MMA News

Category: MMA

  • Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    Dubai to Host PFL Champions Series on October 3 Featuring Two World Title Rematches – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The PFL will stage a major championship event in Dubai on October 3, headlined by two world title bouts at the Coca-Cola Arena. The card, titled PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch, will feature the return meeting between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, as well as a light heavyweight title clash between Corey Anderson and Dovlet Yagshimuradov.

    Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2

    The main event will see undefeated lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) defend his title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14-2). The pair fought earlier this year in January at the same venue, producing a five-round contest that many regarded as one of the best fights of the year. Nurmagomedov was declared the winner by decision, though the result was the subject of fan debate. Hughes has since returned with a rapid 42-second win over Bruno Miranda in May, using his post-fight interview to directly call for the rematch.

    Nurmagomedov, known for his technical control and tactical approach, holds notable wins over former champions Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, competing in what is considered one of MMA’s most competitive divisions. The October meeting will mark his latest defence against one of his closest rivals.

    Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov

    The co-main event will revisit a previous encounter between former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) and reigning PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1). Anderson won their first match in the 2021 Bellator World Grand Prix Quarterfinal by third-round stoppage. Since that bout, Anderson has collected the Bellator title and recently halted 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov. Yagshimuradov, representing Turkmenistan, has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights, securing the PFL light heavyweight belt with a victory over Impa Kasanganay.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch

    The undercard will include an undefeated heavyweight meeting between Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and Slim Trabelsi (8-0). Also scheduled is a 165-pound grudge bout between Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) and Artem Lobov (14-15-1), originally planned for 2018 but cancelled after the UFC 229 post-fight incident. In welterweight action, 2024 PFL MENA Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) meets PFL Europe Champion Florim Zendeli (10-1-1), with both fighters riding unbeaten streaks.

    2025 PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, Saturday, Saturday, January, 25, 2025. (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

    The event is part of the PFL’s ongoing “Road to Dubai” initiative, run in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Launched in November 2024, the campaign has brought multiple international MMA cards to the UAE and will culminate in the Road to Dubai Finale in January.

    PFL CEO John Martin called the October event one of the league’s biggest nights, noting the significance of staging two championship fights in Dubai. He cited the city’s growing position as a host for major MMA events and the PFL’s role in presenting high-level competition on a global stage.

  • Georges St-Pierre: Big, New $7B-Plus UFC-Paramount Deal “Terrible for the Fighters”

    Georges St-Pierre: Big, New $7B-Plus UFC-Paramount Deal “Terrible for the Fighters”

    UFC has just announced a new massive rights deal with Paramount but the promotion’s decision to phase out pay-per-views when we enter 2026 has Georges St-Pierre concerned for the future well being of fighters and their financial situation. The rights agreement was announced on Monday with Paramount that netted the MMA leader a whopping $7.7 billion dollars over the course of the seven year deal.

    Paramount+ or CBS will now carry numbered events for the UFC but Georges St-Pierre does not seem convinced this idea will be beneficial to the in-cage competitors contracted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Negotiating a cut of the capital accrued by pay-per-view events used to be a major piece of the negotiating equation for combatants with GSP likely cashing sizable cheques from the PPV points that the massive shows he was featured on would have garnered.

    This subject was discussed during an interview with Covers when St-Pierre said,

    “It could be good for the UFC, as a promoter, but terrible for the fighters because when I was competing I was able to have a great argument to negotiate on my contract. I could tell the UFC, ‘Hey, if you want me to do all the promotion, I want to become a partner. I want a piece of the pie to negotiate a part of the pay-per-view revenue.”

    “Because if I’m doing all the promotion, I’m helping you, but you need to help me. You need to make me a partner.’ So it might be a bad thing for the fighters in a way that they have less leverage. “That’s what I think. I think it’s going to take off some leverage for the big names to have an argument to negotiate more money.”

    UFC PPV points and Georges St-Pierre’s legacy as a star

    While the UFC PPV points were not historically widely available to the public as far as specific amounts fighters would receive, it provided a lane for standout athletes to at least earn a bit more in a spot that is notorious for having such low revenue share among the athletes. GSP’s last outing took place in November 2017 when he finished Michael Bisping to become the UFC middleweight champion at UFC 217 and has been in some of the biggest blockbuster bouts in the history of mixed martial arts.

    Georges St-Pierre’s involvement with UFC 100 made it an all time iconic show for the company with Brock Lesnar engaging in a rematch with Frank Mir in the headliner but GSP also did huge nights of business with Nick Diaz at UFC 158, BJ Penn in a rematch at UFC 94, Jake Shields at UFC 129, and a sequel clash with Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 to name but a few.

  • How Controversial Figure CM Punk Earned the Respect of a BKFC Edmonton Victor

    How Controversial Figure CM Punk Earned the Respect of a BKFC Edmonton Victor

    CM Punk is a well known WWE star who also does broadcasting work for CFFC with a multi-fight BKFC competitor recently recalling his interaction with the former AEW and WWE champion after fighting on a past card for the New Jersey-based MMA promotion. Adam De Freitas has a history at the 2300 Arena even prior to his March fight in Philly for BKFC with a previous foray into the CFFC cage under his belt at the old ECW Arena.

    De Frietas touched on this subject while he appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker before eventually securing his first ever bare knuckle win with a first round knockout of Skyler Mauller at BKFC Edmonton on August 9th. When asked if there were interactions that were had with CM Punk while both did their thing for CFFC on that event from a few years ago, De Freitas said,

    “Actually yeah. So I’m trying to remember the name of the guy I fought. He was really good. We had a great fight. I thought I won. It was a split decision for him. He took me down a lot, but he did nothing on the ground. I lit him up, dropped him twice, almost had a submission. Even on the ground, I was hitting him with elbows.”

    “But I have to respect the fact that if he’s on top, even if he’s doing nothing, if he’s on top, in a lot of judges eyes, he’s winning, right? But I lost a split in Philly, which you know, you lose a split to the hometown guy, you can kind of walk away thinking you won that fight. But I went backstage. CM Punk did come up. He did say he thought I won. We probably have about a 5 minute conversation.”

    “I doubt he even remembers it because it was probably 5-6 years ago. But yeah, he honestly he seemed pretty cool. He didn’t act like this giant character or anything like that. He came up and told me, “Yeah, [I] thought [you] won that fight.” and it was kind of just like shooting the s**t with one of the gym bros. He was pretty laidback and seemed like a pretty humble guy. I don’t watch too much wrestling and I don’t know him from his character, but I seem to be a fan, man. I didn’t mind the guy, seemed pretty cool.”

