MMA News

Category: UFC

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

  • Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland thinks you’d need to put a gun to the UFC’s head in order for the promotion to do the right things.

    That sentiment came from Strickland’s first outspoken moment of fight week for this Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view, where the former middleweight champion is tasked with getting the better of Paulo Costa in a five-round co-headliner.

    Having lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis this past January, “Tarzan” was firm in calling for an immediate rematch. And it seems things didn’t go smoothly when the promotion slid a different bout agreement across his desk.

    After reports emerged of Strickland and Costa’s targeted showdown in Newark on June 1, the former took to social media to insist that nothing was official due to the UFC offering an unacceptable sum.

    That issue evidently got sorted and Strickland will indeed make the walk at Prudential Center this weekend. But his frustrations don’t appear to have fully dissipated…

    Strickland: Look At What The Guys Who Run The UFC Earn!

    During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier during UFC 302 fight week, Strickland looked ahead to his clash with Costa and spoke on his public complaints during negotiations for the fight.

    Strickland unsurprisingly didn’t avoid stepping beyond the company line, slamming the UFC as just another corporation headed by “leeches” who avoid acting correctly to most fighters.

    “Here’s the thing, sometimes you’ve gotta be ready to f*cking throw away your entire career if you don’t get your sh*t,” Strickland said. “Just doing the f*cking right things, man. The UFC doesn’t do the right things. It doesn’t f*cking do the right things. It doesn’t do the right things with most of the roster. 

    “If you go look at what these f*cks, the guys that run the UFC, what they’re making and what (fighters) get paid, it’s f*cking sh*t, dude. The UFC does not do the f*cking right things,” Strickland continued. “Unless you hold them at gunpoint, they aren’t gonna do it. But that’s all business these days. All these f*cking corporations are f*cking leeches, dude. Look at the working man’s f*cking (pay) gap, bro. My gap is a lot f*cking smalled than your guys’ gap, but that’s how it works. These corporations are just f*cking sucky.”

    Strickland is never far from the headlines during his fight weeks. While that was the case for UFC 297 earlier this year due to his tirade against a reporter who questioned his past anti-LGBTQ comments, the promotion itself is the entity coming under fire days out from UFC 302.

    It remains to be seen what Strickland will produce while on the microphone at Thursday’s press conference, or while throwing down with Costa inside the Octagon.

  • Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was ready to give his uncensored thoughts on a recent discussion regarding Islam Makhachev.

    Makhachev, who has reigned supreme over the lightweight division since his title-winning victory over Charles Oliveira in 2022, is set to make his first appearance of the year this weekend.

    In the main event of the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark, New Jersey, the Dagestani will put his belt on the line for the third time. After back-to-back defenses against Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier is next in line for a shot at dethroning Makhachev.

    Given McGregor’s in-cage history with Poirier and hostile relationship with Makhachev’s team owing to his bitter rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, it was always likely that the Irishman would be piping up this week.

    And courtesy of the champ’s official fight week photos, the outspoken McGregor was handed a talking point…

    McGregor Reaches Conclusion On Makhachev Photos

    The release of Makhachev’s photos in fight gear immediately drew concerns over a possible staph infection on his left leg. 

    Such a scenario would be déjà vu vu for Poirier, whose most recent opponent, Benoît Saint Denis, was on antibiotics to fight staph during UFC 299 fight week this past March. 

    McGregor followed his usual trend, taking to social media with a slew of verbal attacks directed at Makhachev, whom he branded a “scruffy c**t.” He also called the champ “imbred,” an insult he’s frequently directed at his Dagestani rivals.

    The Dubliner did, however, still predict a quick triumph for Makhachev come fight night.

    “Staph again. This inbred lives with Staph,” McGregor wrote. “This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”

    In a follow-up post, McGregor continued his tirade with a reminder on the importance of washing mats after training sessions.

    “Yous absolute scruffy f**ks I’m sick of yous,” McGregor added. “Wash your f**king self! Wash your clothes! Wash your mats! And do it f*cking everyday you scruffy c**nts

    McGregor’s upcoming return to action has led to some discussion about the rivalry between the Irishman and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team reopening.

    Should Makhachev retain his grip on the lightweight crown this weekend and McGregor make a statement in his comeback fight opposite Chandler, many are predicting that the UFC will look to pair them opposite one another down the line.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    A lot of the talk surrounding Dustin Poirier’s best chances of winning the lightweight title at UFC 302 are about his boxing.

    Of course, keeping the fight standing against someone like Islam Makhachev will not be easy, not to mention the champion’s always improving striking game.

    But if there is one clear area that “The Diamond” has the advantage in, it’s his speed, accuracy, timing and power when letting his hands go.

    Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez recognised this in a recent interview whilst talking about another key area that Poirier may have an advantage in.

    Javier Mendez Says He Isn’t Worried About Dustin Poirier’s Leg Kicks At UFC 302

    When asked during an interview on the Weighing In podcast where he feels that Poirier holds any advantages in this fight, Mendez obviously mentioned Poirier’s boxing.

    Another one of the challenger’s best weapons is his low calf kick which he then uses to set up his boxing combinations.

    These were especially crucial in his previous two fights with Conor McGregor which really showed how Poirier is able to use these two main weapons in unison.

    It’s something that Mendez and the coaches are very wary of but they’re not necessarily concerned about ahead of this fight.

    The American Kickboxing Academy coach said that Makhachev isn’t an easy target for leg kicks, let alone the potential of him being able to secure a takedown if he catches Poirier off balance.

    “Low calf kick is dangerous from him also, very very dangerous because he likes to throw it. But Islam is actually fairly adapt at low calf kicks so it’s not going to be as big a deal unless he catches a good one, which could happen. It could happen but Islam knows how to defend the low calf kick.”    

  • Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    As Joe Rogan said on a recent episode of his podcast, Ilia Topuria didn’t need any additional inspiration to believe that he was going to become the UFC featherweight champion.

    At UFC 298, “El Matador” was crowned after he stopped the 145-pound great Alexander Volkanovski with a ruthless knockout.

