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Category: UFC

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

  • “Kyrgyzstan You Have An Aleksei Oleinik” – Fans React As Uran Satybaldiev Pulls Off Rare Ezekiel Choke From Top To Kick Off UFC Shanghai With Win Over Diyar Nurgozhay

    “Kyrgyzstan You Have An Aleksei Oleinik” – Fans React As Uran Satybaldiev Pulls Off Rare Ezekiel Choke From Top To Kick Off UFC Shanghai With Win Over Diyar Nurgozhay

    The spirit of Aleksei Oleinik must have been present at Shanghai Indoor Stadium this morning, as Uran Satybaldiev pulled off a rare Ezekiel Choke — and a rarer one that comes from the top position — to open the UFC Shanghai preliminary card with a victory over Diyar Nurgozhay.

    Satybaldiev troubled Nurgozhay in the fight’s second minute, dropping Nurgozhay with a right hand. Satybaldiev didn’t finish him with strikes, but he did lock on a tight kimura grip that looked like it could have broken Nurgozhay’s arm and finished the fight.

    Nurgozhay managed to escape that submission but found himself in further trouble when Satybaldiev got in top position and sought a choke. Though normally done from the bottom, Satybaldiev managed to position himself correctly to perform an Ezekiel choke from top position, scoring the tapout just halfway through the opening round.

    Satybaldiev now becomes just the fourth fighter in UFC history to score an Ezekiel choke submission in a fight with the promotion, joining the likes of Oleinik, Remco Pardoel, and Alexander Volkov.

    Uran Satybaldiev Becomes Fourth-Ever UFC Fighter To Score Win Via Ezekiel Choke Submission At UFC Shanghai

    Satybaldiev, the former LFA light heavyweight champion, made his short-notice UFC debut at heavyweight in April, dropping a decision to Martin Buday.

    Nurgozhay made his UFC debut in March, missing weight and getting submitted by Brendson Ribiero.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Johnny Walker Ends Zhang Mingyang’s Winning Streak

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Johnny Walker Ends Zhang Mingyang’s Winning Streak

    UFC Fight Night: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang (aka UFC Shanghai) takes place in the early hours of Saturday morning, August 23, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    After a pay-per-view card in Chicago that saw the crowning of a new UFC middleweight champion, the MMA leader touches down in Shanghai for the first time since 2017, following a Fight Night held in Macau last November.

    The main event saw Johnny Walker breaking his own winless skid while snapping the long winning streak of Zhang Mingyang. Though Walker had a bizarre takedown attempt to start the fight, and Mingyang controlled the action in the first round with his strikes, a calf kick changed things in the second. One of Walker’s calf kicks caused Mingyang to go to the mat in pain, and Walker swarmed the Chinese fighter. Mingyang’s efforts to defend and get back to his feet were for naught, and Walker scored the second round finish.

    The co-main event of the evening saw Aljamain Sterling win a bizarre and lackluster 153-pound catchweight contest with Brian Ortega. Ortega, who already had plenty of controversy surrounding him and his concerning weight cut, put up little offense until a flurry and desperate submission efforts in the fifth round. Sterling went on to sweep the scorecards.

    The rest of the main card saw Sergei Pavlovich defeat Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Su Mudaerij earn a decision over Kevin Borjas, and Taiyilake Nueraji defeat Keifer Crosbie.

    If you missed the action, check here for all the results and highlights from the action in Shanghai!

    UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Mingyang Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (R2, 2:37)
    • Catchweight (153 lbs): Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich def. Waldo Cortes-Acosta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Flyweight: Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
    • Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji def. Kiefer Crosbie via TKO (R1, 3:33)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Gauge Young def. Maheshate Hayisaer via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Flyweight: Charles Johnson def. Lone’er Kavanagh via KO (R2, 4:35)
    • Lightweight: Rong Zhu def. Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Middleweight: Kyle Daukaus def. Michel Pereira via TKO (R1, 0:43)
    • Featherweight: Yi Zha def. Westin Wilson via KO (R1, 0:37)
    • Bantamweight: You Su-young def. Xiao Long via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
    • Light Heavyweight: Uran Satybaldiev def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission (Ezekiel choke) (R1, 2:45)

    Uran Satybaldiev vs. Diyar Nurgozhay

    Xiao Long vs. You Su-young

    Yi Zha vs. Westin Wilson

    Michel Pereira vs. Kyle Daukaus

    Rong Zhu vs. Austin Hubbard

    Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Charles Johnson

    Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gauge Young

    Taiyilake Nueraji vs. Kiefer Crosbie

    Su Mudaerji vs. Kevin Borjas

    Sergei Pavlovich vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta

    Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling

    Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang

  • UFC Shanghai Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Walker vs. Mingyang, Ortega vs. Sterling, And More

    UFC Shanghai Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Walker vs. Mingyang, Ortega vs. Sterling, And More

    UFC Shanghai 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 Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China, on Saturday, August 23. The main card portion of the event will start at 6AM ET/3AM PT, with preliminary action starting at 3AM ET/12AM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature Johnny Walker taking on Zhang Mingyang in a light heavyweight contenders’ battle.

