MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Conor McGregor Is Enjoying Every Second As Authorities Seize Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Luxury Car Collection

    Conor McGregor Is Enjoying Every Second As Authorities Seize Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Luxury Car Collection

    The feud between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov will never come to an end, especially as far as the Irishman is concerned.

    You never have to wait too long for “The Notorious” to make more comments about “The Eagle” retiring or being scared of having a real fight.

    However, in recent times, McGregor hasn’t needed much additional ammunition because of the news regarding Nurmagomedov’s on-going issues with the Federal Tax Service.

    Mash.ru initially reported that the former UFC lightweight champion owed roughly $3.5 million in unpaid taxes to the Russian government.

    The issues seem to stem from what was described as “uncovered irregularities in documents” regarding businesses that Nurmagomedov is invested in.

    In the latest update as this case still unfolds, Mash.ru have now stated that he has had his car collection seized to a total of around $900,000, after his bank accounts were already frozen.

    Conor McGregor Reposts Explains His Thoughts On Latest Khabib Nurmagomedov Update

    McGregor has already commented on Nurmagomedov’s financial issues several times but he’s never going to miss an opportunity to take a free shot at his former foe.

    Whilst he didn’t respond directly on this occasion, “The Mac” let his presence be known via reposting a video that was targeted at him.

    Underneath the above post which details what vehicles have been seized, a fan responded with a video of McGregor driving his own boat to the soundtrack of “Still D.R.E”.

    McGregor reposted the video without adding any additional context, not that it was necessary to get his point across successfully.

    https://twitter.com/Lizard69Talking/status/1815860630986821933

    Read also: Former UFC Champion Feels Alex Pereira vs. Jake Paul Not A Foregone Conclusion: ‘I Don’t Think It’s An Unwinnable Fight For Jake’

  • Manel Kape Claims Muhammad Mokaev Stopped Training At ATT After Being Constantly Submitted By Alexandre Pantoja

    Manel Kape Claims Muhammad Mokaev Stopped Training At ATT After Being Constantly Submitted By Alexandre Pantoja

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape has heard some things regarding past training sessions between his upcoming opponent Muhammad Mokaev and champion Alexandre Pantoja.

    Having had a weight miss and an injury keep him out for the entirety of 2024 thus far, Kape is set to finally make his return to action at this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    To stake his claim for a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage and rematch with Pantoja, “Starboy” is tasked with blemishing the perfect UFC and professional record of Britain’s Mokaev.

    Given what he’s seen from “The Punisher’s” recent fights, Kape has appeared extremely confident about his chances of doing so.

    While yet to taste defeat in the cage, Mokaev’s latest victories have seemingly left plenty to be desired in the eyes of some fans and peers. That includes in the mind of Pantoja, who has requested to see more from the former IMMAF champion if he’s to challenge for the belt.

    And when it comes to Mokaev’s chances against “The Cannibal,” Kape recently explained why he expects “The Punisher” to be exposed against the division’s elite…

    Kape: Mokaev ‘Tapped A Lot’ To Pantoja At ATT

    During his appearance at UFC 304 media day on Wednesday, Kape looked ahead to his battle with Mokaev on Saturday night.

    When discussing the champ’s comments about his opponent, “Starboy” referenced their history training together at American Top Team. Kape claimed that Mokaev no longer heads to the Coconut Creek-based facility to train due to the struggles he had on the ground against Pantoja.

    “Pantoja can say a lot of things of him because they trained before together, and I know Pantoja had been submitting him a lot, a lot,” Kape said. “He (Mokaev) tapped a lot. It’s the reason that Mokaev don’t go train more at ATT.”

    If that’s true, it seemingly wouldn’t be a surprise for Kape, whose analysis of Mokaev’s game has led to him identifying plenty of mistakes for high-level flyweights to exploit inside the Octagon.

    “There is a lot of mistakes. He’s been struggling a lot. A lot, a lot of mistakes. If he faces somebody in the top three of the UFC (flyweight) rankings, he’s gonna get finished. So it’s gonna be fun.”

    Kape will hope that also applies to some further down the pecking order, with the Angola-born Portuguese flyweight currently occupying the #8 position on the 125-pound ladder.

    He’ll be looking to climb further toward contention and perhaps secure a top five spot by putting on a standout performance on UK soil this weekend.

  • Belal Muhammad Outlines Where He’s Being ‘Underrated’ Ahead Of UFC 304 Title Fight

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad believes the masses aren’t giving some aspects of his game the attention they deserve.

    Muhammad is in Manchester, England, this week in pursuit of the 170-pound title, which he’ll have his first career shot at in the main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view on Saturday night.

    To return back across the Atlantic with a sizable piece of gold added to his luggage, “Remember the Name” must bring the reign of Leon Edwards to an end in enemy territory.

    Muhammad has long awaited his opening opportunity to win the belt, having won five straight since a no contest against Edwards in their 2021 fight and remained on the sidelines for the 14 months since his most recent triumph over Gilbert Burns.

    During that time and in the lead-up to UFC 304, the Chicago standout hasn’t been short of detractors when it comes to his chances of reaching the welterweight mountaintop.

    But having seen the waves of criticism that arrive at his feet, Muhammad is confident that his doubters — including the champion and his team — aren’t aware of just how good he really is in certain areas…

    Muhammad Claims To Be ‘One Of The Most Complete Fighters’ In The UFC

    During a recent interview with Zac Pacleb for UFC.com, Muhammad looked ahead to his title opportunity across the pond this weekend.

    “Remember the Name” has frequently acknowledged the dismissive attitude toward his chances held by some fans and those in Edwards’ camp, outlining the areas they are all underestimating him in.

    “I think that my IQ is underrated,” Muhammad said. “My style is underrated. The way that I go into fights, people don’t understand the strategy. I beat these guys where they’re weakest. I take them to the weakest point. That’s where I beat them at. I could do it all.

    “I think that people are starting to realize I am truly one of the best complete fighters in the UFC,” Muhammad added.

    Muhammad will look to prove as much come fight night in Manchester by achieving what both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington failed to in 2023.

    And more than just having his hand raised and the belt wrapped around his waist on Saturday night, “Remember the Name” has vowed to dominate the welterweight kingpin and finish him before the championship rounds.

  • Beneil Dariush Brands Teammate Giga Chikadze The ‘Best In The World When He’s On’ Ahead Of UFC 304

    Beneil Dariush Brands Teammate Giga Chikadze The ‘Best In The World When He’s On’ Ahead Of UFC 304

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze has received a glowing endorsement from his teammate Beneil Dariush ahead of his return this weekend.

    Chikaze will head to enemy territory for his first assignment of 2024, clashing with England’s own Arnold Allen in the opening fight on the UFC 304 pay-per-view main card at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday.

    The Georgian previously had his fast charge toward a title shot violently stalled by Calvin Kattar at the start of 2022, with the brutal nature of that setback keeping him out for 19 months.

