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  • UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After back-to-back events in Manchester, England, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back on home soil to stage another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a rematch between a pair of top-10 heavyweights, with Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac running back their 2020 bout, which the Polish fighter won by way of unanimous decision.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Damon Jackson, Danny Barlow, Chris Gutiérrez, and Yana Santos will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac takes place on Saturday, August 10, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Marcin Tybura (252lbs) vs. Serghei Spivac (238lbs)
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Damon Jackson (146lbs) vs. Chepe Mariscal (149.5lbs)***
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow (171.25lbs)** vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chris Gutiérrez (136lbs) vs. Quang Le (136lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Yana Santos (135.5lbs) vs. Chelsea Chandler (141lbs)*
    • Bantamweight: Toshiomi Kazama (136lbs) vs. Charalampos Grigoriou (136lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (135.5lbs) vs. Pannie Kianzad (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (258lbs) vs. Karl Williams (243lbs)
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal (145.5lbs) vs. Jarno Errens (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (115lbs) vs, Talita Alencar (115.5lbs)

    *Chelsea Chandler missed the bantamweight limit by five pounds, fight status TBA

    **Danny Barlow missed the welterweight limit by 0.25 pounds, fight status TBA

    ***Chepe Mariscal missed the featherweight limit by 3.5 pounds, fight status TBA

  • Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    During Belal Muhammad’s current winning streak which now sees him at the top of the welterweight division, a lot has been made about the company he has chosen to keep.

    “Remember The Name” has got a solid and small team around him but he has also decided in recent times to do some work alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

    This was especially true heading into Muhammad’s fight with Sean Brady, which produced his best performance inside the Octagon at that time.

    It was also a part of the narrative heading into his title fight with Leon Edwards last month.

    Whilst the champion at the time had dealt with American wrestlers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, how would he match-up with someone that has been training with some of the best grapplers in the sport?

    Javier Mendez Says Belal Muhammad’s Coaches Deserve More Credit For UFC 304 Win

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, AKA head coach Javier Mendez said that people got too carried away with giving ‘coach Khabib’ credit for Muhammad’s recent title win.

    Whilst the welterweight challenger did manage to get some work in with “The Eagle” before heading to Manchester, Mendez revealed that it was only for a very small amount of time in the grand scheme of the training camp.

    He said that while Nurmagomedov did contribute and would have added some extra value, the credit for this win on the coaching side of things deserves to be aimed at Muhammad’s long-time team instead.

    “What about his coaches? What about Lou? What about his other coaches? Mike Valley, you know, what about them? I mean they were with him through this whole time so to me, it isn’t anything other than what they did as coaching staff because Khabib only put like maybe a week – two weeks to help him on this one and the rest he spent with his coaches. So, to me, I don’t like the narrative when they make it look like Khabib made the big difference when yeah he helped him but his coaches made the difference.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

    TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

    TJ Dillashaw recently escalated his critique of Anthony Smith, backing up all of his previous fault-finding of the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger.

    Smith might have faced a sobering reality regarding his hopes for a second run towards the title after enduring a challenging unanimous decision loss to short-notice replacement Roman Dolidze at UFC 303 in June.

    Interestingly, the former UFC bantamweight champion was highly critical of “Lionheart’s” performance during his appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST with former UFC champions Rampage Jackson and Luke Rockhold last month. Dillashaw mocked Smith’s moniker, bluntly stating that the 36-year-old Texan will never become champion because he lacks the resilience to persevere.

    Smith swiftly responded to Dillashaw’s pointed remarks during an episode of the BELIEVE YOU ME Podcast. “Lionheart” didn’t hold back, taking a scathing jab at the 38-year-old Californian’s positive performance-enhancing drug test in 2019, which resulted in a two-year suspension from the UFC.

    However, the exchange of verbal jabs didn’t end there. Dillashaw has returned with a fresh barrage of critiques, once again labeling Smith as a quitter…

    Dillashaw Thinks Smith Becomes Defensive When Judged

    During his recent appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw sought to defend his previous comments about Smith, arguing that he lacks the attributes of a true championship contender—a reality Smith himself has acknowledged.

    “I thought he was going to be a champion. I said no, and then you’re like, why not? It’s like, he gives up,” Dillashaw said. “He doesn’t have that fight, he doesn’t have that dog in him personally, and I think he admitted it himself without even hearing our podcast yet. He did a video after that, kind of like deciding he’s going to continue to fight.”

    The bantamweight veteran further noted that while Smith frequently criticizes other fighters, he doesn’t handle criticism directed at himself with the same grace.

    “I mean, dude, the guy’s got to sit there and be like, why are you wearing your feelings on your sleeve? I mean, he sits there and talks sht about people on the broadcast all the time. I’m no stranger to it; he said some sh*t about me. It’s like, whatever, dude. That’s just how I feel, and if you don’t like it, if the truth hurts, too f**king bad.”

    Smith competed for the light heavyweight title in March 2019 against Jon Jones at UFC 235. In that bout, “Lionheart” decided to continue after being struck by an illegal knee from Jones and ultimately lost by unanimous decision.

    Following his defeat to “Bones”, Smith struggled to find his footing, unable to gain any significant momentum in his subsequent outings.

  • Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently predicted that Max Holloway could defeat Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, provided “Blessed” keeps the fight focused solely on striking.

    Topuria is poised to defend his featherweight title for the first time against Holloway in the main event of a highly anticipated pay-per-view showdown scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    “El Matador” captured the 145-pound championship this past February, becoming the first UFC champion from Spain by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Undefeated in the Octagon with a 7-0 record, he boasts five finishes, including impressive victories over Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.

    Meanwhile, Holloway is set for his third attempt to reclaim the featherweight title, which he lost to Volkanovski in December 2019, followed by two unsuccessful rematches. “Blessed” has since bounced back with three consecutive impressive victories, the latest being a dramatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout, earning him the BMF title at the landmark UFC 300 in April.

    Thomson and McCarthy contend that despite Topuria’s formidable prowess, he will encounter significant difficulty in connecting his strikes against Holloway…

    Thomson Sees Holloway As ‘Stylistically’ Challenging Opponent For Topuria

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson previewed the highly anticipated matchup between Topuria and Holloway. The former UFC lightweight fighter lauded “El Matador” for his exceptional striking abilities but pointed out that he will face significant challenges in chasing down the BMF titleholder and finding the right angles to land his shots.