    The Adam De Freitas-CM Punk Interaction at CFFC: “He didn’t have to do that”

    When recalling more of his CM Punk meeting that happened when fighting in CFFC, in a bout that saw the Canadian combatant lose to Ryan Rizco via split decision, De Freitas stated,

    “Yeah, I think he [Rizco] was same team as Eddie Alvarez. Decent boxing, but I was a way better boxer, but it was the wrestling. He kept taking me down and I made the mistake of thinking because I’m throwing up submissions and hitting him with elbows off my back that I didn’t have to stand up. So again another loss and I still think I won but I got to own it, man.”

    “I didn’t try to stand back up, so I lost a split decision to him. But yeah, I met CM Punk backstage he was like yes, a super cool guy you know. Came up and showed respect to the fighters backstage after. He didn’t have to do that, right, so I respect that.”

  • “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the 12th and final edition of The TUF Stuff!

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    Last week saw the second flyweight semifinal, with Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales scoring a highly controversial decision over Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez. Morales will face Alibi Idiris in the flyweight finale during the UFC 319 prelims this Saturday.

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 12

    Now, Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko faces Team Sonnen’s Matt Dixon for the right to face Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando in the welterweight finale at UFC 319!

    Let’s get into episode 12 of The Ultimate Fighter!

    Out In Las Vegas

    As a thank you to the fighters for partaking in the celebration of TUF’s 20th anniversary, Dana White, Daniel Cormier, and Chael Sonnen took the fighters out to Las Vegas. A Vegas Hilton billboard spotlights TUF artwork. Sonnen says while it’s hard for them to call themselves one, considering it’s a competition, tonight is a night they could celebrate their accomplishments. Cormier tells the TUF cast they are all special kids with bright futures ahead of them.

    The fighters take time out at Fuhu Restaurant at Resorts World.

    Cormier says the attitudes of the teams are telling, with Cormier and his team being wild, while Sonnen and his team acting professional.

    TUF House

    Members of Team Sonnen sat around a fire, reflecting on how they got to partake in such an experience. Andreaas Binder reflects that he will miss everyone in the TUF House.

    Team Sonnen Training Session – Rashad Evans Joins

    Assistant Coach Jamie Huey brings in a UFC Hall of Famer to join them with Chael Sonnen unable to join afternoon practice — TUF season two winner and season 10 coach, and former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans.

    Evans tells the guys that this is a “savage sport” despite the comradery. “You have to tap into that savagery when you’re out there,” Evans said. “Because guess what? That’s what you’re up against.”

    Dixon says Evans is deep and wise from his experience.

    Evans works with the team on transitions, saying the best fighters fight in transition. He adds that fighters have to bring the violence and be willing to sacrifice to get to the top.

    Matt Dixon Call Home

    Dixon receives a call from his family, looking in awe especially at his daughter, whose first two teeth have grown in.

    Dixon says this call from his family re-motivated him, reminding him why he’s here and why he does what he does.

    Dixon says he’s super grateful he got to do this opportunity, and his family are proud of what he’s doing.

    Daniil Donchenko Fight Prep

    Cormier says that Donchenko needs to fight smart and creatively, and he needs to out-pressure Dixon.

    Donchenko says he saw holes in Dixon’s game and feels he has the ability to knock Dixon out.

    Cormier says Dixon will put on pressure and try to brawl with Donchenko — a kind of fight that falls into Donchenko’s hands.

    Cormier says the fight will be a war, and that while Dixon likes to bring the fight, Donchenko takes that kind of fight in.

    Donchenko says his knees and elbows will go into Dixon’s face and body and promises to do damage. Donchenko compares he and Dixon’s fighting styles to fire and water.

    Team Cormier Training Session & TUF House

    Michael Chiesa presents Donchenko with a fish, named Papito, Donchenko’s “Fighting Fish.” Donchenko says the gift means a lot to him because of his connection to his late father, whom he spent time fishing with, who passed away following a drug overdose.

    An emotional Donchenko says it was that experience that reminded him to enjoy life and take nothing for granted — and to do everything you can to make it yours.

    Matt Dixon Fight Prep

    Sonnen says Dixon is both the strongest and most conditioned fighter on the team, calling him an animal.

    Sonnen says Dixon has the power to knock Donchenko out, and he’s not sure about the other way around.

    Dixon says his plan is to pressure and close the distance, implementing dirty boxing. When asked about taking Donchenko down, Dixon says he’s planning to mix that in.

    Dixon says he’s prepared to go to a gritty place to take Donchenko out, calling himself both the better grappler and striker in this fight.

    Dixon says we’ll find out if Donchenko is tough enough to take his shots, adding that if the fight is a three-round brawl, he’ll be happy with that.

    Sonnen says this will be the fight of the season.

    Daniil Donchenko Call Home

    Donchenko has a conversation with his girlfriend. Donchenko says it feels strange being away for so long and now seeing her on television screen.

    Donchenko’s girlfriend says the family is all supporting him and plenty of people are asking about him. Donchenko says he really misses her and will see her soon.

    The Fight: Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Both fighters weigh in at 171. The fight is on!

    Roybert Echeverria says the two have different kinds of striking styles. He wants to see how Donchenko reacts to Dixon’s pressure. Tumelo Manyamala says Donchenko says he’s good at countering the kind of pressure Dixon brings, with kicks included.

    Dana White says this is perhaps the best of the semifinal matchups. He says both are explosive strikers who look for knockouts.

    Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    Round 1

    The two move to the center. Dixon pressures Donchenko to the fence and lands an elbow. Donchenko tries to come in and Dixon clinches him against the fence. Donchenko pressure. Dixon lands a knee. Clinch battle and both men score. Knee to the body by Donchenko. Left hand by Dixon. Low kicks by Donchenko. Body shot by Donchenko. Dixon presses Donchenko to the fence again. Donchenko lands a strong elbow. Series of punches! But they’re landing on the back of the head! Referee Marc Smith calls time out!

    The doctor clears Dixon, who is bloodied. Smith gives Donchenko a hard warning. Low kick by Donchenko. Donchenko tries to pressure. Right hand by Dixon. Donchenko lands a small flurry, but Donchenko is briefly dropped by a right hand! The two trading! One-two by Dixon, but Donchenko lands a power shot. More power shots! Donchenko pressures Dixon to the fence! Dixon goes down! Ground-and-pound! That’s it!

    Danill Donchenko wins an explosive battle to reach the final!

    Winner: Donchenko via first-round KO

    Conclusion

    Cormier says this was a fight that they all expected. White says Donchenko came to knock Dixon out, but Dixon fought back. Dixon ended up rocking Donchenko, but Cormier told Donchenko to take his time and search for opportunities. That came with an elbow that busted Dixon open.

