MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • ‘Anyone Half Decent Finishes Him’ – Fans Split After Shara Magomedov’s Latest Win At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, United On ‘Wack’ Nick Diaz Callout

    ‘Anyone Half Decent Finishes Him’ – Fans Split After Shara Magomedov’s Latest Win At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, United On ‘Wack’ Nick Diaz Callout

    Shara Magomedov received quite the opportunity as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi on very short notice. That was following the announcement that Nick Diaz would not be able to compete in his originally scheduled fight with Vicente Luque.

    If one were to ask fans if “Bullet” made the most of his opportunity, they’d be split after his performance, which saw him get the decision win over Michał Oleksiejczuk.

    For all that people have been previously impressed by Magomedov, things seemed to be a problem early on. The Dagestani had the better strikes and kept his distance, busting Oleksiejczuk open with an elbow. The Polish veteran, however, landed one punch that briefly knocked “Bullet” down.

    Magomedov continued to outwork him with striking in the second round, and Oleksiejczuk didn’t make much of the takedown he scored at the end of the frame.

    Magomedov then cruised his way to a clear decision win, with two 30-27 scorecards and a 29-28.

    Though the UFC has previously announced they intend to re-book Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque, Magomedov surprisingly called out the elder Diaz brother following his win.

    Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov Calls Out Nick Diaz After Cruising To Decision Win At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    Magomedov is now 3-0 in the UFC, defeating Bruno Silva at UFC 294 and finishing Antonio Trócoli just over a month ago in Saudi Arabia.

    Oleksiejczuk, meanwhile, has now lost three straight and four of his last five.

  • ‘I’d KO That Little Twat’ – Sean O’Malley, Others React As Deiveson Figueiredo Drops & Outpoints Marlon Vera At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    ‘I’d KO That Little Twat’ – Sean O’Malley, Others React As Deiveson Figueiredo Drops & Outpoints Marlon Vera At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    Deiveson Figueiredo continued to show how solid he is in his new bantamweight home, as he defeated former title challenger Marlon Vera via unanimous decision at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.

    As he normally does, Vera got off to a slow start in the opening frame, with Figueiredo utilizing his wrestling and starting to work a good pace with his strikes. “Chito,” however, appeared to battle back in the second round, landing stronger strikes.

    Figueiredo still brought some trouble with his pacing and stance switching, and he finally countered Vera’s strength in the third when he scored a knockdown.

    Overall, two judges scored the fight 29-28, and one 30-27, all in the Brazilian’s favor.

    Deiveson Figueiredo Stays Unbeaten At Bantamweight After Dropping, Outlasting Marlon “Chito” Vera

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1819840005076123694
    https://twitter.com/acdmma_/status/1819839897709977620

    Figueiredo, the former two-time UFC flyweight champion, is now 3-0 at 135 pounds following wins over Rob Font and Cody Garbrandt.

    Vera, meanwhile, has now dropped three of his last four, one of which was his unsuccessful attempt to take the bantamweight title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

  • ‘Type Of Guy To Partially Retire’ – Fans React As Tony Ferguson Ponders The End After Record 8th Straight Loss At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    ‘Type Of Guy To Partially Retire’ – Fans React As Tony Ferguson Ponders The End After Record 8th Straight Loss At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    The losing streak continued for Tony Ferguson at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, and it might have marked his farewell.

    The former interim UFC lightweight champion entered 2020 riding the second-longest winning run in the 155-pound division’s history. At that point, he was touted as a threat to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Now, Ferguson is on a different kind of streak. An eight-fight losing skid.

    Since having his unbeaten period brought to a crashing halt by Justin Gaethje, “El Cucuy” has lost a further seven outings, the most recent of which came on August 3 in the Middle East.

    After dismissing calls for him to retire after a decision defeat to Paddy Pimblett last December, Ferguson returned to action up at welterweight to face Michael Chiesa at the Etihad Arena.

    Despite once again touting his improvements in recent months, the longtime fan favorite didn’t reach the first horn, with “Maverick” locking in a rear-naked choke for the tap in round one.

    The result has left Ferguson with an unwanted record, having lost the most consecutive fights in UFC history.

    Finally, it would appear that the taste of defeat has the 40-year-old considering calling it quits, as he told Daniel Cormier post-fight that he is pondering retirement. For now, he’s hung up just the one glove, with the other pending discussion with his family.

    MMA Fans React To Chiesa Submitting Ferguson At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    Unsurprisingly, the MMA community quickly flocked to social media with their takes on Ferguson’s latest setback, as well as his half-retirement inside the Octagon in Abu Dhabi.

    https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1819834243260072127
  • ‘Dern Is All Gas, No Breaks’ – Fans React After Mackenzie Dern Bounces Back Against Loopy Godinez At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    ‘Dern Is All Gas, No Breaks’ – Fans React After Mackenzie Dern Bounces Back Against Loopy Godinez At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    After a couple of fights down that earned her pretty heavy criticism, Mackenzie Dern appeared to bounce back at UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, earning a unanimous decision win over Loopy Godinez.

    The grappling prowess of Dern was on full display in the first round, nearly locking in an armbar attempt that appeared it’d be tight and could have snapped Godinez’s arm. The Mexican, however, battled back in the second round, with the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist’s lack of striking defense, which has earned her the previously mentioned criticism, rearing its head again.

