MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Cory Sandhagen Claims Top Five Contender Turned Him Down For December

    Cory Sandhagen Claims Top Five Contender Turned Him Down For December

    Former interim UFC bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen says a notable name toward the top of the rankings recently rejected the chance to throw down with him before the end of this year.

    Merab Dvalishvili now sits at the top of the bantamweight division following his win over Sean O’Malley this past weekend at UFC 306. With “Suga” now set to return to the contender ranks, there is sure to be several other 135-pounders wanting to face him in his next outing.

    One of those names is Cory Sandhagen, who is looking to bounce back from his defeat to Umar Nurmagomedov in August.

    With the Dagestani likely being the next contender in line, Sandhagen thinks that he and O’Malley makes a lot of sense, especially after he claims he was turned down by another top contender…

    Cory Sandhagen Says Deiveson Figueiredo Rejected December Fight

    Dvalishvili has made it pretty clear that, in his opinion, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is most deserving of the next title shot. The Brazilian has won three in a row since moving up a weight class with impressive performances against Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera.

    With O’Malley potentially taking some time off, a fight between Sandhagen and “Deus Da Guerra” would make a lot of sense while Nurmagomedov challenges for the belt.

    However, in his post-event breakdown of UFC 306, Sandhagen revealed on his YouTube channel that this fight has already been offered and declined on Figueiredo’s side.

    “The Sandman” initially said that the fight was targeted for September but later corrected himself by saying that it was on the table for December.

    With the other top names in the division being busy or inactive, he sees this as the perfect time to finally match him and O’Malley up.

    “I got to say, I think that you’re absolutely insane if you don’t want to see me and O’Malley fight next, okay. I am pretty sure that maybe the entire division is going to be calling out Sean O’Malley next, just because that’s the way that people do things, but you guys know that this has been a fight that’s been in the works for a long time. I’m not going to try to sound like I’m trying to throw this idea at you guys, you guys know it’s a good idea. Back me up on all that stuff, me and O’Malley got next.

    “Figgy turned down a fight against me in September, which is just kind of whack because I thought that Figgy was a little bit more about that life than that. I’m kind of actually hurt that Figgy doesn’t want to fight me in December. I don’t know what that dude’s plan is, I think Yan’s out for a little bit, Henry’s like hurt/not hurt sometimes. I don’t really know what goes on with that guy, but me and O’Malley got next.”

  • UFC Bantamweight Recalls Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scuffle At UFC 304: ‘I Just Kind Of Lost It…’

    UFC Bantamweight Recalls Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scuffle At UFC 304: ‘I Just Kind Of Lost It…’

    Michael “Venom” Page may not have been competing on home soil at UFC 304 but he was still in the headlines for a fight that could have happened.

    Video footage captured after the event showed an altercation between Page and UFC bantamweight Farid Basharat at the fighter hotel.

    Alexander Volkanovski also detailed the situation after being caught in the middle of it, where, despite his best attempts to keep Basharat from getting to “MVP,” he was unsuccessful.

    The two men, at least from the video, tried to get at each other for some time until, with the help of security, they were separated and situation was deescalated.

    Ahead of his return against Victor Hugo at UFC 308, Basharat gave his side of the story.

    Farid Basharat Explains How He Nearly Came To Blows With Michael ‘Venom’ Page

    In an interview with InsideFighting, Basharat explained exactly what happened at the fighter hotel following UFC 304 in Manchester.

    He said that his relationship with Page goes way back to when he and his brother Javid were training at the same gym as “MVP,” London Shootfighters.

    Having left that gym on less than ideal terms, they didn’t want anything to do with Page or the rest of the team. Although he had a brief interaction with the welterweight contender on the shuttle back to the hotel after the July event, Farid said there was no drama at first when Page started speaking to him.

    “I shake his hand, I say ‘Okay, good.’ I keep it short because I don’t really want to, I don’t really like him, I don’t want to speak with him. Anyway, we get off the shuttle, we go back to, I just walk off and we’re in the hotel. I go through the lobby and he kind of tries to put his arm around my shoulder and I just kind of like brush it off and say like, ‘No, I don’t really want to speak with you, thank you.’ He was obviously drunk a little bit because I could smell it and his ego must have got a little dented.”

    Basharat then said that despite his wishes for them to go their separate ways and leave it at that, Page continued to press him on what the issue was.

    The 27-year-old added that things got heated from there, stating that getting into a fight at 7 AM in the morning with a fighter four weight classes above him wasn’t something that he was actively pursuing.

    He claimed to have flipped was when Page threw a “cheap shot” at him while he was distracted by one of the Londoner’s friends.

    What made him tip even further over the edge was that despite Basharat being the one who needed to get through members of security and a former UFC featherweight champion, it was Page who was backing up.

    “In my head, I was so annoyed. I was thinking, ‘Just step to the left a little bit and we can make something happen. We could at least throw a couple of exchanges, a couple of shots,’ you know? But look, these situations, I’m not sitting here like some bad boy trying to create hostile situations, trying to get into fights, but sometimes when you have to go, you have to go. If someone starts on you, it doesn’t matter.

    “It doesn’t matter who, why, where, when and at that point. I just lost it to be honest, and you’ll see in the video, I was trying to get ahold of him for probably about 10 minutes. The video cuts out short but honestly, I just kind of lost it because I couldn’t believe I was trying to deescalate a situation, I was trying to go my way and stuff and this coward…he’s the one that throws a punch. In my head, I was so p*****, I just wanted, at that point, I would have done anything to get my hands on him. But now, whatever, I don’t care about this guy. When I see him, we’ll deal with it however.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Uses O’Malley vs. Vera To Justify Merab Dvalishvili’s Preferred Next Opponent

    Aljamain Sterling Uses O’Malley vs. Vera To Justify Merab Dvalishvili’s Preferred Next Opponent

    Despite the UFC’s attempt to get the ball rolling toward the next bantamweight title fight, Merab Dvalishvili has other plans in mind.

    The 135-pound weight class crowned a new champion in the main event of UFC 306, where Dvalishvili comfortably defeated Sean O’Malley.

    It was known going into the fight that Umar Nurmagomedov was likely going to be next, and that was only solidified when he was there in-person for the new champ being asked about the prospect of facing him.

    Dvalishvili, however, believes that it is Deiveson Figueiredo who is the most deserving contender because he has more wins over top bantamweight contenders.

    Aljamain Sterling Says Merab Dvalishvili Has Strong Case For Deiveson Figueiredo Being Next

    In an interview with Submission Radio, Aljamain Sterling weighed in with his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s stance on his first title challenger.

    The former bantamweight champion and long-term friend and training partner of the Georgian titleholder believes that his reasoning makes a lot of sense.

    “Funk Master” pointed to how there have been many more instances where a title challenger was less deserving of this opportunity than Figueiredo currently is.

    With this in mind, Sterling hopes that his teammate will get to have some input into deciding what will be the first step of his title reign.

    “I don’t know who the UFC actually wants to push. I know Merab wants to face Deiveson Figueiredo based on his merit of what he’s done in the bantamweight division. I believe he’s beaten Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, submitted him, and ‘Chito’ Vera. So it’s kind of hard to argue Merab’s point. I do understand that Umar did beat Sandhagen, who was ranked #2 at the time, so there’s an argument there. But I think I can see both sides, and if the champ wants to fight Deiveson Figueiredo, I mean, O’Malley got to fight a guy that wasn’t even ranked in the top five (Marlon Vera).

