UFC 320 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, October 4. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature a UFC light heavyweight championship rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
The co-main event will see the Merab Dvalishvili put the UFC bantamweight championship on the line against Cory Sandhagen.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Jiri Prochazka taking on Khalil Rountree Jr., Josh Emmett facing Youssef Zalal, and Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320: Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2 Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 320 as of October 4 at 8:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev (-265) vs. Alex Pereira (+215)
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (-440) vs. Cory Sandhagen (+340)
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka (-205) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (+170)
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (+360) vs. Youssef Zalal (-470)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (+200) vs. Joe Pyfer (-245)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier (-1800) vs. Treston Vines (+1000)
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (-325) vs. Andre Muniz (+260)
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez (+370) vs. Farid Basharat (-485)
Catchweight: Daniel Santos (-148) vs. Joosang Yoo (+124)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson (-198) vs. Yana Santos (+164)
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix (-325) vs. Jakub Wiklacz (+260)
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano (-325) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (+260)
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj (+240) vs. Austin Vanderford (-298)
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy (-700) vs. Brogan Walker (+500)
Former NFL defensive end and Jon Jones’ older brother, Arthur Jones, has sadly passed away at 39.
On Friday, reports emerged of Jones’ passing, though the cause remains unclear. The Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta issued an official statement honoring him.
“We are terribly saddened to learn of Arthur Jones’ sudden passing,” statement reads. “Arthur’s presence was a gift to everyone he encountered. His big, bright smile, infectious energy and eternal positivity created a presence that continuously uplifted others.”
“He was kind, courteous, and enthusiastic – always displaying a love for family, teammates and friends. We send our deepest condolences to the Jones family and all who loved Arthur.”
While the cause of Jones’ death remains unknown, former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones has yet to comment on the devastating news of his brother’s passing.
Image: BaltimoreRavens.com
When Did Arthur Jones Retire From The NFL?
Arthur Jones began his NFL career when he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 and signed a three-year rookie deal. He played a key role in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII victory in February 2013.
In March 2014, Jones inked a five-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts. His time there included a four-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, and he was eventually released by the Colts in March 2017.
Later that year, in November, Jones joined the Washington Redskins but was sidelined on injured reserve due to a dislocated shoulder. Following the 2017 season, he announced his retirement from the NFL on social media.
We’re about less than 24 hours away from UFC 320, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 320 takes place on October 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event will see Magomed Ankalaev defend the UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. Ankalaev beat Pereira for the title at UFC 313 in March, and he hasn’t tasted defeat since dropping his March 2018 Octagon debut. Pereira originally won the title with a win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295, and he retained the gold over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The co-main event will see Merab Dvalishvili defend the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili won the gold by defeating Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 in September 2024, and he retained the belt over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. Sandhagen, meanwhile, has won four of five, most recently stopping Deiveson Figueriedo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The rest of the main card sees Prochazka facing Rountree Jr., Josh Emmett taking on Youssef Zalal, and Abus Magomedov going up against Joe Pyfer.
Though one fighter, Macy Chiasson, missed weight for her prelim matchup, all fights are still on!
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
We are just one day away from UFC 320, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.
UFC 320 takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a number of noteworthy names topped off with two title fights.
The main event will feature a light heavyweight championship rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The two first met at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev completely stopping Pereira’s offense over 25 minutes to win the belt.
Ankalaev has won three straight and has not suffered a loss since dropping his UFC debut against Paul Craig in March 2018.
Pereira originally won the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He retained the gold three times, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka in a short-notice rematch at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
Gold will also be on the line in the co-main event, as Merab Dvalishvili defends the bantamweight title against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili won the belt at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 in September 2024, defeating Sean O’Malley by decision. He retained the belt against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January and against O’Malley in a rematch at UFC 316 in June. Sandhagen has won four of his last five, earning this title shot with his finish of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The main card will also feature Prochazka and Rountree Jr. in another light heavyweight clash, a featherweight fight featuring Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight matchup that sees Abus Magomedov take on Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 320 takes place Saturday, October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 320 Weigh-In Show (beginning at 11:50 a.m. ET), and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev (204.5) vs. Alex Pereira (204.5)
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (135) vs. Cory Sandhagen (134.5)
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka (206) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (205)
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (146) vs. Youssef Zalal (146)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (185.5) vs. Joe Pyfer (186)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier (185) vs. Treston Vines (185)
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5) vs. Andre Muniz (185.5)
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez (136) vs. Farid Basharat (136)
*153-pound catchweight bout: Daniel Santos (151) vs. Joosang Yoo (152.5)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson (137.5**) vs. Yana Santos (135)
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix (136) vs. Jakub Wiklacz (136)
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano (170.5) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5)
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj (170.5) vs. Austin Vanderford (170.5)
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy (125.5) vs. Brogan Walker (124.5)
*Bout was originally scheduled as a featherweight bout but was changed on the day of weigh-ins
**Chiasson misses non-title bantamweight limit by 1.5 pounds. Chiasson fined 25 percent of her purse.
UFC 320 is just a couple of days away, featuring a pair of anticipated title fights. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 320, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The tenth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, October 4.
UFC 320 will be headlined by Magomed Ankalaev defending the UFC light heavyweight championship in a rematch with Alex Pereira.
The co-main event will see Merab Dvalishvili defending the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen.
The rest of the main card features a light heavyweight clash between Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr., a featherweight fight featuring Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight encounter that sees Abus Magomedov take on Joe Pyfer.
Watch The UFC 320: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
The UFC returns to its home of Las Vegas with a pair of title fights this Saturday for UFC 320. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN pay-per-view on Saturday, October 4. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6pm ET.
The main event will feature a rematch for the UFC light heavyweight championship, as Magomed Ankalaev makes his first defense, taking on the man he won the belt from, Alex Pereira.
