MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Highly Touted Ikram Aliskerov Has Fourth UFC Fight Canceled In Less Than A Year

    Promising UFC middleweight prospect Ikram Aliskerov is in need of a new opponent — again.

    Aliskerov arrived on MMA’s biggest stage as a highly touted name in 2023. That was after he impressed by earning a kimura submission during an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series the year prior. 

    The Russian, whose sole loss to date came at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev under the Brave CF banner back in 2019, then made a splash inside the Octagon on debut when he brutally knocked out Phil Hawes.

    But making it to the cage since then has been tough, with Aliskerov subsequently having bouts against both Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov fall through. 

    He eventually kept his ball rolling at UFC 294 last October with a violent stoppage against Warlley Alves. Those two performances helped the 31-year-old Dagestani collect MMA News’ Newcomer of the Year award for 2023.

    But the new year hasn’t brought with it better luck in terms of matchups…

    Having already missed out on a major clash with ranked middleweight Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298 this past February, it was recently revealed by Laerte Viana that André Muniz has pulled out from their scheduled contest in a few weeks’ time.

    Aliskerov Hints At Replacement Opponent For UFC Fight Night On June 15

    The Brazilian’s withdrawal means Aliskerov has now had four matchups fall through in under a year. While that has no doubt stalled his planned surge up the middleweight ladder, the Russian appears confident that he’ll still be making the walk on June 15.

    In response to the cancellation, Aliskerov took to social media and hinted at a replacement opponent being in the works for the UFC Fight Night at the Apex next month.

    It remains to be seen who the UFC will place opposite Aliskerov on short notice, but it stands to reason that he won’t be getting the kind of high-profile foe he was due to face.

    Regardless, he’ll have his sights set on another standout performance that will hopefully finally see him have a prominent booking stay together all the way to fight night.

  • Israel Adesanya Advises Paulo Costa On How He Can Beat Sean Strickland At UFC 302

    Israel Adesanya Advises Paulo Costa On How He Can Beat Sean Strickland At UFC 302

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has laid out Paulo Costa’s path to victory over Sean Strickland this weekend.

    Adesanya will no doubt have a keen eye on Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, where two of his former opponents are set to do battle in a five-round co-main event.

    Months on from his rule over the division coming to an end in his first defense at UFC 297, Strickland will look to earn a shot at championship redemption at the expense of one-time title challenger Costa. 

    When it comes to breaking down the skillsets of both men and their best hopes of having their hand raised inside Prudential Center, nobody is better placed than “The Last Stylebender.”

    Adesanya Explains What Costa Must Do At UFC 302

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya provided his thoughts and predictions on this Saturday’s numbered event.

    Having prepared to throw down with Strickland himself and shared the Octagon with “Tarzan” for 25 minutes, “The Last Stylebender” is in a strong position to offer some advice for another of his former foes in Costa.

    “Costa, to win — what would Costa have to do? He’ll have to be aggressive, use body kicks, and also just use his jab. Even if he might not land all of them, or some of them, use his jab as well. Go jab for jab with Strickland,” Adesanya said. “And also mix up the grappling, just to get him (Strickland) tired as well.”

    Adesanya evidently isn’t too confident in Costa following the advice to a tee, though, as he went on to predict victory for Strickland at UFC 302.

    That could pave the way for a potential rematch between the Nigerian-New Zealander and his most recent opponent. Adesanya is expected to serve as the first challenger to Dricus Du Plessis later this year, where a win could set up a second dance for either man opposite a victorious “Tarzan” on Saturday night.

  • Jalin Turner Attributes Hesitation To Finish Renato Moicano At UFC 300 To Late Stoppage In Bobby Green Fight: ‘My Conscience Kicked In…’

    Jalin Turner Attributes Hesitation To Finish Renato Moicano At UFC 300 To Late Stoppage In Bobby Green Fight: ‘My Conscience Kicked In…’

    Jalin Turner was on the verge of beginning an impressive win streak by defeating Renato Moicano at UFC 300 and reclaiming his position as a promising contender in the lightweight division. 

    However, this is not how things went and many believe it to be because of Turner walking off after knocking down Moicano toward the end of the first round.  Instead of getting on top and getting a likely TKO win, Turner turned away as if the fight was over.

    Moicano, on the other hand, was far from knocked out and quickly got back up on his feet. Despite being wobbly, Moicano survived the last 15 seconds and ended up winning the fight via TKO in the second round. 

    Turner’s decision to not follow up with ground and pound was widely criticized. Looking back at it, the fighter has finally revealed what was going through his mind in that moment…

    ‘Rampage’ Jackson Correctly Predicts Why Turner Didn’t Finish Moicano At UFC 300

    Turner recently appeared on the Jaxxon Podcast, hosted by former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. “Rampage,” who was a devastating KO artist during his prime, was able to accurately make out how Turner’s controversial TKO win over Bobby Green affected his mentality. 

    “I’ve been thinking about this. I think I know why you walked off [against Moicano]. ‘Cause the last time the referee took his damn time stopping the fight and you such a good guy, you didn’t want to hurt nobody.”

    As it turns out, this is exactly what stopped Turner from going for the finish against Moicano.

    He recollected the backlash he received after the fight with Green as he landed several shots before the referee finally stepped in, even after it was apparent that Green wasn’t fighting back at all. 

    “That’s exactly what it is. My conscience just kind of kicked in a little bit, like mid-fight.

    “My conscience really kicked in the fight, like even before the fight, I didn’t, like, fully, like, get to that, ‘Oh, I gotta like kill this dude instinct.’ I was just like, it’s a fight. I’m just, ‘Go, do a like, you know, just go perform,’ and yeah, that’s what happened.”

  • Former UFC Champion Tells People To Take It Easy On Conor McGregor For Party Video: ‘If That’s His Wife & They’re Hanging Out…’

    Former UFC Champion Tells People To Take It Easy On Conor McGregor For Party Video: ‘If That’s His Wife & They’re Hanging Out…’

    As with any Conor McGregor fight since he became a major star, there is always going to be talk surrounding how dedicated he is for the training camp.

