MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Former UFC Fighter Rejects Jon Jones For MMA Mount Rushmore: ‘People Outside The Sport Don’t Know Him!’

    For many, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is a shoo-in when selecting four names for the Mount Rushmore of MMA. Not for this former fighter, however…

    The topic of creating an MMA Mt. Rushmore has returned to the surface this week after UFC CEO Dana White selected his four names during a video for ESPN MMA’s social media channels.

    White chose Jones and Georges St-Pierre, two names that were among the consensus picks and widely selected by the MMA Masses. But he caused debate by putting them alongside Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.

    The list marked a significant change from his Mt. Rushmore from 2020, which saw Jones joined by Amanda Nunes, Chuck Liddell, and Royce Gracie.

    Many have been quick to dismiss the presence of “The Notorious” Irishman and “Rowdy” on White’s list, but one former UFC fighter recently took issue with another of his ex-employer’s selections…

    Alvey Dismisses Jones’ MMA Mount Rushmore Credentials

    The topic of White’s frequent backing of Jones’ greatness and pound-for-pound status has become a running joke in the MMA community. A previous one in years gone by surrounded Sam Alvey, who managed to remain on the roster despite amassing the lengthiest winless streak in the promotion’s history.

    Well, when world’s collide…

    In the comment section of an MMA Fighting Instagram post detailing White’s Mt. Rushmore picks, Alvey rejected Jones as a worthy candidate for one of the four spots. According to “Smile’n,” the former light heavyweight kingpin hasn’t done enough for the sport and is barely even known outside of it.

    Sam Alvey

    “Y’all know I’m not a (Jon) Jones fan. He cheats too much, but he hasn’t done anything that’s spectacular for the sport,” Alvey wrote. “He’s been good for a long time, but his pay-per-view numbers aren’t great, his finishes used to be great, and people outside of the sport can’t name him.

    “Ronda and (Conor McGregor) are food (picks), Gracie has to be on it, and honestly, I would put Dana White there,” Alvey added.

    Alvey departed the UFC in 2022 after his run without a victory stretched to nine straight fights. He’s since bounced back in one MMA outing and secured a title crowning under the Karate Combat banner.

    Had he remained in the UFC till now, perhaps his Jones blasphemy would have marked the tipping point for White anyway…

  • Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    Sean O’Malley On What Will Set Him Apart From Conor McGregor: ‘No One Thinks Conor Is The GOAT’

    When all is said and done in his career, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley wants to be part of a conversation that Conor McGregor is not.

    Comparisons have long been made between the surging O’Malley and McGregor, the sport’s unrivaled biggest superstar who became the first two-division champion during his prime years in the cage.

    While “Sugar” remains in pursuit of the Irishman’s stardom and legacy, he expects to close the gap in a big way and perhaps even replace him as the UFC’s top-drawing name with an emphatic title defense this weekend.

    After recording his first successful retention at the expense of Marlon Vera this past March, O’Malley is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at the Sphere.

    O’Malley has long suggested he has what it takes to replicate the feats of McGregor, his longtime idol. But when his career is concluded, “Sugar” wants to go above and beyond the Dubliner by securing a place in a coveted discussion.

    O’Malley Targets GOAT Status, Something McGregor Isn’t In The Running For

    During an interview with ESPN, O’Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of the year to date, which sees him top the lineup for the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    As always, an O’Malley fight week has brought up McGregor as a topic, given the parallels many have drawn between their careers and social media presence.

    The bantamweight champ, though, insists there’s a major difference in what he’s attempting to achieve in the sport of MMA as compared to the legacy left behind by the inactive Irishman.

    “Who brought the most excitement to fights? Conor McGregor, 100 percent,” O’Malley said. “He’s a dork, but it’s the truth. But no one thinks Conor is the greatest of all time. Greatest fighter of all time is Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev is up there. I’m trying to be both. I’m three fights away from being considered one of the greatest of all time and one of the most exciting of all time. There’s a difference in what I’m trying to do.”

    O’Malley will plan on taking a big step closer to joining the likes of Jones and Georges St-Pierre in GOAT talk when he takes to the cage inside the Sphere on Saturday, Sept. 14.

    And beyond this weekend’s clash, “Sugar” has long teased a venture up to featherweight in pursuit of ‘champ-champ’ status. Such an accomplishment would no doubt increase his chances of reaching his lofty ambitions on the sport’s biggest stage.

  • Gilbert Burns Admits ‘Mistake’ Of Listening To Multiple Nutritionists Cost Him In Sean Brady Fight

    Gilbert Burns Admits ‘Mistake’ Of Listening To Multiple Nutritionists Cost Him In Sean Brady Fight

    Gilbert Burns recently confessed that his decision to follow advice from multiple nutritionists was a costly error, one that ultimately contributed to his loss against Sean Brady.

    “Durinho” stepped into the main event of UFC Vegas 97 last weekend, hoping to reignite one final push for the welterweight title. However, his plans were decisively derailed as Brady overwhelmed him over five punishing rounds with a relentless barrage of takedowns and grappling mastery, ultimately handing Burns a unanimous decision loss—his third consecutive defeat.

    Burns was hopeful that a victory over Brady would put him back on the road to championship contention. Heading into fight week, he was confident in both his training and recovery, feeling physically prepared. Yet, he still wasn’t able to perform at his full potential when it mattered most.

    The 38-year-old Brazilian was dismayed by his showing. However, in the aftermath of the loss, he has finally pieced together what went wrong in the lead-up to the bout…

    Burns Attributes Bad Weight Cut On Confusion With Multiple Nutritionists

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Burns opened up about his loss to Brady, revealing that his preparation was compromised by poor decision-making. “Durinho” admitted that leading up to the fight, he consulted several nutritionists and then complicated matters by blending their advice with his own approach.

    This misstep led to a problematic weight cut, which ultimately reflected in the fight, as he felt lethargic and lacked his usual sharpness in movement.

    “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I had a lot of energy; I felt great,” Burns said. “But Thursday I had a hard weight cut at night, and Friday morning I had a very hard weight cut in the morning, and I think that was the result. That’s why I think I felt very sluggish. I felt bad, but I do believe it was my recovery. Before I point fingers at everyone, I have my nutritionist, Marcelo Ferro, who does an amazing job. But my mistake was listening to two other nutritionists and the UFC a little bit.”

    “So, another nutritionist that is a good friend of mine, Lucas, and coach Carl Gebhardt—I went to California to do all the tasks, and instead of doing the things that I do with Marcelo, I was kind of doing a little bit of coach Carl, a little bit of Marcelo, and a little bit of Lucas. So, at the end of the day, I didn’t follow through with anyone’s plan. I took a little bit from each one and kind of did my own plan. So when I made weight, I did great, but when I saw the recovery, I did a little bit from all three nutritionists, and it kind of didn’t work out.”

    Burns said in a backstage interview with the UFC that he’s uncertain about the future of his career. His last victory came at UFC 287 in April 2023 against Jorge Masvidal. “Durinho” once rode the momentum of a six-fight win streak, but since his failed bid at the title against former champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in February 2021, he has struggled to regain his footing with a consistent winning run.