    “Max on the feet, what we saw with him against Justin Gaethje, he can handle the power, he can handle the movement, he can handle the aggressiveness,” Thomson said. “Topuria is going to stalk after him, he’s just going, and Max Holloway is going to be on his bike, sticking and moving, using that long-range jab right in his face… My point is that when Topuria is gonna start stalking after him, he’s gonna start taking those jabs in the opening rounds.”

    “The Punk” added that although Topuria might be relentlessly pursuing the Hawaiian, he is likely to absorb some significant punishment in the process, which could prove decisive.

    “He’s going to be reaching and lunging to get in on Max Holloway, and that’s going to be his downfall. He’s got fight IQ and knows how to use his movement, how to put his combinations together, and how to threaten the body as well as the head. He throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink, and it lands. He’s accurate with his strikes, with no wasted movements. He knows what he’s doing. Topuria, right now, I think is a fantastic fighter; I just think stylistically this is a bad matchup for him.”

  • Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley recently fired back at Umar Nurmagomedov, who expressed being “ashamed” of O’Malley as the UFC bantamweight champion.

    Nurmagomedov earned an impressive unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last weekend, catapulting himself near the top of the division and potentially solidifying his status as the #1 contender.

    The undefeated Dagestani’s victory potentially positions him as the ideal challenger for “Sugar,” but this matchup hinges on whether O’Malley successfully defends his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on September 14.

    Nurmagomedov is aiming to challenge O’Malley for the belt, hoping the American remains the champion by then. However, he hasn’t held back his criticism, previously labeling O’Malley as a negative influence on the younger generation.

    O’Malley is intrigued by Nurmagomedov as a potential challenge, but there might be an even stronger incentive for him to defeat the rising prospect…

    O’Malley Aims To Beat Nurmagomedov To ‘Sting’ Conor McGregor

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, O’Malley discussed the potential of fighting Nurmagomedov in the future. His coach, Tim Welch, asked “Sugar” if he could knock out the Dagestani. O’Malley admitted that Nurmagomedov would be a challenging opponent but expressed confidence in his ability to succeed, pointing to his knockout of Aljamain Sterling.

    “I could chin anybody in the division,” O’Malley said. “Umar is a tough fight. I thought Aljo [Sterling] was the toughest fight in the division for me at the time, and I knocked him out. I think Umar is probably one of the toughest challenges in the division.”

    “Sugar” further remarked that a potential bout against Nurmagomedov could become one of the biggest fights in UFC history, and such a high-profile clash would surely drive Conor McGregor wild.

    “I think it makes it an interesting match, but O’Malley vs. Nurmagomedov could be one way I become, you know, bigger than Conor, like I’ve claimed I’ve wanted to be. If I do what he couldn’t do—beat a Nurmagomedov, take away the ‘O’—that would really sting him. He’s already mad at me, jealous, but this would really sting him.”

    “The Notorious” has a storied history with the Nurmagomedov family, highlighted by his intense rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov. This feud culminated in a dramatic showdown at UFC 229 in 2018, where McGregor suffered a fourth-round submission loss.

    O’Malley has recently set his sights on McGregor as a potential opponent, a surprising turn given their previous admiration for each other, which has now devolved into animosity. This shift followed a series of fiery exchanges on social media.

    Defeating a member of the Nurmagomedov family—an achievement that eluded McGregor—could be O’Malley’s way of getting the last laugh at his former idol.

  • Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to wait three years to get his shot at a rematch with Leon Edwards.

    After their first fight ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, both men put together impressive winning streaks before meeting against at UFC 304.

    In that time, Muhammad was very open about his dislike of Edwards for not wanting to fight him, but with that being said, he was honest about a potential trilogy fight between them.

    “Rocky” could seemingly put himself back in the title picture with a bounce-back win, and the champion acknowledged that.

    Belal Muhammad Questions Whether Leon Edwards Will Recover From Loss & Corner Conflict

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad gave his thoughts on the current state of the 170-pound division and whether he expects to cross paths with Edwards once again.

    He believes that whilst “Rocky” can certainly put his name back in the mix if he goes away and beats a fellow top contender, he doesn’t know whether that will happen.

    Muhammad said that it will be an uphill battle for the former champion to come back as the same fighter with the same hunger, after what took place in Manchester.

    He also made reference to how Edwards could be dealing with a fractured team after what happened inside the Octagon on July 27.

    The Brit’s head coach Dave Lovell, in trying to motivate his fighter, asked him whether he wanted him to wave the fight off and call it a night to which Edwards seemingly told him to “shut the f*** up”.

    Muhammad said that this factor may mean it’ll take some time before Edwards is on his radar once again.

    “There’s not a lot of guys that you’re looking at like this is a clear number one contender, this guy’s clear number one contender, so Leon could go out there, get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix. But, it all just comes back mentally.

    “I don’t know if him and his coach are gonna have like a break-up party now because they looked pretty bad in the corner right. There’s a lot of turmoil there so I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of blame and a lot of embarrassment coming from that team and a lot of just embarrassment from himself.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

  • Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    A lot has changed since Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis first faced off inside the Octagon at UFC 290 last year.

    The middleweight title has been exchanged between them without them fighting inside the Octagon, but that changes at UFC 305 on August 17.

    At the time, Adesanya would have been considered to be a big favorite against the challenger, even after Du Plessis stunned the MMA world by stopping Robert Whittaker.

    However, the South African fighter then went on to defeat Sean Strickland for the 185-pound belt. This was after “The Last Stylebender” was convincingly beaten by the short-notice title challenger Strickland at UFC 293, making this upcoming fight very different.

    One of the biggest arguments that can be made for the champion retaining the title in Perth is the awkward timing and movement that Du Plessis brings into the cage.

    We saw how Strickland was able to stifle Adesanya’s offense and whilst Du Plessis may not have the same defensive ability, he’s very unpredictable.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the former two-time champion said that he doesn’t expect this to be a problem for him despite “Stillknocks” presenting some issues.

    He compared him to a former opponent of his in Marvin Vettori, who Adesanya has faced and beaten twice, with one added element to his game.

    “A bit like Vettori to be honest but he’s just more of a risk taker than Vettori. So yeah, I don’t think I’ll have an issue dealing with what he brings but it’s the intangibles, the unknown unknowns. He takes way more risks than Vettori so that’s what makes him really dangerous.”

    Israel Adesanya Says Du Plessis Fight Isn’t Personal Despite ‘Blasphemous’ Comments

    This fight has had a long time to build and in that time, things have been said that likely aren’t going to be forgiven and forgotten when the dust settles.

    Du Plessis’ comments about being the first African champion kicked this feud off and whilst Adesanya wants to make him pay for that, he doesn’t believe that this bout is on the same level as some of his great rivalries in the past.