The pair first met at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev executing a perfect gameplan to nullify Pereira’s offense and claim the championship. Ankalaev has not lost since dropping his UFC debut in March 2018, going 12-0-1 (1 NC) in that span. Pereira, who is also a former UFC middleweight champion, won the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He retained the title three times in 2024, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The co-main event of the evening will also see gold on the line, as Merab Dvalishvili defends the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili has not lost since dropping his first two Octagon bouts. After defeating Sean O’Malley for the title at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 last year, Dvalishvili has since retained the gold against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. Sandhagen has won four of his last five, most recently finishing Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The rest of the UFC 320 main card will see light heavyweight action featuring Prochazka and Rountree Jr., a featherweight fight where Josh Emmett takes on Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight matchup between Abus Magomedov and Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 320 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through nine cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (23-19) Thomas Albano (23-19)
Ryan Jarrell (22-20)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 320!
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Pyfer has put together a solid run in the UFC, and aside from that slip-up against Jack Hermansson, I still see him as a real threat in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, I’m not entirely convinced about Abus Magomedov’s consistency, though there’s no denying he has the power to end a fight if he finds his shot. Still, I believe “Bodybagz” will be the sharper, more dangerous fighter on the night, and I’m backing him to get the job done. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Thomas Albano: I don’t want to exclusively refer to this as grappler vs. striker, as Abus Magomedov has a decent all-around game. Having said that, with Pyfer being better with his striking – and perhaps a desire to put on a show after a lackluster win over Kelvin Gastelum – expect him to push the pace while Magomedov tries to hold him back. Magomedov is going to need to mix things up, and he’s going to have to avoid tiring himself out. If Magomedov tries to be too focused on getting an impressive finish himself, a brutal consequence might await. The longer the fight goes, I feel Pyfer will have more of an edge, so I will lean to him scoring the win here. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Ryan Jarrell: Joe Pyfer has the tools to be a real problem in the middleweight division and this matchup should be an interesting test for the surging fighter. Abus is a well rounded fighter on a nice three fight win streak with his most recent win over the dynamic, Michel Periera. I expect Bodybagz to use his strength and grappling skills to dictate where the fight takes place throughout the duration of the contest. Give me Pyfer to win a decision in the main card curtain jerker. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Consensus: 3-0 Pyfer
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Age could be a factor here, but with age comes experience, and Josh Emmett has plenty of that to lean on. He’s been around long enough to know how to trade with precision on the feet, and he still carries fight-ending power in his hands. Sure, his recent form hasn’t been the best, but those losses came against some of the elite in the division.
On the other side, Zalal brings youth, freshness, and a dangerous finishing instinct, especially when he’s able to drag opponents into his world on the canvas. The real question is whether Emmett can shrug off those grappling exchanges. If he can keep “The Moroccan Devil” from controlling the fight on the ground, I think the veteran has a very fair shot at reminding everyone why he’s still a serious threat. (Prediction: Emmett)
Thomas Albano: Simply put, this is a battle of experienced talent versus rising, talented youth name. Emmett’s got power and wrestling, and he shouldn’t be written off. That said, you can see age showing its presence by how he looked a little slower in his loss against Lerone Murphy. I could see Zalal utilizing his speed to land quick strikes and control the action around the Octagon – and potentially go tit-for-tat with Emmett on the ground. I’m not going to deny Emmett’s abilities and power, but I will say I think this is a fight where the youth wins out. (Prediction: Zalal)
Ryan Jarrell: Youssef Zalal looked absolutely incredible in the first two rounds of the Calvin Kattar fight. His timing and movement looked as good as I’ve seen at featherweight and if that version of the Moroccan devil shows up in Las Vegas then it will be a long night for the veteran fighter. Josh Emmett, however, has fight altering power and can change the trajectory of a fight with one shot. This fight will come down to just that. I believe the movement of Zalal will be too superior and he will avoid the power shots of Emmett en route to a smartly fought unanimous decision victory. (Prediction: Zalal)
Consensus: 2-1 Zalal
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This one screams top-tier violence, the kind of chaos that could swing either way. Both men are among the most dangerous strikers at 205 pounds, yet their styles couldn’t be more different, and that contrast is what makes this matchup so intriguing. Rountree Jr. is as fundamentally sound as they come, throwing clean, precise shots with bone-crushing power. “The War Horse” put on a strong showing against Pereira even though he fell short, and his fight with Jamahal Hill proved just how much he’s leveled up.
But things are never straightforward against Prochazka. He’s unorthodox, unpredictable, and nearly impossible to read. You never know what angle his strikes will come from or how he’ll set traps in the chaos. For me, this feels like a pure 50-50 fight, but if I have to choose, I’m putting my money on “BJP” to find a way in the madness. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Thomas Albano: After UFC Baku, people were calling for this match, and now it will be delivered. If you like power, if you like strikes, and if you especially like kicks, this is going to be the matchup for you. Both men are excellent strikers, albeit one (Prochazka) is more wild, while the other (Rountree) is more strategical. Both men are tough to finish, but even with a potential grappling edge in Rountree, I feel Prochazka will be looking to continuously pressure and use his power to put Rountree in trouble. And given their UFC resumes side-by-side as well, I’ll lean toward the former champion in this one. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Ryan Jarrell: This fight is so interesting because Rountree has the power to turn off anyone’s lights including Prochazka. We saw Khalil fight incredibly disciplined in his impressive win over the former champion, Jamahal Hill. I can honestly see a very similar fight happening here, however, Jiri is more dynamic and unpredictable inside the octagon. Because of that I expect some crazy moments where both men may be in trouble and it could come down to who fights the smarter fight. I don’t feel great about this pick but I will lean Rountree to stay disciplined and fight somewhat safe en route to a decision victory. (Prediction: Rountree)
Consensus: 3-0 Prochazka
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Few fighters earn their nicknames quite like “The Machine.” Dvalishvili is a generational talent, and I personally love watching his relentless style; elite opponents constantly struggle to figure him out. He imposes his will, grinding down challengers with his endless cardio and ceaseless pressure.