    Sonnen and Cormier says Dixon could have taken a DQ win, but Sonnen says that’s not the way the game is played — and Dixon followed that. Cormier says Dixon “got up and fought like a man.” White, however, says he doesn’t think Dixon was recovered fully when he chose to continue. Sonnen said he knew at that point Donchenko had won.

    Cormier says Donchenko was the better fighter. White, however, gives credit to both men.

    Dixon says he wanted a fight like this and called Donchenko a warrior.

    Donchenko is hyped to be in the finale. He says he’ll be proud of himself today, but the next day it’s back to work as he chases the TUF title.

    Face-offs are then held for the finale fights: Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales vs. Team Cormier’s Alibi Idiris at flyweight and Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Danill Donchenko (both of Team Cormier) at welterweight.

    Thanks for joining me on this ride for season 33 of TUF and for the final edition of The TUF Stuff!

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, Episode 1 Highlights As 2 Awarded UFC Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series kicked off with a bizarre, and downright disappointing, night on in Las Vegas.

    DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.

    Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode one of season nine this week saw 2 prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.

    The big moments for season nine kicked off (literally and figuratively) with a bang courtesy of Baysangur Susurkaev. Susurkaev delivered an impressive body kick that dropped Murtaza Talha, scoring a walk-off KO just three minutes into the bout.

    Ty Miller would then follow up with a strong performance, thanks to his advanced boxing skills, to sweep the scorecards against Jimmy Drago and earn his own Octagon deal.

    The featured fight of the evening at middleweight saw Ilian Bouafia defeat Neemias Santana via a controversial decision. Bouafia was hit with an intentional headbutt early on in the fight, resulting in a timeout and what could have been a DQ finish. Bouafia fought on, with Santana receiving a one-point deduction, but the fight was lackluster. Though commentary (among pundits), as well as White himself, believed the fight was a draw, Bouafia came away with a unanimous decision.

    Needless to say, Bouafia did not earn a contract.

    The night began with Yuri Panferov besting Chris Ewert by decision. Panferov managed to outwork Ewert with powerful strikes and eight minutes of control time on the ground, but it wasn’t enough for a deal.

    Radley Da Silva followed up with a grappling-heavy victory over George Mangos, but it also wasn’t enough to impress the UFC boss.

    Yuri Panferov def. Chris Ewert via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Radley Da Silva def. George Mangos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

    Baysangur Susurkaev def. Murtaza Talha via KO (R1, 3:04)

    Ty Miller def. Jimmy Drago via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Ilian Bouafia def. Neemias Santana via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)

  • Carlos Prates Explains How Smoking Cigarettes Helps His Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 319 Return

    Carlos Prates Explains How Smoking Cigarettes Helps His Weight Cut Ahead Of UFC 319 Return

    Cigarettes seem to be a constant companion in Carlos Prates’ daily grind.

    Prates is set to make his Octagon return this Saturday, August 16, at UFC 319, where he will face veteran welterweight Geoff Neal at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 314 last April, but an injury to “Handz of Steel” forced the fight to be postponed.

    “The Nightmare” is celebrated for his explosive finishes inside the cage. Outside the Octagon, though, he’s equally notorious for his hard-living lifestyle, often seen indulging in alcohol and, most notably, as a dedicated chain smoker in his social media posts.

    Despite numerous warnings from his coaches about the health risks, Prates openly admits to smoking daily. Even while actively competing, lighting up before and after fights has become a deeply ingrained ritual he refuses to break.

    Carlos Prates
    Image: UFC.com

    Carlos Prates Claims Smoking Cigarettes Supports His Weight Cut

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Carlos Prates was questioned about whether he had cut back on his smoking ahead of his fight with Geoff Neal. The Fighting Nerds standout openly admitted his enduring love for cigarettes, revealing that he still lights up around eight smokes a day.

    “The Nightmare” revealed he’s attempted to reduce his smoking, but doing so led to overeating. He ultimately accepted that he’d rather light up than risk struggling with weight cuts.

    “Sometimes I start to smoke a little bit less, but it’s hard,” Carlos Prates said. “I get really excited, and I want to eat. I cannot eat pizza all day, so I prefer to smoke rather than have some problem with making weight… I like to smoke before I go to the stadium. We cannot smoke in the locker room. Smoke before, then I go there.”

    Prates last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Kansas City this past April, where his 10-fight knockout streak was snapped by a unanimous decision defeat to Ian Garry. Before experiencing his first UFC loss, “The Nightmare” was riding a four-fight winning streak, featuring dominant finishes over notable opponents like Neil Magny and Li Jingliang.

    Carlos Prates, who secured his UFC contract in August 2023 via Dana White’s Contender Series, boasts a professional record of 21-7, with an impressive 19 victories coming by way of stoppage.

    Image: @thenightmare_170/Instagram

  • VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Display Mutual Respect Ahead Of UFC 319 Title Showdown

    VIDEO: Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Display Mutual Respect Ahead Of UFC 319 Title Showdown

    Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev recently came face to face for the first time.

    Du Plessis will put his middleweight crown on the line against Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    The build-up to this highly anticipated clash has been charged with tension, fueled by frequent back-and-forth exchanges between the fighters on social media. Many expected sparks to fly when they finally came together in person, but the encounter turned out to be quite the opposite.

    Dricus Du Plessis And Khamzat Chimaev Meet In Person Ahead Of UFC 319 Clash

    On Tuesday, Khamzat Chimaev’s jiu-jitsu coach, Alan Do Nascimento, posted an Instagram video capturing the moment “Borz” crossed paths with reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis ahead of their clash this weekend.

    To the surprise of many, the two rivals greeted each other with respect, shared a light moment of camaraderie, and chatted briefly in a friendly manner.

    “Stillknocks” enters UFC 319 riding the momentum of a dominant unanimous decision victory in his second title defense, a rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 this past February.

    He first captured the 185-pound crown via split decision over Strickland at UFC 297, then successfully defended it with a submission win against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Du Plessis remains unbeaten in the UFC, boasting a perfect 9-0 record.

    Meanwhile, Chimaev is fresh off a first-round submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October 2024. “Borz” has seen limited action in recent years, competing just four times since 2022. Still, he maintains an undefeated 9-0 record in the UFC, with notable finishes over opponents such as Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang.