    “So I don’t think it’s that crazy of a matchup. I don’t think the guy’s undeserving. I don’t think anyone could say he’s undeserving. But, you know, the UFC is going to do what makes the most money for them and hopefully the champ has a say in that.”

  • South Africa Reportedly Planning $1.7 Million Stadium Renovation To Host Dricus Du Plessis UFC Title Fight

    South Africa Reportedly Planning $1.7 Million Stadium Renovation To Host Dricus Du Plessis UFC Title Fight

    In his post-fight press conference after UFC 306, Dana White once again stressed that finally bringing the Octagon to Africa is a big priority for the promotion.

    Hosting events in new locations is never an easy process for the MMA leader, but when you have a champion like Dricus Du Plessis, where there is a will, there is a way.

    The reaction that the middleweight champion received after his title-winning performance at UFC 297 really got the ball rolling.

    It’s clear that there would be huge interest in seeing the Octagon touch down in South Africa with Du Plessis headlining the show, but the logistics of making it happen is where issues occur.

    The biggest hurdle to get past when looking at stadium shows is the weather, something White has long cited when pushing back on such events. However, it looks like Cape Town Stadium are ready to make some sizable investments to remove this barrier to entry…

    Mayor Of Cape Town Reveals Proposal To Build Temporary Roof Over Cape Town Stadium

    The Executive Major of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, recently spoke about plans to build a temporary roof in order to bring the UFC to the stadium.

    In an interview with Cape Talk, Hill-Lewis said that he expects things to move relatively quickly.

    “We’ve said to the national government, the minister (Gayton McKenzie), that we think we could do it absolutely soon, sometime around March next year. But we would need confirmation quite soon so that we could get cracking.” (h/t IOL)

    Though there are other venues that could host a major UFC event, they simply don’t have the capacity of the 55,000 seater that was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Hill-Lewis approximated that it would take around two months to build and would cost upwards of R30m (around $1.7 million).

    There has been some pushback from other figures, such as the founder of lobby group Stop CoCT Sandra Dickson, who have criticized whether it’s necessary to do this rather than hosting it another venue, calling the plan “a limited short-term and temporary solution.”

    Dricus Du Plessis & Robert Whittaker
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC

  • Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310

    Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024.

    Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite Yan Xiaonan at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April.

    The Californian appeared to be in a two-horse race with Virna Jandiroba, whose submission of Amanda Lemos in a UFC Fight Night main event in the summer marked her fifth straight triumph.

    Should recent reports come to fruition, however, neither woman has been given the assignment. Instead, they’ll have to battle one another for it.

    According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, a clash between the #1- and #3-ranked strawweight contenders is set to take place on the UFC 310 card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7.

    Suarez, Jandiroba Expected To Meet In Likely Title Eliminator At UFC 310

    Should this bout be made official by the UFC, the final pay-per-view of 2024 will include high stakes at 115 pounds.

    Suarez (10-0) has done what she can to make up for lost time after injuries kept her away from the cage for close to four years. After announcing her return with a submission win over Montana De La Rosa up at flyweight, the 33-year-old wrestling specialist forced a tap from Jéssica Andrade to put her immediately back into the strawweight title conversation.

    Jandiroba (21-3), meanwhile, has found winning form following an inconsistent 3-3 start to life in the UFC. After defeats to Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas stalled her rise, the Brazilian has gone on her longest winning run on MMA’s biggest stage, outpointing Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez before a bonus-winning submission of former title challenger Lemos in what marked her main event debut.

    Suarez vs. Jandiroba joins a light heavyweight matchup between Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes as the second fight reported for UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    Tatiana Suarez
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC)

  • Michael Chandler Explains Why He Won’t Call Failed Wait For Conor McGregor ‘Wasted Time’

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler insists that the patience he showed in a failed pursuit of fighting Conor McGregor only had positive effects on him as an individual and fighter.

    By the time Chandler next enters the Octagon, it will have been two years since his previous outing. After a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden in 2022, the former Bellator champion will return to New York City this coming November to run it back with Charles Oliveira.

    The pair’s five-round co-headliner at UFC 309 was announced this past weekend, bringing an end to Chandler’s lengthy wait to welcome the sport’s biggest superstar back to action.

    The 38-year-old was penciled in as McGregor’s return opponent way back at the start of 2023 when they were announced as opposition coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. After over a year of patient waiting for an official fight date, their UFC 303 headliner this past June didn’t come to fruition owing to an injury suffered by the Irishman.

    Many have long urged Chandler to move on from the “Notorious” star, and his decision to finally do so has been used as a ‘told you so’ moment by some in the mixed martial arts community.

    But while Chandler’s sights may now be off McGregor for the time being, he firmly disagrees with claims he ‘wasted’ the best part of two years in the latter part of his career by waiting for the Dublin native…

    Chandler On McGregor Wait: ‘It Wasn’t Wasted Time Because Of The Man I Became From It’

    During a recent appearance on the Ultimate Human Podcast with Gary Brecka, Chandler addressed his decision to stray from the uncertainty-filled McGregor path and put his crosshairs back on the UFC lightweight title.

    “Iron” admitted that his period on the sidelines was far from easy. But he seemingly has no regrets about the process, saying it moulded him into a better person.

    “Maybe this was the way it was supposed to be the entire time,” Chandler said. “I want to finish that chapter. We waited and there were so many ups and downs. I went through things with it. Being away from my family but then not actually getting to fight was very tough.

    “It wasn’t wasted time. I would never say it’s wasted time, right? Anybody listening, you’ve had times in your life and were like, ‘Man, that was a waste of time.’ But was it? It wasn’t really wasted time because of the man I became from it,” Chandler added.

    Chandler’s preparation will now switch to “Do Bronx,” a former champ he’ll be familiar with having shared the cage with him back in May 2021. The pair competed for the then-vacant lightweight belt, with “Iron’s” early success being rendered null when the Brazilian found the fight-ending shots in round two.

    The ex-Bellator standout will look to avenge that defeat and set up a showdown with the reigning kingpin in 2025 come fight night at MSG, where he and Oliveira will set the stage for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight clash.

  • Former UFC Champ Says Herb Dean Officiated ‘Like He Had Money On O’Malley’ At UFC 306

    Former UFC Champ Says Herb Dean Officiated ‘Like He Had Money On O’Malley’ At UFC 306

    Count former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw among those confused by Herb Dean’s actions in this past weekend’s main event.

    The veteran official was tasked with being the third man inside the Octagon for the Noche UFC (UFC 306) headliner inside the Sphere, where Sean O’Malley put his 135-pound gold on the line against Merab Dvalishvili.

    Dean wasn’t short on involvement early on, with a war of words between the challenger and coach Tim Welch in O’Malley’s corner forcing his intervention, shortly followed by a warning to “The Machine” for repeatedly kissing the defending champ’s back while in control of him on the ground.

    Later in the fight, the referee featured in a different way as he frequently called for more action while Dvalishvili held a dominant grappling position.

