MMA News

Category: UFC

Latest UFC news articles, interviews and more covering the world’s top Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

  • Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Firm Stance On Jones vs. Ngannou Prediction After UFC 309: ‘In Hindsight…’

    A former opponent of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones’ has a strong opinion on how a clash with Francis Ngannou would have played out inside the Octagon following this past weekend’s event.

    Jones returned to action in defense of his title at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. The Rochester native was putting the heavyweight gold on the line for the first time at Madison Square Garden, having had injury derail his plans to do so in late 2023.

    As was scheduled to be the case last year, “Bones” shared the cage with returning former champ Stipe Miocic, despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Tom Aspinall. And as many had predicted given Miocic’s age and lengthy layoff, Jones tore through the veteran en route to a brutal body-kick TKO stoppage in round three.

    But the result did little to affect the bid of Jones’ doubters to dismiss claims he sits as the world’s best heavyweight, with Aspinall front and center in that debate following his recent results.

    Also in the conversation is Ngannou, who departed the UFC as lineal heavyweight kingpin at the start of 2023 and recently made a successful debut under the PFL banner.

    But when it comes to “The Predator,” one man with experience facing Jones has little doubt how that bout would have gone had he stayed in the UFC…

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen spoke on Jones’ recent triumph in New York City.

    “The American Gangster” was impressed, so much so that he now firmly believes the heavyweight iteration of Jones would have had little trouble dispatching Ngannou inside the cage.

    “Do you know what Jon would have done to Francis Ngannou in hindsight?” Sonnen said. “Now that we look back, Jon would have picked that big man a part. I mean, I’m just sharing with you, like, that’s a big man’s nightmare. Jon’s not a heavyweight; Jon is fighting at heavyweight. There’s a massive difference.”

    A clash between Jones and Ngannou remains the stuff of fantasy, in spite of both the latter and his organization’s higher-ups calling for a cross-promotional showdown between the two behemoths.

  • Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Booked For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 22

    Ranked middleweights are set to run it back at a UFC Fight Night in the first quarter of the new year.

    Brendan Allen (24-6), who currently occupies the #9 spot in the middleweight top 15, had his charge toward a desired first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage stalled this past September. At the UFC Fight Night in Paris, France’s own Nassourdine Imavov snapped the American’s seven-fight win streak to defend his place in the championship conversation.

    “All In” will be looking for a quick rebound, and the chance to achieve that will come on Feb. 22 when he also has the opportunity to avenge a past defeat.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Allen is set to renew hostilities with Anthony Hernandez (13-2, 1 NC). “Fluffy” outpointed the top-10 contender back at LFA 32 in 2018, a result that earned him a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series and paved his path into the UFC.

    A location is yet to be confirmed for the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 22, but Seattle is the reported target.

    Before suffering defeat at the hands of Imavov, Allen had risen the ranks with submission victories over Andre Muniz, Bruno Silva, and Paul Craig, as well as a hard-fought main event decision against Chris Curtis.

    Hernandez, meanwhile, has won six on the bounce since a knockout loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run includes memorable submissions of decorated BJJ specialist Rodolfo Vieira and Roman Kopylov, in addition to knockouts of Edmen Shahbazyan and Michel Pereira.

  • VIDEO: Petr Yan & Deiveson Figueiredo Have First Faceoff Ahead Of UFC Macau Main Event

    VIDEO: Petr Yan & Deiveson Figueiredo Have First Faceoff Ahead Of UFC Macau Main Event

    Top bantamweights Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo stood toe to toe just days out from their UFC Macau headliner.

    After staging its latest pay-per-view event inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden this past weekend, the mixed martial arts leader is on the road for a return to the “Las Vegas of the East.”

    The Octagon is back in Macau — an autonomous region on the south coast of China — for the first time in a decade, with the Galaxy Arena playing host to a UFC Fight Night card on Nov. 23.

    The lineup will be topped by a key clash at 135 pounds, as ex-champion Yan looks to stall the two-division ambitions of former two-time flyweight kingpin Figueiredo.

    Ahead of the #3 and #5-ranked bantamweights colliding, the pair had their first faceoff on Tuesday after touching down for UFC Macau.

    Figueiredo has won all three of his fights since moving up from flyweight, most recently following wins over Rob Font and Cody Garbrandt with a convincing triumph over former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera.

    Yan, meanwhile, snapped his three-fight losing skid this year by getting the better of Song Yadong at UFC 299 in Miami this past March. The result marked his first taste of victory since interim title glory over Cory Sandhagen back in 2021.

    Elsewhere on Saturday’s UFC Macau lineup, Yan Xiaonan returns for the first time since her failed title bid to defend her ranking against Tabatha Ricci, while top-10 light heavyweight contender Volkan Oezdemir faces a fellow hard hitter in Carlos Ulberg.

  • Stephen A. Smith’s Take On Jones vs. Aspinall Infuriates Former UFC Fighter: ‘Ban This Man From Speaking’ 

    Stephen A. Smith’s Take On Jones vs. Aspinall Infuriates Former UFC Fighter: ‘Ban This Man From Speaking’ 

    Sports television personality Stephen A. Smith sees UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones as the “best on the planet” and can’t picture anybody getting the better of him, Tom Aspinall included.

    Smith provided his reaction to Jones’ latest performance — a TKO victory over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 — on a recent episode of First Take alongside Shannon Sharpe on ESPN.

    The former light heavyweight kingpin added a first successful heavyweight defense to his record at Madison Square Garden, stopping the returning Miocic with a brutal spinning side kick to the body in round three.

    No sooner had Jones had his hand raised in “The Big Apple,” talk turned to a much-awaited title unification fight with interim champ Aspinall, who was cageside at MSG after weighing in as backup for the main event last Friday.

    But while Jones’ repeated dismissal of the Brit has led some to suggest he fears defeat, Smith isn’t entertaining that as a possibility.