    Why Dricus Du Plessis Demanded a Fight with Khamzat Chimaev I have fought everybody
  • Dricus Du Plessis Laughs At Khamzat Chimaev’s Resume Heading into UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis Laughs At Khamzat Chimaev’s Resume Heading into UFC 319

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has compared his resume to Khamzat Chimaev’s ahead of their clash at UFC 319 this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev will finally collide with the UFC middleweight championship being up for grabs. It’s pretty tough to say who’s going to come out on top with the win, but one thing we know for sure is that both men are going to push the pace and bring the action from the very first moments of the fight.

    Dricus du Plessis has been a fantastic champion at 185 pounds and he’s hungry to improve his legacy even further in the years to come. He’s certainly talented enough to do that, but in order to reach that next level, he needs to be able to get through Khamzat.

    In a recent interview, Dricus du Plessis spoke candidly about his resume in comparison to Chimaev’s as we get closer and closer to fight night.

    Dricus du Plessis talks about comparisons with Khamzat Chimaev

    “I fought a guy that was ranked number seven because number one got injured, and he was the only guy that’s gonna take the fight. I wanna fight the best of the best and that is what I’ve been doing. 

    “If you go look at me and Khamzat, he’s [got] eight wins in the UFC, I’m nine. Just go compare our resumes. It’s ridiculous.”

    Either way, we’re going to get some real clarity on the state of the middleweight division soon.

  • Paddy Pimblett is the One to Beat Ilia Topuria, Says Former UFC Title Contender

    Paddy Pimblett is the One to Beat Ilia Topuria, Says Former UFC Title Contender

    Former UFC fighter Darren Till believes that fellow Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett could be the man to defeat Ilia Topuria.

    For a while now, Paddy Pimblett has been on the rise in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’s rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in that time but in equal measure, he’s also proven himself to be a top star in the lightweight division – and in doing so, he’s proven a whole lot of critics wrong.

    One of the most notable things about Paddy Pimblett’s UFC run thus far has been his feud with Ilia Topuria. Following their recent face-off in the cage, some have questioned whether or not the UFC will book that fight next.

    In a recent interview with Compare.bet, Darren Till gave his thoughts on how Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett could go.

    Darren Till believes Paddy Pimblett could beat Ilia Topuria

    “Paddy has probably got the best chance to beat Ilia, and I know it sounds ridiculous because I don’t think Paddy’s on his level in terms of skillset yet–he will get there.

    “But I just think Paddy with his coaches and the way they strategise, and how big he is, and how sort of loose he is–I think Paddy has a great chance of beating Ilia Topuria.

    “A lot of people will be against that opinion, but I’ve said this for years about Paddy, people like to give Paddy shit, but he can fight. He’s got a solid team around and he obviously works hard because of the shape he gets in.

    “Whether you love or hate Paddy, and he’s not a close friend by any sense of it, but you have to give Paddy props. I know his opponents are questionable and the loss and stuff, but you can only fight who is in front of you.

    “And people will say ‘he’s getting built’ – of course he’s getting built – like me. Because we speak, we talk the talk, why wouldn’t you build Paddy? Stop being a hater.”

    Quotes via Compare.bet

  • Tom Aspinall Tells UFC Fans to Give up On Jon Jones’ Comeback: “Not Interested”

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has told fans to move on from the idea of him fighting Jon Jones at next year’s UFC White House event.

    For the longest time, Tom Aspinall was actively asking for the opportunity to face Jon Jones for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Unfortunately, ‘Bones’ never seemed particularly interested in that idea, and he eventually made the decision to retire from mixed martial arts altogether.

    Alas, it didn’t take long for him to start suggesting that he will, in fact, make his way back into the cage one day. Many rolled their eyes at this, noting that it was only the UFC White House card that led to him suggesting a comeback. Tom Aspinall, meanwhile, still isn’t buying it.

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall almost seemed exhausted at even having to discuss Jon.

    Tom Aspinall issues warning to fans over Jon Jones’ possible return

    “Do you want me to be honest? It has spent zero seconds in my mind. [I’m] not interested mate, and the world shouldn’t be interested either. What’s the point? [It’s] just false hope.”

    Aspinall is currently preparing to defend his title against Ciryl Gane later this year. If he’s able to win that, and do so convincingly, he could really set himself up for some special things to come in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Either way, it feels like the ship has sailed for Jon Jones, especially given that even Dana White is hesitant to trust him with another main event spot.

  • Lerone Murphy Feels More Comfortable as the Underdog: “I do my best work with no pressure”

    Lerone Murphy Feels More Comfortable as the Underdog: “I do my best work with no pressure”

    UFC featherweight star Lerone Murphy is feeling good heading into his battle with Aaron Pico in the co-main event of UFC 319.

    For the longest time now, Lerone Murphy has been battling his way towards a hopeful title shot at 145 pounds. The 34-year-old is unbeaten in his mixed martial arts career and in the wake of his win over Josh Emmett earlier this year, he’s opted for a quick turnaround as he prepares to collide with Aaron Pico on Saturday night.

    It’s always difficult when you’re welcoming someone to the UFC, and it’s even harder when it’s someone who has as much hype as Aaron Pico does. Alas, it doesn’t seem to be something that’s bothering Lerone Murphy too much.

    In fact, even being listed as the underdog by some is great motivation for Lerone Murphy, as he noted in a recent interview with Card Player.

    Lerone Murphy doesn’t mind being underdog

    “I believe it’s going to be a great fight. I think it’s probably the toughest match-up I’ve had so far in my career stylistically and it’s going to be a great fight, man. But I think I can find holes and I believe I’m going to come out victorious. I want to go out there and make a big statement. And I want to finish him.”

    “I prefer to be an underdog, to be honest. With pressure you don’t perform as well, I believe. When I go in there and I just think it is what it is, I’m a fighter anyway. I’m going to be focused on that night and put the pressure on. I believe I do my best work with no pressure, which might be strange to some. Some people perform under pressure but I think I do my best work [when I’m relaxed]. I’m less hesitant and I let it all go and that’s what you’re going to see.”

    Quotes via Card Player

  • Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus du Plessis: Darren Till makes his prediction

    Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus du Plessis: Darren Till makes his prediction

    Former UFC fighter Darren Till has given his thoughts on the UFC 319 main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    On Saturday night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. This is expected to be a pretty close, intense battle between two of the best middleweights on the planet – and two of the most unique. At this point, nobody really knows what way it’s going to go, and there are many different predictions flying around.

    One man who knows a thing or two about these men is Darren Till. The Liverpudlian fought and lost to Dricus du Plessis during his UFC run, and he trained extensively with Khamzat Chimaev, becoming quite close friends with ‘Borz’.

    In a recent interview with Compare.bet, Till had the following to say about Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev.

