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  • UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    A huge featherweight clash is set for UFC 307 on October 5, as former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling looks to hand Movsar Evloev his first loss.

    Evloev has been a force of nature since arriving in the Octagon and whilst he hasn’t had the finishes to really gather hype around his winning streak, his record speaks for itself.

    Sterling has also not always received tons of praise for his fighting style but his high-level grappling combined with awkward striking, makes him a very tough test for his Russian opponent.

    A fellow 145-pound contender on the UFC roster is excited to see how the two men match up with one another once the Octagon door closes.

    Youssef Zalal Breaks Down Aljamain Sterling Vs Movsar Evloev At UFC 307

    Youssef Zalal will look to secure back-to-back victories during his second stint in the UFC when he returns to face Jarno Errens on August 10.

    In a recent interview with MMA News, the Moroccan fighter broke down how he sees the match-up of top contenders and grapplers going down in Salt Lake City.

    Zalal made reference to how a clash of two grappling specialists often turns into a striking match between them as they cancel one another out on the floor.

    He also provided the theory that based on what he has seen from both, this could be a wrestling versus jiu-jitsu affair.

    “Those guys, I think it’s either gonna see a striking match the whole time and I think you’re gonna see one either wrestling and the other one jiu-jitsu. I feel like when the Russian fought Diego Lopes, you could see the jiu-jitsu kind of felt a little bit [off] right. I mean Diego Lopes’ jiu-jitsu is pretty good too so that’s why that, and I think Aljamain is a really good grappler obviously.

    “so I think you’re going to see a little battle on that part or it’s going to be a full-on striking match whenever you put two grapplers together so I’m pretty interested to see how the match-ups and the styles go on that part.”

    Read also: Dan Ige Has Return After Same-Day Notice Diego Lopes Scrap In The Works For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

  • Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg recently supported the UFC’s decision not to extend Muhammad Mokaev’s contract, highlighting his alleged misconduct towards staff as a justified move.

    Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last weekend in a bout marred by turmoil. The drama began at the hotel, where both fighters engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to initiating the scuffle by sucker-punching Kape. Tensions ran high as the two nearly clashed at several media events leading up to their bout.

    After his triumph over Kape, Mokaev announced the completion of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a new deal. However, at the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White responded to Mokaev’s statements, revealing that the undefeated flyweight would not receive a new contract offer.

    White conceded that Mokaev might not be the most captivating fighter on the roster but hinted that the 24-year-old Russian-born Englishman’s complications with the UFC go well beyond his fighting style in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s decision not to re-sign “The Punisher” sparked speculation that he had initiated talks with the PFL prior to the contract’s conclusion. However, these rumors were swiftly quashed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson, who firmly denied any such negotiations had taken place.

    “Astroboy” believes that the MMA promotion severed ties with Mokaev due to his inappropriate behavior towards staff and fighters alike…

    Erceg Claims Mokaev’s ‘Entitled’ Attitude Didn’t Sit Well With UFC

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist James Lynch, Erceg discussed Mokaev’s departure from the UFC, attributing the decision to “The Punisher’s” disruptive behavior. The Aussie remarked that Mokaev’s antics were a driving force behind the release and praised the organization for establishing a standard to serve as a cautionary example.

    “I was very surprised, but I think it’s a cool little precedent to set,” Erceg said. “You can’t go around starting fights and jumping other fighters. Getting a photo and then sucker-punching him [Kape] is unacceptable. It’s a coward mentality, I think. The way he treats people, I don’t know if fans get to see it, but he just seems like he’s a little entitled and thinks he’s very important, which I don’t particularly like, and obviously, the UFC didn’t like.”

    “Astroboy” further revealed that he shared a UFC Fight Night card with Mokaev this past March. During that time, he observed the Manchester native exhibiting poor conduct toward the UFC personnel.

    “I saw it when I fought on the same card as him, just the way he was treating the nutrition team and that sort of thing from the UFC. Just little things that are disrespectful. I thought it was odd, but he’s a young kid. Hopefully, he’ll learn from this moment.”

    It seems that Mokaev is indeed out of the UFC for now, as he was recently removed from the organization’s rankings in their latest update.

    However, with a promising career ahead and an impressive undefeated record, Mokaev’s considerable skillset is likely to attract plenty of interest from other promotions.

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  • Arnold Allen Shuts Down Spying Allegations From Giga Chikadze At UFC 304: ‘I Know Exactly What You’re Gonna Do…’

    Arnold Allen Shuts Down Spying Allegations From Giga Chikadze At UFC 304: ‘I Know Exactly What You’re Gonna Do…’

    Featherweight contender Arnold Allen returned to the win column at UFC 304, where winning rounds two and three against Giga Chikadze secured him a unanimous decision across all three scorecards.

    The fight was a high-level striking contest between the two men in Manchester where Allen was able to show that he can stand with the best strikers at 145-pounds.

    Despite everything appearing to be civil between them ahead of fight night, a social media post from Chikadze appeared to stir up some drama.

    The Georgian fighter posted on X and accused his opponent of sending spies to his training room.

    Arnold Allen Addresses ‘Weird’ Spying Allegations And Says He Wouldn’t Need Them

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Allen spoke about Chikadze’s claims and explained how he believes that his opponent was paranoid.

    “Yeah, I don’t know. That guy’s a strange guy man, paranoid I think, I don’t know. I ain’t got no spies and he was like saying there’s English people everywhere and I’m just like what the f*** do you mean there’s English people everywhere? Mate, you’re in Manchester. I was really, I was kind of taken aback. I was confused. I was just like I don’t know what you’re talking about, so yeah, weird. Weird, weird, weird but like, I ain’t got no spies.”

    The #5-ranked contender did go on to explain that some fighters that he knew were, at one point, in the same room as Chikadze, as referenced in the social media post.

    Allen broke down what actually played out and said that due to Chikadze’s signature style, he wouldn’t need spies to predict his approach because he is such a specialist striker.

    “No one was coming and reporting things and telling me anything. A couple of my teammates were working out in the room, in their workout room, and he had someone from his team come and ask them to leave and they did and they didn’t tell me anything. They were just like, ‘Oh yeah he recognized us from like you train at this gym and then they asked us to leave,’ and they left and they didn’t tell me anything so, other than that they got asked to leave. Weird but also like, if I need spies for anyone, he’s the last guy I need spies for. You know what I mean? It’s like I know exactly what you’re going to do. Unless you’re in the back room drilling double legs, I’m not going to be surprised by anything.”