    “I think he’s the best on the planet. He’s the greatest in MMA that I’ve ever seen,” Smith said. “I’ve always said to everybody, you’ve got to show me to make me believe that somebody’s going to beat Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, ’cause I just don’t see it happening. He’s just too elite.”

    When a clip of his remarks was posted on X, Aspinall’s fellow countryman, ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till, made his thoughts on Smith clear…

    “Stephen A Smith has the IQ of a mole,” Till wrote. “Please ban this man from ever speaking about anything ever again.”

    Smith has previously caught the ire of the MMA community, most notably when he suggested Donald Cerrone “didn’t want to be there” when he was blitzed by Conor McGregor in 40 seconds at UFC 246.

  • Stipe Miocic Shares Heartfelt Message After UFC 309 Retirement

    Stipe Miocic Shares Heartfelt Message After UFC 309 Retirement

    Stipe Miocic fell short to UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. The fight concluded dramatically, with Jones landing a spinning back kick to Miocic’s body.

    Following the bout, the former two-time titleholder announced his retirement from the sport. Miocic later shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, expressing gratitude to his team, family, and fans:

    “Let me start this post by saying I am good. Been through a lot worse. I hope everybody enjoyed the show on Saturday. What an incredible way to go out! I started this journey fighting in local bowling alleys & ended it selling out Madison Square Garden. It truly doesn’t get better than that. Sorry I didn’t get the W, but you can’t get them all. Sometimes it’s not your night; that is the nature of the beast. You can’t plan a perfect ending in this sport, but I guess the perfect ending is to have been lucky enough to do it at all. You all have given me so much, and I hope I did you all proud. Croatia & Cleveland, Ohio especially—I felt all of you with me at every battle.“

    Miocic extended heartfelt thanks to his coach Marcus Marinelli and the Strongstyle team, reflecting on their shared journey:

    “To Marcus Marinelli and the Strongstyle team: We started together, we finished together. We cried together & we bled together. If people only knew the whole story of everything we’ve been through… we could write a pretty badass novel. There is nobody else I would have shared this journey with… the best part is that we are family forever. Marcus, I know my father has passed, but I also know he appreciates you stepping in and being the father figure I needed in my life.“

    He went on to express love for his wife, children, and fans:

    “To my wife, you are my rock. The ship doesn’t sail without you. You sacrificed so much for this dream, and I love you. God knew I needed you & you motivate me more than anyone! To my kids, everything I have ever done is for the two of you. To my mom, I know this isn’t the career you would have chosen for me, but you have always been in my corner since day one—it was me & you.”

    Miocic concluded with gratitude to his fans and a playful note about retirement:

    “To the fans, you guys are the heartbeat of this sport. You are what makes MMA amazing! Without you, we fighters don’t even exist. The rush you gave me walking down to that octagon is forever engraved in my memory. Thank you for that. I’m not going anywhere—excited to start new projects, bring back the podcast, break down all my fights & share my reality with you! Until my next fight… just kidding, just kidding! Forever grateful. It’s been a hell of a ride!”

    Miocic, with a professional record of 20-5, leaves behind a storied career. Despite dropping his last two fights, including a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260, his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history is firmly established.

  • Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Stand For Ali Abdelaziz’s Disrespect: ‘You Chat Sh*t That You Cannot Back Up’

    Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Stand For Ali Abdelaziz’s Disrespect: ‘You Chat Sh*t That You Cannot Back Up’

    In a recent interview with TMZ, former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz stated that he wants to fight one last time before calling time on his career. Following a four-year break in activity, Cruz returned to the Octagon at UFC 249 in 2020 where he challenged Henry Cejudo for the 135-pound title.

    Since then, he has fought three more times, earning wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz before being stopped by Marlon Vera in August of 2022. “I’ll tell you, I think I got a last dance, I want one last dance in me,” Cruz told TMZ. “Just go out there and have fun, and when I say fun, I mean fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me.”

    His fellow UFC commentator, Jon Anik, posting on X to suggest that a rematch with Cejudo four years down the line from their first meeting would be of interest. The post received a response from the often vocal Ali Abdelaziz who is Cejudo’s manager at Dominance MMA.

    When Cruz replied to Abdelaziz calling this fight “easy money” for his fighter, the two men went back-and-forth in a series of posts.

    Cruz continued to hit back at Abdelaziz and criticized him for trash talking other fighters when he doesn’t have to face any repurcusions because he still gets paid whether or not the clients that he manages win or lose.

    “It’s easy money for you-as you get a percentage paid by your fighter no matter what, while you chat sh** that you personally cannot back up. You have no skin in the game, that’s what makes you weak.”

    The argument continued with Cejudo also catching a few strays from Cruz who said that fighting him would be like “killing you two birds with one stone”.

    “Look at your big tough guy words on X .You’re now talking about paying someone the % of money that you usually would steal from him, just to fight me for you, solely because you yourself can’t cash the checks you write with your big mouth. That’s exactly my point-that’s why you are a weakling. Henry is about as tiny a man in stature as you are mentally. You two deserve each other. Killing you two birds with one stone sounds like a lovely day of humanitarian work.”

    As is often the case, Abdelaziz continued to reply until he had the last word, seemingly welcoming Cruz to do something about it physically the next time that they see each other in person.

  • Demetrious Johnson Breaks Down How Charles Oliveira Dominated Michael Chandler: ‘Almost A Checkmate’

    Demetrious Johnson Breaks Down How Charles Oliveira Dominated Michael Chandler: ‘Almost A Checkmate’

    After Michael Chandler’s attempt to pull a win out of the bag in the fifth round fell short, Charles Oliveira got his hand raised following a dominant performance in the co-main event at UFC 309. Prior to a chaotic end to the fight that had “Do Bronx” trying to survive, he won every round on all three scorecards.

