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Category: MMA

  • VIDEO: Alexander Volkanovski Shoots Takedown In Attempt To Stop Bantamweight Attacking Michael Page At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel

    VIDEO: Alexander Volkanovski Shoots Takedown In Attempt To Stop Bantamweight Attacking Michael Page At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel

    It would seem that the UFC security had to deal with more than just fight week altercations in Manchester last week…

    The promotion was recently back across the pond to stage its return to Manchester, England, for the first time in close to a decade. The UFC 304 pay-per-view went down at the Co-op Live, with two title fights and a host of intriguing matchups playing out.

    Even before fight night, some fighters couldn’t keep their hands off one another. Early in fight week, videos came out showing opponents Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape coming to blows after the former landed a sucker-punch outside the fighter hotel.

    And that evidently wasn’t the only scrap UFC security had to deal with at the location.

    Following the event, ex-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski detailed another altercation in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. While he didn’t provide the names of those involved, he described his attempts to calm things down.

    “I don’t know if I should even bring it up. I don’t know; maybe I won’t bring it up. You guys are gonna hate me for that. I won’t say who was involved, but I’ll tell you a little bit,” Volkanovski said. “Something happened in the lobby between two guys. One was a fighter; I don’t know if the other guy was a fighter. I don’t think he was random, but stuff happened.

    “There might have been a little punch thrown. The other guy tried to get to him. Security tried to stop it. I’m like, ‘It’s not worth it, it’s not worth the cops.’ I’m trying to stop it,” Volkanovski continued. “Guys were stepping and getting around all the security guards. I was trying to help, but he stepped around me as well. I’m like, ‘This guy has got some good movement.’ He’s going again. I’m trying to tell him to ‘chill out.’ Again, he’s come on; I’ve tried to grab him. We almost ran into the bottom of the stairs, so we sort of went down. I fell to my knees. As I’m trying to hold him, he slipped out. I was like, ‘This guy is very slippery.’”

    Now, the two fighters in question have seemingly been revealed after footage emerged of the incident.

    Basharat, Page Get Into It At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel, Volkanovski Among Peacekeepers

    This week, the @CasualsCorner_ account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video showing an altercation at the fighter hotel in the aftermath of UFC 304 last weekend.

    While the start of the confrontation was not shown, the footage appears to show security attempting to stop UFC bantamweight prospect Farid Basharat from getting at welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page.

    Among those attempting to prevent an all-out brawl is Volkanovski, who can even be seen shooting a takedown (unsuccessfully) in the hopes of stalling Basharat’s progress.

    Interestingly, Basharat has previously trained at the London Shootfighters gym in London, which is the longtime home of Page.

    It’s unclear what sparked the animosity between the pair. But in a comment posted on social media, Basharat accused “MVP” of throwing the first punch at the UFC 304 fighter hotel.

  • Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Warned Against Waiting Too Long Against ‘Well-Rounded’ Deiveson Figueiredo: ‘He May Never Get That Moment’

    Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Warned Against Waiting Too Long Against ‘Well-Rounded’ Deiveson Figueiredo: ‘He May Never Get That Moment’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently shared insightful advice for Marlon Vera ahead of his upcoming bout against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi.

    The two bantamweight stars are set to square off on the main card of the highly anticipated UFC Fight Night this weekend, taking place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

    “Chito” is rebounding from a one-sided title fight loss to reigning bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 this past March. In his first championship opportunity, Vera was dominated over five rounds, losing the momentum he had gained from his decisive victory over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292 last August.

    Meanwhile, Figueiredo, a former multi-time UFC flyweight champion, aims to maintain his unbeaten streak since moving up to bantamweight last year. “Deus da Guerra” has already secured two impressive victories in the division, defeating Rob Font and most recently achieving a second-round submission against Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 this past April.

    Although Vera previously stated on social media that he is bringing a “2.0” version of himself, equipped with new skills, Thomson and McCarthy warn that the 31-year-old Ecuadorian must exercise caution and cannot afford to take many risks against an all-around fighter like Figueiredo…

    Thomson Believes Vera Falls Short In Wrestling & Grappling Against Figueiredo

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson and McCarthy delved into the upcoming clash between Vera and Figueiredo. “The Punk” remarked that while he believes Vera is a strong match against the Brazilian, “Chito” tends to become flustered when on his back, a vulnerability that could prove perilous in this contest.

    “I think that if there’s one way that Marlon loses this fight, it’s in the wrestling and the grappling department,” Thomson said. “You know, Marlon is good in jiu-jitsu, but he’s also someone that just settles in on the bottom and tries to land elbows or punches from there. But I think Figueiredo is someone that will grind, he will land, he will take chances. He’s proven that he will take heavy chances in terms of heavy ground and pound. He’s a well-rounded fighter, Figueiredo is someone that can take this fight anywhere, but ‘Chito’ has got to keep this fight on the feet.”

    Thomson further noted that Vera has a habit of waiting for the opportune moment to land a powerful strike but given “Deus da Guerra’s” relentless pace, that strategy becomes exceedingly difficult.

    “What also concerns me with ‘Chito’ is that we’ve seen it before. We saw it with the Rob Font thing, we saw it with the other fighters. He waits for the moment to get the knockout, he waits and waits. We may not see that; he may never get that moment because Figueiredo is going to be in and out so fast. He’s going to be the way faster fighter.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Predicts How Potential ‘Title Eliminator’ Sean Strickland vs. Robert Whittaker Would Go: ‘I Think It Comes Down To…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Predicts How Potential ‘Title Eliminator’ Sean Strickland vs. Robert Whittaker Would Go: ‘I Think It Comes Down To…’

    As Dricus Du Plessis prepares to defend his middleweight title at UFC 305 for the first time, two of his former opponents could be set to meet in a huge clash.

    Both former champions Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland have claims to be the next in line for a title shot after Israel Adesanya.

    Though Strickland believes he doesn’t need to fight again to get the next opportunity, a number one contender’s match-up would make a lot of sense for the division.

    Having faced and defeated both men, Du Plessis finds this fight difficult to call but he did give his analysis and prediction.

    Dricus Du Plessis Says Grappling Exchange Key To Whittaker vs. Strickland

    Du Plessis has remained on the fence in the past when being asked about this fight because he didn’t have a clear image in his head of the way that it takes place.

    He spoke during a recent interview with mainevent on Fox Sports where after giving it some thought, he broke down how he sees it going.

    Du Plessis said the crucial element for both men is being able to utilize their greatest strengths, whether it’s the pressure of Strickland or the blitz assault from Whittaker.

    He gave the bold prediction that this one could come down to who wins the grappling exchanges despite both men being known for their striking.

