MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Marc Goddard Names One UFC Champion He’ll Never Referee Fights For: ‘When He Was Just An Amateur…’

    Marc Goddard Names One UFC Champion He’ll Never Referee Fights For: ‘When He Was Just An Amateur…’

    When a big UFC main event is about to begin, you’re guaranteed to see one of just a few of the recognizable top officials in the sport standing between the fighters.

    Marc Goddard has been one of the staple referees working in the sport for some time now and is a former ‘Referee of the Year’ winner at the Annual MMA Awards.

    Despite being such a prominent fixture of the biggest events of the year, there are some occasions where the Brit has decided to remove himself from the equation for various reasons.

    Having been in and around the sport for such a long time, it’s only natural that you’re going to build connections with certain fighters or teams that may effect your ability to remain impartial.

    Marc Goddard Says You Never Have & Never Will See Him Referee A Leon Edwards Fight

    During a recent and rare podcast appearance, Goddard spoke about one of his only exceptions to officiating a fight on the Overdogs Podcast.

    He noted that fans will never see him be the third man in the cage when a current UFC champion is in action because of his ties to that fighter.

    With that in mind, you can expect to see a name like Herb Dean or Jason Herzog in the Octagon for the upcoming main event of UFC 304…

    “Leon Edwards, you’ve never saw me referee Leon Edwards in the UFC and you never will. Why? Because I was Leon Edwards’ first coach in MMA way back when, when he was just an amateur. But again, the common sense element for me…you never saw me referee him and you never will because we’ll just keep it out the way.

    “I just don’t want any hassle and I don’t want to be put in a predicament where I’m making a call that could go against him, so it’s both ways.”

    Goddard also revealed that there are other scenarios that can lead to him turning down a particular assignment.

    He gave the example of how he withdrew from being the official for Israel Adesanya’s rematch with Alex Pereira last April in Miami.

    Goddard gave the reason that after Adesanya wasn’t satisfied with the stoppage of his first encounter with Pereira five months prior, the official didn’t want this to have any impact on the challenger in the second fight.

  • Nick Diaz’s Former Coach Disagrees With Decision To Accept Vicente Luque Fight: ‘If I Was Advising Nick…’

    Nick Diaz’s Former Coach Disagrees With Decision To Accept Vicente Luque Fight: ‘If I Was Advising Nick…’

    Fight fans were certainly caught off guard to see an announcement seemingly drop out of nowhere regarding Nick Diaz’s UFC return.

    His last outing against Robbie Lawler three years ago also came as a shock, but given the way that fight ended and the lack of movement since then, many would have assumed that we wouldn’t see Diaz back inside the Octagon.

    The Stockton native is now set to take on #14-ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque in the co-main event of the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    However, Diaz’s former coach has some worrying comments about the fight that aren’t going to go down well with fans who are excited to see him back…

    Cesar Gracie Expresses Concern Over Nick Diaz’s Return Against Vicente Luque

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Cesar Gracie gave his thoughts on the Octagon return of Diaz.

    He made it clear throughout that he isn’t involved in this fight, so while he is still in constant communication with Diaz, he doesn’t know much about it.

    Nevertheless, Gracie doesn’t think that coming back against a top 15 competitor in Abu Dhabi is the right move for his former fighter considering where he is at in his career.

    “I’m really not that involved in that fight, gonna be perfectly honest with you. That wasn’t my idea, it wouldn’t have been the fight that I would’ve — like, if I was advising Nick, I wouldn’t have advised him to do that fight.

    “It’s in Abu Dhabi, I wouldn’t advise to go fight overseas at this point. Luque is a very tough guy, Nick is a tough guy but it just doesn’t make that much sense for me. Where Nick is at in his career and I don’t know, it’s not the fight that I would’ve made.”

    At 40 years old, Diaz hasn’t had his hand raised inside the cage since his win over BJ Penn at UFC 137, a staggering 13 years ago.

    Gracie also expressed some concerns over whether this fight actually happens, stating once again that everything is a little bit up in the air right now, at least on his end.

    “I don’t even know what’s going on with that fight, to be honest with you. I spoke to Nick today and, yeah, I don’t have any plans for that fight to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going to happen with that one at all.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis recently looked back on the fight that saw him crowned as the UFC middleweight champion earlier this year.

    Du Plessis is currently gearing up for his first defense of the 185-pound title, which goes down (under) in Perth, Australia, as the UFC 305 pay-per-view main event next month.

    The South African will finally square off with Israel Adesanya close to a year on from their originally planned showdown. After upsetting Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis was expected to challenge “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 293 in Sydney last September.

    But their rivalry — a sensitive and historical one born out of Du Plessis’ controversial comments regarding the UFC’s African champs — was put on the back burner after an injury to “Stillknocks.”

    In his place, Sean Strickland made the long-haul flight to Australia and capitalized in emphatic fashion, outpointing Adesanya dominantly.

    While that served as another delay in Adesanya vs. Du Plessis coming to fruition, the latter brought the matchup back to the surface when he rendered Strickland’s reign a short one at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January.

    Du Plessis Describes Fighting ‘Very Tricky’ Strickland

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis reflected on his experience fighting the unique style of Strickland in Canada six months ago.

    After noting his former opponent’s shock win over Adesanya, the reigning champ outlined the difficulty that comes with fighting “Tarzan’s” unorthodox approach.

    More than handling that, however, Du Plessis said his real agitation came when Strickland failed to deliver on his promise of a ‘fight-to-the-death’ war — a criticism that has since reared its head again after Strickland’s victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.

    “(Strickland’s) a very tricky guy. He’s hard to hit, he has a sneaky jab — not a lot of power, but he hits the target and is really, really hard to catch,” Du Plessis said. “Let me say it this way, it was frustrating (to fight him) because he said, ‘Till death,’ and he just walked backwards the whole time. So that was a little frustrating.

    “But I mean, he did catch me with that jab for the first two rounds the whole time,” Du Plessis continued. “To be honest, I felt the jabs and I just thought, ‘I’ll just go through them.’ All of a sudden, I just couldn’t see out of my eye anymore. I realized, ‘I have to start blocking these.’”

    Having successfully gotten past Strickland’s style in narrow fashion, Du Plessis is next tasked with replicating his ex-rival’s feat from 2023.