    Darren Till’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “DDP will be facing the highest level of wrestling, especially in MMA. Can Khamzat beat him early on? Most definitely.  But can DDP give Khamzat hell? Most definitely.

    “I think it’s 60-40 in Khamzat’s favour, but I just say, when it gets into later rounds, does Khamzat have it [the stamina] to go that? But I think he’s training with Arman Tsarukyan, so I think it’s going to be a demolition job, well I hope it is. But don’t be surprised if DDP gives him problems because he is a phenomenal fighter.

    “I think he’s going to drag Khamzat into deep waters, but I think Khamzat is going to be prepared, so I do see Khamzat winning any which way. But you cannot look past DDP. “

    Quotes via Compare.bet

  • ‘What A Let Down’ – Fans Split Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Title Fight Against Dricus Du Plessis

    ‘What A Let Down’ – Fans Split Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Title Fight Against Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev will enter the Octagon in standout gear this weekend.

    Chimaev will challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    Back in 2020, UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell made history by debuting his signature Reebok camouflage shorts. However, since last year, the UFC’s official fight kit partner Venum has rolled out a wave of custom designs for some of the sport’s biggest names including Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, Dustin Poirier, Merab Dvalishvili, and Ilia Topuria, among others.

    The trend shows no signs of losing momentum, with the latest unveiling arriving just in time for UFC 319. As Khamzat Chimaev prepares for his first UFC title shot, the undefeated challenger will debut bespoke Venum fight shorts inspired by his moniker “Borz,” the Chechen word for wolf. The design features a striking pair of howling wolves on each side, set against a bold blue and grey backdrop.

    However, Chimaev won’t be the only one showcasing unique fight gear on Saturday night. His opponent, Du Plessis, will also step in wearing his own custom-made shorts, adorned with the bold and vivid colors of the South African flag, a proud tribute to his heritage.

    “Stillknocks” first sported the distinctive design during his successful title defense against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024.

    Dricus Du Plessis custom shorts
    Image: @dricusduplessis/Instagram

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Custom Shorts For UFC 319 Ignite Fan Debate

    The unveiling of Khamzat Chimaev’s custom-made shorts for UFC 319 drew a flurry of mixed reactions from MMA fans online. While many praised the striking howling wolf design, others were quick to criticize, arguing that several fighters have sported far more impressive gear.

    Khamzat Chimaev last competed at UFC 308 in October 2024, where he secured a dominant first-round submission over former champion Robert Whittaker. “Borz” boasts an undefeated 8-0 UFC record and a perfect 14-0 overall, with 12 victories coming inside the distance.

    UFC Analyst Warns Why 'It’s A Disaster’ If Khamzat Chimaev Wins At UFC 319
    Image: UFC.com
  • Khamzat Chimaev is looking to Make History at UFC 319 – Former UFC Champ Weighs-In

    Khamzat Chimaev is looking to Make History at UFC 319 – Former UFC Champ Weighs-In

    Khamzat Chimaev could make history for the Russian republic he comes from and a former UFC middleweight champion could see ‘Borz’ being a consistent competitor with defending his crown should he capture it. Chimaev will have that chance later this week on August 16th when he clashes with reigning 185 pound titleholder Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago.

    A member of the UFC’s middleweight title lineage weighed in on this looming matchup when Michael Bisping spoke about Saturday’s pay-per-view headliner via his personal YouTube channel. When touching upon the hype train that the title challenger has been riding leading into this weekend and what could potentially transpire thereafter, Bisping said,

    “It’s all well and good having a ton of potential. But if you don’t realize that potential, then none of it really matters. You come here, you have a few good wins, you dominate some people, you go viral for a few finishes, you pick up Li Jingliang and you have a conversation with Dana White, you just smoke all these people, but you don’t become the champion.”

    “Then you’re just going to be forgotten about in years to come. Khamzat Chimaev wants to be a champion. He wants to be the first Chechen champion, and he wants to defend the belt, and he wants to be active.”

    Khamzat Chimaev has his eyes on becoming a three division UFC champion

    Khamzat Chimaev is pursuant of the middleweight crown later on this week but it’s not the only weight category that he has designs of conquering in the octagon. The undefeated mixed martial artist began his UFC tenure as a welterweight and seems to have designs to one day return to that weight class with a peripheral focus on one day becoming a champion at 205 pounds.

    Addressing his future championship aspirations during an ESPN interview, Chimaev stated [via Sherdog],

    “I work with a new coach. I talk to him about going down again, back to my first fights at 170. He said if they give me a couple months, we’re gonna make it. This Australian guy [welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena] would be a good fight for me. I go down, fight with him and could take the belt there.”

    “If I go up, and there is [Magomed] Ankalaev and Alex Pereira — they are fighting now. I can fight for that belt as well.”

  • BKFC Edmonton Victor on Lightweight Title Tournament: “Putting 2 Divisions on Hold”

    BKFC Edmonton Victor on Lightweight Title Tournament: “Putting 2 Divisions on Hold”

    BKFC has four hungry fighters ready to vie for the vacant lightweight title in a looming tournament and a fighter outside of that immediate field has some thoughts on matters. Hasan Al-Ghanim is now 4-0 inside of the BKFC ring after his victory over the weekend at BKFC Edmonton and he aims to go 5-0 before 2025 closes out. A lightweight title shot is an express goal for the surging Wolfhouse product someday and Al-Ghanim appeared on Bare Knuckle Bowker ahead of his Zach Pannell fight recently in Enoch at the River Cree.

    Addressing the announcement of the four-man lightweight tournament for the vacated 155 pound championship after they had stripped Franco Tanaglia of the belt, Hasan Al-Ghanim said,

    “Honestly, I thought it was a good idea. Obviously they stripped him [Franco Tenaglia]. Ben Bonner fought for the interim [title] with, who was it? Was it [Tony] Soto?… Yeah, they fought for the interim [title]. It’s fine. The tournament is a good idea, but I think they should have opened it up from four-man to maybe an eight-man tournament.”

    “You know, there’s a lot of people who deserve their respect within the division. One of them being like HD [Howard Davis]. You know, he went five rounds with what’s his name? I forgot his name, f**k… He went five rounds with [Luis] Palomino, right?… He [Howard Davis] lost that fight because of a decision. But I feel like a person like him should have been thrown in there, you know, thrown in that mix.”

    “Then make it a six-man tournament, make it an eight-man tournament, and have potential up and comers like myself join in as well. Just to see if we can keep up, if we are part of the part of the top, you know what I mean? But to me, having the same four guys, one guy coming from ’65, one guy coming from ’45, and both champions coming in, you know, it defeats the purpose.”