    If this is the case, he sided with “The Reaper” to get his hand raised.

    “The fact that I really honestly can’t say off the bat means it’s gonna be a great fight. I honestly think it’s going to come down to the same thing, imposing game plans. If you let Strickland walk forward like he did with Paulo Costa and like he did with Israel Adesanya, if you give him that space and that momentum, it’s really really hard to take it back and it’s really hard to swing that fight. So, to make sure that Rob fights his fight. If Rob can do his blitzes the way he does then I think he takes that fight. I think it comes down to a wrestling and clinch game and I think Rob wins that fight.”

    Read also: VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

  • Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    Old Video Shows Belal Muhammad’s Eerily Accurately Prediction Of How He Would ‘Break’ Leon Edwards At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad became the UFC welterweight champion this past weekend after convincingly beating Leon Edwards as the underdog.

    Many expected that the champion would defend his title on home soil based on what we have seen from both men in their previous fights.

    Whilst Muhammad has been able to dominate opponents with his constant pressure and wrestling, this is something that “Rocky” has been able to deal with as of late.

    However, in an old video that has recently resurfaced, Muhammad broke down why his fight with Edwards would be different to the ones the Brit had with Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.

    Belal Muhammad Correctly Predicts Multiple Aspects Of UFC 304 Title Shot Before It Was Made Official

    Speaking in an interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad very accurately predicted what would happen in the main event of UFC 304 long before that date was confirmed.

    He spoke about where he believes Edwards is beatable and why his style would be able to capitalize on what Usman and Covington couldn’t.

    Muhammad also gave his take on Edwards’ corner which ended up being very similar to what happened this past weekend.

    “When you look at stylistically of why they thought Colby would be a bad match-up for him, it was cardio, it was pressure, it was taking him down, keeping volume in his face and I do all those better than Colby. I do all those better than Usman. Usman in that third fight, he wasn’t the same Usman. People can say whatever they want. I think he came back too soon for that head kick.

    “But in that second fight, it was volume, pressure, and it was breaking Leon and Leon’s easily broken. I think that’s why when you see in between rounds, his coaches, his team, they’re all like, they’re not giving him advice right? They’re not telling him, ‘Oh yes, on the outside jab.’ No, they’re like, ‘You’re looking beautiful Leon, You’re a beast Leon, Don’t let him bully you son.’”

    It was a bad night at the office for the former welterweight champion and as proven by this interview, Muhammad was able to do exactly what he intended.

    “Once he starts getting on his back foot, he starts breaking. Once he stars getting taken down, he starts breaking. Once he starts getting hit, he hates it. So the last two fights that he’s had, it’s been more so let me stay on the outside, let me keep the pace at what I like it at… when I’m in there, it’s not going to be that at all.”

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Dismisses Parallels In Fight Against Sean O’Malley: ‘It’s Never Gonna Be Close to Khabib & Conor’

    Umar Nurmagomedov Dismisses Parallels In Fight Against Sean O’Malley: ‘It’s Never Gonna Be Close to Khabib & Conor’

    Umar Nurmagomedov recently downplayed the comparisons between his prospective bout with Sean O’Malley and the infamous clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor at UFC 229.

    Umar is poised to face Cory Sandhagen in a highly anticipated bantamweight showdown, with the stakes potentially including a #1 contender spot. This bout will headline UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, taking place this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

    The victor on August 3 is expected to earn the next title shot, facing off against the champion who emerges from the clash between O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC in September.

    While the reigning UFC bantamweight champion has undeniably ascended to the ranks of the promotion’s premier attractions, Umar believes that a potential bout with “Sugar” could never rival the intensity of the historic Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor showdown in October 2018…

    Umar Believes O’Malley Won’t Cross Lines Compared To McGregor

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Umar weighed in on the potential excitement surrounding a future bout with O’Malley. The 28-year-old Dagestani acknowledged that while their clash would certainly be intriguing, it wouldn’t match the fervor of his cousin’s UFC 229 matchup with “The Notorious”.

    He highlighted that the genuine animosity between the former lightweight champions was unparalleled, making their rivalry iconic—an element that simply doesn’t exist in his case.

    “It’s never gonna be close like Khabib and the Conor [fight],” Umar said. “Because they have personal hate. He [McGregor] talked bad about religion, family, and everything.”

    Umar further remarked that while O’Malley is known for his trash-talking, he believes “Sugar” won’t stoop to the level McGregor did when he apparently insulted the UFC Hall of Famer’s family and religion.

    “I see his personality, but I think he’s not too dirty of a person to talk bad about my family or my religion. But if we fight, it’s like, you know, the Irish vs. Dagestani again. It’s gonna be interesting, but I think it’s not going to be the same… I don’t have a lot of hate. I don’t worry about this man, and I just want to beat him. I just want to take his belt.”

    Umar has exceeded expectations in his first five Octagon appearances, maintaining his undefeated streak with dominant victories despite setbacks due to injuries.

    After a 13-month hiatus, he made a triumphant return this past March, securing a unanimous decision win over newcomer Bekzat Almakhan.

  • Dustin Poirier All Praise For Paddy Pimblett After UFC 304 Win: ‘He’s Talking The Talk, Walking The Walk’

    Dustin Poirier All Praise For Paddy Pimblett After UFC 304 Win: ‘He’s Talking The Talk, Walking The Walk’

    Dustin Poirier recently lavished accolades on Paddy Pimblett for his triumphant performance against King Green at UFC 304.

    “The Baddy” showcased arguably the most remarkable outing of his UFC career to date this past weekend. He decisively overcame Green with a spectacular triangle-armbar combination in the first round of their lightweight bout, thrilling the home crowd at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.

    Pimblett delivered several potent calf kicks that visibly unsettled “King.” In response, Green attempted a takedown midway through the opening round, but the Brit skillfully countered with a guillotine choke, then seamlessly transitioned into a triangle choke from the bottom. He deftly converted the choke into an armbar, and as Green began to lose consciousness, the referee intervened, halting the fight at 3:22.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Poirier was asked to share his thoughts on Pimblett’s victory at UFC 304. “The Diamond” remarked that the Scouser not only impressed him but also validated his brash personality with a commanding performance against a formidable opponent like Green.

    “He’s another one of those guys whose trajectory is like if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be – not that he’s not massive – but he’s on the right track,” Poirier said. “Dude, when you talk like that and people like your personality, and you go out there and finish guys, you know, vets and legends like Bobby. Of course, going into the fight, I knew he could win, but to finish Bobby Green like that, I was very surprised. He’s talking the talk, walking the walk, man.”

