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Category: UFC

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

  • VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

    VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

    Fight week for the UFC 305 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.

    Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship clash, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (21-2) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. He earned that shot with a monumental triumph over the highly regarded Robert Whittaker during last year’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    If “Stillknocks” is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must record a victory over the returning Adesanya (24-3). “The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback 11 months on from losing the middleweight gold in shocking fashion to Strickland in Sydney.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander will be back competing on Australian soil once again, with Perth’s RAC Arena potentially hosting his historic crowning as three-time champ should he hand his South African rival the first loss of his career on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Ahead of that contest Down Under, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 305 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

    UFC 305 Countdown: Full Episode

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLfQ6aHxELY

    And below, check out the full card for this weekend’s numbered event.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya
    • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
    • Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
    • Welterweight: Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
    • Featherweight: Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
    • Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
    • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
    • Welterweight: Song Kenan vs. Rick Glenn
    • Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Aguilar

    Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com this week for all the updates and news on UFC 305!

  • Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Daniel Cormier Pushes Back On Interim Title Talk Amid Islam Makhachev Injury: ‘He’s Fought Twice Very Recently!’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier doesn’t think the idea of an interim lightweight title should be entertained while Islam Makhachev recovers.

    Makhachev cemented his grip on the crown earlier this summer when he put a stop to the late-career title ambitions of fan favorite Dustin Poirier at the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark.

    But the Dagestani may need to wait until 2025 before adding the name of another top contender at 155 pounds to his reign’s list of victims. While he was originally expected to defend the belt in a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan this October in Abu Dhabi, an injury has scuppered those plans.

    According to the challenger, either December or early 2025 are the two estimates for the champ’s return. And should the latter of those come to fruition, the Russian-Armenian is open to competing for an interim title in the meantime.

    That suggestion, however, has not gone down well with one former fighter-turned-color commentator…

    Cormier On Tsarukyan’s Interim Title Proposal: ‘Why Are We Creating Belts?!’

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier reacted to confirmation that injury will keep Makhachev out of UFC 308 this fall.

    After revealing a conversation in which Makhachev told him that recovery won’t take too long, Cormier rejected suggestions that an interim champ should be crowned in the Dagestani’s brief absence.

    Cormier pointed to Makhachev’s recent activity to push back on the interim title talk.

    “You get hurt, at times. Islam Makhachev has been active. He fought in October in Abu Dhabi against Alexander Volkanovski. He fought in (June) in Newark…fought Dustin Poirier,” Cormier said. “He’s fought twice very recently. If he was to fight in October, it would have been three fights in a calendar year.

    “There is no need for an interim championship. Chael, when in the world did we start to speak titles into existence?” Cormier continued. “Could you imagine, Chael, if when you were chasing down Anderson Silva and you go, ‘Well I’ll fight for an interim title if he ain’t ready in six months!’ … Who does Tsarukyan fight for the interim championship? It’s like, why are we creating belts, or trying (to)? … It just doesn’t need to be.”

    In terms of the “who” aspect of Cormier’s remarks, Tsarukyan name-dropped Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler as potential options for an interim title showdown in the coming months.

    It remains to be seen whether the UFC will fall on Tsarukyan or Cormier’s side. Should the promotion avoid an additional belt, the top lightweight contender would also appear content waiting a little longer for his first opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    UFC heavyweight contender Serghei Spivac doesn’t seem interested in pushing for a specific name following his win this past weekend.

    Spivac headlined a low-key card at the Apex on Saturday night, getting his chance for redemption opposite fellow European Marcin Tybura. The Polish fighter defeated his Moldovan peer on the scorecards back in 2020.

    But “Polar Bear” got his revenge in Las Vegas, quickly locking in a tight armbar for the verbal submission less than two minutes into the very first round.

    The performance, which saw Spivac earn a performance bonus, was followed by a relaxed interview from the 29-year-old heavyweight, during which he dismissed a push from Michael Bisping to call out a name.

    Instead, Spivac simply said he’d be content sharing the cage with anybody above him in the heavyweight pecking order. And while he didn’t make the matchmaker’s life any easier, one contender did by throwing his name into the hat…

    Almeida Calls Out Spivac, Gets Direct Response

    During his post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Spivac reflected on his victory in the latest UFC Fight Night main event and assessed what could lie in his future.

    “Polar Bear” reiterated his decision to avoid specific callouts, explaining that it’s difficult to pinpoint a name in an ever-changing weight class.

    “When people ask me what’s next, it’s very hard for me to say because a lot of things can change in the heavyweight division really quickly,” Spivac said. “So it’s good for me when the UFC says who is next as opposed to me having to choose. I understand that tournaments happen every single Saturday, every single week, so I’ll wait and we’ll see what’s next.”

    Spivac did have his attention turned to a callout that he was the recipient of, however.

    Soon after the Moldovan’s win, the #7-ranked Jailton Almeida pitched a clash with him next. Spivac had little to say in response, but the three words he did utter would appear to signal a green light.

    “Let him train.”

    Almeida is coming off the first defeat of his UFC career, having had his push for a title shot stalled by Curtis Blaydes by way of a violent TKO at UFC 299 this past March.

    Spivac, meanwhile, has won four of his last five. The sole loss in that run was a knockout setback at the hands of Ciryl Gane in Paris last September.

  • Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Unlike UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Anik isn’t confident that Jon Jones sticks around to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    Not many topics have remained at the surface of the mixed martial arts community in 2024 quite like the UFC’s heavyweight title picture, which currently boasts two champions but uncertainty regarding whether they will ever face each other.

    That problem arose after an injury to Jones late last year saw his planned defense against Stipe Miocic canceled and an interim titleholder crowned in his absence. And when Aspinall captured that belt, talk turned to a unification showdown.

    However, both Jones and the UFC have other plans, remaining firm on rearranging the Miocic fight for the Madison Square Garden event this November. In the meantime, Aspinall has recorded the first successful defense of his gold, knocking out Curtis Blaydes in quick time at UFC 304 last month.