  • Dan Hooker: ‘Master Of Mental Warfare’ O’Malley Getting Under Dvalishvili’s Skin

    Dan Hooker: ‘Master Of Mental Warfare’ O’Malley Getting Under Dvalishvili’s Skin

    Dan Hooker recently noted that Sean O’Malley is expertly playing mind games with Merab Dvalishvili in the build-up to their Noche UFC 306 clash.

    “Sugar” is slated for his second UFC bantamweight title defense, where he’ll square off against Dvalishvili in the headlining bout of the highly anticipated pay-per-view event, set for this Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    O’Malley claimed the 135-pound title with a knockout victory over Dvalishvili’s teammate and close ally, Aljamain Sterling, at UFC 292 in August 2023. He went on to defend his belt in dazzling style against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 this past March, putting on a striking masterclass for the full 25 minutes to avenge the lone blemish on his UFC record.

    The 29-year-old Montana native has consistently torn through his competition with his extraordinary fighting style, as evidenced by the nine performance bonuses he’s racked up in just 12 Octagon appearances. In addition to his high-caliber skill set, O’Malley is equally adept at using his charisma and quick wit to engage in verbal sparring outside the cage.

    “The Hangman” believes it’s O’Malley’s silver tongue that truly sets him apart, as he skillfully uses his sharp words to rattle his opponents, with Dvalishvili now falling into the same trap…

    Hooker Predicts Dvalishvili Could Fall To O’Malley Just Like Sterling

    During a recent interview with mainevent, Hooker weighed in on the upcoming O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. “The Hangman” praised the reigning champion’s ability to expertly use his reach advantage to dominate with his striking.

    Drawing comparisons between “The Machine” and Sterling’s fighting styles, Hooker noted that it would be fascinating to see how Dvalishvili approaches O’Malley differently than his teammate did.

    “He is incredible at controlling that distance, a sniper, an absolute sniper from range, and that’s the big thing I see in this fight—how will Merab cover that range? Because it’s a very similar style, a very similar opponent to Sean’s last one, Aljamain Sterling. Sterling and Merab have two very similar styles of wrestling; they shoot, and they’re really looking to take you down and put you on your back.”

    Hooker emphasized “Sugar’s” knack for skillfully employing trash talk to unnerve his opponents in the build-up to a fight. He pointed out that this tactic worked perfectly against Sterling, causing him to make crucial mistakes that led to his defeat. The 34-year-old Auckland native also believes O’Malley is successfully getting inside Dvalishvili’s head, which could spell trouble for the Georgian fighter.

    “‘Sugar’ Sean is a master at mental warfare. He was able to, you know, at the press conference, at the weigh-in, get into Aljamain Sterling’s head. So Aljamain, rather than being patient, taking his time, and setting up to cover that distance, really rushed it. He panicked and rushed. I can already sense that ‘Sugar’ is getting under Merab’s skin, and we still have so much time to go. We still have the weigh-in, the press conference, and media day. There’s still a lot of time to cover and a lot of time for ‘Sugar’ Sean to use that mental warfare.”

  • Brian Ortega Refuses To Predict Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight: ‘Lesson Learned’

    Brian Ortega Refuses To Predict Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight: ‘Lesson Learned’

    Despite falling short on two attempts at claiming the UFC featherweight title, Brian Ortega is still very much in the mix at the top of the division.

    “T-City” currently occupies the #3-ranking spot at 145 pounds following his win over Yair Rodríguez last time out in Mexico City.

    He’s now set to return at UFC 306 where a win over rising star Diego Lopes could set him up for a third chance at winning the gold.

    The featherweight belt is set to be defended next month at UFC 308 in one of the most anticipated fights of the year between the champion Ilia Topuria and the former titleholder, Max Holloway.

    Though Ortega is excited to watch that one play out, he doesn’t have a prediction for who takes the victory in Abu Dhabi.

    Brian Ortega Says He Doesn’t Take Either Topuria Or Holloway For Granted After Being Proven Wrong

    The way that Ortega sees it, giving a prediction for the main event of UFC 308 would be counting out one man and that’s not something he is prepared to do.

    He was asked if he had a pick for the fight during a recent interview with Submission Radio where he responded by saying that he isn’t sure who will claim the victory.

    Having faced Holloway back in 2018 and been very impressed with Topuria’s title-winning performance against Alexander Volkanovski, he’s remaining on the fence for this one.

    “I don’t know man… and I’m not even trying to be political, I have no idea. Topuria is someone who surprised me obviously last time so I learned very quickly not to say or go against him, lesson learned. Max is another guy that you don’t want to go against, lesson learned. Then when you look at the styles, you have Topuria who has more of a traditional boxer style, you have Max with his just a machine of punches and then unorthodox boxing style but it’s very effective.”

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • Jorge Masvidal Gives Stamp Of Approval For Noche UFC 306 Card: ‘Some Future Champions…’

    Jorge Masvidal Gives Stamp Of Approval For Noche UFC 306 Card: ‘Some Future Champions…’

    Jorge Masvidal appears to be buzzing with excitement over the Noche UFC 306 card.

    The $2.3 billion, one-of-a-kind venue, the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, will come alive as Noche UFC 306 takes center stage this Saturday in celebration of Mexican Independence Day. UFC CEO Dana White has boldly hailed the upcoming pay-per-view as “the greatest live sporting event of all time,” and the promotion is sparing no expense to ensure it delivers on its monumental hype.

    The fight card will be headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who will make his second title defense against Merab Dvalishvili. Meanwhile, the co-main event will showcase the third, and likely final, meeting between UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Alongside these high-profile bouts, the rest of the lineup is filled with fighters of Mexican descent.

    According to White, the UFC has funneled more than $20 million into the event, with a vision of transforming it into an extraordinary extravaganza by utilizing the Sphere’s 16K wraparound LED screens and immersive auditory experience. The MMA promotion plans to showcase six 90-second vignettes between fights, weaving together a cinematic narrative that celebrates the significant role of Mexicans in combat sports. To further elevate the spectacle, each fight will unfold in what the UFC top brass refers to as “different worlds,” projected across the dome-shaped screen.

    Masvidal believes that Noche UFC 306 will deliver a groundbreaking experience, elevated by an electrifying lineup of fights set to captivate the fans…

    Masvidal Believes Noche UFC 306 Will Propel Rising Fighters Toward Title Contention

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Gamebred” radiated excitement for Noche UFC 306 and the unparalleled venue experience the event is set to deliver with its top-tier production quality.

    The former BMF champion highlighted the Mexican-heavy fight card, confident it will serve as a launchpad for several rising stars to emerge as future title contenders.

    “I don’t know if it’ll [the venue] impact the way they fight so much,” Masvidal said. “It’s going to be an experience, though, because I’ve been in there [the Sphere] for a 3D show, and it was amazing. It was mind-blowing—the graphics, the stuff—but obviously, they’re not doing that now. But I still think they’ll play a lot of the graphics on their projectors and stuff, so it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I really wish I could have made it to this event. The card is stacked from top to bottom with a lot of up-and-coming talent. It’s going to be f**king amazing, maybe even some future world champions on this card right here. So I think it’s a great, great card, man.”