    But having returned successfully in Singapore last August and defended his spot in the top 10 at 145 pounds against Alex Caceres, “Ninja” has his sights back on those above him in the pecking order in pursuit of a title clash with Ilia Topuria.

    And when it comes to the July 27 matchup and any other bout for him in the division, Dariush sees Chikadze at his best as a step above the competition…

    Dariush Speaks Highly Of Fellow Kings MMA Standout Chikadze, Including His Grappling

    During episode two of the UFC 304 Embedded: Vlog Series, Chikadze can be seen putting in the work alongside lightweight contender Beneil Dariush over at Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California.

    Speaking to the camera, Dariush praised not just Chikadze’s well-known striking, but also his ever-improving grappling game. And with those developments in mind, the veteran 155lber sees the Georgian as featherweight’s top fighter when he’s firing on all cylinders.

    “It’s obvious to see how great his striking is, right? But I think the place he’s improved the most is his grappling. I think there’s been a shift in Giga’s mindset,” Dariush said. “His game is just, it’s changed so much since his days in kickboxing. When Giga’s on, he’s the best in the world. We’re gonna show up (at UFC 304) and we’re make sure he’s on.”

    With that in mind, perhaps Allen — who is coming off a wrestling-heavy defeat to Movsar Evloev — isn’t in for the preferred striking battle he’s after and has preached about in the lead-up to UFC 304.

    “Almighty” got exactly that the last time he competed on home soil, with lightweight contender Dan Hooker falling to a flurry of strikes early into their clash at a London-held UFC Fight Night in 2022.

    Having slipped from title contention with consecutive losses, Allen will no doubt be hoping to deliver a similar statement display on home soil this weekend.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Curtis Blaydes Smashing Jailton Almeida With Hammerfists To Secure Interim Title Shot At UFC 304 

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Curtis Blaydes Smashing Jailton Almeida With Hammerfists To Secure Interim Title Shot At UFC 304 

    UFC 304 co-headliner Curtis Blaydes’ latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable fashion four months ago.

    The #4-ranked heavyweight contender is set to feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, where he’ll challenge for the division’s interim title against Tom Aspinall.

    To earn that opportunity, which marks his first shot at UFC gold, “Razor” stalled the charge of the highly touted Jailton Almeida in violent fashion at UFC 299 in Miami this past April.

    Off the back of a grappling-heavy decision win over Derrick Lewis in Brazil last November, “Malhadinho” picked up where he left off by attempting early takedowns on Blaydes. But after a round of control, Almeida’s grappling entry seconds into the second round was met with hammerfist after hammerfist from the American for the TKO stoppage.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Blaydes vs. Almeida fight from UFC 299 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xdh-kxt5N8

    Blaydes will hope to deliver a similarly emphatic finish at the expense of Aspinall this weekend.

    Should he accomplish that feat, “Razor” will not only head back to the United States with gold in his possession for the very first time, but he will also add a more definitive victory over the Brit to his record following the unfortunate ending to their 2022 bout.

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Conor McGregor Could Have Come Up With Better Excuse Than ‘Discolored Pinky Toe’ To Pull Out Of UFC 303

    Chael Sonnen Feels Conor McGregor Could Have Come Up With Better Excuse Than ‘Discolored Pinky Toe’ To Pull Out Of UFC 303

    Chael Sonnen is stirring the pot once again, aiming his barbs at Conor McGregor and accusing the former two-division champion of fabricating his injury to dodge a fight at UFC 303.

    “The Notorious” was set to make his eagerly awaited return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout, headlining UFC’s International Fight Week last month. However, just weeks before the fight, that anticipation was dashed when McGregor announced he had suffered a toe injury, rendering him unable to compete.

    When the fight was canceled, Sonnen speculated that McGregor withdrew due to being in rehab for substance abuse. This theory provoked a heated rebuttal from the Irishman, who shared numerous photos of his bruised toe to refute the claim.

    However, this didn’t deter the former UFC middleweight title challenger from questioning the authenticity of McGregor’s claims. Last month, he boldly asserted that the injury was a ruse, devised solely to avoid the bout with Chandler.

    Sonnen once again targeted McGregor, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his injury claim with unrelenting skepticism…

    Sonnen Amplifies Scrutiny Over McGregor’s Toe Injury

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Bad Guy” once again aired his doubts about McGregor’s alleged broken toe.

    Sonnen scrutinized the timeline of events following his supposed injury and questioned why McGregor missed the Dublin press conference.

    “I’m looking out for his version of a discolored pinky toe that may or may not be broken,” Sonnen said. “It wouldn’t explain the absence of a press conference, and that’s where you get jammed up. Where was it? Where could you have been that precluded you from coming to a press conference? You don’t have to drive yourself.”

    Sonnen further speculated whether the photos of bruised toes McGregor shared on social media were genuinely his or possibly someone else’s.

    “You start running out of options, and so when you go with a discolored pinky toe that may or may not belong to you and may or may not be broken, I’m just wondering, in hindsight, do you look back on that and think it was a little bit of a miss because we’re not owed an explanation?”

    McGregor has been sidelined from active competition since fracturing his leg in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    Although his return has yet to be rescheduled, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that McGregor won’t re-enter the Octagon before November. However, it remains uncertain whether he will face Chandler for his comeback.

  • Paddy Pimblett Praises ‘Big Sister’ Molly McCann’s Training Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘She’s Coming To Take Bruna’s Soul!’

    Paddy Pimblett Praises ‘Big Sister’ Molly McCann’s Training Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘She’s Coming To Take Bruna’s Soul!’

    UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett is confident of Molly McCann starting the night off in strong fashion for their team this weekend.

    Both Pimblett and McCann will be in action at UFC 304, set for the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27. The pair will look to recreate their double does of success at two London-held UFC Fight Nights back in 2022.

    First to the cage will be “Meatball,” who is slated to throw down with Bruna Brasil on the preliminary portion of the event. The bout marks her sophomore strawweight outing, having moved down following consecutive defeats at 125 pounds.

    In her divisional debut, McCann impressed by showing new wrinkles to her game in a gruesome armbar submission victory over Diana Belbiţă this past February.

    And having seen her preparation pre-UFC 304, Pimblett is expecting a similarly emphatic performance in a few days’ time…

    Pimblett: McCann In ‘Best Shape Of Her Life’ Ahead Of UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett broke down and predicted the matchups set to play out in Manchester this weekend.

    When it came to his teammate and friend’s second fight since dropping to strawweight, the Liverpudlian unsurprisingly backed McCann to get the job done in convincing fashion.

    More than just a Next Generation MMA bias, “The Baddy” touted McCann’s work behind closed doors as justification for his one-sided pick.

    “Next fight, my big sister, Molly the ‘Meatball’ McCann. … Yous know I don’t need to give a prediction for this,” Pimblett said. “Molly is in the best shape of her life. I’ve never seen her look so good in sparring and in strength and conditioning and everything.