    “The Last Stylebender” told Mike Bohn that he won’t move past what his next opponent said but that doesn’t mean it’s personal for him.

    “Nah, I haven’t even fought the guy yet. Those rivalries with Whittaker and Pereira, those are etched in history. Me and this guy haven’t even fought yet. We tried to fight, it never happened, so now we’ll fight and set the score. But nah, it’s not really personal. What he said was blasphemous cuz without myself, Francis and Kamaru, he wouldn’t be able to be champion. So, what he said was really blasphemous and he’ll take accountability for what he said.”

    Read also: Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

  • Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Despite solidifying himself as the number one contender in the lightweight division with his latest win, Arman Tsarukyan has got some time on his hands.

    The 27-year old stated that he was offered the lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev on the same night that he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

    He turned that opportunity down due to wanting more time to prepare and with Dustin Poirier stepping into his place at UFC 302, more time is certainly what he’s ended up with.

    Makhachev was previously gearing up for a return to Abu Dhabi in October but a recently announced hand injury means that his huge rematch with Tsarukyan will be pushed back once again.

    Instead, the next in line for a shot at the 155-pound title is keeping himself busy by coaching a similar series to The Ultimate Fighter, alongside another big name on the UFC roster.

    Arman Tsarukyan Describes What It’s Like To Coach Against Khamzat Chimaev On Russian Reality TV Series

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM

    It was announced several months ago that Tsarukyan was set to feature on a reality TV series where both he and Khamzat Chimaev will coach competing teams.

    Hype Reality 3 sees them go up against one another and as you can always expect when you have world class athletes involved, things are getting competitive as Tsarukyan detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “It’s good and I want to beat him, he wants to beat me so I train my fighters very well to win [against] his fighters.”

    He went on to say that whilst both men are doing what they can to ensure the best results for their teams, tensions haven’t boiled over like they have done in previous seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

    “No, we have good relationship with Khamzat and that’s why we just like a sport you know. Who is going to win, nothing else, no drama.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

  • ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    Despite making it clear that his preferred option is to stay with the UFC, flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is teasing a new destination.

    “The Punisher” fought out his UFC contract following his latest win at UFC 304 over Manel Kape.

    In his post-event press conference, Dana White announced that they would not be resigning Mokaev despite his clear ability, due to his outside of the cage conduct which includes him admitting to sucker punching Kape on fight week.

    Though White remarked that he will make a fine addition to the PFL’s roster, Ray Sefo made it clear that this isn’t going to happen.

    A post on social media from Mokaev showed him receiving a new pair of gloves and with some clever sleuthing, some have tried to predict where he will be applying his trade in the near future.

    Violent Money TV reported that upon closer inspection of the inside of the glove, it appears to have been produced by the brand Top Ten.

    Top Ten became the exclusive apparel provider for Bahrain-based promotion BRAVE CF earlier this year, which suggests that this could be his new home.

    Mokaev fought five times under the BRAVE banner before signing to the UFC in November of 2021.

    MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev – BRAVE CF Theory

    When Mokaev’s UFC departure was made official, signing to the PFL seemed like the clear and obvious next step for him – until it wasn’t anymore.

    Whilst there are plenty of other promotions that could welcome Mokaev if he wishes to stay active at this point in his career, BRAVE may be the one that makes the most sense due to their prior relationship.

    MMA fans, however, reacted on social media with more questions to this hypothetical answer.

    “Mokaev is funded by the Bahrain royal family and is part of Team KHK, it was inevitable to anybody that knows his ties to Bahrain that he’d end up in Brave.”

    “Mokaev will go on a mad submission streak and claim two belts at Brave CF and the UFC will have egg on their face. Pin this tweet”

    “Nice, his fights will be seen by hundreds of people”

    “He is gonna be making $100 per fight”

    https://twitter.com/StricklandSzn/status/1821510540822249565

    “Never heard of Brave fc”

    https://twitter.com/osubucks2024/status/1821513305862672399

    “ACA I believe. Doesn’t matter. Will still watch him.”

    “Back to the regionals for Mokaev.”

    https://twitter.com/wrldw4r/status/1821523763390816768

    Read also: Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

  • UFC Revenue Up By Almost $100 Million At Midpoint Of 2024

    UFC Revenue Up By Almost $100 Million At Midpoint Of 2024

    TKO Group Holdings, under the banner of Endeavor, has recently unveiled the financial results for UFC and WWE in the second quarter of 2024, illustrating a remarkable upward trajectory.

    The UFC and WWE joined forces last September, giving rise to a new powerhouse in sports and entertainment: TKO Group Holdings. Since their unification, the business has been flourishing and reaching new heights.

    According to a recent report by journalist John S. Nash, TKO Group generated an impressive $851.2 million in total revenue. The company also reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $420.9 million, alongside a net income of $150.7 million.

    As per the report, the UFC experienced remarkable growth in the second quarter of 2024, with revenue soaring by 29% to $394.4 million. This impressive performance marks a half-yearly increase of $95.5 million compared to 2023. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 23%, totaling $231.9 million for the quarter ending June 30.

    This revenue boost was primarily driven by a substantial increase in media rights, which reached $250.6 million, along with higher content revenue. Additionally, the UFC saw increased income from live events thanks to an extra event held during the quarter. Sponsorship proceeds also significantly improved, with an increase of $15.5 million.

    Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel Reflects on TKO Q2 Earnings Growth

    Endeavor CEO Ariel Emanuel, who also leads TKO Group, recently shared his insights on the company’s impressive upward growth in the second quarter of 2024 in a statement released to the public.

    “TKO generated strong financial results in the quarter, highlighted by record quarterly revenue and adjusted EBITDA,” Emanuel said. “In light of this continued momentum, we are raising our full-year 2024 guidance for the second quarter in a row. The strength of our underlying business continues to give us great conviction for TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”

    [h/t Inside the Ropes]

    In a strategic shift, Endeavor chose to go private after three years as a public company this past April, positioning TKO Group as its sole publicly traded entity. Endeavor’s initial 51% stake in TKO has since risen to 53.6%.

    However, it’s not all smooth sailing for the combat sports conglomerate. Last month, a judge rejected a $335 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by former UFC fighters, setting the stage for a trial. If the case proceeds, the financial repercussions for the company could far exceed the proposed settlement amount.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury

    Arman Tsarukyan Names 3 Opponent Options For Interim UFC Title Fight In Light Of Islam Makhachev Injury

    Should his expected shot at Islam Makhachev’s UFC lightweight title be delayed until 2025, Arman Tsarukyan is open to facing another contender for interim status.