    Read also: UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • PFL Headliner Tim Johnson: Francis Ngannou ‘Harnessing’ Grief Of Losing Son In Training (Exclusive)

    PFL Headliner Tim Johnson: Francis Ngannou ‘Harnessing’ Grief Of Losing Son In Training (Exclusive)

    It appears that Francis Ngannou is gearing up for his long awaited return to MMA, after what has been a difficult year for the former UFC heavyweight champion.

    The PFL fighter recently announced that he will be hoping to step back inside the cage later this year in what is sure to be an emotional moment for both he and his fans.

    Messages and support poured in from all angles of the combat sports world in April after Ngannou announced the tragic passing of his 15-month-old son Kobe.

    A teammate of his said that “The Predator” appears to be building up some steam in training, and he’s doing it with fire in his eyes after what he has been through.

    Tim Johnson Says Francis Ngannou Is Slowly Returning To The Gym With Motivation

    Former UFC and Bellator veteran Tim Johnson is set to make his return in the main event of PFL 7 this weekend where he takes on Denis Goltsov.

    During his training camp at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, he crossed paths with his teammate and fellow PFL fighter as he works his way back.

    Johnson gave an update on Ngannou during a recent interview with MMA News, stating that one of the baddest men on the planet is slowly coming back to speed.

    “He’s been in the gym, getting his wheels greased again. Kind of going slow but he’s in no rush like he doesn’t, it’s not like he’s fighting in eight weeks or anything but yeah he’s been back in the gym, feeling big, strong, like he always has.”

    Johnson also said that Ngannou appears to be doing okay mentally from what he has been able to take away from their conversations.

    He said that if anything, the heavyweight knockout artist is now in a position where he is using this difficult time in his life as fuel.

    “He seems to be, yeah. I talked to him a little bit and as a father to father, I told him, me and my wife gave him our sympathies. I couldn’t imagine it, that’d be the worst scenario in any parents life and he seems to be harnessing it and utilizing it.”

    Read also: 2024 PFL 7 Playoffs: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson Weigh-In Results

  • Javier Mendez Describes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Evolution As A Coach: ‘He Even Demonstrates Striking Techniques To Perfection’

    Javier Mendez Describes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Evolution As A Coach: ‘He Even Demonstrates Striking Techniques To Perfection’

    The biggest fight of Umar Nurmagomedov’s career goes down this weekend and he will have his family right beside him for it.

    He faces Cory Sandhagen in the main event in Abu Dhabi, where the former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner.

    After achieving great success as a coach after his retirement, “The Eagle” decided to take a step back for a while before returning to corner Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

    He’s now agreed with AKA head coach Javier Mendez that he will corner certain fighters including Makhachev and his own cousins, in undefeated bantamweight contender Umar and the Bellator lightweight champion Usman.

    Mendez spoke on fight week about how despite Khabib having some areas to improve as a corner, his ability as a coach is already top notch.

    Javier Mendez Says Khabib Nurmagomedov Even Coaches Striking Perfectly

    In a recent interview with Helen Yee Sports, Mendez spoke about what it’s like to have coach Khabib back working with him in the corner.

    He said that Nurmagomedov, in many ways, has taken up his late father’s mantle in being a figure for all the other fighters in the gym to follow and listen to.

    “Khabib is more the leader, he runs everything just like his father did and I come in and I do my little bits here and there. For the most part, I do what I’ve been always doing. I come in and I do my thing and Khabib, in all honesty, has always been coaching these guys even when he was fighting.

    “so the only difference this time around for Umar is now he gets to have the great one in his corner also so having him in the corner with me is fantastic. My only thing when he corners is he’s going to go crazy.”

    Whilst having Nurmagomedov in the corner is obviously a massive asset, Mendez did say that he has had to give his former student some words of advice in regards to keeping his composure whilst being in the corner.

    He said that this is his only real feedback though as the former champion has got all other bases covered, including his ability to teach striking.

    “Those are little tiny things that I give him, little things like that, everything else he has. His instruction is great, I mean he even demonstrates the striking techniques to perfection now. He knows. Khabib knows.”

    Read also: UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    Tom Aspinall recently admitted he is uncertain whether he will ever have the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the Octagon.

    Following his dazzling performance in front of his home crowd at UFC 304, where he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds to secure his third consecutive knockout victory, the Brit continued to campaign for a title unification bout against the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. However, Jones has persistently rebuffed the challenge, going so far as to undermine Aspinall’s position as the interim champion.

    Aspinall is the current interim heavyweight titleholder, a title he claimed at UFC 295 in November 2023 after “Bones” was forced to pull out of his matchup with Stipe Miocic due to a torn pectoral muscle. Ideally, the 31-year-old Salford native would be gearing up for an undisputed championship bout later this year. Instead, he remains on the periphery, while Jones is expected to face Miocic in a fight targeted for November.

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Aspinall was asked about the possibility of ever facing “Bones.” The interim champ voiced his uncertainty and raised doubts about Jones’ intentions, questioning whether he will actually go through with the fight against Miocic.

    “I have no idea. I like to think he would, but we don’t know at this point if Jon Jones is even fighting Stipe. We have no idea,” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy; you don’t see what you get with Jones, and you don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, and snaky—he does different movements. He says one thing and does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea, to be honest.”

    Aspinall Opens Up About Serving As Backup for A Possible Jones-Miocic Clash

    At the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall will serve as the backup fighter in case either Jones or Miocic is unable to step into the Octagon.

    In the aforementioned interview, Aspinall expressed his eagerness to step in as the backup and asserted his confidence and readiness in his abilities to defeat both Jones and Miocic, even on a day’s notice.

    “Yep, I’ll be there. I’ll do that, and I’d fight those guys on an hour’s notice if they needed me to. Listen, mate, I can beat both of these guys, no problem. If I’ve got to do it on a day’s notice, I can do it easily, so I’ll be there to take my opportunity if it presents itself.”

    The possibility of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown is captivating the MMA community, yet its realization appears remote. Jones remains resolute in his intention to face Miocic upon his return and has even suggested that he might retire after that fight.

  • Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    UK fight fans may have been treated to a title fight double header this past weekend in Manchester but UFC 304 didn’t hit expectations.

    There was a lot of disgruntlement from both fans and fighters when it was announced that the event would be taking place at US time, meaning that the night wouldn’t kick off until 11 pm local time at the Co-Op Live arena.

    It was clear to see how it affected the ticket-buyers on the night, with videos of the crowd being literally asleep in their seats during the event.

