MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • ‘Grow Up & Mature!’ – Former UFC Champ To Nate Diaz After He Gets Into Altercation Like Israel Adesanya

    ‘Grow Up & Mature!’ – Former UFC Champ To Nate Diaz After He Gets Into Altercation Like Israel Adesanya

    Nate Diaz recently made the headlines for getting into an altercation at a club. The UFC veteran retired after submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 and went on to box former rival Jorge Masvidal in July 2024.

    Over the years, Diaz has been in several heated altercations with fellow fighters and regular citizens. Although a lot of fans love to see him throw hands outside the Octagon, such incidents usually end up getting a mixed reaction in MMA circles.

    Diaz’s latest brawl with a club bouncer is no exception. While some fans cheered for the UFC legend as he squared up, others like Michael Bisping have criticized him…

    Michael Bisping Explains Why UFC Fighters Need To Be More Responsible Publicly While Reacting To Nate Diaz And Israel Adesanya Altercations

    Bisping was reacting to Khamzat Chimaev submitting Luke Rockhold in a friendly match on his YouTube channel recently. Before beginning the breakdown, he pointed out how both fighters knew about being recorded.

    On a similar note, “The Count” remembered prominent UFC fighters like Israel Adesanya and Diaz getting into conflicts and being recorded in the last week. Bisping claimed that nowadays, people intentionally try to provoke fighters and then sue them.

    “That guy knew exactly who Israel Adesanya was. He was probably doing it to goad him on to maybe, sue him down the line because that’s just the state of the world we live in.”

    While Adesanya is pressing charges against the person who verbally abused him, the same can’t be said for Diaz. It’s hard to justify his actions as self-defense and Bisping was quite critical of it.

    “Nate Diaz, he did the same thing a few days ago. Once again, getting into some kind of altercation out and about on a night out with a doorman, you know what I mean? I’m not going to sit here and bash Nate Diaz because he’s got legions of fans but come on, what the hell? The man’s almost 40 years old, can’t be going out there and getting into altercations like this every time, every time, right? Listen, I wasn’t innocent when I was a kid but you got to grow up and mature at some point. Nate Diaz is a very very famous man, right? You got to know that people again, are going to be on their phones.”

    “The Count” looked back at the times he used to get into brawls constantly but claimed to have matured with age. He expects Diaz to follow a similar route and avoid such altercations for his own good.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Lays Down Condition For Charles Oliveira Rematch: ‘I Beat Him Via Unanimous Decision’

    Arman Tsarukyan Lays Down Condition For Charles Oliveira Rematch: ‘I Beat Him Via Unanimous Decision’

    Arman Tsarukyan defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 to become the undisputed title challenger in the UFC lightweight division. The champion Islam Makhachev defended his belt against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, so fans were looking forward to his return before the end of the year.

    Unfortunately, a hand injury has forced Makhachev to be out of action until at least the end of 2024. The UFC might book an interim title fight in the meantime to avoid stalling the division, and Tsarukyan is naturally going to be one-half of it.

    Despite winning a razor-close split decision against Oliveira at UFC 300, Tsarukyan is uninterested in fighting him again unless it’s for the title…

    Arman Tsarukyan Rejects Official Decision And Claims To Have Beaten Charles Oliveira By Unanimous Decision

    In an interview with Red Corner MMA, Tsarukyan revealed that he’s back in training and discussed what’s next for him while Makhachev recovers from injury.

    Right away, Tsarukyan highlighted that his goal is to win the UFC title, regardless of the opponent. So, with the lightweight kingpin out because of injury, he’s ready to fight any top-5 ranked contender for interim gold.

    When asked about how many people weren’t convinced by his latest victory, “Ahalkalakets” claimed that he beat Oliveira comfortably in the second and third rounds. The first round was close, but he strongly believes to have won the fight via unanimous decision.

    “No, I did put a dot on it already. I beat him via unanimous decision in my opinion. In all of the rounds. Yes, the first round was 50-50 but the second and third were one-sided. I was taking him down, beating him up in the stand-up. So, if it’s a rematch in the interim title fight then I wouldn’t care. I’d fight anyone for the title.”

    The stats don’t tell a different story either. Tsarukyan had over twice the significant strikes than “Do Bronxs” in their bout (49 to 19) and had 8 minutes 40 seconds of control time over Oliveira’s 2 minutes and 32 seconds. However, the Brazilian’s submission attempts definitely helped make the fight a lot closer than it seems.

    Regardless, “Ahalkalakets” doesn’t think he has anything more to prove against Oliveira. He’ll be interested in a rematch only if winning it guarantees him interim gold.

  • UFC Analyst Predicts Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili To Be One-Sided: ‘Can’t See A Back & Forth Fight’

    UFC Analyst Predicts Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili To Be One-Sided: ‘Can’t See A Back & Forth Fight’

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady has concluded, and next week, The Sphere will finally host UFC 306 featuring Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili as the main event. Alongside the exciting fight card, fans are looking forward to enjoying the spectacle promised by Dana White.

    The UFC bantamweight title bout is hard to predict for many. O’Malley and Dvalishvili are masters of different trades, and both have been pretty successful with their styles so far.

    According to UFC analyst Din Thomas, the UFC 306 main event will be one-sided, and it’s unlikely that fans will get to see a persistent brawl…

    Din Thomas Believes Sean O’Malley Is A Harder Opponent For Merab Dvalishvili Than Aljamain Sterling

    Karyn Brant, Paul Felder, and Thomas previewed UFC 306 at the UFC Fight Night Post Show on ESPN MMA recently.

    Felder was hyped up for the main event because of the long history between “Suga” and “The Machine”. From Dvalishvili stealing O’Malley’s jacket inside the Octagon to the latter unknowingly filming the former training in the rain, there have been plenty of memorable moments in their rivalry.

    Felder also mentioned the challenger’s relentless pressure and the champ’s accurate counter-striking that make this fight so unpredictable. According to Din Thomas, the fighter who walks away with the win will make himself known early in the fight.

    Thomas stated that the initial rounds would reveal the entire story of the UFC 306 main event. If Dvalishvili can control O’Malley early on, he’ll most likely continue to do so for five rounds. On the flip side, if the UFC bantamweight kingpin finds his range quickly, he’ll be piecing up “The Machine” from a distance throughout the fight.

    “I think we’re going to know right away. I think if Merab is able to get his hands on Sean early, then I think that’s going to tell the entire story of the fight. And if he can’t, I think that’s going to tell… I can’t see a back-and-forth fight here because their styles are so different and they’re so strong at their offenses that I just can’t imagine it going back-and-forth.”

    The analyst also pointed out that Dvalishvili is shorter than former champ Aljamain Sterling and he also gets hit way more. Thomas concluded that to emerge victorious, the challenger must find a way to not be overwhelmed by O’Malley’s precise distant striking.

    “As sharp as Sean O’Malley is, like that shot that he hit Aljamain Sterling with, that right hand.. just eagle eyed him. Just bang, Merab is more susceptible to getting hit than Aljamain and he’s shorter and he’s going to have a harder time getting in. So, Merab to me, this comes down to what is Merab doing in training to be able to deal with that length.”