    Having not been stopped since his fourth pro fight, Volkanovski has now been on the end of two decisive knockouts in his last two fights.

    The Aussie fighter was already planning to defend his title against Topuria when he got the call to step in on a few weeks notice to move up a weight class and face Islam Makhachev.

    With Charles Oliveira out, a generous offer from the UFC and the chance to earn some revenge after he was beaten by Makhachev that same year, Volkanovski knew he had to say yes.

    Joe Rogan Wishes We Could Have Seen Alexander Volkanovski Face Ilia Topuria Without Fighting At UFC 294

    Whether or not Volkanovski’s performance against Topuria was hindered by his knockout loss to Makhachev four months prior is debatable.

    On The Joe Rogan Experience, elite grappler and coach of Volkanovski, Craig Jones, spoke about this with the UFC commentator.

    Rogan believes that the knockout and quick turnaround undoubtedly affected Volkanovski at UFC 298.

    “This is a short amount of time and then everything kind of falls apart and I think it wouldn’t have fallen apart if not for the rematch. If it wasn’t for the rematch, if he just waited for Topuria, I got to think that head kick has a factor. I mean to get brained like that with a shin to the dome, which is the worst way to get knocked out, it’s so much power in legs.”

    Rogan went on to say that he would have tried to talk Volkanovski out of taking the fight so that he could face Topuria in the best shape possible.

    “It’s so tricky cuz I’m just such a huge Volk fan that I just wish I had his ear. I don’t know if he would have listened to me but if I had his ear…”        

    Read also: ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Paulo Costa’s Bloody Brawl With Luke Rockhold Ahead Of UFC 302 Return

    UFC 302 co-headliner Paulo Costa’s latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable and bloody fashion almost two years ago. 

    “Borrachinha” will feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with getting the better of fellow contender and former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

    Costa made his return from a lengthy layoff this past February, squaring off against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim. The highly entertaining affair came 18 months on from his previous outing at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City in Utah.

    On that night, the Brazilian welcomed former titleholder Luke Rockhold back to action. While the altitude saw fatigue heavily affect their showdown, the three-round affair still featured a number of notable moments, chief among them being the veteran’s gruesome wipe of his bloody face on Costa in the dying moments.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Costa vs. Rockhold fight from UFC 278 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xajbQsU0tJU

    Be it in a similar fashion or a more comfortable one, Costa will be fully focused on having his hand raised inside the Octagon again this weekend inside Newark’s Prudential Center.

    And given that Strickland entered this year with the gold in his possession, such a feat would no doubt leave the Brazilian within touching distance of a second opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    Kevin Holland will face Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 right before the five-round co-main event between Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland. 

    Many, including Weighing In hosts John McCarthy and Josh Thompson, believe that this fight is important for Holland to reassure the UFC about his prowess as a title contender and that he’s not just a gatekeeper in the welterweight division. 

    Although Holland is on a two-fight losing streak, this isn’t the first time he’s been in this situation. In the UFC, he’s previously lost consecutively to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori but came back with a KO win over Alex Oliviera. 

    Then, he again lost two fights in a row against Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson, but returned with a KO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Ahead of UFC 302, Holland finds himself in a similar situation as he’s lost to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page, and here’s what the Weighing In podcast hosts believe he should do to bounce back. 

    John McCarthy Claims Kevin Holland Is A ‘Problem For Everyone’

    While discussing the UFC 302 card on his podcast, “Big” John McCarthy had all the praise for Holland,who is easily one of the most active fighters in the UFC roster. 

    McCarthy agreed that Holland is tough and can create problems for anyone inside the Octagon, and that “MVP” wasn’t an ideal matchup for him in many ways. 

    “Kevin Holland, he’s a problem for everyone. He’s in that position. Against MVP, I thought he would end up having a problem and everyone does, because they don’t realize how fast Michal is. 

    “Oleksiejczuk, I love the guy. He’s tough as hell. He is just a grinding monster. I don’t think he can beat Kevin Holland”

    While McCarthy seemed confident about Holland being the better fighter, Thomson was more concerned about the impact of a losing streak on a fighter. The former UFC fighter explained how each loss adds to the mental burden and even someone like Holland could be affected by it.  

    “Losing to Jack Della Maddalena and ‘MVP.’ Now you’re fighting another guy who’s got a good chin, who likes to put the pressure. But one of my points is, though, that two losses in a row, you start thinking, ‘I’ve never lost three in a row. If I lose this, will they cut me?’ Those are the things that start going through your mind.

    “In a fighter’s mind, you’re thinking to yourself. Three in a row, man, after three, it could be four, and then you really start thinking.”

    Both Thomson and McCarthy then agreed on the fact that the UFC is unlikely to cut Holland even if he loses to Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 – something we can likely all agree on too.

  • Sean Strickland’s Difference In Approach Between Adesanya & DDP Fights Pointed Out Ahead Of Paulo Costa Contest: ‘It Changed Him…’

    Sean Strickland was able to shock the world with his middleweight title win and dominant performance against Israel Adesanya.

    He came in a huge underdog at UFC 293 and was able to successfully implement his style in order to cause all kinds of problems for “The Last Stylebender”.

    Whilst his first title defense was still a closely contended fight, Dricus Du Plessis didn’t have many of the same problems when facing Strickland at UFC 297.

    The challenger still struggled to land anything clean on the champion and of course, styles make fights so he was able to threaten with his grappling more.

    There may be lessons that can be learned from these two fights about Strickland’s trajectory which could end up being crucial in his return this weekend.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Sean Strickland Needs To Find His Groove Against Paulo Costa 

    At UFC 302, Strickland will face Paulo Costa in the co-main event over five rounds in Newark, New Jersey

    The former champion certainly has some attributes that he may be able to use effectively in this fight but there was also one concern that has been highlighted.

    On the latest episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy spoke about how the pressure on Strickland changed massively between UFC 293 and 297.

    McCarthy believes that against Du Plessis, the champion at the time was too reserved and cautious at times and as a result, was unable to control the fight or bully his opponent.