    While the Brit — as well as plenty of fans and analysts — has expressed doubt over his dream fight with Jones reaching the Octagon, White recently predicted that the all-time great will delay a possible retirement should he defeat Miocic in order to face the challenge of Aspinall.

    But the man who would be tasked with calling that monumental heavyweight clash doesn’t have high hopes…

    Anik Doesn’t Share White’s Confidence On Jones vs. Miocic Coming To Fruition

    During the latest episode of his podcast alongside ex-fighter Kenny Florian, Anik gave his take on the current status of the championship conversation at heavyweight.

    The longtime play-by-play commentator shared White’s sentiment when it comes to Jones wanting to challenge himself against the division’s highly regarded interim champ. Anik doesn’t, however, believe that feeling will be stronger than the Rochester native’s desire to protect his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I would agree with Dana White in so far as that Jon Jones, if he beats Stipe Miocic, would want to challenge himself against someone like Tom Aspinall,” Anik said. “And what better way to put a capstone on your career as the consensus greatest MMA fighter of all time than to beat a guy in Tom Aspinall who is all the rage at present, and a guy who many forecast to be the greatest mixed martial arts heavyweight of all time. I think he wants the challenge — not at the expense of his legacy.

    “If he can beat Stipe Miocic as a -350 betting favorite and ride off into the Albuquerque sunset, I am expectant that that is what he is going to do,” Anik continued. “I know Dana and others have said they’d be surprised if Jon doesn’t bite off that Aspinall challenge if he beats Stipe. I would, with respect, go the other way. If I could get a betting line on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall never f*cking happening, I would ask my wife if I could, you know, spend several figures on that.”

    For now, Jones appears to be ramping up his physical activity as he prepares to make his way back from injury later this year. What comes after a potential victory over the returning Miocic, however, remains to be seen.

  • ‘Leave It Closed’ – MMA Fans React To Report That Renovations Will Pause UFC Apex Events

    ‘Leave It Closed’ – MMA Fans React To Report That Renovations Will Pause UFC Apex Events

    Since its official opening in 2019, the UFC Apex was created to be a state-of-the-art production facility for the MMA promotion. In addition to hosting fights for The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White’s Contender Series, the APEX has been an integral part of the UFC experience, hosting Fight Night events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The UFC’s events at the Apex, in terms of both card quality and limitations, however, have put a strain on fan enjoyment. But MMA enthusiasts may receive a small break from such cards in the near future.

    According to Caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman on X), the renovations to the Apex that will begin in November mean the facility will not be re-opened until the summer of 2025.

    Ken Hathaway of MMA Junkie followed Caposa’s post up by posting photos of the construction area.

    UFC CEO Dana White confirmed in an interview with TNT Sports that a $25 million renovation will take place, allowing for more people to attend Apex events, as well as upgrades to bathrooms and hospitality features.

    “We’re gonna travel more with the Fight Nights,” White said. “The [UFC] APEX is going under construction here. We’re actually expanding the APEX, and it’s gonna be bigger and better.”

    Fans React To UFC Apex Renovations, Temporary Closing In Near Future

    The August 10 UFC Fight Night event held at the UFC Apex, headlined by Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac, was the 95th Fight Night card held at the venue, dubbed the “UFC Vegas” series.

    The upcoming UFC schedule, according to several reports and rumors, will see Fight Night cards at the Apex on August 24, September 7, October 12, October 19, and November 9. The November 9 card (which would be UFC Vegas 100), would serve as the final APEX card before the closing for renovations.

    The UFC additionally has a November 2 Fight Night card, but it is unclear where this card will take place, as well as any Fight Night events held after November 9.

    While it’s assumed the renovations would be completed before the start to the 2025 season of Dana White’s Contender Series, it is unclear what would happen to a 33rd season of The Ultimate Fighter due to the facility’s temporary closure.

  • ‘Forever Indebted To Serghei Spivac For That Quick Finish’ – MMA Fans React To Spivac’s Slick Armbar In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    ‘Forever Indebted To Serghei Spivac For That Quick Finish’ – MMA Fans React To Spivac’s Slick Armbar In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Serghei Spivac continued his upward momentum and scored revenge in the process with a quick finish of Marcin Tybura in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    Spivac got right on Tybura’s back as the round started, scoring an early takedown. The Polish heavyweight answered by reversing and getting in the Moldovan’s guard.

    While Tybura tried to do work from there, it ultimately proved to be his undoing. Spivac locked his legs around the veteran’s arm and rolled through with an armbar from the back, scoring a verbal submission.

    Serghei Spivac Avenges Loss To Marcin Tybura With First-Round Submission In UFC Fight Night Headliner

    Tybura and Spivac first met at UFC Fight Night Norfolk in February 2020, with the former winning via unanimous decision.

    “Polar Bear” has now won four of his last five fights and rebounds from a second-round TKO loss at the hands of Ciryl Gane last year in Paris. His only losses in the UFC have come against Tybura, Gane, Walt Harris, and current interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

    Tybura, meanwhile, has now lost two of his last three fights.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Serghei Spivac Submits Marcin Tybura

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Serghei Spivac Submits Marcin Tybura

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, top-ten ranked heavyweights Marcin Tybura (#8) and Serghei Spivac (#9) clashed. While in the co-main event, Damon Jackson faced Chepe Mariscal in a featherweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Serghei Spivac def. Marcin Tybura via submission: R1, 1.44
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Chepe Mariscal def. Damon Jackson via unanimous decision (30-25×2, 30-26)
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov via split decision (29-28×2, 27-30)
    • Bantamweight: Chris Gutiérrez def. Quang Le via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
    • Bantamweight: Toshiomi Kazama def. Charalampos Grigoriou via submission: R2, 1.55

    Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano def. Talita Alencar via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa def. Pannie Kianzad via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz def. Karl Williams via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal def. Jarno Errens via submission: R1, 3.52

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Youssef Zalal def. Jarno Errens

    Youssef Zalal locked in a standing rear-naked choke to get the win against Jarno Errens in their featherweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Toshiomi Kazama def. Charalampos Grigoriou

    In this bantamweight bout, Toshiomi Kazama earned his first UFC victory after submitting Charalampos Grigoriou in the second round.

    Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler

    Yana Santos earned a unanimous decision win against Chelsea Chandler in their women’s bantamweight bout.

    Chris Gutiérrez def. Quang Le

    In this bantamweight bout, Chris Gutiérrez earned a unanimous decision victory against Quang Le.

    Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov

    Danny Barlow remains undefeated after being handed a split decision win over Nikolay Veretennikov in their welterweight bout.

    In the co-main event, Chepe Mariscal got it done on the scorecards to defeat Damon Jackson via unanimous decision.

    Serghei Spivac def. Marcin Tybura

    In the main event, Serghei Spivac took under two minutes to submit Marcin Tybura with an arm bar.

  • VIDEO: Toshiomi Kazama Recovers From Near-KO To Land Crazy Comeback Submission At UFC Fight Night

    VIDEO: Toshiomi Kazama Recovers From Near-KO To Land Crazy Comeback Submission At UFC Fight Night

    Toshiomi Kazama’s nickname may be the “Silent Finisher,” but he made a lot of noise with the way he scored a victory over Charalampos Grigoriou at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    Kazama was hit with a big left hand about 20 seconds into the second round, which saw him dropped to the mat. Grigoriou followed him there and unleashed devastating ground-and-pound.

    https://twitter.com/MMASharke1/status/1822414006251868665

    To everyone’s surprise, though, the referee did not stop the fight and Kazama survived the flurry.

    Toshiomi Kazama Goes From Nearly Being Stopped To Scoring Submission Win At UFC Fight Night

    Kazama quickly got himself back into the fight with his grappling ability. Grigoriou tried to fight fire with fire, but playing into that strength proved to have a devastating mistake.

    The Japanese prospect was able to lock up a triangle choke and scored a submission victory just one minute after looking like he would be the one getting finished at the Apex.

    Kazama breaks a two-fight losing skid and perhaps saved his UFC roster spot with the win, going 0-2 prior to tonight since a win over Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti on Road to UFC.

    Grigoriou, who scored a win on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, is now 0-2 in the Octagon.

  • Report: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes Targeted For UFC 310 On December 14

    Report: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes Targeted For UFC 310 On December 14

    The major events for the UFC’s 2024 final quarter schedule is starting to come together, and a battle between former light heavyweight title challengers is being targeted for the last pay-per-view of the year.

    A clash between Anthony Smith (38-20) and Dominick Reyes (13-4) is being planned to take place on December 14, the likely date for UFC 310, per Alex Behunin of MMA Mania. Though no location has been announced, it is believed the card will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes Targeted For UFC 310

    Smith is coming off a loss to Roman Dolidze at UFC 303 this past June. “Lionheart” was just less than two months removed from his previous fight, defeating Vitor Petrino at the Brazil-held UFC 301 in May.

    The veteran contender has consistently traded wins and losses over the past couple of years since challenging Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 235, losing a decision.

    Reyes, meanwhile, competed at UFC Fight Night Louisville in June, knocking out Dustin Jacoby in two minutes. It was “The Devastator’s” first fight since a loss to Ryan Spann at UFC 281 in 2022 and his first victory since defeating Chris Weidman in Boston in October 2019.

    His four-fight losing skid in the time between began with an unsuccessful challenge of Jones at UFC 247, losing via a controversial decision.

  • Chris Weidman Reacts As Former Opponent Bruno Silva Suspended For Violating UFC Anti-Doping Policy: ‘Very Interesting…’

    Chris Weidman Reacts As Former Opponent Bruno Silva Suspended For Violating UFC Anti-Doping Policy: ‘Very Interesting…’

    Middleweight Bruno Silva has been suspended from active competition, per an announcement from Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), the anti-doping partner of the UFC.

    Silva, who last fought at UFC Fight Night Atlantic City in a loss to former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, has accepted a six-month ban from competition. Though Weidman got the win in New Jersey that night, he was severely unamused by Silva’s failure.

    And while no explanation has been given by Silva for the test failure, Weidman says he was told it could have been “microdosing anabolics.”

    Bruno Silva Suspended For Violating UFC Anti-Doping Policy, Chris Weidman Makes Accusation

    Weidman’s win in Atlantic City brought plenty of controversy in the fight’s finishing sequence. The American, it originally seemed, was able to force Silva to collapse to the mat and overwhelm him with ground-and-pound. It would have been Weidman’s first finish since his submission of Kelvin Gastelum in 2017.

    The state’s athletic commission, however, overturned the result to a unanimous technical decision upon seeing that Silva was poked in both eyes during the sequence.

    Weidman’s win over Silva was his first victory since defeating Omari Akhmedov in August 2020, as well as his first victory in his second fight since coming back from his broken leg.

    Silva’s suspension is retroactive to April 11, meaning he can return to competition beginning October 11.

  • Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’

    Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’

    Sean O’Malley recently weighed in on the UFC’s decision to release Muhammad Mokaev following his fight with Manel Kape at UFC 304.

    Mokaev managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kape last month in a bout that was fraught with trouble from the start. The tension between the two flyweights began at the hotel, where they engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to instigating the clash by sucker-punching Kape. Their animosity continued to flare up, with the pair nearly coming to blows at several media events during the fight week.

    After defeating Kape, Mokaev revealed that his UFC contract had come to an end and expressed optimism for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event presser, UFC CEO Dana White announced that the undefeated Russian would not be offered a new deal and would instead be released from the promotion.

    White clarified that it wasn’t Mokaev’s performance or fighting style that led to the decision but rather a series of off-the-Octagon issues that made the matchmakers hesitant to extend another contract offer.