    “She’s coming to take Bruna’s soul. I’m predicting a TKO for Molly in this fight,” Pimblett continued. “You never know though. Just like last time, she could get a submission. People are sleeping on her jiu-jitsu game.”

    McCann will look to prove Pimblett’s prediction correct when she makes the walk on Saturday’s preliminary card and in doing so set the stage for “The Baddy” to record a crucial victory of his own over Bobby “King” Green on PPV.

  • Fans React As Belal Muhammad Says UFC 304 Win Puts Him Right Below GSP: ‘People Who Believe The Moon Is Made Of Cheese Are Less Wrong’

    Fans React As Belal Muhammad Says UFC 304 Win Puts Him Right Below GSP: ‘People Who Believe The Moon Is Made Of Cheese Are Less Wrong’

    UFC welterweight challenger Belal Muhammad’s bold claim regarding his division’s GOAT contention drew out plenty of reactions on social media.

    Muhammad is currently across the pond ahead of his first opportunity at winning gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. He’ll headline Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view in competition for Leon Edwards’ title inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Riding a 10-fight unbeaten streak, “Remember the Name” has been firm in stating that a crowning is inevitable. He’s made claims of superiority over Edwards, whose skillset he’s frequently downplayed. He even recently placed the champ down at fourth in his welterweight rankings.

    Despite that, though, Muhammad stated during a fight week interview with MMA Fighting that a victory over “Rocky” at UFC 304 will put him directly below the great Georges St-Pierre in the division’s GOAT discussion.

    “That belt doesn’t belong on his shoulder, it belongs on my shoulder,” Muhammad said. “My goal isn’t just to be the champion; my goal is to be the best welterweight to ever do it. For me to go out there and beat Leon, who beat Usman twice who everybody thought was the best welterweight to do it, then I’m ahead of him and right underneath GSP.

    “When you look at both of our lineups, it’s like, I beat ‘Wonderboy,’ I beat this guy, I beat that guy, then I get these next young killers,” Muhammad continued. “You give me the Shavkats, you give me the JDMs, the Ian Garrys, and (if) I walk through all of them, there’s nothing else, right? I’m just going to be cemented as the best to ever do it.”

    Fans React To Muhammad’s Claim To Second In Welterweight GOAT Debate: ‘Complete Insanity’

    Unsurprisingly, those remarks from a polarizing figure in Muhammad led to plenty of pushback from his detractors on social media, with many branding the top welterweight contender “delusional.”

    https://twitter.com/Glade2meetU/status/1815790603076043124
    https://twitter.com/Paulthefig/status/1815761913642639540
    https://twitter.com/CovertBetsMMA/status/1815758612758667394
  • Curtis Blaydes Dismisses Notion He’s Planning To Target Knee Tom Aspinall Injured: ‘I Can’t Even Tell You Which One It Is’

    Curtis Blaydes Dismisses Notion He’s Planning To Target Knee Tom Aspinall Injured: ‘I Can’t Even Tell You Which One It Is’

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes plans to defeat Tom Aspinall without the aid of a severe injury second time around.

    Blaydes is back in enemy territory this week to run it back with Aspinall in competition for his interim title in the co-main event of UFC 304, set for the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday night.

    The pair previously shared the cage in the country’s capital two years ago, headlining a UFC Fight Night at The O2. On that night, Aspinall had his previously perfect UFC record blemished courtesy of a freak injury just 15 seconds into the very first round.

    In that regard, Blaydes is hoping that lightening doesn’t strike twice…

    Blaydes Doesn’t Want Help From An Injury At UFC 304: ‘That Stains The Win’

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Blaydes looked ahead to his second dance with Aspinall and first chance to capture gold on MMA’s biggest stage.

    While many would perhaps be inclined to put additional focus on the limb that gave way 15 seconds into their first fight, Blaydes dismissed any suggestion that he’ll employ such a strategy in Manchester.

    “I mean, not unless it’s something I can immediate target or there’s a read, I see him with a limp,” Blaydes said. “But that’s not like, the gameplan, ‘Oh, attack his lead leg.’ I’ll be honest, I can’t even tell you which one (leg) it is, off the dome. No, that’s not part of the gameplan.

    “I don’t want to win by an injury. That stains the win. You can’t really brag about a win when the guy got injured,” Blaydes continued. “if it happens, it happens. I’ll take the belt. But it’s not the plan.”

    With that said, Blaydes will be looking to have his hand raised at the expense of Aspinall thanks to his arsenal of weapons inside of the Octagon.

    While that’s conventionally been his smothering wrestling game, the likes of Chris Daukaus and most recently Jailton Almeida have felt the full force of “Razor’s” striking power.

  • Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’

    Francis Ngannou Provides Positive Update On PFL Debut: ‘I Think It’s Going To Be Him…’

    It appears that all systems are finally go for Francis Ngannou’s debut under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since his successful title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. Since then, he’s departed the UFC off the back of a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home.

    “The Predator” put pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the PFL last May, which also sees him as the chairman of PFL Africa, set to launch in 2025. He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him to complete a long-desired venture to the boxing ring.

    And after shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou remained in the boxing world for a blockbuster matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A brutal knockout loss to “AJ” in Saudi Arabia this past March appeared to put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and it now appears that Ngannou’s sights are back on the sport in which he made his name…

    Ngannou Says PFL Debut In The Works For October

    During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou revealed that his MMA return and PFL debut is in the works over a year on from his signing.

    “The Predator” confirmed that the promotion’s second pay-per-view is targeted for October 19 in Saudi Arabia, and that the current plan is for him to share the cage with 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira.

    “We have a good relationship. I have a fight. I will be fighting by the end of the year,” Ngannou said. “I think Renan Ferreira is the guy. I’ve been telling people about this guy for almost two years. Very athletic, fast hands, one-two…very athletic. I think it’s going to be him.

    “That’s what the PFL is working on. … They’re working on October. It’s not finalized yet, but they (were) talking about October 19,” Ngannou added.

    Ngannou’s remarks come as the second indication that the PFL will stage a major card in Riyadh on Oct. 19. Earlier this month, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero claimed he’s set to challenge Corey Anderson for the Bellator light heavyweight title on that date.

    While the date comes as a fresh update for “The Predator’s” MMA return, Ferreira has been lined up as the opposition ever since his standout performance in the main event of the PFL vs. Bellator PPV card this past February.

    In the main event, “Problema” knockout out Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader just 21 seconds into the very first round. He now looks in line to be rewarded for that performance with the kind of handsome payday set to come with fighting Ngannou in the PFL.

  • Belal Muhammad Ranks Leon Edwards As Fourth-Best Welterweight In The UFC Right Now

    Belal Muhammad Ranks Leon Edwards As Fourth-Best Welterweight In The UFC Right Now

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad doesn’t believe he’s fighting for the title against the division’s best this weekend.