    After some heated interactions last year and a tense faceoff at the UFC 305 on-sale press conference last week, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally throw down inside the cage on August 17 at Perth’s RAC Arena.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Rising UFC welterweight Ian Garry has his sights set on those above him for his next fight, but he doesn’t see one former champion as a likely candidate.

    Garry extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 last weekend at UFC 303, where he recorded his eighth triumph on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage since signing in 2021.

    After climbing the ranks with victories over Neil Magny at UFC 292 last August and Geoff Neal this past February at UFC 298, the former Cage Warriors champion was forced to turn his gaze to a figure below him in the pecking order to secure an outing during International Fight Week.

    The Irishman opened the June 29 pay-per-view main card against Michael “Venom” Page, a former Bellator standout who debuted successfully at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    Despite some backing “MVP’s” unique striking to be the difference, Garry edged the Londoner out for a decision win inside the T-Mobile Arena. While the result hasn’t seen the Dubliner climb the ranks, it should see him matched against a top contender next time out.

    When it comes to who, though, “The Future” doesn’t see the former champ sitting inside the top five as an option…

    Garry Predicts Usman Won’t Want To Fight ‘Someone So Young & Dangerous’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a post-fight interview with TNT Sports’ Caroline Pearce in Las Vegas, Garry looked ahead to what could await him upon his return to the cage following UFC 303.

    The Irishman has been vocal in calling out fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov since his win over Page. And Garry explained that preference by suggesting both Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman will likely “run.”

    “Colby’s never taking the fight. He’s running scared. … After (UFC 303), he’s like, ‘Yeah, f*ck that, see you later.’ He’s jumping on someone’s rented yacht, acting like it’s his,” Garry said. “Look, there’s Usman, one of the greatest champions we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s gonna run scared and he’s not gonna f*cking make the call either. He doesn’t want to fight someone so young and dangerous.

    “I just have to see how the rest of the division plays out now,” Garry continued. “I’m in the driving seat. There’s only a couple of people I can fight that are gonna be above me.”

    Garry and Usman briefly trained under the same roof, with the Dubliner spending time at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, where “The Nigerian Nightmare” splits his time with Trevor Wittman’s facility.

    The former champ hasn’t directly addressed a potential fight with Garry in the aftermath of UFC 303. He did, however, assess how far “The Future” is from the title, noting he could be two fights away given the names that still sit above him in the rankings.

  • Randy Brown Calls Out Top 10 Welterweight For UFC Fight Night Paris Showdown

    Having extended his winning run last month, rising UFC welterweight prospect Randy Brown has his sights set on the division’s top 10.

    Brown has established himself as a leading up-and-comer at 170 pounds, winning seven of eight fights since the turn of 2021. His sole defeat in that period came against elite competition in the form of the #5-ranked Jack Della Maddalena.

    “Rude Boy” has bounced back emphatically after that setback in Australia last February, winning three straight against Wellington Turman, Muslim Salikhov, and most recently Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    Brown got the better of Zaleski dos Santos at the UFC 302 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, early last month. And having likely moved to within touching distance of the top 15 as a result, the 34-year-old is setting his sights on a welterweight who has long boasted a number next to their name.

    Brown Wants Neal In The French Capital: ‘Give Me A Chance To Climb!’

    Just over a month on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Brown took to social media to stake his claim for an opportunity to climb not just into the rankings, but the welterweight top 10.

    “I’ll fight Geoff Neal in Paris,” Brown wrote.

    In a subsequent post, Brown expanded on the callout of Geoff Neal and explained why he deserves an opportunity to climb toward contention at 170 pounds.

    “My development has been nothing short of incredible. I’m proud of that and I’m willing and ready to test myself against any man in the division. I want the tough fights. Give me a chance to climb!”

    Neal hasn’t competed since falling short against Ian Garry at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February. That result came 11 months on from another setback at the hands of an undefeated contender, with Shavkat Rakhmonov submitting him at UFC 285.

    With “Handz of Steel” now on a losing skid, it stands to reason that he’ll need to defend his #10 position on the welterweight ladder next time out.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    After Alex Pereira caught the attention of boxing great Anthony Joshua to spark talk of a venture to the ring, Magomed Ankalaev has reminded the UFC light heavyweight champion of his presence.

    Pereira has risen to stardom on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in less than three years, capturing both the 185 and 205-pound titles and delivering some brutal knockouts in the process.

    “Poatan” currently reigns on the heavier of those two thrones, a position he cemented last weekend in the UFC 303 main event by adding a knockout win over Jiří Procházka to his résumé for the second time.

    In the aftermath, many have suggested that Pereira’s success and prominence has transcended MMA. At the very least, he’s captured intrigue from the boxing world, with Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, recently backing the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ for yet another sporting switch.

    “AJ’s” suggestion came on X, where Pereira was quick to respond. The light heavyweight kingpin admitted that a boxing move has always been his “dream,” and he asked the British star for opponent recommendations.

    “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

    That interaction didn’t make for good reading for the man seemingly waiting in the wings for “Poatan” in MMA…

    Ankalaev Unimpressed By Pereira Entertaining Boxing Talk

    Magomed Ankalaev has staked his claim for a shot at Pereira’s belt ever since opening his 2024 campaign with a vicious knockout of Johnny Walker at the Apex.

    And the Russian was quick to reiterate his perceived number one contender status in the moments after the champ’s International Fight Week success in Las Vegas on June 29.

    With patience not part of his approach to securing another title chance, Ankalaev has since remained active on social media, mostly vowing to stop Pereira on the feet.

    In one of his latest posts, the Russian took aim at Pereira for entertaining talk of a boxing switch.

    “@AlexPereiraUFC One more Ufc champion want to run to boxing because he knows he’s going to lose his belt next,” Ankalaev wrote.

    In another tweet, Ankalaev once again promised to shock the community by knocking Pereira out. He also insisted that the Brazilian has no need for a boxing switch until he’s faced his toughest test inside the cage.

    “Me vs you I’m knocking you out the first round You don’t need boxing you need your biggest challenge in your life @danawhite @Mickmaynard2”

  • Dricus Du Plessis On What He Saw In Israel Adesanya’s Eyes During Staredown: ‘Trying To Convince Himself He Still Wants To Do This’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis drew some conclusions from his long faceoff with Israel Adesanya last week.

    After a bitter feud dating back to the start of 2023, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge inside the Octagon at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, next month.

