MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’ 

    Coach Eric Nicksick Lays Heavy Praise On Tom Aspinall Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘He Hits Pads Like Some Of My 145ers’ 

    Renowned mixed martial arts coach Eric Nicksick was left impressed by the ability of Tom Aspinall when the interim UFC heavyweight champion stopped by the Xtreme Couture gym.

    Aspinall is currently gearing up for his first assignment of 2024. It’s set to be a big one, as he’ll defend the interim belt in a rematch with veteran contender Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view.

    While not the unification showdown with Jon Jones that he had hoped for, Aspinall will be making the walk in front of his home crowd, with Manchester’s Co-op Live hosting UFC action for the very first time.

    Should Aspinall emerge with the interim title still in his possession, those pushing for Jones to abandon his plans to face Stipe Miocic will no doubt grow louder. Many of them are so high on Aspinall that they believe he could get the better of the consensus greatest of all time.

    And when it comes to those with a keen eye for talent, Aspinall couldn’t do much better than one recent endorsement…

    Nicksick High On Aspinall After Xtreme Couture Training

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick looked ahead to the UFC’s next numbered event, paying particular attention to one of two champs set to headline it on July 27.

    During a trip to the US earlier this year, Aspinall got some work in with Nicksick at his Las Vegas facility. In addition to the pair bonding and forming a friendship, the renowned coach got to see first hand the kind of skills that have left the interim champ widely branded the leader in the next generation of heavyweights.

    “Man, he was just as advertised as an athlete, but I think moreover just the human being that he is,” Nicksick said. “You see these guys on TV and you see their athleticism and how well they fight. That’s one thing, but then when you get to meet the individual and actually have a conversation with him and see how great of a human being they are, that even raises your level of enthusiasm.

    “Him and his brother came in and they were just a joy to work with,” Nicksick continued. “I’m a Tom Aspinall fan and I’m super excited to see him fight. … He’s in that top three (heavyweights in the world), a hundred percent. And I think he’s just scratching the surface with his potential. The athleticism that he has, from the feet to the floor, what he’s able to do, all of it is very high level. The thing I noticed the most about him was his feet, how well he moved side to side; his lateral moment, his speed. … Honest to god, he hits pads like some of my 145ers. He understands the angles and how to hit and not be hit.”

    Aspinall will look to show the talents Nicksick mentioned when he makes the walk on home soil for the third consecutive year.

    And having had his headliner with Blaydes end in disaster in the summer of 2022, the Manchester native has the chance to right that wrong and avenge the sole setback on his UFC slate thus far.

    Nicksick himself will likely be watching on, be it from the arena or fighter hotel in the English city. The top coach is scheduled to be at UFC 304 to corner Manel Kape for his flyweight showdown with Muhammad Mokaev on the main card.

  • Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’

    Paddy Pimblett Explains Willingness To Box Jake Paul As Current UFC Contract Nears Its End: ‘It’s All About Money…’

    Paddy Pimblett will look to go undefeated in six Octagon appearances when he returns at UFC 304 on July 27.

    His fight with King Green is sure to draw lots of attention, like all of Pimblett’s fights have since the former Cage Warriors champion signed to the promotion and debuted back in 2021.

    “The Baddy” quickly became a big name on the UFC roster, but he has recently hinted at the idea of taking his huge profile elsewhere in order to cash in on a big payday.

    Pimblett revealed that his clash with Green in Manchester will be the last on his UFC contract, suggesting that he could be tempted to step inside a boxing ring if someone was to offer him a lot of money to do so.

    Paddy Pimblett Open To Boxing Jake Paul Once His UFC Contract Expires

    During a recent interview with BestOnlinePokerSites, Pimblett once again referenced how he could be tempted to step through the ropes if he gets the right offer.

    The Scouse fighter was giving his opinion on Jake Paul’s return to the ring this Saturday night against Mike Perry. He gave props to “The Problem Child” before stating that he also wouldn’t mind stepping in there with him, referencing his mindset when it comes to the fight game.

    “Give Jake Paul his dues for that one. I didn’t think he’d fight someone like Mike Perry. He’s fought a load of f****** clowns. Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley when they were both over 40, Anderson’s a Thai boxer and Woodley’s a wrestler – but Mike Perry is a boxer, he’s a striker, he’s got hands. So I’ll be honest, Jake Paul has gained a little bit of respect from me.

    “If Jake Paul sends a contract over for a couple of million dollars and wants to fight me, let’s do it. We’re prize fighters at the end of the day. That’s what people forget. We do this to get paid. It’s all about money.”

    In the same interview, Pimblett also gave his reaction to Conor McGregor downplaying the card for UFC 304, which will see the Octagon return to the North of England.

    The lightweight contender responded and again referenced wanting to compete in a boxing match if he receives an offer after this next contest.

    “That’s a mad one, and I really like Conor – but if anyone ever put his name on a contract and sent it to me, I’d be like, cha-ching! You never know. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be negotiating after this fight. One of these f*****g stupid influencers might get on and want to have me a boxing match for a couple of million. And I’ll be in!”

  • Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire on top of the sport in 2020, there was always going to be talk of what could possibly bring him back.

    “The Eagle” never had the same motivations as most other fighters, and his decision to retire after his title defense over Justin Gaethje wasn’t something that was a big long term plan.

    The passing of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov meant that Khabib would step away following a promise to his mother despite being just one win away from the coveted 30-0 that his father wanted to achieve.

    Regardless of recent reports regarding his financial situation, money was never the aim for the undefeated lightweight king, and it certainly appears that the UFC already tried this option.

    Chael Sonnen believes that we could have seen Nurmagomedov back inside the Octagon if the promotion had switched tact with him…

    Sonnen: UFC Should Have Offered Khabib Fights At A Different Weight Rather Than Increased Money

    During a recent YouTube video, Sonnen suggested that the UFC was wasting its time by attempting to offer Nurmagomedov more money to continue fighting.

    As he recalls, the promotion tried to keep him around to at least hit the 30-0 mark but “The Eagle” has proven to be a man of his word.

    In Sonnen’s opinion, the financial figure wasn’t the number that they should have been offering the all-time great 155-pound fighter. He believes discussions about competing in a different weight class would have been a much more effective way to entice Nurmagomedov back for one last dance.

    “I have maintained for you that when those negotiations were going on and they were attempting to change numbers, they were changing the wrong number,” Sonnen said. “The same reason that 30-0 became 29-0. It wasn’t commas and zeros. It was the weight class.

    “If they would have had one more, sat him down, and really negotiated, and made it 170 pounds, you would have seen Khabib fight or at least, you’d have been a lot more likely,” Sonnen added.

    The champion never had particularly easy weight cuts, and if you look at his entire career, competing outside the lightweight division is one of the only boxes that he never checked off.

  • Julianna Peña Explains Why She’ll Call Out Amanda Nunes Instead Of Kayla Harrison If She Regains UFC Bantamweight Title 

    Julianna Peña Explains Why She’ll Call Out Amanda Nunes Instead Of Kayla Harrison If She Regains UFC Bantamweight Title 

    Should she become a two-time UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña plans to settle some unfinished business.