    Muhammad’s long-awaited chance to reach the mountaintop on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage is now just days away, with the 36-year-old set to challenge for Leon Edwards’ gold in the main event of UFC 304.

    The pay-per-view card will be staged inside the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, this Saturday night, with Edwards and Muhammad’s second dance set to follow another title rematch between interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes.

    “Remember the Name” will make the walk through a hostile crowd as the underdog on July 27, tasked with achieving a feat that both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington have failed to since “Rocky’s” 2022 crowning.

    But Muhammad has unwavering confidence when it comes to upsetting the odds. And to do so, the challenger doesn’t think he even needs to beat a top-three welterweight in the UFC…

    Muhammad Puts Himself, Usman, Rakhmonov Above UFC 304 Opponent Edwards

    During a recent interview with Kaz Crossley for Title Sports Network, Muhammad looked ahead to his first title opportunity in enemy territory this weekend and assessed the man looking to stall his championship ambitions.

    When asked to rank his current top five in the welterweight division, Muhammad put Edwards all the way down at fourth, below a man the champ has beaten consecutively in recent years, ex-titleholder Usman.

    “I would be one. Then I would put Kamaru two, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) three. I would put Leon four. And then number five, I would put Jack Della (Maddalena),” Muhammad said. “Man, you’re gonna lose the last couple fans you have left once I take the belt away from you. sorry bro. … I don’t like Leon. My other opponents, I didn’t wanna fake it (trash talk) with like, a ‘Wonderboy’ or a Maia. … It’s easier to bully him (Edwards).”

    Muhammad will look to prove his claim to superiority over Edwards come fight night in Manchester this weekend and secure the division’s top spot in the process.

    Should he accomplish that feat, all signs point toward a first defense against the undefeated Rakhmonov. And given Muhammad’s rankings, he’d no doubt be confident of a successful title retention.

  • Jon Jones Reacts After ABC Officially Approves Removal Of Ban On 12-6 Elbows

    Jon Jones Reacts After ABC Officially Approves Removal Of Ban On 12-6 Elbows

    Some big changes are coming to the Unified Rules of MMA later this year.

    The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) is holding its annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, this week. The latest rule vote took place on Tuesday, and it saw a couple of long-awaited changes approved.

    The first surrounds the ban on fighters throwing “12-6” elbows. The linear downward elbow is notably responsible for the sole defeat on the record of light heavyweight legend and reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

    Debate has long raged on over the prohibition on the move, with the direction of the elbows perceived to be more dangerous than a conventional, angled strike by some. But after many in the community argued against that claim, committee members unanimously voted on the ban’s removal this week.

    Jones, who was handed a disqualification defeated against Matt Hamill back in 2009, reacted to the news on Instagram. Alongside an image of his bout with Hamill, “Bones” tagged Dana White and reiterated his desire to get the blemish scrubbed from his record.

    “Undefeated then, undefeated now,” Jones wrote. “@danawhite we gotta get that loss out of the history books.”

    While Ariel Helwani has reported that Jones will be able to retroactively appeal the defeat, it would appear unlikely for the result to be overturned given that the ban was in place at the time.

    Changes To Definition Of A Grounded Fighter Also Approved By ABC

    Removing the ban on “12-6” elbows wasn’t the only successful rule change at this year’s ABC conference. The committee also looked to rectify the confusion and disagreement regarding what constitutes a grounded fighter.

    The topic notable reared its head this year when Arnold Allen fired off knees to the head of Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 this past January. The blows were deemed illegal owing to the Russian placing one hand on the ground.

    Many suggested that the Englishman was unfairly robbed of a potential finish, and from November 1 onwards, he’ll now be able to utilize that offense.

    Previously, the language in the rulebook stated that any part of the body other than the sole of the feet touching the floor would make a fighter grounded. The new language approved this week is as follows:

    “A fighter shall be considered grounded and may not be legally kneed or kicked to the head when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the canvas (ground).”

    Both the new definition for a grounded fighter and the removal of the ban on “12’6” elbows officially come into place on November 1, 2024.

  • Kamaru Usman Honest About Brother Mohammed’s Latest UFC Loss: ‘Is This What You Want To Do Or Is It Not…’

    Kamaru Usman Honest About Brother Mohammed’s Latest UFC Loss: ‘Is This What You Want To Do Or Is It Not…’

    Kamaru Usman candidly shared his thoughts on his brother Mohammed’s recent UFC defeat, expressing that he could have performed significantly better.

    “The Motor” suffered his second consecutive defeat in the Octagon this past Saturday, falling to Thomas Petersen during the preliminary portion of the UFC Fight Night event at the Apex in Las Vegas.

    The fight began with both men cautiously gauging distance. Midway through the round, Petersen connected with a solid left hand, pressed forward, landed a knee, and finished the round strong with a front headlock and more strikes.

    In the second round, Usman resumed jabbing but was quickly countered by his opponent, who landed a potent left hand and secured a takedown. Usman managed a technical standup but looked fatigued.

    In the third and final round, “The Train” landed another heavy strike and consistently countered his opponent’s single shots. With a minute left, Petersen dominated, finishing with a crucial takedown and ground-and-pound. Petersen defeated Usman by unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the contest 30-27.

    Mohammed’s elder brother appears disheartened by the setback, but “The Nigerian Nightmare” believes there’s ample scope for refinement and an opportunity for a powerful comeback…

    Kamaru Sees Growth Potential In Mohammed’s Game Plan Misstep

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman weighed in on his younger brother’s loss to Petersen. “The Nigerian Nightmare” critiqued Mohammed’s performance, pointing out that he deviated from his game plan and made several tactical errors, ultimately costing him the bout.

    “You know, disappointing loss for him,” Usman said. “But I think this was one of those crossroads fights that lets you know, is this what you want to do or is this not what you want to do? I think he’s right now, sitting at home, reflecting on all the work that he put in. Did you go out there and fight to your abilities? You did not. You didn’t go out there, you didn’t execute the game plan, you didn’t execute what you’re capable of doing.”

    The former UFC welterweight champion added that “The Motor” must reevaluate his mistakes and work on them to improve himself for a stronger return.

    “I know that’s something that’s very, very tough for him to deal with, but he’s sitting in it. He has to deal with it, he has to understand it, and it’s something that’s potentially going to make him much, much stronger. Like I say, it’s tough to enjoy the great times and winning when you don’t know what losing feels like. So, I think he’s feeling it right now, and I think he’s going to go back, reassess, recompose himself, and go back to it.”

    The younger Usman currently boasts an Octagon record of 3-2, having made a striking entrance into the UFC with a second-round knockout victory over Zac Pauga in The Ultimate Fighter 30 Finale in August 2022.

    While Mohammed shows promise as a fighter, he has yet to reach the same level of success that his brother achieved in his storied career.