    “You know, we’re putting the division on hold. We’re putting two divisions on hold. Obviously Austin Trout vacated his, but we have Kai [Stewart] still the champion of 145. He’s just holding up the division there. You know what I mean? I think they should have made it an eight-man tournament, but hey, I’m not in the seats, you know?”

    BKFC Lightweight Championship scene and where Al-Ghanim fits in

    With big name former as well as current champions in BKFC like Franco Tenaglia, Austin Trout, Luis Palomino, and interim champ Ben Bonner vying to become undisputed champion, it’s all about staying the course for ‘Hungry’.

    As the Iraqi-born combatant fighting out of Alberta was discussing his own route to his crack at the crown down the line while observing the tournament from the outside looking in following his dominant BKFC Edmonton win, Al-Ghanim stated,

    “Yeah, it’s a weird situation, but hey, you know, they decided a four man tournament. The rest of us just got to work our way up until we get a contender shot or a title shot or something like that.”

  • Dana White Says “PPV Isn’t Dead”, Suggests Potential One-Off UFC PPVs Under Paramount Deal

    Dana White Says “PPV Isn’t Dead”, Suggests Potential One-Off UFC PPVs Under Paramount Deal

    After all the celebration about the death of pay-per-view, UFC CEO & President Dana White is telling everyone to hold their horses.

    In an interview with the New York Post, despite the proclamations made in the new $7.7 billion deal with Paramount about the future of numbered UFC events, White says that he isn’t eliminating the pay-per-view concept entirely in this mind.

    White suggest he may toy with the idea of a potential 14th numbered UFC pay-per-view event during the Paramount deal that could see be put behind a pay-per-view paywall.

    “Anything is possible,” White said. “And you could do a one-off pay-per-view. I am going to be on pay-per-view this Saturday. Pay-Per-View is not dead.”

    This comes not even 24 hours after TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro gave an interview to CNBC for the deal’s announcement, during which Shapiro referred to the pay-per-view model as “a thing of the past” and “an outdated, antiquated model.”

    Dana White Hints PPV Format May Still Appear In New UFC-Paramount Deal

    The UFC and Paramount’s new deal, which is set to begin in January, calls for 43 total UFC events per year — with 30 Fight Night cards and 13 numbered events.

    These numbered events, however, would not be pay-per-view as they have since the UFC’s inception in 1993. Instead, these cards, along with the UFC Fight Nights, would air exclusively on the Paramount+ streaming service.

    The initial announcements also noted that a select number of events would air on the linear CBS network in the United States.

    How many cards air on CBS has also been a point of discrepancy amongst the TKO and UFC executives. Despite the press release mentioning “select” events, Emanuel and Shapiro hinted at the possibility all of the UFC numbered cards are simulcast between Paramount+ and CBS, citing a desire for the most eyeballs possible.

    A later CBS Sports interview with White saw him state four “big” events would air on the network.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    Dana White’s Contender Series Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal, Broadcast Rights TBD

    UPDATE: The New York Post’s Erich Richter has confirmed that Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, and Road to UFC are all not part of the UFC-Paramount package, and that the UFC is still shopping homes for these platforms.

    The major seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal between the UFC and Paramount may not include Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), the UFC CEO and President confirmed to Sports Business Journal.

    One of the notable things to come out of the new UFC deal was what the press release to announce it did not make mention of UFC properties outside of the events that include the likes of DWCS, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Road to UFC, etc.

    White confirmed an interview that while the UFC and all of its numbered and Fight Night events are part of the Paramount package, which begins in January, the U.S. rights to air DWCS are still to be determined.

    “Yeah. That could be split up,” White said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”

    UFC Properties May Be Split Up After All, As DWCS Not Part Of UFC-Paramount Deal

    While the interview did not mention TUF or Road to UFC, it may be assumed that those rights are also still up in the air.

    TUF was created by the UFC when it first partnered up with Paramount Network (then known as Spike) in 2005, the same year it started airing Fight Night events on the cable channel. TUF has since followed the UFC throughout its times with FOX and ESPN as well.

    Road to UFC has aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass since its inception and may likely remain there.

    DWCS first premiered on UFC Fight Pass in 2017 before moving over to ESPN+ as part of the UFC’s deal with ESPN that began in 2019. The UFC’s U.S. broadcasting rights with ESPN ends at the end of the year. DWCS not being part of the Paramount deal keeps the possibility that ESPN could have some piece of the UFC umbrella.

    White added that he doesn’t see ESPN shying away from UFC coverage after the deal.

    “When we first started out over there, you’re going to have some rockiness when you’re figuring how you’re going to work with each other and who’s who, what’s what, and, ‘How are we going to do this?’ and we had some of that with ESPN,” White said. “Let me tell you what, over the last seven years, we have created an unbelievable relationship with that company and the people that work there.

    “I don’t see [ESPN promoting UFC less after 2025] happening. I see the exact opposite of that happening. We wouldn’t be where we are today without ESPN and I plan on continuing that relationship for the rest of my career.”

    This deal between the UFC and Paramount calls for 43 UFC cards, featuring 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Night cards, to be broadcasted on Paramount+. A select number of the numbered events (White has said four, while TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro claim all) will air on the lineal CBS network in the U.S.

    When current international broadcasting deals for the UFC expire, Paramount will also have a 30-day exclusive negotiating window to lock up rights in those countries as well.

  • Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Watch: Conor McGregor hits the gym and trains with his youngest son

    Conor McGregor is getting his youngest son started early.

    Despite not competing inside the Octagon for more than four years, the former two-division champion has continued to post training clips on social media and boasting about his highly anticipated return to the Octagon. When, where, or even if that ever happens is uncertain, but it looks like McGregor is already readying his son, Mack McGregor, to follow in his footsteps.

    Check out the clip below, which features the youngest of McGregor clan showing off his boxing skills and even throwing a kick on command.

    McGregor has four children with his longtime fiancée, Dee Devlin, including three older children: Conor Jr., Croia, and Rian, and the youngest being Mack, who was born in 2023.  

    Conor McGregor maintains a strong foothold in combat sports despite a slew of legal issues and lack of activity

    Once upon a time, McGregor was the biggest star in the UFC. Hell, he was one of the biggest sports stars in the world, period. And while ‘The Notorious’ still carries a lot of star power, many fight fans have become disenfranchised with the Irish icon following a string of brutal losses inside the Octagon and a slew of legal troubles outside the cage.

    Last year, McGregor was found liable for the 2018 rape of a woman at a Dublin hotel and was ordered to pay $285,000 in damages on top of $1.5 million in legal fees to the plaintiff. McGregor attempted to appeal the ruling, but that was ultimately thrown out, leaving him on the hook for nearly $2 million.