    Tsarukyan secured his first opportunity at gold on MMA’s biggest stage by recording his biggest win to date at the expense of former champion Charles Oliveira on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    With the promotion always looking to have Makhachev defend his belt in Abu Dhabi, Tsarukyan was expected to challenge his former opponent in the main event of UFC 308 this coming October.

    Disaster stuck recently, however, after Makhachev suffered a severe hand injury that could leave him on the sidelines until late 2024 or even the next calendar year.

    While a patient wait until December would be welcomed by Tsarukyan, the top contender wouldn’t mind returning to action in the meantime should the latter of those two timelines come to fruition…

    Tsarukyan Open To Poirier, Gaethje, Chandler Matchups For Interim Title

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM&pp=ygUQc3VibWlzc2lvbiByYWRpbw%3D%3D

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Tsarukyan provided an update on the status of his title shot following confirmation that Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for the featherweight belt will instead top the UFC 308 lineup on Oct. 26.

    The Russian-Armenian acknowledged that he may need to wait until 2025 to compete with undisputed gold on the line. And if that’s the case, he’d be open to adding a second champ to the division by facing either Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, or Michael Chandler for an interim strap.

    “My manager told me I was gonna fight in October versus Islam, and then he said to UFC that he got injured. Now, they’ve moved that fight to December or maybe next year,” Tsarukyan said. “Of course it’s sad, because I already started training really hard and I’m in shape. … But it is what it is.

    “If it’s December, for me it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna wait and train as much as I can,” Tsarukyan continued. “If Islam can’t fight this year, for sure I would like to fight for the interim title, and it doesn’t matter who is gonna be in front of me. Dustin Poirier, he is a solid fighter and he has a lot of experience. Yeah, it would be great. Dustin, Gaethje — Michael Chandler as well.”

    During his rise up the lightweight ladder, Tsarukyan frequently accused the likes of Gaethje and Chandler of holding their top five positions hostage by not fighting up-and-comers.

    More recently, his focus has been on Chandler’s continued wait for Conor McGregor’s comeback, which was recently scrapped from the UFC 303 card in June due to an injury to the Irishman.

    With talk of Chandler finally moving on, perhaps the former three-time Bellator champ will be receptive to Tsarukyan’s interim title pitch.

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why Sean O’Malley ‘Might Feel Better’ About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov After His Latest Win

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why Sean O’Malley ‘Might Feel Better’ About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov After His Latest Win

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes Umar Nurmagomedov’s latest performance might have made Sean O’Malley breathe a little easier on the bantamweight throne.

    Nurmagomedov kept his unblemished professional and UFC records intact at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, where he got the better of Cory Sandhagen in his maiden main event on MMA’s biggest stage.

    The Dagestani utilized his relentless grappling pressure and strong striking to get the better of the ex-interim title challenger and high-ranked contender across five rounds of action inside the Etihad Arena.

    The result saw Nurmagomedov rewarded with a sizable climb up the bantamweight pecking order to #2, leaving him behind only upcoming title challenger Merab Dvalishvili in the rankings. With that in mind, the Russian has staked his claim for a shot at the winner of O’Malley’s next defense at the Sphere this fall.

    And while Nurmagomedov and some others have suggested the champ will be keen to avoid the undefeated 28-year-old, Cormier isn’t sure that’s the case following his latest display…

    Cormier: O’Malley Has Seen Someone ‘Counter’ Nurmagomedov’s Skills

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reflected on Nurmagomedov’s sixth Octagon triumph and assessed what it could mean for O’Malley.

    “DC” stated that, while unsuccessful in his pursuit of a win, Sandhagen somewhat laid out a blueprint for dealing with Nurmagomedov’s ground game. That, Cormier says, could leave “Sugar” more confident in his chances against the Dagestani.

    “If I’m Sean O’Malley and I watched last weekend, Chael, I might feel a little better because now I finally saw someone actually counter these skills of Umar Nurmagomedov in terms of the ground fighting,” Cormier said. “Now, dealing with him on the feet is a whole another issue. But if you can fight on the feet, as Sean O’Malley can, you’d think you have a chance.”

    Before potentially adjusting his focus to Nurmagomedov, O’Malley must stall the title hopes of Dvalishvili at UFC 306/Noche UFC at the Sphere on September 14.

    And even beyond that, O’Malley has suggested the Russian isn’t set in stone as his next fight just yet. The champ has also pointed to the recently victorious Deiveson Figueiredo as a potential challenger, in addition to reiterating his featherweight ambitions.

  • Neil Magny Inspired By Teixeira, Couture’s Late UFC Title Success: ‘They Let Us Know It Could Be Done’ (Exclusive)

    Neil Magny Inspired By Teixeira, Couture’s Late UFC Title Success: ‘They Let Us Know It Could Be Done’ (Exclusive)

    UFC welterweight veteran Neil Magny still has his eyes on the ultimate prize, and he’s being spurred on by similar late-career success stories.

    Magny has long had the largely unwanted ‘gatekeeper’ label attached to him at 170 pounds, a weight class in which he holds the records for most wins, most fights, and most Octagon time.

    Losses to Shavkat Rakhmonov, Gilbert Burns, and Ian Garry since 2021 have prevented “The Haitian Sensation” from making a push up the ladder. But the 37-year-old has maintained a ranking by pushing away challenges from Daniel Rodriguez, Phil Rowe, and Mike Malott.

    His most recent victory over Malott came in memorable fashion, as Magny overcame a two-round deficit to stall the highly regarded Canadian’s expected arrival into contention with just 15 seconds remaining at UFC 297 this past January.

    And it’ll be a similar assignment for Magny later this month, with the New York City native tasked with defending his spot against another up-and-comer in the unbeaten Michael Morales at the UFC Fight Night on August 24. The bout will mark his first fight since signing a new four-fight contract.

    The welterweight vet is expecting to have his hand raised, and more than just keeping out the hungry prospects, he still has his eyes on gold…

    Magny Wants To Be More Than Just ‘Competitive’ As He Approaches 40

    During an interview with MMA News, Magny looked ahead to his second Octagon outing of 2024 and reiterated his continued championship hopes on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Title success at such a late age is rare, but certainly not unheard of. Magny specifically pointed to the careers of Glover Teixeira and Randy Couture, both of whom had gold wrapped around their waist after passing 40.