    Peña hasn’t competed in almost two years, having not made the walk since losing the 135-pound strap in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas, back in the summer of 2022.

    The result brought “The Venezuelan Vixen’s” reign to a sudden halt six months on from her memorable and shocking submission of the “Lioness.”

    While the pair were set to complete their trilogy last June in Canada, an injury suffered by Peña in training forced her out. In her place stepped Irene Aldana on short notice, and after outpointing the Mexican at UFC 289, Nunes laid down her two belts and announced her retirement.

    A bemused Peña booed from cageside and has since expressed confidence that the Brazilian hasn’t permanently hung up the gloves. And she expects to prove as much by drawing Nunes back to the cage after bringing Raquel Pennington’s divisional rule to a close later this year…

    Peña: Nunes Fight Would Be The ‘Biggest Trilogy In Women’s Combat Sports’

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited return to action and revealed what she hopes will follow a planned second title crowning.

    While two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champ Kayla Harrison made a splash in her Octagon debut by getting the better of Holly Holm, “The Venezuelan Vixen” has other plans when it comes to her first defense should she unseat Pennington.

    “I still feel like the spidey senses and all that, that she (Nunes) will come back, and it’s just a matter of time before she does,” Peña said. “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. I want to fight Raquel, I want my belt back, I’m getting my belt back. After that, I will absolutely be calling out Amanda, and I believe that she absolutely will come back because it’s too big of a fight for her.

    “Of course, (I’ll call out Nunes, not Harrison). That’s like if I win the belt, I should also call out Ronda (Rousey), you know what I mean? Ronda has been escaping these fights with me for years. … Those are fights that I want. I want big fights, I want big money fights,” Peña continued, before being asked if she sees the Nunes trilogy as bigger than a Harrison bout. “Absolutely. We’re 1-1, unfinished business. … This would be the biggest trilogy in women’s combat sports.”

    Harrison took note of those remarks and others that saw Peña accuse her of past PED use during the conversation with Helwani, responding with a fiery message toward “The Venezuelan Vixen” on social media.

    While the stage has long been set for a rivalry between Peña and Harrison even before the latter’s UFC signing, it would appear that the former bantamweight queen has no immediate plans to settle it inside the Octagon.

  • Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304

    Molly McCann Vows She & Paddy Pimblett Will ‘Steal The Show Again’ At UFC 304

    UFC strawweight Molly McCann expects to light up Manchester’s Co-op Live alongside friend and teammate Paddy Pimblett next weekend.

    The two Liverpudlian fan favorites will both be in action at the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event, which sees mixed martial arts’ premier promotion cross the pond to stage an event in an English city other than London for the first time post-pandemic.

    In the capital, the pair have had their fair share of success, with both going 2-0 at The O2 with standout UFC Fight Night performances in 2022. Pimblett’s two submissions and McCann’s two knockouts were all rewarded with post-fight bonuses.

    They’ll hope to repeat those feats up north on July 27 when Pimblett shoots for the lightweight rankings against King Green and McCann looks to make it back-to-back wins down at strawweight opposite Bruna Brasil.

    McCann Predicts Repeat Of 2022 Home Fights For Her, Pimblett

    During the latest episode of Paddy Pimblett’s fight camp flog, his fellow Next Generation MMA standout Molly McCann looked ahead to their respective outings at UFC 304 next Saturday night.

    Like they did in both March and July of 2022, “Meatball” promised that both she and “The Baddy” will “steal the show” with explosive finishes in front of their home fans.

    “We’re getting to the point now where the hunger is on us, but we’re getting closer and closer so it’s more exciting,” McCann said. “We’re just gonna f*cking steal the show again. Two big finishes, ride off into the sunset, and f*ck off to Tenerife after.”

    Having come up short in her most recent appearance on home soil in 2023, McCann will be looking to return to the kind of performance that saw her rise in prominence two years ago at the expense of Brasil.

    And should she accomplish that feat on the July 27 prelims, the stage will be set for her teammate, as Pimblett has his first opportunity at securing a lightweight ranking on the UFC 304 main card.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

    Muhammad Mokaev Believes UFC Didn’t Want Him To Take ‘American Star’ Jon Jones’ Youngest Champ Record

    UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev failed in his quest to unseat Jon Jones from the youngest champion throne, but he puts the blame for that down to the promotion’s preference.

    With a lengthy undefeated amateur record and perfect professional slate early into his career in tow, Mokaev arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in 2022 with considerable hype behind his name.

    And the Dagestan-born promised big things, even backing himself to have gold wrapped around his waist at a younger age than record-holder Jones.

    That journey got underway on the right foot when Mokaev reeled off three wins in his debut year, including submissions of both Cody Durden and Malcolm Gordon. He subsequently rose the ranks by getting the better of Tim Elliott last October and former title challenger Alex Perez this past March.

    But March also marked the point at which Mokaev saw his hopes of breaking Jones’ youngest champ record slip away. Nevertheless, he maintains that if given the opportunity, he’d be the one sitting in the record books right now…

    Mokaev Suggests UFC ‘Didn’t Want’ Him To Break Jones’ Record

    During a recent interview with Title Sports Network’s Kaz Crossley, Mokaev looked ahead to his upcoming return to action at UFC 304 and assessed his current standing in MMA’s premier promotion.

    When asked about his goals, “The Punisher” expressed a reluctance when it comes to outlining future plans after not achieving his ambition of becoming the UFC’s youngest champion.

    And when it comes to that failed pursuit, Mokaev believes he was fighting against the promotion’s own preference for the record to remain in the hands of Jones.

    “It’s hard for me to say my goals now because once I said I want to become youngest UFC champion and it didn’t work out. I don’t want something to announce. if it comes, it comes,” Mokaev said. “I believe I could have been youngest UFC champion. Jon Jones become youngest UFC champion when he was 23 years old and nine months. I’m still 23.

    “I think I’m the most active after Jon Jones from the young generation. I think I could have got it, but just maybe UFC didn’t want me,” Mokaev continued. “I think Jon Jones is a star, American star. I think they want to keep him there, one hundred percent.”

    While wrestling Jones’ record away is now a goal of the past, Mokaev still has the flyweight gold in his sights.

    His next step toward securing a first shot at it comes on home soil at UFC 304 in Manchester next weekend, with Manel Kape looking to bounce back from a pair of fight cancellations this year and secure a second dance with champion Alexandre Pantoja at the Brit’s expense.

  • ‘1 Canceled Fight & 1 Crypto Scam In 2024’ – Khamzat Chimaev Comes Under Fire From Fans After Calling For UFC Title Shot In Return Fight

    Undefeated UFC star Khamzat Chimaev’s recent call for a championship opportunity didn’t go down well with many corners of the fanbase…

    It looks like a year will pass by between appearances inside the Octagon for Chimaev, whose plans for a quick rise toward UFC gold and title glory across multiple weight classes have taken hit after hit ever since his debut year.