    Masvidal eagerly voiced his anticipation for the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili showdown, noting that both fighters are perfectly balanced, thanks to their diverse and well-rounded skill sets.

    “The main event is one that I’ll be watching closely, brother. I’ll be watching the main event 100%. I’m a big fan of both of them. I love Merab’s style—just coming forward, does not give a f**k, does not know how to get tired. This guy just has an unbelievable gas tank, is pretty good at wrestling, and now he’s mixing it up better, where he’s throwing punches and getting right to it. But Sean is a sniper—one shot, one kill type of guy. Great athlete with great distance, great timing, and the longer arms, so it’s going to be a battle. I think whoever can keep it more real is obviously going to win, but it’s going to be a battle no matter what. I think it’s going to end up being a really good fight, or maybe I can see Sean maybe catching him early too—you never know.”

  • Brian Ortega On Diego Lopes Fight: ‘I Either Put You On Your Shield Or You Put Me On Mine!’

    Brian Ortega On Diego Lopes Fight: ‘I Either Put You On Your Shield Or You Put Me On Mine!’

    When Brian Ortega was first announced to be taking on Diego Lopes in the co-main event of UFC 303, fans circled that one out as a fight that you can’t afford to miss.

    The two featherweight contenders have got two of the most exciting styles in the division and neither man is known for backing down from a scrap.

    Unfortunately, Ortega was forced to pull out of the fight due to illness but after Lopes defeated Dan Ige on that night, the pair were rescheduled for UFC 306.

    It’s a big fight for the former two-time title challenger to once again put himself in the mix at the top of the 145-pound weight class.

    However, if you think that that’s going to make Ortega switch up his approach, you’re sorely mistaken.

    Brian Ortega Says He’s Going To Go To War With Like-Minded Individual At UFC 306

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ortega told the fans what they can expect to see from his fight at the Sphere this weekend.

    Rather than using his experience against the surging Lopes or looking to fight a bit more reserved, he’s excited to compete against another man that is always willing to wade into the fire to come away with the victory.

    “It’s like I told everybody, I said that you have someone who refuses to lose on the feet and refuses to lose in the stand-up so when I say that, I bet you have no idea who I’m talking about. That’s why this is an exciting fight, you get to fight almost like a version of yourself. Tad bit different styles, same mentality.”   

    Ortega closed things out with one final message, promising that the judges aren’t going to be needed for this fight but he won’t be the one that requires any assistance.

    “Someone is going to get finished, guaranteed. You know me, you’ve seen me. I either put you on your shield or you put me on mine. I’m not going out on my shield.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

  • Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    For a long time now, the faces at the top of the UFC’s featherweight division have remained the same cast of elite level competitors.

    Ilia Topuria breathed a lot of new life into the 145-pound title mix after he took the title off of the long-time champion, Alexander Volkanovski, earlier this year.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, Diego Lopes will look to enter that conversation by taking out another of the division’s stalwart contenders in Brian Ortega.

    With Volkanovski watching closely as Topuria defends the belt for the first time against Max Holloway at UFC 308, there are some very exciting potential fights on the horizon for Lopes if he’s able to get past “T-City” on September 14.

    Diego Lopes Says Max Holloway Is His Dream Fight Whether It’s For A Title Or Not

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Lopes gave his thoughts on who he would rather face out of that trio of world class fighters.

    With four consecutive wins under his belt since a defeat on his late notice debut, the Brazilian finds himself in a big opportunity to leap up the top 15 rankings if he can take out Ortega, who holds the #3 position right now.

    None of these fights are that far away for him if he puts on a big performance at the Sphere on Saturday night and though he rates all three men highly, his preference is to fight Holloway.

    Lopes sees a clash with “Blessed” as his ideal scenario because of the respect that he has for the BMF champion.

    That being said, he did also mention inevitably facing the current champion Topuria down the line as two of the division’s most exciting additions in recent years are sure to meet at some stage.

    “Bro, I’m big fans for the Max and the Volk but my dream fight is Max. My dream fight is Max, a lot of respect for Max. The guy stay in the UFC for so long time, the guy fight everybody, everybody in the rankings, everybody in the UFC. Max is my dream fight, title or no title. Max is my dream fight for so much respect for your career but for who you want to fight for the title, I don’t know bro. I think the division needs the new face you know, I think it’s me and Ilia is the big fight for everybody, for the new face.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

  • PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    UFC President Dana White sparked conversation this week after revealing the four figures that would make it into his MMA Mount Rushmore.

    Unsurprisingly, White picked out the names that he believes have left behind the greatest legacies in the UFC and have made the biggest impact on the sport as a whole.

    Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre are all incredibly deserving of their recognition for different reasons.

    After the fans had their say on who they would exchange for their own personal lists, the founder of the promotion that hopes to stand side-by-side with the UFC in the future weighed in with his thoughts.

    Donn Davis Lists Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan & Dana White As His Mt. Rushmore Picks

    Via a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis revealed who would make it into his exclusive club for their contributions to the sport.

    Rather than naming four fighters, he went slightly outside the box by listing two influential figures who have helped bring the sport to a whole new level.

    Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey were the two shared picks between White and Davis for the sheer amount of attention they have brought to MMA, with Rousey being credited for breaking down barriers in women’s MMA.

    However, where they differ is in Davis’ two non-fighter picks, one of which was the UFC President, who Davis attributes with “Built the industry”.

    It’s undeniable that White has been a massively significant figure when looking at the growth of the sport and in that same vein, the PFL founder included UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his list.

    Not only does Rogan regularly feature on PPV broadcasts, his Joe Rogan Experience Podcast being one of the biggest in the world will have exposed so many new fans to the sport.

    As Davis wrote in his social media post, Rogan has played a crucial role in “Explaining the sport to masses” which has helped to remove barriers to entry and stigmas surrounding mixed martial arts.

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • PFL Champion: Only One Active UFC Fighter Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley

    PFL Champion: Only One Active UFC Fighter Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley

    Sean O’Malley had clear star potential from the moment that he impressed Dana White with his Contender Series debut that earned him a UFC contract.

    Having been the main event in his last two outings where he won the bantamweight title and defended it, “Suga” is back to headline his biggest event to date.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, he will be the last man to walk out at a historic event hosted inside the Sphere for Noche UFC.

    Given the demographic that O’Malley is able to connect with and his polarizing qualities, there’s no denying that he’s one of the biggest names in the sport right now.

    However, a former PFL winner recently made the case for why there is another fighter on the roster that is currently the brightest active star that the promotion has.

    Brendan Loughnane Says Ilia Topuria Is A Bigger Star Than Sean O’Malley Right Now

    Ilia Topuria put in some incredible performances during his path to becoming featherweight champion.

    After capping that off by stopping Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, “El Matador” really cemented himself as one of the top names in the UFC right now.

    What some fans may not have realized at the time is the amount of support he has in Europe from both his Spanish and Georgian fans.

    This was proven in front of our very eyes when he took the belt back home to Spain and walked out, as the champion, in front of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid.