    Poirier Opens Up About Return Timeline & Possible Opponent

    Poirier may have seen his last chance at undisputed UFC lightweight gold slip away when he faced reigning champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 in June. Despite his valiant efforts, the 35-year-old Louisiana native succumbed to a fifth-round submission.

    After the fight, Poirier took to social media to reveal he had sustained a partially torn ACL, a broken nose, and a broken rib during his bout with Makhachev. These injuries could potentially sideline him for an extended period.

    During the aforementioned interview, “The Diamond” delved into his potential return schedule. The former UFC interim lightweight champion revealed that if he feels better within the next 30 days, he might consider a comeback later this year. However, he emphasized that this decision would depend on numerous factors.

    “I think I could fight at the end of this year. If I felt good after the 30 days and there was a big opportunity, the names – obviously, the opponent matters big time – but where, the timing, and the position on the card and stuff like that, those [things] come into play as well.”

    With Makhachev seemingly sidelined by a hand injury, putting his targeted title defense against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 on hold, Poirier expressed interest in stepping in.

    He found the idea of fighting Tsarukyan for the interim title quite appealing, seeing it as a way to keep the lightweight division active and moving forward.

  • Marlon Vera Reveals Change In Approach For Deiveson Figueiredo After Loss To Sean O’Malley: ‘I’ve Got To Do Something Different’

    Marlon Vera Reveals Change In Approach For Deiveson Figueiredo After Loss To Sean O’Malley: ‘I’ve Got To Do Something Different’

    UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Vera begins his pursuit of a second title shot this weekend, and he’ll seemingly do so with a fresh strategy.

    Vera is set to make the walk on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main card in Abu Dhabi, where the Etihad Arena plays host to some key contests at 135 pounds.

    While that most notably includes the main event title eliminator between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, “Chito” will be looking to revive his championship ambitions earlier on in proceedings opposite former two-time UFC flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    The Ecuadorian had his first shot at gold end unsuccessfully at UFC 299 in Miami this past March. He was unable to repeat his 2021 victory over Sean O’Malley, falling to a lopsided decision defeat in their rematch.

    As has been a trend for much of his career, Vera was criticized in the aftermath for a low-volume approach that was focused on landing a fight-ending blow.

    While such a strategy saw him come from behind to knock out the likes of Dominick Cruz in the past, Vera knows that change is needed if he’s to reach the mountaintop.

    Vera On Figueiredo Fight: ‘Maybe You Will See Me Throw More…’

    During a recent interview with former UFC champion Michael Bisping and light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith, Vera looked ahead to his first outing since O’Malley exacted revenge at his expense earlier this year.

    “Chito” acknowledged some of the well-known flaws in his fight style, but noted that work has been done to address them as he gears up to share the cage with “Deus Da Guerra” on August 3.

    “Some adjustments on the conditioning and getting my feet a bit more mobile. I’ve been feeling great,” Vera said. “What I personally think was like, okay, I have great grappling but I’m not the fighter that wants to take you down and hold you down. For this time, we did a lot of grappling so I can get back kind of to my roots. But I also want to like, put all my numbers together instead of just looking for power.

    “I know I hit hard and that sometimes makes me stay in the mud. Because I have great defense. But it’s like, I need to do something different. I didn’t win the (title) fight; I need to do something different,” Vera continued. “Maybe in this fight you will see me throw more. Instead of just looking for that big one, I’m gonna do a little more.”

    Vera will look to show the improvements he’s made in recent months come fight night in the Middle East, as he looks to show that his title ambitions didn’t fizzle away entirely at the hands of O’Malley at UFC 299.

  • ‘They’re Always Injured When They Lose’ – MMA Fans Don’t React Kindly To Leon Edwards’ Coach Saying He Was Carrying Back Injury Into Belal Muhammad Fight

    ‘They’re Always Injured When They Lose’ – MMA Fans Don’t React Kindly To Leon Edwards’ Coach Saying He Was Carrying Back Injury Into Belal Muhammad Fight

    Many suspected that Leon Edwards could have come into his welterweight title defense at UFC 304 less than in ideal condition following his performance.

    The champion was defeated by Belal Muhammad over five rounds with his head coach later revealing some details about what they went through in camp.

    Dave Lovell spoke in an interview with Submission Radio about how a back injury to Edwards had him questioning whether they should proceed with the fight.

    The champion himself made the call to keep aiming for July 27 and whilst Lovell clearly stated that Muhammad more than deserved to win, it did play a factor.

    “Where Leon was concerned, a lot of people don’t know this — and I’m not making any kind of excuses for him — but we had a few niggles in camp. His back was niggling him,” Lovell said. “So he couldn’t wrestle the way he really needed to, offensively and defensively. We’re not taking anything away from Belal’s performance. He did well; the best man won on the night. But Leon will be back.”

    MMA Fans React On Social Media To Leon Edwards’ Back Injury Problem

    Despite a lot of people believing that “Rocky” didn’t look himself in Manchester, the reaction on social media to the news about his back injury didn’t appear to go down well with some fans.

    The social media reaction to this clip from the interview appears to have attracted a lot of people who would rather that these things remain behind closed doors.

    “They’re always injured when they lose.”

    “this is the first of many excuses to come”

    “I thought Leon already said in the octagon after the fight the reason he performed the way he did was because he was tired all week. I assume he was talking about the fact that he had to fight on the US time zone in the UK. So thats now 2 excuses from Leon and his camp…”

    “Cool story bro, 3-4 more wins and maybe Leon will get another title shot”

    “Here comes the excuses”

    “Here we go. I like Leon, but I bet if he told Dana before the fight there would be a rematch”

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

  • Dricus Du Plessis Feels He Would Have Knocked Israel Adesanya Out If He Were In Sean Strickland’s Shoes: ‘If I Catch Him With That Shot…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Feels He Would Have Knocked Israel Adesanya Out If He Were In Sean Strickland’s Shoes: ‘If I Catch Him With That Shot…’

    Israel Adesanya returns to the Octagon at UFC 305 after taking some time off to put bad memories of his most recent outing behind him.

    Adesanya lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland in one of the biggest title fight upsets in UFC history last year at UFC 293.

    Whilst the challenger had a great night in general, the defining moment of the fight was when he caught and dropped “The Last Stylebender” in the first round but was unable to get the finish.

    This came as such a shock to many fans who felt like Strickland simply wouldn’t be on the same level as the champion, when it came to the striking exchanges.

    Adesanya’s next opponent and the current champion paid special interest to this.

    Dricus Du Plessis Says He Would’ve Finished Israel Adesanya With The Same Strike

    Dricus Du Plessis is much more of a power striker than Strickland, who he defeated earlier this year to become the middleweight champion.