    Mokaev admitted that his behavior was met with disapproval and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his contrition, White and the organization held firm in their decision, and he has now been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

    “Sugar” speculates that a major reason behind Mokaev’s removal from the UFC might have been his seemingly lackluster performance against Kape…

    O’Malley Finds Mokaev’s Release ‘A Bit Surprising’

    During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, discussed Mokaev’s removal from the UFC roster. The reigning UFC bantamweight champion admitted that he found it a bit shocking that a young, undefeated prospect was released.

    However, he speculated that Mokaev’s antics and underwhelming performance in the cage might have played a significant role in the decision.

    “It is surprising, though, because he’s 25 [years old], and he’s one of the few fighters I can name off the top of my head,” O’Malley said. “He’s 7-0 in the UFC, so it is a little bit surprising. But yeah, also, if you’re going to go in there and make the UFC’s life hell for fight week, and then go in there with only four punches thrown in the first round—they were separating them in the Octagon before the fight even started. Then the bell rings, and three punches were thrown in the first round.”

    Mokaev recently claimed that he has already made amends for his past mistakes and even offered to fight for free if the UFC gives him another shot at redemption.

    However, “The Punisher” soon hinted that he was already in discussions with another promotion about joining their ranks. Recently, he dropped another clue, suggesting that he has officially signed on, posting an image on X of a new pair of MMA gloves with the caption: “New gloves, same goal.”

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’

    Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently offered insights on the upcoming title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya set for UFC 305.

    Du Plessis is set to make the first defense of his middleweight title in a much-awaited showdown of fierce rivalry against Adesanya, headlining the pay-per-view event on August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    “Stillknocks” was originally targeted to challenge Adesanya after his impressive victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, fate had other plans, as an injury sidelined the South African. In the meantime, “The Last Stylebender” suffered an unexpected defeat, losing the middleweight title to Strickland at UFC 293.

    Du Plessis made a triumphant return by defeating Strickland in a razor-close split decision, clinching the 185-pound title at UFC 297 this past January. Now, the stage is perfectly set for these two adversaries to finally settle their scores in the Octagon as Adesanya gears up to make his return after an 11-month hiatus—the longest of his UFC career.

    Nicksick believes that both fighters are evenly matched heading into UFC 305, but the outcome will hinge on just how much “The Last Stylebender” has sharpened his skills during his time away from the competition…

    Nicksick Calls Du Plessis vs. Adesanya a ’50-50′ Battle

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Nicksick dissected the highly anticipated clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya. The renowned MMA coach predicted that both fighters stand on equal footing with an even chance of victory. However, he emphasized that much will depend on how well the former UFC middleweight champion performs after such a lengthy hiatus from the sport.

    “I kind of consider it a 50-50 coin flip, man. I really do. I’m very curious to see what type of Izzy comes back,” Nicksick said. “In a lot of ways, selfishly, I’m pulling for him because, you know, the division is much better with a talented and, you know, championship-level Israel Adesanya in the division.”

    Nicksick went on to say that, based on Du Plessis’ performance against Strickland, he sees “Stillknocks” as the favorite. He noted that Du Plessis’ unorthodox style makes him a formidable challenge for Adesanya, potentially giving him the edge in this matchup.

    “I really took a liking to Dricus over the last year or so. I wouldn’t say we’re close, but we’re friendly and very respectful towards one another, and I’m pulling for him in a lot of ways because I think he has been severely overlooked over the years. He’s a problem, man, and he’s only getting better. I think the way he’s starting to fight and understand who and what he is as a fighter—he’s awkward in a way like Sean is, but with more power, right? It’s hard—it’s very hard. It was very difficult for us to find particular sparring partners for Dricus’ camp. You’re not going to find many people that can fight like him.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya have been on a collision course long before their fiery face-off at UFC 290. Their upcoming showdown promises to be a captivating spectacle, as both fighters bring their own distinctive and formidable fighting styles to the table.

  • ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    Jon Jones may be the most skilled mixed martial artist that the sport has ever seen.

    What can easily be forgotten about when it comes to the skills that “Bones” brings to the table is his high-level grappling which he rarely uses.

    For the majority of his run in the light heavyweight division, Jones chose to strike with opponents instead which shows how well-rounded he is.

    Fans did get another quick glimpse at his grappling ability in his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane, where he was able to quickly secure a takedown and guillotine submission to become world champion in another weight class.

    With all of this being said, large sections of the MMA fanbase haven’t been willing to give Jones his flowers as of late due to the ongoing conversation around him and the interim champion, Tom Aspinall.

    MMA Fans React As Jon Jones Holds His Own With Gordon Ryan

    A recent video on social media showed yet another look at Jones’ high-level grappling as he mixed it up on the mats with Gordon Ryan.

    As well as being a big and powerful athlete, Ryan is one of the best jiu-jitsu competitors ever and at least in this clip, “Bones” is able to hold his own.

    As is the case with everything that Jones posts as of late, many of the replies underneath were in reference to a potential fight with Aspinall, which fans have been very outspoken about.

    Whilst some believe that this fight is to make instead of having him return against Stipe Miocic, others have sided with the heavyweight champion and believe that the Aspinall hype train has gotten out of hand.

    “And people act like he won’t do this to Aspinall in a f***in heartbeat”

    “BREAKING NEWS Dana White’s burner account gets leaked under the account name ‘blonded’”

    “I realized after he cooked Gane”

    “People don’t realize how small Gordon Ryan is compared to Tom Aspinall.”

    “Jones would beat Aspinall easily. Respect the GOAT”

    https://twitter.com/DeWizard7/status/1821771447137636662

    “No way you think Gordon Ryan was actually trying???”

    “I don’t wanna hear anybody saying Aspinall beats him”

    Read also: TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

  • ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    ‘Belal Twitter Fingers On Point’ – MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad & Kamaru Usman Indulge In Hilarious Social Media Feud

    Belal Muhammad has never been the type of person that tends to avoid engaging in the occasional social media back-and-forth and this hasn’t changed since he has become champion.