    “The Notorious” has openly admitted that for his return to the Octagon to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, he was cutting corners where he shouldn’t have.

    That version appeared to go away for his subsequent fights against Donald Cerrone and Dustin Poirier but there’s always going to be a big question mark surrounding his hunger.

    These questions about his fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 were not helped by the videos that were released this past weekend of McGregor partying at his The Black Forge Inn until the early hours of the morning.

    However, as a former champion pointed out, this could end up being far less damning than it appears.

    Kamaru Usman Defends Videos Of Conor McGregor Partying During His Training Camp 

    The image of McGregor dancing the night away at his own establishment is sure to raise alarm bells but Kamaru Usman questions whether people have jumped to conclusions.

    Upon seeing the videos for the first time on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, he pointed out two key things.

    Firstly, McGregor isn’t seen drinking or holding any alcohol in the video and secondly, he’s only dancing with his fiancée, Dee Devlin.

    “No, if that’s his wife and they’re hanging out and having a great time and yeah, it’s at least he didn’t have a drink in his hand right? So yeah, he’s blowing off some team, he’s hanging, having a great time partying, if that’s what’s working for him, that’s what’s working for him, I don’t judge.”   

    Usman also questioned whether the video could be an attempt from McGregor to play mind games, forcing people to underestimate him based on what they have seen ahead of June 29.

    “There’s no drink in his hand so listen, Conor McGregor is a smart man, I don’t take anything away from him. I think he’s smart enough to understand that ‘hey, I could play possum here if I need to’, so he could be playing like ‘I’m not training’, he could have just left the gym right here.”   

  • Two Khabib Nurmagomedov Records That Islam Makhachev Is On Track To Break With A Victory At UFC 302

    Islam Makhachev returns to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 302 to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier.

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title and chose to retire, it was hard to imagine how Makhachev was going to live up to his close friend and teammate’s legacy by picking up the mantle.

    Despite Charles Oliveira’s impressive title reign, it felt like an inevitability until the lightweight title was back in the hands of a fighter hailing from Dagestan.

    With two title defenses under his belt now, even if both were against a featherweight moving up, people are now starting to question how far the current champion is away from surpassing the legacy of his coach.

    Some already consider to him be the more well-rounded fighter of the two and a win in Newark will see him push in front of “The Eagle” in a few key areas

    Islam Makhachev Is Starting To Separate Himself By Moving Up The Record Books

    Beating Poirier on Saturday night will see Makhachev tie Nurmagomedov at three title defenses. More importantly, he will surpass his winning streak.

    The likes of Makhachev, Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, and Demetrious Johnson have all managed to win 13 fights in a row inside the Octagon. 

    One more win will push the current 155-pound king away from the rest of the pack into third place for all-time winning streaks behind Kamaru Usman and Anderson Silva.

    According to Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez, he could overtake the former champion for one other record as well.

    “I believe he might very well pass it yeah but he also will pass another record, the most wins when you’re favored,” Mendez said on his podcast. “He’s got 15, they’re tied at 15. Since [the] UFC when you’re favored to win, you win, so if he wins this one, it’ll be 16 wins so he’ll be the leader in that department. I have a feeling before he’s done, he’s going to have a few records added to his arsenal of accomplishments because you know, this guy, he’s silent but he’s very progressive, he keeps advancing.”     

  • Kamaru Usman Sets Record Straight On Potential Jan Błachowicz Fight: ‘I’m No Longer Champion & He’s No Longer Champion…’

    Back when Kamaru Usman was the dominant UFC welterweight champion, he expressed an interest in potentially trying to become a two-weight titleholder.

    It’s the goal that every champion now wants to work toward, but there was one problem with this in Usman’s case. At the time, his friend Israel Adesanya reigned over the middleweight division and the two men had no intention of fighting each other

    Usman, instead, threw the idea out there of him moving up two weight classes to take on the light heavyweight champion, Jan Błachowicz.

    There was even a staredown between them backstage at UFC 276 where, all of a sudden, fans realized that there wasn’t much of a size disparity between them. 

    Kamaru Usman Makes His Opinion Clear On Fighting Jan Błachowicz At Light Heavyweight 

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman spoke about this staredown with the Polish behemoth from several years ago, reflecting on how he felt about it at the time.

    Błachowicz responded to the clip on social media, stating that he is still happy to take on “The Nigerian Nightmare.”

    Following Błachowicz’s post, Usman gave his reaction via the podcast where he said that his words were taken out of context.

    The former welterweight champion states that he was talking about his viewpoint at the time rather than currently, where his thoughts on the fight have since changed. 

    “Obviously they didn’t watch the whole pod and they didn’t get the fact where I said then, when he was champion, I liked the matchup because it made sense, we were fighting for something. Listen, I respect each and every UFC fighter that steps in there, in that Octagon, and even with Jan Błachowicz, I respect him, the original ‘Polish Power’. 

    “Big respect for Jan Błachowicz but I thought that matchup favoured me and I wanted that matchup when Jan Błachowicz was the champion and I was the champion. I am no longer the champion, he’s no longer the champion so that fight makes absolutely no sense, it does nothing for me. If I go up there and I beat Jan Błachowicz, what does that do for me? Nothing, it’s just another paycheck.”   

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Islam Makhachev Is Going Into UFC 302 Compromised: ‘I Can Tell You A Staph Infection When I See It!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Islam Makhachev Is Going Into UFC 302 Compromised: ‘I Can Tell You A Staph Infection When I See It!’

    Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier will fight for the lightweight title at UFC 302, and the official photo shoots have led to many believing that the champion is dealing with a nasty staph infection. 

    Once the pictures went out, fans could not help but notice the apparent infection right under Makhachev’s left knee. This was followed by people searching for Makhachev’s pictures during camp and noticing that he might have had the infection for quite some time because his knee was covered during training. 