    “Borz” announced his arrival as one of the most highly touted prospects in recent memory when he reeled off three wins in three months back in 2020. He’s since competed four times in almost four years, with health issues and reported visa trouble making fights few and far between.

    The Chechen athlete most recently got the better of former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a short-notice middleweight scrap at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi last October. But his hopes for a possible shot at the belt were dashed when he required hand surgery and subsequently fell ill.

    And when he was set to return in a high-profile contest opposite Robert Whittaker in last month’s Saudi Arabia main event, illness once again struck, forcing a late withdrawal.

    Despite that, Chimaev seemingly doesn’t think his stock has taken much of a hit in the eyes of the brass, even going as far as to call for a title shot at this October’s Abu Dhabi-held UFC 308 pay-per-view.

    MMA Fans React To Chimaev Staking Claim To UFC Title Shot: ‘If He Becomes Champ…Get That Interim Ready’

    Having not competed in 2024 thus far and beaten none of the names currently inside the middleweight top 10, Chimaev unsurprisingly came under fire from plenty of fans for his championship demand.

    Some made light of the recent crypto coin controversy involving the 13-0 fighter, while others highlighted his history of withdrawals and weight misses when placed in main event positions to suggest he can’t be trusted in a title matchup yet.

    https://twitter.com/MaskedFanatic/status/1813459276956070001
  • City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    For the first time in his professional career, UFC welterweight prospect Kevin Jousset is set to compete in front of his compatriots.

    Jousset made a splash on debut last September in Sydney, following two-division championship glory under Australia’s Hex Fight Series banner with a first-round submission at UFC 293.

    The Frenchman has long trained alongside the likes of Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker at New Zealand’s City Kickboxing, fighting exclusively in Oceania prior to his UFC signing. And having competed on United States soil for the first time in his sophomore Octagon outing, Jousset is now set for a homecoming this fall.

    Per MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, “Air” has been added to the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, on September 28. There, he’s set for a step up in competition against Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29 middleweight tournament.

    Home Favorite Jousset Targets Third Straight UFC Win At The Expense Of Battle

    When Jousset makes the walk to what will no doubt be a positive reception at Accor Arena, he’ll be looking to maintain his perfect UFC slate.

    Jousset (10-2) lost two of his first seven pro fights, the first of which came against current top five welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena under the Eternal MMA banner. But since a split decision setback in 2022, the 31-year-old has won five straight to have two titles in his possession, as well as a UFC contract.

    And after submitting Kiefer Crosbie Down Under and outpointing Song Kenan at the Apex last December, “Air” is next tasked with stalling the welterweight ambitions of Battle (10-2, 1 NC) in his first assignment of 2024.

    One fight on from his TUF triumph, “The Butcher” committed to a move down in weight, and he debuted at 170 pounds emphatically by knocking out Takashi Sato with a brutal head kick just 44 seconds into their fight. While he subsequently fell to a decision against the highly regarded Rinat Fakhretdinov, he bounced back with a 14-second knockout of Gabe Green and second-round submission of AJ Fletcher.

    Having had his strong start opposite Ange Loosa earlier this year rendered null when the Swiss fighter couldn’t continue following an eye poke, Battle will look to get back to the winner’s circle by upsetting Jousset’s home crowd in the French capital later this year.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Paris on September 28 are as follows:

    • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis (lightweight main event)
    • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Brendan Allen (middleweight)
    • Germaine de Randamie vs. Nora Cornolle (women’s bantamweight)
    • William Gomis vs. Joanderson Brito (featherweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle (welterweight)
    • Daniel Barez vs. Victor Altamirano (flyweight)
    • Oumar Sy vs. Da Woon Jung (light Heavyweight)
    • Dariya Zhelezniakova vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
  • Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush entered the UFC Hall of Fame as a part of the 2024 class, as the fifth winner of the Forrest Griffin Community Award.

    Dariush received praise for the work he has done with multiple organizations to help those living in the likes of Iraq and Haiti.

    Standing on the stage alongside legends of the sport, the active lightweight contender came away with a few moments that he will always remember fondly.

    One of those was being able to stand there alongside Frankie Edgar, who was a big inspiration for his own career, and was inducted into the Modern Wing.

    Another moment was an observation that Dariush made about some former rivals burying the hatchet with one another.

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Heart-warming Exchange Between Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva & ‘Shogun’ Rua

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dariush reflected on one particular moment that stayed with him from the Hall of Fame ceremony.

    Chael Sonnen has had his fair share of iconic rivalries, with many of his biggest fights coming against Brazilian opponents.

    International Fight Week saw Sonnen get inducted for his first fight with Anderson Silva, alongside two other Brazilian legends in Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

    Dariush recalled how he was able to watch them all interact with one another as he reflected on how much their dynamic has changed over the years.

    “The other cool part was “Shogun” was there and Wanderlei was there, we’re all from the same gym right. Three guys from basically Kings or Chute Boxe or from that lineage to get awards was cool and finally, at one point, I saw, it was like this.

    “Wanderlei was sitting here, “Shogun’s” here and Chael was right here in the middle and I’m behind them all and I just thought to myself, bro, 10 years ago if this situation was happening, I don’t think Chael would be getting out of this room alive but look at them now. Hanging out, speaking to each other and just being gentlemen. That was probably the coolest part to see, everybody’s moved on from the drama from previous.”

    Read also: Dustin Poirier Limits Opponent Options For Next Fight To 7 Major Names: ‘Definitely One Of Those Guys’ 

  • Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

    Jon Jones has found himself arguing with fans on social media fairly regularly during his recovery process before he hopes to return later this year.

    The UFC heavyweight champion is expected to face former champ Stipe Miocic after their fight at UFC 295 was cancelled due to Jones’ injury.

    In the meantime, many fans believe that his next opponent should instead be Tom Aspinall, who won the interim title and will now be defending it at UFC 304 later this month.

    Though the case has been made for Aspinall, Alex Pereira also became a part of the conversation following another dominant performance from the light heavyweight champion at UFC 303.

    A former UFC champion at both heavyweight and light heavyweight believes that Jones’ toughest test is also likely to be his next one.

    Randy Couture Says Experienced Stipe Miocic Has The Best Chance Of Beating Jon Jones Right Now

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, Randy Couture gave his take on who presents the biggest challenge to Jones and the heavyweight title right now.

    Despite giving Aspinall and Pereira their dues, Couture pointed out how their experience competing at the top of the heavyweight division does leave a few question marks next to both men in potential match-ups with “Bones”.

    With that in mind, “The Natural” sided with the man that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight of all time, former champion Miocic.

    It has been three years since Miocic last competed inside the Octagon but Couture chose to go with the tried and tested competitor at this current time.

    “I think right now, because of experience, Stipe’s probably got the best shot at beating Jon. Aspinall has that raw physical ability and is still green enough and young enough that he’s going to be tough for Jon to deal with, especially if Jon waits any longer because he’s getting stronger and stronger each time out and I think the longer Jon waits, the better he’s going to be, he’s going to be in full stride by the time that fight happens so it’s interesting. Pereira has some things to prove, moving up is no easy task.