    While that was enough to cause debate, Dean’s decision to do the same while the pair were on the feet in the main event’s dying seconds saw him become the subject of heavy criticism from the commentary team and fans online.

    Dillashaw Slams Dean For UFC 306 Main Event Refereeing: ‘Shouldn’t Be Involved Like That’

    During a recent episode of the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw looked back on the events that unfolded inside the Sphere alongside Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Luke Rockhold, and Jason Parillo.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion was firm with his criticism of the third man inside the cage for Saturday’s headliner, suggesting Dean refereed favorably toward the defending champion.

    “It’s complete bullsh*t,” Dillashaw said. “You can’t tell two fighters to work when they’re on their feet. I could run circles if I wanted to. You can’t tell me to go and work. … It’s not like I’m stalling against the cage. We’re striking, and you’re telling me to work. Like, I might run into something now ’cause you’re coaching me on how I am supposed to fight. The ref shouldn’t be involved like that.

    “I thought it was very weird. It was almost like he had money on O’Malley,” Dillashaw continued. “(It was) like he wanted Merab to keep going so O’Malley could catch him with something. It was weird.”

    Dean’s performance in the main event has remained a prominent talking point days on from the show, as has factors away from the fighting action itself such as Welch’s controversial corner tactics.

    While many have lauded the UFC for the spectacle it put on inside the Sphere, those likely weren’t the topics that the promotion hoped would come out of the pay-per-view main event.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 6 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 6 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with some memorable highlights on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS, the inaugural season of which took place back in 2017, sees some of the top prospects in mixed martial arts enter the cage in front of White and the matchmakers, looking to put in a performance worthy of a place on the UFC roster.

    Last year’s edition saw 46 fighters bag a deal with the sport’s premier promotion across 10 events, up on the 43 from 2022. Through five episodes of season eight, 20 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the sixth added another four talents to the UFC roster. That included heavyweight Tallison Teixeira, who delivered the highlight of the night in the penultimate bout when he knocked out Arthur Lopes to secure his path to the Octagon.

    Earlier on, two finishes opened the card, with lightweight Ahmad Hassanzada locking in a rear-naked choke to render Dylan Mantello unconscious and middleweight Ateba Gautier stopping Yura Naito with punches.

    The three who found finishes all exited the Apex with UFC deals, as did bantamweight Elijah Smith, son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith. He got the better of New Zealand’s Aaron Tau by way of unanimous decision in an entertaining main event.

    The contest between Benjamin Bennett and Joey Hart was the only matchup not to produce a new contract this week, with the former’s split decision victory not enough to persuade White to bring him aboard the UFC.

    With that in mind, see below for the moments that did land four athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Ahmad Hassanzada Def. Dylan Mantello Via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R3, 2:14

    Ateba Gautier Def. Yura Naito Via TKO (Punches): R2, 4:00

    Tallison Teixeira Def. Arthur Lopes Via KO (Punches): R1, 1:57

    Elijah Smith Def. Aaron Tau Via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

  • ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    Jon Jones, while talking to the media at UFC 306, hinted at retiring following his UFC 309 headliner against Stipe Miocic. The former UFC light heavyweight champion debuted for the promotion in 2011 and has amassed the most title fight wins (12) so far, naturally making his retirement a big deal among fans.

    After being the most dominant UFC light heavyweight ever, Jones moved up to heavyweight. In March 2023, he beat Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut to capture the division’s undisputed championship. However, he has yet to defend the title and despite Tom Aspinall finishing all top contenders, former champ Miocic is getting the title shot.

    Although Jones has mentioned retirement several times at this point, Chael Sonnen simply doesn’t buy it…

    Chael Sonnen Lists Why Jon Jones Isn’t Serious About Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight

    Sonnen opened up on the recently confirmed matchup between Jones and Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship on his YouTube channel. He acknowledged that MMA fans are now more excited to see “Bones” being tested by Aspinall who even defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    “The American Gangster” believes that Jones’ retirement is not the UFC legend’s idea at all. Somebody from the media or the internet randomly questioned his retirement and since then, he’s agreed to it a couple of times.

    In Sonnen’s view, Jones teasing retirement after fighting Miocic is a clever yet effective marketing idea. Over the years, the light heavyweight GOAT has amassed millions of fans who would tune in to watch him fight for potentially the last time without a second thought.

    “I’m watching this. Oh, Jon has grabbed on to that retirement idea. He did not mean it, it was completely insincere, it wasn’t even his idea. Somebody else said it, he heard it, thought it might be good to go with. And a couple of different reasons guys that are not going to retire say that they’re going to retire. A couple. One could be, he heard somebody else say it thought it might be good marketing. He never comes out and does anything to try for marketing and he went for it. Another one is just the same reason you did things like that when you were a child. So that somebody else would tell, oh no, hey, whoa, we want you, you’re great.”

    Sonnen, Jones’ former rival, is optimistic that we’ll see him in the Octagon against Aspinall before he retires. He stated that “Bones” adding “most likely” to his latest statement about retirement gave it all away. The undisputed heavyweight champ is either selling his upcoming fight or wanting the UFC to stop him from retiring through obvious incentives.

  • ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amid UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

    ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amid UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

    Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds.

    Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were some memorable moments. One of these came right at the beginning of the first when Dvalishvili criticized O’Malley’s coach for distracting him and Herb Dean had to step in.

    While many have called Welch unprofessional for implementing his corner tactics, Chael Sonnen has defended the coach…

    Chael Sonnen Clears ‘Misunderstanding’ Around Tim Welch Calling Out Merab Dvalishvili During Sean O’Malley Fight

    Sonnen, while reacting to the UFC 306 main event on his YouTube channel, revealed his close relationship with Welch as a teammate. Despite the natural bias, he had many arguments to prove that the coach didn’t cross any lines at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

    For starters, the former title challenger remembered that many moves in MMA and boxing are named after pioneers who discovered or popularized them. So, when a coach yells a fighter’s name, they might be referring to a certain move instead of distracting the opponent.

    Sonnen also talked to Welch on the phone and stood by the latter based on the tone of his statements. “The American Gangster” highlighted that the fight had just begun, and there was no way Welch’s comments were out of frustration or anger.

    “When he said pressure Merab, you’re going to have to go Merab. When Tim said that, he had a very similar tone, he was just speaking, raised his voice a little bit. Wasn’t yelling, wasn’t being demeaning, there was by no means, profanity, and would you like to know, why there were none of those things? Would you like to know why that was the tone? It was right at the beginning of the match. I mean, all hell didn’t even break loose. Nobody’s chips are down, nobody’s frustrated.”

    Sonnen also discussed Welch’s intention when O’Malley fought for the title against Aljamain Sterling. In a viral clip, the coach could be heard screaming Aljo’s name following which he went for a punch which helped “Suga” land the knockout blow. However, both incidents are unrelated as Sterling has confirmed he didn’t listen to Welch.

    “And do you want to know why it was so calm? Because he wasn’t talking to Merab, He wasn’t telling Merab what to do, and that has been a misunderstanding of this entire thing.”

    MMA fans seem to be divided over the matter, for now. Although “Funkmaster” has admitted to not hearing Welch and Dvalishvili shut him down fairly quickly, the fact that Welch took an opponent’s name from the corner in consecutive fights is upsetting for many.

  • ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards to become the new UFC welterweight champion at UFC 304. As the first UFC champion from Palestine, he’s naturally become a lot more popular lately and fans are finally getting behind him as he trolls other UFC fighters.

    Muhammad has won eleven fights in a row now. Unlike Merab Dvalishvili who was presented with Umar Nurmagomedov as soon as he won the UFC bantamweight title, the welterweight kingpin has yet to confirm his first title defense.

    Unless he fights Kamaru Usman in a title eliminator first, undefeated prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov is expected to challenge Muhammad. While discussing the matchup, Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick revealed how Rakhmonov doesn’t seem invincible anymore…

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Appreciates Geoff Neal, Who Beat Belal Muhammad, For Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov The Perfect Way

    Muhammad recently opened up about the current state of the UFC welterweight division on the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick podcast. Unsurprisingly, he acknowledged the undefeated Rakhmonov with a 100% finish rate as his first potential title defense.

    Nicksick, who coaches Sean Strickland, gave “Nomad” his props but highlighted that Geoff Neal has already revealed the best way to beat him. Although ‘Handz of Steel’ lost via third-round submission, he landed several good shots on Rakhmonov.

    The key for Neal was maintaining distance and movement. He avoided getting into a clinch with Rakhmonov as the latter quickly threw knees and elbows in that position. Whenever “Nomad” landed a good shot, Neal made sure to move out of range instead of letting his opponent do more damage in the pocket or secure a takedown.

    Here are Nicksicks’s two cents on how Muhammad should approach the Rakhmonov matchup:

    “Shavkat’s the kind of boogeyman waiting in the closet. You’re like, oh s**t, what do I do? But the blueprint’s there, right? Geoff Neal fought him very well. I think you know what I mean. I think, I think the blueprint’s out.”

    The coach also explained how Muhammad’s tendency to make his opponents uncomfortable by targeting the holes in their games has worked wonders:

    “That’s the whole point we talked about in the Leon Edwards fight and the matchup is, you have more tools in the toolbox, right? And when you sit down and you break, lay out a game plan. It’s, I don’t, you’re not trying to beat the guy at what he’s best at, so how do I exploit what he’s not good at?

    Of course, Neal was successful against Rakhmonov also because he’s as tough as it gets. However, as per Nicksick, someone like Muhammad who relies a lot on decoding his opponents by watching footage can benefit greatly by analyzing Neal’s performance.

    Interestingly, Neal is the last fighter to beat Muhammad. “Handz of Steel’ defeated the current champ via TKO in 2019 and now, he could indirectly help “Remember the Name” with his first title defense.

  • ‘It’s Okay Buddy We’re Almost Done’ – MMA Fans Troll Sean O’Malley’s Coach After UFC 306 Loss

    ‘It’s Okay Buddy We’re Almost Done’ – MMA Fans Troll Sean O’Malley’s Coach After UFC 306 Loss

    Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, recently found himself in the crosshairs of fans’ ire after “Suga” came up short in his title defense against Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306.

    The reigning UFC bantamweight champion’s reign was cut short in dramatic fashion when he faced Dvalishvili in his second title defense last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere. O’Malley was expected to deliver a striking masterclass to counter the danger posed by “The Machine’s” elite wrestling. However, the fight unfolded in a completely different direction, as Dvalishvili flipped the script and dominated O’Malley instead.

    Right from the outset, “Suga” found himself off balance, unable to establish any success as Dvalishvili smothered him with a torrent of takedowns at every turn. In the end, O’Malley succumbed to a unanimous decision defeat.

    Although fight week remained relatively free of drama, controversy erupted almost immediately once the bout began. Dvalishvili accused O’Malley’s coach of resorting to familiar tactics, claiming he repeated the same strategy used to deceive Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023, attempting to bait him into a reckless charge.

    “The Machine” swiftly brought the fight to a halt, furiously directing his attention toward O’Malley’s corner. His outburst forced referee Herb Dean to step in and deliver an admonition. Welch seemingly confessed on X to throwing out some questionable corner advice aimed at distracting Dvalishvili during the fight.

    Fans Take Shots At Welch After O’Malley’s Defeat to Dvalishvili

    Welch recently dropped a YouTube video where he broke down O’Malley’s title loss to Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306. Once again, the MMA coach admitted to employing divisive corner tactics against the newly crowned bantamweight champion.

    However, the fans flocked to the comments section, blasting Welch for resorting to underhanded strategies and holding him responsible for “Suga’s” defeat with a barrage of criticism.

    One fan sarcastically clapped back at “Red Hawk”, using his own words from the fight, after the fourth round in the corner, to mock him.

    “‘It’s okay, buddy, we’re almost done’.”

    Another fan playfully suggested that Welch should pack O’Malley off to Dagestan for a crash course in wrestling.

    “Tim send him to Dagestan and forget about him for 2 – 3 years.”

    One fan remarked that Team O’Malley seemed to have no meaningful strategy to counter Dvalishvili.

    “Looked like you guys had f**k all of a game plan.”

    One user jokingly teased Welch, claiming that “The Machine” playfully kissing O’Malley’s back during their grappling exchange in the second round was the real moment that shattered O’Malley’s mental game.

    “Those kisses were some significant strikes to the mental”

    One fan criticized Welch, lamenting his choice to offer dubious guidance to Dvalishvili.

    “Tries to cheat by yelling instructions to Merab, gets caught. ‘It’ll be over soon, Sean’.”

    “Tim got called out red-handed trying to coach Merab like he did Aljo.”

    Another user pointed fingers at “Red Hawk,” holding him responsible for O’Malley’s defeat, claiming he failed to adequately prepare his fighter for the challenge ahead.

    “Now we know why Sean lost; his coach is more into his YouTube channel than training his champion MMA fighter”

    “It’s called being classless and trying to cheat because ur guy can’t beat him without the bullsh*t.”

    “Sean ain’t ever seeing that belt again”

    “Merab put on an absolute clinic, made Sean look like he had never laced up a glove in his life.”

    “Sean got his a** beat; all that trash-talking didn’t help.”

  • Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili

    Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili

    Marlon Vera recently drew parallels to one of Conor McGregor’s fights to highlight the strategic missteps Sean O’Malley made in his bout against Merab Dvalishvili.

    “Suga’s” reign as champion came to a close last weekend in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where he endured a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Dvalishvili.

    O’Malley struggled to find his rhythm throughout the fight as Dvalishvili stormed in, guns blazing, unleashing an unyielding assault of takedowns. The defending champion had no answers for the onslaught and ultimately fell short, losing the bout.

    O’Malley initially seemed reluctant to let his strikes fly during the fight, possibly due to “The Machine’s” dominance in chain wrestling and calculated approach, which suffocated the American’s ability to find his footing.

    Interestingly, “Chito,” who has shared the Octagon with O’Malley twice, echoed similar sentiments regarding the defending champion’s performance…

    Vera Believes O’Malley Missed Early Striking Opportunity To Counter Dvalishvili’s Gameplan

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Vera shared his thoughts on the title bout between O’Malley and Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306. The former title challenger suggested that if “Suga” had landed some early shots on a fresh Dvalishvili, the outcome could have swung in his favor.