    The third round was closely contested, with Dern landing stronger strikes — though some may feel Godinez landed cleaner ones — and landing another takedown.

    Ultimately, Dern took the decision with 29-28 scores on all three judges’ scorecards.

    Mackenzie Dern Gets Nod In Close Battle With Loopy Godinez At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    The result marks Dern’s first win in just over a year after back-to-back troubling performances against Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    Godinez, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back fights herself after a four-fight win streak.

  • Dana White Suggests Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Settlement Could Be Personal: ‘Me & Lorenzo Went To High School With Him!’

    Dana White Suggests Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Settlement Could Be Personal: ‘Me & Lorenzo Went To High School With Him!’

    In the eyes of UFC CEO Dana White, the rejection of the settlement in the UFC’s antitrust, class-action lawsuits was more than just business — it was personal.

    White recently sat down for an interview with Kevin Iole. During it, he made his first public comments about the class-action lawsuits since Judge Richard Boulware formally rejected the $335 settlement from the UFC’s parent company, TKO Holdings Group.

    White feels that Boulware’s actions went beyond legalities and may have been based on a personal grudge, with White — who says he usually lets the UFC’s legal team deal with matters involving things like this — claiming that he and Lorenzo Fertitta, former UFC CEO, went to high school with Boulware.

    “It’s getting to a point now where this feels personal. You know I went to high school with this guy? Me and Lorenzo went to high school with him. I don’t know what me or Lorenzo did to him in high school, but this seems very, very personal.

    “I don’t think I did anything to this guy. I don’t know what the hell happened, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this feels absolutely personal. And whatever it is with this guy, we’ll let the lawyers deal with it, and it is what it is.”

    Dana White Claims Judge’s Rejection Of UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Settlement Stems From ‘Personal’ High School Grudge

    In March, TKO agreed to the $335 million payout to settle a pair of class-action lawsuits brought against the UFC, [Cung] Le et al. vs. Zuffa and [Kajan] Johnson et al. vs. Zuffa. The plaintiffs were seeking $1.6 billion in damages and contractual changes to UFC contracts.

    Boulware, in previous weeks, had express concern about the settlement for various reasons. Firstly, the amount obtained in the settlement greatly differed from what the plaintiffs were originally seeking, creating concern over how much each fighter would actually receive from this.

    Secondly, each class-action lawsuit had a different focus, with the Le case centered around money and the Johnson case focused on contractual changes. Boulware expressed worry that this settlement did little to nothing for fighters represented in the Johnson case.

    A jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on October 28 for Le vs. Zuffa. Johnson vs. Zuffa, meanwhile, is still in a very early portion of the legal process.

  • VIDEO: Azamat Murzakanov Flattens Alonzo Menifield To Stay Undefeated At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Azamat Murzakanov Flattens Alonzo Menifield To Stay Undefeated At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    The UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi featured preliminary bout saw a battle between two light heavyweights looking to climb their way up the ranks, and the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov did that and then some.

    The Russian laid out Alonzo Menifield in a second-round finish to stay unbeaten.

    Murzakanov received praise for his first-round performance as he seemed to land at will, pressuring his American counterpart. Menifield, however, appeared to turn the tide in round two, landing some damaging shots that tired and hurt Murazakanov.

    Unbeaten Murzakanov Lands Vicious Shots To Stop Menifield At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    Murzakanov, however, answered right back with a stunning pair of left hands before dropping and finishing “Atomic” in brutal fashion.

    Since a first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series that earned him a UFC contract, Murzakanov has won four straight. That run includes three finishes, defeating Tafon Nchukwi, Devin Clark and Dustin Jacoby, in addition to Saturday’s win.

    Menifield, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back fights after a five-fight unbeaten streak.

  • Nate Diaz Defends Former Opponent Leon Edwards Against Streamer Criticizing ‘Disgraceful’ UFC 304 Loss

    Nate Diaz Defends Former Opponent Leon Edwards Against Streamer Criticizing ‘Disgraceful’ UFC 304 Loss

    Former UFC star Nate Diaz was not going to let slander of an ex-Octagon opponent go unanswered, hopping right away to defend.

    Streamer Adin Ross recently broadcasted harsh criticism of Leon Edwards, who dropped the welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304 last weekend.

    Ross went on a near three-minute rant on Edwards after the Brit’s loss cost him a $250,000 bet, stating Edwards was the “worst champion ever” and is “a disgrace to the UFC.”

    While Ross’ comments received a mixed reception from fight fans, Diaz was not having it, taking to his Instagram Stories to suggest somebody should ‘beat his ass’.

    Nate Diaz Fell Short In Memorable Five-Round Leon Edwards Battle In 2021

    Diaz and Edwards met in a five-round bout at UFC 263, with Edwards winning via unanimous decision. “Rocky” was in complete control for four rounds before being rocked and dropped by Diaz in the fifth, a scary moment that he managed to survive.

    Prior to UFC 304, Edwards had not lost since his first encounter with Kamaru Usman at the end of 2015. His sole non-victory in that stretch was his first meeting with Muhammad in March 2021, a fight Edwards was clearly winning before a second eye poke resulted in a no contest.

    Edwards, however, was unable to handle Muhammad’s wrestling in the pay-per-view bout in Manchester, thoroughly getting worked over as “Remember the Name” took the decision and title in a fight UFC CEO Dana White called “not a barnburner.”