    “It’s one thing to cut weight and move down and there’s still some questions there even but moving up and dealing with the bigger guys, and Jon’s answered that question already dealing with the bigger guys, it’s a different thing… certainly has all the ability in the world, Pereira does, and he’s a hell of a competitor and he’s just demonstrated that again. I think anybody’s crazy if they don’t think you better strap them on if you’re stepping in there with him because he’s gonna bring it.”

    Read also: Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

  • Dricus Du Plessis On ’10-8′ Trash Talk Win Over Israel Adesanya, Post-UFC 305 Prediction

    Dricus Du Plessis On ’10-8′ Trash Talk Win Over Israel Adesanya, Post-UFC 305 Prediction

    The build-up to UFC 305 is sure to be an interesting experience for Dricus Du Plessis, given the tension that surrounds his first title defense.

    Despite them both trading comments for a year now, it still feels like the rivalry between the champion and his challenger, Israel Adesanya, is yet to hit fever pitch.

    Du Plessis, however, doesn’t see the war of words as anything other than giving back the same energy that he receives from opponents.

    He was asked about dealing a ’10-8′ scorecard to Israel Adesanya during their recent verbal exchange, in an interview with the Hack Check Podcast. The South African said that he’s always ready to bite back if others think they can push him around.

    “If you were coming at me, listen, I will never ever be bullied or pushed around. It’s not going to happen so I’m always good to go. If you treat me with respect, if we make it about the fight only, that’s the way I’m going to handle it. I mean, look at myself and Whittaker, look at myself and even Darren Till, he was chilled when we were at a presser. Every single guy that I fought before this, it wasn’t necessary because even look at Strickland, I was respectful and it wasn’t the trash talking at all up until he tried to bully me with the mic. That’s not gonna happen and that’s exactly what happened there [against Israel Adesanya].”

    Dricus Du Plessis Predicts That Israel Adesanya Will Retire After UFC 305

    Despite the fact that both men clearly do not see eye-to-eye on some subjects, Du Plessis has given Adesanya his dues for the career that he has had.

    The champion is confident that he is steps ahead of the returning Adesanya at this point but that doesn’t mean he feels the need to discredit “The Last Stylebender”.

    Du Plessis also said in the interview that he expects his opponent to announce his retirement from MMA following their fight on August 17, in Perth.

    He once again gave Adesanya props for what he has achieved and said that he has “earned” his retirement if he fails to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “Yes. I don’t give it a lot of thought because it doesn’t really matter to me. It’s irrelevant to me but yes probably. But, like I said, it’s not really something I think about and it’s irrelevant to me. Yeah, I mean, the guy’s done it all in the sport. He’s had, to say a great career would be almost underselling. He’s had one of the greatest careers ever so he’s earned it and it’ll be a great time [to retire him].”

    Read also:

  • UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’

    UFC Lightweight Gives Paddy Pimblett Props For Contract Situation: ‘If He Wins All His Fights & Leaves, That’s Pretty Amazing’

    Paddy Pimblett recently revealed that his return at UFC 304 will be the last fight on his current UFC contract.

    Though it seems unlikely that “The Baddy”, who has become a huge star in the promotion, will look to leave rather than re-signing, he did speak about the ability to make money in the boxing world.

    Pimblett getting his hand raised on July 27 against King Green (formerly Bobby Green) in Manchester would make him undefeated in six Octagon appearances and will likely see him be ranked in the top 15.

    From a negotiation standpoint, this gives him a lot of bargaining power to increase his purses when renewing his contract.

    A fellow lightweight contender gave Pimblett some props for the way that he has handled business on the global stage.

    Beneil Dariush Praises Paddy Pimblett For Holding Leverage In Future Plans

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Beneil Dariush spoke about Pimblett’s current contractual situation.

    Rather than attacking the Scouse fighter for potentially looking to make the most money possible, Dariush spoke about this wave of fighters who use combat sports as a way to boost their own profiles rather than attempting to be the best in the world.

    He says that whilst he isn’t sure whether “The Baddy” came into the promotion with this plan in mind, Pimblett has made himself a big name which will follow him whether he’s in the UFC or not.

    Dariush gave credit to his fellow lightweight for potentially having the option on the table to go undefeated inside the Octagon, before walking away to explore a different path.

    “There’s like this new idea going on in MMA. Get your name out there, become what I guess you would call an influencer, become an influencer, then you have the ability to make money anywhere, not just the UFC, sometimes you don’t even have to fight. Paddy’s definitely done that well. I don’t know if that was his goal but obviously clearly he’s gotten a lot of attention and he’s got a lot of followers. That being said, that gives him a lot of leverage. A lot of leverage regarding negotiations.

    “If he ends up winning this fight, I’m sure the UFC will work with him and they’re going to match him but if not, he can also go anywhere else. That being said, if he ends up leaving, you gotta give him credit. If he wins all his fights and leaves, that’s pretty amazing.”

    Read also: Fanmio CEO Releases Statement After Being Sued By Nate Diaz, Accuses Ex-UFC Star Of ‘Salacious & Defamatory’ Claims

  • Kamaru Usman Leaning Toward Welterweight Return For Next UFC Fight Against One Of Four Top Contenders

    Kamaru Usman Leaning Toward Welterweight Return For Next UFC Fight Against One Of Four Top Contenders

    It appears that former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman isn’t keen on a committed run at 185 pounds moving forward.

    Fans most recently saw Usman at heaviest weight to date, as he made his middleweight debut on short-notice at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi last October.

    Seven months on from narrowly falling short of regaining the 170-pound belt in his trilogy fight against Leon Edwards, “The Nigerian Nightmare” answered the late call to replace Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev on less than two weeks’ notice.

    Usman put in a valiant effort but was ultimately unable to blemish the Chechen star’s perfect record, with “Borz” having his hand raised at Etihad Arena by way of majority decision.

    The veteran former titleholder’s future has been somewhat uncertain since, especially with three-time opponent Edwards remaining on the welterweight throne.

    Now, though, it seems that Usman is honing in on a weight class and a few names…

    Usman: Next Opponent Likely One Of Rakhmonov, Garry, Della Maddalena, Muhammad

    During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Usman provided an update on his current status, outlining that his focus is on getting back to 100 percent physical health before making the walk again.

    And when he does feel the Octagon canvas beneath his feat for the 19th time, the former champ is seemingly hoping to be back down in the familiar surroundings of the welterweight division.

    “It’s an interesting spot, very different. I’ve never been in a spot like this where it’s just, ‘Hey, just get back. Pick wherever you wanna go and just get back,’” Usman said. “For me, I made my career being a welterweight. I never thought middleweight. Obviously when that possibility of potentially getting a second belt — yeah, I thought about it.

    “But besides that, welterweight just seems to be the way where I have been, where I’m comfortable, even though for the right fight, middleweight makes sense, no doubt about that. … 170, or 185 if it makes sense.”

    With the welterweight roster seemingly back in his crosshairs, Usman was asked whether he expects his next rival to come from a shortlist of four major names — Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad. He responded with a simple, “Yes.”