    This strange schedule will have also impacted the fighters, with Leon Edwards stating inside the Octagon after losing his welterweight title that he felt low on energy all week after training in the middle of the night.

    After Dana White slated the in-Octagon action, which had a run of seven consecutive judges’ decisions, the idea of how much the timings affected the night, was called into question.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy & Josh Thomson Say UFC Need To Take Some Blame For Time-Related Issues At UFC 304

    On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy and Josh Thomson discussed the impact of UFC 304 taking place at US time despite it being held in England.

    McCarthy said that the UFC – namely Dana White- needs to take some of the blame for why the card didn’t end up delivering due to this decision.

    “When you’re pointing one finger forward, there’s three coming back at you Josh and you got to look at those and you gotta say well, we did put these fighters in a position where they were fighting at 3 o’clock in the morning, 4 o’clock in the morning, 5 o’clock in the morning. No one works out at those times, no one fights at those times. It is an unusual situation and even if you try to prepare for it, it’s odd. It’s just an odd time for you, your body doesn’t feel the same, you don’t feel like you’re on top of things.”

    Thomson went on to add how it wasn’t just the fighters from the UK that would have struggled with the difference in event scheduling.

    He noted how fighters and staff coming from other countries would have also experienced difficulties because they would have needed to sleep throughout the day- even if the actual time wouldn’t be any different for them.

    “You kind of offset both parties by doing this. What happens is when you go to another country and they’re there five days before, some of them get there seven days before, some of the staff, and sometimes that’s not good. But, what I’m saying though is that now you’ve asked them to stay awake during the night so they can be awake during the night.

    “So, the ones that come from the states that work for the UFC, their body clock is trying to change to get adjusted to the UK time when in fact they can’t because their show is at 5 in the morning. Then, the fighters that are there, they’re getting all screwed up because they’re having to fight when they’re normally sleeping. So you really kind of messed up both sides of this equation. You messed it up for the people that work for the promotion and some of the fighters that came over having to fight.”

    Read also: Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

  • UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

    UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen, who is tasked with getting the better of undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov if he’s to successfully defend his spot in the top five and stake his claim for shot at the undisputed gold.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another unbeaten name in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov meets Michał Oleksiejczuk on short notice, while Marlon Vera looks to revive his bantamweight championship ambitions at the expense of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson, strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern, and rising light heavyweight contender Azamat Murzakanov.

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi (as of 8/2), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Cory Sandhagen (-270) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (+340)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-238) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (+195)
    • Marlon Vera (+120) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (-142)
    • Tony Ferguson (+440) vs. Michael Chiesa (-600)
    • Mackenzie Dern (-118) vs. Loopy Godinez (-102)
    • Joel Álvarez (-166) vs. Elves Brener (+140)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Azamat Murzakanov (-218) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+180)
    • Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Kaue Fernandes (-395)
    • Shamil Gaziev (-270) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (+220)
    • Guram Kutateladze (-230) vs. Jordan Vucenic (+190)
    • Victoria Dudakova (-175) vs. Sam Hughes (+145)
    • Jai Herbert (-130) vs. Rolando Berdoya (+110)
    • Sedriques Dumas (-130) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (+190)
  • Carla Esparza Announces UFC 307 Return Will Be Her Retirement Fight: ‘I Feel It’s Time’

    Carla Esparza Announces UFC 307 Return Will Be Her Retirement Fight: ‘I Feel It’s Time’

    Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza has announced that her next outing inside the Octagon will be her last.

    News recently broke, via MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, that she is set to return from a near two-year lay off to face Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5.

    Esparza has been inactive since losing her title to Weili Zhang at UFC 281 in November of 2022.

    In the following months, the 36-year old announced that she was pregnant with a son and therefore, has been taking some time off before working towards one last dance.

    Carla Esparza Says ‘It’s Time’ To End Her Near 15-Year Career

    Esparza announced on social media that her recently reported fight will be the final outing of her 27-fight pro career.

    Having made her pro back in 2010, “Cookie Monster” would go on to win season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter which saw her be crowned as the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion by defeating Rose Namajunas in the final.

    Having already become the inaugural Invicta strawweight champion before signing to the UFC, she remained in this weight class her entire career and put together her best-ever streak before the loss to Zhang in November of 2022.

    Winning six-straight, including victories over the likes of Alexa Grasso and Yan Xiaonan, Esparza would defeat Namajunas once again at UFC 274 to become a two-time UFC champion at 115-pounds.

    Now she feels, as she said herself on social media, it’s the right time for her to ride off into the sunset following a rematch with Pennington who she defeated a decade ago on route to winning The Ultimate Fighter.

    “*RETIREMENT FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT*
    I will be stepping into The UFC Octagon on Saturday, October 5th for the final time. After almost 15 years as a professional, fighting the best of the best, I feel it’s time to hang up my gloves. This choice is made for my body and my family; 20+ years doing combat sports takes its toll.

    I wanted to give my ‘Cookie Monster’ fans, who have never been there to watch me live, one final opportunity. It feels bittersweet to leave this sport that I love so much, but I’m happy to be doing it on my own terms.”
    #UFC307

    Read also: José Aldo, Kayla Harrison Have Returns In The Works For UFC 307 On October 5

  • UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October, the UFC will put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent will be looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

    Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, will see another unbeaten name back in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov looks to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.

    Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds will go down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera will look to revive his championship ambitions before stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern are among those set to be in action.

    Ahead of the event, all 26 fighters successfully made weight. With that, all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a replay via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by the faceoffs!

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Stream

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs:

  • UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October, the UFC will put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent will be looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

    Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, will see another unbeaten name back in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov looks to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.

    Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds will go down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera will look to revive his championship ambitions before stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern are among those set to be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

    The weigh-ins took place early Friday morning. See the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Bantamweight Main Event: Cory Sandhagen (136lbs) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sharabutdin Magomedov (186lbs) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (185lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (136lbs) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Tony Ferguson (170lbs) vs. Michael Chiesa (170lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (115lbs) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Joel Álvarez (155.5lbs) vs. Elves Brener (155lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (205lbs) vs. Alonzo Menifield (204lbs)
    • Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (155lbs) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev (262lbs) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265lbs)
    • Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze (155lbs) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Victoria Dudakova (115.5lbs) vs. Sam Hughes (114lbs)
    • Lightweight: Jai Herbert (155.5lbs) vs. Rolando Berdoya (155lbs)
    • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas (186lbs) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185lbs)
  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

    “Remember the Name” dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight in March 2021, which concluded in a no-contest due to an accidental eye-poke that prevented Muhammad from continuing past the second round.