  • Sean Brady Reveals How Belal Muhammad Made Him ‘A Completely Different Fighter’

    Sean Brady Reveals How Belal Muhammad Made Him ‘A Completely Different Fighter’

    Sean Brady just emerged victorious in his first UFC main event against Gilbert Burns. The welterweight prospect lost to Belal Muhammad via TKO in October 2022 which led to many doubting his ability to win the title.

    However, Brady has bounced back by beating big names like Kelvin Gastelum and Burns consecutively since that loss. He submitted Gastelum in the third and put on a dominant performance against “Durinho” to restart his welterweight title run.

    Brady seems more than ready to take on another top contender, and he’s interestingly credited Muhammad for his recent success…

    Sean Brady Talks About The Positive Impact Of Losing His Undefeated Status Against Belal Muhammad

    At the UFC Fight Night Post Show on ESPN MMA, Brady was asked about his statement that he would beat Muhammad nine times out of ten. He still agreed to it but highlighted that he didn’t mean to be disrespectful.

    The main-event winner praised the champion’s skills and admitted to not appreciating the hate he gets. At the same time, though, Brady also pointed out how nervous he was going into his fight with Muhammad.

    Brady fought with “Remember the Name” while boasting an impressive 15-0 record. He talked about having bad dreams regarding losing the fight and his undefeated status. The pressure of maintaining his perfect record got to him but after the loss, Brady actually felt relieved.

    “I personally like Belal. I don’t like the hate that Belal’s always gotten. I think he deserves to be where he’s at. He’s an amazing fighter but that night, I beat myself. I was having dreams that entire week, I was going to lose the fight and it was close. I was undefeated and I felt like my entire identity was wrapped into me being this undefeated fighter.”

    Brady rightly mentioned that he’s put on two of his best performances against two of the toughest opponents in his career since losing to Muhammad. He aims to fight Ian Garry or Colby Covington next and finally secure a welterweight title shot.

    “I put so much pressure on myself. The moment I lost that fight, I was like I’m going to be a completely different fighter and my next two performances after that were my two best performances against the hardest guys I’ve ever fought.”

  • ‘Belal vs. Brady Rematch For An Early Bedtime’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews After Brady Beats Gilbert Burns In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    ‘Belal vs. Brady Rematch For An Early Bedtime’ – Fans Give Mixed Reviews After Brady Beats Gilbert Burns In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Though not all fans were happy about the performance, the rising Sean Brady earned the biggest win of his MMA career thus far on Saturday night, defeating Gilbert Burns in the UFC Fight Night main event.

    Brady brought most of the activity in a relatively quiet opening round. He continued his pace into the second, although Burns’ power was on display from the get-go, stumbling his American counterpart early with a right hand.

    Burns appeared to land some of the fight’s strongest shots in the third frame, seemingly damaging Brady in a stuff and scramble. The Philadelphia native, however, managed to land knees to the body, fighting back and scoring the takedown to close out a highlight sequence featuring the two men.

    Brady’s activity did not slow down in the fourth round, with many believing Burns needed to turn up the aggression and let his hands go in the fifth stanza. “Durinho” partially landed a jumping knee, but it wasn’t enough.

    The favored American was able to score a takedown, riding out the round on top and scoring the unanimous nod from the judges.

    Sean Brady Scores Decision Win Over Former Title Challenger Gilbert Burns

    Brady has now won back-to-back fights after suffering the lone loss of his MMA career against current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in October 2022.

    Former welterweight title challenger Burns, meanwhile, has now lost three straight.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Sean Brady Outlasts Gilbert Burns

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Sean Brady Outlasts Gilbert Burns

    The mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night event on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    Before all focus turns to a highly anticipated and significantly built-up Noche UFC pay-per-view at the Sphere next weekend, the promotion put on another card at a much more low-key Las Vegas venue in the Apex.

    The headline spot fell in the welterweight division, where former title challenger Gilbert Burns attempted to defend his #6 spot on the ladder and keep his hopes of a late-career second opportunity at the gold alive at the expense of Sean Brady.

    “Durinho” ultimately failed in that mission, with his Philadelphian opponent putting on a dominant display en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

    Before that, a former champion was in action as ex-strawweight queen Jéssica Andrade shared the cage with her surging fellow countrywoman Natália Silva. The latter put on another striking masterclass to earn the nod from all three judges, catapulting her into the title picture at 125 pounds.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Sean Brady def. Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Natália Silva def. Jéssica Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia def. Kyle Nelson via TKO (ground strikes): R1, 3:59
    • Bantamweight: Cody Durden def. Matt Schnell via submission (ninja choke): R2, 0:29
    • Lightweight: Yanal Ashmouz def. Trevor Peek via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Chris Padilla def. Rongzhu via TKO (doctor stoppage): R3, 4:14
    • Featherweight: Isaac Dulgarian def. Brendon Marotte via submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 4:19
    • Flyweight: André Lima def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Gabriel Santos def. Yizha via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim def. Vanessa Demopoulos via submission (armbar): R1, 3:28
    • Middleweight: Andre Petroski def. Dylan Budka via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska via submission (arm-triangle choke): R2, 1:14

    Nathan Fletcher Def. Zygimantas Ramaska

    Andre Petroski Def. Dylan Budka

    Jaqueline Amorim Def. Vanessa Demopoulos

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832525623090381020

    Gabriel Santos Def. Yizha

    André Lima Def. Felipe dos Santos

    Isaac Dulgarian Def. Brendon Marotte

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832546395653337462

    Chris Padilla Def. Rongzhu

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832552709209096224

    Yanal Ashmouz Def. Trevor Peek

    Cody Durden Def. Matt Schnell

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832567560644014199

    Steve Garcia Def. Kyle Nelson

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832573926872064167

    Natália Silva Def. Jéssica Andrade

    Sean Brady Def. Gilbert Burns

  • ‘UFC Has Never Seen A Striker Like Natália Silva’ – Fans React After Silva Puts On Masterclass To Beat Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    ‘UFC Has Never Seen A Striker Like Natália Silva’ – Fans React After Silva Puts On Masterclass To Beat Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    A rising face at flyweight, Natália Silva will be in for a huge opportunity in her next outing after pulling off a win over former women’s strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    The first round was tight between the two, with Silva landing better strikes but Andrade working around the cage as the two traded and scrapped throughout the opening five minutes.

    “Bate Estaca” continued to press in the second round, but her fellow Brazilian was able to answer every time, stopping takedowns and working the distance with strikes.

    Silva did not slow down, sweeping the scorecards against the former UFC champion.

    Natália Silva Puts On Impressive Display With Strong Win Over Former Champion Jéssica Andrade

    Silva has now won 12 straight and improves to 6-0 in the UFC. Her last loss in MMA came against Marina Rodriguez in December 2017.

    Andrade, meanwhile, had won back-to-back fights at 115 pounds prior to this performance and has now lost four of her last six.

  • ‘One Of The Grossest Things I’ve Ever Seen’ – Fans React As Vicious Elbow To The Eye Forces Doctor Stoppage In UFC Fight Night Featured Prelim

    ‘One Of The Grossest Things I’ve Ever Seen’ – Fans React As Vicious Elbow To The Eye Forces Doctor Stoppage In UFC Fight Night Featured Prelim

    Chris Padilla brought about a vicious injury on his opponent, earning him a win in the featured preliminary bout of UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady.

    Rongzhu, Padilla’s opponent, appeared to be landing the higher quality strikes at a better pace, but the American flashed his power, foreshadowing the fight’s conclusion.