    Usman has previously enquired with the fans about which weight he should make his return at. While plenty were backing a fresh chapter at 185 pounds, it seems “The Nigerian Nightmare” isn’t ready to bid farewell to his longtime divisional home.

  • Diego Lopes Dismisses Aljamain Sterling, Movsar Evloev Fights For UFC 306 At The Sphere: ‘Makes No Sense’

    Diego Lopes Dismisses Aljamain Sterling, Movsar Evloev Fights For UFC 306 At The Sphere: ‘Makes No Sense’

    UFC featherweight contender Diego Lopes will seemingly take nothing but a top five opponent for his planned appearance at the Sphere this fall — excluding Movsar Evloev.

    Lopes is a few weeks on from his latest success on mixed martial arts’ stage. The Mexico-based Brazilian had his hand raised in the UFC 303 co-main event, ending what had been a tumultuous International Fight Week for him with a fourth straight win.

    After original opponent Brian Ortega withdrew on the day having already forced a change in weight on the Friday, Lopes was left sharing the Octagon with Dan Ige on just hours’ notice.

    The 29-year-old outpointed “50K” and was rewarded with a boost to #12 in the featherweight rankings. Next up, Lopes is looking to break into the top 10, but he won’t be wilfully accepting anyone above him in the pecking order…

    Lopes Not Interested In First-Time Sterling Fight Or Evloev Rematch

    During a recent interview with Canal Encarada, Lopes looked back on his victory on June 29 and addressed what he hopes will come on the heels of it.

    In the aftermath of UFC 303, Lopes called for a spot on the upcoming Noche UFC card at the Sphere on September 14. He’s since been called out for that date by two top 10 contenders in former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and ex-opponent Movsar Evloev.

    But having been scheduled to do battle with higher-ranked featherweight in Brian Ortega, Lopes has little interest squaring off against Sterling or Evleov, and that’s in spite of the Russian sitting inside the top five.

    “It doesn’t make sense now,” Lopes said when asked about possibly facing Sterling next (h/t MMA Fighting). “We were going to fight the number three in the world, then we fought the number 13 and went up two positions. The UFC has basically guaranteed me a fight with a top-five (opponent) now, so Aljamain Sterling makes no sense, and neither does a rematch with Movsar.

    “They know I’m in a good spot right now, They know I was going to fight the number three in the world and I’m kicking down the door for a title fight, so they want the buzz for themselves,” Lopes continued. “It makes no sense for them to call me out since they’re ranked higher than me. It makes no sense, but they know I’m generating a lot (of buzz) with fans and the UFC.”

    Lopes has instead called for a rearranged bout against Ortega or a Sphere meeting with ex-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.

    Sterling, meanwhile, acknowledged the Brazilian’s stance and readjusted his sights to Evloev, reiterating his willingness to face the unbeaten Russian at a September event.

  • Dustin Poirier Limits Opponent Options For Next Fight To 7 Major Names: ‘Definitely One Of Those Guys’ 

    Former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier looks set to fight again, and there’s a select few names he sees as suitable opponents.

    Retirement was among the most prominent talking points leading into Poirier’s third shot at the undisputed throne last month at UFC 302, where Newark’s Prudential Center played host to his enthralling battle with Islam Makhachev.

    “The Diamond” hinted pre-fight that it could mark his farewell win or lose, and his Octagon interview in the aftermath of being submitted in the fifth and final round suggested it was the end of a memorable career.

    But in the weeks since, Poirier has had somewhat of a change of heart, revealing that he’s actually leaning toward another appearance in the cage in an attempt to exit the sport on a win.

    And by the sounds of it, “The Diamond” has a small group of possible foes in mind…

    Poirier’s Next Opponent ‘Definitely’ On Anik Shortlist

    During a recent appearance on the Anik & Florian Podcast, Poirier further addressed talk of his retirement and the potential for one final fight post-title defeat to Makhachev.

    “After the Islam fight, when I got back home, I thought like, ‘Maybe this is it.’ And then a few weeks went by, injuries started hurting less and less post-fight, and I was like, ‘I gotta do this again.’ I’ve never lost two in a row. I can’t leave this sport on a loss,” Poirier said. “But at the same time, I wanna be 100 percent in it if I’m gonna do it again because I don’t want to disrespect the sport.”

    And with close to confirmation that “The Diamond” will indeed feel the Octagon canvas beneath his feat at least one more time, Anik presented a list of potential opponents for the Louisianan.

    Poirier was asked whether he expects his next rival to come from a shortlist of seven major names — Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Colby Covington.

    “100 percent,” Poirier said. “Yeah, for sure. If I do fight again, and when I do fight again, it’ll be definitely one of those guys you just said.”

    Poirier has direct history with all but former featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, having already fought McGregor, Gaethje, Holloway, and Oliveira, trained with Covington before his bitter split from American Top Team, and had a previously booked showdown with Diaz fall through.

    It remains to be seen which big name will get the call for what could be “The Diamond’s” farewell. But whoever it is, the matchup will no doubt be highly anticipated should it come from that seven-figure list.

  • Kayla Harrison Hits Back At Julianna Peña’s PED Accusation: ‘Only Shot In The Ass People Need Around You Is Anti-Nausea Medication’

    Kayla Harrison Hits Back At Julianna Peña’s PED Accusation: ‘Only Shot In The Ass People Need Around You Is Anti-Nausea Medication’

    UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison didn’t take too kindly to some allegations recently made by former champion Julianna Peña.

    A rivalry has long been brewing between Harrison and Peña, even prior to the former’s successful arrival on MMA’s biggest stage this past April at UFC 300.

    On the milestone card, the two-time Olympic gold medalist followed two doses of championship success under the PFL banner with a long-awaited UFC debut. In one of the night’s best performances, Harrison submitted ex-bantamweight queen Holly Holm.

    That result left many calling for the Ohio native to receive a quick shot at the gold, but she’ll have to wait her turn while Peña attempts to dethrone Raquel Pennington.

    And “The Venezuelan Vixen” was firm in insisting that she’s more deserving than Harrison during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, and she also made some bold claims about the UFC newcomer and her team.

    “Stay off the needle, bro. … Maybe not now,” Peña said when asked if she thinks Harrison is on steroids. “But definitely in the past. Absolutely. There’s no question. … I just already have the mindset that people are cheating. Especially from ATT (American Top Team), 100 percent at ATT.

    “When Dan Lambert flew me out there after I won The Ultimate Fighter, they literally told me that all the girls are in the bathroom shooting each other in the ass with the steroids,” Peña added.

    Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take Harrison long to respond…

    Harrison On Peña’s PED Claim: ‘I Have Been Tested By USADA Since I Was 12’

    Although Harrison would appear to be waiting in the wings for the winner of Pennington vs. Peña, which is expected to take place at UFC 307 in Utah this October, the challenger has other plans.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” told Helwani that after regaining the 135-pound belt, she plans on calling out former two-division champ Amanda Nunes instead of Harrison.

    When responding to and vehemently denying Peña’s PED allegation on X/Twitter, Harrison accused the former titleholder of finding “every excuse in the world” to avoid sharing the Octagon with her.