    Whilst the former champ may be very accurate and defensively sound, “Stillknocks” has the momentum and force to stop any opponent and that gives him confidence ahead of August 17.

    Du Plessis believes that he can close the show on Adesanya in their heated grudge match in Perth, especially if he’s able to land something similar to the strike Strickland landed last year.

    He spoke in a recent interview with mainevent on Fox Sports about how “The Last Stylebender” wouldn’t have made it out of the first round if it was him in there that night.

    “If I land that shot that Sean Strickland landed, the fight is over right there, 100%. We know that Strickland’s not a power puncher. I’ve felt, and Strickland’s a great boxer, his boxing is really really good. Very awkward and amazing jab, he throws that 1-2 and he does it great but he doesn’t have that starch power and he put him down. I honestly thought the fight was over but if I catch him with that shot then it’s over.”

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

  • Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’ 

    Stephen Thompson Gives Glowing Review Of Belal Muhammad’s Striking At UFC 304: ‘He Was Piecing Edwards Up!’ 

    UFC welterweight veteran Stephen Thompson was impressed by what he saw from his former opponent Belal Muhammad on the feet this past weekend.

    Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound championship in his possession after upsetting the odds to bring Leon Edwards’ reign to a sudden halt at the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

    Headlining the event, which played out inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, “Remember the Name” made good on his frequent vows to dominate “Rocky” in their rematch.

    For large parts of their contest, Muhammad utilized his takedowns and smothering wrestling game to control Edwards. But it wasn’t just on the ground where he put in solid work.

    Amid laughter regarding the challenger and his team’s striking confidence, Muhammad showed clear development in that area, and he even appeared to have the champ hurt in some exchanges.

    Thompson Highlights Where Muhammad Had Surprising Striking Success Against Edwards

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Stephen Thompson broke down the UFC 304 headliner between Edwards and Muhammad round by round.

    As one of the division’s top strikers, a mantle he’s long shared alongside the likes of “Rocky,” the former two-time title challenger played close attention to the standup exchanges between the pair.

    In that realm, Muhammad certainly went above and beyond expectation, and “Wonderboy” puts that down to three main techniques.

    “In the beginning, there was a few striking exchanges. This was something I also noticed in the third round. Three techniques, striking techniques, that really showcased Belal’s striking and really showed his dominance in this fight,” Thompson said. “Number one, Belal Muhammad’s jab. He was piecing him (Edwards) up with that jab! It was so fast. Leon Edwards had a hard time dealing with it, man.

    “When Leon decided to jab back, it was the second technique that really frustrated Leon Edwards, and that was his check hook. Normally you don’t see that from the shorter opponent. … Every time Leon Edwards would jab, Belal Muhammad would come over the top of that jab with the check hook, landing that check left hook, which is super frustrating (to be on the receiving end of),” Thompson continued. “And the third technique was his uppercut. He was uppercutting the crap out of Leon Edwards the entire fight.”

    Muhammad was quick to comment on his striking display in the aftermath of the UFC 304 headliner, poking fun at those who had mocked his coach’s comparison to Canelo Álvarez’s Mexican-style boxing.

    “Remember the Name” will now look to showcase similar skills and development in that area when he returns to the Octagon, with the expectation being that he’ll defend the belt for the first time against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’ 

    Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’ 

    UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov believes he knows the reason behind Sean O’Malley’s recent remarks.

    Nurmagomedov, who currently occupies the #10 spot at 135 pounds, is in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of a major assignment. The undefeated Dagestani will feature in his maiden UFC main event opposite a top-five contender and former interim title challenger in Cory Sandhagen.

    The pair were originally set to collide in Nashville last August, but a dislocated shoulder in training forced Nurmagomedov out. While “The Sandman” defeated replacement opponent Rob Font before heading for surgery to repair a torn tricep, the Russian escaped a scare in his successful return opposite debutant Bekzat Almakhan this past March.

    Nurmagomedov will now face a major step up in competition in his pursuit of O’Malley’s gold, and the champion appears to have one eye on the highly touted contender’s rise. Most recently, “Sugar” predicted that the 28-year-old would likely withdraw from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in the Middle East.

    “I’ll tune in…if it happens,” O’Malley told MMA Fighting. “We know Umar likes to pull out if something happens. I’ll be surprised if the fight happens.”

    Nurmagomedov: O’Malley ‘Praying’ I Don’t Earn A Title Shot

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov looked ahead to the biggest fight of his blossoming UFC career thus far.

    The Dagestani confirmed he’s been assured that a victory over Sandhagen will put him next in line for a championship opportunity, facing the winner of O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s upcoming Sphere showdown.

    Nurmagomedov is sure that neither man wants to face him, and he used the champ’s prediction that he’ll withdraw from the August 3 event as evidence.

    “I think they pray,” Nurmagomedov said. “They hope I will pull out and will not take this opportunity to fight for the title. They wish this.

    “For me it doesn’t matter who wins (out of O’Malley and Dvalishvili). It’s a very hard fight for both,” Nurmagomedov continued. “One is a wrestling, one is a striker weight height. He is tall. Stylistically, for me, personally it’s very difficult to say who is going to win. I don’t know.”

    Having made it to fight week for his rearranged battle with “The Sandman,” Nurmagomedov will look to complete the walk this Saturday at Etihad Arena and have his hand raised for his sixth Octagon triumph.

    And should he impress, the Russian looks set to have the opportunity to become the UFC”s latest American Kickboxing Academy standout and Nurmagomedov to win gold.

  • Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen saw some of his ex-rival Jon Jones in the performance of lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett this past weekend.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career at the UFC 304 pay-per-view, getting the better of King Green on the main card to secure a ranking for the very first time.

    “The Baddy” entered the Octagon in front of his home fans at Manchester’s Co-op Live as an underdog and with many backing Green to stall his charge following a close decision against Jared Gordon and failure to finish Tony Ferguson.

    But the Liverpool native needed just one round to prove them wrong, capitalizing on an ill-advised takedown to lock in a triangle choke and render Green unconscious.

    Among those majorly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts was Sonnen, who even compared his ability in the fight to an all-time great…

    Sonnen Praises Pimblett For Dealing With ‘Street Fighter’ Green

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s successful outing on home soil this past weekend.

    More so than the submission finish, “The American Gangster” was impressed by how “The Baddy” combatted a style and approach he won’t have faced in any previous fights or behind closed doors in training.

    The ability to do so, Sonnen says, is something Pimblett shares with the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    “(Green) fights like a street fighter. He’s got his hands down; you don’t know what he’s gonna do. He’s talking to you! It’s like two guys outside a liquor store, truly,” Sonnen said. “You know what? Paddy was dealing with it. It’s hard to deal with ’cause you can’t prepare for it; you can’t prepare for it because your teammates don’t show up drunk talking trash with their hands down.