    “I have the opportunity to go out there and show them (UFC) I’m still able to be one of the best guys in the world,” Magny said. “Realistically, I have to look at what some of the guys have done before; look at guys like Glover Teixeira and that kind of thing. Glover Teixeira was not only able to be competitive well into his early forties, but also win a championship at 42.

    “So, when I look at guys in MMA for longevity, I’m not just looking at guys who were able to just show up to fight and have a coin toss, ‘Maybe I win, maybe I lose.’ I’m looking at the guys who were able to compete at a high level,” Magny continued. “Glover Teixeira, Randy Couture; those guys are the actual examples for the guys that managed to be successful and very competitive well into their forties. For me, that’s my standard. Those are the guys that have done it before, that let us know it could be done.”

    Magny will look to move closer to joining the likes of Teixeira and Couture in the champs’ club by making it two wins from two fights against highly touted prospects in 2024.

    “The Haitian Sensation’s” clash with the undefeated Morales is set to co-headline the UFC Fight Night on Aug. 24, with a crucial middleweight contest between another veteran pursuing late-career title success, Jared Cannonier, and Caio Borralho taking the main event spotlight.

  • Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

    Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

    UFC flyweight Amir Albazi is frustrated not to have had the chance to face Muhammad Mokaev inside the Octagon, believing he would comfortably get the better of the 24-year-old.

    Albazi and Mokaev have long been two of the top prospects surging toward contention at 125 pounds and both found themselves inside the top five this year, vying for a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s gold.

    During their respective charges up the flyweight ladder, they didn’t shy away from going back and forth with each other, with “The Punisher” accusing “The Prince” of avoiding a fight with him last year.

    The pair now won’t be able to settle their grudge inside the Octagon anytime soon after Mokaev didn’t have his contract renewed following his win over Manel Kape at last month’s pay-per-view in Manchester.

    While reacting to that widely discussed decision, Albazi once again made it clear how he thinks a battle with Mokaev would have played out…

    Albazi: I Was Never Impressed With Mokaev

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Albazi gave his take on the promotion’s decision not to re-sign his flyweight rival following the completion of his contract at UFC 304.

    “The Prince” first reiterated his confidence when it comes to how he matches up against Mokaev, insisting “The Punisher” did little to impress during his undefeated 7-0 run on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “To be honest, regarding the fight, I was never impressed with Mokaev. I always thought 10 out of 10 times, I would beat him,” Albazi said. “That’s just my opinion of things. … I would have loved to fight him to just prove to people that I could take him on and that wouldn’t be a problem for me. But it is what it is.”

    Nevertheless, despite the animosity between them, Albazi refused to pile in on Mokaev following his UFC release, noting he would never take joy from a fellow fighter losing their job.

    “Him getting cut — I don’t like the guy, but I don’t want to take away people’s jobs,” Albazi stated. “So, I still think it sucks that he never got to continue fighting in the UFC with his winning streak.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in the future for Mokaev, who has frequently kept his sights on a UFC return in the days since his departure.

    And it appears that an announcement regarding his next career move in pursuit of an Octagon comeback isn’t too far away judging by the Dagestan-born Brit’s latest social media post.

  • Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

    Opening Betting Odds Released For Francis Ngannou & Cris Cyborg’s PFL Debuts

    Oddsmakers are seeing one of the two blockbuster matchups announced for the next PFL pay-per-view as a lot closer than the other…

    This week, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) confirmed its expected second Super Fight PPV card of 2024, the first of which pitted its champions against Bellator titleholders in Saudi Arabia this past February.

    The next major lineup on October 19 boasts two huge names at the top, with former UFC champions Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg making their respective PFL debuts in the headlining acts.

    In the main event, Ngannou returns to mixed martial arts following a two-match boxing stint. His first taste of action inside the cage since January 2022 comes against an expected opponent in Renan Ferreira, the 2023 PFL heavyweight title winner who stopped Ryan Bader in just 21 seconds earlier this year to secure a showdown with “The Predator.”

    Setting the stage for those two heavyweight behemoths will be Cyborg, the reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion and an all-time great. Her frustrated calls for an MMA return against two-weight PFL champ Larissa Pacheco have finally been answered.

    Both bouts will be contested for Super Fight titles. And in terms of who will walk away from the October 19 event with an additional piece of gold for their trophy cabinet, oddsmakers believe one matchup is easier to call…

    Ngannou Heavy Favorite For Successful Comeback, Pacheco Narrow Underdog Against Cyborg

    Shortly after the top two clashes for the PFL’s next PPV card were announced in a press release on Wednesday, opening odds were released by BetOnline.ag.

    Given his destructive run toward the UFC’s heavyweight gold prior to his departure from the MMA leader and subsequent boxing venture, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see Ngannou heavily favored.

    “The Predator” has opened at -350, with Ferreira’s underdog line reading +285.

    The co-headliner is seen as much closer, with Cyborg a narrow -140 favorite against Pacheco’s +125 line. The PFL standout became the promotion’s first-ever two-division title winner last year when she added featherweight gold to her 2022 lightweight success.

    The PFL is yet to confirm any other bouts for the October 19 event, but French star Cédric Doumbé has previously been touted for the fall PPV. Also, Yoel Romero recently spilled the beans on a Bellator light heavyweight title fight against champ Corey Anderson on that date.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

    Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

    UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov has an idea of who could inherit the promotion’s lightweight crown from Islam Makhachev upon the conclusion of his career.

    Makhachev has occupied the throne at 155 pounds since UFC 280 in 2022, where he emphatically got the better of former champ Charles Oliveira, first dropping “Do Bronx” and then finding the submission in round two.

    The Russian has since successfully defended the gold three times, brushing away two challenges from then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski in 2023 before stalling the late-career title ambitions of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in Newark this past June.

    The reign of Makhachev is far from over, with a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan expected to serve as his next task. Beyond that, a potential shot at two-division glory up at welterweight could be on the cards depending on if frequent training partner Belal Muhammad remains champion.

    But given how his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov departed the sport on top, comparisons with “The Eagle” have included talk of such a departure for Makhachev, who has already tied Khabib for most lightweight title wins and consecutive defenses.

    When the reigning king does decide to relinquish his grip on the crown at 155 pounds, it would appear that his team already have plans for the division’s future — and they include the UFC poaching one of the PFL’s best…

    Umar Reveals Plans For Nurmagomedov Takeover Post-Makhachev

    During an interview with Hosheh MMA prior to his latest victory at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this past weekend, Nurmagomedov was asked to predict the next UFC lightweight champion after Makhachev.

    Before the current titleholder reached the mountaintop, the plan had long been laid out by Khabib, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and their team for Makhachev to succeed “The Eagle.”