    “I have been tested by USADA since I was 12 years old,” Harrison wrote. “You will find every excuse in the world not to fight me. and the only shot in the ass people need around u is anti-nausea medication.”

    It remains to be seen what will lie ahead for Harrison, who has teased a second UFC fight against another contender rather than waiting for a likely title shot down the line.

    And the two-time PFL champ has also welcomed a potential clash with the retired Nunes. After the “Lioness” bemoaned her ex-teammate for not calling her out at UFC 300, Harrison has offered to fight the Brazilian while Pennington and Peña settle their grudge later this year.

  • Report: UFC Expected To Choose O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili For Sphere Main Event Over Topuria vs. Holloway

    Report: UFC Expected To Choose O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili For Sphere Main Event Over Topuria vs. Holloway

    Should current plans come to fruition, the bantamweight gold will be on the line at the Sphere-held Noche UFC event this fall.

    The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independance Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in much different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. In the lead-up, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    That hype initially left many predicting a stacked lineup to mark the occasion, but it seems those wishing for two blockbuster championship fights at the top of the lineup won’t be getting their wish granted…

    Helwani Dismisses Talk Of Both O’Malley & Topuria Defending Titles At The Sphere

    While Alexa Grasso’s second defense of the flyweight title has long been expected high up the card, there’s been considerable uncertainty when it comes to the other major matchups.

    Most notably, champions Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria have gone back and forth with their respective expected next challengers, Merab Dvalishvili and Max Holloway, over potential Sphere battles.

    Talk of both bouts taking place on September 14 picked up following comments on the official French-Canadian broadcast of this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Denver.

    Unfortunately, it appears that one of those pairings won’t feature at the Sphere.

    During a recent episode of his show, The MMA Hour, host Helwani provided an update on the UFC’s fall plans and addressed the rumors floating around regarding the Sphere-held pay-per-view.

    “The plan was always the Grasso title defense…and then the plan has for some time been ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley vs. Merab,” Helwani said. “Now, both fights aren’t official just yet. They haven’t been signed. But that has been the plan.

    “If they did go with that fight, then the other plan would be Ilia vs. Max most likely on the October 5 Utah card (UFC 307), which hasn’t been officially announced yet. Also on that card, we suspect, Julianna Peña vs. Raquel Pennington,” Helwani continued. “Can’t imagine they would put a Spaniard on a Noche UFC card.”

    This week also saw White provide additional details on the event, revealing that the plan is for just 10 fights to take place during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

    He also claimed the cost has already exceeded $17 million, supporting Helwani’s mention of finances as the reason why neither the possibility of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler nor a three title fight card were entertained.

  • UFC Welterweight Slams Sean Strickland For Inciting Social Media Beef To Get Attention: ‘If He’s A Man, Challenge David Goggins…’

    UFC Welterweight Slams Sean Strickland For Inciting Social Media Beef To Get Attention: ‘If He’s A Man, Challenge David Goggins…’

    It’s rare that a week goes by where Sean Strickland isn’t starting up a new beef with someone via social media.

    Whether he’s trading words with someone online or causing controversy by sparring someone that is not skilled enough to be in there with him, the former UFC middleweight champion is always producing talking points.

    His latest public feud has been with public speaker and athlete David Goggins, due to comments that Strickland made about Goggins’ military career.

    Goggins went as far as to challenge the 185-pound contender to three days of spending a training camp with him in exchange for three sparring rounds in boxing.

    One fellow member of the roster is tired of Strickland’s antics and believes that he is only doing this to make himself heard – since he isn’t the champion anymore.

    Belal Muhammad Says Sean Strickland Is Chasing Clout After Losing UFC Title

    Belal Muhammad spoke in a recent interview with The Schmo about his thoughts on Strickland’s recent beef with Goggins.

    The number one welterweight contender has never seen eye-to-eye with the often unfiltered former champion and this is no different.

    Muhammad, who is set to challenge Leon Edwards for the title at UFC 304 later this month, is very much over what he sees as Strickland’s attempts to grab more attention.

    He also dared Strickland to take Goggins up on his offer in order to really put his money where his mouth is.

    “I wouldn’t call it a [real] beef. That’s what Sean is right? He’s a troll. Nobody cares what he says anymore because he doesn’t have the belt anymore. so now he’s just starting to attack these other guys with bigger followings and things like that, just to get attention.

    “I knew what he was from the beginning, he’s fake. He’s not this tough guy that he says he is or this crazy guy that he says he is. He’s just doing stuff for clout and if he’s a man, challenge David Goggins dude… David Goggins’ workout, let’s see if you push through. Let’s see how big your heart is.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Calls For Leon Edwards’ ‘Killer’ To Come Out At UFC 304: ‘If You Know You’re The Top Dog…’ 

  • UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

    UFC Commentator: ‘I Consider There To Be Two Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champions Right Now’

    At UFC 304, Tom Aspinall will become the first interim title holder to defend his belt in eleven years.

    The Brit made the most out of a late notice opportunity at UFC 295 where he stepped into the co-main event to face Sergei Pavlovich for the belt due to Jon Jones’ injury that postponed his fight with Stipe Miocic.

    In most circumstances, Aspinall would now be the next in line to face the returning Jones in a title unification clash but “Bones” is still looking to reschedule his fight with Miocic for later this year.

    With Aspinall looking to avenge his loss to Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event on July 27, some may argue that him defending the interim title is less significant than being the undisputed champion.

    Jon Anik believes that whilst there may be two champions in the division, Aspinall defending the title would be just as significant despite him being the interim titleholder.

    Jon Anik Says That Tom Aspinall Will Be Defending The Undisputed Championship Against Curtis Blaydes

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on the lay of the land right now in the heavyweight division.

    He spoke about how Israel Adesanya considered his title unification clash with Robert Whittaker to count as a title defense despite him coming in as the interim champion.

    In the same vein, Anik believes that Aspinall getting his hand raised in Manchester later this month counts in his mind as a title defense of the undisputed championship.

    He sees it that whether the title says interim before it or not, there are two equal UFC heavyweight champions right now.

    “Interim championships are a very powerful thing in my mind even if maybe in the past I’ve said that the belt should be silver, I consider there to be two undisputed UFC heavyweight champions right now and Tom Aspinall’s one of them. He’s defending his undisputed title as far as I’m concerned and for those that have the archaic philosophy maybe that a champion is not really the champion, and it’s my opinion that it’s archaic, but if a champion doesn’t defend their belt at least one time, then they are not the champion.

    “I mean Alex Pereira never defended his UFC middleweight champion and nobody would dispute that he wasn’t the middleweight king. But, if Tom Aspinall defends the interim championship, as far as I’m concerned, that is an undisputed championship title defense.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Calls For Leon Edwards’ ‘Killer’ To Come Out At UFC 304: ‘If You Know You’re The Top Dog…’ 

  • Former UFC Champion Backs Alex Pereira’s Decision To Dismiss Tom Aspinall Fight: ‘Outside Of Conor McGregor, The Biggest Star In Combat Sports…’

    Former UFC Champion Backs Alex Pereira’s Decision To Dismiss Tom Aspinall Fight: ‘Outside Of Conor McGregor, The Biggest Star In Combat Sports…’

    Alex Pereira’s UFC run has been unlike anything else that fans have ever seen in the promotion but the exciting thing is that he could take it up another level if he wanted to.