    Diaz, meanwhile, competed in a boxing match with Jorge Masvidal last month, taking a decision win and calling for a rematch with Jake Paul.

  • After PFL President Dismisses Pursuing ‘Pain In The Ass’ Muhammad Mokaev, ONE Reportedly Told He’s Re-Signing With UFC

    Muhammad Mokaev’s future has been in question ever since his very public release from the mixed martial arts leader after UFC 304. And now, it seems the best potential alternate option for him has its door closed.

    Or has it?

    According to Drake Riggs of MMA Mania, ONE Championship and Mokaev have had discussions, but the Asian promotion was told that he will be re-signing with the UFC.

    It is unknown if Mokaev will actually get re-signed by the UFC, but Mokaev’s social media activity of late seems to indicate he only is seeking an Octagon return return.

    Muhammad Mokaev Claims He Is Re-Signing With UFC Following Talks With ONE Championship, PFL Expressing Lack Of Interest

    Following the PFL Playoffs card in Nashville on Friday, PFL President Ray Sefo was asked by Brett Cagle at the event’s post-fight press conference about the promotion’s interest in Mokaev. Sefo, however, seemed against the idea.

    “I’ve spoken to people in the know and, apparently, he’s just a pain in the ass to deal with,” Sefo said. “And so, no, we’re not interested.”

    This came following UFC CEO’s Dana White’s comments at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, where he stated “the PFL is going to get a great undefeated fighter” as he announced the UFC was not looking to re-sign Mokaev following the conclusion of his contract.

    A follow-up claim from Ben Davis stated that Mokaev had attempted to use the PFL as leverage in negotiations, contacting them before the expiration of his UFC contract in Manchester. That claim, however, has since been thrown into question, with Mokaev and his team branding it false.

    Mokaev came out on social media in response to Sefo, claiming he was not going to sign with the PFL regardless and suggesting the the organization is trying to get out in front of things.

    Mokaev was the source of controversy last week after a number of altercations with UFC 304 opponent Manel Kape. The pair went on to have an underwhelming battle at the event, with “The Punisher” getting a win via decision.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Misses Out On Title Shot, Faces Top Contender At UFC 308 Instead

    If he’s to earn another opportunity at collecting gold, Magomed Ankalaev must add another win to his unbeaten run at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

    Ankalaev (18-1-1, 1 NC), who currently occupies the #2 spot at 205 pounds, was widely tipped to be next in line for reigning champion Alex Pereira following the Brazilian’s emphatic defense of his title opposite Jiří Procházka late last month.

    But despite his social media campaigning, the Dagestani will need to make it 13 fights without defeat if he’s to book a long-awaited showdown with “Poatan.”

    That was announced on Saturday by UFC CEO Dana White, who revealed a number of major matchups for this year’s Abu Dhabi-held pay-per-view on October 26. Among them is a key light heavyweight battle between Ankalaev and the #5-ranked Aleksandar Rakić (14-4).

    With White’s recent announcement, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
  • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev Rescheduled For UFC 308 Co-Main Event In Abu Dhabi

    Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev Rescheduled For UFC 308 Co-Main Event In Abu Dhabi

    Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-7) and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) will attempt to share the Octagon at the second time of trying at UFC 308 this year in Abu Dhabi.

    The pair were previously lined up to headline the promotion’s debut event in Saudi Arabia this past June. On short notice, however, Chimaev withdrew from the Kingdom Arena-held card after suffering from an illness.

    In his place stepped in Ikram Aliskerov, who was emphatically knocked out in the first round by “The Reaper.” While some suggested the Australian could be in line for another shot at regaining the belt next, he’ll have to keep his focus on “Borz” first.

    Their rearranged middleweight matchup was announced by UFC CEO Dana White in a video on social media. It will be a five-round co-main event, with a featherweight title fight between champ Ilia Topuria and BMF titleholder Max Holloway headlining.

    With White’s recent announcement, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26 are as follows:

    • Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway (featherweight championship main event)
    • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight co-main event)
    • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight)
    • Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige (featherweight)
    • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (welterweight)
    • Marcos Rogério de Lima vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (heavyweight)
  • Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Headlines UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi On October 26

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway Headlines UFC 308 In Abu Dhabi On October 26

    The highly anticipated showdown between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway is set to headline UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, following Islam Makhachev’s recent revelation that he is dealing with an injury.

    The reigning UFC lightweight champion recently disclosed in an interview with a Russian media outlet that his persistent hand injury, incurred during his fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June, is still causing him problems. This ongoing issue has raised concerns about his ability to defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 308 on October 26 in Abu Dhabi.

    Makhachev mentioned that the UFC has not yet officially discussed the fight date with his team, but he had anticipated returning to the Octagon this year. However, MRI results have cast serious doubts on his ability to compete as planned.

    With Makhachev leaving a gap at the top of the Middle Eastern card, the UFC has turned to the featherweight title clash between Topuria and Holloway as a replacement to headline UFC 308.

    That was recently confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White in a video uploaded to social media.

    Previously, it was speculated that “El Matador” would make his first title defense against the BMF titleholder at UFC 307, scheduled to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5.

  • Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Official For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

    Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov 2 Official For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

    Top UFC heavyweights will run it back in the Middle East this coming October.