    Not just MMA fans, but the likes of Conor McGregor has also been vocal about Makhachev’s infection heading into the fight. Another name on the list is Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, who thinks that the lightweight champ isn’t going to be at his best during the fight as a result of it.

    St-Pierre’s Coach Coach Calls Islam Makhachev’s Staph Infection ‘Pretty Bad’

    While discussing UFC 302 on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi was asked how Makhachev’s alleged staph infection could influence his fight. The coach first checked out the pictures from the latest photo shoot and was quick to suggest that Makhachev indeed absolutely has a staph infection.

    “That’s pretty bad, yeah. That’s staph my friends. I could tell you. I’m not a doctor, okay? I didn’t go to medical school, okay? But I know staph when I see it. I’ve travelled all over the world. I’ve trained with thousands of people, thousands. I can tell you a staph infection when I see it.”

    Zahabi was clearly stunned to see Makhachev’s leg. He went on to claim that having a staph infection right before such a huge fight isn’t ideal at all, and that antibiotic medication could negatively impact the champ’s performance at UFC 302. 

    “Damn, listen. If he’s on staph meds, and the fight’s this weekend, if that picture was this week, damn, that’s not good news.”

    It is worth noting that Poirier’s last opponent, Benoît Saint Denis, went into their fight at UFC 299 with a staph infection as well. After a strong first round, the Frenchman was knocked out. He claimed that the antibiotics drained his energy and he could only maintain pressure for one round. 

    Could a similar fate be awaiting the current lightweight champion as well?

  • Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Carlos Ulberg gets a huge opportunity to leap up the light heavyweight rankings after stepping in as a replacement opponent for UFC 303.

    The #11-ranked contender in the division picked up his sixth consecutive win just recently when he stopped Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds.

    He will now be taking the place of Khalil Rountree to face the #3-ranked former champion Jamahal Hill on International Fight Week.

    A win would be massive for Ulberg but it could also lead to a big moment for his team due to the implications of beating the former champion.

    Dan Hooker Says City Kickboxing Is Excited About The Idea Of Carlos Ulberg Challenging Alex Pereira

    Victory against Hill on June 29 could tee Ulberg up for a title shot later on in the year and that means one thing.

    Assuming that the champion doesn’t defend his belt beforehand and lose it, this would lead to the City Kickboxing team going up against Alex Pereira once again.

    The New Zealand-based gym are very familiar with “Poatan” given his four previous encounters with Israel Adesanya but with Ulberg potentially getting himself in the mix at 205 pounds, they have a new match-up to think about.

    On Sky Sports New Zealand, Dan Hooker spoke about Ulberg going on to challenge Pereira if he wins on June 29 and how the team feels about the idea of that happening in the near future.

    “That puts Carlos Ulberg one fight away from a title fight against Alex Pereira so I think… we’re all excited about that cuz yeah, Israel didn’t even know and then Israel, I told him. I said he’s fighting Hill and then he goes ‘and then Alex!’ and then Izzy just got goosebumps man, he was so excited for Carlos.

    “So excited just thinking about that fight as well because like in our opinion, not only do we think Carlos beats Hill, we think he beats Alex as well. We think that’s one heck of a fight but we feel like Carlos has the edge over Alex as well and the amount of camps we’ve done preparing for Alex, we got a pretty solid game plan for that here at City Kickboxing.”      

  • ‘Islam Is Maybe Even Tougher Than Khabib…’ – Paulo Costa, Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Other UFC Fighters Predict UFC 302 Main Event

    ‘Islam Is Maybe Even Tougher Than Khabib…’ – Paulo Costa, Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Other UFC Fighters Predict UFC 302 Main Event

    Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier will fight at UFC 302 for the UFC lightweight title and the champion is a huge favorite.

    Of late, however, Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Alexander Volkanovski have lost their titles in fights that they were favorites to win. 

    And over the years, heavy underdog challengers like Matt Serra, Holly Holm, Sean Strickland, and Michael Bisping have proven the oddsmakers wrong in title fights. 

    Can Dustin Poirier follow suit and finally become an undisputed UFC champion?

    Here are notable UFC fighters providing us with their thoughts on the UFC 302 lightweight title fight.

    Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Paulo Costa Pick Islam Makhachev To Beat Dustin Poirier At UFC 302

    MMA Fighting recently shared a compilation of fighters predicting the winner of the UFC 302 main event. 

    Michael Chandler claimed that Poirier was the most skilled fighter he’s stepped in the Octagon with, but even then, he couldn’t see “The Diamond” surviving Makhachev’s wrestling. 

    “He’ll do all of these different things to win the fight. He’s a certified competitor. With that being said, I think Islam is better than him in every single aspect of the sport, except for the sheer boxing.”

    Paulo Costa went a step ahead and claimed that Makhachev might have a better chin than Khabib Nurmagomedov, which further reduces the chances of Poirier coming out with a win.

    “Islam is maybe even tougher than Khabib, maybe. You know, because he has best, in my opinion, he has good striker, good striking skills. And in the ground and grappling, I don’t need to say nothing. You know he’s unbelievable good.”

    Despite favoring the lightweight champ, Costa agreed this wouldn’t be an easy fight for either side. 

    Kevin Holland also picked Makhachev to win against Poirier but made it clear that the veteran finally getting to complete his story isn’t an impossible outcome either. 

    “So, either way the story can be wrote however, imma be good with it. As long as I get my dub and my check, you know what I mean? I’m good to go baby.”

    Cory Sandhagen looked back at recent high-profile upsets to state that anyone has a chance in MMA – and that doesn’t exclude Poirier. 

    Jailton Almeida though, who’s a huge fan of Nurmagomedov, thinks Makhachev will certainly defend his belt at UFC 302. 

    Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, who’ll face Randy Brown in the first fight on the main card, is one of the few people rooting for Poirier based on the striking advantage.

    Randy Brown, too, had all the praise for Poirier’s ability to come back from adversity. Calling “The Diamond” his inspiration and someone he relates to, Brown hopes that Poirier wins, even though it’s a hard fight for him stylistically. 

  • UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    We’re deep into UFC 302 fight week, meaning it’s time for the top fighters set to be in action on June 1 to take to the stage and answer some questions.

    The MMA leader’s latest numbered event takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where the main attraction will see UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev put his belt on the line against fan favorite Dustin Poirier.

    Setting the stage for the headliners will be a pair of top middleweight contenders, with former champ Sean Strickland looking to bounce back from his title defeat this past January at the expense of Paulo Costa 

    Also on the card, Kevin Holland will make a short-notice return to 185 pounds to throw down with Michał Oleksiejczuk, Jailton Almeida will look to bounce back from the opening loss of his UFC career against Alexandr Romanov, and Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos hope to kick the PPV portion of Saturday’s lineup off in style.

    As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 302 edition saw Makhachev, Poirier, Strickland, and Costa with mic in hand.

    Check out a replay of the presser below via ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and the two faceoffs!

    UFC 302 Pre-Fight Press Conference Replay

    UFC 302 Press Conference Highlights

    UFC 302 Press Conference Faceoffs

  • ‘One Of The Best Grapplers In The UFC’ – Renato ‘Money’ Moicano Talks Up Under-The-Radar UFC 302 Fight

    ‘One Of The Best Grapplers In The UFC’ – Renato ‘Money’ Moicano Talks Up Under-The-Radar UFC 302 Fight

    The UFC returns to Newark, New Jersey this Saturday night for UFC 302, headlined by a huge lightweight title fight.

    When you have names like Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa at the top of the card, it’s no surprise that some other fights may slip under the radar.

    This is something that Renato Moicano highlighted during his recent preview of the card on his YouTube channel.

    One of Moicano’s fellow fighters out of American Top Team is set to be in action in a fight that he believes is a certain pick in favor of his teammate.

    Renato Moicano Highlights Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki, Praises Dawson As Top-Tier Grappler

    On the prelim card, Grant Dawson will look to bounce back from his first defeat in the UFC where he was stopped by Bobby Green in just 33 seconds.

    Up to that point, he was putting together a serious run in the lightweight division and now faces Joe Solecki in an attempt to regain that momentum.

    Solecki, who is coming off of a loss to Drakkar Klose, is known for his jiu-jitsu skills but Moicano doesn’t believe that he will be effective with them on this occasion.

    “Money” said that Dawson is one of the very best grapplers in the UFC right now so even if the fight hits the floor, he will be able to get back to his feet in no time.

    “I’m not seeing him losing, I think he is the lock of the card. Especially because Joe Solecki is a BJJ guy, he’s a grappler, I don’t think he’s a better wrestler than Grant Dawson. I think he’s a jiu-jitsu guy that will try takedowns, will fail on the takedowns, will pull guard or even if he does take Grant Dawson down, he will not be able to control Grant Dawson on the ground because Grant Dawson is one of the best grapplers in the UFC.

    “Maybe you cannot believe in me but I’m telling you, he is one of the best grapplers on the division. I saw him training against Arman Tsarukyan, I saw him train against Mateusz Gamrot, I train with him myself, so he’s very hard to control, very good grappler.”    

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Highlights Aspect Of UFC 302 Fight Paulo Costa Will Struggle With The Most

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Highlights Aspect Of UFC 302 Fight Paulo Costa Will Struggle With The Most

    Ahead of his showdown with Paulo Costa at UFC 302 this weekend, Sean Strickland’s high pace has been predicted to cause “Borrachinha” problems.

    Strickland entered 2024 with the middleweight gold in his possession. But after narrowly losing out to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Canada — and subsequently having his calls for an immediate rematch fall on deaf ears — the former champion must earn a shot at redemption in Newark on Saturday night.

    To do so, “Tarzan” is tasked with getting past a fellow high-ranked contender in Paulo Costa, who impressed in defeat when making his long-awaited comeback against Robert Whittaker this past February at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

    The Brazilian has noted the importance of notching a finish on June 1 in order to stake his claim for a title shot. But should he be required to go the full distance, Costa has said nothing will stop him from having his hand raised.

    Unsurprisingly, Strickland’s coach isn’t so sure…

    Nicksick Plans To Use Strickland’s Cardio Against Costa

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Nicksick was asked which area of this weekend’s UFC 302 co-main event that he sees as a possible struggle for his man’s opponent.

    The Xtreme Couture trainer pointed to Strickland’s renowned five-round pace as a hurdle that could prove to be too tall for Costa on fight night.

    “I think, to me, the cardio element, the pacing,” Nicksick said. “Sean dictates a certain kind of pace. Even Izzy (Israel Adesanya) said that after the fight. It’s hard to get a rhythm, hard to get a read on him, especially the first time you’ve ever been in the cage with him. So it takes a while for a lot of guys to feel comfortable.

    “Johnny Eblen said it the best. Johnny, the first three or four times he sparred with him was like, ‘Oh my god, this guy is overwhelming.’ It takes you a number of opportunities to start to get a rhythm with him,” Nicksick continued. “A lot of that, for me, is just to lean heavy on that, lean heavy on his awkwardness, and try to maintain that pace and pressure and stay in Paulo’s face; really, stay out of kicking range.”

    Strickland will hope to prove his coach right come fight night in New Jersey. Should he accomplish that feat, a potential rematch against either Du Plessis or his expected next opponent Adesanya could await him.

  • Mickey Gall: UFC 302 Fight First Time Competing Without A Broken Back In Four Years

    Mickey Gall: UFC 302 Fight First Time Competing Without A Broken Back In Four Years

    Mickey Gall hasn’t appeared inside the UFC Octagon for over two years having gone under the knife for surgery. As it turns out, such a layoff was long overdue.

    Gall, who is well known for handing CM Punk a crushing defeat in his MMA debut back in 2016, is set to make his comeback on the early preliminary card of the UFC 302 numbered event this weekend.