    Muhammad opened the fight with vigor, swiftly executing a takedown that showcased his superior wrestling skills. His fluid blend of takedowns and sharp boxing set the pace early on. In the second round, the American ramped up his offense, slamming “Rocky” headfirst into the canvas and seizing control of the match.

    Edwards mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth round, unleashing a flurry of potent strikes. However, Muhammad closed the distance and secured another takedown, maintaining dominant control for the majority of the round. The Englishman managed to reverse the position in the final round, raining down a torrent of elbows that inflicted significant damage on Muhammad’s nose, but his relentless assault wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ scorecards in his favor.

    The official scores of the fight were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, decisively naming “Remember the Name” as the new UFC welterweight champion.

    Zahabi believes that Muhammad deployed an impressive array of techniques against Edwards…

    Zahabi Credits Muhammad’s Victory Over Edwards to His Self-Belief

    In a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi analyzed the title fight between Edwards and Muhammad. The esteemed MMA coach lauded the challenger, noting that overcoming a fighter like “Rocky”, known for his exceptional takedown defense, was achievable only through Muhammad’s unwavering confidence in his grappling prowess.

    “His boxing was excellent, and his double leg was even better,” Zahabi said. “The way he locked it up, the way he had his back straight, stunning performance. That’s no easy fight. Leon Edwards ain’t no easy fight. Colby Covington couldn’t take him down. Colby Covington, the guy who’s been wrestling his entire life, the guy who was supposed to be the top wrestler in the UFC, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it. How come Belal was taking him down over and over again with such belief? Belal has so much belief in his takedowns.”

    Zahabi went on to highlight how “Remember the Name” has improved his skillset to an entirely new level since his first fight against Edwards.

    “That’s a very different Belal Muhammad. I think Leon Edwards really underestimated Belal Muhammad. I really think he underestimated him, which was a huge mistake because Belal has really improved in the last three years. He was a great fighter then; he’s a much better fighter now.”

    With his recent victory, Muhammad extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive fights in the Octagon.

    Although the Chicago native hasn’t yet named an opponent for his first title defense, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out as the most likely contender.

  • Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Gives Props To Sean O’Malley, Talks Viral Knee: ‘Really Kinda Shocked Me…’

    Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Gives Props To Sean O’Malley, Talks Viral Knee: ‘Really Kinda Shocked Me…’

    Marlon “Chito” Vera returns this weekend in Abu Dhabi where he looks to get back to winning ways in the bantamweight division.

    Vera faces a tough test in former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo but he has all the motivation he needs after how his last fight went.

    The challenger was unable to really put his stamp on his 135-pound title fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 299, where he was beaten convincingly over the five round contest.

    His toughness was enough to keep him in the fight but even that was tested at several points by some sniper-like striking from “Suga”.

    One strike, in particular, stole the show in March after O’Malley landed a knee that sounded even worse than it looked.

    Marlon Vera Says A Punch In The Fifth Round Hurt More Than Viral Knee

    Before he makes the walk once again this weekend, Vera reflected on his last fight and some of the damage that he took.

    It says a lot about his heart and durability that he was able to make it to the final bell with many finding it hard to believe that he continued to fight on after that knee strike landed in the second round.

    Vera spoke during his media day interview about what was going through his mind at that moment and how much damage the knee actually caused.

    “Just to make a comparison, the punch in the fifth round that land perfectly on my eye, it wasn’t an eye poke but it felt like one, hurt me a million times more. Like I was fully blind, I was like, ‘F***!’ It was a perfect punch, props on him but I mean the knee really like kind of shocked me.

    “I was like, ‘F*** I got clipped with something big,’ and I know it was the knee but I wasn’t like… my legs were there. I was just like, ‘F*** that really hurt,’ In terms of a hit but I would say my brain and my legs were there. I was just like don’t do that again. It was pretty much almost the same knee that I hit Font with.”

    Read also: Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

  • Carla Esparza’s First Fight Since Zhang Weili Title Loss In 2022 Targeted For UFC 307

    Carla Esparza’s First Fight Since Zhang Weili Title Loss In 2022 Targeted For UFC 307

    The comeback of former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza is in the works for this fall.

    Esparza hasn’t entered the Octagon since losing the 115-pound gold to Zhang Weili by way of submission at UFC 281 in November 2022. The 36-year-old announced that she was pregnant four months later and gave birth to her son in September 2023.

    “Cookie Monster” is now ready to resume her fighting career, and per MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, that’s expected to begin with a rematch of sorts against fellow veteran contender Tecia Pennington.

    The pair previously collided on The Ultimate Fighter back in 2014, with Esparza emerging victories over Pennington in a quarterfinal contest en route to winning the entire strawweight tournament.

    King’s report revealed that their second dance is targeted for the UFC 307 pay-per-view on October 5, expected to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Esparza vs. Pennington In The Works For UFC 307

    Should this matchup be made official, both Esparza and Pennington will be searching for their first wins in years.

    Esparza (19-7) dropped from contention back in 2018 after falling to consecutive losses against Cláudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez. But she followed that skid with a five-fight winning run comprised of triumphs over Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Marina Rodriguez, and Yan Xiaonan to earn a shot at two-time champ status.

    “Cookie Monster” achieved that feat at UFC 274 in May 2022, getting the judges’ nod in a lackluster rematch with Namajunas to capture the strawweight belt once again. But having relinquished her grip on it months later against Zhang, Esparza will return in pursuit of becoming the woman to regain a title twice in the UFC.

    Out to ensure that run doesn’t get out the starting blocks looks set to be Pennington (13-7). Like Esparza, “The Tiny Tornado” took a break in her career to give birth. That came after a narrow split decision loss to Mackenzie Dern in April 2022, a result that snapped her three-fight winning run.

    Pennington made her return this past May at the UFC Fight Night in St. Louis, once again falling on the wrong side of a split verdict, this time against Tabatha Ricci. After celebrating her wife Raquel Pennington’s bantamweight title crowning earlier this year, “The Tiny Tornado” will look to enjoy her own success inside the Octagon again on October 5.