    After returning to the Etihad Arena for UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov this weekend, the mixed martial arts leader will be back in Abu Dhabi for its annual October pay-per-view there.

    And the UFC 308 numbered event has a major heavyweight matchup confirmed. Last month, Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight reported that former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (12-2) will run it back with seven-time UFC headliner Alexander Volkov (38-10) on October 26.

    The pair previously collided in a UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex in June 2021, with Gane winning in lopsided fashion on the scorecards after five rounds.

    On Saturday, Dana White confirmed the matchup in a video on social media.

    Gane Ends Year Layoff Against Familiar Foe At UFC 308

    When he makes his long-awaited return later this year, Gane will be tasked with stalling the resurgence of a longtime heavyweight veteran in Volkov.

    The Frenchman hasn’t competed since the UFC Fight Night in Paris last September. For the second straight year, he recorded a main event knockout win in front of his home fans, this time at the expense of Serghei Spivac. That result marked a rebound performance six months on from a quick submission loss for Gane at the hands of Jon Jones in their vacant title fight.

    According to reports, “Bon Gamin” turned down the chance to challenge for Tom Aspinall’s interim gold this month at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, owing to acting commitments. He’ll now also miss a France-held card for the first time, with Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis headlining at Accor Arena on September 28 instead.

    Volkov, meanwhile, is flying high having won five of six since his loss to Gane in 2021. And following a defeat to Aspinall the following year, the Russian has reeled off four consecutive triumphs, most recently outpointing his fellow countryman Sergei Pavlovich at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia last month.

    “Drago” will now return to the Middle East looking for redemption opposite Gane.

  • UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    UFC Featherweight Youssef Zalal Feels Aljamain Sterling’s Jiu-Jitsu Edge Decisive In Movsar Evloev Fight: ‘When The Russian Fought Diego Lopes…’ (Exclusive)

    A huge featherweight clash is set for UFC 307 on October 5, as former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling looks to hand Movsar Evloev his first loss.

    Evloev has been a force of nature since arriving in the Octagon and whilst he hasn’t had the finishes to really gather hype around his winning streak, his record speaks for itself.

    Sterling has also not always received tons of praise for his fighting style but his high-level grappling combined with awkward striking, makes him a very tough test for his Russian opponent.

    A fellow 145-pound contender on the UFC roster is excited to see how the two men match up with one another once the Octagon door closes.

    Youssef Zalal Breaks Down Aljamain Sterling Vs Movsar Evloev At UFC 307

    Youssef Zalal will look to secure back-to-back victories during his second stint in the UFC when he returns to face Jarno Errens on August 10.

    In a recent interview with MMA News, the Moroccan fighter broke down how he sees the match-up of top contenders and grapplers going down in Salt Lake City.

    Zalal made reference to how a clash of two grappling specialists often turns into a striking match between them as they cancel one another out on the floor.

    He also provided the theory that based on what he has seen from both, this could be a wrestling versus jiu-jitsu affair.

    “Those guys, I think it’s either gonna see a striking match the whole time and I think you’re gonna see one either wrestling and the other one jiu-jitsu. I feel like when the Russian fought Diego Lopes, you could see the jiu-jitsu kind of felt a little bit [off] right. I mean Diego Lopes’ jiu-jitsu is pretty good too so that’s why that, and I think Aljamain is a really good grappler obviously.

    “so I think you’re going to see a little battle on that part or it’s going to be a full-on striking match whenever you put two grapplers together so I’m pretty interested to see how the match-ups and the styles go on that part.”

    Read also: Dan Ige Has Return After Same-Day Notice Diego Lopes Scrap In The Works For Abu Dhabi-Held UFC 308

  • Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg Backs ‘Precedent’ Set By Releasing Muhammad Mokaev After Alleged Behavior Toward UFC Staff: ‘The Way He Was Treating The Nutrition Team…’

    Steve Erceg recently supported the UFC’s decision not to extend Muhammad Mokaev’s contract, highlighting his alleged misconduct towards staff as a justified move.

    Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last weekend in a bout marred by turmoil. The drama began at the hotel, where both fighters engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to initiating the scuffle by sucker-punching Kape. Tensions ran high as the two nearly clashed at several media events leading up to their bout.

    After his triumph over Kape, Mokaev announced the completion of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a new deal. However, at the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White responded to Mokaev’s statements, revealing that the undefeated flyweight would not receive a new contract offer.

    White conceded that Mokaev might not be the most captivating fighter on the roster but hinted that the 24-year-old Russian-born Englishman’s complications with the UFC go well beyond his fighting style in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s decision not to re-sign “The Punisher” sparked speculation that he had initiated talks with the PFL prior to the contract’s conclusion. However, these rumors were swiftly quashed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson, who firmly denied any such negotiations had taken place.

    “Astroboy” believes that the MMA promotion severed ties with Mokaev due to his inappropriate behavior towards staff and fighters alike…

    Erceg Claims Mokaev’s ‘Entitled’ Attitude Didn’t Sit Well With UFC

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist James Lynch, Erceg discussed Mokaev’s departure from the UFC, attributing the decision to “The Punisher’s” disruptive behavior. The Aussie remarked that Mokaev’s antics were a driving force behind the release and praised the organization for establishing a standard to serve as a cautionary example.