    Having been unable to make the turnaround post-beating Robert Whittaker to face “The Last Stylebender” in Sydney last September, “Stillknocks” set this bout up once again by dethroning Sean Strickland months after he upset Adesanya Down Under.

    With their long-awaited showdown just over a month away, Du Plessis and his challenger went face to face in Perth for an on-sale press conference.

    Following some firm words with microphone in hand, the pair engaged in one of the lengthiest and most intense faceoffs in recent memory. And according to the champ, he learned a thing or two from it…

    Du Plessis Saw Uncertainty In Adesanya’s Eyes During Perth Faceoff

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis looked ahead to his opening defense of the middleweight title and reflected on his first in-person interaction with Adesanya during the UFC 305 buildup.

    The South African spoke about the importance of pre-fight faceoffs, even branding them the first part of a bout. And given what he claims to have seen in the eyes of Adesanya, the champ evidently believes round one went to him.

    “Once I get into that zone for any staredown, there’s no humor in that. That’s when things get serious. That’s part of the fight right there, winning that exchange,” Du Plessis said. “Almost a theme for me in this whole fight is seeing that Israel Adesanya…he has done great things in this sport. But when it comes to as big as he’s gonna get, he has been as big as he’s gonna get. When it comes to the title defenses and the winning streaks, that will never come again because he doesn’t have the time.

    “His biggest achievement for him personally was beating Alex Pereira. He had this nemesis who’s beaten him multiple times. And after that fight, he was ready to call it quits,” Du Plessis continued. “That’s what I saw in his eyes as well; trying to convince me but more so trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this and that he still has what it takes to be the best fighter in the world. As soon as you’re asking yourself that question, you’re in a dark place.”

    Whether or not Du Plessis draws the same conclusion when they go face to face again when fight week rolls around in Perth remains to be seen.

    But given his golf jibe relating to retirement during the recent presser, it would appear that “Stillknocks” sees Adesanya having one foot out the door ahead of his first fight in 11 months.

  • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    A clash between ranked UFC lightweights Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis is set for the promotion’s return to France.

    After two successful events in Paris thus far, the European nation with a growing passion for mixed martial arts just a few years on from its legalization there will get another visit from the Octagon in 2024.

    On September 28, the UFC will be back at Accor Arena for a UFC Fight Night card, with many of France’s own expected to make the walk.

    While not much has been announced regarding a main event or undercard, it appears that one of the country’s leading names has his spot on the lineup confirmed.

    Ag. Fight first reported that #12-ranked Saint Denis was being lined up to share the cage with the #10-ranked Moicano in front of his home fans. The Brazilian outlet’s report was later confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin.

    A subsequent report from MMA Junkie revealed that the matchup is slated for five rounds.

    Moicano Looks To Continue Momentum From UFC 300, Send Saint Denis On Losing Skid

    With this bout reportedly official in the coming days, Moicano and Saint Denis will be preparing for their clash off the back of vastly different results.

    Moicano (19-5-1) has had a strong year to date, first returning from a lengthy injury layoff by outpointing Drew Dober at the Apex in February. The Brazilian subsequently made the most of a spot on the milestone UFC 300 card in April, knocking out Jalin Turner after “The Tarantula” failed to capitalize on an earlier knockdown.

    Having won three straight since a short-notice main event loss to Rafael dos Anjos in 2022, Moicano is looking to climb the 155-pound ladder into title contention. And although he’ll be fighting down the pecking order in September, his opponent is a highly regarded up-and-comer.

    Saint Denis (13-2, 1 NC) won five straight in his natural weight class following a UFC debut defeat to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. That run included a violent head kick finish of Matt Frevola at UFC 295 last November. The Frenchman was then granted a major chance to impress against former interim champion and veteran top five contender Dustin Poirier.

    Despite a strong start at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, “God of War” faded in the second round and was stopped on the feet by “The Diamond,” a result he put down to the antibiotics used to combat a pre-fight staph infection.

  • Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again.

    That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the UFC’s annual November pay-per-view card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This had been the plan for UFC 295 last year until Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training.

    In spite of Aspinall winning the interim belt on this card, however, the seeming desire of the UFC’s to have Jones vs. Miocic at MSG, as well as the pair’s own desire for this fight to happen, resulted in “Bones” not being stripped or vacating the title with his injury — and the UFC’s patience in delaying this fight.

    Fight fans on social media, however, have voiced frustration with the situation. Many have expressed a lack of desire to see Jones vs. Miocic, with many preferring a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall — or a champion vs. champion superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira.

    Miocic Admits He Would ‘Feel The Same Way’ If He Was Aspinall

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Miocic was asked about the outcry from fans and their impatience or lack of desire for the fight. Miocic’s response was simple — fans need to stop “crying” because this is what he, Jones, and the UFC all want.

    “I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him (Aspinall),” Miocic said. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.

    “People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do? I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying. I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

    Though there has not been an official announcement from the UFC, Miocic confirmed that the plan right now is for him and Jones to face off inside MSG this November.

    Jones has repeatedly mentioned the date November 9 on social media, even though a David Gilmour concert (one in a series) is scheduled for that night at the arena.

    After dominating the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight. After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to capture the then-vacant UFC heavyweight championship.

    Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. With Andrei Arlovski’s recent departure from the promotion, Miocic has not fought anyone on the current UFC roster.

  • ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    Conor McGregor has fought through injuries throughout his career and had never pulled out of a scheduled matchup until UFC 303. While past opponents and some rivals have taken sly digs at the Irishman, others have recognized the risks of fighting with a broken toe.

    By the time McGregor returns, he’d have been out of the Octagon for over three years. The former two-division champion lost three out of his last four fights, and it is hard to see the win over Cerrone as a feather in his cap.

    Naturally, “The Notorious” aims to be fully prepared for his return. Getting back in the win column will instantly open up a ton of exciting fights for the Dubliner.

    For now, though, plenty of focus remains on McGregor’s decision to pull out of UFC 303. But Dan Hardy has a different view to many critics when it comes to the UFC 303 drama and McGregor’s injury…

    Hardy Claims Conor McGregor Respects Michael Chandler Enough Not To Fight Him With A Broken Toe

    Hardy recently appeared on the From The Stands YouTube channel and talked about the postponed fight between McGregor and Chandler.

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger instantly pointed out that the McGregor we’ve long known would never pull out of a fight that he thinks is winnable despite an injury.