    Vera pointed out that Dvalishvili has been rocked before, referencing his previous knockdowns at the hands of Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes.

    “he main event, it was a guy that I just fought two fights ago against Merab,” Vera said. “That was a great fight. I mean, I really thought if Sean could have hit Merab early in the fight, things could change, based on him being dropped by Cejudo and Marlon Moraes, but he just couldn’t land. Merab has that kind of jerky move like it’s hard to hit him in a way you can snipe this guy. You almost have to fight him.”

    “Chito” went on to compare O’Malley’s tactical blunder to Conor McGregor’s second-round TKO victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in July 2015. Vera highlighted that every time “The Notorious” broke free from Mendes’ takedowns, he immediately closed the distance and applied pressure. In contrast, O’Malley did the opposite against “The Machine”, allowing Dvalishvili to dictate the fight.

    “I would say the one thing, comparing the fight to Chad Mendes and Conor, is that every time Conor got up, he would crawl right away, like he would be in his face immediately. Every time Sean got up, there was a little separation, so that probably messed with his rhythm. And Merab, we all know, can just take you down over and over. So I think, in my opinion, you just have to sit down and fight him. He’s going to take you down regardless, so you might as well just go crazy on him. But overall, great fight. Congratulations to the new champion.”

    O’Malley captured the bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023. He went on to defend his belt in impressive style against Vera at UFC 299 this past March, where he avenged the sole setback on his Octagon record.

    Following his recent defeat, the 29-year-old Montana native shared that he has no plans to step back into the Octagon anytime soon, hinting at a potential return around mid-2025.

  • Dvalishvili’s Coach Admits He Also Trash Talked O’Malley’s Corner During Fight

    Dvalishvili’s Coach Admits He Also Trash Talked O’Malley’s Corner During Fight

    Merab Dvalishvili’s head coach, John Wood, recently revealed what he, too, yelled at Sean O’Malley’s corner, specifically his coach Tim Welch, during the heat of their clash at Noche UFC 306.

    “The Machine” put on a dominant display against reigning champion O’Malley, claiming the UFC bantamweight title last Saturday inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dvalishvili commanded the majority of the bout, expertly delivering well-timed takedowns to counter “Suga” and keep him at arm’s length. Ultimately, the Georgian powerhouse walked away with a decisive unanimous decision win.

    While Dvalishvili commanded the entire bout, effortlessly executing his game plan, the real stir came when the newly crowned champion suddenly interrupted the proceedings, fiercely gesturing towards O’Malley’s corner just moments into the fight. The sequence triggered swift intervention from referee Herb Dean.

    In a recent tweet, Dvalishvili revealed that Welch was trying to pull the same stunt he had used against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 last year. Welch had shouted instructions, seemingly to trick Sterling into believing they came from his own corner during his fight with O’Malley. This time, he attempted the same tactic at Noche UFC 306, which is why “The Machine” immediately protested.

    Although Dvalishvili didn’t fall for the ruse, Wood claims he decided to play the same card against O’Malley himself…

    Wood Takes A Swing At Welch, Tells Him To Leave Trash Talk To The Fighters

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Wood weighed in on the fiasco between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s corner at Noche UFC 306. The seasoned MMA coach expressed that, while he respects Welch as a person, his antics to distract opponents don’t align with the true spirit of the sport. Wood admitted that after seeing Welch’s attempts to mess with his fighter, he decided to turn the tables, using a similar tactic on “Suga”—but with his own twist.

    “That’s not our job, Wood said. “I’m not trashing Tim for anything he does. I respect Tim, but it is a bullsh*t move. I was yelling at Tim across the cage several times when Sean would mess up, and I was making sure Sean heard me calling out everything that he wanted to throw. When he would do something stupid, I caught myself a couple of times in the fight, going, ‘Tim, did you teach him that? That was terrible’ across the cage.”

    Wood didn’t hold back and fired yet another salvo at “Suga’s” coach, criticizing him for trying to rattle Dvalishvili during the media events. He advised Welch to leave the trash-talking to the fighters where it belongs.

    “Fighters are there to trash talk, to build the fight, do their thing, whether they like each other, don’t like each other, but I don’t think it’s a place for coaches to get in. Tim was doing some stuff beforehand, like at the weigh-ins, he was talking sh*t to Merab on camera, saying things, and that’s fine. If you really feel like you need that mental edge, and especially if you could see how fragile Sean was and how quickly he broke, maybe they do. But like I said, I have nothing against Tim. The tactics, I wouldn’t do it; I don’t need the shine. I don’t need to be the guy in front of my fighter looking to get any kind of attention.”

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Rejects ‘Unsportsmanlike’ Accusations At UFC 306: ‘This Is A Fight!’ 

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Rejects ‘Unsportsmanlike’ Accusations At UFC 306: ‘This Is A Fight!’ 

    Tim Welch, coach of recently dethroned UFC star Sean O’Malley, has hit back at claims his calls to opposition fighters from the corner is “unsportsmanlike.”

    Welch was unable to guide his man to a second successful title defense in Las Vegas this past weekend, where the unique Sphere venue played host to the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    “Suga” was comfortably outpointed across five rounds by Merab Dvalishvili, who recorded an 11th straight triumph inside the Octagon to secure his long-awaited championship crowning on MMA’s biggest stage.

    The headlining fight was an odd affair, and that was the case almost immediately. In the opening seconds, referee Herb Dean had to interfere as Dvalishvili began lambasting O’Malley’s corner.

    As it turned out, coach Welch had been up to his old tricks, repeating the opposition coaching he employed in an attempt to fool Aljamain Sterling into an ill-advised rush in Boston last year.

    The Georgian wasn’t about to let those antics go unanswered, and many in the community have since backed him up and criticized the actions of O’Malley’s trainer.

    Coach Welch On Controversial Corner Strategy: ‘If There’s Any Way To Do A Little Bit Of Mind Games…’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Welch reflected on his man’s championship loss inside the Sphere and touched on the controversy surrounding his input in the fight.

    Welch said he was surprised at Dvalishvili’s emotional outburst following one remark early on, which he went on to defend by insisting that he’ll always look for an edge that could aid his fighter inside the cage.

    “He must have been anticipating that a little bit. But I really wasn’t going out of my way to yell,” Welch said. “I was surprised how much he freaked out. He let his emotions freakin’ get to him in there. But, it didn’t do anything, it didn’t matter one bit.

    “It’s not like I’m being unsportsmanlike. I mean, it’s a little mind games. People sometimes forget that this is a fight. He’s fighting my buddy, a really close buddy who I’ve spent a lot of years growing up with. He’s fighting him, trying to beat him up,” Welch continued. “If there’s any way to do a little bit of mind games when it comes to war, I’m gonna do it. If I was your coach and I thought it might help you win, maybe just a little bit, then I’d probably do it also.”

    Whether or not such a strategy contributed to O’Malley’s title-winning performance against Sterling is up for debate, but there’s no doubt about the lack of affect it had on proceedings at UFC 306.