    “Paddy was dealing with it. That is a Jon Jones-esque ability. Jon Jones is the king of fighting fighters that all he has to prepare is video tape,” Sonnen continued. “He’s got some weird guy that’s some kind of a tool that he has to deal with, and Jon doesn’t bring in the partners and doesn’t have the experience, but he watched him on tape and he came up with a plan because he knows the sport well enough. That’s what Paddy just did.”

    Having caught the eyes of the likes of Sonnen with his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Pimblett will look to continue his development and habit of proving his detractors wrong next time out.

    By all accounts, the Liverpool native will be looking to stake his claim for a spot inside the top 10, having secured the #15 spot in the division as it stands. And given his post-fight callout at UFC 304, he’ll have a close eye on Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis’ upcoming battle in Paris.

  • Javier Mendez Insists Conor McGregor Would ‘Not Be An Easy Night’s Work’ For Islam Makhachev

    Javier Mendez Insists Conor McGregor Would ‘Not Be An Easy Night’s Work’ For Islam Makhachev

    Javier Mendez recently remarked that a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev would be anything but an easy task for the reigning UFC lightweight champion.

    “The Notorious” has proven to be a relentless nemesis for fighters from Mendez’s American Kickboxing Academy, particularly underscored by his tempestuous rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which culminated in the historic UFC 229 showdown in October 2018.

    After Nurmagomedov retired from the UFC in October 2020, his trusted ally and training partner Makhachev emerged to inherit his reign over the lightweight division. Concurrently, McGregor has continued to stoke the flames of their rivalry, relentlessly targeting Makhachev with a series of provocative comments on social media.

    As one of the most iconic figures in UFC history, the former two-division champion captivates vast audiences with his every move. Mendez envisions a potential showdown between McGregor and Makhachev as an unparalleled spectacle…

    Mendez Believes Makhachev vs. McGregor Could Be The Ultimate Potential Showdown

    During a recent conversation with Instant Casino, Mendez likened a potential Makhachev vs. McGregor showdown to the grudge match between the Irishman and Nurmagomedov. The 53-year-old MMA coach suggested that this clash could generate a level of hype comparable to UFC 229.

    “I love Islam vs. Conor McGregor; who wouldn’t want to be involved in a fight that would have an electrifying atmosphere?” Mendez said. “That is a great fight for us and for the fans. One of the greatest feelings I had in my whole entire life was when Khabib and Conor fought because of the real hatred between both sides.”

    However, Mendez emphasized that “The Notorious” brings a wealth of experience and exceptional skills to the Octagon, cautioning that Makhachev should not anticipate a walk in the park.

    “But Conor would not be an easy [night’s] work for Islam because you have to respect the man; he’s got a lot of experience, and the only way you make it an easy night is because you train hard — but it will never be an easy night with a guy like Conor. You better train your butt off because he’s a real fighter, and if he’s going (to) come in prepared, it’s never going to be easy.”

    After nearly three years away from the Octagon, McGregor was primed for a highly anticipated comeback last month, set to clash with Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout headlining UFC 303.

    However, just weeks before the showdown, the excitement was abruptly cut short when McGregor revealed he had sustained a toe injury, forcing him to withdraw from the competition.

    The UFC superstar has not fought since July 2021 when he suffered a devastating leg fracture in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

    Leon Edwards’ coach was seemingly far from pleased to see his man attempting to defend the UFC welterweight title at 5:30 AM this past weekend.

    Edwards put his gold on the line on home soil for the second consecutive year, making the walk in Manchester, England, 16 months on from his first successful defense at the expense of Kamaru Usman in London.

    After adding Colby Covington’s name to his résumé last December, “Rocky” returned to the cage in the UK to headline UFC 304. But unlike his last outing at The O2, the Jamaican-born Brit’s third defense didn’t come in local time.

    Edwards competed at gone 5 AM in the morning as the promotion staged its Manchester return at the Co-op Live with the usual American timings. The champ was ultimately dethroned, with Belal Muhammad putting on a largely dominant display to capture the belt.

    Talk of the US timings remained prominent throughout the event and in the aftermath, and Edwards suggested that he had struggled to adapt. His coach was also among those frustrated with the unnecessary demands placed on home fighters such as the now-former welterweight kingpin…

    Edwards’ Coach On UFC 304 Timing: ‘Belal Never Had To Adjust!’

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Lovell reflected on his man’s defeat in Manchester, which marked Edwards’ first setback inside the cage since a decision loss to Kamaru Usman way back in 2015.

    When asked whether the UFC 304 timings played a part, Lovell let his feelings known on the decision not to accommodate for European fans and the local fighters.

    “You tell me (how much of an impact it had). Whichever fighter have you seen in his home country come out at half past 5, 5 AM in the morning, to fight?” Lovell said. “Realistically, it’s a joke really.

    “Belal never really had to adjust because his clock is set to the times of what we were fighting to. But Leon, in his home country, had to adapt as if he was acclimatizing, as if he was fighting in another country and fighting at 5:30 in the morning,” Lovell continued. “It just doesn’t seem right somehow.”

    Edwards and his team will now look forward to his pursuit of two-time status. With an immediate trilogy fight opposite new champ Muhammad appearing off the table, coach Lovell named Ian Garry as his preferred next opponent for “Rocky.”

    “Remember the Name,” meanwhile, will be focused one establishing his reign and legacy at 170 pounds. In the eyes of man, that should begin with a first defense against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • UFC Veteran Says Promotion Right Not To Re-Sign Muhammad Mokaev: ‘Once You’re Jon Jones…Yeah You Get Away With Some Sh*t’

    UFC Veteran Says Promotion Right Not To Re-Sign Muhammad Mokaev: ‘Once You’re Jon Jones…Yeah You Get Away With Some Sh*t’

    According to one experienced fighter, flyweight up-and-comer Muhammad Mokaev didn’t establish himself enough to “get away” with the actions that seemingly led to his UFC exit.

    Entering this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, many would have expected a victory for Mokaev to pave the way for a first-time title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Instead, “The Punisher” is posting Job Centre memes having been left without a spot on the UFC roster. How did he get there? Well, seemingly a number of incidents outside the Octagon that left Dana White and the matchmakers wanting out.

    While White remained tight-lipped on the exact reasons behind the decision not to offer Mokaev a new contract following his decision win over Manel Kape, he insisted it wasn’t down to the grappler’s fighting style.

    Many have pointed to the fight week altercation he caused with “Starboy” after sucker-punching him outside a hotel as the kind of incident that likely contributed to the surprising release.