    Late in the second round, Padilla landed an elbow that landed directly on the eye of the Road to UFC standout. Rongzhu’s eye was completely shut by the attack, bringing in the cageside doctor, who quickly called a stop to the bout.

    Chris Padilla Picks Up Doctor’s Stoppage Win After Brutal Elbow Strike To Eye

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1832552240625693004

    Padilla has now won five straight with all but one win coming via a finish. He is also now 2-0 in the UFC after submitting James Llontop in April.

    Meanwhile, this marked Rongzhu’s first UFC fight since three straight wins on Road to UFC between 2023 and 2024. He previously competed for the UFC three times between 2021 and 2022, going 1-2.

  • Jorge Masvidal Reveals UFC Response After Requesting Leon Edwards Fight For Return

    After his loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 last year, Jorge Masvidal appeared to take his curtain call in MMA, retiring from competition after a lengthy career that featured a sudden rise to superstardom in 2019.

    But it now seems that Masvidal truly isn’t done with the sport.

    In a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Masvidal revealed that he is planning to return to the UFC, reiterating plans that he made during the time of his boxing match with Nate Diaz a couple of months ago.

    Masvidal dropped a decision to Diaz in that fight, which left a bad taste in his mouth. He added that he couldn’t stay away from the fight game, and he couldn’t get ready for more training and fights without venturing back into MMA.

    “I definitely did (retire) from sports and all martial arts,” Masvidal said. “I retired for about…45 to 60 days. And then it just hit me. I was like, I’m not retired. I can’t. I started training, I started doing something, and this boxing opportunity fell in my lap; great opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up.

    “But even when I was doing boxing, even though I loved it, it just doesn’t compare to MMA. I just couldn’t picture myself getting ready for more fights and not being in MMA.”

    Jorge Masvidal Plans UFC Return, Wants To Face Leon Edwards

    Masvidal informed the UFC of his intention to return last month. He does not need a new contract, as he retired with two fights remaining on his UFC deal at the time of his retirement.

    Since Masvidal did a formal retirement, however, he will need to enter the UFC’s anti-doping program for a minimum of six months before making an official return to the Octagon. Those rights can be waived by the promotion if they deem necessary.

    There is one name on Masvidal’s mind for a return fight: Leon Edwards. The two have had bad blood spanning back to UFC Fight Night London in 2019, an event headlined by Masvidal knocking out Darren Till and Edwards defeating Gunnar Nelson.

    “Gamebred” and “Rocky,” live in an ESPN interview, got into an altercation that saw Masvidal land his infamous “three piece and a soda” on Edwards.

    “Give me f*cking Leon Edwards, bro,” Masvidal said. “Is he an up-and-coming guy? What would you call him? A veteran? Ex-champion? Whatever you call that mother******, give me that. Let’s go. We’ve got a built-in history. (The UFC) has got the whole promo.

    “He’s 0-1 against me. Let’s go. Let’s do the fight at the end of the year, next year. That’s it. Let’s get it done. And then, after I knock his ass out, guess what? They’ve got to give me the title shot.”

    But Masvidal admitted the UFC isn’t so sure of the idea.

    “Of course, I did (asked to fight Edwards in his return). Man, the first thing I told his (Hunter Campbell’s) a**. Yeah, they shut it down,” Masvidal said. “Said they won’t do that. Okay, we’ll see who’s next.

    “I heard he doesn’t want to fight,” Masvidal continued. “Who knows [why]? Maybe because I beat the f*** out of that guy, almost knocked him out.”

    Masvidal said he would only fight an up-and-comer if he feels it’s the right kind of fighter.

  • ‘The True GOAT!’ – Fans React To UFC Legend Demetrious Johnson Retiring From MMA At ONE 168

    ‘The True GOAT!’ – Fans React To UFC Legend Demetrious Johnson Retiring From MMA At ONE 168

    Demetrious Johnson, the inaugural UFC flyweight champion, just announced his retirement from MMA at ONE 168: Denver. Back in 2019, the UFC traded Johnson with Ben Askren from ONE Championship. In the new promotion, he racked up five wins, including two title fight victories.

    Although he didn’t get much recognition for it back in the day, Johnson is easily one of the best MMA fighters ever. His 13-fight win streak at flyweight is a divisional record as he walked past the likes of Henry Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez (twice), John Dodson (twice), and Tim Elliott, among other top contenders, with ease.

    Johnson has 12 title fight wins in the UFC, lagging behind only Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre. Now that his legendary MMA career has ended, fans worldwide have nothing but appreciation for one of the greatest fighters to ever do it..

    Fans Look Back At Demetrious Johnson’s Iconic UFC Career Devoid Of Any Controversy

    https://twitter.com/noface_net/status/1832256708028330200

    Unsurprisingly, people who’ve followed Johnson’s career for a long time are more than happy to see him finally get the respect he deserves. Towards the end of his career, he won the super fight against Rodtang Jitmuangnon and submitted heavyweights at BJJ tournaments, boosting his popularity.

    “Mighty Mouse” also never saw himself involved in controversies related to fighting or his personal life. For this reason alone, many call him the true GOAT and one of the most inspiring mixed martial artists of all time.

    Johnson’s emotional retirement speech depicted his immense love for the sport. Although some fans could not help but giggle at his voice breaks, most of them understood the sentiments and teared up alongside the champion.

  • Ariel Helwani On What Makes Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere Truly One Of A Kind

    Ariel Helwani On What Makes Noche UFC 306 At The Sphere Truly One Of A Kind

    Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili to headline UFC 306 on September 14, 2024. Although the fight card looks like just another UFC PPV, fans can look forward to an unprecedented level of production quality during the live event and broadcast.

    This is the first time UFC has rebranded a card based on a sponsor, (Riyadh Season) and UFC 306 is the most expensive event in the promotion’s history by far. It’ll take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas, and media members who got a sneak peek at the planned visual experience have mostly been blown away.

    Ariel Helwani has now reiterated some interesting facts that should make Noche UFC 306 a memorable experience for fans around the world…

    From Broadcast Quality To Haptic Seats, Riyadh Season Noche UFC Is Going To Break Several Traditions

    Helwani took to Twitter to share some outstanding facts about UFC 306 and many things that live viewers and fans at home will experience for the first time.

    The UFC, for the first time in history, will use haptic seats that will provide feedback based on the fight happening. The live audience can also listen to the entire event in Spanish and the fighters will be wearing unique kits designed for the Mexican heritage theme.

    The Parking Lot A of Las Vegas’ Sphere will host a two-day experience for the fans but the exact details remain unknown yet.

    Most importantly, the UFC has collaborated with a wide range of producers who’ve worked on huge sporting and entertainment shows such as Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and the Super Bowl. The crew for Riyadh Season Noche UFC has the following accolades:

    • A Grammy win and two nominations.
    • 29 Emmy wins and 80 nominations.
    • Two Oscar nominations.
    • A Golden Globes Win and five nominations.

    The promotion has also signed eight new Octagon girls for UFC 306 who should inaugurate rounds as usual. Unsurprisingly, all of them have Mexican roots.

    For the fans watching from home, Riyadh Season Noche UFC will be the first ESPN-era UFC event to be broadcast on TV at 1080p. According to Jon Anik, the UFC has ensured that the at-home experience is commendable too.