    Just like in their first fight three years ago, the striking of Oliveira was very effective and at several points, it looked like he might finish Chandler for the second time. The difference this time around was that when the former lightweight champion had his opponent hurt or backed up to the fence, he implemented his grappling in order to avoid getting into a battle of wills with “Iron” Mike.

    According to UFC Stats, Oliveira was successful with 5 of 12 takedown attempts, accumulating a total of 14 minutes and 52 seconds of control time which tells the story of this fight. A lot of that time was spent in a position that the Brazilian is a true master of as he consistently was able to take and control Chandler’s back.

    In his post-fight breakdown on his YouTube channel, former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson gave his analysis of the lightweight contest that earned fight of the night honors. He specifically drew attention to the way that Oliveira was able to lock in a body triangle in order to dominate in these positions even if he was unable to find the submission.

    “This is pretty much like almost a checkmate but it’s like a check because checkmate means end the game but it’s a check because one wrong move from here, Chandler getting choked out… Just a bad position for Michael Chandler to be in, very, very bad. It’s very, very f****** hard to get out of it especially your legs aren’t longer than your opponents. Trust me, I’ve been there before boys with somebody who’s way longer than me and I hate it.”

  • Conor McGregor Gives First Reaction To Michael Chandler’s UFC 309 Loss: ‘Mad Little Fellow’

    Conor McGregor Gives First Reaction To Michael Chandler’s UFC 309 Loss: ‘Mad Little Fellow’

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor gave some surprising props to Michael Chandler a couple of days on from his defeat this past weekend.

    Chandler made the walk for the first time in two years at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, bringing an end to his long wait to share the cage with McGregor by running it back with ex-lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira instead.

    “Iron” had previously come inches away from defeating “Do Bronx” and becoming a UFC titleholder in just his second Octagon outing. A miraculous comeback from the Brazilian on that occasion, however, spoiled Chandler’s plans.

    And in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden, Oliveira did so once again by establishing himself as the likely next in line for either Islam Makhachev or Arman Tsarukyan.

    Oliveira’s second victory over Chandler came in much more convincing fashion, with “Do Bronx” dominating the American en route to a lopsided unanimous decision. The former Bellator champ did have his moments late in the day, and they were seemingly enough to get some respect from “The Notorious.”

    After remaining silent on fight night, McGregor finally gave his reaction to Chandler’s display in a now-deleted X post Monday night.

    Conor McGregor on Michael Chandle

    “Cut Michael Chandler! Just kidding, good fight,” McGregor wrote. “Mad little fellow is Michael. I like em’!”

    McGregor’s comment was without a response to Chandler’s post-fight callout. Despite his previously failed wait, “Iron” once again had the Dubliner’s name on his lips as he pursues the lucrative showdown opposite his fellow TUF 31 coach in 2025.

    For now, the Irishman has matters to attend to in the court room. He’s currently embroiled in a civil action trial at Dublin’s Irish High Court after being accused of sexual assault.

  • Chael Sonnen Says UFC Won’t Struggle To Find Willing Opponents For Bo Nickal After Latest Performance

    Chael Sonnen Says UFC Won’t Struggle To Find Willing Opponents For Bo Nickal After Latest Performance

    With his fourth win inside the Octagon, Bo Nickal continued to climb up the middleweight ladder on Saturday night at UFC 309 whilst remaining undefeated. Despite this, his latest outing was the first to raise some concerns regarding his current level.

    The 28-year old rising star went the distance with Scotland’s Paul Craig in the first decision win of his career. Though he won all three rounds against his toughest opponent to date, it was the manner of the performance that many took issue with as the two grappling specialists engaged in a lacklustre striking bout for the entire duration.

    It’s not necessarily a bad thing that Nickal showed that he could win the fight without using his wrestling but with Craig not being known for his striking skills either, it wasn’t a particularly impressive display. Chael Sonnen believes that this performance will remove the fear factor and mystique surrounding Nickal during his time in the promotion.

    We see it happen time and time again where an exciting prospect comes up against their toughest test and is shown to not be an unbeatable phenom just quite yet. Though Sonnen admitted that Nickal needs time before making the next step up, he believes that the UFC will no longer have any problems matching him after he looked far more beatable than we’ve seen in the past.

    “Those days are done, for now, they’re put on hold. The conversation that nobody has called out Bo Nickal, that will change. Come Monday, people will be calling for him. The idea that Bo is the boogeyman in the closet that Dana and Hunter just cannot find opponents for because there is so much respect put on Bo’s name mixed with fear… that is gone. They will find opponents for Bo very quickly now and it doesn’t need to be that way.” 

  • Key Name Rules Himself Out Of UFC 312 In Sydney: ‘We’ll Pump The Brakes’

    Key Name Rules Himself Out Of UFC 312 In Sydney: ‘We’ll Pump The Brakes’

    The UFC is set to return to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia in February and though we have several match-ups confirmed, it isn’t yet known or rumoured what will be topping the card in the night’s big attractions. You’d imagine that UFC 312 will feature several key names from Australia and New Zealand but the names at the forefront of that list is getting smaller.

    It doesn’t look like former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will make this turnaround following the injury he suffered against Khamzat Chimaev last month. Though Alexander Volkanovski was very keen to fight on home soil, if he wants his rematch with Ilia Topuria, he’ll likely have to take the fight on the featherweight champion’s terms.

    It seems likely that we could see a big middleweight presence on this card via the likes of the champion Dricus Du Plessis or his last opponent, the former two-time 185-pound king, Israel Adesanya. One name that has definitively ruled himself out is Adesanya’s long-time training partner at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, Dan Hooker.

    Following his win over Mateusz Gamrot at the Octagon’s last stop off down under, Hooker is set for a huge fight next time out and has expressed interest in facing Justin Gaethje for the first time. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, “The Hangman” said that he isn’t even sure what the plans are for February 8 right now.

    “Yeah, probably a bit after that. I think, I’m not sure, I don’t even know who’s fighting in February.”