    Mokaev’s supporters have hit back at the UFC, accusing the promotion of double standards given the the history of controversy involving the likes of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. According to one of the sport’s fan favorites, though, Mokaev hadn’t reached the level of stardom required to gain some immunity in the eyes of the UFC brass…

    Matt Brown Backs UFC Decision To Let Mokaev Go

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, retired UFC veteran Matt Brown reacted to Mokaev’s shock departure, which came on the back of the Dagestan-born Brit extending his perfect professional record to 13-0 and UFC slate to 7-0.

    “I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.

    “Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in wait for Mokaev and his career in the coming months. If he has his way, it will seemingly be an immediate return to the UFC flyweight division.

    This week, “The Punisher” has shut down talk of PFL negotiations and insisted he only sees his future playing out inside the Octagon.

  • VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    The lead-up to Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306/Noche UFC headliner at the Sphere in September looks set to be a heated one.

    Mixed martial arts’ premier organization will stage its second celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. Las Vegas is once again the host venue, but the Octagon will be in significantly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC will take place inside the unique Sphere venue. For months now, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a sporting spectacle like nothing seen before.

    Tasked with delivering on that with blockbuster action inside the cage are headliners O’Malley and Dvalishvili, who will collide with the former’s bantamweight championship on the line in the main event.

    The pair have long gone back and forth over their matchup, and that trend shows no sign of waning as UFC 306 approaches…

    O’Malley, Dvalishvili Trade Barbs Over Coach Altercation

    “Sugar” and his Georgian challenger recently shared the same space to complete a promotional shoot for the highly anticipated Sphere show.

    Unsurprisingly, things threatened to boil over. And as O’Malley and Dvalishvili exchanged words, their fellow UFC 306 fighter Alexa Grasso reveled in the tension…

    The point of discussion appeared to surround an altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s head coach Tim Welch back in May. The incident also involved Aljamain Sterling, who had accused the trainer of heckling him from the corner during his title defeat to “Sugar” last August.

    “I will smash O’Malley inside the cage and then smash his coach outside of the cage,” Dvalishvili said.

    O’Malley told his upcoming opponent to follow through on his threats.

    “If you have a problem with him, you can take it up with him. He’ll fight you. If that’s what you want. After the fight, you should definitely try to smack his face. You should definitely try that. That would be funny. You should try that.”

    When Dvalishvili said he was hoping to catch up with Welch on the streets, O’Malley once again welcomed that possiblity.

    “You could street fight him. I’d love to see that. You want to die? Is that what you’re saying? He’ll kill you.”

  • Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Jon Jones is expected to face Stipe Miocic before the end of 2024, with Dana White recently stating that the winner will step into the Octagon against Tom Aspinall to unify the UFC heavyweight championship.

    Jones has been out of action since winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Although Aspinall has won and defended the interim title, “Bones” is still the official champion and holds a solid #3 ranking in the pound-for-pound list.

    “Bones” has repeatedly talked about considering retirement after the Miocic fight as well. One former UFC champ, however, thinks this move could be detrimental to his legacy…

    Michael Bisping Claims Jon Jones Would Lose Fans If He Retires Without Fighting Tom Aspinall

    Michael Bisping recently discussed the future of the UFC heavyweight division on his official YouTube channel. The winner of Jones vs. Miocic is expected to face Aspinall next, and early odds favor the interim champ.

    “The Count” claimed that despite his GOAT status as a light heavyweight, Jones’ inactivity at heavyweight makes him an underdog against Aspinall. But the former UFC middleweight kingpin also highlighted that his opponent’s lack of fighting experience could benefit Jones, who boasts a record 15 UFC title wins.

    “He hasn’t got the in-ring time, he hasn’t got the experience, the fight IQ of a Jon Jones.”

    Bisping’s other concern is regarding Jones’ will to fight after the Miocic fight. The decision is largely dependent on his performance, and in the eyes of “The Count,” retiring without unifying the heavyweight title wouldn’t sit well with a lot of fans.

    Jones vs. Aspinall has been a highly anticipated fight for over a year now. While the Brit has been respectfully waiting for the opportunity, many think that “Bones” is avoiding the Aspinall fight due to the higher risk of losing.

    Bisping believes such narratives will only get stronger if the UFC heavyweight champion retires after his next scheduled fight.

    “It would suck. Not only would it suck, but it would also be not the best move for Jon Jones in terms of fan appreciation. The narrative would always be that he was ducking Tom Aspinall.”

  • Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.

    With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.

    Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.

    From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…

    Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier

    Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:

    • Islam Makhachev
    • Arman Tsarukyan
    • Dustin Poirier
    • Conor McGregor
    • Max Holloway
    • Justin Gaethje
    • Alexander Volkanovski
    • Colby Covington

    Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.

    “Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”

    “Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.

    The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.

    Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.

    Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.

  • NSAC Withholds Portion Of Mayra Bueno Silva’s Purse For Cage Jump After UFC 303 Loss

    NSAC Withholds Portion Of Mayra Bueno Silva’s Purse For Cage Jump After UFC 303 Loss

    Mayra Bueno Silva lost to Macy Chiasson at UFC 303 after the cageside doctor stopped the fight due to a deep cut above her left eyebrow. Although the Brazilian was keen to continue fighting, Chiasson was handed the TKO win.

    As Chiasson began celebrating her International Fight Week victory, “Sheetara” hopped the cage and rushed to talk to Dana White. While still dripping in blood from the cut, she seemed to complain about the stoppage and the UFC CEO naturally had no control over the situation.

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has now punished Silva for jumping over the cage at UFC 303, withholding a portion of her purse.

    Mayra Bueno Silva Facing Fined For Jumping Over The Cage At UFC 303

    MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported on X that the NSAC has temporarily cut $2,500 from Bueno Silva’s UFC 303 purse, which amounts to $100,000. Jumping over the Octagon is banned for safety reasons, even though fighters often ignore this rule in the rush of winning a fight.

    King also stated that the women’s bantamweight contender might be asked to pay a fine, which will be determined at the commission’s meeting on August 27.

    If Bueno Silva ends up being fined, she would join Diego Lopes on the list of those recently punished. He had to pay $2,500 for jumping over the cage after his UFC 300 win over Sodiq Yusuff. The commission originally withheld $5,000 from his purse, and Bueno Silva’s sailing on a similar boat.

    Unsurprisingly, Bueno Silva’s penalty has received a mixed response in MMA circles. Some fans have called out the commission for not being equally strict about fouls that happen during fights.