    “We know what Conor’s like, he’s not going to pull out of a fight that he feels like he can win, even if he is injured. I think this shows that he’s got a lot of respect for Michael Chandler and he knows that he needs to be on his A game because, I mean, he wants to get back on track, right? He wants to be back in the win column.”

    ”The Outlaw” also reviewed the importance of toes for McGregor to make the most of his wide striking stance.

    “What we know about McGregor is that, you know, he is, you know, he’s very much about footwork, especially the best versions of McGregor, (it) requires him to be mobile. And he’s got a long stance, which means he uses the big toe and the little toe just as much as one another to keep himself mobile.”

    McGregor mostly gained acclaim for his consistency and willingness to fight during his rise to stardom. In contrast, he now has everything he ever wanted from the sport. On top of that, losing three fights in a row will naturally hurt his brand.

    “You know, you can’t really say anything negative about him because we know that (he) would take fights on short notice if you felt capable of competing. And I really want the best version of McGregor because ultimately we might be counting on one hand the amount of times we see him fight again.”

    All these factors compel Hardy to side with McGregor for taking his time leading into the Chandler fight.

  • Israel Adesanya Has Kind Words For Robert Whittaker After His Big Win Over Ikram Aliskerov: ‘Robbie’s That Guy!’

    Israel Adesanya Has Kind Words For Robert Whittaker After His Big Win Over Ikram Aliskerov: ‘Robbie’s That Guy!’

    During a recent appearance on the Today Show Australia, Israel Adesanya took the moment to congratulate a former opponent on his recent victory.

    Robert Whittaker produced back-to-back wins when he stopped Ikram Aliskerov in the late-notice main event of UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia on June 22.

    “The Reaper” is now back into the title picture after getting Aliskerov out of there in the first round to build on his decision victory against Paulo Costa at UFC 298 this past February.

    Adesanya and Whittaker have met two times inside the Octagon, with “The Last Stylebender” coming out on top on both occasions.

    While reacting to footage of his iconic UFC 243 walkout in Melbourne, the Nigerian-New Zealander took a second to praise his Australian peer.

    “I was fighting the local hero, Rob Whittaker, who just actually had a great win a week or two weeks ago, but I was fighting him here.

    “It was beautiful. Robbie’s that guy. We fought twice. We always have history but it was good to see him back in the win column, and he’s coming for me, so I got to stay ready.”

    Israel Adesanya Says Dricus Du Plessis Feud Is About Respecting ‘The Guys Who Came Before You’

    If Adesanya’s fight with Whittaker — which pitted Australia and New Zealand up against one another — was a big deal, it has nothing on the grudge match that is on deck for UFC 305.

    “The Last Stylebender” is set to finally go up against the current middleweight world champion, South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis, and it’s safe to say that they don’t see eye-to-eye.

    Much of the tension between them stems from comments made by Du Plessis about how him winning the middleweight title and bringing it back to Africa would make him the first true African champion because he still lives and trains out of the continent.

    Adesanya spoke about this during his recent TV appearance, stating that the lack of respect being shown to the people that came before the current champion is where he feels his next opponent crossed the line.

    “For me, it’s you have to honor the guys who came before you. He’s the guy saying, ‘I’m the real African champion,’ but look, you wouldn’t have been able to do what you’re doing at home in South Africa if myself, Francis Ngannou, and Kamaru (Usman) didn’t pave the way for you. So you have to respect your elders and I’ll make sure I do that to him.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya will headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, on August 17. The bout comes almost a year on from the latter’s most recent appearance, an upset loss to Sean Strickland in Sydney.

  • Steve Erceg On Potential Alexandre Pantoja Rematch: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going To Do If Some Other Guy Can Beat Him…’

    Steve Erceg On Potential Alexandre Pantoja Rematch: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going To Do If Some Other Guy Can Beat Him…’

    The learning curve once a fighter joins the UFC roster roster can often be a steep one. Many fighters take some time to find their feet and work their way toward chasing a spot inside the rankings, and dreams of fighting for a title often have to be put on hold while they settle into the big leagues and slowly carve out a name for themselves.

    Not so for Steve Erceg.

    The Australian flyweight, who is set to face Kai Kara-France at UFC 305 later this summer, only made his debut inside the Octagon in June 2023 when he beat David Dvořák by unanimous decision in Canada at UFC 289. He followed that up with another win at UFC 295 against Alessandro Costa, before picking up a highlight reel knockout of Matt Schnell in March of this year.

    In a surprising turn of events, the 28-year-old was drafted in to fight Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio De Janeiro just two months later. While the fight didn’t go his way, “AstroBoy” believes the experience will stand him in good stead going forward.

    “I feel like more people know who I am now,” Erceg said during an interview with Submission Radio this week. “That’s obviously good for getting big fights and opportunities, so that’s great, and I found out that I can hang at that level.

    “He’s beat a lot of contenders, basically everybody in the division, so the fact that I was able to hang there for five rounds, and I felt that I was the one coming over the top at the end…that was awesome. It just obviously sucks that I have to look at his record now with my name associated with it, but whatever.”

    Erceg Aiming For Rematch With Pantoja Post-UFC 305

    Erceg was also asked whether he thinks a rematch could be on the cards, and if he believes Pantoja will still be the one holding the belt by the time he’s able to work his way back into title contention.

    “I really hope he’s still the champion because I don’t know what I’m gonna do if some other guy can beat him and I f**kin’ couldn’t. … I don’t like to swear, but…yeah, so I’d prefer if it was him at the top still. We’ll sort it out.”

  • Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    The UFC’s welterweight division has always been one of the most talent-stacked weight classes in MMA.

    Champions such as Georges St-Pierre, Tyron Woodley, and Kamaru Usman have each built legacies at 170 pounds that will be spoken about for decades to come, while other names like Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and Carlos Condit have all gone down in the history books as some of the finest fighters to ever grace the sport.

    Current welterweight champion Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Belal Muhammed in Manchester, England, later this month, and there are a number of exciting options awaiting “Rocky” should he emerge victorious from the main event of UFC 304 on July 27.

    Dan Hardy Gives His Thoughts On New UFC Welterweight Stars

    Another UFC welterweight legend has been giving his thoughts on the exciting young prospects populating the top 10 at 170 pounds this week.

    Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy fought in the Octagon 10 times between 2008 and 2012 and faced Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 111, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about what it takes to hang with the elite of that particular division.