But then there’s Sandhagen, a master of striking, with fluid footwork, sharp angles, and a frame built to leverage every punch. In a world without Dvalishvili, Sandhagen’s weaponry could give almost anyone trouble. But the truth is, keeping pace with Merab’s relentless pressure and nonstop output is a different challenge altogether. “The Machine” shines when opponents try to chase him
“The Machine” will need to stay sharp against Sandhagen’s power shots; otherwise, he could cruise to another dominant control win, or maybe even a stoppage. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Thomas Albano: For Dvalishvili, this is a fight where if he wins, he may have locked up Fighter of the Year awards across MMA media when 2025 comes to an end. Sandhagen is a tough competitor with great boxing, and he will need to use it to secure a victory here. The problem is, with all due respect to him, I don’t see him as too much of a threat. Sure, he’s got good takedown defense, but Dvalishvili is another level of animal when it comes to takedowns and grappling. And even as champion, I feel Dvalishvili has continued to show improvements, from a comeback victory to retain against Umar Nurmagomedov, to being able to finish Sean O’Malley in their rematch. Give me Dvalishvili in a one-sided decision to keep the gold and lock himself in as 2025’s Fighter of the Year. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Ryan Jarrell: Until I actually see the Champion lose his belt, I just cannot pick against him. Merab has proven to be such a tough out for anyone in the world at 135 pounds. Cory Sandhagen has the skillset to be a champion and he definitely poses some interesting challenges to the champ. But at the end of day, Merab always finds a way to win and that’s exactly what I expect to see in the co-main event. Merab will dictate where the fight takes place and cruise to a unanimous decision victory. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Consensus: 3-0 Dvalishvili
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: After a first fight that fell short of expectations, this rematch feels like the redemption both fans and fighters were craving. Now that Ankalaev and Pereira have studied each other’s every move, we can expect a sharper, smarter, and more intense battle. At UFC 313, Ankalaev had the upper hand against “Poatan,” making the most of his sharp striking and masterful counter-punching. Every grappling attempt he tried was neatly defended by Pereira, who struggled to get his offense going. Now, the big question is what new tricks Ankalaev will bring. With his arsenal of tools—from cutting angles with surgical precision to exploiting every weakness—he’s ready to constantly keep Pereira on edge.
On the flip side, I’m genuinely curious to see how Pereira has evolved for this rematch. In their first fight, he seemed hesitant to pull the trigger, but we all know “Poatan” carries some of the most devastating kicks in MMA. I think those kicks will be a crucial weapon to slow down Ankalaev’s forward pressure and shake up the fight’s rhythm.
Honestly, predicting this one has me torn. Both fighters bring incredible skill, and it could go either way. Still, I’m leaning toward Pereira to finally get the job done that slipped through his fingers last time. “Poatan’s” time to shine, but this is not going to be an easy night for him. (Prediction: Pereira)
Thomas Albano: Ultimately, the question here will be if Pereira is going to be able to make the adjustments from the first fight. His offense was completely neutralized by Ankalaev in March. He has claimed that he wasn’t at 100 percent for the fight (a fair argument perhaps given his activity level in 2024), but the UFC 313 bout showed that Ankalaev has what it takes to stop Pereira’s creative and powerful striking over the course of 25 minutes. And while I don’t want to count Chama out, if Ankalaev was able to do that once, what’s to say he won’t be able to do it again? (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Ryan Jarrell: My initial thought for this main event title fight was to pick Ankalaev to do the exact same thing we saw in their first tilt. But after hearing Poatan say he was injured and not close to 100%, I am hesitant to do so. If the former champ is being truthful about his previous injury, then this could be a vastly different fight then the one we saw at UFC 313. At the end of the day, Alex is 5 years older than the new champ in a sport where the young eat the old. I wouldn’t be shocked if Poatan lands one of his devastating strikes and wins by TKO, but I believe the safe play is to pick Ankalaev by decision. (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Consensus: 2-1 Ankalaev
That’ll do it for our UFC 320 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 320 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier vs. Treston Vines
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Farid Basharat
Featherweight: Daniel Santos vs. Joosang Yoo
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix vs. Jakub Wiklacz
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
UFC star Conor McGregor has spoken about his desire to make up for the loss he suffered due to a leg injury against Dustin Poirier back in 2021.
According to Conor McGregor, he is signed to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship next year as part of the UFC White House card. Whether or not that’s actually going to happen, of course, is entirely up for debate, especially considering how inconsistent the messaging has been from Conor over the years.
Nonetheless, the return of Conor McGregor would serve as a huge moment for the promotion – and the sport of mixed martial arts as a whole. It’s not clear as to who exactly he would face off with, but a good guess would be that he finally steps in there to battle Michael Chandler after teasing the idea for a good few years now.
In a recent interview, McGregor spoke openly about what happened when he suffered a leg break against Dustin Poirier four years ago.
Conor McGregor wants to make up for 2021 loss
“I have eight months and change out to the White House event. It’s a six-month operation. You know, I consider it a six-month operation to get ready for this belt. And that’s my focus right now. I’m just eager to, you know, climb the steps into being ready for my return. There’s a lot at stake and I’m very excited at the opportunity.
“I was right there with my last one. I was in incredible condition, incredibly well prepared and just a slight lapse in concentration led to an injury. I wish to correct that and show what I’m about and that’s it. I’m eager to get back and we’ll see what the future holds after that.”
UFC fighter Jiri Prochazka has spoken candidly about the importance of gaining his Master’s degree.