    Suspensions and fines for actions beyond fighting are fairly common in the UFC. The most prominent example is Arman Tsarukyan, the #1-ranked UFC lightweight contender, who is currently facing a six-month suspension for punching a fan while walking out at UFC 300.

  • Former UFC Champion: ‘Falling From Grace’ Transformed Paddy Pimblett As A Fighter

    Former UFC Champion: ‘Falling From Grace’ Transformed Paddy Pimblett As A Fighter

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently remarked that the constant doubts surrounding Paddy Pimblett might have been the catalyst for his transformation into a better fighter.

    “The Baddy” delivered probably the most impressive performance of his UFC career so far this past weekend. He decisively defeated King Green with a stunning triangle-armbar combination in the first round of their lightweight bout on the main card of UFC 304 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Although Green had a size advantage over Pimblett, he found it challenging to connect his combinations effectively at the beginning of the fight. Meanwhile, Pimblett focused on landing powerful calf kicks. This strategy seemed to unsettle the American, who attempted a takedown midway through the round. The 29-year-old Scouser expertly countered with a guillotine choke before swiftly transitioning into a triangle choke from the bottom.

    Pimblett seamlessly adjusted to Green’s escape attempts, tightening the submission hold with each passing second. He smoothly transitioned the choke into an armbar, and as Green lost consciousness, the referee stepped in to halt the fight at 3:22.

    Despite his six-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon, Pimblett remains a frequent target of online criticism. However, “The Reaper” believes this persistent skepticism has fueled Pimblett’s evolution…

    Whittaker Believes Pimblett Is More Tuned In

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker shared his insights on “The Baddy’s” performance at UFC 304.

    The Aussie remarked that Pimblett has shown significant evolution since his previous bouts, displaying an impressive level of focus and grit to secure the victory.

    “I think that falling from grace he had just, you know, lit a fire up his a**,” Whittaker said. “He’s just got so much better for it. I feel like he’s more focused, he’s more switched on than we’ve seen before. And that was the Paddy I wanted to see because that was the one we saw against [Tony] Ferguson. Like, that level of determination, that level of focus, you know, that ability to stay on task, and mate, that’s exactly what happened.

    “Paddy saw an opportunity when Bobby was waiting for a takedown and had the guts and the confidence to go for the submission attempts. That’s half the work — the confidence to go for your submission attempts and to believe in them. And he did that, yeah, and he stopped a guy that doesn’t get stopped often.”

    In the post-fight Octagon interview, Pimblett radiated confidence, saying, “Statement made, b*tch,” after becoming the first fighter to submit Green.

    The Englishman then issued a challenge to Renato Moicano, proposing a showdown later this year or early next year, contingent on the Brazilian overcoming Benoît Saint Denis in their upcoming September bout.

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad shook up the welterweight division at UFC 304 this past weekend by overcoming the odds to become the welterweight champion.

    Leon Edwards had reigned for close to two years. Now, “Rocky” going back to being a contender provides some interesting options for the division.

    Fans have been critical of Muhammad’s style for some time, but the same can’t be said for the current list of top contenders at 170 pounds.

    With the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all in the mix, there’s some great matchups for Edwards, assuming that he isn’t getting a straight rematch.

    His coach believes that one of those names is the best option partly due to his history with the former champion…

    Dave Lovell Says Ian Garry Is His Pick To Fight Leon Edwards Next

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Edwards’ head coach Dave Lovell said that his preferred choice for Edwards’ bounce-back fight would be the #7-ranked Garry.

    The undefeated Irishman previously had some tension with Edwards and his team after spending a brief amount of time training with them at Team Renegade in Birmingham, England.

    Lovell said that this history combined with Garry’s current position in this division make this fight a great return for “Rocky.”

    “I’d like to see Leon fight Ian Garry. Obviously we can keep it British based, either Ireland or over here. Obviously the little background story we had going back last year is a — he’s looking for a scalp. Now Leon’s not champion, he may think well, he’s a good scalp for him to get to obviously march on to get a championship belt or title shot.

    “For Leon, if Leon beats him, that then puts him at the back of the queue and then maybe if they want one more before he fights Belal, if Belal’s still got the belt, well that’ll be the future move, the future plan.”

    Lovell believes Edwards would have the advantage in this fight because of the experience that he brings to the table.

    The Team Renegade head coach said that during Garry’s short time at the gym, they were able to identify some of the weaker areas in his game.

    “I believe Leon would beat him with the simple fact of fight experience. (Garry’s) a good lad, he’s got good skills, but we know — because we’ve seen some when he was at our gym — don’t just think he came to the gym and it was a boogie ride for him, you know, he was getting tapped out by — again, I’m not mentioning no names. If he wants to mention them, that’s up to him.”

  • Muhammad Mokaev Explains Hugging Manel Kape Post-Fight At UFC 304: ‘I’m Young, But I’m Not Stupid’

    Muhammad Mokaev Explains Hugging Manel Kape Post-Fight At UFC 304: ‘I’m Young, But I’m Not Stupid’

    Muhammad Mokaev has detailed his reasoning for burying the hatchet with Manel Kape despite their pre-fight animosity at UFC 304.

    Mokaev and Kape collided on the preliminary card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Their fight was among the most anticipated in the lead-up, partially down to the bad blood that appeared to exist between the two flyweight contenders owing to a number of physical altercations.

    Following an apparent bust-up at the UFC Performance Institute in March instigated by “Starboy,” Mokaev returned the favor on home turf during UFC 304 fight week, sucker-punching his opponent outside the fighter hotel.

    The pair went on to attempt to come to blows inside the Octagon moments before their bout, but that aggression did not transcend into the contest itself, which played out in a low-volume and unentertaining fashion en route to the scorecards.

    At the end of the final round, the pair embraced in a hug, something that many might have been surprised to see given their back and forth beforehand.

    Mokaev On Settling Kape Beef: ‘The Man Is Here To Feed His Family’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS5BRRMCNFQ&t=177s

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Mokaev reflected on his victorious performance over Kape and addressed some of the talking points that emerged from the UFC 304 matchup.

    When asked about his respectful post-fight interaction with his Angola-born Portuguese rival, “The Punisher” insisted that when it comes time to do battle inside the Octagon, the hatchet must be buried.

    “It was more personal. It happened in Vegas five days before my fight against Alex Perez. I had a cut. … Once he came to Manchester, once I see him, I had to welcome him to Manchester,” Mokaev said. “You know, the man is here to feed his family. He has a baby, I have a kid in the house. We’re both here to make our fridge full. I cannot kick a man down. He is already down.

    “In this situation, I could have got knocked out tonight too. And I wouldn’t like it if somebody kept kicking me down and talking sh*t,” Mokaev continued. “What ever happened, it happened on the streets. Inside the Octagon, I think it should be settled. I’m young, but I’m not stupid.”