  • Daniel Cormier Believes Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad Are Underestimating Each Other Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Both Of These Guys Are Much Better…’

    Daniel Cormier Believes Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad Are Underestimating Each Other Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Both Of These Guys Are Much Better…’

    Daniel Cormier recently remarked that Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad’s assertions of downplaying each other’s abilities ahead of their rematch at UFC 304 are far more than mere wordplay.

    Edwards is set to put his title on the line against Muhammad in the main event of the upcoming UFC pay-per-view this Saturday in front of his hometown crowd at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    The two fighters first collided in a short-notice bout during the main event of UFC Fight Night in March 2021. Regrettably, an accidental eye poke in the second round compelled “Remember the Name” to bow out, resulting in the bout being ruled a no-contest.

    Since their rematch was announced this past May, both rivals have been relentlessly downplaying each other’s abilities through trash talk in interviews and social media posts. Muhammad, in particular, has gone so far as to label Edwards as the “easiest” opponent he could face in the division.

    While the animosity between Edwards and Muhammad is palpable, the former UFC two-division champion believes their trash talk is merely a tactic to rile each other up and hype the fight…

    Cormier Dismisses Edwards and Muhammad’s Verbal Jabs As ‘Gamesmanship’

    During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, “DC” observed that both Edwards and Muhammad seem to be underestimating each other, each believing that their opponent hasn’t improved since their first fight three years ago.

    “I think we’re in a situation where both of these guys are looking at the other, going, ‘Well, he ain’t what he’s supposed to be,’” Cormier said. “When I hear Leon Edwards talk about the competition, it feels like ‘Rocky’ expects the Belal that he kicked in the head in round one of the first fight, and then he was kind of beating, but it’s not the same Belal Muhammad.

    “But I know Belal Muhammad needs to recognize that it’s not the same Leon Edwards. We saw Leon Edwards change from fight one to fight two against Kamaru Usman.”

    The UFC Hall of Famer noted that both fighters are deliberately making provocative remarks to get under each other’s skin and boost their own confidence ahead of their upcoming clash.

    “I truly believe that it is all gamesmanship. We’re getting to the point where the gamesmanship starts to show, where you insult the guy to make yourself feel more confident going into the competition.”

    Following their initial bout, “Rocky” earned a title shot by defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 263 and ultimately dethroned Kamaru Usman to claim the welterweight gold at UFC 278 in August 2022.

    Meanwhile, Muhammad had to embark on a five-fight winning streak to finally secure his first UFC title opportunity. Only time will reveal how much both fighters have evolved to counter each other’s game plans.

  • ‘Hunter Campbell Himself Called Netflix’ – Ciryl Gane’s Coach Dismisses Ducking Tom Aspinall Narrative

    ‘Hunter Campbell Himself Called Netflix’ – Ciryl Gane’s Coach Dismisses Ducking Tom Aspinall Narrative

    Despite the history between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall with the way their first fight ended, having this match-up for the interim heavyweight title was not the first choice for the co-main event of UFC 304.

    If the UFC was able to make it happen, Ciryl Gane was reportedly the frontrunner to face Aspinall in Manchester this Saturday.

    It was later revealed that Gane was unable to fight on July 27 due to previous commitments that he had made to working on a movie.

    The French fighter received criticism for this as a result but as his coach recently explained, the decision wasn’t made as choosing one or the other.

    Fernand Lopez Explains Why Ciryl Gane Couldn’t Fight At UFC 304 After Scheduling Issues

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez explained how this whole process came together and why they were unable to take the interim title fight.

    This movie project has been something that “Bon Gamin” was set to work on since much earlier in the year but the plans were changed once the UFC came to him and his team with the idea of fighting Sergei Pavlovich.

    Lopez states that Pavlovich was unable to take the fight in March so they made an arrangement to push back the filming so that Gane could fight the Russian powerhouse at UFC 300 in April.

    This meant that when the fight didn’t happen, they were unable to change the plans, hence why Gane is now reported to return in October to face Alexander Volkov after almost a full year of inactivity.

    Lopez referenced how in trying to make the dates work for all parties, the UFC was in communication with Netflix to try and reschedule the movie’s filming schedule to allow for Gane to compete at UFC 304.

    Unfortunately, they were unable to push the dates back even further which led to Aspinall defending the interim title in a rematch with Blaydes instead.

    “When we went back with Netflix, signed the deal with Netflix, we couldn’t stop it. The UFC couldn’t stop it. Matter of fact, I give the contact of Netflix and I give the contact of the producer of the movie that was very kind, I give that contact to the UFC and try to talk with them. UFC have very good relationship with Netflix, with the global Netflix, and they was trying to reschedule thing and change thing I say okay, if you can make it to move things, to remove the movie and push it a little bit back, then we are good to go.

    “We will do that, we will wait and we will do the fight and then wait for the movie and they tried with the UFC. Hunter Campbell himself call Netflix to try to push back the filming but that was too much money to spend. That was too much thing to move around and again, this is something that is not a problem. We don’t have any beef with the UFC talking about this movie.”

  • Coach: Israel Adesanya Won’t Be Champion When Leon Edwards Moves Up In Weight

    Coach: Israel Adesanya Won’t Be Champion When Leon Edwards Moves Up In Weight

    A win in the main event of UFC 304 will earn Leon Edwards the third ruby on his welterweight title.

    Since stunning the MMA world with his head kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, the Brit has defended his title on two occasions heading into this rematch with Belal Muhammad on July 27 in Manchester.

    Edwards has made it clear that he has big goals in mind for his title reign at 170-pounds where he hopes to break the great Georges St-Pierre’s records.

    Though he has no plans to permanently leave welterweight at any point soon, “Rocky” also hopes to challenge himself at middleweight at some stage.

    With several top names sitting at the top of the division, it could be a very different landscape at 185-pounds by the time Edwards makes his move.

    Dave Lovell Picks Out Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis As Potential Middleweight Fights For Leon Edwards

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Edwards’ head coach Dave Lovell was asked to give his opinion on who the middleweight champion will be when his fighter attempts to become a two-weight world champion.

    Israel Adesanya is set to challenge for the title that he has held twice before when he faces Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 next month but Lovell doesn’t believe that “The Last Stylebender” will be around for much longer.

    Edwards’ friendship with Adesanya makes a fight between them incredibly unlikely anyway but the Team Renegade captain doesn’t see this coming to pass.

    He believes that either the current holder or the man he won the title from, could be Edwards’ middleweight opponent.

    “I don’t think Israel [Adesanya] because in all fairness, I love him and Israel is my brother but I think he’s coming to the twilight of his career now. and if I was him, if he fights Dricus, maybe win the title, defend it once or even just win that title and retire because he’s earned enough, he’s got nothing more to prove. I wouldn’t like to see Leon fight Israel because we’re all close that way, we’re all friends so I wouldn’t like to see that.