    With this addition, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC 307 are as follows:

    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington (women’s strawweight)
    • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
    Carla Esparza & Tecia Pennington
    Carla Esparza & Tecia Pennington (Image: UFC.com)
  • Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’

    Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’

    Cory Sandhagen recently shrugged off any apprehensions typically linked with the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name in the MMA world as he gears up for his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Sandhagen is set to clash with Umar in a high-stakes bantamweight showdown in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, which is slated to take place this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

    With divisional champion Sean O’Malley set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 next month, the victor of Saturday night’s bout could end up in line to challenge the winner of that highly anticipated showdown.

    Both fighters were initially scheduled to face off at UFC Fight Night Nashville in August 2023. However, Nurmagomedov was forced to withdraw just weeks before the event due to a shoulder injury. Consequently, Sandhagen took on late-replacement Rob Font in a catchweight matchup and emerged victorious.

    Umar enters the fight surrounded by considerable hype, thanks to his ties to the legendary Nurmagomedov family. As a cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov and the elder brother of Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, the 28-year-old Dagestani is also renowned for his exceptional grappling and submission skills.

    Despite this formidable lineage and the reputation it carries, “The Sandman” remains unfazed by any accompanying stigma…

    Sandhagen Brims With Confidence In His Preparation for Umar

    In a recent media session leading up to his August 3 fight, Sandhagen offered insights into his matchup with Umar. The former UFC interim title challenger revealed that he has dedicated extensive effort to preparing for this bout and is confident that his hard work will yield significant rewards on fight night.

    “I had to work a lot of overtime hours to make sure that I was prepared for this fight,” Sandhagen said. “But yeah, I mean, the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors—I could honestly give a sh*t or less. I’m focused on what I’m going to do on Saturday and that’s executing under the lights, and I can’t wait for that. It’s weird that people are counting me out for this one.”

    “The Sandman” further brushed off concerns about Nurmagomedov’s reputation for dominance, emphasizing instead that he matches his opponent’s wrestling prowess.

    “No one’s seen me defensively wrestle, almost ever, you know, except for the situation with [Aljamain] Sterling. That’s what we’ll call that loss—a situation. The situation with Sterling was, what, four years ago? I was two years into my career then; I’m six or seven years into my career now, and still no one’s really seen it. So it’s just another element that I get to show to people.”

    Sandhagen has long been a fixture among the elite in the UFC’s bantamweight division, fueled by his relentless quest for a title. Currently on a three-fight winning streak, the 32-year-old Colorado native has delivered standout performances against Song Yadong, Marlon Vera, and Rob Font.

  • Henry Cejudo Dislikes UFC’s Continued Patronage Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Think You Have To Give Other People Opportunities…’

    Henry Cejudo Dislikes UFC’s Continued Patronage Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Think You Have To Give Other People Opportunities…’

    Henry Cejudo recently voiced his dissatisfaction with the UFC’s ongoing support of Tony Ferguson, suggesting that the promotion should now shift its focus to new contenders and fresh talent.

    Ferguson is gearing up for what could be the final chapter in his Octagon career. He is set to face off against Michael Chiesa in a welterweight clash on the main card of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, scheduled for this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

    Once hailed as the most intimidating fighter in the UFC lightweight division, “El Cucuy” surged through a 12-fight unbeaten streak, securing the interim championship with a victory over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 in October 2017 during that remarkable run.

    However, the 40-year-old Californian’s ascent took a sharp downturn following a tough defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May 2020, which decisively shattered his unbeaten run. Currently, Ferguson is mired in a string of setbacks, tying the promotion’s record for the longest losing streak with seven consecutive losses. “Triple C” believes it’s time for the UFC to part ways with Ferguson…

    Cejudo Claims Ferguson Is Long Past His Competitive Best

    During a recent episode of Pound 4 Pound with former champ Kamaru Usman, Cejudo weighed in on the upcoming fight between Ferguson and Chiesa. The former UFC two-division champion argued that, given “El Cucuy’s” string of defeats, the UFC should offer other fighters a chance to shine on the main card and consider releasing the veteran lightweight.

    “I don’t like it personally; I’m surprised,” Cejudo said. “I think you’ve got to give other people opportunities to be on main cards too. Tony has had his last, what, seven fights or six fights or something crazy in a row. I’m just like, man, he’s not the same Tony who fought Kevin Lee before that. But he’s not the same guy, man.”

    “Triple C” further noted that Chiesa might pose a challenging matchup for Ferguson, given that “Maverick” is larger and enters the fight with fresher legs.

    “I think Tony’s on his way out. I think if the UFC wants to give him a better fight, they should match him with someone whose style suits him a bit more. I think Chiesa is just stronger, especially moving up a weight class. I feel like Chiesa is bigger, stronger, and hasn’t endured the same level of punishment as Tony. He’s never been knocked out like Tony, and yeah, I do feel like this is a bad match.”

    Ferguson is coming off a tough defeat to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 last December, which has led the MMA community to suggest that “El Cucuy” should consider retiring to avoid taking further damage.

    Even UFC CEO Dana White has openly expressed a desire for Ferguson to retire, yet the veteran believes he can reignite his career with a move back to the welterweight division.

  • Belal Muhammad Trashes ‘So-Called Experts’ Demetrious Johnson & Kamaru Usman After UFC 304 Win: ‘They Don’t Know What They’re Talking About!’

    Belal Muhammad Trashes ‘So-Called Experts’ Demetrious Johnson & Kamaru Usman After UFC 304 Win: ‘They Don’t Know What They’re Talking About!’

    Belal Muhammad recently hit back at Demetrious Johnson and Kamaru Usman for their dismissive assessments of him following his commanding victory over Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

    Muhammad clinched a unanimous decision victory against the reigning UFC welterweight champion in their rematch last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    “Remember the Name” started the fight with a slick takedown, showcasing his wrestling mastery. His effective mix of seamless takedowns and sharp boxing against a formidable opponent like Edwards was unexpected for many. As the fight progressed, Muhammad intensified his aggression, slamming “Rocky” head-on into the canvas with thunderous impact.

    Although the Chicago native faced resistance in the later rounds as Edwards launched a determined rally in the fourth with some potent strikes of his own, Muhammad maintained control for most of the round. In the final frame, the Jamaican-born Englishman managed to reverse the position, delivering a relentless storm of elbows that caused a gash on Muhammad’s nose.

    Despite this, “Remember the Name” stayed resolute, having already impressed the judges enough to clinch the win. Now, Muhammad has a wealth of words for those who questioned his abilities…

    Muhammad Triumphs Over Edwards with Bold Mentality Amidst Doubts

    During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Muhammad looked back on his triumphant moment against Edwards at UFC 304. Entering the bout, the newly crowned welterweight champion was met with skepticism, particularly from former UFC champions Usman and Johnson, who doubted his chances against the striking-focused “Rocky.”