    It is safe to assume that UFC 306 has everything aligned to make it a groundbreaking sporting event. Now, fans worldwide only expect the fights to deliver as well.

  • ‘A Khabib Rematch’ – MMA Analyst Imagines Conor McGregor’s UFC Career If He Never Fought Floyd Mayweather

    ‘A Khabib Rematch’ – MMA Analyst Imagines Conor McGregor’s UFC Career If He Never Fought Floyd Mayweather

    Conor McGregor’s iconic UFC run between 2013-16 helped skyrocket the popularity of mixed martial arts. He won the UFC featherweight title by knocking out long-time champ José Aldo in just 13 seconds and became the first double champ in the promotion’s history by defeating Eddie Alvarez.

    Instead of defending either of his belts, though, McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather in one of the most popular boxing bouts in history. He definitely made a fortune from it, but fans often complain about missing a lot of Irishman’s prime in MMA because of it.

    Prominent combat sports analyst Luke Thomas recently pondered how McGregor’s UFC career would’ve been if the Mayweather fight never happened…

    Luke Thomas Predicts Conor McGregor Would’ve ‘Petered Out’ Of MMA For Money-Making Opportunities Regardless Of Floyd Mayweather Bout

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvyEC-Kh04

    Thomas was recently asked how different McGregor’s UFC career could’ve been had he never fought Mayweather. He right away admitted that stepping into boxing was the dividing line of the Dubliner’s career.

    Before fighting Mayweather, “The Notorious” was one of the most consistent fighters on the UFC roster. He fought three times in 2015 and 2016. Interestingly, he even fought Nate Diaz with no title on the line when Rafael Dos Anjos pulled out of UFC 196. After a huge upset, McGregor avenged the Diaz loss after four months.

    In contrast, fans have been desperately waiting to see a consistent McGregor in the Octagon since the Mayweather fight. He came back to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC lightweight title in 2018. After a submission loss, he returned in 2020 against Donald Cerrone.

    After his two consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021, McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC. He was scheduled to headline UFC 303 but pulled out of a fight for the first time in his career and to date, there’s no clarity on when he would take on Michael Chandler.

    According to Thomas, McGregor would’ve still explored businesses and not relied on MMA as his primary source of income. Looking at his record, the analyst anticipated that a rematch with Nurmagomedov would’ve been possible and the “Mystic Mac” would’ve had a few more consistent UFC fights instead of having the long layoffs he enjoys currently.

    “I still think he probably would’ve petered out in MMA and found something else to do, whether it was through whiskey or something. Maybe some other opportunity for crossover would’ve emerged and he would have taken it. I know the Floyd circumstance was unique. But I tend to think his career would’ve probably gone a little bit more, obviously more conventionally, you know. He would’ve had a few more fights in closer succession rather than that being the dividing line.”

    However, Thomas doesn’t believe that McGregor not fighting Mayweather would’ve changed things significantly. He predicts that the MMA star would’ve jumped on other crossover opportunities and fans wouldn’t have seen him fight three times a year for the next five years anyway.

    “I tend to think he would have stuck around more. Maybe, there would have been a Khabib rematch, right? Just something more of a conventional approach but I do think he would’ve petered out, like, I don’t think we would have gotten the second half of his prime. It would have been different but I don’t think it would have been radically different.”

  • Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik is now hyped for Noche UFC after witnessing the impressive production quality of the upcoming pay-per-view event at The Sphere.

    UFC 306, known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, is scheduled for September 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, in honor of Mexican Independence Day. The landmark event will represent a significant milestone for the promotion, as it will be the first time a sponsor secures the prestigious title partner status in UFC history.

    The fight card, stacked with a lineup of Mexican fighters, will feature two title bouts. In the main event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight crown against Merab Dvalishvili, while the co-main event will see Alexa Grasso put her UFC flyweight title on the line in a highly anticipated trilogy bout against Valentina Shevchenko.

    Noche UFC could be Dana White’s most extravagant venture yet, with the UFC CEO reportedly investing over $20 million to craft an unforgettable experience. The event is set to be the first-ever live sporting spectacle at The Sphere, a massive arena featuring stunning wraparound LED screens in 16K resolution and immersive sound technology.

    With cutting-edge audio and visual technology at its disposal, the UFC plans to deliver a groundbreaking production level at Noche UFC. Anik, having already caught a sneak peek, is buzzing with anticipation…

    Anik Blown Away by Noche UFC’s Spectacular Production At The Sphere

    Anik recently took to X to share a report from MMA Fighting, unveiling that the UFC, in partnership with ESPN, will premiere a series of six short films during Noche UFC, celebrating Mexico’s profound impact on combat sports.

    These 90-second vignettes, crafted to air between the main card fights, are helmed by acclaimed director Glenn Weiss, known for producing major live events like the Oscars and Emmys, with Carlos Lopez Estrada contributing his talents to bring the project to life.

    In another post, the UFC’s play-by-play commentator revealed that he got an exclusive preview of what the promotion has in store for their upcoming event, and he’s absolutely stunned by the sheer scale and brilliance of the production.

    “Earlier this week, I got my first look at some of the visual experiences for the UFC’s September 14th Sphere show,” Anik tweeted. “Maybe the sickest sh*t I’ve ever seen. This is the most involved, sophisticated live broadcast of which I’ve been a part. Gonna be absolutely nuts. #NocheUFC”

    The Sphere, located just off the iconic Las Vegas Strip behind the grand Venetian and Palazzo resorts, was brought to life by James L. Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, in collaboration with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Construction began in 2018 with a jaw-dropping $2.3 billion price tag.

    The venue’s LED exterior covers a massive 580,000 square feet, towering 366 feet tall and stretching 516 feet wide. Inside, an astonishing 167,000 individually amplified speakers fill the space, while the video wall boasts 173 million individual LED light nodes. The Sphere can accommodate 17,600 attendees for concerts, though the seating will be slightly reduced for Noche UFC, holding around 17,000 for the historic event.

  • UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After a brief break from action, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back to put on another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a crucial clash of ranked contenders in the welterweight division, with former title challenger Gilbert Burns and the highly regarded Sean Brady both looking to put themselves in a strong position within the title picture.

    Elsewhere, the likes of former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade, the always entertaining Steve Garcia, brawler Trevor Peek, and Ovince Saint Preux will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady takes place on Saturday, September 7, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Gilbert Burns (171lbs) vs. Sean Brady (171lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Jéssica Andrade (124.5lbs) vs. Natália Silva (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Steve Garcia (145.5lbs) vs. Kyle Nelson (148.5lbs)**
    • Flyweight: Matt Schnell (135lbs) vs. Cody Durden (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Trevor Peek (155lbs) vs. Yanal Ashmouz (154.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Rongzhu (155.5lbs) vs. Chris Padilla (154lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Isaac Dulgarian (145.5lbs) vs. Brendon Marotte (145lbs)
    • Flyweight: Felipe dos Santos (124.5lbs) vs. André Lima (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Yizha (144.5lbs) vs. Gabriel Santos (146lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (115.5lbs) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (116lbs)
    • Middleweight: Andre Petroski (185.5lbs) vs. Dylan Budka (188.5lbs)*
    • Featherweight: Zygimantas Ramaska (145.5lbs) vs. Nathan Fletcher (145lbs)

    *Dylan Budka missed the middleweight limit by 2.5 pounds, forfeits 20 percent of his purse

    **Kyle Nelson missed the featherweight limit by 2.5 pounds, fight status TBA

  • ‘Did You Jab Him To A Split Decision?’ – MMA Fans React After Sean Strickland Recounts Being A High School Bully

    ‘Did You Jab Him To A Split Decision?’ – MMA Fans React After Sean Strickland Recounts Being A High School Bully

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s recent admission of having bullied a fellow student during his high school years sparked a wave of backlash from fans online.