  • Roy Jones Jr. Names Who He Thinks Is The Best Striker In MMA Today

    Roy Jones Jr. Names Who He Thinks Is The Best Striker In MMA Today

    As the sport of MMA continues to grow and evolve, so do the athletes and the skill sets that they bring to the table.

    There have always been great strikers competing in MMA and though grappling may still be an incredibly dominant aspect of the game, some of the top fighters in the world do their best work on the feet.

    Roy Jones Jr. knows a thing or two about the art of hitting without getting hit back as one of the greatest to ever step inside a boxing ring.

    As an avid MMA fan, who was sat front row for UFC 306 at the Sphere this past weekend, who better to talk about the best strikers in the sport right now.

    He pointed to a fighter that combines all aspects of what you would want to see from an exciting and dangerous stand-up artist, a point that was also made by Teddy Atlas.

    Roy Jones Jr. Says Sean O’Malley May Be The Best Striker In MMA Today

    During his appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Jones was asked a question that required his expert opinion.

    When asked who he believes is the best striker in MMA today, there are a few strong contenders that come to mind as viable options.

    Jones’ answer ended up being a fighter that he was already talking about at the time of the question and someone that he got to watch up close this past weekend.

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley possesses one of the best striking toolkits that the Octagon has seen in some time.

    With excellent distance management and ability to read a fight, his sniper-like accuracy has helped turn him into one of the biggest stars on the roster.

    “Right now, he may be, because he’s a hell of a striker. I love to see Sean O’Malley strike because he strikes like a full-fledged fighter, boxer.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley Makes Statement Following Title Loss To Merab Dvalishvili At Noche UFC 306

  • Michael Chandler Explains What Will Be Different In Charles Oliveira Rematch: ‘Chandler 2.0…’

    Michael Chandler Explains What Will Be Different In Charles Oliveira Rematch: ‘Chandler 2.0…’

    During his long wait for the return of Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler has had a lot of time to think about how he wants to spend the remainder of his career.

    “Iron” Mike has delivered non-stop entertainment since arriving in the UFC back in 2021 where all but one of his Octagon appearances have seen him earn a performance or fight of the night bonus.

    That one exception is his first encounter with Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 where the two men fought for the vacant lightweight title in the aftermath of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement.

    The two men are now set to run it back over five rounds at UFC 309 in New York where Chandler believes that fans will see a new version of himself that has changed over time.

    Michael Chandler Explains Shift In Mindset Ahead Of Long Awaited Octagon Return

    Chandler states that during the two-year break between fights whilst he was waiting to face McGregor, he fell back in love with the sport due to the separation he had from it.

    In that time, the former Bellator champion underwent a change in mindset which he recently explained in an interview on Bussin’ With The Boys.

    Chandler describes how his mentality when he arrived in the UFC was to make as much noise as possible, throwing caution to the wind in order to get the fans off their seats.

    He certainly did that but in MMA, when you live by the sword, you die by it too and that all-action style can sometimes only get you so far.

    When asked what will be different about this rematch with “Do Bronx” over three years on from their first meeting, Chandler said that he’s coming into Madison Square Garden with a refreshed outlook.

    “The maturation process of who I am as an individual and fighter. For better or worse, I needed to come into the UFC and stake my claim and prove myself, right, and now I have proven myself. So, Chandler 1.0 was come into the UFC, prove the doubters wrong that this Bellator dude can’t come in and compete with the best guys in the world, obviously I have done that.

    “Win, lose or draw, it’s a great fight. Win, lose or draw, I’ve hurt everybody that I’ve fought. Win, lose or draw, I’m getting fight of the night. Win, lose or draw, you’re on the edge of your seat when Michael Chandler steps inside the Octagon right? And now, Chandler 2.0 is okay, I had an opportunity to step back, fall back in love with the sport and now I truly believe now more than ever that it’s time for me to go win the title so fighting Oliveira puts me in that position.”

    Read also: Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

  • Brendan Schaub On UFC Show At ‘Rainforest Cafe’ Sphere: ‘Looks Great But The Product Is Sh*t’

    Brendan Schaub On UFC Show At ‘Rainforest Cafe’ Sphere: ‘Looks Great But The Product Is Sh*t’

    Not everybody was impressed with the UFC’s debut event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere this past weekend.

    Saturday saw MMA’s leading promotion stage its latest pay-per-view and second Noche UFC celebration from the Sphere, marking the first live sporting event to take place at the Las Vegas venue.

    In addition to the two high-stakes championship headliners, all eyes were on the $20 million production the UFC put on using the Sphere’s technology.

    When it comes to the latter, the overall reception across the MMA community appeared to be largely positive. But in terms of the main and co-main event fights themselves, the consensus trended in a different direction.

    And for one former UFC fighter, the action inside the Octagon remained the night’s priority, rendering the Sphere experiment a failure…

    Schaub Not A Fan Of UFC’s Sphere Spectacle

    During the latest episode of his podcast, Schaub gave his assessment of the UFC’s Sphere PPV and the fights that went down at the organization’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    With his preference being excitement inside the Octagon over the additional production that came with the venue, Schaub was left disappointed by the event as a whole.

    “My issue is the product that I paid to watch was not great. It wasn’t a pay-per-view-worthy card,” Schaub said. “The bell of the ball is the Sphere. Therefore, what you’re paying for, unless you’re in-person, ain’t that great, dude. And the main event and co-main event, boy did the UFC gamble and they lost.

    “You know what the Sphere is? It’s Rainforest Cafe. It looks f*cking great but the product is sh*t,” Schaub continued. “UFC doing events at the Sphere is Rainforest Cafe. Looks great, fun experience, the actual product sucks. I’d rather watch great fights at the Apex center. I don’t need all that. Maybe I’m the minority.”

    UFC CEO Dana White has remained firm in calling the Sept. 14 event a one-and-done show, something Schaub and those sharing the same sentiment will no doubt be pleased to hear.

    But with plenty calling for a repeat experience down the line, perhaps the promotional higher-ups will be tempted to reverse their stance and put on another night of action at the venue, hopefully with headliners that deliver fireworks second time around.

  • Aljamain Sterling On Narrative That O’Malley Looked ‘Flat’: ‘Like Conor McGregor Against Khabib…’

    Aljamain Sterling On Narrative That O’Malley Looked ‘Flat’: ‘Like Conor McGregor Against Khabib…’

    After losing the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 306 on Saturday night, some questioned whether Sean O’Malley had an off night.

    Dana White in his post-fight press conference said that in his opinion, “Suga” didn’t look himself but this has since been dispelled by O’Malley himself.

    The former champ said that he was coming into the fight feeling great and there were glimpses of that in the fight.

    Despite it feeling fairly one-sided to a lot of people, O’Malley won two rounds on two of the scorecards meaning that he wasn’t that far away from retaining the belt via split decision.

    A former opponent of his disagrees with the idea that the main event played out how it did due to one man not firing, rather than Merab Dvalishvili being incredibly effective.

    Aljamain Sterling Disputes The Idea That Sean O’Malley Looked Off At UFC 306

    In his recap of UFC 306, Aljamain Sterling disagreed that O’Malley wasn’t firing on all cylinders at the Sphere this past weekend.

    The former bantamweight champion, who was in Dvalishvili’s corner, pointed to how “Suga” started the fight looking great, saying that this only changed once the challenger started to have success.