    Looking at social media numbers alone, Topuria has a bigger following on Instagram with 4.5 million to O’Malley’s 4.3 million, despite the fact that “Suga” has been a notable name in the UFC for longer.

    On a recent episode of Uncaged by talkSPORT MMA, 2022 PFL featherweight champion and 2024 finalist Brendan Loughnane made the case for why Topuria takes the top spot right now.

    “Do you know what? There’s one man that we’re missing out on here that’s totally missed the conversation. Ilia Topuria, I’d put above him [O’Malley] right now, I really would. He’s walking out at the Bernabéu! Ilia Topuria has just knocked out our guy Volk who is pound-for-pound, wherever you put him, he’s in that conversation. He’s doing the same thing that Sean’s doing. I’ve never seen anyone captivate an audience quite like, well obviously bar Conor McGregor, let’s take Conor McGregor out of this, I would put Ilia above Sean O’Malley right now. Just due to the fact of the way he finished Volk.

    “Sean’s got great finishes along the way, he’s obviously finished Sterling and all that but I’m talking personally. I just, this Ilia Topuria thing and the train that’s moving at the minute, again I don’t want to keep going on about this Bernabéu thing but do you know how big, well I know you know, but that is humongous and I just know what’s going on because I have the same manager as this guy. I know the type of deals he’s getting, I know the type of circles he’s moving in, he’s had less fights than Sean in the UFC I believe and I just feel like his train is moving a little bit faster at the minute, maybe I’m completely wrong.”

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad Explains Why He’s Happy To Kick Leon Edwards When He’s Down

    Belal Muhammad recently shared why he still relishes trading verbal jabs with Leon Edwards, even after securing a victory over “Rocky”.

    Muhammad scored a controlling unanimous decision win over Edwards, capturing the UFC welterweight crown in their much-anticipated rematch in Manchester this past July.

    The clash at UFC 304 was a re-run, as their first meeting in March 2021 ended in controversy when a brutal eye-poke from Edwards prevented “Remember the Name” from continuing past the second round, resulting in a no-contest.

    Muhammad was riding an impressive 10-fight unbeaten streak, boasting victories over tough opponents like Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, and Stephen Thompson. However, despite his dominant run, he had to tirelessly campaign for over a year to secure a title shot, as “Rocky” and his team continuously dismissed him as an unworthy challenger for the belt.

    “Remember the Name” faced a barrage of criticism and skepticism throughout his journey, and since toppling Edwards at UFC 304, he hasn’t held back in voicing his disdain…

    Muhammad’s Grudge Against Edwards Stems From Being Overlooked

    During a recent interview with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, Muhammad was questioned why he continues to take digs at Edwards even after decisively defeating him. The newly crowned welterweight champion explained that his frustration with the Jamaican-born Brit arose from being repeatedly dismissed in the title conversation.

    Now that he’s beaten “Rocky”, Muhammad says Edwards’ teammates have begun making excuses, which only fuels his desire to keep taking shots at his former opponent.

    “It got to me, it pissed me off,” Muhammad said. “And that’s why even now, where I hate to even bring up fights, when I beat a fighter, I never want to kick a man when he’s down. But Leon, I’ll kick when he’s down, I don’t care. I’m gonna make him pay because they said I wasn’t worth it, they said he was gonna walk through me, they said I was going to be an easy fight.”

    “And for me to go out there and beat him the way I did, and now for him to go ghost—nobody even knows what happened to him—and for his team to come out with little excuses, like saying, ‘Oh, he had a bad back the whole time,’ and Leon comes out and says, ‘Oh, I didn’t get good sleep,’ like bro, just own up to it. I was better than you. I am better than you. That’s the difference between great fighters and the ones that fizzle out—they always come up with excuses for every loss.”

    Since his recent victory, Muhammad has elevated his trash-talking game, regularly firing back at critics on social media. The 37-year-old Chicago native has also been locked in a heated war of words with former champion Kamaru Usman, stoking the flames for a potential showdown, while also teasing his first title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • Merab Dvalishvili On Sean O’Malley: ‘Can’t Even Defend His Jacket, How’s He Going To Defend His Belt?’

    Merab Dvalishvili On Sean O’Malley: ‘Can’t Even Defend His Jacket, How’s He Going To Defend His Belt?’

    UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili isn’t about to let Sean O’Malley forget about the time he donned the champion’s jacket.

    A matchup a long time in the making will go down this weekend, as O’Malley puts his gold on the line against Dvalishvili in the main event of the Noche UFC (UFC 306) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.

    To earn his long-awaited first shot at title glory at the promotion’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, the Georgian challenger has won 10 straight, most recently at the expense of Henry Cejudo this past February.

    Both Dvalishvili and O’Malley were in attendance for Cejudo’s previous outing, which came against “The Machine’s” teammate Aljamain Sterling in Newark last year. After the then-champ defeated “Triple C,” he faced off with “Sugar” inside the Octagon.

    While the attention was expected to be on those two, Dvalishvili stole headlines by putting O’Malley’s red jacket on and vaulting the Octagon wall.

    If the Montana native’s “defense” of his jacket is anything to go by, Dvalishvili has no doubt about who will exit the Sphere with the bantamweight title in their possession this weekend…

    Dvalishvili Recalls O’Malley Jacket Incident: ‘What Kind Of Man Is He?

    During a recent interview for UFC.com, Dvalishvili looked ahead to his opportunity to unseat O’Malley from the throne and avenge his friend and training partner’s defeat in Boston 13 months ago.

    The Georgian was quick to run with the jacket story soon after the May 2023 PPV event, even obtaining a replica and claiming to have stole O’Malley’s clothing item.

    That trend has unsurprisingly continued during Noche UFC fight week, with the challenger linking his ability to don O’Malley’s jacket with his plan to have his championship belt wrapped around him next.

    “I want to take his belt now,” Dvalishvili said. “I already took his jacket. I have a question for you. He can’t even defend his jacket, how’s he going to defend his belt?

    “He give me jacket first, and then after he was crying. What kind of man he is? When you give somebody something, you should not cry and take back. Especially, he was crying in front of boss,” Dvalishvili added.

    Given the pair’s previous in-person interactions, fans can perhaps expect some heat between the two when they take to the stage for Thursday’s press conference and Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.

  • Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    UFC CEO Dana White isn’t concerned about criticisms of the lineup for this weekend’s highly anticipate pay-per-view at the Sphere.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day this Saturday, Sept. 14. Las Vegas is once again the host location, but the Octagon will be in vastly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, this year’s edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. Ever since confirming the event, White has been consistently promising a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    While the jury is still out on whether the Sphere production will deliver on that, many have already made their minds up when it comes to the lineup set to accompany it on fight night.

    Although the top of the card boasts two championship clashes as Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso defend their titles, in addition to a high-stakes featherweight bout between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes, the undercard hasn’t exactly created the kind of excitement many had anticipated.

    The UFC CEO, however, sees things differently. And he’s perhaps readying up another compilation of the doubters to post following UFC 306…

    White Hits Back At Those Slamming Sphere Card

    During a recent interview with KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas, White looked ahead to his promotion’s major PPV event this weekend, which he claims has cost the UFC upwards of $20 million.