    Forcing a dangerous striker like Costa to back up versus letting him dictate the range and pace could be absolutely vital for Strickland as he attempts to bounce back.

    “The real question is, and you bring up the Izzy fight, I thought Sean went into that fight similar to what I was talking with Dustin, he had no pressure on him. No one expected him to win, there’s no pressure, just go be you and he did. You go and look at the DDP fight, he had a ton of pressure on him and it changed him. He was a lot tighter during the fight, you could see where he was pressing at time. He just was not in that flow like he was against Izzy, he needs to get back to that.”  

  • Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier isn’t putting too much stock into the one loss that is on Islam Makhachev’s record.

    “The Diamond” is set to challenge the lightweight champion at UFC 302 and has a huge task ahead of him in Newark.

    The champ has been dominant in most of his fights aside from one setback that happened all the way back in 2015 in his second Octagon appearance.

    In trying to land his own big, looping shot on Adriano Martins, Makhachev was caught by a powerful counter and dropped, with the referee stepping in to wave off the fight.

    In an interview on mainevent for Fox Sports Australia, Poirier said that the lightweight champion is far better than he was nine years ago so he can’t expect Makhachev to make the same mistake twice.

    “I think the Islam I’m fighting on Saturday night is a different guy than we sat in that time he lost. He was kind of fumbling and his weight was over his feet, he was running in kind of goofy and got hit with a good shot but definitely if he’s lunging in and covering space like that recklessly, I’ll throw check hooks all day.”

    Dustin Poirier Says He Isn’t Interested In Fighting Conor McGregor Right Now

    Poirier also spoke in the same interview about where he is at right now in regards to his rivalry with Conor McGregor.

    “The Notorious” is set to return at UFC 303 and seemingly still has unfinished business to attend to with “The Diamond” after their third meeting ended in him suffering the injury that has kept him out for so long.

    For Poirier, he’s happy to have moved on to being back in title contention and trying to realize his dream of becoming the world champion.

    This is his main focus for now but you can’t help but feel that whilst the two men are still in the promotion, you can never say never.

    “I’ve kind of moved past it and I’m fighting for the undisputed world title, that’s the pinnacle of the sport. Fighting Conor isn’t the pinnacle, being the undisputed world champion is the pinnacle so that’s what I’ve been focused on. But I do think he’s going to beat Chandler.”  

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach On How He Can Win More Rounds In Judges’ Eyes & Not Lose Close Decisions: ‘You Almost Kinda Get Lulled To Sleep…’

    Sean Strickland’s Coach On How He Can Win More Rounds In Judges’ Eyes & Not Lose Close Decisions: ‘You Almost Kinda Get Lulled To Sleep…’

    Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa will face each other at UFC 302 and the highly anticipated five-round middleweight fight will serve as the co-main event. Because the stakes are high, Strickland’s coach Erick Nicksick wants to make his fighter’s style more impressive for the judges. 

    Strickland is coming off a bitter title loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 as the fight was razor close and the challenger bagged a split decision win. Costa, on the other hand, went to war with Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 but lost unanimously on the judges’ scorecards.

    Despite losses, both Strickland and Costa haven’t lost credibility as top middleweight contenders, and winning at UFC 302 can put either on the path to the title again. 

    Nicksick expanded on some things in Strickland’s fighting style that he believes can bore the judges, and he hopes not to repeat the same mistakes this time. 

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Shares Lessons From the Du Plessis Fight  

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Nicksick was asked whether Strickland’s style needs to change so his fights don’t end up becoming close decisions.

    “I think you just have to give more scoring elements, more things for the judges to be able to see, you know. Sean is so predicated off his lead side and his lead hand,” Nicksick said. “You get a death by a thousand paper cuts. You almost kinda get lulled to sleep by the same offensive action over and over and over. So, you know, in the Dricus fight, I think there was a lot of things we could have done better. 

    “I think we could have implemented some more kicks, some more teeps. The one thing that really stood out to me was you know when we hit the switches on the ground. Instead of getting up and popping right back up, there was an opportunity for us to lay some ground and pound on him.”

    Nicksick went on to acknowledge that a more aggressive or diverse approach would help Strickland in not having frequent split-decision fights. Since joining the UFC, he’s been in five split decisions where he clinched victory against three opponents but lost to Jared Cannonier and Du Plessis. 

    Former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski raised similar concerns about Strickland’s fighting style being too defensive and how it affects scoring even though he doesn’t take a lot of damage. 

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC 302 headliner Islam Makhachev made a statement when he last appeared inside the Octagon.

    The UFC lightweight champion will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with recording a third successful title retention at the expense of divisional veteran Dustin Poirier.

    Following his crowning against Charles Oliveira back in 2022, Makhachev put the belt on the line against the same foe twice in 2023, repelling the threat of then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.

    Their first clash in Perth, Australia, was a tight affair, with many even believing “Alexander the Great” did enough to deserve two-division glory. There was no debate, however, when it came to their rematch.

    Following the late withdrawal of Oliveira, Volkanovski stepped up on a few days’ notice and headed to Abu Dhabi to do battle with Makhachev again at UFC 294 last October.

    The champ closed out proceedings in the first round, flooring the Aussie with a vicious head kick before swarming with an onslaught of ground-and-pound for the knockout finish.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Makhachev vs. Volkanovski rematch from UFC 294 on its official YouTube channel.

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

    The Russian will be looking to deliver a similarly impactful performance when he takes to the cage inside the Prudential Center this weekend.

    If he achieves that feat, Makhachev will have gotten past the first challenge to his reign to come from an established contender at 155 pounds. And from there, the likes of Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings.

  • Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen isn’t buying into Jon Jones’ theory on the training footage recently released by heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic.

    Jones and Miocic are expected to collide toward the end of 2024 with the former’s heavyweight belt on the line. They were originally set to do battle last November at Madison Square Garden but an injury to the champion forced a change of plans.

    Since then, the topic of discussion has been the debate over Jones and the UFC’s insistence on keeping the Miocic matchup together over a unification showdown between “Bones” and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.