    In fact, since winning the title at UFC 304, the new titleholder has been exchanging words with the division’s former champion, Kamaru Usman.

    What started with one post from Usman where he criticized some comments from Muhammad in an interview has now seen them both retaliate.

    Usman’s response specifically focused in on Muhammad’s comments about his cameo appearance in Black Panther, which of course, “Remember The Name” had a counter for.

    In the final statement, at least at this current time, Muhammad revisited the first post that kicked off this conversation, bringing up a point about Usman referring to his win over Leon Edwards.

    MMA Fans React As Belal Muhammad Gets The Last Laugh For Now

    Though a lot of fans would likely rather see the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov challenge Muhammad for the welterweight title next, this social media feud with Usman has been entertaining to say the least.

    Both men have been able to get in some good jabs at one another and it appears that the current 170-pound king has had the final word.

    The combat sports community on social media reacted underneath Muhammad’s recent post.

    “Nah Belal really read that back a few times to cook up some more shit. Keep it comin champ”

    “Belal Twitter fingers on point right now. Me sitting back enjoying the back and forth”

    “Bully bringing receipts…..”

    “Ur making bruh cry please stop”

    “Your last KO was when Bush was president in high school. Stop bro the king of Decisions”

    “Belal kinda cooking rn ngl”

    “Damn. Going for the knees is a shot below the belt…”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis Or Adesanya

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis Or Adesanya

    Islam Makhachev will have been happy to see Belal Muhammad become the welterweight champion at UFC 304 after the training they have done together in the past.

    However, there is a sense that this result messed with the future plans of the lightweight champion.

    Had Leon Edwards defeated Muhammad and secured his third title defense, Makhachev would have been high on the list of his potential challengers having laid out his ambition to become a two-weight world champion in the near future.

    He now finds himself in a similar situation as to the one Kamaru Usman had during his welterweight title reign where he wanted a second belt but a friend of his, Israel Adesanya in Usman’s case, is the champion of the weight class above.

    Just like how Usman briefly flirted with the idea of skipping over Adesanya’s division to jump up two weight classes instead, Makhachev has mentioned competing at middleweight.

    Javier Mendez Gives His Take On Islam Makhachev Fighting At Middleweight

    Though the idea was brushed off by the current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, maybe there is a future where Makhachev moves from 155 to 185.

    He still has contenders to face in his own division and is set to be out for a bit longer due to a recently disclosed hand injury but the lightweight king has big ambitions.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, his coach Javier Mendez spoke about what this would mean for Makhachev, revealing that whilst nothing serious has taken place, they have spoken about the idea.

    “Islam said that middleweight would be kind of something but he’d have to put on some muscle so this is not just me, this is Islam thinking the same thing that yeah if it did ever come through, so it’s really not ideally something that we’re really looking at but it was something that was discussed but he’d have to put on some size if that was ever to happen.”

    Mendez went on to say that whilst it would obviously be a tough and unheard of task to accomplish, he can understand why Makhachev would want to do it because it would define his legacy.

    “If he was able to pull something like that off, if that ever was materialized and he did pull it off, that would put him in the top three pound-for-pound of all time.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

  • Jon Jones Hints That He Is Going To Retire In 2024 After Stipe Miocic Fight

    Jon Jones Hints That He Is Going To Retire In 2024 After Stipe Miocic Fight

    Jon Jones recently alluded to the possibility that his potential showdown with Stipe Miocic could mark the final chapter of his illustrious career.

    The reigning UFC heavyweight champion is expected to put his title on the line against Miocic at UFC 309, slated for Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 16. However, the UFC has yet to officially confirm the showdown.

    For Jones, this fight is one he’s been pursuing since he made his heavyweight debut in March 2023. On the other side, Miocic is determined to solidify his legacy as the greatest heavyweight in history by defeating arguably the most legendary MMA fighter of all time—Jones.

    The bout brings the looming possibility that this epic clash could be the swan song for one, if not both, of these iconic fighters. “Bones”, in particular, appears determined to hang up his gloves by the year’s end…

    Jones Signals Retirement At ‘Age 37’

    Jones recently engaged with a random fan on Instagram who made a sly remark about the UFC star’s domestic violence incident involving his fiancée, Jessie Moses, back in September 2021. However, “Bones” chose not to respond with anything sharp. Instead, he subtly hinted at the possibility of retiring later this year.

    “Fun fact: after this year, Jon Jones will never have to work again,” Jones wrote. “Retired at age 37. Winning.”

    The former longtime UFC light heavyweight champion has toyed with the idea of retirement before, especially after a potential victory over Miocic. He has long suggested a strategy for stepping away, aiming to defeat the greatest heavyweight champion and then leave the sport with his GOAT status firmly secured.

    Jones was last seen in action when he secured the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. Originally scheduled to make his first title defense against Miocic at UFC 295 last November, the 37-year-old New Yorker was forced to withdraw just days before the fight due to a serious pectoral injury.

    Jones stepped into the professional MMA scene for the first time in April 2008 at a Full Force Productions event. Just four months later, he made his promotional debut at UFC 87: Seek and Destroy, facing off against Andre Gusmao and launching what would become an iconic career.

  • UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After back-to-back events in Manchester, England, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back on home soil to stage another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a rematch between a pair of top-10 heavyweights, with Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac running back their 2020 bout, which the Polish fighter won by way of unanimous decision.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Damon Jackson, Danny Barlow, Chris Gutiérrez, and Yana Santos will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac takes place on Saturday, August 10, 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 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

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

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Marcin Tybura (252lbs) vs. Serghei Spivac (238lbs)
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Damon Jackson (146lbs) vs. Chepe Mariscal (149.5lbs)***
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow (171.25lbs)** vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chris Gutiérrez (136lbs) vs. Quang Le (136lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Yana Santos (135.5lbs) vs. Chelsea Chandler (141lbs)*
    • Bantamweight: Toshiomi Kazama (136lbs) vs. Charalampos Grigoriou (136lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (135.5lbs) vs. Pannie Kianzad (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (258lbs) vs. Karl Williams (243lbs)
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal (145.5lbs) vs. Jarno Errens (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (115lbs) vs, Talita Alencar (115.5lbs)

    *Chelsea Chandler missed the bantamweight limit by five pounds, fight status TBA

    **Danny Barlow missed the welterweight limit by 0.25 pounds, fight status TBA

    ***Chepe Mariscal missed the featherweight limit by 3.5 pounds, fight status TBA

  • Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    Javier Mendez Downplays ‘The Eagle’s’ Part In Belal Muhammad Title Win: ‘Khabib Only Put In A Week…’

    During Belal Muhammad’s current winning streak which now sees him at the top of the welterweight division, a lot has been made about the company he has chosen to keep.

    “Remember The Name” has got a solid and small team around him but he has also decided in recent times to do some work alongside the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

    This was especially true heading into Muhammad’s fight with Sean Brady, which produced his best performance inside the Octagon at that time.

    It was also a part of the narrative heading into his title fight with Leon Edwards last month.

    Whilst the champion at the time had dealt with American wrestlers in Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, how would he match-up with someone that has been training with some of the best grapplers in the sport?

    Javier Mendez Says Belal Muhammad’s Coaches Deserve More Credit For UFC 304 Win

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, AKA head coach Javier Mendez said that people got too carried away with giving ‘coach Khabib’ credit for Muhammad’s recent title win.

    Whilst the welterweight challenger did manage to get some work in with “The Eagle” before heading to Manchester, Mendez revealed that it was only for a very small amount of time in the grand scheme of the training camp.

    He said that while Nurmagomedov did contribute and would have added some extra value, the credit for this win on the coaching side of things deserves to be aimed at Muhammad’s long-time team instead.

    “What about his coaches? What about Lou? What about his other coaches? Mike Valley, you know, what about them? I mean they were with him through this whole time so to me, it isn’t anything other than what they did as coaching staff because Khabib only put like maybe a week – two weeks to help him on this one and the rest he spent with his coaches. So, to me, I don’t like the narrative when they make it look like Khabib made the big difference when yeah he helped him but his coaches made the difference.”

    Read also: Javier Mendez Chooses Between Khabib & Umar Nurmagomedov In Striking, Grappling, Mental Toughness, & Chin

  • TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

    TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

    TJ Dillashaw recently escalated his critique of Anthony Smith, backing up all of his previous fault-finding of the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger.

    Smith might have faced a sobering reality regarding his hopes for a second run towards the title after enduring a challenging unanimous decision loss to short-notice replacement Roman Dolidze at UFC 303 in June.

    Interestingly, the former UFC bantamweight champion was highly critical of “Lionheart’s” performance during his appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST with former UFC champions Rampage Jackson and Luke Rockhold last month. Dillashaw mocked Smith’s moniker, bluntly stating that the 36-year-old Texan will never become champion because he lacks the resilience to persevere.

    Smith swiftly responded to Dillashaw’s pointed remarks during an episode of the BELIEVE YOU ME Podcast. “Lionheart” didn’t hold back, taking a scathing jab at the 38-year-old Californian’s positive performance-enhancing drug test in 2019, which resulted in a two-year suspension from the UFC.

    However, the exchange of verbal jabs didn’t end there. Dillashaw has returned with a fresh barrage of critiques, once again labeling Smith as a quitter…

    Dillashaw Thinks Smith Becomes Defensive When Judged

    During his recent appearance on the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw sought to defend his previous comments about Smith, arguing that he lacks the attributes of a true championship contender—a reality Smith himself has acknowledged.

    “I thought he was going to be a champion. I said no, and then you’re like, why not? It’s like, he gives up,” Dillashaw said. “He doesn’t have that fight, he doesn’t have that dog in him personally, and I think he admitted it himself without even hearing our podcast yet. He did a video after that, kind of like deciding he’s going to continue to fight.”

    The bantamweight veteran further noted that while Smith frequently criticizes other fighters, he doesn’t handle criticism directed at himself with the same grace.

    “I mean, dude, the guy’s got to sit there and be like, why are you wearing your feelings on your sleeve? I mean, he sits there and talks sht about people on the broadcast all the time. I’m no stranger to it; he said some sh*t about me. It’s like, whatever, dude. That’s just how I feel, and if you don’t like it, if the truth hurts, too f**king bad.”

    Smith competed for the light heavyweight title in March 2019 against Jon Jones at UFC 235. In that bout, “Lionheart” decided to continue after being struck by an illegal knee from Jones and ultimately lost by unanimous decision.

    Following his defeat to “Bones”, Smith struggled to find his footing, unable to gain any significant momentum in his subsequent outings.

  • Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently predicted that Max Holloway could defeat Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, provided “Blessed” keeps the fight focused solely on striking.

    Topuria is poised to defend his featherweight title for the first time against Holloway in the main event of a highly anticipated pay-per-view showdown scheduled for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    “El Matador” captured the 145-pound championship this past February, becoming the first UFC champion from Spain by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Undefeated in the Octagon with a 7-0 record, he boasts five finishes, including impressive victories over Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett.

    Meanwhile, Holloway is set for his third attempt to reclaim the featherweight title, which he lost to Volkanovski in December 2019, followed by two unsuccessful rematches. “Blessed” has since bounced back with three consecutive impressive victories, the latest being a dramatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout, earning him the BMF title at the landmark UFC 300 in April.

    Thomson and McCarthy contend that despite Topuria’s formidable prowess, he will encounter significant difficulty in connecting his strikes against Holloway…

    Thomson Sees Holloway As ‘Stylistically’ Challenging Opponent For Topuria

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson previewed the highly anticipated matchup between Topuria and Holloway. The former UFC lightweight fighter lauded “El Matador” for his exceptional striking abilities but pointed out that he will face significant challenges in chasing down the BMF titleholder and finding the right angles to land his shots.