    Despite that, Kape has been criticizing Mokaev on social media in recent days, first slamming him for a number of fouls that took place before later accusing him of tapping to a guillotine choke.

    The Dagestan-born Brit’s online activity, meanwhile, has largely centered around his surprise UFC release. At the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, Dana White revealed that the promotion wouldn’t be renewing Mokaev’s contract owing to factors outside of the Octagon.

  • Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks Tom Aspinall should switch strategy if he really wants to tempt Jon Jones into a fight.

    Aspinall’s case for the next shot at Jones grew ever stronger in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Close to home, Aspinall put his interim heavyweight title on the line in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, pursuing both a successful first defense and redemption for the injury-forced TKO setback he fell to opposite “Razor” in 2022.

    It took the Brit just one minute to achieve those goals, dropping Blaydes with a stiff jab before reigning down ground-and-pound for the first-round stoppage.

    As expected, Aspinall had Jones’ name on his lips post-fight, remaining respectful with his latest callout of the heavyweight titleholder. One of Jones’ former opponents, however, thinks he needs to abandon his nice nature…

    Cormier: Aspinall Must ‘Get Louder’ & ‘Rile Up’ Jones

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his take on the events that unfolded at UFC 304 from cageside inside Manchester’s Co-op Live.

    “DC” touched on his Octagon interview with Aspinall following the co-headliner, claiming the Brit needs to change approach and begin ‘riling up’ Jones if he is to ensure a future dream showdown with the former two-time light heavyweight champ.

    “This guy seems to be the future and the present of the heavyweight division,” Cormier said. “You know, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are gonna fight each other, and deservedly so. … When they get to New York and they fight, Tom Aspinall needs to be in the building, if he’s smart.

    “I watched him finish, I watched the way the crowd reacted to him, and I watched his callout to Jon Jones. And in Tom Aspinall fashion, he was nice about it,” Cormier continued. “He needs to rile up Jones a little bit to get the people more invested. … I have seen the crowd get so behind a certain person that the organization will pivot. … Maybe they’ll pivot and make Aspinall vs. Jones right now. We don’t know…but Aspinall has to get a little bit louder.”

    Jones had a short and succinct response to Aspinall’s UFC 304 triumph and post-fight callout on social media. By all accounts, the Brit’s emphatic performance did little to convince “Bones” or the UFC to alter their plans for an expected November title fight.

  • Colby Covington Describes Running Into Dustin Poirier At Florida Restaurant: ‘He Walked Out Like A Good Little B*tch’

    Colby Covington Describes Running Into Dustin Poirier At Florida Restaurant: ‘He Walked Out Like A Good Little B*tch’

    It’s been a little while now since UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was publicly beefing with a fellow fighter, but some grudges don’t go away that easily.

    The former interim welterweight champion’s high profile split from American Top Team meant that some relationships weren’t able to be rebuilt.

    Most notably, he and his former training partner Jorge Masvidal will probably never see eye-to-eye again after what happened between them both before and after they met inside the Octagon at UFC 272.

    There is another former teammate of his who will also not bury the hatchet, and with Covington still living and training around the same area, they’re bound to cross paths…

    Colby Covington Says Dustin Poirier Had His Chance But Didn’t Do Anything Last Time They Met

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Covington was asked whether he has encountered Dustin Poirier whilst being out in Florida. He said that this exact scenario actually played out not that long ago.

    In Covington’s version of events, “The Diamond” got up and left without saying anything.

    “Chaos” has called to fight his former ATT teammate several times in the past, but with lightweight fan favorite Poirier seemingly being ready to wind his career down, this looks unlikely.

    Covington stated that despite Poirier previously claiming that it was “on sight” between them, there wasn’t much of an interaction.

    “That’s funny you say that. I crossed paths with him about three months ago at NYY Steakhouse, Coconut Creek Casino, which is in the same city he trains at, the gym. He came by the steakhouse and I looked at him eye-to-eye and I was like, ‘What’s up b****? It’s on sight? Do something, say something,’ and he just walked right out the restaurant because he knows.

    “You can talk big to the media, you can talk big in front of a camera, but when you’re in front of someone’s face and you feel their energy and you know what they’re capable of, that’s when it’s a different story. Now you can’t run your mouth, now you can’t do anything. If you wanted to do something, he could have done something. I stood up, I looked him right in the eyes and he walked right out of the restaurant like a good little b****.”

  • Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Should his long wait for a Conor McGregor fight not be rewarded, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has been told to adjust his sights to Paddy Pimblett.

    Pimblett secured the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, held inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    After decisions over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson, the former of which came in close and controversial fashion, “The Baddy” entered his first shot at cracking the 155-pound rankings as an underdog.

    But on fight night, Pimblett thrilled his home fans by making good on his promise of a quick finish against King Green, choking the veteran contender out with a triangle choke following a surprising takedown attempt from the renowned brawler.

    With that, the Liverpool native has entered the top 15 and has his sights set on a top 10 contender in Renato Moicano. But according to one former fighter, Pimblett could be in line for a bigger assignment should things play out in a certain way…

    Sonnen Backs Pimblett To Replace McGregor If Comeback Delay Continues

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s impressive display on home soil.

    Assessing what could be next for “The Baddy” in his pursuit of UFC gold, “The American Gangster” ventured further up the lightweight rankings than expected, highlighting the Brit as the “perfect replacement” to fight Chandler should his long-awaited McGregor showdown remain in the fantasy realm.

    “I used to believe that Paddy was a regional fighter,” Sonnen said. “What do I mean by that? Well, he can sell a lot of tickets at a specific venue, so keep bringing him to that geographical location. You can’t main event the guy, you can’t five-round him, you can’t move him up the rankings too fast, but bring in the right opponent, we’re gonna have some fun for three or four years. I don’t see Paddy that same way anymore.

    “Paddy is two fights away, Daniel. They’ve gotta be the right two fights, but he is two fights away (from) fighting for a world championship,” Sonnen continued. “I love these rankings right here (10 to 15), but if they were to keep going, eventually they’re gonna come to a name called Michael Chandler. If Michael Chandler does not get the fight with Conor, this, to me, looks like the perfect replacement.”

    Judging by his reactions on social media, Chandler was seemingly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts inside the cage at UFC 304. Nevertheless, he doesn’t appear to have his focus on “The Baddy” just yet.

    As has been the case since the start of 2023, Chandler remains hell-bent on sharing the Octagon with McGregor. Following their UFC 303 cancellation, latest reports have placed their rearranged showdown at the Las Vegas pay-per-view in December.