    Not to mention the third round, which he won on two scorecards, and the final round where he hurt his opponent with a body kick and tried to find the finish in the closing moments.

    Having faced O’Malley back at UFC 292, Sterling helped Dvalishvili prepare for him by replicating his style.

    When reflecting on the fight, he said that the defending champion came out exactly how they expected him to which meant they were able to execute their game plan.

    “I give credit where due, he was well prepared to say he looked flat makes no sense. The opening bell when he’s coming out with those faints, those hip twitches that he does so well where he’s shaking off to the side, shaking off to the other side and then looking for those long strikes. He came out exactly like Conor McGregor did against Khabib. Now I gave Merab that same exact look, coming out with the fingers, long, trying to hit the feints and trying to go to the body, trying to go up top.”

    Read also: Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs Nurmagomedov

  • Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

    The next bantamweight title fight already appears to be lined up following the main event of UFC 306 this past weekend.

    Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere to become the new champion and was immediately asked about the prospect of facing Umar Nurmagomedov next.

    Though Dvalishvili doesn’t seem too sold on the idea, the UFC is clearly heading in this direction after Nurmagomedov defeated Cory Sandhagen in August.

    In a clash of two of the most feared grapplers in the UFC right now, a former UFC champion believes that cardio may be the difference between them.

    Demetrious Johnson Says Conditioning Could Be Key For Merab Dvalishvili Against Umar Nurmagomedov

    In his post-fight breakdown of the main event at Noche UFC, Demetrious Johnson spoke about the next step for the new king of the bantamweights.

    The former UFC flyweight champion said that when looking at Dvalishvili and how he matches up with Nurmagomedov, a few key differences stand out.

    “Mighty Mouse”, who recently announced his retirement, drew attention to the fact that whilst the champion is known for smothering his opponents, Nurmagomedov is usually less reliant on pressure.

    Johnson therefore believes that Dvalishvili’s seemingly endless gas tank could be his biggest weapon in this fight because we haven’t seen that same pace and output from the potential challenger.

    “This is going to be interesting because I feel his [Merab] conditioning is going to be the X-factor because we know he’s not going to stop, he’s going to be a busy bee around the Octagon to where this gentleman [Umar] has the high kicks, he’s very long, he’s very big and he also has the wrestling but he does not have the work ethic like this man [Merab]. Not saying he doesn’t have the work ethic, he doesn’t have just that, ‘I’m coming to smash you, I’m coming to smother you,’ like Khabib. This man [Merab] has that bear gene were he just comes and gets you where he’s [Umar] more strategic.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

  • What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    UFC 306 (Noche UFC) is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas last week, where the unique Sphere venue played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Fight Capital of the World.” Of note were title wins for Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko, as well as the biggest victory to date for surging fan favorite Diego Lopes.

    While the aftermath of the September 14 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the bantamweight title picture to the 205-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 307, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5, reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira will compete for the third time this year, once again in defense of the gold. Following knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, “Poatan” will next face a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns for her first defense. “Rocky” is set to meet the challenge of a former champion and fellow TUF 18 competitor in Julianna Peña.

    Sterling, Harrison, Holland Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 307

    Before Pereira and Pennington defend their belts in the “Beehive State,” a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who is looking to keep his ball rolling at 145 pounds following a successful divisional debut opposite Calvin Kattar earlier this year. To keep his pursuit of two-weight glory alive, “Funk Master” must blemish the perfect record of #6-ranked contender Movsar Evloev.

    Prior to that, another notable name will look to stake her claim for a shot at championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage as two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison makes her sophomore Octagon appearance. After submitting Holly Holm on debut at UFC 300, the former judoka will look to go two for two at the expense of Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City.

    And opening the main card will be the always entertaining Kevin Holland, whose second outing since returning to middleweight sees him matched up against top-10 competition in the form of Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over a number of prominent names on the prelims, including Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, José Aldo, and Carla Esparza.

    See below for the full UFC 305 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
    • Raquel Pennington (C) vs. Julianna Peña (women’s bantamweight championship co-main event)
    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (bantamweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight)
    • Nate Landwehr vs. Austin Hubbard (lightweight)
    • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington (women’s strawweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux (light heavyweight)
    • Mauricio Ruffy vs. TBD (lightweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Court McGee vs. Tim Means (welterweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. Cesar Almeida (middleweight)
    Kayla Harrison & Holly Holm
    Image: Cooper Neill/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Alexa Grasso Makes A Promise After Losing Title To Valentina Shevchenko At UFC 306

    Alexa Grasso Makes A Promise After Losing Title To Valentina Shevchenko At UFC 306

    Having been unseated from the flyweight throne at Noche UFC (UFC 306) this past weekend, Alexa Grasso is vowing to bounce back stronger.

    Grasso met Valentina Shevchenko once again in Saturday night’s co-main event inside Las Vegas’ Sphere, hoping to get the better of the MMA legend for a second time and close out their trilogy on top.

    That didn’t come to fruition, however, with “Bullet” instead leveling the score in their most one-sided fight thus far.

    After falling to a surprise submission first time around and subsequently failing to regain the belt in a tight rematch that was ruled a draw, Shevchenko left no doubt about her superiority at UFC 306, using a smothering wrestling attack to pitch a shutout on the scorecards.

    Given the difficulty many had predicting a winner in the lead-up, Grasso’s uncompetitive display came as a surprise. And reacting to the result herself, the Mexican has pledged better next time out.

    Grasso Thanks Fans, Promises Improvements

    A couple of days on from the end of her reign, which came at the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, Grasso made her first statement in relation to the result.

    The now-former champ thanked her fans for their support and unsurprisingly admitted that things went far from how she had hoped.

    That’s something she promised to rectify next time out when she attempts to work her way back toward the flyweight gold.

    “I want to thank you for all your support 🤍 It wasn’t the night I wanted,” Grasso wrote in Spanish. “I’ll get back to training and I promise the next fight will be much better.”

    While Grasso looks to rebound in her return down the line, Shevchenko will have her sights on cementing her second divisional rule and establishing the kind of dominance she was able to find first time around.

    It would appear likely that the first step in that pursuit comes against Manon Fiorot in early 2025. The Frenchwoman has established herself as a top contender by winning all seven of her UFC fights to date, including over Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield. She was also in Las Vegas last week to weigh in as the backup fighter for the UFC 306 co-main event.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov Points Out Merab Dvalishvili’s Hypocrisy: ‘When Topuria Fought For The Title…’

    Umar Nurmagomedov Points Out Merab Dvalishvili’s Hypocrisy: ‘When Topuria Fought For The Title…’

    Umar Nurmagomedov doesn’t think newly crowned UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili has been consistent with his views.

    Dvalishvili secured a long-awaited crowning in the main event of this past weekend’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view, held inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    The Georgian closed out the show with a dominant grappling performance to unseat Sean O’Malley from the 135-pound throne, making good on his confident pre-fight predictions to end “Suga’s” reign.

    While the Montana native looks to work his way back to the gold in his return down the line, “The Machine’s” focus will soon turn to the start of his divisional rule. And the champ isn’t short on potential threats.