    “Dricus maybe if Dricus is still hanging around. I think the easiest, well I take that back, one of the fights that I think would be a good fight for Leon to showcase his skills against a man, Mr Strickland, who’s a kind of come forward kind of style fighter which would suit Leon.

  • VIDEO: UFC 304 Co-Headliner Tom Aspinall’s Brutal Finishes Inside The Octagon

    VIDEO: UFC 304 Co-Headliner Tom Aspinall’s Brutal Finishes Inside The Octagon

    In four years competing on the sports’ biggest stage, UFC 304 co-headliner Tom Aspinall has added to his mixed martial arts highlight reel in a big way.

    The interim heavyweight champion will return in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where he’s tasked with defending his belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes.

    Aspinall captured the title with a thunderous knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in their short-notice championship bout on the Madison Square Garden-held UFC 295 card last November.

    While perhaps the most destructive of his UFC finishes, it was just the latest in a string of stoppage victories for the Mancunian behemoth, who is yet to require the scorecards inside the Octagon.

    To put himself in position to receive the late-notice call eight months ago, Aspinall returned from injury with a bang by knocking out Marcin Tybura just 73 seconds into their London headliner last July.

    That marked Aspinall’s second finish in a main event staged in England’s capital. His headline debut came the previous year opposite veteran contender Alexander Volkov, whom the Brit put away with a gruesome Americana lock.

    And prior to entering title contention, Jake Collier, Alan Baudot, Andrei Arlovski, and Serghei Spivac all fell to either Aspinall’s strikes or submission prowess.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has uploaded a video showcasing Aspinall’s brutal finishes inside the Octagon to its official YouTube channel.

    Aspinall will hope to further add to his highlight reel this weekend at UFC 304, where he’ll no doubt get a raucous reception as he walks out in front of fans in his home city for the first time since his professional debut back in 2014.

    • Read More: Curtis Blaydes Defends UFC 304 Opponent Tom Aspinall Against Overconfident Claims: ‘Can You Really Blame Him?’ 
  • Curtis Blaydes Suggests Jon Jones Likely Turned Down ‘Harder Fight’ Against Him For Heavyweight Debut: ‘Smart Decision…’ 

    Curtis Blaydes Suggests Jon Jones Likely Turned Down ‘Harder Fight’ Against Him For Heavyweight Debut: ‘Smart Decision…’ 

    UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes wasn’t surprised to see Ciryl Gane get the call for Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut last year.

    Having spent three years away from the Octagon following his final defense of the light heavyweight title in 2020, Jones successfully arrived in a new weight class at UFC 285 in March 2023.

    The all-time MMA great achieved his two-division ambitions by submitting former interim champion Ciryl Gane in the first round of their clash for the then-vacant heavyweight title.

    Many questioned the decision to place “Bon Gamin” opposite Jones given that he boasted a sole win over Tai Tuivasa since falling short against Francis Ngannou in early 2022. Blaydes was among those branded a logical candidate by a portion of the community, with “Razor” coming off three straight wins.

    But the American didn’t get the opportunity, and he believes Jones’ desire for a more comfortable heavyweight debut played a part in that…

    Blaydes: A Lot Of Heavyweights ‘Would Have Been Harder’ For Jones Than Gane

    During an interview with ESPN MMA’s Andreas Hale, Blaydes looked back on his path to the title shot that awaits him at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, this Saturday night, including the snub he received for the vacant championship bout that followed Ngannou’s exit.

    “Razor” insisted that the decision to go a different route for Jones’ first foray into the weight class was not a shock, both down to the marketing edge for French star Gane and the increased difficulty he has no doubt the light heavyweight legend would have had against him at UFC 285.

    “I wasn’t surprised (that UFC booked Gane vs. Jones). I’ve been with the UFC for eight years now. Like, I get it,” Blaydes said. “Marketing. He’s French, which means he brings in all the fans over there. He has an aesthetically pleasing style. A lot of people don’t like wrestling, so I get that. He does all the fancy karate stance and all that. It’s easy to market his highlights versus the highlights that I have.

    “Also, i think they asked Jon and were probably like, ‘Jon, do you wanna go against this guy who doesn’t know how to wrestle? Or this guy, who knows how to wrestle?’ I think he did the business, smart decision,” Blaydes continued. “I am a harder fight for him than Gane; I think a lot of guys are a harder fight for him than Gane.”

    With the chance to win the interim belt this weekend, the state of the division would suggest that a Jones fight would be back on the cards for Blaydes given the Rochester native’s status as the other heavyweight titleholder.

    But with both Jones and the UFC remaining firm on him facing the returning Stipe Miocic instead of unifying the titles, as well as “Razor’s” belief that the champ will likely retire soon after, the UFC 304 co-main event challenger doesn’t see any chance of that coming to fruition.

    And that’s despite Jones seemingly expecting Blaydes to occupy the throne adjacent to him soon enough.

  • Coach Claims Belal Muhammad ‘Has Hands Like’ Canelo Álvarez Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Leon Better Be Ready!’ 

    Coach Claims Belal Muhammad ‘Has Hands Like’ Canelo Álvarez Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Leon Better Be Ready!’ 

    According to Belal Muhammad’s coach, UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards should be ready for some elite Mexican-style boxing this weekend.

    Edwards is set to headline a pay-per-view event on home soil for the second straight year, as he tops the UFC 304 lineup at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on Saturday night.

    In addition to familiar surroundings, it’ll be a familiar foe for “Rocky,” who will share the Octagon with 2021 opponent Muhammad. The pair’s first bout ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke rendered “Remember the Name” unable to continue.

    Given the success renowned striker Edwards had on the feet in the first fight, many are backing him to overwhelm Muhammad with kicks and punches in their upcoming rematch.

    But according to his coach, the challenger is bringing a new and improved standup arsenal with him across the pond…

    Muhammad’s Coach Praises ‘Fast & Sharp’ Striking Ahead Of Second Edwards Showdown

    During episode one of the UFC 304 Embedded: Vlog Series, Muhammad can be seen putting in the striking work with his coach, Horacio Gutierrez.

    While speaking to the camera, the trainer touted his man’s standup skills highly, even suggesting that he’s adopted a “Mexican style” of boxing akin to the great Canelo Álvarez.

    “We have been waiting for this opportunity for a couple of years already. There’s a little unfinished business with Leon,” Gutierrez said. “His hands are really, really good right now; they’re sharp, they’re fast. We’ve got him the Mexican boxing style. If you guys watch Canelo…all those guys, Belal has hands like that right now. So Leon better be ready for that.”

    Muhammad previously impressed with his ever-improving striking when he shared the Octagon with Brady at UFC 280 in 2022, stopping the grappling specialist on the feet in round two.

    However, Edwards no doubt marks a much tougher test in the striking realm, something the Jamaican-born Brit will look to prove come fight night in Manchester this weekend.