    “I was very surprised, but I think it’s a cool little precedent to set,” Erceg said. “You can’t go around starting fights and jumping other fighters. Getting a photo and then sucker-punching him [Kape] is unacceptable. It’s a coward mentality, I think. The way he treats people, I don’t know if fans get to see it, but he just seems like he’s a little entitled and thinks he’s very important, which I don’t particularly like, and obviously, the UFC didn’t like.”

    “Astroboy” further revealed that he shared a UFC Fight Night card with Mokaev this past March. During that time, he observed the Manchester native exhibiting poor conduct toward the UFC personnel.

    “I saw it when I fought on the same card as him, just the way he was treating the nutrition team and that sort of thing from the UFC. Just little things that are disrespectful. I thought it was odd, but he’s a young kid. Hopefully, he’ll learn from this moment.”

    It seems that Mokaev is indeed out of the UFC for now, as he was recently removed from the organization’s rankings in their latest update.

    However, with a promising career ahead and an impressive undefeated record, Mokaev’s considerable skillset is likely to attract plenty of interest from other promotions.

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  • Arnold Allen Shuts Down Spying Allegations From Giga Chikadze At UFC 304: ‘I Know Exactly What You’re Gonna Do…’

    Arnold Allen Shuts Down Spying Allegations From Giga Chikadze At UFC 304: ‘I Know Exactly What You’re Gonna Do…’

    Featherweight contender Arnold Allen returned to the win column at UFC 304, where winning rounds two and three against Giga Chikadze secured him a unanimous decision across all three scorecards.

    The fight was a high-level striking contest between the two men in Manchester where Allen was able to show that he can stand with the best strikers at 145-pounds.

    Despite everything appearing to be civil between them ahead of fight night, a social media post from Chikadze appeared to stir up some drama.

    The Georgian fighter posted on X and accused his opponent of sending spies to his training room.

    Arnold Allen Addresses ‘Weird’ Spying Allegations And Says He Wouldn’t Need Them

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Allen spoke about Chikadze’s claims and explained how he believes that his opponent was paranoid.

    “Yeah, I don’t know. That guy’s a strange guy man, paranoid I think, I don’t know. I ain’t got no spies and he was like saying there’s English people everywhere and I’m just like what the f*** do you mean there’s English people everywhere? Mate, you’re in Manchester. I was really, I was kind of taken aback. I was confused. I was just like I don’t know what you’re talking about, so yeah, weird. Weird, weird, weird but like, I ain’t got no spies.”

    The #5-ranked contender did go on to explain that some fighters that he knew were, at one point, in the same room as Chikadze, as referenced in the social media post.

    Allen broke down what actually played out and said that due to Chikadze’s signature style, he wouldn’t need spies to predict his approach because he is such a specialist striker.

    “No one was coming and reporting things and telling me anything. A couple of my teammates were working out in the room, in their workout room, and he had someone from his team come and ask them to leave and they did and they didn’t tell me anything. They were just like, ‘Oh yeah he recognized us from like you train at this gym and then they asked us to leave,’ and they left and they didn’t tell me anything so, other than that they got asked to leave. Weird but also like, if I need spies for anyone, he’s the last guy I need spies for. You know what I mean? It’s like I know exactly what you’re going to do. Unless you’re in the back room drilling double legs, I’m not going to be surprised by anything.”

    Read also: UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • Javier Mendez Describes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Evolution As A Coach: ‘He Even Demonstrates Striking Techniques To Perfection’

    Javier Mendez Describes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Evolution As A Coach: ‘He Even Demonstrates Striking Techniques To Perfection’

    The biggest fight of Umar Nurmagomedov’s career goes down this weekend and he will have his family right beside him for it.

    He faces Cory Sandhagen in the main event in Abu Dhabi, where the former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in his corner.

    After achieving great success as a coach after his retirement, “The Eagle” decided to take a step back for a while before returning to corner Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

    He’s now agreed with AKA head coach Javier Mendez that he will corner certain fighters including Makhachev and his own cousins, in undefeated bantamweight contender Umar and the Bellator lightweight champion Usman.

    Mendez spoke on fight week about how despite Khabib having some areas to improve as a corner, his ability as a coach is already top notch.

    Javier Mendez Says Khabib Nurmagomedov Even Coaches Striking Perfectly

    In a recent interview with Helen Yee Sports, Mendez spoke about what it’s like to have coach Khabib back working with him in the corner.

    He said that Nurmagomedov, in many ways, has taken up his late father’s mantle in being a figure for all the other fighters in the gym to follow and listen to.

    “Khabib is more the leader, he runs everything just like his father did and I come in and I do my little bits here and there. For the most part, I do what I’ve been always doing. I come in and I do my thing and Khabib, in all honesty, has always been coaching these guys even when he was fighting.

    “so the only difference this time around for Umar is now he gets to have the great one in his corner also so having him in the corner with me is fantastic. My only thing when he corners is he’s going to go crazy.”

    Whilst having Nurmagomedov in the corner is obviously a massive asset, Mendez did say that he has had to give his former student some words of advice in regards to keeping his composure whilst being in the corner.

    He said that this is his only real feedback though as the former champion has got all other bases covered, including his ability to teach striking.

    “Those are little tiny things that I give him, little things like that, everything else he has. His instruction is great, I mean he even demonstrates the striking techniques to perfection now. He knows. Khabib knows.”