    Strickland has drawn as much attention for his abrasive and controversial antics outside the Octagon as for his impressive prowess within it. With his unapologetically bold and raw demeanor, the 33-year-old Californian has become a divisive figure in the MMA world, regularly igniting debate with his provocative takes on everyday matters.

    “Tarzan” has never shied away from stirring the pot, frequently finding himself at the center of controversy. Whether it’s dishing out a ruthless beatdown on popular streamer Sneako during a sparring session, advocating for bullying as a way to push overweight individuals to lose weight, or receiving a sharp rebuke from UFC CEO Dana White about potential deportation from Canada ahead of his UFC 297 bout with Dricus Du Plessis due to his divisive comments on the LGBTQ community, Strickland’s behavior has consistently kept him walking a razor’s edge.

    Following a recent school shooting in Georgia, Strickland took to X to reflect on his past, admitting that during his high school years, he had bullied and beaten a classmate named Dunkin. Attempting to make amends, he offered a brief and seemingly casual apology for his actions.

    “Public schools=hell. There was this one kid, Dunkin,” Strickland tweeted. “My full-time HS punching bag until he vanished. I was so hard on this guy. Beating him up in the locker room daily, calling him colombine. My bad, man, truly it’s not an excuse… but I got it way worse than I gave it.”

    Strickland’s Bullying Admission Draws Heavy Criticism From MMA Fans

    The MMA community responded to Strickland’s confession about being a high school bully with a wave of reactions, many of them calling him out for perpetuating the cycle of abuse he endured from his troubled childhood and abusive father.

    One fan sarcastically mocked him for relying on split-decision victories in most of his bouts.

    “Did you jab him to a split decision?”

    https://twitter.com/fightexpert_2/status/1831888949826220340

    Another fan shared a meme of Du Plessis taking a verbal jab at Strickland’s turbulent upbringing during the UFC 297 press conference.

    “Same happened here.”

    https://twitter.com/Lizard69Talking/status/1831839022697869378

    Another fan suggested that “Tarzan” should track down the person he bullied in high school and offer a car as a peace offering.

    “Find him. Buy him a car or something.”

    One fan called out Strickland for his half-hearted apology.

    “‘My bad man’ gotta be up there with the top 10 worst apologies ever.”

    “Bro, you’re a literal walking piece of garbage.”

    “What would you do to protect your son from people like you (as a kid)?”

    “Maybe you guys can catch up with a sparring session.”

    “That boy was Dricus Du’nkin Plessis, who came back and ultimately got his revenge.”

    “You deserve to be cast in a WWE Marine movie sequel for that.”

    “At least Sean admits he was in the wrong. I see 1000s of clips on X where people gang up on others or beat up handicapped people. It’s sick .”

    “Sean, you were born too late. You were meant for different things for a different time”

  • Robert Whittaker: You Have To Match Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Superpower’ To Beat Him

    Robert Whittaker: You Have To Match Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Superpower’ To Beat Him

    Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon.

    At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, securing a stunning fourth-round submission victory over former champion Israel Adesanya—a win that Whittaker had confidently predicted beforehand.

    “The Reaper” is no stranger to Du Plessis. The 33-year-old Aussie clashed with “Stillknocks” at UFC 290 in July 2023, where Du Plessis stopped him in the second round. Before that bout, Whittaker had an impeccable 12-0 record in the UFC’s 185-pound division against everyone except Adesanya, to whom he had fallen twice.

    Whittaker is now preparing for a high-stakes showdown against Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round middleweight clash, serving as the co-main event of UFC 308. The bout is set for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    The victor of this matchup is expected to earn a title shot against Du Plessis, and Whittaker is focused on sharpening his skills, determined to first conquer “Borz” and then settle the score with the South African…

    Whittaker On Du Plessis’ Toughness: ‘He’s Literally Willing To Die Out There’

    During a recent interview with mainevent, “The Reaper” opened up about his preparations for his upcoming showdown with Chimaev. The former middleweight champion revealed that he’s working hard to refine all aspects of his game, whether it’s striking or wrestling, as he aims to be more well-rounded than ever before.

    “My striking is only getting better,” Whittaker said. “You can believe that every second you don’t see me in a ring or in an Octagon striking, I’m out there—I’m on the mat wrestling. Like, I’m constantly wrestling, I’m constantly grinding, and I’m perfecting myself. I’m really looking to come into this next fight as the best version of myself, with every box ticked.”

    Whittaker also weighed in on Du Plessis’ victory over Adesanya, offering insight into what sets “Stillknocks” apart. He noted that while Du Plessis boasts an unorthodox fighting style, it’s his ironclad mentality and toughness that truly drives his success in the cage.

    “I think he’s got a really solid headspace and mentality for winning fights. I think that’s like his superpower because he’s an awkward dude, he obviously hits really hard, and he’s tough as nails. But I think all of that stems from his relentlessness mentally. He’s literally willing to die out there, and I think if you don’t match that mentality, if you don’t come into the Octagon with the same headspace, you’re not going to take it from him.”

    Whittaker is riding a wave of momentum with consecutive dominant victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov. Now, he’s setting his sights on delivering a statement performance against Chimaev, hoping to solidify his position as the next in line to challenge Du Plessis for the title.

  • ‘Is Star Power Enough?’ – Daniel Cormier Questions Jorge Masvidal Wanting To Fight Michael Chandler In UFC

    ‘Is Star Power Enough?’ – Daniel Cormier Questions Jorge Masvidal Wanting To Fight Michael Chandler In UFC

    Jorge Masvidal became one of the biggest stars in the UFC in 2019. He started the year by knocking out top prospect Darren Till and then delivered one of the fastest KOs in UFC history against Ben Askren.

    Masvidal was then offered to fight for the BMF title against Nate Diaz, which he won via doctor’s stoppage. So, just three fights turned the journeyman into a huge draw, helping him get two simultaneous title shots against Kamaru Usman as well.

    Masvidal has been retired from MMA for over a year now, but he’s teased a definite return to the UFC. Daniel Cormier has already raised concerns regarding the potential of this comeback…

    Daniel Cormier Doubts Fans Care About Jorge Masvidal Coming Back To The UFC For Michael Chandler Fight After ‘Fairytale Retirement’

    Cormier recently discussed Masvidal’s decision to fight in the UFC again on his official YouTube channel. Right away, he remembered “Gamebred” retiring after the Gilbert Burns fight and called it one of the best retirements ever for a UFC fighter.

    Masvidal was in an arena filled with fans from his hometown and his promotion Gamebread Bareknuckle MMA was also rising simultaneously. According to the former UFC heavyweight champion, being surrounded by supporters during your last fight while also having a new venture to focus on right away is the best way to walk out of the sport.