    Hooker went on to say that though Gaethje is still his preferred opponent, it won’t be happening in Sydney. He explained that with a new addition to his family arriving right around the same time as the Octagon, it’s not a risk that he’s willing to take.

    “Yeah it seems like we usually tend to get like the middleweight title on the Australian cards. There was like what, Yoel and Rockhold, and like it always seems to be the middleweight title up for grabs down under in Australia but yeah, it’s gonna be a funny one. I’m not sure who’s headlining that but yeah, I’d say it’s not me my friend. February is not the best for me. I’ve got a baby dropping, it’s due just after the first week of February so I’ll be playing with fire there and I’m more scared of the missus than I am of the UFC. We’ll pump the brakes on that and yeah, probably after Feb.”      

  • Mayra Bueno Silva Set For Flyweight Return, Meets Ranked Contender At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Mayra Bueno Silva Set For Flyweight Return, Meets Ranked Contender At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva is heading back down to 125 pounds.

    Bueno Silva (10-4-1, 1 NC) went 2-2-1 in her first stint as a flyweight in the UFC, defeating Gillian Robertson and Mara Romero Borella but suffering defeats to Maryna Moroz and Manon Fiorot. She subsequently shifted to 135 pounds and enjoyed strong success, going undefeated all the way to a shot at the then-vacant title at UFC 297 this past January.

    But after missing out on achieving champion status against Raquel Pennington, “Sheetara” fell to her first UFC losing skid when a severe cut was deemed too deep for her to continue against Macy Chiasson at UFC 303 during International Fight Week this past June.

    The 0-2 run in 2024 has evidently been enough for Bueno Silva to contemplate a change, and she’s now set to make her flyweight return at the UFC Fight Night scheduled for Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

    That news was first reported by Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, who also revealed that Bueno Silva will immediately shoot for the 125-pound rankings against Jasmine Jasudavicius (12-3).

    Jasudavicius has risen to #13 on the flyweight ladder courtesy of three straight wins since a defeat to Tracy Cortez in September 2023. The Canadian defeated Fatima Kline by decision in-between two home wins over Priscila Cachoeira and Ariane Lipski da Silva this year.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, 2025 are as follows:

    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz (middleweight)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (women’s flyweight)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues (heavyweight
  • ‘Based UFC Europe’ Account Plays Matchmaker For Jon Jones — Aspinall, Aspinall, Or Aspinall

    ‘Based UFC Europe’ Account Plays Matchmaker For Jon Jones — Aspinall, Aspinall, Or Aspinall

    The conversation surrounding Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall hasn’t disappeared in the aftermath of UFC 309 this past weekend. A lot of fans, media and fellow fighters were very vocal in the lead up to the event about the potential of seeing the heavyweight title unification fight.

    Whether it was people talking about Jones’ comments regarding not wanting to fight the interim heavyweight champion or fans arguing that it should have been Aspinall in the main event instead of a returning Stipe Miocic, the controversy regarding this huge match-up has dominated discussions both before and after the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden.

    In his post-fight interview after stopping Miocic in the third round in what was a one-sided heavyweight title fight, Jones suggested that he will stick around for one more fight if he can come to terms with the UFC. Despite saying “maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see”, “Bones” stated in his press conference that he isn’t interested in fighting Aspinall and only has eyes for the light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.

    The UFC Europe account on social media weighed in on the topic via a fairly standard post that offered three options for a champion’s next challenge. However, columns A, B and C all featured one name and one name only.

    Like-minded fight fans gave their reactions to the post from the official account on X.

    “What the UFC Europe social media guy remembered before posting this”

    “Based UFC Europe”

    “UFC Europe banger”

    “I’m all for any of the three options. They all seem like perfect fights to make next for Jon Jones”

  • Bo Nickal Unhappy With Commentary Of UFC 309 Win: To Hear DC Say, ‘He’s Not Ready For Khamzat…’

    Bo Nickal Unhappy With Commentary Of UFC 309 Win: To Hear DC Say, ‘He’s Not Ready For Khamzat…’

    UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal has continued to defend his performance on Saturday night — this time against what he’s branded “disappointing” commentary.

    Nickal extended his perfect professional MMA and UFC records on the main card of this past weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, getting past his toughest test to date in the form of Paul Craig.

    But the American wrestling specialist wasn’t tested in the Scotsman’s domain, with the three-round affair playing out entirely on the feet. That led to a less than exciting contest, which the crowd inside Madison Square Garden let the two fighters know.

    Boos rained down following the fight and throughout Nickal’s Octagon interview, and they were only amplified when the undefeated 185lber dismissed the fans’ complaints and expressed joy at how he performed.

    As it turns out, the paying audience weren’t the only ones with an opinion that Nickal thoroughly disagreed with…

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

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Nickal took issue with the cageside commentators after watching back his victory over “Bearjew” in New York City.

    Nickal appeared particularly frustrated by Daniel Cormier apparently writing off his chances against Khamzat Chimaev based off that performance.

    “The commentary and just hearing the way that they were looking at the fight, it made me feel like they didn’t know what was going on as much,” Nickal said. “Because anybody that I’ve talked to that are people that I trust and shoot straight with me were like, ‘Dude, you shut that guy out. Domination. It was a flawless fight.’ Then to hear ‘DC’ say things like, ‘Oh, he’s not ready for Khamzat [Chimaev]’ — I think he was trying to be respectful but also maybe set me down a peg. It was just weird to hear.

    “It was a little disappointing to hear those comments from people that I respect a lot. What was going on in these guys’ heads? It just makes me feel like they don’t know what was happening,” Nickal continued. “It’s confusing because I’m like, ‘Wait, what? How do you get that from that?’ I didn’t even really get touched. It’s so crazy.”

    Cormier wasn’t the only one sharing that sentiment — and getting pushback from Nickal soon after.