    Read also: UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    Tom Aspinall recently admitted he is uncertain whether he will ever have the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the Octagon.

    Following his dazzling performance in front of his home crowd at UFC 304, where he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds to secure his third consecutive knockout victory, the Brit continued to campaign for a title unification bout against the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. However, Jones has persistently rebuffed the challenge, going so far as to undermine Aspinall’s position as the interim champion.

    Aspinall is the current interim heavyweight titleholder, a title he claimed at UFC 295 in November 2023 after “Bones” was forced to pull out of his matchup with Stipe Miocic due to a torn pectoral muscle. Ideally, the 31-year-old Salford native would be gearing up for an undisputed championship bout later this year. Instead, he remains on the periphery, while Jones is expected to face Miocic in a fight targeted for November.

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Aspinall was asked about the possibility of ever facing “Bones.” The interim champ voiced his uncertainty and raised doubts about Jones’ intentions, questioning whether he will actually go through with the fight against Miocic.

    “I have no idea. I like to think he would, but we don’t know at this point if Jon Jones is even fighting Stipe. We have no idea,” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy; you don’t see what you get with Jones, and you don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, and snaky—he does different movements. He says one thing and does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea, to be honest.”

    Aspinall Opens Up About Serving As Backup for A Possible Jones-Miocic Clash

    At the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall will serve as the backup fighter in case either Jones or Miocic is unable to step into the Octagon.

    In the aforementioned interview, Aspinall expressed his eagerness to step in as the backup and asserted his confidence and readiness in his abilities to defeat both Jones and Miocic, even on a day’s notice.

    “Yep, I’ll be there. I’ll do that, and I’d fight those guys on an hour’s notice if they needed me to. Listen, mate, I can beat both of these guys, no problem. If I’ve got to do it on a day’s notice, I can do it easily, so I’ll be there to take my opportunity if it presents itself.”

    The possibility of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown is captivating the MMA community, yet its realization appears remote. Jones remains resolute in his intention to face Miocic upon his return and has even suggested that he might retire after that fight.

  • Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    Dana White Told To Accept Blame For Uneventful UFC 304: ‘You Messed It Up For The People That Work For The Promotion & Some Of The Fighters…’

    UK fight fans may have been treated to a title fight double header this past weekend in Manchester but UFC 304 didn’t hit expectations.

    There was a lot of disgruntlement from both fans and fighters when it was announced that the event would be taking place at US time, meaning that the night wouldn’t kick off until 11 pm local time at the Co-Op Live arena.

    It was clear to see how it affected the ticket-buyers on the night, with videos of the crowd being literally asleep in their seats during the event.

    This strange schedule will have also impacted the fighters, with Leon Edwards stating inside the Octagon after losing his welterweight title that he felt low on energy all week after training in the middle of the night.

    After Dana White slated the in-Octagon action, which had a run of seven consecutive judges’ decisions, the idea of how much the timings affected the night, was called into question.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy & Josh Thomson Say UFC Need To Take Some Blame For Time-Related Issues At UFC 304

    On a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy and Josh Thomson discussed the impact of UFC 304 taking place at US time despite it being held in England.

    McCarthy said that the UFC – namely Dana White- needs to take some of the blame for why the card didn’t end up delivering due to this decision.

    “When you’re pointing one finger forward, there’s three coming back at you Josh and you got to look at those and you gotta say well, we did put these fighters in a position where they were fighting at 3 o’clock in the morning, 4 o’clock in the morning, 5 o’clock in the morning. No one works out at those times, no one fights at those times. It is an unusual situation and even if you try to prepare for it, it’s odd. It’s just an odd time for you, your body doesn’t feel the same, you don’t feel like you’re on top of things.”

    Thomson went on to add how it wasn’t just the fighters from the UK that would have struggled with the difference in event scheduling.

    He noted how fighters and staff coming from other countries would have also experienced difficulties because they would have needed to sleep throughout the day- even if the actual time wouldn’t be any different for them.

    “You kind of offset both parties by doing this. What happens is when you go to another country and they’re there five days before, some of them get there seven days before, some of the staff, and sometimes that’s not good. But, what I’m saying though is that now you’ve asked them to stay awake during the night so they can be awake during the night.

    “So, the ones that come from the states that work for the UFC, their body clock is trying to change to get adjusted to the UK time when in fact they can’t because their show is at 5 in the morning. Then, the fighters that are there, they’re getting all screwed up because they’re having to fight when they’re normally sleeping. So you really kind of messed up both sides of this equation. You messed it up for the people that work for the promotion and some of the fighters that came over having to fight.”

    Read also: Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

  • UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

    UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen, who is tasked with getting the better of undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov if he’s to successfully defend his spot in the top five and stake his claim for shot at the undisputed gold.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another unbeaten name in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov meets Michał Oleksiejczuk on short notice, while Marlon Vera looks to revive his bantamweight championship ambitions at the expense of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson, strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern, and rising light heavyweight contender Azamat Murzakanov.