    “It does feel like it’s wide open,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on the From The Stands podcast. “We’ve got a lot of newer faces in the division now that have started to come and clear out the Colby Covingtons and Kamaru Usmans that are no longer really in the topics of conversation, which is good for the division.

    “We talk about Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and Ian Garry…either him or Shavkat (are talked about as) being the guy,” Hardy continued. “Clearly Ian Garry holds him in very high regard, as we all do as well. but Ian Garry and Shavkat are two of the new faces that are most likely going to define this division in the next few years.”

    Hardy also added two more names to the list.

    “Jack Della Maddalena…some of the best hands in all of mixed martial arts in my opinion. He’s got very, very slick boxing. I think he can go a long way.

    “Another one…Sean Brady. I still feel like Sean Brady’s going to be one of the most difficult fights for any single person in the division.”

    With a combined record of 66 wins and only three losses, the quartet of Garry, Rakhmonov, Brady, and Della Maddalena are not only freshening up the welterweight division, they seem to be raising the bar to new heights entirely.

  • Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    What Alex Pereira has been able to accomplish during a short time in MMA has been nothing short of execeptional.

    The Brazilian certainly arrived in the Octagon with some hype behind him because of a stellar career in kickboxing, where he was famed for his one-punch knockout power.

    He already made history in the sport of kickboxing by becoming the first man in the history of Glory to hold titles at two weight classes simultaneously.

    Fast forward several years and he hasn’t just succeeded in transitioning to MMA, he’s become one of the best in the world. As a result, he is one of the biggest names in the MMA.

    And according to this ex-fighter, one of the best across any sport…

    Chael Sonnen Says Alex Pereira’s Greatness Transcends Combat Sports

    In a recent appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Chael Sonnen spoke about Pereira’s unprecedented rise in MMA and how it may transcend combat sports.

    He made the case that, for a start, nothing like this has ever been done in fighting, where someone is able to reach the very top in effectively two different sports.

    Sonnen also chose to look at the bigger picture by bringing the entirety of sport into question. Once again, Sonnen insisted that no one has ever been this successful in two different fields during their career.

    Pereira’s kickboxing skills are obviously a vital part of what he does in MMA, but even Dana White recently admitted that he once had reservations about how well “Poatan” would do inside the Octagon, where opponents can grapple with him.

    Sonnen believes that Pereira’s career deserves to be looked at in sport as a whole, making some bold claims about just how great he truly is.

    “I can guarantee it never happened in combat sport. I’m telling you, in sport! I’m old enough to remember when Bo Jackson was playing football and went and played baseball, but he wasn’t 36 when he started and he didn’t become the best in the world.

    “I have never seen a rise like this. Basketball, baseball; anyway you want to do it. This might be the greatest athlete of all time. I mean that’s silly, it might be true.”

    Pereira could be in for his toughest test to date later this year should expected plans come to fruition.

    Off the back of another knockout at UFC 303 this past weekend to successfully defend his light heavyweight title for the second time, “Poatan” could face a stiff grappling challenge in the form of Magomed Ankalaev.

  • Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Jarred Brooks has achieved great success since departing the UFC and signing with ONE Championship, where he currently competes in the strawweight division.

    After losing his belt via disqualification at ONE 166 earlier this year, he is set to return at ONE Fight Night 24 in an interim title fight with Gustavo Balart. In the meantime, Brooks recently put together his perfect fighter in an interview with FightWave.

    He picked out which fellow athletes he would combine in order to build an unbeatable force of nature based off naming certain fighters renowned for their specialist skills…

    Jarred Brooks Says Picking Jon Jones For Each Category Would Build A Perfect Fighter

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0bGB9609-o

    Brooks started with his own specialist field, the grappling realm, where he picked two names who also compete in ONE Championship.

    Garry Tonon was one of the top submission grapplers in the world before making the move to competing in MMA, a venture that Kade Ruotolo has also recently embarked on.

    Brooks has said multiple times that his dream fight would be against the legendary Demetrious Johnson, who is the flyweight champion in ONE. He picked both “Mighty Mouse” and Merab Dvalishvili for cardio.

    In the boxing ranges, he named two featherweights who could be lined up to face one another in the near future as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway continue to trade words on social media.

    Brooks also didn’t take long to name his pick for which fighter he would want for their kicking game, taking the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    After adding “Bones” to his create-a-fighter, Brooks went on to say that, in reality, the correct answer to this question would be to pick the UFC heavyweight champion for each category.

    “It’s Jon Jones, period, though. 100 percent, and I’ve watched him since I was 12.”

    Jones has held the UFC’s heavyweight gold since his divisional debut in Las Vegas last March, which saw him submit Ciryl Gane in quick time.

    The Rochester native is expected to make his first defense against Stipe Miocic this November at Madison Square Garden, a year on from their canceled showdown in New York City.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently responded to the naysayers questioning the supposed burnout affecting both his and Israel Adesanya’s fighting careers, pointing to their stellar records as UFC champions.

    “Alexander the Great” suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February, marking his first setback as a featherweight. This loss came on the heels of another finish by reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the first round at UFC 294 last October, making it Volkanovski’s second consecutive KO defeat.

    The loss to Topuria concluded his four-year tenure as champion. Volkanovski, one of the UFC’s most active fighters, has participated in nine title bouts over the past five years. However, the Australian is now on a break from the Octagon to focus on his mental health and recuperate.

    A segment of the MMA community has voiced apprehensions that Volkanovski’s recent defeats stem from his grueling schedule, suggesting that his relentless string of back-to-back fights has led to burnout.

    However, “Alexander the Great” rebuffs these claims, insisting that his relentless pace in competition has been a key factor in his and his close friend and City Kickboxing training partner Adesanya’s rise to greatness as champions…

    Volkanovski Credits Active Competition for His & Adesanya’s Championship Success

    During a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel with Adesanya’s younger brother, Volkanovski addressed critics who doubt their careers.

    The former featherweight titleholder expressed that he finds “The Last Stylebender’s” reign as middleweight champion deeply inspiring for his own journey.

    “Being active is where you’re gonna make your most money. So get active. I learned that from Izzy, he’s got the right form, and I love it. When we talk about our mentality, like myself and Israel Adesanya, people start to say, ‘Oh, you burned yourself out,’ and they try to look at it as a bad thing.