    “Max on the feet, what we saw with him against Justin Gaethje, he can handle the power, he can handle the movement, he can handle the aggressiveness,” Thomson said. “Topuria is going to stalk after him, he’s just going, and Max Holloway is going to be on his bike, sticking and moving, using that long-range jab right in his face… My point is that when Topuria is gonna start stalking after him, he’s gonna start taking those jabs in the opening rounds.”

    “The Punk” added that although Topuria might be relentlessly pursuing the Hawaiian, he is likely to absorb some significant punishment in the process, which could prove decisive.

    “He’s going to be reaching and lunging to get in on Max Holloway, and that’s going to be his downfall. He’s got fight IQ and knows how to use his movement, how to put his combinations together, and how to threaten the body as well as the head. He throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink, and it lands. He’s accurate with his strikes, with no wasted movements. He knows what he’s doing. Topuria, right now, I think is a fantastic fighter; I just think stylistically this is a bad matchup for him.”

  • Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley On Umar Nurmagomedov Being ‘Ashamed’ He Is Champion: ‘One Way I Can Become Bigger Than Conor…’

    Sean O’Malley recently fired back at Umar Nurmagomedov, who expressed being “ashamed” of O’Malley as the UFC bantamweight champion.

    Nurmagomedov earned an impressive unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last weekend, catapulting himself near the top of the division and potentially solidifying his status as the #1 contender.

    The undefeated Dagestani’s victory potentially positions him as the ideal challenger for “Sugar,” but this matchup hinges on whether O’Malley successfully defends his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on September 14.

    Nurmagomedov is aiming to challenge O’Malley for the belt, hoping the American remains the champion by then. However, he hasn’t held back his criticism, previously labeling O’Malley as a negative influence on the younger generation.

    O’Malley is intrigued by Nurmagomedov as a potential challenge, but there might be an even stronger incentive for him to defeat the rising prospect…

    O’Malley Aims To Beat Nurmagomedov To ‘Sting’ Conor McGregor

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, O’Malley discussed the potential of fighting Nurmagomedov in the future. His coach, Tim Welch, asked “Sugar” if he could knock out the Dagestani. O’Malley admitted that Nurmagomedov would be a challenging opponent but expressed confidence in his ability to succeed, pointing to his knockout of Aljamain Sterling.

    “I could chin anybody in the division,” O’Malley said. “Umar is a tough fight. I thought Aljo [Sterling] was the toughest fight in the division for me at the time, and I knocked him out. I think Umar is probably one of the toughest challenges in the division.”

    “Sugar” further remarked that a potential bout against Nurmagomedov could become one of the biggest fights in UFC history, and such a high-profile clash would surely drive Conor McGregor wild.

    “I think it makes it an interesting match, but O’Malley vs. Nurmagomedov could be one way I become, you know, bigger than Conor, like I’ve claimed I’ve wanted to be. If I do what he couldn’t do—beat a Nurmagomedov, take away the ‘O’—that would really sting him. He’s already mad at me, jealous, but this would really sting him.”

    “The Notorious” has a storied history with the Nurmagomedov family, highlighted by his intense rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov. This feud culminated in a dramatic showdown at UFC 229 in 2018, where McGregor suffered a fourth-round submission loss.

    O’Malley has recently set his sights on McGregor as a potential opponent, a surprising turn given their previous admiration for each other, which has now devolved into animosity. This shift followed a series of fiery exchanges on social media.

    Defeating a member of the Nurmagomedov family—an achievement that eluded McGregor—could be O’Malley’s way of getting the last laugh at his former idol.

  • Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

    UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad had to wait three years to get his shot at a rematch with Leon Edwards.

    After their first fight ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, both men put together impressive winning streaks before meeting against at UFC 304.

    In that time, Muhammad was very open about his dislike of Edwards for not wanting to fight him, but with that being said, he was honest about a potential trilogy fight between them.

    “Rocky” could seemingly put himself back in the title picture with a bounce-back win, and the champion acknowledged that.

    Belal Muhammad Questions Whether Leon Edwards Will Recover From Loss & Corner Conflict

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad gave his thoughts on the current state of the 170-pound division and whether he expects to cross paths with Edwards once again.

    He believes that whilst “Rocky” can certainly put his name back in the mix if he goes away and beats a fellow top contender, he doesn’t know whether that will happen.

    Muhammad said that it will be an uphill battle for the former champion to come back as the same fighter with the same hunger, after what took place in Manchester.

    He also made reference to how Edwards could be dealing with a fractured team after what happened inside the Octagon on July 27.

    The Brit’s head coach Dave Lovell, in trying to motivate his fighter, asked him whether he wanted him to wave the fight off and call it a night to which Edwards seemingly told him to “shut the f*** up”.

    Muhammad said that this factor may mean it’ll take some time before Edwards is on his radar once again.

    “There’s not a lot of guys that you’re looking at like this is a clear number one contender, this guy’s clear number one contender, so Leon could go out there, get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix. But, it all just comes back mentally.

    “I don’t know if him and his coach are gonna have like a break-up party now because they looked pretty bad in the corner right. There’s a lot of turmoil there so I feel like there’s gonna be a lot of blame and a lot of embarrassment coming from that team and a lot of just embarrassment from himself.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On How Many Title Defenses Before He Can Discuss Double-Champ Status: ‘I Already Beat All These Guys In The Top 10!’

  • Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    Israel Adesanya Compares Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Awkward’ Style With Former Opponent

    A lot has changed since Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis first faced off inside the Octagon at UFC 290 last year.

    The middleweight title has been exchanged between them without them fighting inside the Octagon, but that changes at UFC 305 on August 17.

    At the time, Adesanya would have been considered to be a big favorite against the challenger, even after Du Plessis stunned the MMA world by stopping Robert Whittaker.