    “So, last year in Miami, We watched Jorge Masvidal fight against Gilbert Burns. He loses by decision. He has, what is honestly guys, one of the greatest retirements you could ever ask for in this sport. You’re in a full arena, you’re in your hometown, you just lost to guy that is still competing at the top of the division. Walk away, you’re walking into Gamebred boxing, fighting, bare knuckle MMA, it’s called something like that. But, you’re walking into your own organization where you get to be the boss. You just had a fairytale retirement.”

    DC pointed out that there is no shame in losing your last MMA fight to a top contender like Burns. However, all these narratives could change if Masvidal returns to the Octagon. Also, do fans still care about him now that the welterweight division is stacked with new contenders like Ian Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Shavkat Rakhmonov?

    “Is star power enough? Because I can tell you this right now, if Nate Diaz was to say I’m coming back, people would get excited. Is Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal held in the same regard? I just don’t know where it’s coming from.”

    Cormier also appreciated Gamebread Bareknuckle MMA as the promotion has been able to sign big names and generate new talent. As a result, he’s more excited to see Masvidal grow his business instead of fighting at 39 years old in the UFC.

    “He’s 39 years old now, right? Best days would seem to be behind him. He’s lost four in a row. Can he recreate what he did before? And if he can, do we even care to jump on the ride? You guys let me know in those comments. In my regard, I believe with the work that he was doing outside of the Octagon, his promotion, seems to be doing well. I’m happy with seeing that man walk away.”

  • Chael Sonnen Exposes Alex Pereira’s ‘Condescending Big Brother Play’ Against Israel Adesanya By Calling Out Dricus Du Plessis

    Chael Sonnen Exposes Alex Pereira’s ‘Condescending Big Brother Play’ Against Israel Adesanya By Calling Out Dricus Du Plessis

    Dricus Du Plessis became the first fighter to submit Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Soon after, former kingpin Alex Pereira teased his return to the middleweight division. For any of this to become reality, “Poatan” naturally needs to beat Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 first.

    Fans and Dana White have acknowledged Pereira’s plans to move down a weight class. The CEO is impressed by the UFC light heavyweight champion’s willingness to fight wherever, whenever, and whoever. He claimed that this trait makes Pereira such a massive star.

    However, Chael Sonnen believes that Pereira calling out Du Plessis is not personal but more about gaining an indirect edge over Israel Adesanya…

    Chael Sonnen Sees Alex Pereira Defeating Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Final Nail In The Coffin Of His Rivalry With Adesanya’

    In the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier and Sonnen discussed how likely Pereira is to move down to middleweight. Both hosts think that Du Plessis coming up to light heavyweight for this fight makes far more sense.

    “Like, if you’re seeking a championship and you could have it at 205 pounds, 185 is beneath you and not to mention, DDP could have laughed this off and said, wait a minute, you’re telling me the guy knocked out by the guy that I just finished in the third round is threatening to come back to a division that he already ran away from. Come on down, I mean, because, no, this is never going to happen. Alex was not sincere, now he is sincerely tough and he will fight anybody but he can’t make 185 pounds.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champ highlighted that “Poatan” won’t be at his best because of the brutal weight cut for middleweight. On top of that, Du Plessis should not be overlooked as his unconventional style has done wonders until now.

    According to “The American Gangster”, Pereira’s potential return to middleweight is unrelated to UFC gold. Instead, he aims to get a win over the fighter who just beat Adesanya, arguably the most important rival of his career.

    “Make sure you don’t miss the play here. Like, Alex is tough and he will fight anybody but the play here was a final nail in the coffin of his rivalry with Adesanya. This was a big brother play. This was to be condescending. This was to say, you couldn’t deal, hey, big brother’s got your back.”

    Interestingly, alongside three wins over “The Last Stylebender” across kickboxing and MMA, Pereira has defeated Sean Strickland and Jan Blachowicz who’ve beaten Adesanya previously.

    Cormier and Sonnen also highlighted that Du Plessis’ strong wrestling and Pereira’s reduced power at middleweight could also work against the latter. For all these reasons, he should avoid moving down a weight class and continue racking up title defenses at light heavyweight where he’s been knocking out most opponents with ease.

  • Coach Claims Ilia Topuria Is A More Favorable Matchup For Sean O’Malley Than Max Holloway: ‘He’s Pretty Flat-Footed’

    Coach Claims Ilia Topuria Is A More Favorable Matchup For Sean O’Malley Than Max Holloway: ‘He’s Pretty Flat-Footed’

    Sean O’Malley has come a long way since securing his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017 to headlining the most expensive card in the promotion’s history.

    “Suga” will defend his UFC bantamweight championship for the second time against Merab Dvalishvili at Riyadh Season Noche UFC on September 14, 2024. If he walks out with another impressive win, the kingpin might move up weight classes and fight the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway.

    As per O’Malley’s coach, Topuria is a more winnable fight than Holloway, and here’s why…

    Tim Welch Explains How Ilia Topuria’s Rigid Boxing Stance Could Be A Problem Against Sean O’Malley

    Tim Welch recently discussed how Topuria and Holloway can beat each other at UFC 308 on his YouTube channel. Although O’Malley’s coach appreciated the UFC featherweight kingpin’s ability to close distance and counter punch, he highlighted a couple of problems in his stance.

    As per Welch, Topuria doesn’t move a lot and because he’s significantly shorter than Holloway, the latter might emerge victorious after picking his range.

    “I watched Topuria vs. Bryce Mitchell again, and he’s so f*****g good, his shoulders are so high he’s so good at coming close. If you throw a punch and you’re not bringing it back to your face, he’s so good at counter punching. But there is f****g. I mean, he’s pretty flat-footed, and he’s pretty stationary. And he is not the tallest guy. I would be 0% surprised if Max Holloway came out, found his range, got started first, made Topuria miss a lot, and Max got it done.

    “Red Hawk” used Topuria’s fight against Bryce Mitchell as an example. “Thug Nasty” is mostly known for his grappling, and the current UFC featherweight champion could be seen throwing but missing several powerful punches against him.

    When asked who is a better matchup for O’Malley, here’s what Welch had to say:

    “Topuria, after seeing that. I just think it’s a, people are like you f*****g idiot. I’m like, it’s a winnable fight. I just truly do believe it is.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Feels Former Champ More Deserving Of Next Title Shot Than Umar Nurmagomedov

    Merab Dvalishvili Feels Former Champ More Deserving Of Next Title Shot Than Umar Nurmagomedov

    Merab Dvalishvili recently voiced his belief that a former UFC champion is far more deserving of the next bantamweight title shot than rising star Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Dvalishvili is gearing up for his first title opportunity against bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306, which is set to go down next weekend at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    “The Machine”, currently riding an impressive 10-fight win streak, has been relentlessly campaigning for this title shot but already has someone in mind who he believes is more fitting for the next opportunity. Following Nurmagomedov’s dominant unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi last month, there’s been growing chatter that the undefeated Dagestani is the frontrunner to face the winner of the upcoming O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili showdown.

    However, Dvalishvili thinks that former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is the more rightful contender for the next bantamweight title shot over Nurmagomedov…

    Dvalishvili Shares His Rationale For Choosing Figueiredo Over Nurmagomedov

    During a recent interview with SHAK MMA, “The Machine” was asked to weigh in on who he believes deserves the next crack at the 135-pound title. The 33-year-old Georgian fighter acknowledged that while Nurmagomedov is undeniably talented, he still has more to prove in the division.