    Former welterweight title challenger and middleweight contender Darren Till suggested the same in a more colorful fashion on social media. The decorated wrestler gave a short and sweet reply, attaching a GIF of “The Gorilla’s” knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal in 2019.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Jon Jones Denied Pound-For-Pound Top Spot

    UFC Rankings Report: Jon Jones Denied Pound-For-Pound Top Spot

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 309, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Dana White won’t be pleased looking at the updated P4P pecking order. Jon Jones’ successful heavyweight title defense at Madison Square Garden wasn’t enough to convince the panel that he should have the crown, with that remaining in Islam Makhachev’s possession. “Bones” has, however, climbed above Alex Pereira (#3) into the #2 position.

    Further down, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira (#15) has returned to the list as a result of his triumph over Michael Chandler on Saturday night. That’s left ex-middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya without a number entirely.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: There was just one change at 125 pounds, with Karine Silva’s defeat to Viviane AraĂşjo at UFC 309 pushing her back one place to #12. That’s provided a boost for Tracy Cortez, who is up one spot to #11 months on from her main event loss to Rose Namajunas.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee has debuted in the UFC rankings following his victory over Jonathan Martinez. “The Maniac” has entered at #14, while his defeated opponent is no longer ranked. Aiemann Zahabi has been a beneficiary of those changes, seeing his number improved by one to #13.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: A few changes unrelated to Saturday’s pay-per-view have taken place at 155 pounds. That includes a switch of positions for Mateusz Gamrot and Beneil Dariush, with the former up to #8 and the latter down to #9. It’s a similar situation further down the ladder, with Paddy Pimblett climbing above Jalin Turner (#14) to #13.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: Following his defeat to Jones, Stipe Miocic announced his retirement from active competition inside the cage. With that, he’s swiftly been removed from the UFC rankings and replaced by Shamil Gaziev, who’s slot in at #15.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Dominick Cruz Eyes Final Fight To Cap 20-Year MMA Legacy

    Dominick Cruz Eyes Final Fight To Cap 20-Year MMA Legacy

    Dominick Cruz says he has one last fight left in him before hanging up his gloves for good.

    The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion has likely seen it all during his storied MMA career. From winning the WEC and UFC titles to becoming a staple of UFC broadcasts as a color commentator and ESPN analyst, Cruz’s legacy extends far beyond the Octagon.

    “The Dominator’s” career has been plagued by persistent injuries that have sidelined him for extended periods. Since losing his title to Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 in December 2016, Cruz has stepped into the Octagon only four times, a stark contrast to his earlier activity.

    The 39-year-old Californian has been a professional fighter since January 2005, with his 20th anniversary in combat sports fast approaching. As the milestone nears, Cruz believes he still has the fire to make his final walk to the Octagon, aiming to close out his career in a fitting style.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, “The Dominator” opened up about how he envisions closing the chapter on his career. He revealed that he’s been training for his final fight at the UFC Performance Institute in Mexico City and feels confident in his readiness.

    “I think I got a last dance. I got one last dance in me, just to go out there and have fun,” Cruz said. “And when I say ‘fun,’ I mean ‘fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me.’ The fun comes months after that, and that’s where it gets to set in. Okay, that was fun.

    “But I’m ready to walk into the fire again and see what life and death really look like. And one more go at that would be a pleasure. So, I’m building myself up. I’m at altitude, and I’m out here in Mexico City [at the UFC Performance Institute]. Some of the best training I’ve ever had in my whole career.”

    Cruz’s second attempt at reclaiming the 135-pound title came to a crashing halt with a second-round knockout at the hands of Henry Cejudo at UFC 249 in May 2019.

    He made a strong comeback in 2021, securing back-to-back victories over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz. However, his most recent Octagon appearance ended in a devastating fourth-round head-kick knockout by Marlon Vera in August 2022.

  • ‘What’s The Aspinall RD1 Line?’ – Fans React To Tom Aspinall Being Favorite In Jon Jones Matchup Post-UFC 309

    ‘What’s The Aspinall RD1 Line?’ – Fans React To Tom Aspinall Being Favorite In Jon Jones Matchup Post-UFC 309

    A much-desired title unification fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his interim counterpart Tom Aspinall continues to be the talk of the town.

    Despite Aspinall having the interim belt wrapped around his waist in 2023, both Jones and the promotion remained steadfast on a decision to reschedule the champ’s clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.

    And a few months on from Aspinall successfully defending his strap in Manchester, that went down this past weekend inside Madison Square Garden, where Jones vs. Miocic headlined the UFC 309 pay-per-view.

    As many had predicted, Miocic looked a far cry from the iteration that enjoyed two stints on the heavyweight throne. And after a dominant start from “Bones,” the Rochester native ultimately closed the show in round three with a brutal spinning side kick to the body.

    It didn’t take long for Aspinall’s name to once again be presented to Jones. Although he appeared to entertain the prospect of facing the Brit inside the Octagon, his post-fight press conference told a different story.

    But despite the fight appearing to remain a significant distance away from coming to fruition, that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from pondering who would emerge as undisputed king.

    In the immediate aftermath of Jones’ win, the betting lines had Aspinall favored to do so.

    Aspinall has widely been branded the leading man when it comes to the ‘new generation’ of heavyweights competing on MMA’s biggest stage, with his speed, power, and agility helping him accumulate an 8-1 record in the UFC — the sole defeat on which came by way of a freak knee injury.

    With that in mind, many seem to be leaning toward the interim champ when pondering his chances against Jones, with some even suggesting that the line should be wider in his favor.

    Some others, however, were left bemused by seeing a leading candidate for GOAT status sat as an underdog.

    https://twitter.com/LL_Nap/status/1858038955993641217
    https://twitter.com/YodaQuavo/status/1858040657647943725

  • What’s Next After UFC 309? Full Confirmed UFC 310 Main Card For T-Mobile Arena On Dec. 7

    UFC 309 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 310 in Las Vegas.