    In terms of media members and analysts expressing disappointment over the lineup for Noche UFC, the CEO recalled the negative sentiments some had about UFC 300 in the lead-up.

    “First of all, we made these fights to be badass fights that night. We want fights that represent Mexicans and the history of how they fight in Mexico. I guarantee you that we have done that,” White said. “This event is so big, so different, and so special, yes, this is the type of event you put those type of guys in.

    “I deal with this every time we put on a fight. Going into UFC 300, the critics, the ‘experts’, all the people who know about fighting talked about that UFC 300 wasn’t a good card,” White continued. “I’ve dealt with this my entire career. You hear these kind of things from, you know, the ‘experts’. All the experts about fighting are in this building (UFC Headquarters) right here. So, yeah, we’re very confident in the card and the fighters.”

    Much of the criticism surrounding UFC 300 focused on the main event, which saw Alex Pereira defend his light heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill. The bout came together on relatively late notice after other options failed to come to fruition.

    This time around, it would appear that the MMA community was expecting a deeper card than has come together for Noche UFC. But regardless, those set to be in action will look to make the most of their position on the prominent lineup and deliver enthralling violence inside the Sphere.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is surprised at how wide the odds are for Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes’ upcoming Sphere showdown.

    Below two championship headliners that will see Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso put their titles on the line, there’s little doubt over which undercard bout carries with it the most intrigue and highest stakes at Noche UFC (UFC 306) this weekend.

    After a difficult weight cut and subsequent illness led to Ortega’s withdrawal on the day of UFC 303 this past June, “T-City” and Lopes will give their matchup a second attempt at reaching the Octagon on Sept. 14.

    While Ortega sits further up the featherweight rankings, Lopes is highly touted and riding a wave of form that has established him as a fan favorite. With that in mind, plenty are expecting him to ascend into the top five at the veteran two-time title challenger’s expense.

    But when it comes to predictions of “T-City’s” downfall, Volkanovski has told doubters to hold their horses…

    Volkanovski Picks Ortega To Upset Lopes At UFC 306

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski broke down and predicted the three major matchups set to play out at the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    The Australian will have a vested interest in Ortega vs. Lopes, which marks a key battle in his division and sees one of his former opponents in action.

    And while the man he delivered a beating to at UFC 266 back in 2021 will enter the cage as a sizable underdog this Saturday night, “Alexander the Great” thinks Ortega has the skillset to grind out a decision triumph and halt Lopes’ charge up the featherweight ladder.

    “I mean, Lopes is great. A very, very good jiu-jitsu guy,” Volkanovski said. “I’m surprised that Ortega’s such an underdog. I’m gonna call my pick straight away and say Ortega. Being such an underdog…pretty good odds on Ortega for this fight. Again, Lopes is very good, but I’m surprised, stylistically, how much of an underdog Ortega is.

    “Great jiu-jitsu, both of them. We all know Ortega’s known for his jiu-jitsu, incredible jiu-jitsu. Lopes is a really good jiu-jitsu artist,” Volkanovski continued. “We did see with Movsar (Evloev), he was still able to control him (Lopes) a bit. … I just feel Ortega’s gonna be okay on the ground. I don’t think Lopes is gonna have something that (Ortega) hasn’t seen before. … I’m quite surprised that he’s the underdog. … Lopes is gonna find it hard to put his lights out. Ortega’s chin is like a Max Holloway chin. … I’m leaning towards Ortega. … I’m gonna go with a decision win.”

    Ortega will look to prove Volkanovski’s assessment of the matchup correct come fight night at the Sphere.

    And should he accomplish that feat, “T-City” will likely join his former opponent in pursuit of challenging the winner of Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway’s title clash in Abu Dhabi next month.

  • Sean O’Malley Baffled By Merab Dvalishvili’s Confidence: ‘He’s Sloppy, He’s Slow…’

    Sean O’Malley Baffled By Merab Dvalishvili’s Confidence: ‘He’s Sloppy, He’s Slow…’

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley doesn’t know where upcoming opponent Merab Dvalishvili is getting his self-belief from.

    O’Malley is just days away from his second defense of the 135-pound title. And just over a year on from his crowning at the expense of the previously long-reigning Aljamain Sterling, “Sugar” is tasked with dispatching of “Funk Master’s” teammate.

    Challenging the champ in the main event of this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view is Merab Dvalishvili, who will look to ride his 10-fight winning run all the way to a memorable crowning moment inside the Sphere.

    When it comes to his chances of doing so, the Georgian hasn’t been short on confidence. And that’s even extended beyond his strengths on the ground, with “The Machine” insisting that takedowns aren’t essential to his success on Sept. 14.

    That confidence is confusing, according to O’Malley.

    O’Malley: Dvalishvili Has ‘Never Fought Someone Like Me’

    During a recent interview for UFC.com, O’Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024, the first of which saw him avenge a 2021 defeat to Marlon Vera in defense of his gold at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    As he did in that outing and many before, the Montana native is once again expecting for his speed and slick striking to make the difference against an opponent he branded “sloppy” and “slow” on Saturday night.

    “(This) fight is not going to go the way he thinks it’s going to go,” O’Malley said. “This fight is going to end brutal. The way he blitzes in, the ways he’s sloppy. He is slow. It is not going to end well for him. I do not understand where the confidence comes from. I know he’s beat a bunch of guys, but he’s never fought anyone like me.”

    O’Malley will look to make good on that prediction come fight night, where all eyes will not only be on his highly awaited showdown with Dvalishvili but also the unique surroundings in which the event is set to take place.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 5 Highlights As 3 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 5 Highlights As 3 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 four episodes of season eight, 17 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the fifth added another three talents to the UFC roster. That included light heavyweight Navajo Stirling, who delivered the highlight of the night in the final fight by delivering a one-punch knockout of Phillip Latu to punch his ticket to the big stake.

    Elsewhere, women’s flyweight Nicolle Caliari started the night with fireworks by submitting Corinne LaFramboise with a first-round armbar. While she earned a contract for her efforts, Yousri Belgaroui’s late TKO to get the better of Taiga Iwasaki wasn’t enough.

    The third contract went to Josias Musasa, who fell on the right side of a split decision against Ota Tanzilovi, a Georgian prospect who had upcoming Noche UFC headliner Merab Dvalishvili in his corner.

    The bout between Quemuel Ottoni, the first man to defeat Alex Pereira in MMA, and the undefeated Kody Steele was canceled during the event after the Brazilian withdrew. Steele is expected to be rebooked for another episode later this season.

    With that in mind, see below for the four results and moments that landed three athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Nicolle Caliari Def. Corinne LaFramboise Via Submission (Armbar): R1, 4:45

    Josias Musasa Def. Otar Tanzilovi Via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

    Yousri Belgaroui Def. Taiga Iwasaki Via TKO (Knee & Punches): R3, 2:34

    Navajo Stirling Def. Phillip Latu Via KO (punch): R2, 2:21

  • Demetrious Johnson Reveals Primary Reason Behind Retiring From MMA

    Demetrious Johnson Reveals Primary Reason Behind Retiring From MMA

    Demetrious Johnson turned pro in 2009 and after 15 long years, he finally announced his retirement from MMA during ONE 168: Denver. The former UFC flyweight champ has 12 title fight wins and boasts one of the longest win streaks (13) in the promotion.