    “I don’t know because he [Nurmagomedov] never fought somebody—well, not never; he only fought one guy from the top 15,” Dvalishvili said. “And the guy, Sandhagen, gave him a hard time, and how would I know? He fights people who are nobody, and they gave him #2. Yes, he got the win, but I mean, he’s a good fighter for sure, but he hasn’t earned it to be here.”

    In contrast, Dvalishvili thinks “Deus da Guerra” has already solidified his place by showcasing his skills against three of the division’s top contenders.

    “Figueiredo deserves to fight for the title next because he beat three top contenders. He finished one former champion, he dominated title challenger [Marlon] ‘Chito’ Vera, he beat Rob Font, and he finished Cody Garbrandt. Figueiredo is a former champion, he has a big name, and he called my name respectfully. I would like to return that respect, and I believe he is more deserving. Umar, I’m not interested.”

    Figueiredo secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Vera at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, extending his undefeated streak to 3-0 since moving up to the bantamweight division.

    The Brazilian standout also threw down the gauntlet, offering to serve as the backup fighter for the highly anticipated O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title bout. However, the UFC has yet to confirm any plans regarding his involvement.

  • Jake Paul Provides Excellent Explanation Why UFC Isn’t Offering Conor McGregor A Fight

    Jake Paul Provides Excellent Explanation Why UFC Isn’t Offering Conor McGregor A Fight

    Jake Paul recently shared his take on why the UFC seems to be holding back on offering Conor McGregor a fight.

    “The Notorious” has remained absent from the Octagon ever since suffering that severe leg break in his trilogy bout against longtime rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. For nearly two years, fans and analysts alike have been left in suspense, wondering when MMA’s biggest star will make his highly anticipated return.

    When McGregor stepped into the role of coach opposite Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year, it sparked widespread anticipation that the two would eventually square off in 2023. Despite the constant buzz surrounding the matchup, the fight never came to fruition. Finally, it was set to headline UFC 303 in June. However, just over two weeks before the event, the former two-division champion had to withdraw due to a toe injury.

    Since then, McGregor has been resolute in his claims that he’ll make his return to the cage before the end of 2024. However, UFC CEO Dana White has poured cold water on the idea of the Irishman fighting between September and November, as all pay-per-view slots for those months are already booked.

    “The Problem Child” believes the UFC is intentionally keeping McGregor on the sidelines, suggesting that the organization is doing so to protect its own financial interests…

    Paul Claims UFC Is Banking On McGregor’s Star Power For Lucrative Media Deal

    During a recent episode of BS w/ Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer shared his theory on why the UFC is delaying McGregor’s return to the Octagon despite the Irishman still having two fights left on his current contract.

    Paul, a vocal critic of UFC’s fighter pay structure, suggested that the promotion is intentionally holding McGregor back to capitalize on his star power. He believes the UFC is leveraging McGregor’s brand to secure a massive broadcasting deal.

    “For the people at home who don’t understand it, basically they’re like, ‘Why is Conor not fighting?’” Paul said. “Conor has two fights left on his fight deal, but the UFC is trying to renew their rights deal because they license their content, which are the fights, to platforms. So they’re trying to renew their deal and are negotiating with multiple people, but let’s say it’s going to go with ESPN.”

    “They’re trying to renew the deal and get the most amount of money. A part of that negotiation is, ‘Hey, we have Conor McGregor for two more fights,’ but if he were to fight now, that wouldn’t be a part of the negotiation. The company would be like, ‘Oh yeah, well, you only have Conor for one fight,’ so that’s why Conor is not fighting right now.”

    The UFC’s existing broadcast agreement with ESPN is set to run through 2025, and they are currently in talks with multiple platforms for a new contract. Back in 2018, the UFC inked a five-year, $1.5 billion deal with ESPN for exclusive domestic broadcast rights, which took effect in 2019.

    Early in 2019, the partnership was extended by two years with the addition of pay-per-view streaming rights. Before transitioning to the ESPN era, the UFC had spent seven years on FOX networks.

  • TUF 32 Fighter Hints At ‘Favoritism’ From Valentina Shevchenko Ahead Of UFC Vegas 97 Scrap

    TUF 32 Fighter Hints At ‘Favoritism’ From Valentina Shevchenko Ahead Of UFC Vegas 97 Scrap

    Nathan Fletcher recently hinted that his upcoming opponent may have been receiving special treatment from Valentina Shevchenko ahead of their showdown at UFC Vegas 97.

    Fletcher is set to make his promotional debut this weekend in a featherweight clash against fellow Team Shevchenko newcomer Zygimantas Ramaska. Originally scheduled to fight at UFC Vegas 96 on August 24, Fletcher was forced to withdraw on fight day due to an undisclosed medical issue. Although the severity of the issue remains unknown, the 26-year-old Englishman wasted no time, and the bout was swiftly rescheduled for UFC Vegas 97.

    Fletcher’s upcoming entry into the UFC has caught many fans off guard, especially given his recent loss to Team Grasso’s Kaan Ofli on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 32. Despite the setback, it’s clear the UFC sees untapped potential in the Team Shevchenko standout, granting him this golden opportunity to prove himself on the big stage.

    Fletcher Admits He Hasn’t Kept In Touch With Shevchenko After TUF

    During a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Fletcher opened up about his journey on TUF 32. The UFC newcomer shared that the experience allowed him to connect with former champions like Cody Garbrandt and Aljamain Sterling, as well as fighters like Diego Lopes, whom he had previously only seen on screen.

    “Diego’s a guy who I look up to, and he’s a very exciting player,” Fletcher said. “Obviously, he’s pretty new on the scene himself, but I like the splash that he’s made. There’s been another one also, Cody Garbrandt, because sort of early in my career when he was on his tear, I really looked up to him—he was one of my favorite fighters. There’s been so many, to be honest. Aljamain Sterling, another cool dude who I’ve spoken to a couple of times.”

    Fletcher went on to mention that, despite having a strong rapport with coach Shevchenko, he hasn’t been in touch with “Bullet” since the show wrapped up. He attributed this to her focus on preparing for her trilogy bout against flyweight champion Alexa Grasso in the co-main event of UFC 306, set to take place next weekend.

    “I haven’t spoken to Valentina since the show, to be honest. We had a good relationship on the show—she was cool and everything—but I just haven’t really [talked to her]. That’s not somebody I’ve stayed in touch with afterward. She’s obviously got her own stuff going on, a big fight coming up, and also the guy I’m fighting went out to Tiger [Muay Thai Gym] to prepare for this fight, so I don’t know if maybe there’s a bit of favoritism there, perhaps.”

    Not only did Fletcher lose his TUF fight, but he also faced a devastating setback with a serious injury. Early in the first round, he broke his fibula, robbing him of the chance to fully display his skills. Despite this, Fletcher’s grit was undeniable as he battled through the entire bout, pushing it to a decision while fighting on a broken leg.

    Fletcher built his entire professional MMA career under the European promotion Cage Warriors, where he holds an 8-1 record. His sole career defeat came at the hands of Dominique Wooding in September 2021.

  • Israel Adesanya’s Teammate Reveals He Turned Down ‘Stylebender’s’ Aid Ahead Of DWCS Debut

    Israel Adesanya’s Teammate Reveals He Turned Down ‘Stylebender’s’ Aid Ahead Of DWCS Debut

    When Israel Adesanya is on the mats at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand he’s no different to the other martial artists that he’s sharing the space with.