    The 32-year-old heads to the Prudential Center in Newark off the back of a lengthy recovery. That’s after committing to surgery following his knockout loss to Mike Malott at UFC 273 in April 2022.

    That result left Gall on a two-fight losing skid and 3-5 across eight fights since extending his then-undefeated record to 4-0 with a victory over Sage Northcutt more than seven years ago.

    But while the New Jersey native has struggled with consistency for a long time, he’s revealed that the past four years of his career have played out alongside a serious injury.

    UFC 302’s Gall Fought Through Back Break That Left Him Unable To Sit

    During a recent fight week interview with UFC.com, Gall previewed his return to action at UFC 302 and looked back on his layoff, as well as the losing form that came before it.

    The once-highly touted prospect revealed that the most recent stage of his career had played out in spite of intense struggles from a broken back. Having finally decided upon surgery and a pause in competition, Gall is back and feeling better than ever.

    “I’m feeling good,” Gall said. “I had back surgery, so I haven’t fought in over two years. I’ve competed for four years with a broken back. Now that that’s done, I feel better than I ever have. So I’m excited to show my full potential.

    “I was so limited before. I was trying to avoid the surgery ’cause I wanted to keep fighting and people were like, ‘Surgery, that could be career-ending.’ But it got to a point where I couldn’t sit down,” Gall continued. “It was tough. Camp went great. I’m not limited anymore. I was limited in my rotation and certain movements. Now, I had a great camp… I feel better than I ever have, truly.” 

    Gall will look to show his improved condition on Saturday night by getting the better of Bassil Hafez. Following a narrow loss to Jack Della Maddalena on debut last year, Hafez is looking to get in the winner’s circle on MMA’s biggest stage for the very first time.

    The bout also presents an opportunity for some slight redemption for Gall, as he was defeated by his UFC 302 opponent at a local grappling tournament a decade ago.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dustin Poirier’s Beatdown Of Eddie Alvarez In Main Event Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Dustin Poirier’s Beatdown Of Eddie Alvarez In Main Event Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302

    UFC 302 headliner Dustin Poirier got the better of former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez with an absolute onslaught in Calgary six years ago.

    The former interim UFC champion at 155 pounds will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with bringing the reign of Islam Makhachev to an end in the Dagestani’s third defense.

    Poirier is now approaching his third shot at undisputed glory and fourth divisional title fight overall. To earn his first — a win over Max Holloway to capture the interim belt — “The Diamond” battered Alvarez in a Canada-held UFC main event.

    After an illegal knee from the former champ led to their first showdown concluding in a controversial no contest, Poirier left no doubt about his superiority over “The Underground King” when they ran it back.

    In the headlining act on July 28, 2018, both men picked things up after a pedestrian first round, but it was the Louisianan’s strikes that really found a home. Alvarez hung on and absorbed a brutal onslaught before eventually being stopped with 55 seconds remaining in the second frame.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Poirier vs. Alvarez rematch from UFC on Fox 30 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWc1FU115xs

    “The Diamond” will hope to put in a similar performance en route to a long-awaited undisputed title crowning in this weekend’s UFC 302 headliner. 

    Win or lose, the Louisianan has suggested that the June 1 clash in Newark could mark his final appearance inside the Octagon as an active competitor. With that, he could close out his career by checking the final box on his list of accomplishments.

  • UFC Legend Frankie Edgar Describes Seeing Islam Makhachev’s Training In New Jersey: ‘All The Stories About Him Are True…’

    UFC Legend Frankie Edgar Describes Seeing Islam Makhachev’s Training In New Jersey: ‘All The Stories About Him Are True…’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar knows the challenge awaiting Dustin Poirier having witnessed Islam Makhachev’s recent preparation firsthand. 

    Makhachev is a couple of days out from his third defense of the 155-pound title and first against an established contender in the division. In the main event of UFC 302, the Dagestani will meet the challenge of Poirier.

    The bout comes after the champ cemented his grip on the crown in 2023 with two victories over then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, the second of which came by way of a brutal knockout in Abu Dhabi.

    While Makhachev had the crowd on his side in the Middle East, those inside Newark’s Prudential Center will no doubt be cheering for his opposition come fight night, as one of the sport’s biggest fan favorites looks to reach the throne at the third time of trying.

    According to one former champ, however, Makhachev is unlikely to be unseated anytime soon…

    Edgar Sees Makhachev Remaining UFC Lightweight King ‘For A While’

    During a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media, Edgar spoke about his experience training alongside Makhachev and his team at Nick Catone MMA & Fitness in New Jersey.

    While “The Answer” didn’t delve into the details of Makhachev’s pre-fight work, he did note that those who’ve lauded Makhachev’s talent were certainly not exaggerating.

    “I’m just hanging out with these guys, trying to take as much knowledge as I can while they’re down,” Edgar said. “I got them set up with the right people (in New Jersey)… It’s cool just to rub off on these guys, man. They train amazing, you know, bunch of good guys… It was a cool experience for everybody.

    “He’s an animal, man. I’m not gonna say really what goes on behind closed doors, but watching him against some of the guys he’s sparring is impressive,” Edgar continued. “All the stories about him are true, if that makes sense.”

    Edgar also made an appearance in episode three of the UFC 302 Embedded: Vlog Series, further laying praise on Makhachev’s training and ability.

    “It’s go time for these guys. They’re all zeroing in,” Edgar stated. “Islam, he’s just a freak. I see him having this belt for a while.”

    Makhachev will look to prove Edgar, his supporters, and the oddsmakers right this weekend at UFC 302 by becoming the third individual to stall the championship ambitions of Poirier.

  • Dustin Poirier Has More Regrets About Charles Oliveira Title Loss Than Khabib Defeat: ‘I Was Just Outmatched’

    Dustin Poirier Has More Regrets About Charles Oliveira Title Loss Than Khabib Defeat: ‘I Was Just Outmatched’

    UFC 302 title challenger Dustin Poirier is under no illusion about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s superiority on the night of September 7, 2019.