    “But we wouldn’t be the champions we were. We wouldn’t be in the position we are now mentally and everything. Our mentality and our mindset, that’s what made us great champions to be able to defend that.”

    The 35-year-old Aussie further expressed his gratitude for avoiding extended layoffs from fighting, attributing his legacy as a dominant champion to his relentless activity in the sport.

    “That mentality got us, how many times defending champ? … But I was thankful that I was like that for how long I did. I wouldn’t have the appreciation from the people if I weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have the money in the bank like I do, and I wouldn’t be able to look after my family like I’m able to right now if it wasn’t for that.”

    “The Last Stylebender” also took a voluntary break after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. Initially, he jokingly suggested that he might not return to the Octagon until 2027.

    However, Adesanya is poised to challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, set to take place on August 17 in Perth, Australia.

  • Coach Hints At Major Career Change For Jiří Procházka After UFC 303 Defeat: ‘A Potential Restart…’

    Coach Hints At Major Career Change For Jiří Procházka After UFC 303 Defeat: ‘A Potential Restart…’

    Following his bounce-back win over Aleksandr Rakić at UFC 300, Jiří Procházka made the claim that competing at the weight class below could be an option for him in the near future.

    He said that going into his fight in April, he didn’t have much weight to cut in order to make the light heavyweight limit, which made him confident of dropping to middleweight at some stage.

    Procházka told Michael Bisping in an interview that it was something he was thinking about as a way to further challenge himself, even after the former middleweight champion warned him of how tough the weight cut may be.

    “So, good food with some good diet for me, I think 84 kilos, middleweight will be no problem. I’m still thinking about that, how I can feel with these guys in middleweight because I know I can do that.

    “I’m looking forward to that because I want to try more clear foods in preparation because I really know how to work with my body, with that weight, and I feel it can be good.”

    Jiří Procházka’s Coach Says Middleweight Would Give Them A ‘New Start’ Post-UFC 303

    Moving to middleweight looks to be back in contention for Procházka after he was unable to reclaim the light heavyweight title this past weekend at UFC 303 in a rematch with Alex Pereira.

    Many were critical of his approach to the fight, with the former champion also stating that he would need to go back and work on becoming a new version of himself if he was going to continue fighting.

    His coach, Martin Karaivanov, spoke in an interview with TN CZ Sport about how this could mean moving to middleweight in order to begin a new chapter of his career.

    “Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov said (translated by MMA Mania). “He is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it. It won’t be my decision, but a team decision.

    “Middleweight would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus on. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”

    Having admitted that he either needs to evolve as a fighter or not return to competition following a second setback at the hands of “Poatan,” perhaps “BJP” will look to do so down at 185 pounds in pursuit of becoming the promotion’s latest double champ.

  • Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña believes she has something that most of her peers do not.

    Peña, who is currently sat at #1 in the 135-pound rankings, is expected to serve as the first challenger in longtime rival Raquel Pennington’s maiden title defense following “Rocky’s” capturing of the then-vacant belt at UFC 297 this past January.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is in pursuit of two-time champ status, having briefly held the gold after a monumental upset against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in December 2022. The ex-bantawmeight queen was originally set for a chance to regain the crown in a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes last June, almost a year on from the Brazilian’s emphatic victory in their rematch.

    But after injury kept her out of both that fight and the championship joust that followed Nunes’ retirement, Peña’s layoff is fast approaching the two-year mark. Nevertheless, she remains firmly in the title conversation and has no doubt about what she sees as an inevitable return to top spot.

    Peña has continued to tout her perceived superiority over the rest of the bantamweight roster, and she recently warned Pennington about the kind of fighter she’ll be facing later this year…

    Peña ‘Preparing’ To Give Her Life In Every Fight

    During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X doing International Fight Week, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited comeback and the matchup that is reportedly set to stage it this October.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” noted that nothing will change in terms of how she approaches her expected title clash with Pennington. No matter who shares the cage with, Peña claims to have a ‘fight to the death’ attitude.

    “I go into fights the same way mentally. Preparing for literally giving my entire life, and if I have to die in there, I’m gonna die in there,” Peña said. “I think that it doesn’t matter who stands across from me, I’m always going to approach it the same. I’m going to fight to the death. That, to me, is kind of what separates me from other fighters I feel like. I’m literally going to give my entire life, it doesn’t matter who stands across from me. I am my biggest opponent.”

    Peña will look to prove as much should it be required against Pennington down the line. While a date for their likely fight remains unconfirmed, current talk is placing the pair on a pay-per-view card rumored for Salt Lake City in October.

    Whether in Utah or at an event elsewhere this year, the former champion will be hoping to announce her return in style and make a firm statement to the division’s current crop of top contenders.

  • Former UFC Champion On Why We May See ‘One Of The Most Dangerous, Nasty Versions Of Israel Adesanya’ Against Dricus Du Plessis

    Former UFC Champion On Why We May See ‘One Of The Most Dangerous, Nasty Versions Of Israel Adesanya’ Against Dricus Du Plessis

    Israel Adesanya is certainly not going to be short on motivation heading into his middleweight title fight at UFC 305.

    After the longest break of his fighting career, the former champion returns to try and reclaim the belt against his rival, Dricus Du Plessis.

    There has been tension between the two men that stems back to last year when some comments from “Stillknocks” made this feud personal and intense.

    Now, Du Plessis had added more fuel to the fire with his statements in interviews and the recent press conference, where he gave his feelings on Adesanya’s career.

    Michael Bisping Says Dricus Du Plessis Is Motivating & Firing Up Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305

    Despite their feud, Du Plessis has made it very clear that he has a lot of respect for everything that Adesanya has accomplished in his career.

    The difference is that the current champion believes his next opponent is not the same man that he used to be anymore and his best days are behind him.

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, former 185-pound champion Michael Bisping gave his reaction to the words between the two men at the press conference.

    He believes that Du Plessis saying these things about Adesanya could end up backfiring by giving his opponent more venom ahead of their eventual meeting in Perth on August 17.

    “That’s kind of harsh words for Israel Adesanya to hear and for Israel, that’s going to motivate him big time. That’s going to p*** him off, that’s going to grind his gears, that’s going to get in his head, that is going to force him to train his a** off, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see one of the most dangerous, nasty version of Israel Adesanya that we’ve seen.”