    During his illustrious UFC run, Johnson walked through the flyweight division with ease. Although his one-sided beat downs didn’t gather a ton of PPVs, he’s now regarded as one of the best fighters of all time.

    Many believe that “Mighty Mouse” can still hang with the best flyweight fighters in the world, but here’s why the UFC legend retired from MMA at 38…

    Demetrious Johnson Reveals Why He Didn’t Find Mixed Martial Arts Fun Anymore

    In a YouTube interview recorded before his official announcement, Johnson talked about his retirement from MMA with Merab Dvalishvili. Right away, he mentioned that MMA isn’t fun for him anymore and he prefers competing in Jiu-Jitsu over it.

    Training and fulfillment are also two major reasons why Johnson retired despite being the reigning ONE flyweight MMA champ. He didn’t gain contentment from fighting because he was barely learning anything by spending 25 minutes or fewer in the cage with opponents.

    “I’m not going to fight anymore. And the reason why is, um, I don’t find mixed martial arts fun anymore. Reason why is because I find more fulfillment in doing Jiu-Jitsu because I feel it’s harder. I find more fulfillment in helping and training with different people.”

    Instead, “Mighty Mouse” will now try to master his BJJ which he claims to be a tougher sport, and reap the benefits of training as a retired fighter. He believes athletes feel more secure about showcasing their abilities when there’s no threat of their training partner facing them in the future.

    Here’s how he explained the concept using Dvalishvili’s example:

    “If I ever wanted to feel, how does, I want to feel Merab’s gas tank. I want to see how good he is. I want to feel his strength. The only way that would ever happen is if me and you were to fight each other. If I was a professional athlete, right, it would just never happen. But if I’m like, hey, I don’t care about winning. I don’t care about, you know, ever have an opportunity to fight you. Hey Merab, can I come train with you? Yeah, you’re like, Demetrious come train. And then when we train together, you’re not going to have like, I need to beat you, you’re trying to learn from me. I don’t know, I’ve never trained outside of training camp when I would fight.”

    Based on these statements, it is safe to assume that Johnson will surely compete in specific martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu. However, it is unlikely that fans will ever get to see him mixing it all up inside a cage.

    “Once I get ready for a fight and I beat somebody. It’s like, okay, I mean I beat him, I made this money, which is great. But I didn’t get to learn anything in that 25 minutes, if that makes sense.”

  • ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    The most expensive event in UFC history is right around the corner, and fans worldwide are gearing up for the celebration of Mexican Independence Day through it. In the last few days, Dana White has finally revealed how the event will feature several films showcasing Mexico’s contributions to combat sports.

    UFC 306 has already become a ground-breaking event for the promotion. From rebranding because of sponsors to higher streaming quality on TV to haptic seats for live viewers, there are many never-seen-before elements to look forward to.

    However, Riyadh Season Noche UFC tickets are quite pricey, and Daniel Zellhuber thinks White’s targeting the wrong audience with a high-profile event like this…

    Daniel Zellhuber Claims Dana White Is Targeting ‘Wrong Market’ With UFC 306’s Premium Ticket Pricing

    Zellhuber appeared on the Verse Us With Eric Nicksick podcast on YouTube to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 306. The Mexican prospect will face another rising talent in Esteban
    Ribovics in the second fight on the main card.

    Zellhuber revealed that his parents would be coming to The Sphere to watch his fight. His mother will travel out of Mexico for the first time, making the moment all the more special.

    However, when Nicksick asked “Golden Boy” about the tickets, he honestly admitted that White has relied on the wrong audience for UFC 306. He explained how unlikely it is for Mexican people to pay thousands of dollars for a ticket, especially when they can see Canelo Álvarez live for a much lower price nearby.

    “You know, it’s funny because I feel that Dana, he target the wrong market with that event. Yeah, in Mexico, we are always watching everything for free, you know, like Mexican people are not going to pay $3000 for a ticket and he’s like, yeah, $3000,the cheapest ticket. No, there’s no way and you know, we have illegal streams so yeah, nobody’s gonna pay anything, you know.”

    The UFC lightweight jokingly claimed that his coach expects him to get a quick knockout so they can watch Álvarez’s fight live.

    The Mexican fighter also mentioned illegal streams, trying to imply that the UFC CEO shouldn’t expect the PPV numbers to be exceptionally high either. Zellhuber admitted to UFC 306 being a spectacular event, though, and he’ll certainly try to make a name for himself by getting an impressive win on the main card.

  • Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil.

    While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look forward to attending a UFC event in a stadium, Dana White remains adamant about using arenas. He believes that the viewing experience is hindered in a stadium, but many argue that’s not the case, because most of the audience watches the event on a screen in an arena too.

    Here’s what Chael Sonnen thinks about the UFC using stadiums over arenas for events…

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Several Problems With Stadiums While Looking Back At Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle

    Sonnen discussed whether stadiums are the right venue for combat sports events on his YouTube channel recently. He was reacting to White’s latest comments about stadiums ruining the viewing experience for fans.

    “The American Gangster” brought up the time he spent $70 in 2003 to watch Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle. It is one of the most memorable matches in WWE history because Lesnar landed on his face while attempting a Shooting Star Press on Angle who was a bit too far away.

    “Brock hits this flip off the top rope, breaks this – I mean it’s this terrible thing, we had no idea. We’re asking this, so are other people with us. What, what, what is happening? And we weren’t towards the roof by the way. Like, if you looked at for the very worst seat in the house, if you were to turn around and look for it, you wouldn’t even be able to recognize the person. They were that far away, it’s just the ring was so much even further away and this is because it was in a stadium.”

    Despite being in the venue when this happened, Sonnen recalls being confused alongside tons of viewers. This was because he could not see the screens properly and the ring was very far to understand what was going on. The UFC veteran highlighted that he didn’t have cheap tickets and wasn’t sitting in the seats furthest from the ring.

    Sonnen then brought up that most stadiums in the US don’t have a roof. While other sports like soccer can continue in rain and relatively bad weather, the same isn’t true for MMA. As a viewer himself, the former UFC title challenger claims that the bigger the venue, the worse is the live viewing experience.

    “I would feel that the bigger venues you go to, the worse the experience gets. I know the further you’re going to park away, I know the longer you’re going to wait in line. I know to get a hot dog is going to take you that much more time,”

    While understanding why fighters would want to perform in sold-out stadiums, Sonnen agrees with White that the UFC should stick to arenas and refrain from stadium shows. On the flip side, many fans would still argue that most of the problems he’s mentioned exist in arenas as well, and stadiums can help many more people watch the event together.

  • Kayla Harrison On Amanda Nunes Rift: ‘Don’t Play With My Homies!’

    Kayla Harrison On Amanda Nunes Rift: ‘Don’t Play With My Homies!’