    Poirier is currently days away from his third crack at reaching the undisputed lightweight throne on MMA’s biggest stage, He’s set to challenge the reign of Islam Makhachev in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view.

    Inside Newark’s Prudential Center, “The Diamond” will look to avoid falling to the fate he did opposite Khabib in 2019 and Charles Oliveira two years later. In both the unification showdown with the Dagestani and title bid against the Brazilian, Poirier was submitted in round three.

    While the results read almost exactly the same on paper, the Louisianan fan favorite looks back on them very differently…

    Poirier Acknowlegdes He Wasn’t Ready To Handle Khabib’s Skills In 2019 Title Shot

    During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Poirier previewed what could serve as both his final championship opportunity and last fight overall as an active competitor in the Octagon.

    When assessing his previous title failures, “The Diamond” was asked whether he regrets certain moments in his defeats to “The Eagle” and “Do Bronx” in Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, respectively. 

    “The Khabib fight, not really,” Poirier said. “Obviously I wish I would have performed better and won. But I was just outmatched, outgunned. I can say that honestly with where I’m at with my life and in fighting. I’m comfortable with saying that. I just wasn’t prepared the way I needed to be for what he was bringing.

    “In the Charles fight, there’s more things that I look back at and say, ‘Damn, I shouldn’t have done that… I wish that didn’t happen,’” Poirier continued. “Yeah (mystique played a part against Khabib). I felt that the first time I fought Conor (McGregor) as well. I think I’m past that, the aura of people… fighting not only the person, but the crowd, the media, the critics. I don’t have that anymore. I’m fighting Islam.”

    Following Saturday night, Poirier will be hoping to look back on his third chance at achieving undisputed champ status more positively.

    That will be no easy feat, however, with Makhachev shooting for a record-tying third successful title defense in the UFC 302 main event as a heavy favorite.

  • ‘Brought Out The Retirement Home’ – MMA Fans React To Nick Diaz & Tony Ferguson’s Returns Being Announced For UFC Fight Night In Abu Dhabi

    ‘Brought Out The Retirement Home’ – MMA Fans React To Nick Diaz & Tony Ferguson’s Returns Being Announced For UFC Fight Night In Abu Dhabi

    Mixed martial arts enthusiasts had a variety of reactions in the aftermath of Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson having their UFC returns announced.

    Both Diaz and Ferguson will be looking to return to winning ways at the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on August 3, but in different matchups.  

    The former, who is without a win in 13 years and has competed just twice since a title loss to Georges St-Pierre in 2013, will make his first appearance inside the Octagon since an unsuccessful comeback against Robbie Lawler in 2021.

    While that saw him square off with a fellow veteran, and do so in unimpressive fashion, Diaz’s latest comeback is set to see him throw down with ranked competition in Vicente Luque, who is less than a year removed from a five-round win over Rafael dos Anjos.

    “El Cucuy,” meanwhile, has been much more active in recent years, but equally as unsuccessful.

    Since the start of 2020, the former interim champion has lost seven straight fights, the most recent of which came opposite rising prospect Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 last December. He’ll look to bounce back in the Middle East by adding to the woes of Michael Chiesa.

    MMA Fans Concerned As Diaz & Ferguson Gear Up For UFC Returns

    While fight announcements for Diaz and Ferguson would have formally been met with intrigue and excitement, that is seemingly no longer the case.

    Instead, plenty of fans expressed concern over the two 40-year-olds returning to the cage, especially given their opponents. A number of fans questioned why the promotion didn’t simply match them together.

    https://twitter.com/MannyP3166/status/1796012207500558810

  • Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland thinks you’d need to put a gun to the UFC’s head in order for the promotion to do the right things.

    That sentiment came from Strickland’s first outspoken moment of fight week for this Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view, where the former middleweight champion is tasked with getting the better of Paulo Costa in a five-round co-headliner.

    Having lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis this past January, “Tarzan” was firm in calling for an immediate rematch. And it seems things didn’t go smoothly when the promotion slid a different bout agreement across his desk.

    After reports emerged of Strickland and Costa’s targeted showdown in Newark on June 1, the former took to social media to insist that nothing was official due to the UFC offering an unacceptable sum.

    That issue evidently got sorted and Strickland will indeed make the walk at Prudential Center this weekend. But his frustrations don’t appear to have fully dissipated…

    Strickland: Look At What The Guys Who Run The UFC Earn!

    During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier during UFC 302 fight week, Strickland looked ahead to his clash with Costa and spoke on his public complaints during negotiations for the fight.

    Strickland unsurprisingly didn’t avoid stepping beyond the company line, slamming the UFC as just another corporation headed by “leeches” who avoid acting correctly to most fighters.

    “Here’s the thing, sometimes you’ve gotta be ready to f*cking throw away your entire career if you don’t get your sh*t,” Strickland said. “Just doing the f*cking right things, man. The UFC doesn’t do the right things. It doesn’t f*cking do the right things. It doesn’t do the right things with most of the roster. 

    “If you go look at what these f*cks, the guys that run the UFC, what they’re making and what (fighters) get paid, it’s f*cking sh*t, dude. The UFC does not do the f*cking right things,” Strickland continued. “Unless you hold them at gunpoint, they aren’t gonna do it. But that’s all business these days. All these f*cking corporations are f*cking leeches, dude. Look at the working man’s f*cking (pay) gap, bro. My gap is a lot f*cking smalled than your guys’ gap, but that’s how it works. These corporations are just f*cking sucky.”

    Strickland is never far from the headlines during his fight weeks. While that was the case for UFC 297 earlier this year due to his tirade against a reporter who questioned his past anti-LGBTQ comments, the promotion itself is the entity coming under fire days out from UFC 302.

    It remains to be seen what Strickland will produce while on the microphone at Thursday’s press conference, or while throwing down with Costa inside the Octagon.

  • Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was ready to give his uncensored thoughts on a recent discussion regarding Islam Makhachev.