    The backlash to the decision not to have the two champs square off only increased upon the release of some recent training footage from Miocic.

    But while many expressed concern over what they perceived to be a clear decline in speed from the divisional legend, who has not competed in over three years, Jones theorized that Miocic may have been attempting to instil a false sense of confidence into him.

    A former opponent of the reigning champ’s, however, has dismissed that take and put forth an alternative suggestion…

    Sonnen Doubts Miocic Is ‘Trying To Dupe’ Jones

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen assessed the brief clip Miocic posted online, as well as Jones’ comments on it.

    “The Bad Guy” dismissed the idea that Miocic may have been attempting to deceive the champ, claiming there isn’t a single fighter who would willingly release footage that shows their ability in a negative light.

    Instead, Sonnen believes the explanation is more simple — Miocic just wasn’t competing an explosive training drill.

    “Jon Jones isn’t buying what Stipe Miocic is selling as legit training footage on Instagram,” Sonnen said. “Stipe looks a little bit slow… But I didn’t interpret it as he was going full out. I interpreted that he was working on technique… Jon Jones is talking about, ‘Hey man, he’s trying to deceive me, he’s trying to fool me. He looked slow in that video but he wants me to see that. He wants me to see that he’s slowed down so that I can build (a false sense of) confidence.’

    “One thing that I have learned… There is no scenario that I could imagine that Jon could make the video and/or have the decision over said video to be posted to the world or not, and Jon, whether for delusion or strategy, would allow anyone to put a video out that he did not think made him look good,” Sonnen continued. “I don’t think Stipe was trying to dupe anybody… I don’t know a fighter whose little fragile ego would allow a video to go out where they perhaps could be perceived as anything not positive. I don’t know a single fighter whose ego is strong enough to allow a video to go out on social media that made them look anything other than superhuman.”

    As he begins preparation for his return to action, Jones looks set to be answering plenty of questions regarding his decision to focus on Miocic and dismiss his division’s interim champion. 

    “Bones” has frequently addressed the backlash and defended his preference online, and he’s even chose to mock the interim title bout between Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes set for UFC 304 this coming July in Manchester, England.

  • Tony Ferguson Returns On August 3 To Try & Break UFC Losing Skid Against Michael Chiesa Up At Welterweight

    Tony Ferguson Returns On August 3 To Try & Break UFC Losing Skid Against Michael Chiesa Up At Welterweight

    UFC President Dana White took to social media to announce the stacked main card that is set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    Amongst four other fantastic matchups, the return of lightweight legend Tony Ferguson is locked in for what will be his first appearance of the year.

    Ferguson is currently tied for the longest losing streak in UFC history following his tied record for the longest winning streak at 155 pounds at 12.

    Several key details were mentioned by White during his announcement for this next matchup for “El Cucuy,” where he will be taking on Michael Chiesa.

    “Opening the main card is a fight between the legend, Tony Ferguson, moving up to 170 pounds in what could be his final fight to take on Michael Chiesa.”  

    The two major points to highlight in White’s announcement is first of all, that this contest will see Ferguson move to welterweight.

    The former interim lightweight champion has competed at 170 pounds in the past, having faced Nate Diaz at this weight on short notice two years ago and also won The Ultimate Fighter as a welterweight.

    Chiesa is also a former lightweight and TUF winner who made the jump up a weight class back in 2018 and has since fought seven times there.

    He is currently on a three-fight losing streak after winning his first four fights at 170 pounds in impressive fashion.

    Chiesa was last seen at UFC 291 in July of last year, where he was submitted by Kevin Holland in the opening round.

    Ferguson, on the other hand, went three rounds with Paddy Pimblett in December where he was unable to find his groove and show glimpses of the lightweight boogeyman that the fans fell in love with.

    The other key point is that White specifically says, “in what could be his final fight.”

    The UFC boss has suggested in the past that Ferguson should hang up the gloves meaning that Abu Dhabi could be one final ride for “El Cucuy”.

    August 3 will mark the promotion’s first event in Abu Dhabi this year.

  • Nick Diaz Set To Face Ranked Welterweight In Return At Abu Dhabi-Held UFC Fight Night

    UFC veteran Nick Diaz is set for his second attempt at making a successful comeback. 

    Diaz, who became the inaugural Strikeforce welterweight champion back in 2010 and went on to compete for UFC gold against both Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre, has entered the Octagon just once since 2015.

    After a drug test controversy following his bout with Anderson Silva, Diaz didn’t return until UFC 266 in 2021, where he did battle with a fellow vet in Robbie Lawler. The Stockton native was far from his best, ultimately choosing not to return to his feet after being dropped in round three.

    While that led many to call for Diaz’s retirement, he subsequently hinted at further bouts. And his latest comeback is now official.

    This week, UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to confirm the main card for the promotion’s return to Abu Dhabi on August 3. Among the five contests is a welterweight collision between Diaz (26-10, 2 NC) and the #14-ranked Vicente Luque (22-10-1).

    The UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena will be headlined by a bantamweight showdown between former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen and the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of Tony Ferguson, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Mackenzie Dern will all be in action.

    Diaz Targets First Win Since 2011 Against Luque

    When Diaz and Luque collide in a five-round co-main event this summer, both will be looking to bounce back from defeats.

    “The Silent Assassin” was in action more recently, slipping down the pecking order at 170 pounds courtesy of Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City earlier this year. Prior to that, the Brazilian had returned from a brain injury scare by outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in a 2023 main event.

    His opponent, meanwhile, has been without the winning feeling for quite some time. Before a defeat to Silva that was later overturned to a no contest, Diaz had lost two straight title fights against the great St-Pierre and Condit following a decision victory over BJ Penn.

    That result against “The Prodigy” extended Diaz’s win streak at the time to 11, a run that also included triumphs over Frank Shamrock and Paul Daley. He’ll look to return to that winning form at the expense of Luque in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    With this addition, the main card set to unfold at Etihad Arena is as follows:

    • Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight main event)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight co-main event)
    • Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez (strawweight)
    • Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa (welterweight) 

  • Alexander Volkanovski: Let’s See If Ilia Topuria Can Handle The ‘Real Volkanovski’ In Rematch

    According to Alexander Volkanovski, UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria is yet to defeat the “real” version of “Alexander the Great” inside the Octagon.