    Kayla Harrison recently opened up about her lingering rivalry with Amanda Nunes, voicing her wish for the Brazilian to come out of retirement.

    One of the MMA world’s most tantalizing “what if” matchups has long centered around a potential showdown between Harrison and Nunes. Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, spent the majority of her MMA career in the PFL before making her highly anticipated UFC debut this past April. The former PFL women’s lightweight champion’s move to the UFC sparked renewed speculation about a possible clash with “The Lioness”.

    The biggest hurdle to making this super fight a reality is that Nunes had already hung up her gloves following a unanimous decision win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. That was nearly a year ago when “Doug” made her first Octagon appearance against Holly Holm at UFC 300.

    Harrison and Nunes share a rich history, having long expressed mutual interest in facing off ever since their days as training partners at American Top Team (ATT) in Florida. However, following her shocking loss to Julianna Peña at UFC 269 in December 2021, “The Lioness” chose to sever ties with the gym.

    Nunes later disclosed that her decision to leave ATT was fueled by unease, as she often found herself training alongside two fighters who could potentially become her opponents, Harrison and Yana Kunitskaya, making her departure feel inevitable.

    Harrison Hopes For Nunes’ Return to Settle Unfinished Business

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, the former Olympic gold medalist shared her thoughts on Nunes, who had hinted at a possible comeback after witnessing Harrison’s victory over Holm at UFC 300. However, since then, Nunes has gone completely silent, leaving Harrison and fans in suspense over whether the long-anticipated showdown will ever happen.

    The 34-year-old Ohio native clarified that there’s no bad blood between her and “The Lioness”, yet she remains hopeful that the former two-division UFC champion will come out of retirement to face her.

    “Selfishly, I hope that she does [come out of retirement], but again, I have no beef with Amanda other than her trying to throw American Top Team under the bus,” Harrison said. “You don’t play or don’t f**k with my homies. But listen, if she’s happy and she’s living her dream, that’s great, but selfishly, I would love for her to come back so that I can put all of the noise to rest.”

    Harrison, who is gearing up for a high-stakes bantamweight showdown against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 next month, emphasized that her primary focus is locked on the upcoming fight. She added that her sights are set on capturing the title first before entertaining any potential matchup against Nunes.

    “Again, one step at a time: Ketlen first, then the title, and then Amanda, if she wants some.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski recently likened Merab Dvalishvili’s resilience to his own in his prediction for Noche UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili is set to challenge reigning UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the headlining bout of the highly anticipated pay-per-view event, slated to take place this Saturday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Despite riding the wave of an impressive 10-fight win streak, “The Machine” had to tirelessly push for his long-awaited title shot. Now, standing in his path is one of the UFC’s most skilled strikers. While Dvalishvili is widely believed to hold the grappling edge, he plans to use constant forward pressure and sharp boxing to wear O’Malley down.

    Dvalishvili has long proven his ability to turn his cardio into a relentless force, making it one of the defining strengths of his fighting style. Volkanovski believes this unmatched endurance is what truly sets him apart in his upcoming showdown with “Suga”…

    Volkanovski Says Keeping Dvalishvili At Bay Is A Tough Task

    In a recent prediction video for Noche UFC 306 on his YouTube channel, “The Great” shared his thoughts on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili matchup. The former UFC featherweight champion acknowledged that while “The Machine” boasts exceptional wrestling prowess, he remains susceptible to O’Malley’s razor-sharp striking accuracy.

    “Is he [Dvalishvili] gonna be open to being hit? Yes, I believe so,” Volkanovski said. “I think Sean O’Malley’s eye is incredible. His movement’s gonna make it a little bit hard, but his relentless takedown pressure, or his pressure on takedowns, I think he’s gonna eventually get it unless he gets knocked out. I don’t care how good your footwork is, you’re not going to keep Merab away from you unless you put his lights out. That’s the only way you don’t get taken down. I think Merab is going to eventually get the takedown. I don’t care how good Sean O’Malley’s footwork is, the clinch is going to be there.”

    Volkanovski went on to say that Dvalishvili shares the same unyielding, never-back-down mentality that he himself possesses, a trait that makes fighters like them incredibly difficult to defeat.

    “I believe, like myself, there are quite a few fighters out there who just never give up. They’re constantly there, just grinding and grinding, and it’s just too much for people. For someone like Merab, I feel like the only way I see him losing is by getting knocked out. That’s how I’ve always seen myself. I’ve always been quite confident, but I don’t believe anyone’s going to go out there and out-grind me or out-work me.”

    While “The Great” predicted that Dvalishvili could clinch a win by methodically imposing his will over the entire 25-minute bout, he also warned that the ever-present danger of a knockout from O’Malley looms large.

  • Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White recently lauded Al Haymon, the mastermind behind Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), for securing the iconic MGM Grand as the venue for Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming bout.

    On September 14, White will be in a rare showdown in Las Vegas as two major combat sports events clash. Alvarez is set to defend his unified super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga at the MGM-owned T-Mobile Arena, while the UFC makes history by hosting the first-ever live combat sports event at The Sphere with Noche UFC.

    Over the past two years, the UFC has consistently hosted four pay-per-view events annually at the T-Mobile Arena. For years, MGM held a firm grip on all prime live sporting venues along the Las Vegas Strip. That all changed in September 2023, when the Madison Square Garden Company shattered the monopoly by unveiling The Sphere, a cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind venue featuring 16K wraparound LED screens and immersive sound technology.

    This allowed the UFC to stage one of its most expensive events on September 14, despite PBC securing the date with MGM Resorts International. Last year, White outpaced Canelo by launching the inaugural Noche UFC at T-Mobile Arena after the UFC claimed the date first. Alvarez fought Jermell Charlo two weeks later at the same venue.

    The UFC and Canelo have previously locked horns over scheduling conflicts on the same night. However, White gained the upper hand on November 2, 2019, when Alvarez’s light heavyweight title fight against Sergey Kovalev was delayed by nearly two hours to avoid competing for viewers as Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal fought for the inaugural BMF title in the main event of UFC 244.

    The UFC CEO initially wasn’t thrilled when PBC also locked in the September 14 date for a Canelo fight, but now he appears unfazed by the rival spectacle…

    White Commends PBC For Going Head-to-Head with Noche UFC

    During a recent interview with Vegas PBS, White was asked if the UFC was sending a message by going head-to-head with a Canelo event on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. The UFC head honcho, however, took the high road, praising PBC’s Haymon for his promotional acumen in securing both the September 14 date and the T-Mobile Arena for the showdown.

    “I knew that there was going to be an event. You have to assume it’s going to be Canelo that night,” White said. “It is what it is. They’re going to do their thing; we’re going to do our thing. Al Haymon slid in there and stole that date from us, which I’ve got to give him props for. Al Haymon is a boxing promoter who is very, very bright, very sharp, and what makes him fascinating as a boxing promoter is that when you think of all the promoters throughout life, whether it’s P.T. Barnum, Vince McMahon, or [Bob] Arum, you’ve seen them a million times. Al Haymon is in the shadows; he’s a guy that you’ve never seen, yet he is one of the biggest fight promoters in the boxing business.”