    Adesanya’s return comes on Australian soil, where he was shockingly unseated by Sean Strickland last September in Sydney.

    He’ll look to return to the throne inside Perth’s RAC Arena, where fellow Oceania-based fighters like Kai Kara-France, Steve Erceg, Junior Tafa, and Jack Jenkins will also be among those in action.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    Magomed Ankalaev Highlights Where He ‘Can Catch’ Alex Pereira On The Feet In Potential UFC Title Fight: ‘His Standup Is Overrated’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t see what’s so special about the striking of his division’s champion.

    Alex Pereira finds himself atop most lists when it comes to the current top standup fighters competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. His fearsome reputation on the feet was built as a two-weight Glory Kickboxing champion.

    He’s since enhanced it inside the Octagon, where he’s delivered brutal knockout after brutal knockout to secure the crowns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.

    “Poatan” currently reigns with the latter in his possession, and he cemented that status last weekend in the main event of UFC 303, where he got the better of Jiří Procházka for the second time in emphatic fashion.

    It didn’t take long for talk to turn to the Brazilian’s future, and one high-ranked contender was waiting in the wings to stake his claim with a number of posts on social media.

    And as his campaign for another title shot continues, Ankalaev has made a bold assertion regarding the champ…

    Ankalaev Downplays Pereira’s Striking Superiority

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Ankalaev reiterated his belief that a clash with Pereira makes sense later this year and assessed how they match up against one another.

    Many have long touted the Russian as a future threat to “Poatan” owing to his wrestling abilities. Ankalaev, however, has dismissed the notion that he’ll be outgunned on the feet by what he described as an “overrated” striking game.

    “With Alex, you just have to watch a couple of his past fights,” Ankalaev said, via his translator. “With (Jan) Błachowicz, you know, his wrestling was on a level and Alex didn’t have much to offer. Same with (Israel) Adesanya, they’re both strikers but Adesanya was able to show him some wrestling.

    “I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

    In pleading his case for a showdown with Pereira, Ankalaev has vowed to knock the champ out. Whether that will be the path he pursues in a potential fight down the line or if he looks to overcome “Poatan” in the grappling realm remains to be seen.

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Labels Jiří Procházka’s UFC 303 Performance As ‘Worst Approach To A Fight Ever’

    Jiří Procházka was unable to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title in a rematch with Alex Pereira this past weekend in Las Vegas.

    Despite believing that he had made some significant adjustments for his approach this time around, UFC 303 was a far more one-sided affair than their previous encounter last November.

    Though it is true that Procházka was having success in the first fight until he was stopped in the second round, he was seemingly fighting a losing battle mostly due to the damage that was done to his leg early on in the fight.

    The same thing happened on Saturday night but Pereira was able to find a home for his devastating left hook even earlier on this occasion, before finishing the fight at the start of the second round with a head kick.

    Firas Zahabi Criticizes Jiří Procházka For Being Happy To Strike With Alex Pereira

    The highly-regarded MMA coach Firas Zahabi gave his breakdown of the fight during a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel.

    He was very critical of the approach that Procházka came into the rematch with because there wasn’t enough emphasis placed on switching things up on Pereira.

    Zahabi referenced how there is a stark difference in the amount of MMA experience that both men have, with Procházka coming into the main event with 36 pro fights compared to Pereira’s 13.

    The former coach of Georges St-Pierre couldn’t understand why the challenger wouldn’t look to take advantage of this by trying to take the former world champion kickboxing out of his comfort zone.

    “You’d think Jiří would have like 10 more years under his belt in wrestling and still he didn’t even fathom a takedown. He tried one little clinch, he didn’t even knock on that door. Very disappointing strategy by Jiří. Jiří was just seemingly happy to strike and I will tell you, within the first minute of round one, “Poatan” had landed like four kicks and you could tell he was already hurting Jiří’s leg.

    “Jiří’s game plan and performance, I think that was his worst approach to a fight ever, he’s ever had. I heard he was like three days in a cave somewhere meditating, thinking about this fight, how he’s going to approach it. Unfortunately for him it really didn’t work.”

  • Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

    Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

    For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles.

    At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours to weigh in, rehydrate, and, well, also figure out his in-fight strategy. Their goal was to fight on instincts which, to be fair, worked pretty well.

    Showing his durability, “50k” survived Lopes’ explosive striking and constricting ground game in the first two rounds and outstruck the Brazilian in the third. A last-minute adjustment suggested by coach Nicksick worked against him, though, and may have cost him the UFC 303 co-main event.

    Eric Nicksick Looks Back At Mistake That Likely Cost Dan Ige A Round Against Diego Lopes At UFC 303

    Nicksick and Ige appeared on the UFC 303 recap episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast uploaded on the DraftKings YouTube channel. Remembering the fight, Nicksick admitted that he shouldn’t have asked Ige to throw a head kick.

    “To be honest with you, I’ve been having a little bit of sleepless nights because I f****d up going into round. In round two, I called for the same side head kick. Something that I thought, because no one’s ever seen Dan throw it.”

    Nicksick expected the side head kick to surprise Lopes as Ige had only recently added the move to his arsenal. “50k” followed these instructions two minutes into the second round. The kick landed but also helped Lopes secure a takedown.

    “It was the same side high when Dan went southpaw. And he threw it, and the shin bone landed on this dude’s head but we got taken down. And I looked over at Kai and I’m like, I just f****d us. Dude, my gut, I was like, I just f****d this man, my heart hurt.”

    Despite the takedown and three minutes of control time, Ige constantly fought off his back and prevented his opponent from submitting him.

    Unfortunately, due to the takedown, the round was scored by the judges for Lopes. And despite comfortably winning the third round, Ige lost a unanimous decision 29-28 on all scorecards.

  • Former Glory Champion & Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Training With Henry Cejudo: ‘Chama, We Comin’!’

    The last man to defeat Alex Pereira in the kickboxing ring has been quietly going about the process of gaining experience in the world of professional MMA.

    Artem Vakhitov held the Glory Kickboxing light heavyweight world title between 2016 and 2019, before losing it by split decision to “Poatan” in January of 2021. He reclaimed the belt by winning an immediate rematch against the Brazilian later that year, before Pereira moved on to the UFC.

    With a kickboxing record of 23-6 and five Glory title defences to his name, Vakhitov is certainly one of the most decorated and dangerous strikers in the world today. His professional MMA debut against Ashraf Bashandy in June of last year didn’t quite go to plan when an unfortunate landing barely a minute into the bout resulted in a dislocated elbow and a TKO loss for the Russian.