    Topuria brought Volkanovski’s lengthy and dominant reign on the 145-pound throne to an end at the UFC 298 pay-per-view in Anaheim this past February, knocking the Australian out in round two.

    Given that Volkanovski suffered a similar fate just four months prior at the hands of Islam Makhachev, many put the violent loss to “El Matador” down to the quick turnaround that the now-former champ committed to.

    While he’s avoided making any excuses, the 35-year-old has noted his intention to take a longer break before returning to action. And with that, “Alexander the Great” says Topuria can expect to face the “real” Volkanovski second time around…

    Volkanovski Excited To Give Topuria ‘Real’ Test

    During a recent interview with The AllStar, Volkanovski reiterated his insistence that a title challenge will await him upon his return to the Octagon toward the end of 2024.

    Should that come to fruition, “Alexander the Great” has no doubt that things will play out much differently than they did in California earlier this year.

    “Not taking anything away because Ilia’s a great fighter, but let’s see — ’cause the next Volkanovski is gonna turn up, the real Volkanovski,” the Australian said. “Let’s see if Ilia can handle it.

    “Again, I’m not taking anything away from him and not saying he can’t. He’s obviously got heavy hands, obviously got good skill,” Volkanovski continued. “But I want him to be tested against the best version of myself.”

    For now, Topuria’s focus appears to be elsewhere. Having dismissed claims he turned down a rematch with Volkanovski for Perth this August, the Georgian-Spaniard has been going back and forth with Max Holloway.

    Given his demands for the Hawaiian’s BMF belt to also be on the line, the date and stipulations for that potential title fight remain to be seen. Latest reports, however, suggest it is in the works for UFC 306 at the Sphere this September.

    By the sound of things, Volkanovski will be waiting in the wings for the winner.

  • Dustin Poirier Admits Fighting Saved Him From Potentially Being ‘Dead Or In Jail’ Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight

    Dustin Poirier Admits Fighting Saved Him From Potentially Being ‘Dead Or In Jail’ Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight

    Without fighting, former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier believes his life would have played out much differently — and not in a good way.

    Poirier has long been one of the promotion’s leading fan favorites and has completed close to everything across a lengthy career inside the cage. One box, however, remains unchecked.

    While “The Diamond” has held interim gold on MMA’s biggest stage, he’s yet to reach the undisputed throne. To date, Poirier has failed to secure the crown in two opportunities, falling via submission to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 and Charles Oliveira in 2021.

    The UFC 302 pay-per-view event this weekend in Newark presents a fresh — and potentially final — shot for the Louisianan, who is set to battle reigning lightweight Islam Makhachev in the main event.

    Ahead of the clash, Poirier has been open about the possibility of this assignment being his last, win or lose. And in reflecting on his career during fight week, the 35-year-old has acknowledged the important part that fighting has played in saving him from some rough avenues…

    Poirier: ‘I’ve Found Who I Am Through Fighting’

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Andreas Hale, Poirier reflected on his storied tenure as a mixed martial artist as he approaches his potential swansong at Prudential Center.

    “The Diamond” outlined the positive impact that fighting has had on his life as a whole, noting that it’s paved the way for his entry into the business world and even saved him from some grim possibilities. 

    “I’ve found who I am through fighting. My life has been moulded, in some way or another, by fighting,” Poirier said. “Everything I have is from fighting. Everything me and my family have, the businesses I own, the things we run; everything I have is anchored into fighting somehow got me there, got me into the room, or business meetings, or tables with these people I would have never had the opportunity to sit across from and talk to.

    “It’s all because of fighting. Fighting has opened these doors for me,” Poirier continued. “To be honest, I could be dead or in jail if I never found fighting. When I was 17 years old, I wasn’t doing the right things. I’ve learned a lot of lessons about myself, about business, about life through fighting. I’m proud of that.”

    With that in mind, Poirier has been vocal in stating that he will be satisfied and proud of his accomplishments even if his career concludes without an undisputed title crowning.

    That’s not to say he isn’t still in hot pursuit of the mountaintop, however, and he’ll look to upset the odds on Saturday night to reach the peak at the expense of Makhachev in New Jersey.

  • ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

    ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

    For the first time since his title crowning in 2022, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will have Khabib Nurmagomedov’s guidance on fight night.

    Makhachev was long touted as a sure-fire successor to his mentor upon “The Eagle’s” retirement from active competition following a third successful defense of the 155-pound gold back in 2020.

    And the Dagestani completed the journey laid out for him by his coaches and teammates with Khabib close by, submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. That began the reign of Makhachev, but it also signaled the end of something.

    Months later, as Makhachev prepared to meet a test from below in the form of Alexander Volkanovski, Khabib announced that he would be stepping back from cornering members of his team.

    While he’s remained visible in some fight camps and has still lent a helping hand, the Russian legend has stayed true to his words and not appeared in a corner since.

    That, however, comes to an end this weekend at UFC 302.

    “News, ‘Eagle’ is landed in Jersey City,” Makhachev told UFC cameras during fight week. “He’s gonna be in my corner. Honestly, I’m very happy because he’s one of the best corner (coaches), brother, friend.”

    Fans React To Khabib’s Confirmed Corner Return At UFC 302: ‘Bet All Your Money On Makhachev’

    Unsurprisingly, the announcement of Khabib’s corner return saw many members of the MMA community flock to social media to give their thoughts. 

    Given Khabib’s history with Poirier, which saw him submit “The Diamond” in their unification title clash back in 2019, as well as the veteran’s renowned coaching abilities, plenty suggested that more odds just got stacked against the challenger in Newark.