  • PHOTOS: Leon Edwards & Paddy Pimblett’s Custom Shorts For UFC 304

    PHOTOS: Leon Edwards & Paddy Pimblett’s Custom Shorts For UFC 304

    It seems that the UFC is upholding its recent tradition of crafting bespoke fight kits for its marquee stars, with reigning welterweight champion Leon Edwards being the next to benefit from this stylish custom. “Rocky” will now grace the Octagon in dazzling, one-of-a-kind shorts for his upcoming bout.

    Back in 2014, the UFC inked an official apparel deal with Reebok, designating them as the exclusive provider of fight gear. Prior to this deal, fighters enjoyed the freedom to wear their choice of attire.

    However, for the past decade, the UFC, along with Reebok, controlled the design of fight shorts. In 2021, the apparel contract was handed over to Venum, marking the beginning of a new chapter in UFC fight gear.

    In 2020, featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell made history by debuting a custom Reebok camouflage short. Fast forward four years, and a torrent of creativity has surged into the Octagon. Venum has since designed tailor-made shorts for six additional fighters, all showcased in high-stakes title bouts at UFC 299, UFC 300, and UFC 302.

    Edwards, Pimblett To Potentially Sport Custom Shorts At UFC 304

    Edwards is gearing up to defend his title before his fervent home supporters against former rival Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304. The highly anticipated rematch is set to take place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, on July 27.

    According to a recent tweet from MMA journalist Christopher De Santiago, “Rocky” is set to don custom-made gear for his third title defense. The post included several images, seemingly sourced from the Venum website and the EA Sports UFC 5 video game, highlighting green shorts embellished with the Jamaican and British national flags alongside royal crowns.

    This unique design pays homage to Edwards’ rich heritage, celebrating his deep-rooted connections to both nations.

    Fellow UFC 304 main carder Paddy Pimblett is also receiving custom shorts at the event, De Santiago confirmed.

    Edwards and Muhammad first faced off at a UFC Fight Night event in March 2021. However, an unforeseen eye poke in the second round rendered “Remember the Name” unable to continue, resulting in a no-contest.

    Edwards is riding high on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, capped by a dominant unanimous decision victory over Colby Covington at UFC 296 last December. He claimed the welterweight title with a spectacular fifth-round knockout of then-champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022.

    The Jamaican-born Englishman has also previously secured victories over high-profile opponents such as Nate Diaz, Rafael dos Anjos, and Vicente Luque.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad’s 2021 Fight Ahead Of UFC 304 Rematch

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Leon Edwards & Belal Muhammad’s 2021 Fight Ahead Of UFC 304 Rematch

    UFC 304 headliner Leon Edwards is on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, but that run does boast one blemish in the form of a No Contest against upcoming opponent Belal Muhammad.

    Edwards is set to main event this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where he’ll put the UFC’s welterweight championship on the line against a familiar foe in Muhammad.

    The pair first collided in a UFC Fight Night headliner back in 2021, with Muhammad filling in for Khamzat Chimaev on a few weeks’ notice. After finding some early success, Edwards inadvertently poked “Remember the Name” in the eye 18 seconds into round two, rendering him unable to continue.

    Both men have since experienced nothing but victory inside the Octagon, with “Rocky” winning the 170-pound gold and successfully defending it twice at the expense of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. Muhammad, meanwhile, has won five straight over Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns.

    That run has earned “Remember the Name” his long-awaited first title opportunity and, in the process, a second shot at handing “Rocky” his first defeat since 2015.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Edwards vs. Muhammad fight from UFC Vegas 21 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDmfuhNJ_A8

    Given the success he had early on when they first shared the cage, many are expecting Edwards to finish the job second time around. Others, however, have highlighted Muhammad’s evolution as a fighter to dismiss the 2021 bout as a relevant guide to how the UFC 304 main event might play out.

    We’ll find out on July 27 which camp is correct with their assessment.

  • ‘If This Is Real I’m Putting My Bank Account On Leon’ – Fans Call Foul After Leon Edwards Allegedly Makes The Craziest Basketball Trick Shot

    ‘If This Is Real I’m Putting My Bank Account On Leon’ – Fans Call Foul After Leon Edwards Allegedly Makes The Craziest Basketball Trick Shot

    Either Leon Edwards is the greatest athlete to have ever walked the earth or a video on UFC 304 fight week has been faked to make it seem that way.

    A short clip on social media shows the UFC welterweight champion going for a run through a park as he prepares to defend his welterweight title this weekend in Manchester.

    After some people on a basketball court call him over and ask for “headshot dead”, in reference to his iconic celebration at UFC 278, he is happy to oblige.

    The champ then proceeds to walk onto the court and without breaking his stride, catch a stunning left-foot volley out of the air that sends the ball flying into the basket on the other side, sending the people around him into pandemonium.

    MMA Fans React To Leon Edwards Trick Shot With Amazement And Skepticism

    The video has got fight fans questioning everything after seeing “Rocky” pull off what is either clever camera trickery or one of the greatest trick shots of all time.

    Having won the welterweight title with the same leg, everyone knows that his left side is capable of one-shot wonders, but this takes things to a new level.

    Unless, like many of the replies suggested, there is a clever social media play afoot…

    “The way he casually punted the ball and it goes in”

    “Leon after that:”

    https://twitter.com/Lizard69Talking/status/1815481892453401075

    “Surely no one thinks this is actually real lol”

    “This definitely took 69,420 times”

    “If he plays England win the Euros”

    https://twitter.com/1995/status/1815493227048538228

    “If this is real I’m putting my bank account on Leon”

    “Just wait and see. Belal about to take a tennis ball to decision.

  • Kayla Harrison Describes Teaching Judo To Alex Pereira: ‘It’s Crazy How Fast He Picks Things Up…’

    Kayla Harrison Describes Teaching Judo To Alex Pereira: ‘It’s Crazy How Fast He Picks Things Up…’

    Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, was impressed by how quickly UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira got to grips with the martial art.

    Both Harrison and Pereira have found significant success in mixed martial arts after originally making their names in other sports.

    While the 34-year-old Ohio native followed two-time glory on the Olympic stage in judo with a pair of championships under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner, the Brazilian has added two UFC titles to a trophy cabinet that already boasted middleweight and light heavyweight Glory Kickboxing belts.

    Thanks to Jake Paul’s recent callout, talk is currently floating around regarding a potential boxing crossover for “Poatan” in the future.

    But judging by Harrison’s comments after hitting the mats with “Poatan” last month, a career in a grappling discipline is seemingly not that far-fetched…

    Harrison Reflects On Training With UFC Peer Pereira

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Harrison reflected on her training session with the UFC light heavyweight kingpin.

    The bantamweight contender lauded how quickly Pereira was able to learn judo techniques. That no doubt adds context to how the Brazilian has been able to transition from kickboxing to mixed martial arts and achieve unprecedented success in less than three years under the UFC banner.