    That being said, having a major name in the sport be the leading figure for this stable of fighters does bring some added spotlight to the rest of the team.

    We’ve seen in the past how “The Last Stylebender” has been able to transfer some of his shine onto his teammates, with a strong City Kickboxing representation on the UFC roster.

    In just a few weeks, another fighter from the gym will look to join the likes of Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France and Carlos Ulberg when he fights for his place on Dana White’s Contender Series.

    Interestingly, Navajo Stirling is happy to do things by himself instead of expecting a leg-up from Adesanya.

    Navajo Stirling Recalls Telling Israel Adesanya That He Doesn’t Need To Feel Like He Has To Help Him

    With four pro wins under his belt in MMA following a career in kickboxing & Muay Thai, Stirling will compete on week five of this year’s Contender Series.

    He will face American light heavyweight Phillip Latu at the Apex next week, where a big performance will see him become an exciting addition at 205 pounds.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Stirling spoke about the benefit of having major UFC names in the same gym as him and whether he’s been able to use their experience and advice to his advantage.

    He said that rather than using the profile of his training partners to help accelerate his own career, the 26-year-old wants to see where this journey takes him.

    Stirling stated that while he appreciates the support he receives from the likes of the former UFC middleweight champion, he doesn’t want him to feel like he has any responsibility over his career.

    “He talks to me like I already know what I’m talking about and I just said to him, you know, I think I was just like, because obviously he’s big and he can do a lot for his teammates by bringing them up as well, but I just said to him like he doesn’t, don’t feel like you have to do anything like I want to do it my way, you know. That’s what I said to him, I want to do it my way and I want to make a name for myself. I don’t really need the help, although I appreciate it, I appreciate it for sure, I’m not saying like don’t do it but I said don’t feel like you need to, you know. Don’t feel like there’s pressure on you to bring your teammates up or whatever. I’ll just do it myself and he was just like, ‘You’re the man for that, that’s cool as.’”

    Read also: Video: Israel Adesanya Confronts Aggressive Man, Urges Him to ‘Walk Away’ in Tense Altercation

  • Kamaru Usman Fires Back At Belal Muhammad For ‘Corny, Weak’ Diss Track, Clarifies Next Steps

    Kamaru Usman Fires Back At Belal Muhammad For ‘Corny, Weak’ Diss Track, Clarifies Next Steps

    Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad are continuing to engage with one another in back-and-forth comments.

    The welterweight champion has made it clear that it’s his preference to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov next, despite the undefeated contender claiming that Muhammad turned the fight down for UFC 307 due to the quick turnaround.

    Though Usman hasn’t totally pushed to get the fight, this has been a major topic of discussion this past week because of the pedigree that the former champ has in the promotion.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, “The Nigerian Nightmare” responded to Muhammad’s most recent comeback and gave his current status.

    Kamaru Usman Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Recent Comments

    On the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo discussed the ongoing communication between Muhammad and the former champ.

    He started by addressing the stance that “Remember The Name” gave on wanting to fight Rakhmonov first and commenting on the video that the champion posted of Usman’s training footage with an AI song over the top.

    “For me, the way I looked at it, oh I want both, I want both guys because I want both paychecks but he doesn’t see it that way. So it is what it is but, at some point, he’s going to have to step in there with and we’re going to settle it but yeah, it is what it is. Keep dropping corny, weak diss tracks, is that what that’s called? A diss track? It was like a lullaby or something, nice country lullaby for me but it is what it is.”

    Usman then spoke about his current position in the division and appeared to be leaning towards the idea that as long as Muhammad is an active champion, both he and Shavkat will get the chance to fight him in the near future.

    It doesn’t sound from these comments like “The Nigerian Nightmare” is in any rush to fight another top contender in order to further cement his position at 170 pounds.

    “Obviously with this rumor with Shavkat, listen, we’re right there to where if the champion decides to fight sometime in the next year and a half, two years, then we’ll both fight the champion but if the champion is not deciding to fight, then the division is going to have to move on and fights are going to happen but yeah right now, all of this is rumors.

    “It is all rumors but listen, I am scared of no one. On less than nine days notice, I flew to the other side of the world to fight supposedly the scariest guy. I’m scared of no one, believe none of these rumors and at the same time, believe all of these rumors. Anything can happen, that’s all I’mma say, I’mma just leave it at that.”

    Read also: Video: Israel Adesanya Confronts Aggressive Man, Urges Him to ‘Walk Away’ in Tense Altercation

  • Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Irish Presidency: ‘I Am The Only Logical Choice’

    Conor McGregor Sets Sights On Irish Presidency: ‘I Am The Only Logical Choice’

    Conor McGregor once again reignited his ambition to pursue the Irish presidency.

    McGregor’s potential dive into the political arena gained traction after he voiced his confidence in stepping into a position of power in Ireland. His remarks followed accusations against Irish authorities for unfairly using him as a “scapegoat” in the wake of last November’s riots in Dublin.

    The former two-division UFC champion claimed that the government sought to divert attention from a stabbing attack, which sparked anti-immigrant protests and widespread chaos in the nation’s capital last year.

    At the time, “The Notorious” unleashed a flurry of tweets, fiercely criticizing Ireland’s immigration policies and national security concerns. In one post, McGregor drew a sharp contrast between his youthful stance and that of other presidential hopefuls, remarking that figures like former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and ex-prime ministers Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were bound by “unbreakable ties” to their party’s political agendas.

    The president of Ireland is a directly elected head of state with a seven-year term, wielding powers akin to those of the American president, particularly in matters of signing or vetoing new legislation. Meanwhile, the prime minister, known as the Taoiseach, leads the majority party in parliament and is responsible for proposing and shaping the nation’s laws.

    McGregor Shares His Agenda For Irish Presidency

    McGregor seems to be positioning himself as a contender for Ireland’s 2025 presidential race, boldly declaring that he’s the most qualified candidate to lead his fellow countrymen.

    On Thursday, “The Notorious” took to X with a lengthy statement outlining his political ambitions and detailing the actions he would take if entrusted with the office.

    “As President, I hold the power to summon the Dáil [Éireann] as well as dissolve it,” McGregor tweeted. “So, as I said before, I would have all the answers the people of Ireland seek from these thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses, and on and on and on! These charlatans, in their positions of power, would be summoned to answer the people of Ireland, and I would have it done by the end of the day. Or I would be left with no choice but to dissolve the Dáil entirely.”

    “Stop the train until. The people of Ireland deserve the answers they seek. Point blank. This would be my power as President. I know very well. Ireland needs an active president wholly employed by the people of Ireland. It is me. I am the only logical choice. 2025 is upcoming…”

    McGregor’s last appearance in the Octagon dates back to UFC 264 in July 2021, where he suffered brutal fractures in his left leg during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Since that setback, the former UFC lightweight champion has shifted his focus to various ventures, including his Hollywood debut in the remake of Roadhouse, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

    “The Notorious” was set for a much-anticipated return to the Octagon in a showdown against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this past June. However, just two weeks before the scheduled bout, McGregor was forced to withdraw due to an injury. He has since vowed to make his comeback later this year, though the UFC has yet to make any official announcement.