    The promotion was in New York City last week, where the iconic Madison Square Garden played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “The Big Apple.” Of note were headline wins for Jon Jones and Charles Oliveira, as well as important victories for Bo Nickal, Viviane AraĂşjo, and Mauricio Ruffy.

    While the aftermath of the Nov. 16 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the heavyweight title picture to the flyweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 310, set for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 7, reigning kingpin Alexandre Pantoja will compete for the second time this year, once again in defense of his 125-pound gold. After following his crowning against Brandon Moreno with retentions opposite Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg, “The Cannibal” will next face a newcomer in the form of ex-Rizin champion Kai Asakura.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as Shavkat Rakhmonov looks to defend his spot as next in line for a shot at Belal Muhammad following the welterweight titleholder’s withdrawal due to injury. The replacement fight will see “Nomad” face a fellow undefeated contender in Ireland’s Ian Garry.

    Gane, Mitchell, Landwehr Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 310

    Before Pantoja defends his belt and Rakhmonov meets the challenge of “The Future,” a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 310 card.

    That includes former interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane. Having not competed since knocking out Serghei Spivac in Paris last year, the Frenchman will return after 15 months to once again collide with Alexander Volkov. “Drago” finds himself with a chance for redemption against “Bon Gamin” after rising to #3 in the division courtesy of his triumph over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Prior to that, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell will also get his sole outing of 2024 and first fight since being brutally slept by Josh Emmett at last year’s final pay-per-view. To bounce back, “Thug Nasty” is tasked with defending his spot on the ladder opposite a fellow grappling specialist in Kron Gracie. The 36-year-old returned from a near-four-year layoff in May 2023 but disappointed in defeat versus Charles Jourdain. After another lengthy layoff, he’ll hope to record his first win since 2019 at the expense of Mitchell.

    And opening the UFC 310 main card will be a sure-fire firefight between Nate Landwehr and Dooho Choi. “The Train” will enter the event off the back of a KO victory over Jamall Emmers this past March, while “The Korean Superboy” — who sits as part of the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing owing to his 2016 war with Cub Swanson — rebounded from a four-fight winless run by stopping Bill Algeo in July for his first triumph in eight years.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the crucial featherweight contest between the #5-ranked Movsar Evloev and former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling, which is currently slated to be the penultimate prelim.

    See below for the full UFC 310 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Asakura
    • Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry
    • Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
    • Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie
    • Featherweight: Nate Landwehr vs. Dooho Choi

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo
    • Featherweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
    • Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
    • Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Tallison Teixeira vs. Łukasz Brzeski
    • Flyweight: Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
    • Lightweight: Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
    • Welterweight: Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
    • Heavyweight: Martin Buday vs. Rizvan Kuniev
    Aljamain Sterling
    Aljamain Sterling faces Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 (Image: UFC.com)
  • Jon Jones Touts ‘Scary’ Training Partner From UFC 309 Camp As A Future Champion

    Jon Jones Touts ‘Scary’ Training Partner From UFC 309 Camp As A Future Champion

    Jon Jones has always surrounded himself with some of the best of the best in their chosen fields to help him in his career. During the time that he has spent at heavyweight, this means bringing in big bodies that can really push him physically day-in and day-out.

    The heavyweight champion’s preparations in Albuquerque clearly paid off for him in his second fight in the weight class this past weekend. In the main event of UFC 309, he stopped the returning Stipe Miocic in the third round to defend his heavyweight title for the first time.

    As seen in social media videos or the fight week build-up, two elite grapplers joined Jones for this camp, along with some of the boxers that he trained with. Standing side-by-side on the mats with Jones and elite grappler Gordon Ryan was the former Olympic gold medallist wrestler, Gable Steveson.

    After becoming the youngest freestyle wrestler in his weight class to ever win Olympic gold having only recently turned 21-years old at the time, Steveson left Tokyo in 2021 with the world at his feet. There was a lot of talk as to whether he would move into MMA or professional wrestling and after brief stints in WWE and the NFL that didn’t work out, it looks like the Octagon could be in his future.

    Jones spoke in his post-fight press conference about how Steveson showed that he had the passion and mentality to learn after offering to step-in for one of Jones’ injured sparring partners during a training session. He also referenced a video that caught the attention of fans on social media where Steveson shot in for a takedown and was hit by a knee from “Bones”.

    “I kneed him in the face at one of his very first practices. He ate it, and he looked like a little kid who had just found a new toy.”

    Jones believes that his teammate for this recent fight camp has all the tools he needs to succeed in MMA if he chooses to stay the course and develop his overall game. At just 24-years old, Steveson still has a lot of time to develop into a serious threat in MMA.

    “He’s gonna be scary, he’s gonna be very scary when he decides to do MMA. He knows how to make men appear very weak, me being one of them. When he learns how to box and learns a little about jiu-jitsu, it’s a matter of if he’ll become a UFC champion, it’s when he’ll be a UFC champion. Whether he trains in Albuquerque with our family or finds a different team, whoever has him are going to be really blessed to have him.”

  • Chael Sonnen Blames Bo Nickal’s Team For Frustrating UFC 309 Performance: ‘Somebody Got A Hold Of Him!’

    Chael Sonnen Blames Bo Nickal’s Team For Frustrating UFC 309 Performance: ‘Somebody Got A Hold Of Him!’

    Bo Nickal remained undefeated at UFC 309 and earned his biggest win to date but these stats alone do not tell the full story of his performance at Madison Square Garden. The undefeated 185-pounder faced off with Scotland’s Paul Craig in a fight that many believed would be Nickal’s toughest test to date.

    The biggest talking point heading into this match-up was whether the wrestling specialist would attempt to play to his strengths against Scotland’s Craig who is an incredibly dangerous submission artist. In the end, we didn’t get to find out how they would have matched up in this area because fight fans instead got a fairly uneventful striking match over three rounds which Nickal won without landing too many significant shots.