    “He was showing me the videos of him training and he was kicking — dude, I wish he would release this one. Oh my god, he like, did the move I taught him and then did the move you do if the (first) move doesn’t work,” Harrison said. “I was like, ‘Dude, you look like a judo (athlete).’ It’s crazy how fast he picks stuff up. He looked like a legit judo (athlete).

    “I also grappled with Alex. Dude, he’s a strong mothertrucker,” Harrison continued. “Obviously he didn’t really grapple with me, but I just felt his natural — f*cking fixing tyres must build like, a different kind of (strength).”

    Harrison was in attendance at UFC 303 for Pereira’s second successful title defense. In the aftermath of the result, she jokingly wrapped a yellow belt — which is not usually given to adults — around “Poatan” backstage.

    The former middleweight and reigning light heavyweight champ was previously awarded his legitimate black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu following his knockout of Hill at UFC 300.

  • UFC 304’s Paddy Pimblett Bemoans Jared Gordon ‘Robbery’ Still Being Brought Up: ‘People Need To Watch Khabib vs. Gleison Tibau!’ 

    UFC 304’s Paddy Pimblett Bemoans Jared Gordon ‘Robbery’ Still Being Brought Up: ‘People Need To Watch Khabib vs. Gleison Tibau!’ 

    UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett believes fans are focusing more on his controversial decision victory over Jared Gordon than some actual “robberies.”

    Pimblett is set to return to action for his first assignment of 2024 at this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, where the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, will play host to his first opportunity to crack the rankings at 155 pounds.

    To do so, “The Baddy” must extend his perfect Octagon record at the expense of King Green. The Liverpudlian will enter the contest as an underdog and with significant portions of the MMA community doubting his chances.

    That trend has been evident ever since a narrow victory over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in December 2022. Having boosted his stock to an all-time high with back-to-back highlight reel submission in London that year, a controversial decision going in his favor appeared to turn a strong chunk of the fanbase against Pimblett.

    And the fact that his win over Gordon is still used as a way to detract from his UFC career thus far remains a point of frustration for the ex-Cage Warriors champion…

    Pimblett: Gordon Fight Was ‘Close’, Not A ‘Robbery’

    During an interview with the New York Post Sports’ Erich Richter, Pimblett looked ahead to his first outing on home soil since 2022 and discussed the two results he’s had in the United States since.

    While he’s another fight on from the widely debated decision against Gordon, Pimblett noted that he still gets plenty of comments about it. “The Baddy” bemoaned that fact, pointing to what sees as legitimate robberies that don’t get the level of scrutiny as his “close” bout with Gordon does 19 months later.

    “It was a close decision. I do regret saying in the cage after, ‘No way, that wasn’t close!’ But lad, I just fought for 15 minutes,” Pimblett said. “I still get comments on my YouTube to this day, ‘It seems like Paddy’s got more humble now since he fought Jared Gordon.’ Like, what? I’m still the same person. … The fact I said, ‘I think I won that fight,’ people turned on me. I found that absolutely crazy.

    “I ended up watching the fight back and was like, ‘Yeah, that was a close fight.’ … But I think if you watch it with commentary, that sways you a lot more towards Jared,” Pimblett continued. “It was a close fight, but I don’t get to this day why it still gets brought up and people still say that it’s a robbery. If that’s a robbery, people need to go watch Khabib vs. Gleison Tibau! Even Jared’s last fight, that’s more of a robbery.”

    Nevertheless, while he’s struggled to escape the memory of that controversy in the year and a half since, Pimblett has insisted that the fanbase will be back on his side after he dispatches King Green in violent fashion come fight night in Manchester.

    The pair are tasked with setting the stage for two championship headliners, as Pimblett’s fellow countrymen Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall put their titles on the line.

  • Patchy Mix Main Events Bellator Champions Series Paris On Nov. 16, ‘Baki’ Co-Headlines

    Patchy Mix Main Events Bellator Champions Series Paris On Nov. 16, ‘Baki’ Co-Headlines

    For the second time this year, Patchy Mix will put his Bellator bantamweight title on the line in the French capital.

    After unifying the titles and securing undisputed status with a submission of Sergio Pettis at Bellator 301 last November, Mix returned for his first defense — and first appearance following the PFL’s acquisition of his organization — this past May.

    At the second Bellator Champions Series event, the 30-year-old retained possession of his gold by narrow margins inside Paris’ Accor Arena, falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in a rematch against Magomed Magomedov.

    He’ll be looking for a more definitive victory when he returns to France this November, where a first-time matchup with Brazil’s Leandro Higo awaits him at the Adidas Arena.

    The Bellator main event was announced in a PFL press release this week, alongside a co-headliner between Oliver Enkamp and the highly regarded and undefeated Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov, who look set to be the main attraction for the home crowd.

    Mix vs. Higo Headlines In Paris, ‘Baki’ Makes Bellator Champions Series Debut

    When Mix and “Baki” appear in the headline positions on November 16, both will be looking to secure their second Paris triumphs of 2024.

    Mix (20-1) faced a tougher than predicted challenge from Magomedov in their rematch, going the distance in a competitive affair almost two years on from his second-round submission of the Russian at Bellator 289 in Connecticut. Nevertheless, “No Love” had his hand raised and remained among the names outside of the UFC who are heralded as being in the world’s elite at 135 pounds.

    In Higo (23-6), Mix will face an opponent looking to achieve title glory at the second time of trying. “Alter” previously fell short of the bantamweight gold against Darrion Caldwell back in 2018. Since a loss to Aaron Pico that same year, the Brazilian has won five of six, most recently winning back-to-back outings against Nikita Mikhailov and James Gallagher to secure number one contender status.

    Leandro Higo & James Gallagher
    Image: PFL MMA

    While headliner Mix emerged victorious at a Bellator Champions Series event in Paris this year, co-main event star Chamsoudinov (8-0) extended his undefeated record in controversial fashion under the PFL Europe banner. “Baki” competed in a highly anticipated main event against fellow French standout Cédric Doumbé this past March, but their bout came to an anticlimactic end in round three after the former Glory Kickboxing champion’s calls to remove a splinter from his toe resulted in Marc Goddard waving the contest off.

    In the aftermath of that win, “Baki” appeared to take issue with the time it took for the PFL to pay him fully, and reports subsequently suggested a UFC signing was on the cards for the free agent. That ultimately didn’t come to fruition, with the Frenchman instead putting pen to paper on a deal with the PFL instead.

    To record a more definitive win on home soil this year in what will be his Bellator Champions Series debut, “Baki” is tasked with getting past Enkamp (11-4). The Swedish 32-year-old competed six times for Bellator following an 0-2 run in the UFC. Among a number of notable highlights is the rare buggy choke he secured at Bellator 281 in London just over two years ago.

    Baissangour Chamsoudinov & Cedric Doumbe
    Image: PFL MMA