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi (as of 8/2), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Cory Sandhagen (-270) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (+340)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-238) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (+195)
    • Marlon Vera (+120) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (-142)
    • Tony Ferguson (+440) vs. Michael Chiesa (-600)
    • Mackenzie Dern (-118) vs. Loopy Godinez (-102)
    • Joel Álvarez (-166) vs. Elves Brener (+140)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Azamat Murzakanov (-218) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+180)
    • Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Kaue Fernandes (-395)
    • Shamil Gaziev (-270) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (+220)
    • Guram Kutateladze (-230) vs. Jordan Vucenic (+190)
    • Victoria Dudakova (-175) vs. Sam Hughes (+145)
    • Jai Herbert (-130) vs. Rolando Berdoya (+110)
    • Sedriques Dumas (-130) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (+190)
  • Carla Esparza Announces UFC 307 Return Will Be Her Retirement Fight: ‘I Feel It’s Time’

    Carla Esparza Announces UFC 307 Return Will Be Her Retirement Fight: ‘I Feel It’s Time’

    Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza has announced that her next outing inside the Octagon will be her last.

    News recently broke, via MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, that she is set to return from a near two-year lay off to face Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5.

    Esparza has been inactive since losing her title to Weili Zhang at UFC 281 in November of 2022.

    In the following months, the 36-year old announced that she was pregnant with a son and therefore, has been taking some time off before working towards one last dance.

    Carla Esparza Says ‘It’s Time’ To End Her Near 15-Year Career

    Esparza announced on social media that her recently reported fight will be the final outing of her 27-fight pro career.

    Having made her pro back in 2010, “Cookie Monster” would go on to win season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter which saw her be crowned as the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion by defeating Rose Namajunas in the final.

    Having already become the inaugural Invicta strawweight champion before signing to the UFC, she remained in this weight class her entire career and put together her best-ever streak before the loss to Zhang in November of 2022.

    Winning six-straight, including victories over the likes of Alexa Grasso and Yan Xiaonan, Esparza would defeat Namajunas once again at UFC 274 to become a two-time UFC champion at 115-pounds.

    Now she feels, as she said herself on social media, it’s the right time for her to ride off into the sunset following a rematch with Pennington who she defeated a decade ago on route to winning The Ultimate Fighter.

    “*RETIREMENT FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT*
    I will be stepping into The UFC Octagon on Saturday, October 5th for the final time. After almost 15 years as a professional, fighting the best of the best, I feel it’s time to hang up my gloves. This choice is made for my body and my family; 20+ years doing combat sports takes its toll.

    I wanted to give my ‘Cookie Monster’ fans, who have never been there to watch me live, one final opportunity. It feels bittersweet to leave this sport that I love so much, but I’m happy to be doing it on my own terms.”
    #UFC307

    Read also: José Aldo, Kayla Harrison Have Returns In The Works For UFC 307 On October 5

  • UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October, the UFC will put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent will be looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

    Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, will see another unbeaten name back in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov looks to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.

    Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds will go down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera will look to revive his championship ambitions before stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern are among those set to be in action.

    Ahead of the event, all 26 fighters successfully made weight. With that, all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a replay via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by the faceoffs!

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Stream

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs:

  • UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October, the UFC will put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent will be looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

    Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, will see another unbeaten name back in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov looks to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.

    Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds will go down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera will look to revive his championship ambitions before stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern are among those set to be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

    The weigh-ins took place early Friday morning. See the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Bantamweight Main Event: Cory Sandhagen (136lbs) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sharabutdin Magomedov (186lbs) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (185lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (136lbs) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Tony Ferguson (170lbs) vs. Michael Chiesa (170lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (115lbs) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Joel Álvarez (155.5lbs) vs. Elves Brener (155lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (205lbs) vs. Alonzo Menifield (204lbs)
    • Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (155lbs) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev (262lbs) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265lbs)
    • Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze (155lbs) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Victoria Dudakova (115.5lbs) vs. Sam Hughes (114lbs)
    • Lightweight: Jai Herbert (155.5lbs) vs. Rolando Berdoya (155lbs)
    • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas (186lbs) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185lbs)
  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Heaps Praise On Belal Muhammad’s Mentality For UFC 304 Win Over Leon Edwards: ‘Covington Couldn’t Take Him Down!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s esteemed head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered accolades on Belal Muhammad for his tenacious performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304.

    “Remember the Name” dethroned the defending UFC welterweight champion last weekend at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester, United Kingdom. This highly anticipated bout was their second encounter, following their initial fight in March 2021, which concluded in a no-contest due to an accidental eye-poke that prevented Muhammad from continuing past the second round.

    Muhammad opened the fight with vigor, swiftly executing a takedown that showcased his superior wrestling skills. His fluid blend of takedowns and sharp boxing set the pace early on. In the second round, the American ramped up his offense, slamming “Rocky” headfirst into the canvas and seizing control of the match.

    Edwards mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth round, unleashing a flurry of potent strikes. However, Muhammad closed the distance and secured another takedown, maintaining dominant control for the majority of the round. The Englishman managed to reverse the position in the final round, raining down a torrent of elbows that inflicted significant damage on Muhammad’s nose, but his relentless assault wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ scorecards in his favor.

    The official scores of the fight were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, decisively naming “Remember the Name” as the new UFC welterweight champion.

    Zahabi believes that Muhammad deployed an impressive array of techniques against Edwards…

    Zahabi Credits Muhammad’s Victory Over Edwards to His Self-Belief

    In a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi analyzed the title fight between Edwards and Muhammad. The esteemed MMA coach lauded the challenger, noting that overcoming a fighter like “Rocky”, known for his exceptional takedown defense, was achievable only through Muhammad’s unwavering confidence in his grappling prowess.