    There are some, though, who predict that Khabib’s presence inside the Prudential Center on fight night will spur the underdog on and provide added motivation. Only time will tell…

    https://twitter.com/LakazMMA/status/1795676534923280554https://twitter.com/Tarticle21/status/1795674058379735279

  • Sean O’Malley & Coach Outline Why Ian Garry vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page At UFC 303 Will Be A ‘Boring’ Affair

    Sean O’Malley & Coach Outline Why Ian Garry vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page At UFC 303 Will Be A ‘Boring’ Affair

    Two of the most exciting and unpredictable strikers in the welterweight division are set to meet for the first time in a huge addition to UFC 303.

    Ireland’s Ian Garry is set to return when he takes on the division’s exciting newcomer in Michael “Venom” Page.

    After beating Kevin Holland in his debut at UFC 299 in March, “MVP” will look to shoot up the rankings by taking out Garry in the #7-spot who has spent a lot longer in the promotion, building up his current undefeated winning streak.

    Despite the sniper-like striking skills that both men bring to the table, there are some that believe that this fight may not make for the best stylistic clash despite how interesting a fight it is on paper.

    Sean O’Malley & Tim Welch Aren’t Sure That The Styles Of Ian Garry And ‘MVP’ Will Gel At UFC 303

    On the latest episode of the TimboSugaShow, UFC bantamweight champion and his coach Tim Welch discussed the announcement of this fight. 

    O’Malley stayed positive on the fight, saying that it should be interesting even if it isn’t a great watch on the night.

    “Could be fun, could be fun”

    Welch, however, was less confident as he spoke about how them both being counter strikers could make this one a difficult fight to get through.

    This is something that was also spoken about when Page was being linked to a fight against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson who also has a similar style.

    “I feel like there’s a good chance it’s going to be boring. There’s going to be, I just feel like, watch Ian Garry versus Neil Magny, backing up, backing up. ‘Venom’ Page isn’t the type to stalk someone down and cut them off and put them against the fence and make it a fight.”    

    O’Malley rounded things out with joking about how both men could retreat until they both hit the opposite sides of the Octagon.

    Despite this concern, he is still excited to watch the fight to see who gets the better of the striking exchanges when they do happen.

    “They both just back up. It sounds fun though.”

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Conor McGregor Would Film Himself Partying At 2 AM Ahead Of Michael Chandler Fight: ‘Jon Jones Played The Same Game…’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Conor McGregor Would Film Himself Partying At 2 AM Ahead Of Michael Chandler Fight: ‘Jon Jones Played The Same Game…’

    All of the words out of Conor McGregor’s mouth ahead of his return at UFC 303 have suggested that he is taking this fight seriously.

    Unfortunately, a lot of the comments he has made previously seemed to be undone after some videos were posted over the weekend.

    The footage shows McGregor partying at his Black Forge Inn until the early hours of the morning.

    Whilst there isn’t a video which sees him consuming any alcohol, he is dancing with his long-time partner Dee Devlin amongst other things like taking his shirt off.

    Though some were quick to disregard this as McGregor being out of control and not taking his comeback fight against Michael Chandler seriously, perhaps there is a deeper meaning at play.

    Sonnen Suggests Conor McGregor Is Giving Himself Built-In Excuse By Partying During Fight Camp

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen attempted to unpack the videos of McGregor that surfaced over the weekend.

    “The Bad Guy” made the point that why would McGregor put himself in this scenario knowing that everyone has a camera in their pockets.

    With that in mind, he tried to think about why “The Notorious” would want something like this out there.

    Some may point to it being an attempt to throw people off with the Ryan Garcia style of mind games to lull people into underestimating him.

    Sonnen, however, compared the videos to the former antics of Jon Jones and how he would sabotage himself in order to ease the pressure of winning. 

    “That’s where all of your options all of a sudden start really narrowing and when you’re confronted with the reality that it is not a marketing piece, then what is the story? What is the story and the message that the sports greatest storyteller is attempting to get you to consume. Jon Jones played the same game and Jon Jones eventually quit playing the game but he told the world why he was doing it initially and that was he always wanted to have an excuse in case he lost.

    “Not to you, the public, he wanted to have one for himself. If he would go to practice and he would work hard, he’d do what the coaches asked him, he’d put all that time in but he would also go out and drink and have a good time. If he was to taste defeat could tell himself well yeah but it was because of…”        

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dustin Poirier’s Savage KO Of Benoît Saint Denis To Secure UFC 302 Title Shot

    UFC 302 headliner Dustin Poirier delivered a finish worthy of a surprise shot at championship glory at the expense of Benoît Saint Denis this past March.

    The former interim UFC lightweight champion will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with bringing the reign of Islam Makhachev to an end in the Russian’s third defense.

    Poirier entered 2024 seemingly out of title contention following a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje last July. In his return to action at UFC 299 in Miami, however, “The Diamond” maintained his top five spot by turning away the challenge of one of the division’s most highly touted up-and-comers in Saint Denis.

    After a difficult first round that saw the Frenchman on top, Poirier showed that he’s far from lost a step by stopping “God of War” with strikes in the second. As it turns out, that win netted the Louisianan another opportunity at the belt thanks to results going his way at UFC 300 the following month.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Poirier vs. Saint Denis fight from UFC 299 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ciOQjock_g

    With that result being enough to book Poirier the next place opposite Makhachev inside the cage, “The Diamond” will look to replicate that performance in Miami to achieve undisputed glory this weekend.

    Should he achieve that feat, the Louisianan will have checked the final box in his illustrious career on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • ‘Gotta Be With The Right Management…’ – Arnold Allen On UFC Allowing #10 Umar Nurmagomedov To Skip The Line & Fight #2 Cory Sandhagen

    ‘Gotta Be With The Right Management…’ – Arnold Allen On UFC Allowing #10 Umar Nurmagomedov To Skip The Line & Fight #2 Cory Sandhagen

    Arnold Allen is set to compete for the second time this year when he fights on home soil at UFC 304 in Manchester.

    The #6-ranked featherweight contender will be fighting down the division as he takes on the #9-ranked Giga Chikadze in a great matchup.