As we know, Jiri Prochazka is a real fan favorite in the world of mixed martial arts. We also know that he’s an exceptionally talented fighter, putting together a record of 5-2 since entering the UFC – with his only defeats coming at the hands of Alex Pereira. As we look ahead to the immediate future, many fans are excited to see Jiri return to action on Saturday night when he faces Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 320.
It has the potential to be a fight of the night contender, and that’s us putting it lightly. In addition to his fighting ability, Jiri Prochazka is known for being an intelligent guy outside of the cage. He recently accepted his Master’s degree in Security and Strategic Studies, a process that he first told fans and media members about earlier this year.
During his media scrum this week, Prochazka spoke openly about what it meant to dedicate himself to the process.
Jiri Prochazka discusses his Master’s degree
“What I can say is for one month, I totally changed my life. Totally. For the others, just, doesn’t matter what you are learning. If it’s college or university or high school, just do that. For fighters, it’s much more useful because we need to work with our head. Because the punches, first, and the strategy, and the tactics in the fight.”
“I really don’t care about the Master’s degree, it’s all about the work here [in the head]. To work here, to use your memory, use all these things. So, this is all about, yeah.”
UFC veteran Dan Hooker has revealed why he opted to fight Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of UFC Qatar.
Next month, Dan Hooker will go head to head with Arman Tsarukyan in what will serve as a really important fight in the UFC’s lightweight division. While not guaranteed, there’s an excellent chance that the winner will go on to compete for the UFC lightweight championship – especially if it’s Arman that gets his hand raised.
Alas, Dan Hooker is as live of an underdog as someone can be, especially given the experience he has in high profile bouts like this. ‘Hangman’ is the kind of fighter who has never been afraid to take on a tough challenge and although the odds may seem to be stacked against him, he is the kind of guy who would battle Thanos himself if it meant getting into the title picture.
In a recent interview, Dan Hooker spoke candidly about why he was more than happy to take on Tsarukyan.
Dan Hooker explains wanting to fight Arman Tsarukyan
“I knew that the fight would come together eventually… because a lot of people try to avoid him in the division. They look for the fights that make the most sense for them and talk their way out of tough matchups. But that’s why this drew me in—I think he is the best fighter in the division at this weight and I want to beat him.”
Get ready, folks, because this one has the potential to be a barnburner.
Former UFC champion Alex Pereira has said that he’s excited to show a new version of himself when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.
In the main event of UFC 320 on Saturday night, Alex Pereira will face Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It’s a rematch from their first encounter earlier this year and on that occasion, it was Ankalaev who was able to walk away with the world title around his waist. Now, however, ‘Poatan’ is back, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than good enough to become champion once again.
Alex Pereira has faced his fair share of adversity before, but he’s arguably never been as much of an underdog as he is heading into this encounter. Ankalaev has looked pretty dominant for most of his UFC career and although he’s experienced a few hiccups, he’s still one of the best fighters in the UFC.
In a recent interview, Pereira explained why the actual result of the fight isn’t everything to him this weekend.
Alex Pereira is ready to show his improvements
“Of course I want to win, but the result doesn’t define everything. What I trained, what I’ve evolved— in the first fight it was very even, and I couldn’t show everything I learned. Now I’ve had the opportunity to show what I corrected and how much I’ve improved.”
Pereira knows the level of opponent that he’s taking on here, and he’s well aware of the fact that he needs to be the best version of himself if he wants to stand a chance at victory.
UFC star Conor McGregor has claimed that a deal has been struck for him to make his return to the promotion at next summer’s White House event.
For the longest time now, Conor McGregor has been teasing the idea of a return to professional mixed martial arts. While he still has plenty of fans around the world, his reputation has certainly taken a blow as a result of his many controversies outside of the cage. Alas, Dana White seems to be interested in getting him back, and the Irishman has his eyes set on next year’s blockbuster White House event.
For Conor McGregor, it’s seemingly all about proving that he has what it takes to continue competing at an elite level. Even if he doesn’t, he has the kind of star power that is always going to bring in some casual fans, especially for when the UFC hits up the White House.
In a recent interview, McGregor had the following to say about his return.
🚨 Conor McGregor says his fight at the White House fight is SIGNED and a DONE DEAL 👀
"Done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America's 250th birthday."
Conor McGregor claims UFC White House is a done deal
“Done deal, signed, delivered. It ain’t a negotiation, it’s a done deal, signed, delivered. McGregor will compete in the White House for America’s 250th birthday.”
“Me and Dana are in constant communication, we’ve done incredible business together, I’m the highest generating fighter of all time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. They’ve just signed a breathtaking deal with Paramount where we go to cable TV, $7.7 billion that deal. Ready to rokc, baby. Bring in the big dog, the Mac, the Mac G.”
On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White announed that UFC Qatar will feature a pivotal lightweight showdown in the main event, as top contender Arman Tsarukyan takes on Dan Hooker.
Tsarukyan has not competed since defeating out former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 in April 2024. “Ahalkalakets” was originally scheduled to challenge then-titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 this past January, but a back injury suffered during fight week forced him to withdraw from the bout.
He is currently riding a four-fight win streak and holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, with four of those victories coming by way of finish.
On the other hand, Hooker returns to action after edging out Mateusz Gamrot by split decision at UFC 305 in August 2024. The 35-year-old New Zealander has long been calling for a showdown with Tsarukyan, but a string of recurring injuries has repeatedly kept him sidelined.
“The Hangman” comes into the fight on a three-fight winning streak and owns a 14-8 record in the UFC, including nine victories by stoppage.
Meanwhile, the co-main event of UFC Qatar will see former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad facing off against Ian Garry. Muhammad returns to the Octagon following a unanimous decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May, a defeat that ended both his title reign and an 11-fight unbeaten streak. “Remember the Name” currently holds a 15-4 record with one no-contest in the UFC.