    Vakhitov has rebounded this year in impressive fashion however, by picking up first-round stoppage victories over Siyavush Salkhov and Valisher Khambaev. Following on from a short but impressive amateur career in which he picked up a multitude of submission wins, it certainly seems the Russian is a fighter to keep an eye on.

    Former Glory Champion Who Beat Pereira Links Up With ‘Triple C’

    In an interesting development, it has emerged this week that Vakhitov has teamed up with a new coach in order to develop his skills in MMA.

    Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo posted a video of himself and Vakhitov to social media from the stands at UFC 303 this past weekend, during which he seemed to drop hints that the pair may have Alex Pereira in their sights.

    “So guys…allow me to introduce you guys to who’s training with the ‘Triple C’ next” said Cejudo. “I train the best in the world but guess what? Now I got the six-time Glory world champ, the last guy to defeat Alex Pereira, and we have a message for you!”

    The former Olympic gold medallist turned his phone to show Vakhitov, and the Russian simply replied “Chama.” ‘Triple C’ ended the message with, “We comin’”.

    After the successful crossovers of former Glory champions Pereira and Israel Adesanya into the Octagon, is history about to repeat itself?

  • Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Jiří Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat.

    Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend.

    In what marked his second attempt at achieving two-time champ status opposite Alex Pereira, “BJP” once again fell short. While their first showdown at Madison Square Garden last year had some controversy owing to cries of early stoppage, there was no doubt about “Poatan’s” superiority on June 29.

    In the aftermath of his sophomore setback to the Brazilian knockout artist, Procházka released his first statement in the form of a video on his social accounts. In it, the Czech star gave an honest assessment of his defeat in Las Vegas, admitting that he either has to “evolve” or not return to the Octagon.

    While some have praised that mindset, one former fighter was not impressed…

    Sonnen Questions Procházka’s Focus On ‘Outcome,’ Not ‘Performance’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked back on Procházka’s performance in Las Vegas and assessed his first post-fight statement on social media.

    “The Bad Guy” pointed to the former champ’s statement regarding the need to evolve, suggesting that usually leads to changes such as a team switch, which in turn signals the “beginning of the end” for a fighter.

    In simple terms, Sonnen described “BJP’s” remarks as the defeated light heavyweight “being a baby.”

    “Jiří Procházka, already talking to the fans, already doing some weird Jiří stuff, and I don’t know, man, being a baby. I don’t know,” Sonnen said. “I turned this camera on, I wanted to make a nice piece about Jiří. I haven’t met him but I appreciate him. And I recognize the incredible grit to that guy. I mean, a real tough guy. … He is not going to give up. He says he’s got to either evolve or he’s got to quit. It’s just a very interesting statement.

    “I do understand what Jiří’s saying…he’s talking about, you know, ‘I’m not going to settle in. I’m here to be champion, and I don’t have the skills and tools needed right now to deal with this threat,’ which is Pereira. … That’s a very dangerous game. In theory, that is absolutely right…it’s just an interesting game in practice,” Sonnen continued. “When you attempt to evolve, the first thing that traditionally happens is you leave your current situation. … It’s generally the beginning of the end. … You can’t, when you lose a contest, decide that that’s the time you’ve got to change things. You can’t be outcome-based. It’s a huge mistake. Champions don’t make it but the top contenders do. If you are outcome-based as opposed to performance-based, you’re really missing the number one philosophy that you need to be successful.”

    It remains to be seen when Procházka will look to get back into the cage following his latest setback to Pereira, or even if.

    Should he take time away and return once again in pursuit of two-time champ status, however, it stands to reason that the Czech star will do so looking to show new wrinkles and improvements to his game.

  • Raul Rosas Jr. Predicts Who Will Be UFC Bantamweight Champion When He Reaches The Title

    Rising UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. has long expressed his title ambitions, and he expects to achieve them at the expense of another highly touted prospect down the line.

    Rosas Jr. broke on to the scene in 2022 as the youngest fighter to ever sign a contract with the mixed martial arts leader. And he followed success on Dana White’s Contender Series with an Octagon debut win that very same year, submitting Jay Perrin at UFC 282.

    Although his sophomore outing didn’t quite go to plan courtesy of Christian Rodriguez’s own talents and planned rise toward contention, “El Niño Problema” has since returned to winning ways with a 54-second knockout of Terrence Mitchell last September and second-round submission of Ricky Turcios at the UFC Fight Night in Louisville last month.

    All the while, the now-19-year-old bantamweight has vowed to make a quick ascent to the throne that will leave him as the promotion’s youngest-ever champion, surpassing Jon Jones in that regard.

    Rosas Jr. no doubt has some major challenges ahead of him if he’s to achieve that goal, and judging by who he expects to be holding the gold at the time, that includes the final step…

    Rosas Jr. Predicts Nurmagomedov Showdown For The Title

    During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Rosas Jr. reiterated his lofty ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, the next step toward which he hopes comes at the Sphere this fall.

    When asked what he expects the state of the title picture to look like upon his arrival down the line, the Mexican-American prospect named Umar Nurmagomedov as the man he believes will have the crown in his possession.

    “I see myself winning my next fight at the Sphere, and it’s just going to get me closer to the belt,” Rosas Jr. said. “Depending on how often I can fight and who I can fight, I think I can get it done pretty soon. … Probably (against) Umar Nurmagomedov. I think he’ll have the belt when I get there.”

    Despite that prediction, however, he seemingly isn’t expecting the Dagestani to reach the throne soon. When asked about his upcoming showdown with Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi next month, Rosas Jr. backed “The Sandman” to stall Nurmagomedov’s rise.

    “He’s a beast, but Cory Sandhagen’s a beast too,” Rosas Jr. said. “I’m going to have to go with Cory Sandhagen.”

    Nurmagomedov is currently unbeaten at 17-0 in his professional career, with five of this wins coming under the UFC banner. After most recently escaping a scare against newcomer Bekzat Almakhan, “The Young Eagle” has the chance to stake his claim for a first title shot.

    To do so, the Russian standout must get past a former interim title challenger and top five contender in Sandhagen, whom he’ll share the Octagon with for a five-round UFC Fight Night headliner in Abu Dhabi on August 3.