    Now that Muhammad has emerged victorious over Edwards, he hasn’t held back in addressing his critics.

    “I just want to be like, ‘I told you so,’ to all the people out there who sit there and act like they’re so-called experts,” Muhammad said. “Even these fighters—like Demetrious Johnson, who thinks he’s a great analyst; he sucks. Usman sucks at analyzing stuff. All these guys, they don’t know what they’re talking about. When you get into the cage with me, it’s different.

    You think it’s slow, then you get punched in the face, and you realize it’s fast. You think I don’t hit hard, then you get hit in the mouth and back down. ‘Yeah, if Leon Edwards wasn’t getting hurt, he would have stepped forward the whole time and planted his feet. But he was getting punched in the mouth, he was getting hurt, and he was backing up to the cage like a coward.”

    Muhammad is expected to return to the Octagon for his first title defense against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, who made his intentions clear by calling for a championship opportunity right after UFC 304.

  • Mackenzie Dern Promises To ‘Clean’ Up Fight Style In Pursuit Of Becoming Two-Division UFC Champion 

    Mackenzie Dern Promises To ‘Clean’ Up Fight Style In Pursuit Of Becoming Two-Division UFC Champion 

    Ahead of her return, UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern knows a more controlled approach is needed if she’s to reach her goals in MMA.

    She is among the prominent names set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi. A number of key matchups will play out before the bantamweight headliner between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, including Dern’s 115-pound scrap with Loopy Godinez.

    For the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, the contest marks her first since a decision defeat to former title challenger Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 this past February. That short-notice assignment saw her fall to a second straight setback, having previously been stopped for the first time by Jéssica Andrade.

    As for much of her career, the current winless run has left Dern as the subject of criticism for her lack of striking development and habit of ill-advised brawling.

    While that’s left many dismissing her title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, Dern is confident that championship glory in multiple weight classes still lies in her future, providing she can rein in emotion inside the Octagon…

    Dern On UFC Title Chances: ‘If I’m More Rational…’

    During a recent fight week interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Dern reflected on the two defeats she’s suffered to fellow Brazilians since a career-best display opposite Angela Hill in an Apex main event last year.

    The #7-ranked contender acknowledged the areas she must improve in starting this weekend, and she believes that success in that field could pave the way for glory in more than just the strawweight division.

    “From my last fight, the biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on is just like, control the emotions. We kind of feel like that’s the biggest detail, what my losses are coming from,” Dern said. “Not necessarily, ‘Oh, the technique isn’t there, missing the wrestling, missing the striking.’ Just that fact like, when you take a punch or something, sometimes I stay in a brawl and make the fight harder than what it needs to be.

    “I want to have a long career. I want to be a champion. I would like to be like, a two-weight class champion,” Dern continued. “Brawlers don’t really have that. They take the damage. … It’s just unnecessary. I always have that card in my back pocket if I need to brawl. I can go out there and brawl. We all know I have that heart in there. I want to have a long career and try to see everything. And I think if I’m more rational and reasonable, I can have everything it takes to be a champion.”

    First things first, Dern must show development and defend her spot on the ladder against Godinez in the Middle East on Saturday.

  • 2024 PFL 7 Playoffs: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson Weigh-In Results: Liz Carmouche Misses Weight

    2024 PFL 7 Playoffs: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson Weigh-In Results: Liz Carmouche Misses Weight

    PFL returns this Friday to kick off the 2024 playoffs with matchups from the heavyweight and women’s flyweight divisions. Before they can compete, they must weigh in today, and MMA News has the results here!

    Everyone on the main card made weight successfully except for Liz Carmouche. She was one pound over the women’s flyweight limit for her bout against Taila Santos. However, the matchup will still occur, but Carmouche will lose a point on the judges scorecards.

    The preliminary card as several fighters that also missed weight. Jaleel Willis and Anthony Ivy missed the welterweight limit for their fight against each other. They will compete in a catchweight bout and will be deducted a percentage of their purse. Sergio Cossio failed to make weight, as he was over six pounds for his lightweight fight taking on Dedrek Sanders.

    All fighters that missed weight will lose a percentage of their purse.

    PFL 7 Main & Co Main Event Preview

    DraftKings currently has the former Bellator heavyweight title contender as a +310 underdog. That said, Johnson has shown in his last three fights that he is still a threat at age 39. Both fighters are known to want to finish their opponents, so fans should be prepared for a potential early knockout.

    Elsewhere on the card, Dakota Ditcheva will take on Jena Bishop in a women’s flyweight playoff bout. Ditcheva comes into the matchup undefeated with 12 wins and entered the season as one of the favorites to win the PFL women’s flyweight championship. Bishop will try to shock the MMA community by ending her win streak this Friday and advance to the final. However, it will be a difficult task as Ditcheva will have a significant height and reach advantage.

    PFL 7 will occur at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The main card will start at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, while the preliminary card will kick the event off at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT.

    PFL 7: Denis Goltsov vs. Tim Johnson Weigh-In Results

    (Fight Card Is Subject To Change)

    Main card (ESPN+ & ESPN):

    • Heavyweight: Denis Goltsov (247.6 lbs) vs. Tim Johnson (265.8 lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Dakota Ditcheva (125.2 lbs) vs. Jena Bishop (125.2 lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Oleg Popov (247.2 lbs) vs. Linton Vassell (248 lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Taila Santos (125.2 lbs) vs. Liz Carmouche (127 lbs)*

    Preliminary card (ESPN+):

    • Heavyweight: Tyrell Fortune (255.6 lbs) vs. Sergey Bilostenniy (249.6 lbs)
    • Featherweight: Alexei Pergande (146 lbs) vs. Daniel Boehle (145.2 lbs)
    • Featherweight: Cody Law (145.4 lbs) vs. Zachary Hicks (145.6 lbs)
    • Lightweight: Sergio Cossio (162.8 lbs)* vs. Dedrek Sanders (155.25 lbs)
    • Welterweight: Jaleel Willis (172.6 lbs)* vs. Anthony Ivy (172 lbs)*
    • Welterweight: Kevin Pease (169.2 lbs) vs. Nick Meck (170.2 lbs)

    *Liz Carmouche missed the women’s flyweight limit by 1 pound

    *Sergio Cossio missed the lightweight limit by 6.8 pounds

    *Jaleel Willis missed the welterweight limit by 1.6 pounds

    *Anthony Ivy missed the welterweight limit by 1 pound

  • José Aldo, Kayla Harrison Have Returns In The Works For UFC 307 On October 5

    José Aldo, Kayla Harrison Have Returns In The Works For UFC 307 On October 5

    Two major names are reportedly set to be in action at the UFC 307 pay-per-view, targeted for Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.