    “Poatan” has already achieved great success at both middleweight and light heavyweight, but there is potential for him to try and become a world champion in three weight classes.

    Pereira seemingly has the frame and power to make the jump to heavyweight, which would only add even more excitement to his Octagon appearances.

    The 205-pound champion is already a huge star and whilst heavyweight could boost his stock even more, it’s not something that is on his mind right now.

    Pereira recently stated that he doesn’t plan to move up anytime soon but if he did, he would want to fight Jon Jones rather than Tom Aspinall.

    Michael Bisping Agrees With Alex Pereira’s Stance On Not Being Interested In Fighting Tom Aspinall

    Fights against both Aspinall and Jones would be absolutely massive for Pereira and his reasoning for not wanting to fight the Brit over “Bones” makes total sense.

    Despite many feeling like Aspinall’s next title defense at UFC 304 is essentially him defending the undisputed title rather than the interim, “Poatan” knows that he doesn’t have many years left in his career. So if he was going to move up, it would be to fight the undisputed world champion and nothing else.

    Michael Bisping gave his thoughts on this during a recent YouTube video where he sided with Pereira.

    The former UFC middleweight champion understood where the former kickboxer was coming from when he stated that despite having a lot of respect for Aspinall, this fight wouldn’t make sense for him right now.

    “As much as I’m a fan of Tom Aspinall, I’ve got to agree with Alex Pereira here. He’s a two-weight division champion. The man is the talk of the town, the bell of the ball and outside of Conor McGregor, the biggest star in combat sports right now. Maybe even bigger than Jon Jones right now.

    “He’s certainly on the top of everybody’s tongues, he’s the man that everybody wants to fight but he’s saying, ‘I don’t want to fight Tom Aspinall’, and that’s not because he’s scared. It’s not because he says stylistically it might be a bad match-up for me, he’s saying no, it doesn’t make sense. ‘If I was going to fight, I’d want to fight the undisputed champ, I wouldn’t want to fight the interim champion’, and I do kind of get that.”

    Read also: Alistair Overeem Favors Jon Jones To Beat Tom Aspinall But Names 50-50 Matchup For Him: ‘That Was The Fight To Make…’

  • Jon Anik Explains Why Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 1 Is Not Good Indicator Of UFC 304 Rematch: ‘Largely, I Have To Throw Out Most Of The First Fight…’

    Jon Anik Explains Why Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 1 Is Not Good Indicator Of UFC 304 Rematch: ‘Largely, I Have To Throw Out Most Of The First Fight…’

    It has been over three years since Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad first met inside the Octagon, back in March of 2021.

    As is always the case ahead of a rematch, one of the big questions heading into UFC 304 is how much we can learn from the first time that these two men squared off.

    Edwards will be looking to secure the third defense of his welterweight title in the main event on July 27, which he went on to claim after his fight with Muhammad ended in a no contest.

    For Muhammad, who took that fight on short notice and was unable to continue fighting after an eye poke, he then produced five consecutive wins over fellow contenders in order to earn this rematch.

    Whilst the fight only lasted just over one round, “Rocky” was on top for the majority – but Jon Anik isn’t putting too much stock on what he has seen from this match-up in the past.

    Jon Anik Says That Both Men Have Improved Too Much For Leon Edwards vs Belal Muhammad 1 To Impact The Rematch

    In a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC commentator Jon Anik said that he doesn’t believe you can look too much into how the first fight between Edwards and Muhammad played out when previewing the rematch.

    Edwards started uncharacteristically fast on that night at the UFC Apex but as Anik goes on to state, Muhammad didn’t have the same kind of preparation ahead of time.

    “It’s hard not to toss it out completely, it was a short notice circumstance really for both athletes but Leon was to face Khamzat Chimaev, one of the three times those individuals were scheduled to have fought and Belal was the guy that stepped up.

    “Obviously he did show a lot of heart and toughness when he did have compromising spots in that fight, one of the hardest eye pokes I think to watch back just in terms of seeing the combination of a human being’s physical and emotional pain because Belal was not wrong in thinking that when that opportunity against Leon went away with an eye poke, that it was going to be hard to come by again.

    “But, they’re just different athletes at this point in time. So I know they’ve both leveled up, Leon levelling up maybe has been easier for someone like me with a more amateur eye to see but I give him a lot of credit for certainly those two wins over Usman.”

    Due to the time elapsed since their initial meeting, Anik came to the conclusion that both men have changed too much for the first fight to have much impact on this high-stakes rematch at UFC 304.

    “I’m fascinated to see [the rematch] but largely I have to throw out most of the first fight. Even though Leon had more success, I just think Belal’s a totally different physical animal than he was and I think Leon is 25% better than he was.”

    Read also: Curtis Blaydes Making No Changes For Tom Aspinall Fight At UFC 304: ‘I Don’t Adjust For Anyone’

  • UFC Bantamweight Prospect Doesn’t See Any Talent In ‘Sh*t Fighter’ Marlon Vera: ‘Nice Guy, But A F*cking Heavy Bag’ 

    One UFC bantamweight up-and-comer has some firm opinions on the skillset that his division’s most recent title challenger possesses.

    Marlon Vera unsuccessfully competed for the 135-pound gold this past March at UFC 299, riding on his past victory over champion Sean O’Malley to secure a rematch on the back of a 1-1 record in 2023.

    While the Ecuadorian vowed to repeat his first-round knockout of “Sugar” in Miami, he was outclassed across five rounds, with O’Malley recording his first title defense in dominant fashion.

    Vera came under fire from plenty of fans and fellow fighters in the aftermath, many of whom questioned his ability to hang with the very best.

    According to this prospect, he can’t even hang with the newcomers…

    Loughran Not Impressed By Vera’s Ability: ‘I’m 1-1 In The UFC & Think I’d Run Through Him’

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC bantamweight Caolan Loughran gave his take on some of the prospects, stars, and champions plying their trade in the sport’s premier promotion.

    When Vera’s name came up, the Irishman said he sees nothing but a “terrible” fighter.

    He did have some positive things to say about the Ecuadorian as a person. But when it comes to action inside the cage, Loughran believes that just two fights into his UFC career, even he could make a fight against Vera look easy.

    “Sh*t fighter. Terrible fighter. I’m being honest,” Loughran said. “He got to the UFC title but that was purely off the O’Malley first one. Don’t rate him in any area.

    “Fair play to him and what he’s doing for his daughter. It’s a lovely story. Nice guy. I just think he’s a f*cking heavy bag,” Loughran continued. “I am 1-1 in the UFC and I think I’d run through ‘Chito,’ who just fought for a title. Put him on his back and he’s like a fish out of water. … I think he’s a sh*t fighter.”