    Now, Usman Nurmagomedov is the highly regarded lightweight seemingly lying in waiting.

    “After Islam? We have plans for Usman,” Umar Nurmagomedov said. “Yes, (Usman will come to the UFC). Why not? I don’t know what’s going to be in the future, but that’s the goal.”

    Usman currently rules as the Bellator 155-pound champ, now under the banner of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The undefeated Dagestani won the belt from Patricky Pitbull in 2022 and subsequently defended it against Benson Henderson.

    Most recently, Nurmagomedov had a victory over Brent Primus overturned after he tested positive for a banned substance in a prescription drug. He’s set to return from suspension to defend against Alexandr Shabliy at the Bellator Champions Series event in San Diego next month.

  • Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

    Magomed Ankalaev was announced to be returning at UFC 308 in October but the opponent had some left scratching their chins.

    The 32-year old contender is ranked as the #2 in the division behind the former champion and the last man to challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title, Jiří Procházka.

    Though he does have a no contest from his first fight with Johnny Walker and a draw against Jan Błachowicz, Ankalaev is undefeated since his UFC debut and has won ten in a row (excluding the two previously mentioned blemishes).

    Following his win in a rematch with Walker earlier this year, many expected that Ankalaev would be next the title challenger after Jamahal Hill’s failed attempt to reclaim the belt at UFC 300.

    Though it makes sense why Pereira would then instead be booked for a rematch with Procházka on late notice at UFC 303, Ankalaev would surely then be the next one up.

    However, he is now set to face Aleksandar Rakić, who is coming off of a loss to Procházka, in Abu Dhabi.

    Robert Whittaker Jokes That Magomed Ankalaev May Simply Not Be In The UFC’s Good Books

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker gave his reaction to this fight being put together.

    Whittaker, who will also feature on UFC 308 in a co-main event clash with Khamzat Chimaev over five rounds, was also surprised to see Ankalaev back in action against someone other than Pereira.

    He laid out how there are two thought processes behind this fight with one being that “Poatan” has earned a rest and his number one contender would rather be active in the mean time.

    Whittaker also laid out how this decision may have been made due to the relationship that Ankalaev currently has with the UFC, which has been rocky to say the least in recent years.

    “Pereira deserves a break, he took that second fight with what’s his name and won it in outstanding fashion and then his toe was broken so he deserves a break. I guess I can look at it like… UFC really don’t like Ankalaev. Like when he fought against Błachowicz to that draw, they were just like cross his name out. They’re like yeah, like he didn’t have great rapport after that fight right. So that or it’s exactly as you said, Pereira needs some time out, Ankalaev doesn’t want to sit out forever. Or, bear with me here, they’re prepping him to fight Aspinall.”

    Read also: ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

  • ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    The UFC has always had a reputation for giving the fans the fights that they want to see but right now, it appears that what they want most is something they can’t have.

    Jon Jones is, by many people’s estimations, especially Dana White’s, the best to ever step inside the Octagon and after winning the heavyweight title, it makes sense that he would want to take on arguably the best UFC heavyweight ever, Stipe Miocic.

    Some had issues with the fight when it was first announced for UFC 295 last November due to the amount of time that Miocic has been out for and the fact that his last fight was a loss.

    This outcry only became far louder when an injury to Jones pushed the fight back another year, with Tom Aspinall then going on to become the interim champion.

    Fans have been constantly calling for Jones to unify the heavyweight title next against Aspinall, rather than fighting Miocic, even if that simply isn’t going to happen.

    MMA Fans Continue Relentless Push For Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall

    With Jones even offering up a phone number that people can call if they want to see the Aspinall fight happen, he’s very aware of fan sentiment because he sees it under everything he posts.

    The heavyweight champion’s latest social media video shows him doing lengths in the pool and even that wasn’t safe from scrutiny regarding the Aspinall fight.

    “Just when you thought it was safe …”

    https://twitter.com/Jabjitsu/status/1820974319112953884

    “When are you fighting Tom?”

    “You should consider getting into the deep end with Tom.”

    “Ducks do like to swim, after all.”

    “Jon training the Triathlon to run away from Aspinall.”

    “Relinquish your belt”

    https://twitter.com/Fargolde/status/1820965971357790689

    “Tom owns u lil buddy. Less swimming more fighting.”

    “Imagine how good it’d feel to be back in the octagon fighting contenders instead of holding up a division.”

    Read also: BREAKING: Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

  • Pantoja’s Coach: Title Defense Against Former Two-Weight Champion ‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’

    Pantoja’s Coach: Title Defense Against Former Two-Weight Champion ‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’

    UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s coach, Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta of American Top Team, recently weighed on the potential opponents for “The Cannibal’s” title defense upon his return to the Octagon.

    Pantoja successfully defended his title for the second time with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC 301 this past May in front of his home crowd at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

    During a media interaction at UFC International Fight Week in June, Pantoja told journalists that he is already negotiating a major fight for his return against an opponent that “no one expects.”

    While the Brazilian remained tight-lipped about the specific contender, his coach now has a particular name in mind…

    ‘Parrumpa’ Plays Matchmaker For Pantoja

    During a recent interview with Sherdog.com, da Matta delved into the potential opponents for Pantoja’s next fight. The seasoned MMA coach highlighted that the most logical contender for Pantoja is the undefeated Japanese flyweight sensation Tatsuro Taira.

    “I think that the most natural names will be—I mean, I think, to be honest, that the name that makes more sense right now is Tatsuro Taira,” da Matta said. “Because he’s already had some fights in the UFC; he finished [Alex] Perez. I’m not gonna say it was a fluke, but it was an injury. Nonetheless, it was a finish.”

    He also explained why other contenders, such as Amir Albazi and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, do not make sense for Pantoja’s next title defense.

    “I don’t think Albazi is ready. He’s been a long time getting hurt, trying to get better, so I don’t think he’s in a position to go for a title shot. His last fight was a while ago, and a lot of people thought he lost… I think Cejudo doesn’t make any sense for the UFC because he retired when he was on top. He beat Dominick Cruz, which was amazing, then retired. He came back, wasn’t that great, lost, and went back to retirement. Now he’s going to come back in the weight division below 135 [pounds] and fight for the belt? And then what happens if he wins? Is he going to defend, or is he going to retire again?”

    Following his TKO victory over Perez at a Fight Night event in June, Taira expressed his desire for a title shot against “The Cannibal” in 2024, aiming to become the first Japanese champion in UFC history. He is set to headline an upcoming event at the UFC Apex against former title challenger Brandon Royval on October 12.

  • Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Chael Sonnen recently advocated for the UFC to re-sign Muhammad Mokaev, praising the undefeated flyweight fighter for taking responsibility for his mistakes.

    Mokaev clinched a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last month in a matchup clouded by controversy. The conflict erupted at the hotel, where the fighters got into a heated clash. “The Punisher” later admitted he sparked the confrontation by sucker-punching Kape. The pair also nearly came to blows at multiple media events before their bout.

    Following his victory over Kape, Mokaev announced the end of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the Russian-born Englishman would not be offered a new contract. White also hinted that the reasons behind Mokaev’s departure extend far beyond his performance in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s choice to part ways with “The Punisher” ignited rumors that he had begun negotiations with the PFL before his contract ended. However, these speculations were quickly dismissed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson.

    Days later, Mokaev acknowledged that his actions were poorly received and issued an apology to the UFC in a series of posts on X. Despite this, White and the company remain steadfast in their decision, as Mokaev has been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

    However, “The American Gangster” believes the UFC should offer Mokaev a second chance to redeem himself and rectify his past mistakes…

    Sonnen Calls On UFC To ‘Show Grace’ to Mokaev

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the possible issues between Mokaev and the UFC matchmakers that ultimately led to the decision to release him from the promotion.

    “I don’t know what he could have done realistically,” Sonnen said. “He’s got to do two things: he’s got to upset the matchmakers, who are really nice guys—like, it’s really hard to ever hear a story where somebody was upset with them—and be able to keep it quiet in our industry, which is just wildly difficult to do.”

    The former light heavyweight title challenger further emphasized that if Mokaev is publicly acknowledging his errors and sincerely expressing regret for his antics, the UFC should consider re-signing him.

    “When I tell you I want to forgive him, and I do, I guess I should also offer that I don’t quite know what we’re forgiving him for, but I have guesses. He seems calm, he seems like a guy that really wants his job—in fact, stronger on the position of ‘I want to be here, please reconsider.’ He’s going out to the public, and he’s owning everything that he did, whether it’s his boring style or the hotel situation. I feel like that’s a guy that you would show grace to.”

    Mokaev recently proclaimed that he has already atoned for any missteps and has even gone so far as to offer to fight for free if the UFC grants him another chance.

  • Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’

    Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’

    Robert Whittaker recently revealed that the push to reschedule his previously canceled bout against Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 308 was entirely his initiative.

    Both fighters were initially set to headline UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, just weeks before the contest, “Borz” withdrew due to an unspecified illness. In a bid to salvage the main event, Ikram Aliskerov stepped in on short notice. Unfortunately for Aliskerov, his night was cut short as Whittaker dispatched him with a knockout in under two minutes.

    Now, the UFC has rebooked Whittaker and Chimaev for a five-round middleweight bout as the co-main event of UFC 308, set to take place on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    “The Reaper” asserts that it was his idea to challenge Chimaev once again, driven by a desire to test his skills against the formidable opponent…

    Whittaker Believes Victory Over Chimaev Could Secure Title Shot

    During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker discussed his rationale for rescheduling his fight against Chimaev. The former UFC middleweight champion expressed that he couldn’t pass up the chance to fight on enemy turf and prove his mettle.

    “Unfortunately, the business isn’t completely run on merit, and a lot of it is, but there are a lot of times and moments when it just is not,” Whittaker said. “Chimaev is a hard fight; he’s obviously a big draw, especially over there in Abu Dhabi… I think the UFC, story-wise, wants to see Chimaev get a shot at the champion or whatever. They want to see Chimaev at the top of the ladder; they want to see him in that picture. But I love disrupting their plans; I love derailing their stories, and that’s why I took the fight.

    You know, I asked for the fight straight after my last fight. I saw there was an Abu Dhabi card in October, the timeline fits perfectly, and I was like, I’ll fight Chimaev again. Let’s do it again, just make sure he turns up.”

    “The Reaper” further emphasized that he knows Chimaev is a tough opponent, but believes that defeating him would pave the way for a title shot.

    “I look forward to hard fights, and I know that if I beat Chimaev, there is nothing in my way to getting my belt back. Chimaev, as dangerous as he is, I don’t go into these fights thinking about what I have to lose. Much like how I took the fight with Ikram, I don’t look at the fights and think, ‘Oh man, it’s too big of a risk.’ Every fight’s a risk, you know, and I only go into fights because I have the confidence I’m going to beat and smash whoever is in front of me, and that doesn’t change with Chimaev.”

    “Borz” has been out of action since his majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October. During that bout, he suffered a torn ligament in his hand, which was followed by a severe infection that spread across his upper body, forcing him to take an extended break from active competition.

    Meanwhile, Whittaker is gearing up for his third Octagon appearance of 2024. Earlier this year, he secured a decisive victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in February and followed it up with a win against Aliskerov.

  • Former Fighter On Du Plessis Getting Under Adesanya’s Skin: ‘Reacts Incredibly Emotionally’

    Former Fighter On Du Plessis Getting Under Adesanya’s Skin: ‘Reacts Incredibly Emotionally’

    Israel Adesanya faces a new test when he returns at UFC 305 to try and reclaim the middleweight title in a fight with Dricus Du Plessis.

    “The Last Stylebender” has had his rivals in the past and whilst his story with Alex Pereira has defined big parts of both men’s careers, and the likes of Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland weren’t big fans of his, this one is different.

    No opponent has been able to bring this kind of intensity out of the former champion quite like Du Plessis has. due to his comments on bringing the title back to Africa.

    This opens up the debate whether Adesanya fights best when he’s relaxed or amped up.

    Megan Anderson Says That Israel Adesanya’s Emotion Could Help Or Hinder Him At UFC 305

    In a recent preview video of the UFC’s return to Perth on her own YouTube channel, former UFC fighter Megan Anderson spoke about the war of words between Du Plessis and Adesanya.

    Things appeared to have calmed down (a little) on this front if their most recent encounter was anything to go by but there is clearly still some tension there which could come back around on fight week.

    Anderson believes that Adesanya’s previous interactions with the champion don’t paint the best image for him unless, of course, he can use this dislike of Du Plessis to raise his game another level.

    “If anything has shown us, anytime these two get together, Israel reacts incredibly emotionally. He is saying things that we’ve never heard him say before, he is really just going out there and just being so incredibly passionate about this. How much of that is Dricus really revving up this whole rivalry between them and this is getting under Israel’s skin, we’re going to find out. But, whether it hurts him or helps him perform, that’s the biggest question for me.”