    However, the South African fighter then went on to defeat Sean Strickland for the 185-pound belt. This was after “The Last Stylebender” was convincingly beaten by the short-notice title challenger Strickland at UFC 293, making this upcoming fight very different.

    One of the biggest arguments that can be made for the champion retaining the title in Perth is the awkward timing and movement that Du Plessis brings into the cage.

    We saw how Strickland was able to stifle Adesanya’s offense and whilst Du Plessis may not have the same defensive ability, he’s very unpredictable.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the former two-time champion said that he doesn’t expect this to be a problem for him despite “Stillknocks” presenting some issues.

    He compared him to a former opponent of his in Marvin Vettori, who Adesanya has faced and beaten twice, with one added element to his game.

    “A bit like Vettori to be honest but he’s just more of a risk taker than Vettori. So yeah, I don’t think I’ll have an issue dealing with what he brings but it’s the intangibles, the unknown unknowns. He takes way more risks than Vettori so that’s what makes him really dangerous.”

    Israel Adesanya Says Du Plessis Fight Isn’t Personal Despite ‘Blasphemous’ Comments

    This fight has had a long time to build and in that time, things have been said that likely aren’t going to be forgiven and forgotten when the dust settles.

    Du Plessis’ comments about being the first African champion kicked this feud off and whilst Adesanya wants to make him pay for that, he doesn’t believe that this bout is on the same level as some of his great rivalries in the past.

    “The Last Stylebender” told Mike Bohn that he won’t move past what his next opponent said but that doesn’t mean it’s personal for him.

    “Nah, I haven’t even fought the guy yet. Those rivalries with Whittaker and Pereira, those are etched in history. Me and this guy haven’t even fought yet. We tried to fight, it never happened, so now we’ll fight and set the score. But nah, it’s not really personal. What he said was blasphemous cuz without myself, Francis and Kamaru, he wouldn’t be able to be champion. So, what he said was really blasphemous and he’ll take accountability for what he said.”

    Read also: Whittaker On Pereira’s Next Title Defense: ‘UFC Really Don’t Like Ankalaev…’

  • Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Arman Tsarukyan On Coaching Reality Show Opposite Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want To Beat Him…’

    Despite solidifying himself as the number one contender in the lightweight division with his latest win, Arman Tsarukyan has got some time on his hands.

    The 27-year old stated that he was offered the lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev on the same night that he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

    He turned that opportunity down due to wanting more time to prepare and with Dustin Poirier stepping into his place at UFC 302, more time is certainly what he’s ended up with.

    Makhachev was previously gearing up for a return to Abu Dhabi in October but a recently announced hand injury means that his huge rematch with Tsarukyan will be pushed back once again.

    Instead, the next in line for a shot at the 155-pound title is keeping himself busy by coaching a similar series to The Ultimate Fighter, alongside another big name on the UFC roster.

    Arman Tsarukyan Describes What It’s Like To Coach Against Khamzat Chimaev On Russian Reality TV Series

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOpnuyF3ILM

    It was announced several months ago that Tsarukyan was set to feature on a reality TV series where both he and Khamzat Chimaev will coach competing teams.

    Hype Reality 3 sees them go up against one another and as you can always expect when you have world class athletes involved, things are getting competitive as Tsarukyan detailed in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “It’s good and I want to beat him, he wants to beat me so I train my fighters very well to win [against] his fighters.”

    He went on to say that whilst both men are doing what they can to ensure the best results for their teams, tensions haven’t boiled over like they have done in previous seasons of The Ultimate Fighter.

    “No, we have good relationship with Khamzat and that’s why we just like a sport you know. Who is going to win, nothing else, no drama.”

    Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov Touts Bellator Champion As Islam Makhachev’s UFC Lightweight Successor

  • ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    ‘He Is Gonna Be Making $100 Per Fight’ – MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev Teasing His Next Promotion

    Despite making it clear that his preferred option is to stay with the UFC, flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is teasing a new destination.

    “The Punisher” fought out his UFC contract following his latest win at UFC 304 over Manel Kape.

    In his post-event press conference, Dana White announced that they would not be resigning Mokaev despite his clear ability, due to his outside of the cage conduct which includes him admitting to sucker punching Kape on fight week.

    Though White remarked that he will make a fine addition to the PFL’s roster, Ray Sefo made it clear that this isn’t going to happen.

    A post on social media from Mokaev showed him receiving a new pair of gloves and with some clever sleuthing, some have tried to predict where he will be applying his trade in the near future.

    Violent Money TV reported that upon closer inspection of the inside of the glove, it appears to have been produced by the brand Top Ten.

    Top Ten became the exclusive apparel provider for Bahrain-based promotion BRAVE CF earlier this year, which suggests that this could be his new home.

    Mokaev fought five times under the BRAVE banner before signing to the UFC in November of 2021.

    MMA Fans React To Muhammad Mokaev – BRAVE CF Theory

    When Mokaev’s UFC departure was made official, signing to the PFL seemed like the clear and obvious next step for him – until it wasn’t anymore.

    Whilst there are plenty of other promotions that could welcome Mokaev if he wishes to stay active at this point in his career, BRAVE may be the one that makes the most sense due to their prior relationship.

    MMA fans, however, reacted on social media with more questions to this hypothetical answer.

    “Mokaev is funded by the Bahrain royal family and is part of Team KHK, it was inevitable to anybody that knows his ties to Bahrain that he’d end up in Brave.”

    “Mokaev will go on a mad submission streak and claim two belts at Brave CF and the UFC will have egg on their face. Pin this tweet”

    “Nice, his fights will be seen by hundreds of people”

    “He is gonna be making $100 per fight”

    https://twitter.com/StricklandSzn/status/1821510540822249565

    “Never heard of Brave fc”

    https://twitter.com/osubucks2024/status/1821513305862672399

    “ACA I believe. Doesn’t matter. Will still watch him.”

    “Back to the regionals for Mokaev.”

    https://twitter.com/wrldw4r/status/1821523763390816768

    Read also: Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’