    White further added that if PBC hadn’t locked down the T-Mobile Arena for that same date, the UFC wouldn’t have opted for The Sphere as the venue for Noche UFC.

    “Props to him; he [Haymon] slid in and stole my date at MGM. But if that didn’t happen, I believe everything happens for a reason. If that doesn’t happen and things don’t line up the way they did, I’m not at The Sphere, I’m not first, and a lot of other things. So this was meant to happen, and the fact that we’re going head-to-head with him that night—MGM is guaranteeing the gate to them, they’re guaranteeing them the money no matter whether they sell tickets or don’t. We actually sold the tickets that we’re selling.”

    Noche UFC boasts a stacked roster of Mexican fighters and will showcase two title fights. Headlining the event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili. In the co-main event, Alexa Grasso will put her UFC flyweight championship on the line in a trilogy bout against former champion Valentina Shevchenko.


  • Merab Dvalishvili Downplays Importance Of Takedowns vs. Sean O’Malley

    Merab Dvalishvili Downplays Importance Of Takedowns vs. Sean O’Malley

    UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t see successful takedowns as the be all and end all of his title challenge this weekend.

    Having won 10 straight inside the Octagon, a run that most recently had triumphs over Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo added to it, Dvalishvili is set to compete with UFC gold on the line for the very first time.

    The Georgian will look to bring about his crowning moment at the expense of reigning kingpin Sean O’Malley, whom he’ll headline the Noche UFC pay-per-view alongside at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Many in the community have gone back and forth with their predictions on who will exit the unique venue on Sept. 14 with the 135-pound belt in their possession. Most agree, however, when it comes to where each fighter will find their likely method of victory.

    But Dvalishvili says fans shouldn’t be shocked if he wins in spite of O’Malley’s takedown defense holding firm…

    Dvalishvili On Grappling Narrative: ‘I Beat José Aldo & I Wasn’t Able To Take Him Down!’ 

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Dvalishvili looked ahead to his long-awaited first opportunity at achieving title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this Saturday night.

    In terms of the expected approach and suggestions that the ground marks the only location in which the challenger can emerge victorious, “The Machine” pointed to his past success opposite renowned striker José Aldo as evidence that he can wrest the title away from O’Malley without succeeding in takedown attempts.

    “Lots of MMA fans, very casual, they don’t — if they’re not watching MMA very close or they’re not training, they just say things,” Dvalishvili said. “I am number one contender. I am fighting for the belt. I am good everywhere, even striking when I need to strike. I beat José Aldo and I wasn’t able to take him down. That means I can strike too. Maybe it was boring, (but) not because of me. José Aldo was being smart.”

    While Dvalishvili will look to prove as much should O’Malley withstand his inevitable grappling initiations on Saturday night, there’s little doubt where the Georgian’s main advantages over the champ lie.

  • Kayla Harrison On UFC Bantamweight Title Shot Snub: ‘Dana Is A Man Of His Word…’

    Kayla Harrison On UFC Bantamweight Title Shot Snub: ‘Dana Is A Man Of His Word…’

    Former PFL star Kayla Harrison is set to return at UFC 307 where she faces Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the bantamweight division.

    With Vieira being ranked at #2 and Harrison at #3, the next title contender will surely be whichever woman gets her hand raised in Salt Lake City.

    However, some fans, and Harrison herself, questioned after her debut at UFC 300 whether she would need to get another win before jumping right into the title picture.

    Coming into the UFC as an already established name and dominating a former champion in Holly Holm like she did was a perfect introduction for the former Olympic Judoka.

    Rather than being frustrated that she isn’t in the next women’s bantamweight title fight which takes place the very same night, Harrison believes that it is only a matter of time.

    Kayla Harrison Isn’t Bitter About Not Getting Next Bantamweight Title Fight

    When Amanda Nunes made the decision to retire and vacate her bantamweight title, many expected that Juliana Peña would be in the equation to fight for the belt.

    Instead, Raquel Pennington became the champion after defeating Mayra Bueno Silva which then set the new titleholder up for a first defense against the number one contender in Peña.

    Harrison spoke in an interview with MMA Fighting about how it doesn’t bother her that there was an order for who gets the next title shot because of where the division was at after Nunes stepped away.

    She referenced how the UFC and Dana White had an agreement with Peña which they didn’t break even if putting Harrison straight into a title fight after her debut would have been a big move by the promotion.

    Instead, she’s focused on beating Vieira and challenging the winner in the near future.

    “I’m ready for everyone in the division, I’m ready to go out there and prove that I am the best in the world and I deserve to be UFC champion. Having said that, I think that a lot people wanted me to fight for the title but from what I understand, Dana is a man of his word and he made a promise to Juliana and so it’s her turn now but you know, whoever wins that fight, enjoy it while you can. That’s all I got to say about that.”

    Read also: Alexa Grasso Explains ‘Pausing’ Double-Champ Ambitions Ahead Of Noche UFC Title Defense

  • Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Between them, UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall know a thing or two about getting opponents out of there.

    Both men are incredibly fast and accurate strikers who often rely on reading their opponents and lining them up for the perfect shot.

    The major talking point heading into O’Malley’s second title defense at UFC 306 this weekend is whether he can land that on Merab Dvalishvili without being taken down and smothered.

    “Suga” isn’t going to be an easy opponent to get hold of and though his distance control and timing makes him very dangerous on the feet, Aspinall believes that it’s his decision making that is his biggest advantage in this fight.

    Tom Aspinall Credits Sean O’Malley’s Ability To Thrive Under Pressure As A Potential Difference Maker

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4awHfVkGspA

    On a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, the interim heavyweight champ broke down the main event that is set to take place this weekend.

    When looking at O’Malley’s game and some of his previous fights, Aspinall drew special attention to how relaxed he is inside the Octagon.

    This allows him to stay loose, clear-minded and creative. which the Brit believes is what makes him so effective under the bright lights.

    “The timing is fantastic and as I said, how calm he is is something that I can really respect because being in there, having so much pressure on you, especially when you talk about title fights, he just makes really, really good decisions at a really good time and that’s really difficult to do.”

    O’Malley’s ability to be so calculated in the moment helps him to pick his shots and predict what his opponents are going to do next, which will be crucial against Dvalishvili at UFC 306.

    While “Suga” isn’t without his critics, Aspinall admitted that it was his big step-up against Petr Yan at UFC 280 that really sold him on O’Malley as a legitimate contender in the bantamweight division.

    “That’s only something you can do when you’re super relaxed, you can’t do that when you’re stiff in there. You have to be like almost at that playful mindset. I was kind of on the fence with him thinking ‘yeah, he’s getting fed a couple of easy opponents and this, that and the other.’ It’s the Yan fight for me ‘cuz he showed a lot or grit in that as well. We all knew how good Yan was coming into it and then it was a tough fight, in my opinion, it could have gone either way but just the grit that he showed in there. I think he got a lot of fans’ respect, at least for me anyway.”

    Read also: Teddy Atlas Says Sean O’Malley Could Cross Over To Boxing Successfully: ‘He Has The Instinct, The Talent…’