jingliang, Prates has grabbed all the praise from fans and fighters worldwide.

    Carlos Prates’ Explosive Fighting Style Could Make Him A Problem In The UFC Welterweight Division

    https://twitter.com/FKNWOLVES/status/1824997838054408228
    https://twitter.com/Malcolm_fleX48/status/1824997841154023506

    The UFC welterweight division already has contenders like Jack Della Maddalena and Shavkat Rakhmonov with high finish rates. Prates climbing the ranks in similar fashion can naturally make the division more intriguing for the fans.