    Legendary former featherweight champion José Aldo and two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison have their returns in the works for the numbered event, with the former being lined up to face Mario Bautista and the latter expected to share the Octagon with Ketlen Vieira.

    Aldo returned from a short-lived retirement on home soil this past May, outpointing Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. Having fought out his contract, uncertainty surrounded “Junior’s” status and future plans.

    But in spite of boxing talk, Ag. Fight reported this week that the Brazilian has committed to another outing inside the Octagon.

    The outlet also corroborated a previous report from Super Lutas’ Léo Guimaraes, who was the first to reveal plans for Harrison and Vieira to collide at UFC 307.

    Aldo Targets Second Win Since Return, Harrison Looks For Second UFC Win Since PFL Switch

    Should these two matchups be confirmed, both Aldo and Harrison will be looking to build on strong outings in the first half of this year.

    Aldo (32-8) originally brought his MMA career to an end after his pursuit of a second bantamweight title shot was stalled by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in August 2022. Prior to that, he’d reeled off three straight wins over Marlon Vera, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font.

    The ex-featherweight kingpin, who fell short of two-division glory opposite Petr Yan in the summer of 2020, went on to compete in three boxing matches, winning two and fighting to a majority draw against fellow UFC vet Jeremy Stephens.

    He subsequently made his successful comeback to the cage in Rio this year, returning to the rankings at #8 as a result. He’s next tasked with defending his position on the ladder against the #12-ranked Bautista (14-2), a teammate of champion Sean O’Malley’s who has had his hand raised in six consecutive bouts. His most recent triumph came at the expense of Ricky Simón this past January.

    Jose Aldo
    Image: Alexandre Loureiro/Zuffa LLC

    Harrison (17-1) transitioned from judo, a sport in which she collected back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, to mixed martial arts and joined the PFL. After winning two lightweight seasons, her bid for a third title came to a halt in the final opposite Larissa Pacheco.

    After returning with a victory over Aspen Ladd last November, the Ohio native committed to a UFC switch and a venture down at bantamweight. That foray got underway in strong style this past April, where she thrilled the UFC 300 crowd by submitting a former champion in Holly Holm.

    Having entered the title picture at #3, Harrison will need to get through the #2-ranked Vieira (14-3) if she’s to book her first championship opportunity in the UFC. The Brazilian is coming off a decision victory over Pannie Kianzad in July 2023, a result that saw her bounce back from a narrow defeat at the hands of now-champ Raquel Pennington.

    With these additions, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC 307 on October 5 are as follows:

    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
    Kayla Harrison & Holly Holm
    Image: Cooper Neill/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Set To Headline Apex-Held UFC Fight Night On October 12

    Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Set To Headline Apex-Held UFC Fight Night On October 12

    Top flyweights Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira will vie for a possible title shot in the main event of a UFC Fight Night this fall.

    On October 12, two of the world’s best at 125 pounds will have their respective second headliners of the year thus far, with former title challenger and #1-ranked contender Royval tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Taira if he’s to stake his claim for a trilogy with Alexandre Pantoja.

    This fight was initially leaked by Bradley Martyn, who posted an image of the UFC’s matchmaking wall on social media, and later confirmed by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

    Royval, Taira Target Title Shot With UFC Main Event Win

    When they make the walk for a five-round card-topper later this year, both Royval and Taira will look to ride the momentum from key results in 2024 all the way to the gold.

    Royval (16-7) closed out his 2023 with an unsuccessful first title bid on MMA’s biggest stage, falling short on the scorecards against Pantoja at UFC 296. With that result marking his second setback to “The Cannibal,” it appeared “Raw Dawg” would be in for a lengthy journey back to the belt. But this past February, Royval capitalized on a late-notice opportunity to run it back with Brandon Moreno, avenging his 2020 loss to the former champ by way of split decision in Mexico City.

    Taira (16-0), meanwhile, headlined a UFC Fight Night at the Apex four months later. After three wins last year to climb toward contention, the Japanese up-and-comer benefitted from a serious knee injury to Alex Perez this past June, which gave him the TKO stoppage in round two and paved the way for his rise to #5 in the flyweight pecking order.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on October 12 are as follows:

    • Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira (flyweight main event)
    • Cody Garbrandt vs. Miles Johns (bantamweight)
    • Brad Tavares vs. Jungyong Park (middleweight)
    • Themba Gorimbo vs. Niko Price (welterweight)
    • Polyana Viana vs. Cory McKenna (women’s strawweight)
    • Josh Fremd vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (middleweight)
    • Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia (lightweight)
    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Chris Barnett (heavyweight)
    • Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden (welterweight)
    • Clayton Carpenter vs. Lucas Rocha (flyweight)
    Tatsuro Taira
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • UFC Heavyweight Gets Fresh Suspension After Violating Anti-Doping Policy While Already Serving 2-Year Ban

    UFC Heavyweight Gets Fresh Suspension After Violating Anti-Doping Policy While Already Serving 2-Year Ban

    A UFC heavyweight fighter is set to remain on the sidelines after violating the promotion’s anti-doping policy whilst already suspended.

    Hamdy Abdelwahab, an Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestler-turned-mixed martial artist, made a successful Octagon debut on short notice at UFC 277 in July 2022. After moving to 5-0 with a win under Jorge Masvidal’s iKon FC banner, “The Hammer” signed with the sport’s leading promotion and outpointed Don’Tale Mayes.

    But that result was later overturned to a no contest after Abdelwahab received a two-year ban from USADA. That ruling was owing to positive tests for the anabolic agent metenolone and its metabolite prior to his UFC debut, in addition to a tampering violation for not disclosing the banned substance ahead of joining USADA’s program.

    The Egyptian’s suspension ended on July 30, but that won’t mark an eligibility to compete once again…

    UFC’s Abdelwahab Set For Extended Spell On Sidelines After New Suspension

    This week, Combat Sports Anti Doping (CSAD) — which replaced USADA as the body overseeing the UFC’s anti-doping program this year — announced that Abdelwahab has accepted another sanction for his second violation.

    In a statement, CSAD revealed that the UFC heavyweight tested positive for exogenous testosterone in three separate tests on March 23, May 3, and May 23 this year. With Abdelwahab not being informed of the first failure and the third branded a product of residual amounts left from the first two, the failures were treated as one violation.