    Makhachev, who has reigned supreme over the lightweight division since his title-winning victory over Charles Oliveira in 2022, is set to make his first appearance of the year this weekend.

    In the main event of the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark, New Jersey, the Dagestani will put his belt on the line for the third time. After back-to-back defenses against Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier is next in line for a shot at dethroning Makhachev.

    Given McGregor’s in-cage history with Poirier and hostile relationship with Makhachev’s team owing to his bitter rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, it was always likely that the Irishman would be piping up this week.

    And courtesy of the champ’s official fight week photos, the outspoken McGregor was handed a talking point…

    McGregor Reaches Conclusion On Makhachev Photos

    The release of Makhachev’s photos in fight gear immediately drew concerns over a possible staph infection on his left leg. 

    Such a scenario would be déjà vu vu for Poirier, whose most recent opponent, Benoît Saint Denis, was on antibiotics to fight staph during UFC 299 fight week this past March. 

    McGregor followed his usual trend, taking to social media with a slew of verbal attacks directed at Makhachev, whom he branded a “scruffy c**t.” He also called the champ “imbred,” an insult he’s frequently directed at his Dagestani rivals.

    The Dubliner did, however, still predict a quick triumph for Makhachev come fight night.

    “Staph again. This inbred lives with Staph,” McGregor wrote. “This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”

    In a follow-up post, McGregor continued his tirade with a reminder on the importance of washing mats after training sessions.

    “Yous absolute scruffy f**ks I’m sick of yous,” McGregor added. “Wash your f**king self! Wash your clothes! Wash your mats! And do it f*cking everyday you scruffy c**nts

    McGregor’s upcoming return to action has led to some discussion about the rivalry between the Irishman and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team reopening.

    Should Makhachev retain his grip on the lightweight crown this weekend and McGregor make a statement in his comeback fight opposite Chandler, many are predicting that the UFC will look to pair them opposite one another down the line.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    A lot of the talk surrounding Dustin Poirier’s best chances of winning the lightweight title at UFC 302 are about his boxing.

    Of course, keeping the fight standing against someone like Islam Makhachev will not be easy, not to mention the champion’s always improving striking game.

    But if there is one clear area that “The Diamond” has the advantage in, it’s his speed, accuracy, timing and power when letting his hands go.

    Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez recognised this in a recent interview whilst talking about another key area that Poirier may have an advantage in.

    Javier Mendez Says He Isn’t Worried About Dustin Poirier’s Leg Kicks At UFC 302

    When asked during an interview on the Weighing In podcast where he feels that Poirier holds any advantages in this fight, Mendez obviously mentioned Poirier’s boxing.

    Another one of the challenger’s best weapons is his low calf kick which he then uses to set up his boxing combinations.

    These were especially crucial in his previous two fights with Conor McGregor which really showed how Poirier is able to use these two main weapons in unison.

    It’s something that Mendez and the coaches are very wary of but they’re not necessarily concerned about ahead of this fight.

    The American Kickboxing Academy coach said that Makhachev isn’t an easy target for leg kicks, let alone the potential of him being able to secure a takedown if he catches Poirier off balance.

    “Low calf kick is dangerous from him also, very very dangerous because he likes to throw it. But Islam is actually fairly adapt at low calf kicks so it’s not going to be as big a deal unless he catches a good one, which could happen. It could happen but Islam knows how to defend the low calf kick.”    

  • Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    As Joe Rogan said on a recent episode of his podcast, Ilia Topuria didn’t need any additional inspiration to believe that he was going to become the UFC featherweight champion.

    At UFC 298, “El Matador” was crowned after he stopped the 145-pound great Alexander Volkanovski with a ruthless knockout.

    Having not been stopped since his fourth pro fight, Volkanovski has now been on the end of two decisive knockouts in his last two fights.

    The Aussie fighter was already planning to defend his title against Topuria when he got the call to step in on a few weeks notice to move up a weight class and face Islam Makhachev.

    With Charles Oliveira out, a generous offer from the UFC and the chance to earn some revenge after he was beaten by Makhachev that same year, Volkanovski knew he had to say yes.

    Joe Rogan Wishes We Could Have Seen Alexander Volkanovski Face Ilia Topuria Without Fighting At UFC 294

    Whether or not Volkanovski’s performance against Topuria was hindered by his knockout loss to Makhachev four months prior is debatable.

    On The Joe Rogan Experience, elite grappler and coach of Volkanovski, Craig Jones, spoke about this with the UFC commentator.

    Rogan believes that the knockout and quick turnaround undoubtedly affected Volkanovski at UFC 298.

    “This is a short amount of time and then everything kind of falls apart and I think it wouldn’t have fallen apart if not for the rematch. If it wasn’t for the rematch, if he just waited for Topuria, I got to think that head kick has a factor. I mean to get brained like that with a shin to the dome, which is the worst way to get knocked out, it’s so much power in legs.”

    Rogan went on to say that he would have tried to talk Volkanovski out of taking the fight so that he could face Topuria in the best shape possible.

    “It’s so tricky cuz I’m just such a huge Volk fan that I just wish I had his ear. I don’t know if he would have listened to me but if I had his ear…”        

    Read also: ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Paulo Costa’s Bloody Brawl With Luke Rockhold Ahead Of UFC 302 Return

    UFC 302 co-headliner Paulo Costa’s latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable and bloody fashion almost two years ago. 

    “Borrachinha” will feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with getting the better of fellow contender and former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

    Costa made his return from a lengthy layoff this past February, squaring off against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim. The highly entertaining affair came 18 months on from his previous outing at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City in Utah.

    On that night, the Brazilian welcomed former titleholder Luke Rockhold back to action. While the altitude saw fatigue heavily affect their showdown, the three-round affair still featured a number of notable moments, chief among them being the veteran’s gruesome wipe of his bloody face on Costa in the dying moments.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Costa vs. Rockhold fight from UFC 278 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xajbQsU0tJU

    Be it in a similar fashion or a more comfortable one, Costa will be fully focused on having his hand raised inside the Octagon again this weekend inside Newark’s Prudential Center.