    Leading the pack appears to be Umar Nurmagomedov, who seemed to place himself as next in line for a shot by getting the better of Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi last month. The Dagestani was in attendance on Saturday night as his possible next opponent emerged.

    Dvalishvili, however, has remained consistent in dismissing “The Young Eagle” as a worthy contender, insisting that Nurmagomedov hasn’t done enough to earn an opportunity over Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Nurmagomedov Further Questions Dvalishvili’s Stance On His Title Shot

    Amid Dvalishvili’s frequent downplaying of his title credentials, Nurmagomedov has hit back on social media, claiming that real champs do not attempt to “choose” their opponents and urging the Georgian not to duck him.

    And in his latest post on the topic, the undefeated contender accused Dvalishvili of hypocrisy by comparing his UFC résumé to date — which “The Machine” has rejected as being title shot-worthy — with that of his friend and compatriot Ilia Topuria before he challenged for the featherweight gold this year.

    “When Merab’s friend, Topuria fought for the title, after 6 consecutive wins, and beating only one top 5 ranked opponent Josh Emmet, I don’t remember that Merab was desperately protesting against such ‘unfairness’.”

    It remains to be seen what will come in the immediate future for Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov. But with both the Dagestani and the in-form Figueiredo staking their claims, the UFC certainly has a big decision to make.

  • Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Former UFC Champion Explains Path To McGregor vs. Chandler Fight Despite Oliveira Booking

    Michael Bisping recently laid out a possible route for Michael Chandler to secure his long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor, despite the American’s upcoming clash with his old rival, Charles Oliveira, looming on the horizon.

    “Iron” finds himself simmering with mounting bitterness, having been mired on the sidelines for an extended period while awaiting a fight with McGregor. Now, with that elusive matchup still out of reach, Chandler is set to face Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    Chandler and Oliveira’s upcoming bout will serve as a rematch of their vacant lightweight title clash at UFC 262 in May 2021, where “Do Bronx” secured a second-round TKO victory to claim the championship.

    Chandler has been biding his time, eagerly awaiting his showdown with “The Notorious” ever since they faced off as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. Throughout this period, Chandler has stayed focused on his training while turning down opportunities to face other contenders.

    However, after encountering numerous setbacks in booking their bout, the two were eventually set to headline UFC 303 this past June, only for the bout to be scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor withdrew just two weeks before the event.

    The UFC 309 fight doesn’t entirely close the door on Chandler’s ambitious plans to face the former two-division UFC champion. In fact, Chandler remains optimistic, expressing confidence that his highly anticipated clash with McGregor could still come to fruition sometime in 2025.

    Bisping Discusses How Chandler Might Still Land McGregor Fight

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC lightweight division, particularly as Chandler is set to fight Oliveira in a high-stakes rematch.

    The UFC Hall of Famer acknowledged that while this bout doesn’t carry the same blockbuster allure as a fight with McGregor, it holds equal significance for “Iron.” A victory over “Do Bronx” could propel Chandler back into the heart of a second title contention conversation.

    “He’s stepping in against Charles Oliveira,” Bisping said. “We know this is a rematch. Of course, Chandler had some success in the first fight—he did hurt Oliveira, but he also got hurt himself. He got dropped, so this is a very relevant fight for Michael Chandler. It’s not the Conor McGregor matchup, but it is a fight that is relevant in the title picture. If Chandler can go out there, if he can beat Charles Oliveira, if he can get his hands on Islam Makhachev next, which is what he says he wants, and become the champion of the world, then he can get a fight with Conor McGregor down the line.”

    “The Count” went on to suggest that if Chandler manages to capture the 155-pound title, it could pave the way for a future showdown with McGregor. Although McGregor’s prolonged absence from the Octagon would undoubtedly raise questions and draw heavy scrutiny, his undeniable star power could still secure him the fight.

    “Even though Conor McGregor shouldn’t get a title fight and you’ll all say I’m crazy, the man is super popular, and numbers talk, right? Money talks, bullsh*t runs the marathon. If Chandler is the champ, and Chandler said that McGregor’s road back to the Octagon only goes through him, we could see Chandler vs. McGregor for the lightweight strap. But there’s a lot of ifs and buts.”

    Chandler has been absent from the Octagon for nearly two years now. His last appearance came against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, where “Iron” suffered a third-round submission loss despite a valiant showing. Meanwhile, McGregor has remained on the sidelines ever since suffering a devastating leg break during his trilogy bout against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

  • Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

    Umar Nurmagomedov’s coach recently heaped praise on Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless fighting style.

    “The Machine” turned in arguably the best performance of his career when it mattered most, dominating Sean O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 last weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, to claim the 135-pound title.

    The bout played out precisely as many experts had foreseen, with Dvalishvili applying relentless aggression from the opening bell to the final horn. His barrage of takedowns and commanding grappling exchanges completely neutralized O’Malley’s striking arsenal.

    Dvalishvili was all gas, no brakes, taking “Suga” down at will and dictating the pace for the majority of the contest. By the end, the victor was clear, with Dvalishvili claiming UFC gold via a decisive unanimous decision from the judges.

    Following Dvalishvili’s victory, a whirlwind of speculation has erupted over who will step up as the Georgian’s first title challenger. Throughout fight week, the newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion has consistently floated Deiveson Figueiredo as the most deserving opponent. At the same time, Dvalishvili has shown a noticeable disinclination to face the undefeated Nurmagomedov next.

    Mendez Foresees How Potential Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Clash Would Play Out

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Mendez was asked to weigh in on how a potential title showdown between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov might unfold. The renowned MMA coach lauded ‘The Machine’s’ incredible cardio, predicting that the reigning champion would present a formidable challenge for his protégé. However, he noted that the Dagestani has certain advantages that could shift the momentum in his direction.

    “It’s going to be fought on the standup, it’s going to be fought on the ground,” Mendez said. “I believe we’re sharper on the stand-up. I believe we’re sharper on the ground. I believe what he has is incredible cardio, and that’s a big part that’s to his advantage. I don’t know of anybody in the bantamweight division that has that kind of advantage. He’s got incredible cardio, so if you’re going to go with him and it’s going to go five rounds, you’ve got to be prepared to go five hard first rounds because that’s what this guy is all about. He’s got an incredible gas tank; he kind of reminds me of Cain Velasquez in the bantamweight division.”

    Mendez went on to reveal that Nurmagomedov is poised to be the next challenger for Dvalishvili’s title. According to him, discussions for the potential showdown are already underway, though he expressed some uncertainty about how things will unfold in the near future.

    “As far as I know, it [the fight] is being offered. It’s just a matter of whether they can work out the deal. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, right? So even though I’m telling you this, it may be something else. I do know that we are supposed to be the next challengers after this [Noche UFC 306]. That’s why he [Nurmagomedov] was there. Why did they show him as the next challenger for the title? Why did Joe Rogan even bring it up if they weren’t trying to build up the next fight? It’s the next fight. Now, will it happen? Let’s see.”

    Nurmagomedov is riding a six-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon and is fresh off a commanding unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi this past August.

    The younger cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has been campaigning for a title shot ever since his last victory, but Dvalishvili has put his challenge on ice. Now, only time will reveal who the reigning champion selects as his next opponent.