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel in the aftermath of the UFC’s return to New York, Chael Sonnen voiced his frustrations about the fight and Nickal’s approach in particular. He believes that someone must have told the 28-year old to stay clear of Craig’s grappling and though he ended up winning the striking battle and therefore the fight, Sonnen took a lot of issue with this considering his wrestling credentials.

    “My problem with it and my gripe is that you have a four-time world champion… doesn’t do one damn bit of wrestling because somebody got a hold of him. One of his trainers or his training partners sat him down and said, ‘You’re not ready to go to the ground with the guy.’ Well how the F would we know? How in the F we would know that now?”

    Sonnen went on to reference Georges St-Pierre and how he would game plan for opponents in comparison. He said that the former welterweight and middleweight champion would look at his three best skill sets and rank them in order to strategize how he would approach the fight and what his back-up plans would be.

    “The Bad Guy” believes that Nickal gave Craig too much respect by not sticking to what he does best, stating that this isn’t something that the middleweight prospect did when he faced elite wrestlers so would he start doing it now.

    “That is nothing that Bo has ever done. He didn’t show Gabe Dean that respect, he didn’t show Miles Martin that respect, he did not show David Taylor that respect and he refuses to take down, a four-time world champion refuses to use one bit of wrestling against a guy that’s never had a wrestling match. That is because of somebody in his trusted inner circle.”

  • Eryk Anders Reveals Reason For Fight-Day Cancellation Of UFC 309 Matchup With Chris Weidman

    Eryk Anders Reveals Reason For Fight-Day Cancellation Of UFC 309 Matchup With Chris Weidman

    Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman looked to finally break his run of bad luck in New York in his scheduled bout against Eryk Anders on the UFC 309 prelims this past weekend. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be following an announcement that happened during the broadcast of the early prelims at Madison Square Garden.

    Jon Anik stated once the card went live that Anders had been forced out of the fight due to a medical issue. As a result, the card continued with 12-bouts with Weidman releasing a video on social media to give his reaction to the news shortly after the fans found out.

    The day after the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden, Anders also posted a video on social media where he explained why he was forced to withdraw on such short notice. Anders states that he was suffering from food poisoning throughout Saturday so couldn’t make the walk on fight night.

    Weidman was obviously looking forward to fighting in New York for what could have been the last time in his career but Anders was also incredibly disappointed to miss out on a huge opportunity for his career also. He secured a decision win over Jamie Pickett in March to return to the win column but beating Weidman would have been a big scalp for him.

    “Status update- got food poisoning Friday night and there was no way I would have been able to go out there and compete,” Anders wrote. “Super upset I didn’t get to compete at MSG against a former champ. I seriously doubt that opportunity will come around again, but it is what it is. Hopefully we can get that matchup rebooked ASAP. Thank you all for the messages of concern.”

  • Former Fighter Blasts ‘Cheating Rat’ Jon Jones In UFC 309 Reaction: ‘Lance Armstrong Of MMA’

    Former Fighter Blasts ‘Cheating Rat’ Jon Jones In UFC 309 Reaction: ‘Lance Armstrong Of MMA’

    Jon Jones may be considered to be the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts but his incredible accomplishments inside the Octagon don’t come without come controversy along the way. For everything that “Bones” has done during his UFC tenure which is worth highlighting, there are plenty of other talking points that don’t color the heavyweight champion in the best light.

    Some of these examples from the past are unavoidable when reflecting on Jones’ career like his previous suspensions from the UFC whilst others, like his run-ins with the law, are more of a reflection of his public image rather than his professional achievements. Despite all of this, UFC 309 was built up as the return of the GOAT who would be defending his belt for the first and possibly last time.

    Jones was able to dominate Stipe Miocic in the main event at Madison Square Garden before going on to suggest that he will be sticking around for one more fight before calling time on one of the sport’s greatest careers. One former member of the roster that didn’t take the moment to celebrate another win on Jones’ record was Mark Hunt.

    Since departing the UFC, “The Super Samoan” has been incredibly critical of his former home, particularly when talking about athletes that have either been accused or found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs. This stems from Hunt’s fight against the returning Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 where he later attempted to sue the promotion, claiming that they knew Lesnar had failed a pre-fight test but withheld the information until after the bout.

    He posted on social media and referenced Jones’ somewhat murky past with the UFC’s drug-testing procedures.

    “The ufc heavyweight champion of the world ladies and gentlemen there u have it a cheating steroid rat who runs into pregnant women and runs off a rat that hides under the octagon for 10 hours hiding from being tested for drugs this is your ufc heavyweight champion this is the rat u need to look upto this is the rat we promote please be upstanding and raise your glass to a company that has zero credibility worthless belt worthless champion and even more worthless rip off company any other sport this loser wouldn’t be here that’s why ufc have no credibility because they promote this garbage.”

  • Dan Hooker Criticizes Michael Chandler Calling For BMF Fight: ‘It’s Not Our Title’

    Dan Hooker Criticizes Michael Chandler Calling For BMF Fight: ‘It’s Not Our Title’

    Following his loss to Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309, Michael Chandler called for two potential fights in the near future. “Iron” Mike admitted that he planned to push for the winner of the upcoming lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan which is expected to take place early next year.

    After losing the first four rounds in his rematch with “Do Bronx”, which he nearly produced an all-time great comeback in during the fifth round, Chandler pivoted towards two huge match-ups that are still out there for him in the lightweight division. The most obvious of those two options is his long-awaited fight with Conor McGregor that somehow seems less likely than his other call out.

    Chandler said that with Max Holloway committing to lightweight following his UFC 308 loss, he’d love the opportunity to fight for the BMF title that currently belongs to “Blessed”. Another name that is also in the mix for huge bouts at 155-pounds is Dan Hooker who commented on his former opponent’s BMF desires during a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “The Hangman” believes that contenders need to stop trying to decide who should fight for the BMF title because it’s a belt that is purely for the fans. He’s likely to be in that conversation as someone who always puts on great fights but Hooker isn’t going to start saying that this is what he wants next.