    The next person looking to “run through” Vera will be Deiveson Figueiredo, who is set to share the cage with “Chito” at the upcoming UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi early next month.

    Should he fall to a losing skid in 2024 at the hands of “Deus Da Guerra,” Vera’s hopes for a second title shot down the line will take a firm hit.

  • Paddy Pimblett Taking Confidence From Tony Ferguson Win Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘One Of The Best Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners In Any Division…’ 

    Paddy Pimblett Taking Confidence From Tony Ferguson Win Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘One Of The Best Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners In Any Division…’ 

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett has even more belief in his grappling game having controlled former interim champion Tony Ferguson on the ground last December.

    A year on from a controversial decision victory over Jared Gordon that appeared to dampen the hype surrounding his rise up the 155-pound ladder, Pimblett got relatively back on track in his return at UFC 296 last December.

    On the pay-per-view main card, “The Baddy” shared the cage with Ferguson and extended the veteran’s losing skid to seven across three largely one-sided rounds.

    Having remained on the sidelines for the birth of his twins, Pimblett will look to pick up where he left off at the expense of Bobby Green on the UFC 304 pay-per-view card in Manchester, England, later this month.

    In the lead-up, the pair have gone back and forth about the possibility of a submission finish. And when it comes to defending against a potential attempt come fight night, Pimblett isn’t short on confidence…

    Pimblett: Green ‘Can’t Dream’ Of Submitting Me When Ferguson Couldn’t Get Close

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Pimblett looked ahead to his first assignment of 2024 and spoke about the added experience he’s carrying with him following his most recent outing.

    Ferguson, a black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu under Eddie Bravo, struggled to mount any offense from his back against “The Baddy.” And having been able to find nothing but success on the ground with him, Pimblett is returning to the cage more confident than ever in that part of his arsenal.

    “As I said after the fight, it was nice to actually get 15 minutes in there and know that even when I’m tired, I can take someone down who’s one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in any division, 10th Planet black belt,” Pimblett said. “And I can just sit on top of them and control them and throw strikes.

    “He didn’t even get close to getting a sub on me at all. So I don’t think Bobby can dream of getting a sub on me if Tony Ferguson can’t,” Pimblett concluded.

    That growing self-belief no doubt explains Pimblett’s grappling challenge to Green, which came after “King” teased the pursuit of a submission against “The Baddy.”

    Interestingly, while the Liverpudlian went the distance with Ferguson last December, Green actually found the submission against him five months prior, leaving “El Cucuy” unconscious in an arm-triangle choke at UFC 291.

  • Jon Jones Charged With Two Misdemeanors For Alleged Behavior Toward Drug Tester

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been slapped with two misdemeanor charges owing to an alleged altercation with a drug-testing agent earlier this year.

    Jones, whose fighting talents have long kept him in the GOAT conversation for mixed martial arts, has frequently fallen foul of the law away from the Octagon. With incidents ranging from arrests for a hit-and-run and domestic violence to multiple drug suspensions, not much time tends to pass by before the former two-time light heavyweight kingpin is back under the spotlight for antics outside of his MMA career.

    The latest came a few months back after ABQ Raw News reported that Jones was under investigation for claims he threatened the life and took the mobile phone of a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.

    A report obtained by Aaron Bronsteter from the Albuquerque Police Department revealed the exact words the UFC star was accused of uttering, with the tester claiming he remarked, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”

    Jones was subsequently issued a summons on accusations of assault and interfering with communications.

    “Bones” responded to the allegations, insisting the claims were false. While he said the conduct of the drug tester was questionable and a breach of “standard protocol,” Jones insisted that things were left in an amicable and “friendly” fashion. He later posted a video of the final exchanges on that day with the agent in question.

    But the latest update has seen Jones charged for the incident and facing potential jail time.

    Jon Jones Charged After Drug Tester’s Allegations

    This week, MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin reported that Jones has been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor, with the information coming from Bernalillo County Court representatives.

    If convicted of the two charges stemming from the March 30 incident, the UFC heavyweight champ is facing potential jail time and fines that could total $1,500.

    Jones’ virtual bond hearing is scheduled 9:15 AM MT on July 17 in New Mexico. There, the Rochester native will be told about the charges handed down and will be asked to give a plea. Conditions of release while the case is pending will then be set by the judge, with a bench trial to follow in 30 to 45 days.

    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Jones is currently looking ahead toward his first defense of the UFC heavyweight title, which he’s held since a successful divisional debut against Ciryl Gane in Las Vegas last March.

    After a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic last November was scrapped owing to an injury to the champ, both Jones and the promotion have opted to keep that matchup together for this year’s Madison Square Garden event rather than “Bones” unifying the belts against interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Before putting his full focus on his sophomore heavyweight outing, however, Jones once again has legal matters to attend to.

  • Din Thomas: ‘No One’ Has Earned Their Shot As Much As Belal Muhammad In UFC History

    Din Thomas: ‘No One’ Has Earned Their Shot As Much As Belal Muhammad In UFC History

    Former UFC title challenger Din Thomas believes Belal Muhammad has traveled a path of unprecedented difficulty in order to secure a first shot at gold.

    Muhammad, who currently occupies the #2 spot at 170 pounds, is less than two weeks out from his long-awaited maiden title opportunity, which he’s been calling for and working toward for a number of years.

    “Remember the Name” is set to challenge for Leon Edwards’ belt in the main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view, which goes down at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27.

    Since eye pokes resulted in a no contest when Muhammad and Edwards first shared the cage back in 2021, the former has won five straight, bringing his overall unbeaten streak to 10.

    After statement wins over Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and Sean Brady, Muhammad most recently staked his claim with a convincing five-round display opposite Gilbert Burns last May.

    While that result left him as the clear top contender in the eyes of many, Muhammad was left waiting while Colby Covington received his third shot at the undisputed throne.

    Thomas: Muhammad Has Been ‘Cutting His Teeth On Doing Everything He Needs To’

    Speaking while on the ESPN desk to analyse this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Denver, Din Thomas gave his take on the upcoming championship matchup at 170 pounds.

    After stressing the importance of Muhammad not allowing Edwards any breathing room on fight night, Thomas acknowledged the trials and tribulations that have gone into securing this moment for the challenger.

    “He’s gotta go out there and put pressure on Leon. He’s gotta put pressure on him and keep pressure on him for five rounds,” Thomas said. “His body of work over the last few fights, over the last few years, and the improvements that he’s made has shown that he can do exactly that.

    “He’s been training with the Dagestani wrestlers. He’s been cutting his teeth on doing everything he needs to do in order to get this shot,” Thomas continued. “No one has probably earned a shot like he has in the UFC in the history of people deserving shots.”

    Having finally booked his place opposite Edwards inside the Octagon, Muhammad will hope to make the most of the opportunity by leaving hostile territory with the welterweight gold in his possession.

    “Remember the Name” has expressed immense confidence when it comes to his chances of doing so. That’s not just when it comes to having his hand raised, but also stopping the welterweight kingpin before the championship rounds at UFC 304.