    For Allen, he has been happy to accept the names put in front of him but “Almighty” has also been hoping to face higher ranked opponents.

    The Brit is coming off of a defeat to Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 in a fight that he had no problem admitting was a tougher test than some of the opponents ranked above them both.

    Chikadze is a great fight on paper but “Almighty” wants to know what he needs to do to take on some of the bigger names in the weight class.

    Allen Uses Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov As An Example For His Featherweight Confusion

    In an interview with InsideFighting, Allen spoke about how he doesn’t quite understand what determines which match-ups get put together.

    He used the example of Cory Sandhagen fighting down the bantamweight rankings for his next fight against Umar Nurmagomedov on August 3.

    Even after the pair were matched last year and the fight didn’t happen, it has been rebooked despite a big gap between them in the top 15.

    Allen questioned whether it’s down to who you’re managed by and the influence that some fighters and teams seem to have compared to others. Nurmagomedov, of course, is managed by Ali Abdelaziz if Dominance MMA, a well-known management stable featuring some of the biggest names in the sport such as Islam Makhachev, Kamaru Usman and others. 

    “You need some of those old guys to fight these guys coming up so this will be my second fight now fighting down the rankings and I get it, I lost the last two, whatever I think, I lost the last two. The one after Holloway I felt like probably fighting someone like Ortega would have made sense but then they’re like ‘ahh, have number #9’ so then okay, whatever, is what it is. It feels like you have to be someone or be with the right management to get the right match-ups that make sense. 

    “Kind of like Cory Sandhagen fighting Umar, he’s like #9 or #10 and like come on. He’s #2, Sandhagen is #2 and he also already accepted the fight, didn’t happen, none of his fault, he fought anyway so yeah, I don’t get it, it’s confusing. I don’t doubt his ability, he’s very good, I think it’s going to be a good fight, a tough test, I just don’t understand what gets that skip in the queue.”         

  • ‘If You Die, You Die’ – Top Ranked UFC Fighter Cory Sandhagen On The Possibility Of A Death In The Octagon

    Nothing represents the incredible highs and lows that can co-exist in the sport of MMA like a jaw-dropping knockout.

    Think back to any iconic knockout and the first thing that comes to mind is sure to be the celebrations and crowd reactions immediately following the final blow.

    There is, of course, two sides to this moment though as the fighter on the receiving end of the knockout will have friends, family and supporters also.

    One man that knows a thing or two about stunning people with his ability to finish fights is Cory Sandhagen who back in 2021, secured one of the best knockouts of the year.

    Cory Sandhagen Gives His View On Sympathy For Opponents 

    Sandhagen’s flying knee knockout over Frankie Edgar is sure to feature on UFC highlight reels for a long time but it was a worrying moment for Edgar’s supporters.

    The legend of the sport was out cold and took some time to get his bearings back in the immediate aftermath.

    In a recent live Q&A with Luke Thomas, Sandhagen was asked about the eventuality of a death inside the UFC Octagon whether his opponent’s health is something that he thinks about.

    “The Sandman” dived deep into his mentality and how he doesn’t allow himself to feel for his opponent given what both men know they are signing up for.

    “Umm… no [laughs]. Me and Frankie both signed up for that, you know what I mean. The human piece of me, which is different than the fighter piece of me, but the human piece of me obviously doesn’t like to see people get hurt. It definitely is a really big problem of watching people’s children watch their loved ones get hurt of their wife watch their loved ones get hurt but I think from like a fighter perspective, I care more about the people that love that person and how bad they probably feel then I do for the actual fighter because we all signed up for this. 

    “This is something where if you die, you die, you know what I mean. But, at least it was exciting and you did your best and you committed your life to something that was super awesome and really brave and courageous and at least you got to do that with your life and if you get to lose your life in something like that then maybe that’s a better way to go about it, not that I want that.”                 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibk7TYNxHaw

  • Dustin Poirier’s Coach Shoots Down Narrative That UFC 302 Fight Against Islam Makhachev Could Be His Last

    UFC 302 marks another huge night in the career of Dustin Poirier for what will be his 40th pro fight.

    Since debuting in the UFC all the way back in 2011, “The Diamond” has achieved some great things during his 13-year run with the promotion.

    He has become a true fan favourite, put on some classic fights, become the interim lightweight champion and of course, shared the Octagon with Conor McGregor on three occasions. 

    However, beating Islam Makhachev to become the lightweight champion at UFC 302 would go down as the crowning achievement of the entire run.

    An accomplishment so good that he may not be able to top it, providing the perfect time to ride off into the sunset.

    In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Poirier said that June 2 could be the last time we see him inside the Octagon regardless of the result.

    https://twitter.com/NoSmokeMMA/status/1794046876855177698

    Mike Brown Says He Can See Dustin Poirier Fighting Again Despite Retirement Talks

    Poirier’s long-time head coach at American Top Team, Mike Brown, isn’t so sure that this could be the last time we see “The Diamond”.

    As Josh Thomson pointed out in Brown’s interview on the Weighing In podcast, Poirier is still just 35 years old despite everything he has done in the sport.

    The ATT coach said that sometimes this is what Poirier is like and he didn’t read his recent comments as anything too serious at this stage.

    “This is him, he is a love/hate sometimes, you know how he is. I mean I’ve heard him say this before and he, I think that’s a day-to-day thing. You never know but he’s accomplished a ton, he’s got a ton of money, he’s content with what he’s done. You know, you don’t want to push too long but I wouldn’t be surprised if he fought again after this fight, win or lose, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him again. This is just, this is how it is. I think he’s trying to say he’s content with what he’s done, he’s proud of his accomplishments.”    

  • Kayla Harrison: UFC Debut Against Holly Holm First Time In ‘A While’ I Was Excited To Fight

    Kayla Harrison: UFC Debut Against Holly Holm First Time In ‘A While’ I Was Excited To Fight

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison regained her joy for mixed martial arts competition when she entered the UFC Octagon for the first time.