    Read also: Coach Dismisses Outcome Of Decade-Old Sparring Session Between Adesanya & Du Plessis: ‘We’ve Heard Stories Of AJ Being Knocked Out In Boxing…’

  • Coach On Donald Trump Calling Khabib Nurmagomedov Favorite UFC Fighter

    Coach On Donald Trump Calling Khabib Nurmagomedov Favorite UFC Fighter

    Shortly after his latest corner assignment in Abu Dhabi last Saturday, Khabib Nurmagomedov received some kind words from a figure that has been on record as a big fan of his.

    The former US President Donald Trump has always been tied to the sport of MMA to some degree and just like any fight fan, he has his favorites.

    Trump has mentioned the former lightweight champion in the past and even posted on social media about it, after meeting him whilst in attendance at UFC 302.

    During a recent stream alongside Adin Ross, he said that “The Eagle” is number one on his own personal list.

    Nurmagomedov’s long-time coach turned fellow corner Javier Mendez gave his reaction to this in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA.

    “No I haven’t seen it and I’m not surprised, Donald Trump has spoken always highly about Khabib and what a great fighter he thinks and also, Donald Trump from the very beginning back when the UFC just started and they would get into the Trump Towers, their hotels and Donald Trump was one of the few people that took a chance on them back in the day. So, Donald Trump’s an MMA fan so not surprising that he would choose ‘The Eagle’ because we all choose ‘The Eagle’, I choose ‘The Eagle’.”

    Javier Mendez On Why The UFC Decided To Release New Conor McGregor & Khabib Nurmagomedov Footage

    On July 15, the UFC released the latest episode of their “UFC Muted” series on YouTube which strips away the commentary so you can hear audio from fights that wasn’t possible before.

    The subject of this particular instalment was sure to bring attention due to it being no-commentary clips of the biggest fight in UFC history, Conor McGregor vs “The Eagle”.

    Mendez was asked to give his thoughts on why the UFC decided to release this footage at this time in particular.

    He explained how in his opinion, this was done to keep Nurmagomedov in the spotlight ahead of his return to the corner this past weekend, where he helped his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to stay undefeated against Cory Sandhagen in the main event.

    He said that the promotion knows what they’re doing and if they can’t have the former champion back inside the Octagon, they’ll look to make the most out of his star quality in other ways.

    “I believe the UFC’s genius at what they do. I believe they’re building the ‘young eagle’ situation because Khabib was in the corner and they showed the corner. Why would you show the corners if you’re not trying to build that as a corner. So no, UFC, they go with the algorithm, they know what they’re doing and I believe that’s what they’re doing. They’re building up Khabib as the next great coach and he is. He’s on track to being the next great coach if not the greatest coach. So I believe the UFC is playing that narrative because that’s a smart move on their part.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • Former UFC Champion Chris Weidman’s Next Fight Announced For Expected MSG Pay-Per-View

    Former UFC Champion Chris Weidman’s Next Fight Announced For Expected MSG Pay-Per-View

    Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman looks set for another fight close to home later this year when the promotion returns to Madison Square Garden.

    Weidman has gone 1-1 since making his comeback from a devastating leg break in 2023, most recently getting the better of Bruno Silva via a controversial TKO stoppage in the third round at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this past March.

    The New York native, who has not won consecutive fights since having his undefeated record blemished and title reign ended by Luke Rockhold in 2015, will look to make it two from two in 2024 in his home state.

    Iridium Sports Agency recently revealed on social media that one of its clients, former American football linebacker-turned-UFC middleweight Eryk Anders, is set to share the cage with Weidman on November 16.

    While unconfirmed, that date is expected to mark the organization’s return to Madison Square Garden for UFC 309.

    Weidman Targets First Win Streak Since 2015 At Anders’ Expense

    When they collide, Anders will be looking to stall the potential resurgence of an all-time great of the middleweight division.

    Weidman (16-7) achieved title glory as an unbeaten fighter back in 2013, memorably knocking out the previously invincible Anderson Silva at UFC 162. After three successful defenses against Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort, the Baldwin native was unseated by Rockhold in a Fight of the Night war.

    The former champ has won just three of his nine fights since, a disappointing run that includes knockout losses to Gegard Mousasi, Ronaldo Souza, and Dominick Reyes, as well as a gruesome broken leg opposite Uriah Hall in 2021. After falling short in his return bout against Brad Tavares last August, Weidman got back into the winner’s circle this year.

    But with that result over Silva coming in controversial fashion after a slew of eye pokes, Weidman will be targeting a definitive triumph when he meets Anders (16-8, 1 NC). “Ya Boi” has struggled with inconsistency after Machida handed him his first loss in a 2018 main event, going 6-7 with one no contest since.

    The ex-NFL athlete most recently bounced back from a defeat to Marc-André Barriault in 2023 by outpointing Jamie Pickett this past March. He’ll now look to get the better of Weidman to secure his first string of victories since a double in 2019.

    Eryk Anders
    Image: UFC.com
  • ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

    ‘Predator Is On The Hunt’ – MMA Fans React To Confirmation Of Francis Ngannou’s PFL Debut, Renan Ferreira Clash

    Mixed martial arts enthusiasts had plenty of thoughts after former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s MMA comeback was made official.

    Fans of the Cameroonian powerhouse have had to wait over two years for an announcement regarding his next outing in the sport, having not competed since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022.

    The rest of that calendar year saw Ngannou recovering from a serious knee injury, and 2023 began with his exit from the MMA leader off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute.

    He later found a new MMA home in the form of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), who granted “The Predator” his freedom to venture to boxing. A close fight with Tyson Fury and violent defeat to Anthony Joshua later, Ngannou is finally set to grace a cage once again.

    The PFL revealed its next pay-per-view event for October 19 in a press release on Wednesday, headlined by Ngannou’s return against 2023 heavyweight title winner Renan Ferreira for a PFL Super Fight belt.

    Co-headlining the major lineup will be another ex-UFC champ in Cris Cyborg, as the Bellator featherweight queen meets two-time PFL titleholder Larissa Pacheco.

    MMA Fans React To Ngannou vs. Ferreira PPV Main Event: ‘We Want Cédric Doumbé On This Card!’

    Unsurprisingly, MMA fans were quick to flock to social media to react to confirmation of Ngannou’s long-awaited PFL debut.

    While some predicted a brutally successful return to action for “The Predator,” others questioned if his chin will hold up against the heavy hands of Ferreira following a devastating setback at the hands of Joshua in the ring earlier this year.

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