Garry was last seen in the Octagon at UFC Kansas City in April, where he bounced back from his first career loss by earning a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates. His only defeat came against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December 2024. “The Future” currently boasts a 9-1 record in the UFC, including three stoppage wins.
Your #UFCQatar main and co-main event is HERE 🤩 🇶🇦
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has an interesting theory regarding Jon Jones requesting $40 million to take on Tom Aspinall.
Right now, Jon Jones is not the UFC heavyweight champion. He was, but he gave up that belt and decided to retire from mixed martial arts instead of fighting Tom Aspinall. However, after the promotion revealed that they’d be heading to the White House for an event next year, ‘Bones’ seemed to change his mind.
Now, fans are left to wait and see whether or not Dana White will change his mind regarding Jon Jones taking part on that card. Either way, there’s a great deal of uncertainty in the air, and it’s clear that Jon will ask for a substantial amount of money in order to agree to the fight.
After it was suggested that Jon Jones wanted $40 million to fight Aspinall, Sonnen felt the need to respond in a recent video.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Jon Jones’ financial request
“I was at the press conference right after Jon Jones beats Stipe Miocic and Jones to fight Tom Aspinall throws out the biggest number he could think of, and that was 40 million. Now, the reason that number happened to be on Jon’s brain is there was just a report that came out that a fight that happened the day before on Netflix, Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, that Jake Paul was paid $40 million.
“It was not true. It was never true… But when he was asked how much he was going to need to fight Aspinall, he yelled out the biggest number he could think of, which at that time was 40 million because he just read the article about Jake Paul.
“But when you get back home and it’s time to actually find a date in a venue and get this fight done, Jon’s locked in at $40 million. Jon had forgot why he said $40 million. Jon forgot that this was part of the show.”
MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has rejected the notion that Conor McGregor is negotiating directly with the US government regarding his return to the cage.
Right now, UFC sensation Conor McGregor is making it clear that he is interested in a comeback fight – at the White House next summer. Alas, given the many controversies that he’s been involved in, there isn’t quite as much intrigue from the MMA fanbase as there once was when it comes to his mixed martial arts future.
Still, this is Conor McGregor we’re talking about here. He is a global superstar and nobody can deny that, even though he may not be at the level that he once was. In a recent interview, the Irishman claimed that instead of communicating with the UFC, he was speaking directly with the US government ahead of the promotion’s first ever event at the White House next year.
Chael Sonnen, however, doesn’t believe a word that Conor McGregor is saying.
Chael Sonnen’s view on Conor McGregor
“It’s not a matter of, okay, here’s the information that we got from Conor. If it was, I would just tell you not one word of that is true, and I would get up and walk out of the room. But that’s not a very fun conversation.
“However, there’s not one word of that that’s true. Conor is not negotiating with the United States government. And there’s people that you can pull into your routine. There’s people that are willful participants, and when you’re doing a ruse with the media, that person becomes your tag team partner. They’ve got to be willing.”
UFC star Jiri Prochazka has discussed ditching his signature hair as he prepares for his return to the cage at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Jiri Prochazka will collide with Khalil Rountree Jr in what has the potential to be a thrilling encounter at UFC 320. While there are no guarantees, there’s every chance that the winner could earn a crack at the UFC light heavyweight championship. When you consider that Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira are battling for the belt in the main event, that makes UFC 320 a pretty important event for those at 205 pounds.
Jiri Prochazka, as we know, has been a real force of nature since arriving in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds an impressive 5-2 record since his debut with the promotion, and the only two defeats that he’s suffered have come against Pereira.
In a recent media scrum, Jiri Prochazka opened up on why he decided to depart with his samurai-style hair not so long ago.
Jiri Prochazka discusses dropping his iconic hairstyle
“Right now I’m on the point where I don’t need to have some special hair or some special visualize to show something in a cage. After my last fight, I said myself, man, I know who I am and I want I know why I’m going there and I know what I want to show there. This hair others like tattoos or whatever is just like other things. Everything I have here. So that’s what I’m going to show.”
Former UFC fighter Ben Askren has admitted that he couldn’t believe it when he was informed that he had received a double lung transplant.
As we know, one of the biggest stories in mixed martial arts this year has been the incredible tale of Ben Askren. After a severe bout of staph infection which led to pneumonia, it seemed as if the former UFC and ONE Championship star was in a pretty bad way. Ultimately, though, he was able to fight back against his illness, to the point where he received a double lung transplant that quite literally saved his life.
The MMA and wrestling community came out with as much support as they possibly could for Ben Askren during what were obviously very traumatic times. Now, though, he’s on the road to recovery, and while his life will look very different moving forward, he has been given a second chance that many don’t get.
In a recent interview, Ben Askren spoke openly about what happened and his surprise to learn that he had two new lungs upon waking up.
Ben Askren details medical situation
“When I woke up, I had two new lungs. They called it necrotizing pneumonia. Prior to going to the hospital, I felt fine—I’d even worked out. It was shocking. One doctor told my wife I wouldn’t make it; another friend said my heart stopped for 20 seconds. I don’t remember it, but I was on so many machines to stay alive.”
UFC star Alex Pereira isn’t too bothered about what Magomed Ankalaev brings to the cage when they collide once again at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Alex Pereira gets his chance at revenge when he locks horns with Magomed Ankalaev. The two men met earlier this year and in that instance, it was Ankalaev who was able to come out on top. As a result, he became the new UFC light heavyweight champion, sending Pereira back to the drawing board in the process.
Now, Alex Pereira has the opportunity to really cement his position as one of the all-time greats by overcoming Ankalaev and winning the title for the second time. ‘Poatan’ isn’t immune to adversity and he’s been through a lot in his career already, but this time, it definitely feels like the stakes are high.
In a recent media scrum, however, Alex Pereira made it known that he doesn’t put too much thought into what Ankalaev is doing.