    It was also noted that the Egyptian fighter provided evidence of a tainted supplement, something he failed to do in relation to the 2022 test. Such a fact would ordinarily result in a three-month ban, but with Abdelwahab already serving a suspension at the time of the latest failures, he’s been slapped with a six-month sanction.

    With that, the 31-year-old will be eligible to return to competition on January 30, 2025, two and a half years on from his UFC debut.

  • Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

    Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

    UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera can see former opponent Sean O’Malley stopping Merab Dvalishvili early when they square off at the Sphere.

    O’Malley, the reigning 135-pound champion, is currently gearing up for his second defense of the title since winning it from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in Boston last August. “Sugar” got his divisional rule underway in emphatic style this past March, dominantly outpointing “Chito” in their headlining rematch at UFC 299 in Miami.

    Vera will be the first to return to action, battling Deiveson Figueiredo this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The champ, meanwhile, is slated to put his gold on the line opposite Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306/Noche UFC.

    O’Malley will look to stall the Georgian challenger’s title ambitions inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere on September 14. And should he connect with a shot early, Vera thinks he has a good chance of doing so…

    Vera: O’Malley Could Finish Dvalishvili ‘If He Catches Him Early’

    During his appearance at media day ahead of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, Vera looked ahead to his opportunity to revive his title ambitions and commented on the next championship bout set for the 135-pound division.

    After laying some heavy praise on his most recent opponent, the Ecuadorian gave a dismissive take on Dvalishvili, highlighting the knockdown he suffered opposite Henry Cejudo this past February as evidence he can be knocked out.

    “(O’Malley’s) a great fighter. I would be more worried about Merab’s chin,” Vera said. “He’s been dropped by everybody. I mean, if you get dropped by Henry Cejudo, good lord. F*ck, that’s a f*cking four-foot motherf*cker right there. If he (O’Malley) catches him early, the fight could be over.”

    O’Malley has shared a similar prediction, vowing to repeat the feat he achieved opposite Dvalishvili’s teammate in 2023 to deliver a statement-making second successful defense in Las Vegas this fall.

  • Tony Ferguson Reacts To Dana White’s Retirement Pleas Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return

    Tony Ferguson Reacts To Dana White’s Retirement Pleas Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson was unsurprisingly dismissive of Dana White’s recent retirement suggestion.

    Ferguson is among the notable names set to make the walk at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, with the Etihad Arena playing host to his latest outing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    The TUF 13 winner has been competing inside the Octagon since 2011, with much of his stint spent toward the top of the UFC’s lightweight ladder. But while he entered 2020 riding a 12-fight win streak, he’s fallen on hard times in recent years.

    Since having his run of victories emphatically ended at the hands of Justin Gaethje, “El Cucuy” has lost a further six fights, most recently failing to stall the surge of Paddy Pimblett last December.

    Following that result, White suggested Ferguson hang up his gloves. And after the veteran had his next assignment scheduled for welterweight opposite Michael Chiesa this weekend, the UFC CEO once again suggested he shouldn’t fight beyond August 3.

    According to Ferguson, though, White has his own decisions to make…

    Ferguson Turns The Tables On White’s Retirement Advice: ‘We Want Dana To Do A Lot Of Things Last Too!’

    During his appearance at media day ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, Ferguson looked ahead to his latest chance to break a lengthy losing skid and reacted to White’s retirement pleas.

    “El Cucuy” was firm in rejecting the UFC CEO’s comments, insisting he is feeling rejuvenated up at 170 pounds and is confident this weekend’s event won’t mark his farewell.

    “Well, we want Dana to do a lot of sh*t last for him too. So, I mean, we can’t discredit that either. I’m just being real with it,” Ferguson said. “At 170 pounds, I’m not killing myself to get to 155. I do feel fresher. 155 pounds is closer to my high school wrestling weight. … I’m 40 f*cking years old. … Wrestled in college at 165. 170 is what I won The Ultimate Fighter at. We do the math, we do the numbers, you’re not supposed to go backwards.

    “170 pounds, I feel comfortable. I don’t feel like this is gonna be my last fight,” Ferguson continued. “I have to do some extraordinary sh*t, is what I’m planning to do. So that’s why I feel sharp. I did two practices already this morning. … I love this company and I have plenty of fights left. This is not a fight, last or first or how everybody wants to see it. I feel so f*cking fresh.”

    Ferguson will look to show that he has more left in the tank on Saturday night at the expense of Chiesa, a fellow veteran who is also pursuing a return to the winner’s circle in the Middle East.

  • Dan Ige Has Return After Same-Day Notice Diego Lopes Scrap In The Works For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

    Dan Ige Has Return After Same-Day Notice Diego Lopes Scrap In The Works For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

    While he didn’t get the next assignment he was after, UFC featherweight fan favorite Dan Ige does appear to have a major matchup in the calendar.

    Ige, who currently occupies the #14 spot at 145 pounds, made headlines last month when he replaced Brian Ortega on fight day to share the Octagon with Diego Lopes in the UFC 303 co-main event.

    Although he fell short on the scorecards, the Hawaiian was widely praised for his efforts and seemingly promised something big next time out. Ige was hoping for that to be an appearance at the upcoming Sphere event in September.

    That, however, has not come to fruition. Instead, per MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, a clash between Ige and the #11-ranked Lerone Murphy is in the works for the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi on October 26.

    The pair were originally set to collide this past February, but an injury to Murphy forced him out on late notice.

    Murphy, Ige Target Featherweight Top 10 In Rearranged Clash

    Should this fight come to fruition for the Etihad Arena later this year, Murphy will be looking to defend his position on the ladder and keep his hopes of a spot in the featherweight top 10 alive.

    Murphy (14-0-1) has long been touted as one of the most promising up-and-comers at 145 pounds, with wins over the likes of Ricardo Ramos and Joshua Culibao paving the way for his entry into the rankings. And the undefeated Brit recorded his biggest win to date this past May, beating Edson Barboza in his maiden main event at the Apex.

    If “Iceman” is to keep his 0 and stake his claim for a spot in title contention, he must send Ige (18-8) to a losing skid. The 32-year-old has exchanged wins and losses in recent times, outpointing Nate Landwehr and violently stopping Andre Fili, but falling short against Movsar Evloev and Lopes.

    With the spotlight on him following the events of International Fight Week, Ige will look to return to winning ways in a big way and begin a resurgence up the featherweight pecking order.