    “His boxing was excellent, and his double leg was even better,” Zahabi said. “The way he locked it up, the way he had his back straight, stunning performance. That’s no easy fight. Leon Edwards ain’t no easy fight. Colby Covington couldn’t take him down. Colby Covington, the guy who’s been wrestling his entire life, the guy who was supposed to be the top wrestler in the UFC, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it. How come Belal was taking him down over and over again with such belief? Belal has so much belief in his takedowns.”

    Zahabi went on to highlight how “Remember the Name” has improved his skillset to an entirely new level since his first fight against Edwards.

    “That’s a very different Belal Muhammad. I think Leon Edwards really underestimated Belal Muhammad. I really think he underestimated him, which was a huge mistake because Belal has really improved in the last three years. He was a great fighter then; he’s a much better fighter now.”

    With his recent victory, Muhammad extended his impressive unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive fights in the Octagon.

    Although the Chicago native hasn’t yet named an opponent for his first title defense, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out as the most likely contender.

  • Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Gives Props To Sean O’Malley, Talks Viral Knee: ‘Really Kinda Shocked Me…’

    Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Gives Props To Sean O’Malley, Talks Viral Knee: ‘Really Kinda Shocked Me…’

    Marlon “Chito” Vera returns this weekend in Abu Dhabi where he looks to get back to winning ways in the bantamweight division.

    Vera faces a tough test in former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo but he has all the motivation he needs after how his last fight went.

    The challenger was unable to really put his stamp on his 135-pound title fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 299, where he was beaten convincingly over the five round contest.

    His toughness was enough to keep him in the fight but even that was tested at several points by some sniper-like striking from “Suga”.

    One strike, in particular, stole the show in March after O’Malley landed a knee that sounded even worse than it looked.

    Marlon Vera Says A Punch In The Fifth Round Hurt More Than Viral Knee

    Before he makes the walk once again this weekend, Vera reflected on his last fight and some of the damage that he took.

    It says a lot about his heart and durability that he was able to make it to the final bell with many finding it hard to believe that he continued to fight on after that knee strike landed in the second round.

    Vera spoke during his media day interview about what was going through his mind at that moment and how much damage the knee actually caused.

    “Just to make a comparison, the punch in the fifth round that land perfectly on my eye, it wasn’t an eye poke but it felt like one, hurt me a million times more. Like I was fully blind, I was like, ‘F***!’ It was a perfect punch, props on him but I mean the knee really like kind of shocked me.

    “I was like, ‘F*** I got clipped with something big,’ and I know it was the knee but I wasn’t like… my legs were there. I was just like, ‘F*** that really hurt,’ In terms of a hit but I would say my brain and my legs were there. I was just like don’t do that again. It was pretty much almost the same knee that I hit Font with.”

    Read also: Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

  • Carla Esparza’s First Fight Since Zhang Weili Title Loss In 2022 Targeted For UFC 307

    Carla Esparza’s First Fight Since Zhang Weili Title Loss In 2022 Targeted For UFC 307

    The comeback of former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza is in the works for this fall.

    Esparza hasn’t entered the Octagon since losing the 115-pound gold to Zhang Weili by way of submission at UFC 281 in November 2022. The 36-year-old announced that she was pregnant four months later and gave birth to her son in September 2023.

    “Cookie Monster” is now ready to resume her fighting career, and per MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, that’s expected to begin with a rematch of sorts against fellow veteran contender Tecia Pennington.

    The pair previously collided on The Ultimate Fighter back in 2014, with Esparza emerging victories over Pennington in a quarterfinal contest en route to winning the entire strawweight tournament.

    King’s report revealed that their second dance is targeted for the UFC 307 pay-per-view on October 5, expected to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Esparza vs. Pennington In The Works For UFC 307

    Should this matchup be made official, both Esparza and Pennington will be searching for their first wins in years.

    Esparza (19-7) dropped from contention back in 2018 after falling to consecutive losses against Cláudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez. But she followed that skid with a five-fight winning run comprised of triumphs over Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Marina Rodriguez, and Yan Xiaonan to earn a shot at two-time champ status.

    “Cookie Monster” achieved that feat at UFC 274 in May 2022, getting the judges’ nod in a lackluster rematch with Namajunas to capture the strawweight belt once again. But having relinquished her grip on it months later against Zhang, Esparza will return in pursuit of becoming the woman to regain a title twice in the UFC.

    Out to ensure that run doesn’t get out the starting blocks looks set to be Pennington (13-7). Like Esparza, “The Tiny Tornado” took a break in her career to give birth. That came after a narrow split decision loss to Mackenzie Dern in April 2022, a result that snapped her three-fight winning run.

    Pennington made her return this past May at the UFC Fight Night in St. Louis, once again falling on the wrong side of a split verdict, this time against Tabatha Ricci. After celebrating her wife Raquel Pennington’s bantamweight title crowning earlier this year, “The Tiny Tornado” will look to enjoy her own success inside the Octagon again on October 5.

    With this addition, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC 307 are as follows:

    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington (women’s strawweight)
    • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
    Carla Esparza & Tecia Pennington
    Carla Esparza & Tecia Pennington (Image: UFC.com)