Alex Pereira isn’t interested when it comes to Magomed Ankalaev
“When I’m watching these videos that have me and him there, when it gets to his part, I skip forward. I swear by my children, I never watch it. I don’t want to see what he’s doing strategically. I never watch, truly, I never watch.
“I watch my fight, but I don’t watch what he’s doing there. So when it gets to my part, it’s a 30-minute video, there’s 5 minutes of my part, I don’t even watch, I skip forward, my part ends, the video ends.”
DWCS rolled on with Episode 8 of Season 9 on Tuesday, September 30th. Five fights took place at the UFC Apex, with four of the winners walking away with UFC contracts. The UFC will officially be adding the following fighters to the UFC roster:
Kurtis “Pink Panther” Campbell – 8-0 Featherweight
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight (brother of current UFC fighter Charles Jourdain)
Chris “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
All four of these fighters secured their victory via finish, proving this week’s roster is ready for the big show. Although winning on the contender series is the first step, we will be looking forward and predicting some potential matchups that could fit well for these fighters UFC debuts.
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell– 8-1 Featherweight
Kurtis “The Pink Panther” Campbell secured perhaps the most viral finish of the evening, annihilating his opponent Demba Seck with massive elbows from top position. Following his performance, Campbell walked out of the cage to The Pink Panther theme, showing that the UFC brass is already getting behind the 23 year old scouser.
Kurtis Campbell is an excellent prospect, very similar to Paddy Pimblett in his size and skill set. The Liverpool native is a former champion of England’s FCC promotion, and has a variety of finishes on his record. Long kicks, powerful punches, and an awkward yet effectively wrestling game make up his primary skillset on the feet, but where he is truly dangerous is in on the ground. When Campbell gets top position, he is brutal with his ground and pound and showcased in his contender series bout.
This fight was quick work, and there is no doubt Campbell will be looking for fast turnaround for his first fight in the big show. He seems to be on UFC matchmakers good side thus far, so I anticipate a favorable matchup for Campbell’s UFC debut.
Prediction: Kurtis Campbell (8-0) vs Francis Marshall (8-3) – December 2025/January 2026
Louis “Mad Prince” Jourdain – 9-3 Bantamweight
Louis Jourdain had the cleanest and most well rounded performance of the evening. The Canadian bantamweight and younger brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, showcased all of his skills en route to a third round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain utilizing his lead hand, calf kicks, and excellent grappling game to dominate all phases of the fight. A Jiu Jitsu brown belt with four pro boxing matches, Jourdain is about as well rounded as they come. Not only did he secure a contract, but he also made history as Charles and Louis became the first Canadian siblings in UFC history to be on the roster.
Louis Jourdain’s biggest setbacks have not been losses inside the cage, but rather injuries and lost time. Now that he is back in the metaphorical saddle, there is no doubt he knows the time is now for his career. On the broadcast, he could be seen pleading with Dana White to book him for UFC Vancouver (despite the fact Dana White hasn’t booked a single fight for the UFC in years, that’s all Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard). While it would be a quick turnaround in just two weeks, we can certainly hope the UFC honors his wishes and allows him to share a card with his brother.
Prediction: Louis Jourdain (9-3) vs Kris Moutinho (14-7) – UFC Vancouver – October 18th
Christopher “The Newborn” Alvidrez – 7-1 Welterweight
The only betting underdog of the evening to win his fight, Christopher Avidrez showed excellent heart and desire in his fight, knocking out the unorthodox Eliezer Kubanza in the first round. A former football player who turned his life around through MMA, Alvidrez has overcome a lot to make it to this moment. He relocated to Miami after a brutal car accident ended his football career, and fully committed himself to combat sports while training at The GoatShed.
Alvidrez is the least polished of all the winners of this episode. His toughness and strength are no question, and he utilized outstanding elbows in the clinch, he still has questions that need to be answered in terms of his overall game. We could see Alvidrez being thrown into a tough matchup right away, but his mentality won’t stop him from taking a challenge head on. It should also be noted he was seen with a large wrap around his right knee, so it could be some time before we see him make his debut.
Prediction: Christopher Alvidrez (7-1) vs Daniil Donchenko (12-2) – February 2026
Damian “Baba Yaga” Pinas – 8-1 Middleweight
In the main event of the evening, Damian Pinas made quick work of his opponent, flatlining Vitor Costa with a brutal right hand in the first round. This contract was long overdue, as Pinas was scheduled to be on episode one of this season, but due to visa issues was not able to travel for the fight. Luckily he was rebooked, and now can look forward to being booked in the UFC.
Pinas is a fantastic kickboxer with excellent power in his hands and feet. He will become the second Surinamese fighter in UFC history, following Jair Rozenstruik. Similar to Bigi Boy, Baba Yaga has the kickboxing skill and power to dispatch anyone inside the cage. Now that the visa issues are fully cleared, we can hope to see the young fighter pick up another fight soon. At just 23 years old, time is on Pinas’ side, but it would be advantageous to keep his momentum going. Between his performances and the unique national heritage, I expect Pinas to find early success in the middleweight division, similar to Ateba Gautier who fights this weekend.
Prediction: Damian Pinas (8-1) vs Jackson McVey (6-1) – January 2026
While none of these fights are official nor even rumored, they all are potential interesting first matchups for this week’s winners of DWCS. Stay tuned for next week’s edition following episode 9 of DWCS.
The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with a highlight, finished-filled night in Las Vegas.
DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.
Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode eight of season nine this week saw four prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.
Kurtis Campbell provided the first highlight of the night, scoring a first-round finish of Demba Seck. Campbell laid in a solid head kick in the opening seconds before Seck tried to fire back with a kick-based offense of his own. Campbell scored a takedown to try and nullify Seck’s offense. Seck was able to work his way to his feet, but Campbell landed a solid knee that put him back down. Some follow-up shots later, and Campbell had done enough for the win and a UFC contract.