    And given that Strickland entered this year with the gold in his possession, such a feat would no doubt leave the Brazilian within touching distance of a second opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    Kevin Holland will face Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 right before the five-round co-main event between Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland. 

    Many, including Weighing In hosts John McCarthy and Josh Thompson, believe that this fight is important for Holland to reassure the UFC about his prowess as a title contender and that he’s not just a gatekeeper in the welterweight division. 

    Although Holland is on a two-fight losing streak, this isn’t the first time he’s been in this situation. In the UFC, he’s previously lost consecutively to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori but came back with a KO win over Alex Oliviera. 

    Then, he again lost two fights in a row against Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson, but returned with a KO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Ahead of UFC 302, Holland finds himself in a similar situation as he’s lost to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page, and here’s what the Weighing In podcast hosts believe he should do to bounce back. 

    John McCarthy Claims Kevin Holland Is A ‘Problem For Everyone’

    While discussing the UFC 302 card on his podcast, “Big” John McCarthy had all the praise for Holland,who is easily one of the most active fighters in the UFC roster. 

    McCarthy agreed that Holland is tough and can create problems for anyone inside the Octagon, and that “MVP” wasn’t an ideal matchup for him in many ways. 

    “Kevin Holland, he’s a problem for everyone. He’s in that position. Against MVP, I thought he would end up having a problem and everyone does, because they don’t realize how fast Michal is. 

    “Oleksiejczuk, I love the guy. He’s tough as hell. He is just a grinding monster. I don’t think he can beat Kevin Holland”

    While McCarthy seemed confident about Holland being the better fighter, Thomson was more concerned about the impact of a losing streak on a fighter. The former UFC fighter explained how each loss adds to the mental burden and even someone like Holland could be affected by it.  

    “Losing to Jack Della Maddalena and ‘MVP.’ Now you’re fighting another guy who’s got a good chin, who likes to put the pressure. But one of my points is, though, that two losses in a row, you start thinking, ‘I’ve never lost three in a row. If I lose this, will they cut me?’ Those are the things that start going through your mind.

    “In a fighter’s mind, you’re thinking to yourself. Three in a row, man, after three, it could be four, and then you really start thinking.”

    Both Thomson and McCarthy then agreed on the fact that the UFC is unlikely to cut Holland even if he loses to Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 – something we can likely all agree on too.

  • Sean Strickland’s Difference In Approach Between Adesanya & DDP Fights Pointed Out Ahead Of Paulo Costa Contest: ‘It Changed Him…’

    Sean Strickland was able to shock the world with his middleweight title win and dominant performance against Israel Adesanya.

    He came in a huge underdog at UFC 293 and was able to successfully implement his style in order to cause all kinds of problems for “The Last Stylebender”.

    Whilst his first title defense was still a closely contended fight, Dricus Du Plessis didn’t have many of the same problems when facing Strickland at UFC 297.

    The challenger still struggled to land anything clean on the champion and of course, styles make fights so he was able to threaten with his grappling more.

    There may be lessons that can be learned from these two fights about Strickland’s trajectory which could end up being crucial in his return this weekend.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Sean Strickland Needs To Find His Groove Against Paulo Costa 

    At UFC 302, Strickland will face Paulo Costa in the co-main event over five rounds in Newark, New Jersey

    The former champion certainly has some attributes that he may be able to use effectively in this fight but there was also one concern that has been highlighted.

    On the latest episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy spoke about how the pressure on Strickland changed massively between UFC 293 and 297.

    McCarthy believes that against Du Plessis, the champion at the time was too reserved and cautious at times and as a result, was unable to control the fight or bully his opponent.

    Forcing a dangerous striker like Costa to back up versus letting him dictate the range and pace could be absolutely vital for Strickland as he attempts to bounce back.

    “The real question is, and you bring up the Izzy fight, I thought Sean went into that fight similar to what I was talking with Dustin, he had no pressure on him. No one expected him to win, there’s no pressure, just go be you and he did. You go and look at the DDP fight, he had a ton of pressure on him and it changed him. He was a lot tighter during the fight, you could see where he was pressing at time. He just was not in that flow like he was against Izzy, he needs to get back to that.”  

  • Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier isn’t putting too much stock into the one loss that is on Islam Makhachev’s record.

    “The Diamond” is set to challenge the lightweight champion at UFC 302 and has a huge task ahead of him in Newark.

    The champ has been dominant in most of his fights aside from one setback that happened all the way back in 2015 in his second Octagon appearance.

    In trying to land his own big, looping shot on Adriano Martins, Makhachev was caught by a powerful counter and dropped, with the referee stepping in to wave off the fight.

    In an interview on mainevent for Fox Sports Australia, Poirier said that the lightweight champion is far better than he was nine years ago so he can’t expect Makhachev to make the same mistake twice.

    “I think the Islam I’m fighting on Saturday night is a different guy than we sat in that time he lost. He was kind of fumbling and his weight was over his feet, he was running in kind of goofy and got hit with a good shot but definitely if he’s lunging in and covering space like that recklessly, I’ll throw check hooks all day.”

    Dustin Poirier Says He Isn’t Interested In Fighting Conor McGregor Right Now

    Poirier also spoke in the same interview about where he is at right now in regards to his rivalry with Conor McGregor.

    “The Notorious” is set to return at UFC 303 and seemingly still has unfinished business to attend to with “The Diamond” after their third meeting ended in him suffering the injury that has kept him out for so long.

    For Poirier, he’s happy to have moved on to being back in title contention and trying to realize his dream of becoming the world champion.

    This is his main focus for now but you can’t help but feel that whilst the two men are still in the promotion, you can never say never.

    “I’ve kind of moved past it and I’m fighting for the undisputed world title, that’s the pinnacle of the sport. Fighting Conor isn’t the pinnacle, being the undisputed world champion is the pinnacle so that’s what I’ve been focused on. But I do think he’s going to beat Chandler.”