    And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

    McGregor lost numerous sponsorship deals, including a lucrative spokesmanship job for Proper No. 12, the brand of Irish whiskey he co-founded before selling the product to Proximo Spirits for a whopping $600 million.

    Still, McGregor maintains a strong presence in the world of combat sports as a co-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

  • Dana White Promises 4 “Big Events” On CBS Per Year Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    Dana White Promises 4 “Big Events” On CBS Per Year Under UFC’s New Paramount Deal

    As the hours go by, more information starts to trickle out about what the UFC may look like under its new U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount — as well as more questions.

    Perhaps the biggest talking point coming out of the new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal between the UFC and Paramount is the end of the pay-per-view model for the MMA promotion come the close of 2025. A select number — though it’s unclear how many — of numbered cards would be simulcast on CBS.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White, in an interview with CBS Sports’ Tommy Tran — White’s first since the announcement of the deal earlier today — stated that the UFC would produce four “big” events per year on linear CBS. He added that for 2026, one of those events will be the UFC’s planned card for the White House on July 4, 2026.

    “It’s looking like we’re going to do four big events a year,” White said. “We’re talking about doing a fight at the White House next year on the 4th of July — the 250th anniversary of America. So imagine a massive fight on the lawn of the White House on CBS.”

    Dana White Claims 4 UFC Events Per Year On CBS

    White added that he will continue to make the biggest fights happen and hinted there is still a possibility that this further incentivizes the returns of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones to compete on that White House card.

    Questions have arisen, however, as to what White means by “big.” The deal’s terms are for 13 numbered UFC cards (formerly pay-per-view cards) per year, as well as 30 Fight Night events for a total of 43 cards per year.

    This White claim also comes hours after TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro told CNBC that there was a chance every UFC numbered card would be simulcast on CBS, which brought its own set of questions given CBS’ stake in other sports properties — particularly college football.

    Some speculate that this could mean four “special” numbered events (akin to the WWE’s “big four” of WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series), which will be believed to include International Fight Week and either the late October Abu Dhabi and/or the November Madison Square Garden cards.

    White’s remarks, despite claiming he will still look to make the best fights, have also furthered thoughts amongst some fans and pundits that the UFC may not be incentivized to stack numbered cards or force title fights onto the headliners of numbered cards since all fight cards will be under the same Paramount umbrella.

    There is also no update on how fighters’ pay-per-view points, particularly with champions, will be affected and/or changed by this move to Paramount and the elimination of pay-per-view.

  • Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    UFC legend Charles Oliveira has confirmed that he would be interested in running it back with Max Holloway, 10 years on from when they first met in the cage.

    As we know, Charles Oliveira is one of the greatest lightweights of his generation – and one of the most accomplished in UFC history. However, after getting knocked out by Ilia Topuria in his most recent outing, he needs to build his way back up to the top. He’ll hope to start doing so in the main event of UFC Rio later this year when he collides with Rafael Fiziev.

    For Charles Oliveira, it’s all about proving that he still has what it takes to thrive at the elite level. We all know how good he’s been over the years but the real hope among his fans is that he has at least one more run left in him.

    In a recent interview with Thunderpick, Charles Oliveira spoke about the possibility of a rematch against Max Holloway, a man who is currently looking for a UFC lightweight title shot of his own.

    Charles Oliveira confirms interest in Max Holloway rematch

    “Man, I think everyone wants to see that fight,” Oliveira told Thunderpick of Holloway. “It’s definitely going to happen at some point. Whatever people say doesn’t really matter to me. 

    “Everybody knows I was injured. I spent two days in the hospital, why would I do that for nothing? That’s just part of the game. He’s a great fighter. He’s the BMF champ. So why not make it happen later on? For now, let’s stay focused on this fight, and then we’ll see.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Jon Jones Blown Away by Khamzat Chimaev’s Words: “I’m very grateful”

    Jon Jones Blown Away by Khamzat Chimaev’s Words: “I’m very grateful”

    UFC legend Jon Jones has reacted to Khamzat Chimaev calling him the scariest guy in mixed martial arts.

    While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s simply no denying the impact that Jon Jones has had on the sport of mixed martial arts. He has been able to achieve some wonderful things throughout the course of his career and while he may have broken his retirement pretty quickly, his overall legacy will certainly highlight the unbelievable run he enjoyed at light heavyweight.

    Nowadays, Jon Jones is toying with the idea of making a second heavyweight run, even though he’s now surrendered his title to Tom Aspinall. Another man who is currently chasing UFC gold is Khamzat Chimaev, who will be challenging Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 319 on Saturday night.

    In a clip that’s circulating, Jon Jones has given his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev praising him.

    Jon Jones reacts to Khamzat Chimaev’s praise

    “That’s a huge compliment coming from Khamzat. I’m a big fan of Khamzat. I don’t think he has any reason to toot my horn or to even be humble. He doesn’t have to be. I mean, heavyweights fear him. The fact he has so much respect for me really means a lot, it shows me a lot about his character and his humility to be able to compliment someone in such a huge way.”

    “I wanna see them both [DDP and Chimaev] go on and have long, prosperous MMA careers. I will watch the fight for sure.”

  • Fluffy Anthony Hernandez To Spend UFC Bonus on ‘moving back to the country’ for his Kids

    Fluffy Anthony Hernandez To Spend UFC Bonus on ‘moving back to the country’ for his Kids

    UFC middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez has explained what he plans to do with the bonus money he received courtesy of his nasty submission win over Roman Dolidze.

    Last Saturday night, Anthony Hernandez really took that next step up in his mixed martial arts development. He looked incredible throughout the course of his fight against Roman Dolidze and now, it certainly feels like he’s right there in the mix for a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. ‘Fluffy’ has been overlooked for so long now at 185 pounds, but it’s pretty difficult to do that after such a dominant triumph over someone like Dolidze.

    As we look ahead to the future, it certainly feels like Anthony Hernandez has a major fight on the horizon – even if it’s not for the title. Alas, there are plenty of other things that fighters focus their attention on outside of the cage, especially given how precious the paydays are that they receive throughout their careers.

    In his post-fight press conference, Anthony Hernandez spoke candidly about what his priority is now as he prepares for the next chapter in his life.

    Anthony Hernandez’s big priority after latest win

    “I have kids, so I got to pay some s* down and try to finish my ranch. I’m trying to move back to the country so my kids can have a good childhood.”