Christopher Alvidrez followed that up with a solid performance over Eliezer Kubanza. Alvidrez dictated the pace, mixing up his strikes and nearly scoring a takedown on Kubanza in the first. While Kubanza landed some power shots, Alvidrez landed a solid one-two that caught Kubanza’s attention. Kubanza, however, landed a damaging body kick and caught Alvidrez coming in, briefly using his grappling to pin him to the fence.
Alvidrez turned things into his favor for good with a right hand, followed by a left, to drop Kubanza. Alvidrez then unleashed a flurry on the ground, and despite a long leash from referee Herb Dean, the fight was stopped, giving Alvidrez a late first-round finish and a UFC contract.
In the co-main event, Louis Jourdain, the brother of UFC fighter Charles Jourdain, pulled off a third-round submission of Magno Dias. Jourdain came out with some speed in his strikes, looking to take control early, while Dias looked to pressure him toward the fence. Jourdain briefly dropped Dias with an elbow, but Dias got back to his feet and managed to score a takedown. Dias locked in a neck crank, but Jourdain managed to scramble out and get top position, working his way back to the feet.
Jourdain troubled Dias with a calf kick and a solid knee in the second round until Dias pushed Jourdain to the fence. Dias looked to take back control with the fight back on the ground, but Jourdain got the fight standing, landing more leg kicks and troubling Dias’ movement. Jourdain laid in a couple of more knees in the third round before working around Dias’ guard attempt to score a rear-naked choke and UFC contract via submission.
In the main event, Damian Pinas managed to land a devastating blow to score a big knockout of Vitor Costa. Pinas landed an uppercut that split Costa’s guard, landing a strong flurry in the first minute of the fight. Costa landed some low kicks and tried to get on the inside before taking Pinas to the fence briefly. A short time later, however, Pinas cracked Costa with a right hand, dropping Costa out cold for the highlight knockout and UFC contract.
The night opened with Rashid Vagabov sweeping the cards against Paulo Henrique. Vagabov landed from the outside despite Henrique’s pressure, landing low kicks and working combinations. The two had their exchanges of power shots during the opening round, but Vagabov controlled the last portion of the first round, pinning Henrique against the fence before scoring a takedown. Henrique brought the grappling pressure in the second round, pressing Vagabov into the fence. A takedown attempt was reversed, however, and Vagabov quickly brought the action back to the feet, controlling the action there.
Vagabov then dominated the third round with grappling, scoring a takedown and being unrelenting with his pressure, nearly scoring a submission on a couple of occasions before earning a decision win. It wasn’t, however, enough to earn a contract.
Gautier was originally set to clash with Ozzy Diaz on the preliminary card of UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, on Monday, the matchup fell through after Diaz withdrew from the middleweight bout due to undisclosed medical issues, leaving the 23-year-old Cameroonian without an opponent.
Ozzy Diaz is OUT of #UFC320, he announced, citing an unspecified medical issue. It’s unclear if Ateba Gautier will remain on the card pic.twitter.com/W6snLt8qHD
Initially, it was uncertain whether “The Silent Assassin” would remain on the UFC 320 card, but a short-notice replacement has now been secured, who is set to make his Octagon debut with just five days’ notice.
Image: @ateba_theassassin/Instagram
Ateba Gautier Will Fight Treston Vines At UFC 320
On Tuesday, Iridium Sports Agency announced via social media that Ateba Gautier will now face promotional debutant Treston Vines, who replaces Ozzy Diaz on the UFC 320 card this Saturday.
Gautier enters UFC 320 riding the momentum of a first-round knockout over Robert Valentin at UFC 318 in July, marking his seventh consecutive knockout victory. He earned his UFC contract in September 2024 with a second-round stoppage of Yura Naito on Dana White’s Contender Series.
“The Silent Assassin” now boasts a professional record of 8-1, including an unbeaten 2-0 slate in the UFC.
Meanwhile, Vines most recently competed at AFC 12: The Great Commission in August, scoring a first-round knockout victory. The 29-year-old American was set to face Andreas Tricomitis at LFA 219 next weekend before earning the call-up to the UFC.
Until now, Vines has primarily competed in regional promotions, amassing a professional record of 10-3, with seven of those wins coming by stoppage.
Dricus Du Plessis trusts Alex Pereira won’t repeat the mistakes he made in the first clash with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira is set to run it back with reigning light heavyweight champion Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two titles headline in the Fight Capital 🏆🏆#UFC320 Fight Week has officially started!
The two first met at UFC 313 in March, where “Poatan” showcased his stellar takedown defense by shutting down all 12 of Ankalaev’s attempts to bring the fight to the mat. Despite neutralizing the his opponent’s wrestling, Pereira found himself on the wrong side of the striking exchanges, as the Russian edged him across five rounds to claim the 205-pound title.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Dricus Du Plessis Believes Alex Pereira Will Defeat Magomed Ankalaev In UFC 320 Rematch
During a recent interview with Fight Forecast, Dricus Du Plessis shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 320 clash between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The former middleweight champion credited Ankalaev for emerging victorious at UFC 313 but warned that “Poatan” will return sharper, and far more dangerous in the rematch as he looks to reclaim his crown.
“I’ve been looking at the training footage of Pereira for this one.” Du Plessis said. “He looks scary. He looks angry. And, you know, we’ll see what that loss did to him. He has come back from a loss and came back to reclaim the title, but, this fight is a big fight for him. Ankalaev now has that confidence, of course, of being the champion. But, I’m going to go with Pereira on this one.”
“Stillknocks” went on to say he believes Pereira has addressed the weaknesses that cost him in their first encounter and is confident the Brazilian will correct those mistakes to finish Ankalaev at UFC 320.