    “I don’t see like Chandler calling for the BMF like why does everyone keep throwing their hands up for the BMF, it’s not up to us. It’s not our title, the BMF title is for the fans. It’s for the fans to kind of get the steam and get it together. People need to stop calling out for the BMF title brother. That’s the fans’ title, it’s their fun.”

  • Charles Oliveira Addresses Myriad Of Fouls From Michael Chandler At UFC 309

    Charles Oliveira Addresses Myriad Of Fouls From Michael Chandler At UFC 309

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira was left frustrated by referee Keith Peterson’s officiating of this past weekend’s co-main event.

    Oliveira delivered one of the performances of the night at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he added a second victory over former three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler to his record.

    First time around, “Do Bronx” was swarmed early and had to mount an incredible comeback to finish “Iron” in round two and have the 155-pound gold wrapped around his waist.

    In the rematch three and a half years later at Madison Square Garden, things were simpler for the Brazilian for the most part and it was instead Chandler tasked with coming from behind.

    The fifth and final frame saw the American come close to doing so after he rocked Oliveira on the feet and established a dominant position on the ground. The onslaught of strikes that followed, however, caused controversy as they largely appeared to cannon into the back of the eventual victor’s head.

    And that was just the latest instance of apparent fouling, with fans highlighting fence grabs during the fight and “Do Bronx” complaining of eye pokes and glove grabbing.

    During his post-fight press conference at MSG, Oliveira shed light on the multitude of fouls dealt his way at UFC 309, questioning why referee Peterson didn’t intervene a single time.

    “I’m not here to criticize,” Oliveira said. “But I wanna tell you something: there were a lot of blows to the back of the head, a lot of fence grabbing. There was also some eye pokes. And I was telling the ref what was going on, I was calling for his attention and nothing would happen. I hoped that he would intervene, but nothing happened.”

    This is far from the first time Chandler has been accused of deliberate fouling. He notably caught the wrath of Dustin Poirier in the aftermath of their fight after appearing to fishhook “The Diamond” during a grappling exchange.

    Oliveira thankfully didn’t have to deal with that kind of foul, and he ultimately recovered from some egregious back-of-the-head blows to have his hand raised by way of a convincing unanimous decision.

    He’ll now turn his attention to the expected lightweight title clash between champ Islam Makhachev and challenger Arman Tsarukyan next month in Los Angeles, as he gears up to potentially battle the winner later in the year.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya appeared impressed while watching Jon Jones send Stipe Miocic into retirement with a brutal kick this past weekend.

    Jones and Miocic headlined Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, completing their long-awaited matchup over a year on from an injury shelving it first time around.

    Returning from a spell on the sidelines that spanned over three and a half years, many dismissed Miocic’s chances of unseating Jones and adding a third heavyweight reign to his illustrious record.

    And the veteran ultimately failed in his pursuit of proving them wrong, with “Bones” following a dominant opening round by eventually finding the finish in the third frame with a vicious spinning side kick to the body.

    In spite of many focusing on his avoidance of Tom Aspinall, Jones’ latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage drew widespread plaudits, including from some UFC peers whom he’s not always seen eye to eye with…

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded on the UFC 309 main card at MSG.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander didn’t have much to say during the finishing sequence in the headliner, instead simply applauding Jones’ work.

    “He did it, as he does,” Adesanya said. “Great main event. … Good to see Stipe hang them up. I still think he went out on top.”

    He was subsequently asked the question on everyone’s lips — will a unification fight with Aspinall happen?

    “I think it’ll happen. If Jones is not retiring, I think they’ll figure it out,” Adesanya said. “Talk to Hunter (Campbell), talk to Dana (White)…sit down in the War Room, they’ll hash it out, they’ll figure it out.”

    While Jones initially appeared to tease a stance switch inside the Octagon when he suggested he could give the masses what they want, he quickly reverted back to dismissing Aspinall and expressing a desire to face Alex Pereira when he arrived backstage.

  • Dana White: Mike Tyson Was Right & I Was Wrong — Jake Paul Couldn’t Do S**t To Him

    Mike Tyson and Jake Paul faced heavy criticism following their highly anticipated fight on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The bout, which aired exclusively on Netflix, was plagued by streaming issues and an underwhelming performance that disappointed many fans as the fight went the distance.

    UFC CEO Dana White had expressed reservations about the event but chose not to dissuade his friend Tyson from participating. Reflecting on the fight, White commended Tyson for accurately assessing the matchup, predicting Paul would fail to knock him out despite the hype.

    “I told him, ‘Mike, you’re basically 60 years old,’ and he’s like, ‘You honestly think this f—ing kid’s gonna do anything to me? He’s not good. He’s not gonna f—ing knock me out. He’s not gonna do this. You saw him. He tripped when he was walking down to the ring. He had a hard time walking up the stairs. He had a knee brace on, and Jake Paul still couldn’t do anything to him. He made a ton of money, and I know people are mad. You stayed home on a Friday night, but you didn’t pay for it, you know what I mean?’”

    White further emphasized that Tyson’s presence guarantees profitability. He acknowledged Tyson’s savvy decision-making, even if the fight didn’t meet expectations.

    “Jake Paul couldn’t do s— to him. So he was right, and I was wrong,” White admitted. “(Dave) Portnoy went out and said it was the greatest con job of all time. But if you didn’t think that’s the way the fight would go — I don’t know what people expected. Mike’s almost 60 years old. He’s Mike Tyson, but he’s 60, and he knew Jake Paul couldn’t do anything to him.”

    Despite the controversy, the fight demonstrated Tyson’s enduring ability to captivate an audience and generate significant revenue.