    Harrison jumped into the deep end in 2024, committing to a weight drop that appeared unrealistic in the eyes of many in order to realize her dream of competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Having won a pair of gold medals in judo and found championship success inside the PFL SmartCage, Harrison set her sights on a long-discussed pursuit of UFC gold. And that got underway in the perfect way.

    At the milestone UFC 300 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas last month, the Ohio native made a splash on debut, dominating former bantamweight queen Holly Holm en route to a second-round submission.

    Harrison has since acknowledged her enjoyment throughout fight week and inside the Octagon. That feeling, as it turns out, was something she was missing during the latter part of her PFL stint.

    Kayla Harrison Relished UFC ‘Challenge’ After Unexciting Period 

    During a recent appearance on UFC Unfiltered, Harrison looked back on her first taste of the UFC experience, both outside the cage and opposite “The Preacher’s Daughter” on fight night.

    In addition to advancing her competitive goals by immediately breaking into the bantamweight rankings at #4, Harrison spoke about the positive impact the change of scenery has had on her.

    Put simply, she is enjoying fighting again.

    “It’s tough because, first of all, I f*cking love the UFC. I am a company girl now, through and through,” Harrison said. “The level of professionalism, the level of excitement, the energy, the employees’ enthusiasm, their kindness. I was just like, ‘Hell yeah!’ I was cutting a bunch of weight, so I was kind of riding that energy high all week.

    “It felt a lot like the Olympics. Not as big… but it felt very similar,” Harrison continued. “Like, ‘Oh sh*t, here I am. This is what I’ve been training my whole life for. Every single part of my story led me to this moment.’ And when I stepped in the cage, man, (I was) calm, cool, and collected… I enjoyed the whole process. I was super pumped to fight Holly. Listen, I’ve fought a lot of tough fighters, but I think it had been a while since I was excited to fight. I don’t really fight for money. I wanted a challenge.”

    While Harrison focuses on journey toward another piece of gold in combat sports, her former employer continues to take digs at her.

    During a recent appearance on the Weighing In podcast with John McCarthy and Josh Thomson, PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis branded Harrison a “follower who needs validation.”

  • Coach Explains Why Fans Will See A ‘Different’ Paulo Costa In ‘People’s Main Event’ At UFC 302

    Coach Explains Why Fans Will See A ‘Different’ Paulo Costa In ‘People’s Main Event’ At UFC 302

    The coach of UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has promised fans that a new and improved version of the Brazilian will take to the Octagon this weekend.

    After contractual disputes and injuries kept him out of action for a considerable period, Costa made his first walk to the octagon since 2022 at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

    While he emerged from the Honda Center without a victory, the former title challenger’s performance in defeat against ex-champion Robert Whittaker signaled that he remains a strong threat at 185 pounds.

    “Borrachinha” will now look to go a step further by having his hand raised at the UFC 302 pay-per-view on June 1, where he’s set to co-headline opposite another former divisional kingpin in Sean Strickland.

    More than just looking to repeat the competitive display he had earlier this year, Costa’s team is seemingly expecting the best “Borrachinha” to date in Newark…

    Coach Albarracin Touts Costa’s UFC 302 Preparation

    During episode one of the UFC 302 Embedded: Vlog Series, cameras caught up with Costa and his team as they trained at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Coach Eric Albarracin was complimentary toward his student’s progress, claiming that the UFC 302 camp is the first time he’s seen Costa find a “rhythm” pre-fight. 

    “One week out before UFC 302 in Newark. Co-main event, but the people’s main event,” Albarracin said. “You know, I’ve never seen Paulo in a rhythm. So now he’s in a rhythm, and you’re gonna see a different Paulo Costa; refocused, recalibrated, and reloaded.”

    Whether or not that translates into a standout performance inside the Prudential Center this weekend remains to be seen.

    But given that Strickland only lost the title this past January, a triumph over “Tarzan” will go a major way to earning “Borrachinha” a second opportunity at achieving champ status himself on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • Michael Bisping Sees UFC 302 Headliner Islam Makhachev As ‘New & Improved’ Version Of Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Michael Bisping Sees UFC 302 Headliner Islam Makhachev As ‘New & Improved’ Version Of Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes Islam Makhachev boasts traits that the great Khabib Nurmagomedov did not.

    Having long been touted as a successor to Khabib following his retirement as an undefeated lightweight champion back in 2020, Makhachev completed his ascension to the 155-pound mountaintop in 2022.

    And since submitting Charles Oliveira to be crowned champ in Abu Dhabi, the Dagestani has enhanced his legacy and cemented his reign with a pair of successful defenses against now-former featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski. 

    With a victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 this weekend, Makhachev will make it three defenses, tying him for the division’s all-time lead with Khabib and Benson Henderson. 

    Such a feat would no doubt only increase the comparisons between “The Eagle” and his title-holding protégé. But not everyone is waiting for Makhachev to surpass his mentor before branding him superior…

    Bisping Compares Makhachev & Khabib: ‘Look At The KO Of Volkanovski…’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbCZ2P30wK0

    During the Preview Show for UFC 302 on TNT Sports’ YouTube channel, Bisping assessed Makhachev’s divisional rule to date and the champ’s ever-developing skillset.

    Pointing to the Dagestani’s renowned grappling game and always-improving striking, which he used to finish Volkanovski in one round last October, “The Count” suggested that Makhachev’s overall ability has already cleared that of Khabib.

    “Khabib came first and he’ll always be remembered for that, for what he did to the sport, how he represented Dagestan, and implemented that style. It took over the sport, let’s be honest,” Bisping said. “But his time has gone. It has passed… Islam is a new, improved version.

    “Look at the head kick knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. He’s much, much smoother on the feet. His grappling’s just as good as Khabib’s, or it’s certainly up there,” Bisping continued. “He’s really moulding into this champion. He feels it. He walks and talks with a certain bravado and assurance that comes not from confidence or ego, it comes from knowing what he’s capable of.”

    Makhachev will have the chance to further prove his talent in the main event of Saturday’s numbered event in Newark, where he’s tasked with defeating Poirier — a feat achieved by Khabib via submission back in 2019.