“It wasn’t the fact that he got taken down. It’s the fact that he got smothered… He’s going to need to keep his back off the fence, and I do believe that they’ve spent enough time working on that. Him taking some time away from the sport was good for him… I really don’t see this fight going the distance this time, but I’m putting my money on Alex Pereira to claim the title. I have to go with him.”
Before his loss to Ankalaev, Alex Pereira successfully defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring back-to-back knockout victories over Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. “Poatan” now boasts a 9-2 UFC record, with seven of those wins coming via devastating knockouts.
Former UFC champion Jiri Prochazka is ready for war on Saturday night in his UFC 320 clash with Khalil Rountree Jr.
For quite some time now, Jiri Prochazka has been recognized as one of the most entertaining fighters in all of mixed martial arts. Regardless of whether he wins or loses (he currently holds a 5-2 record in the UFC with his only losses coming to Alex Pereira), he puts on a show.
This weekend, Jiri Prochazka will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks when he locks horns with Khalil Rountree Jr, another light heavyweight contender who has been on an absolute tear over the course of the last few years.
With the winner hoping to earn another UFC title shot at 205 pounds, Jiri Prochazka has made it clear that he plans on leaving it all in the cage.
Jiri Prochazka prepares for battle against Khalil Rountree Jr
“I think he’s a dynamic, fast and a tough fighter. He knows how to go long rounds,” Prochazka told MMA Junkie and other reporters Monday at the UFC Performance Institute. “This is something that I needed, to have more patience in the fight and to not want to end it as soon as possible.
“I think that’s my strongest weapon and the other side is a little bit bad because I want to end it as soon as possible. So I’m going all the time. Every attack has to go through. That’s what I worked on. To work lightly, to be precise, and with that to have deadly attacks.”
“I’m always excited to show my performance to show that I made a step-up since the last preparation in January, so that’s it,” Prochazka said. “I’m just excited to be here and finally to go back to the cage.”
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has given his thoughts on what a good strategy would be if you’re hoping to try and defeat Khamzat Chimaev.
Right now, Merab Dvalishvili and Khamzat Chimaev are among two of the most exciting fighters in all of mixed martial arts. While Merab prepares to defend his strap for the third time at UFC 320 this weekend, Khamzat is still basking in the glory of his recent triumph over Dricus du Plessis that saw him become the new UFC middleweight champion.
As we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems like Khamzat Chimaev has a good chance of holding onto the belt for a long time. With that being said, it all comes down to how his opponents approach their fights against him. ‘Borz’ is known for smothering his opponents and making them feel incredibly uncomfortable, specializing in a style that often helps him make it look easy when he takes on his foes.
In a recent interview, Merab Dvalishvili gave his thoughts on what the key to victory might be for anyone who dares step into the cage to face Khamzat.
Merab Dvalishvili’s view on Khamzat Chimaev
“I don’t want to fight Khamzat. But if you want to fight Khamzat, you must know jiu-jitsu very well: escape positions, create space, bottom leg out, and get up. Also, when you’re standing, you have to do work.
“You should not just walk to Khamzat like Kevin Holland. You have to run away, keep distance, because Khamzat touches and shoots. You have to run, take your time, and know how to get up like Gilbert Burns did when escaping.”
Former UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal has called for a long-awaited showdown with Leon Edwards as part of the UFC White House card.
As we know, Jorge Masvidal has had a problem with Leon Edwards for many years now. It goes back to the infamous incident backstage at UFC London, during which ‘Gamebred’ attacked ‘Rocky’ following a back and forth exchange between the two. While they’ve come close to colliding in the cage in the past, it’s never quite come to fruition.
While both men are in a tricky spot in their respective careers, Leon Edwards was able to kick on and become UFC welterweight champion. Jorge Masvidal, meanwhile, is eyeing up a return to the UFC after a few years away.
In a recent chat with Henry Cejudo, Jorge Masvidal made it crystal clear that he is still interested in competing against the Englishman.
Jorge Masvidal wants to fight Leon Edwards at the White House 👀
"Leon I will beat the f*** out of you at the White House. Just like America kicked England's ass…
I'll go crazy on this motherf***er bro. I'll get in shape for you Leon don't worry." pic.twitter.com/WH0FvDqcXX
“If you’re watching this [Leon], I’ll f***ing beat the f*** out of you at the White House. Leon, I will beat the f***ing dogs*** out of you, just to say America, kicked f***ing England’s ass for trying to take over our s***.
“We had to send y’all back, I’m gonna send you back in the same way. On a ship back home. 4th July, America’s birthday, brother. Let them make the mistake and send you as a representative for England. I will crash that party, brother. I’ll go crazy on this motherf***er, bro. I’ll get in shape for you Leon, don’t worry about it brother”
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has said that he wants to continue competing in combat sports until the age of 50.
Right now, Merab Dvalishvili is easily one of the best fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He is building quite the legacy for himself at 135 pounds, having already successfully defended the belt against Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley. On Saturday night, he’ll attempt to defend the gold for the third straight time when he locks horns with Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320.
At the age of 34, Merab Dvalishvili has already cemented his position as one of the greatest bantamweights of all time. With that being said, it’s clear to see that ‘The Machine’ has some pretty lofty ambitions for himself – and that much is an understatement.
In a recent interview, Merab Dvalishvili declared that he wants to keep fighting for longer than the majority of professional MMA fighters ever have.
Merab Dvalishvili wants to fight until 50
“Yeah, I want to do my best. Uh so, um when I’m training, I do my best. When I’m fighting, I’m doing my best. But it’s MMA, you know, like it’s it always will come next guys, the best guys and whatever. Of course, plan is to keep in my belt long as possible, but I don’t think it’s realistic to me stay 16 more years champion. I may lose belt, I may win again, I may lose again, but I want to fight until 50. That’s the goal.”