    Hernandez is set to head to Chicago this week where he will watch the highly anticipated title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s Wrestling: Former UFC Champion Explains Why It’s Unbeatable

    Khamzat Chimaev’s Wrestling: Former UFC Champion Explains Why It’s Unbeatable

    UFC legend Demetrious Johnson has explained why Khamzat Chimaev‘s wrestling is so difficult to overcome.

    In the main event of UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev will finally get his shot at UFC gold. It’s a moment that he’s been waiting a long time for and in the eyes of many, he’s the favorite heading into this contest. Of course, we all know that Dricus du Plessis is going to put up a tough fight, and there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be able to retain the strap.

    Alas, one of the reasons for the confidence in Khamzat Chimaev is due to his wrestling. He is so precise and powerful when he shoots and when he gets you to the ground, things can get dangerous pretty quickly.

    In a recent analysis video, Demetrious Johnson broke down why Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling is so incredibly impressive.

    Demetrious Johnson praises Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling

    “Look how deep that shot was. He gets all the weight. He pushes the weight that way and it forces you to put your hands on the mat, which means you have to carry his weight. Then he’s also kicking out that leg, so he’s blocked this, but he’s also kicking the leg out too. He’s big for the division. He’s also longer than Robert Whittaker, so he’s able to do that as well, which puts Robert Whittaker on his butt and carrying all of Khamzat’s weight. And right now, Khamzat’s resting. He’s resting, carrying all that weight.”

    “When you look at Khamzat, you have to look at him—when he jumps on you, you better be ready for the best, you better have the best wrestling, anti-wrestling, and fighting skill ready to rock and roll, because once he locks on, he’s going to be looking to go to that position, which I call home. He’s going to sit there and wait and then see what you’re going to do.

    “Once you start to post, he’s going to take out that post, jump to the other side, take out the other post, get his hooks in, and beat you up until you give him your neck or neck crank, and he’s going to take it. That’s what he wants to do. He doesn’t want to do anything on the feet. If he could, he would wrestle all day every day.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Former UFC Champ Reveals the X Factor at UFC 319

    Dricus Du Plessis Vs. Khamzat Chimaev: Former UFC Champ Reveals the X Factor at UFC 319

    UFC commentator Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on what could be the X-factor between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

    As we know, Dricus du Plessis will defend the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319. It’s shaping up to be one of the most intriguing fights of the year and while you’ll find a lot of people saying that about a lot of different fights, it certainly seems to be appropriate for this one.

    Khamzat Chimaev is seen by many as the favorite, but underestimating Dricus du Plessis is a mistake that many of us have made over the years. DDP just seems to be getting more and more confident every single time he goes out there, and he has more than earned the right to call himself the king of the middleweight division.

    As we look ahead to fight night, Michael Bisping recently gave his thoughts on what the determining factor could be between Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “Mental toughness does come into this because sometimes when you are so tired and your lungs are burning and you can’t breathe and your shoulders are on fire and you just want to sit down and collapse and just be left alone, you can always find that next level. 

    “That is why coaches always say, you’ve got to dig deep. You’ve got to dig deep. You’ve got to find that area, that level to where you can push more. It is just a state of mind. Yes, your heart is beating out of your chest, but if you choose to, you can keep going. And that’s just a fact.”

  • TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro: CBS To Likely Air All Numbered UFC Cards

    TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro: CBS To Likely Air All Numbered UFC Cards

    The new UFC U.S. broadcasting rights deal may have just gotten bigger mere hours after it was first announced.

    As part of the new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, which also brings about the end of the pay-per-view model for UFC events, it was announced that certain UFC numbered cards, which historically almost-exclusively aired on pay-per-view, would be simulcasted on CBS.

    In a new interview with CNBC, however, TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have appeared to one-up that. They stated that the plan is actually to air all of the numbered UFC cards on the network platform.

    Shapiro emphasized a desire, despite the deal being primarily for the Paramount+ streaming service, to have CBS as part of the new UFC deal. Shapiro cited CBS’ history of sports broadcasting, from the Masters, to the NFL, to the NCAA Final Four.

    “It was important to us to have CBS play a big component in this,” Shapiro said. “This is Paramount+ exclusively, but CBS will have simulcast on many of the fights, and likely all of the numbered events, which are formerly the pay-per-view fights.”

    TKO’s Ari Emanuel & Mark Shapiro Claims CBS Will Air All UFC Numbered Cards In U.S.

    The pair were then asked about the decision to do this when Paramount+ has 77 million subscribers, and almost all of them are located within the U.S.

    Emanuel responded by saying that while part of the purpose is to drive traffic to Paramount+ and gain the platform subscribers — citing Paramount’s deal with the television program South Park last month as an example — there is also the aspect of the reach that CBS can provide. This would be, as pointed out, similar to how the NFL has never left broadcast networks completely.

    “A unified platform, more personalization, more customization, integrating sports betting, which is a big part of our fan experience when it comes to the UFC, that was all the stuff that was very attractive to us, way beyond the price,” Shapiro said.

    “But you need CBS, as Ari said, to really drive that reach. Think about it. [CEO David Ellison’s] goal is to get more subs; take that 77 million up to 300. But to keep them there, and the fact that we’re year round, the fact that every month we have a big premium fight, that will be an antidote.”

    Emanuel, in fact, claimed that TKO and the UFC tried to get more events on ABC — which almost exclusively were put on during the summer and for events that took place in the Middle East (with exceptions).

    “When we were at ESPN and Disney, we always actually were asking for a little bit of ABC, because we want the broadest reach,” Emanuel said.

    Shapiro followed it up by praising the visions of Ellison, who was Skydance CEO before the company merged with Paramount and became the CEO of the merged organization.

    “His strategy: streaming, sports, and studios,” Shapiro said. “It’s right in our wheel house. He sees media…he sees content, he sees storytelling through the prism and lens of technology.”

    What will be interesting to see is how CBS handles its sports broadcasting rights alongside the UFC, if the plan for CBS to air all of the numbered pay-per-view cards comes true. CBS currently has college football rights to air matchups in the Big Ten (since 2023) and the newly-reformed Pac-12 (starting this year). College football on ESPN was a main reason why the UFC’s Fight Night events in the fall were exclusively on ESPN+, as well as accounted for differing channel airings for prelims on pay-per-view fight cards.

    No information has also come out on what will happen for a UFC numbered cards that takes place outside the U.S. UFC pay-per-views that have been held in Australia and England have traditionally aired in the UFC’s typical 10 p.m. ET start time; however, pay-per-view cards in Abu Dhabi, which have annually taken place in the fall since 2019, have had special 2 p.m. ET start times.

    The UFC’s deal with Paramount will be for 43 events total per year — 13 numbered events (the former pay-per-views) and 30 Fight Nights.