    In the co-main event, former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega faces former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a 153-pound catchweight contest. The bout was scheduled to be a featherweight bout but was changed due to weight cut complications for Ortega.

    The main card will also feature Sergei Pavlovich taking on Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Su Mudaerji against Kevin Borjas, and Taiyilake Nueraji facing Kiefer Crosbie.

    UFC Shanghai: Walker vs. Mingyang Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Shanghai as of August 22 at 9pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker (+300) vs. Zhang Mingyang (-380)
    • Catchweight (153 lbs): Brian Ortega (+380) vs. Aljamain Sterling (-500)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich (-250) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (+205)
    • Flyweight: Su Mudaerji (-175) vs. Kevin Borjas (+145)
    • Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji (-520) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (+390)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer (+124) vs. Gauge Young (-148)
    • Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh (-258) vs. Charles Johnson (+210)
    • Lightweight: Rong Zhu (-285) vs. Austin Hubbard (+230)
    • Middleweight: Michel Pereira (-238) vs. Kyle Daukaus (+195)
    • Featherweight: Yi Zha (-1050) vs. Westin Wilson (+675)
    • Bantamweight: Xiao Long (+120) vs. You Su-young (-142)
    • Light Heavyweight: Uran Satybaldiev (-108) vs. Diyar Nurgozhay (-112)
  • ESPN In Talks To Acquire UFC Fight Pass

    ESPN In Talks To Acquire UFC Fight Pass

    A little less than two weeks after it was reported they will no longer be the home for UFC live events starting in 2026, a new report has emerged that ESPN is seeking to purchase UFC Fight Pass and the UFC’s video library.

    Per Blake Avignon, who cites multiple unnamed sources, such a deal between the UFC and ESPN is not finalized but are in advanced talking stages.

    According to Avignon, “The plan is to fold the archive and select live content into ESPN’s new DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) app.”

    ESPN officially launched its new app on August 21 with an $11.99/month ESPN Select tier — which gives access to ESPN+ content — and a $29.99/month ESPN Unlimited tier — which gives access to all ESPN content.

    ESPN Eyeing Purchase Of UFC Fight Pass, Video Library

    It is unclear how much of the UFC’s video library — including the video libraries of other promotions the UFC has acquired, such as PRIDE, WEC, and Strikeforce — would be available on the ESPN app.

    It is also unclear what such an acquisition would mean for the regional and smaller promotions that air on UFC Fight Pass, including the LFA, CFFC, and Fury FC — as well as the discipline-focused programs including UFC BJJ and the UFC Fight Pass Invitational competitions.

    The archives for both Dana White’s Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter are also available on UFC Fight Pass. While there is no indication of such, some believe this deal would mean both programs would remain with ESPN. Neither program was part of the UFC’s new deal with Paramount. This would mean a split of UFC properties between different networks and streaming services, which most believed might happen when initially discussing the UFC’s U.S. broadcasting rights after 2025.

    The UFC and Paramount agreed to a seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. broadcasting deal that would see all 43 live events per calendar year — 13 UFC numbered cards and 30 UFC Fight Night events — be broadcast on the Paramount+ streaming service, with a select number of UFC numbered cards airing on the linear CBS network.

    It is also unclear what such a deal could mean for the fate of the PFL, whose own U.S. broadcasting deal with ESPN expires at the end of 2026.

    While they lost the rights to UFC live events, ESPN has been busy on the sports content front throughout August. At the beginning of the month, ESPN acquired assets of the NFL — including the NFL Network channel, NFL RedZone, and NFL Fantasy — in exchange for the football league gaining a 10 percent ownership stake in ESPN.

    Just one day ago, ESPN acquired the rights to MLB.TV, incorporating out-of-market MLB broadcasts (and in-market broadcasts for five MLB teams) into its streaming service.

    ESPN also gained U.S. broadcasting rights for the PLEs (Premium Live Events) of WWE — UFC’s sibling company under the TKO umbrella. While that deal was initially scheduled to start following the expiration of WWE’s deal with Peacock in March 2026, a new agreement amongst the companies will now see that deal begin with WWE WrestlePalooza on September 20.

  • Bryan Battle Signs With Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing After UFC Release, Debut Confirmed For Aug. 29 In Miami

    Bryan Battle Signs With Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing After UFC Release, Debut Confirmed For Aug. 29 In Miami

    Bryan Battle has found a new home for his fighting career.

    It’s been a turbulent few days for Battle. As he was slated to face Nursulton Ruziboev in a middleweight bout at UFC 319 last Saturday, the fight was scrapped after the North Carolina native came in four pounds over the 186-pound limit.

    Just days later, “The Butcher” was released from the UFC roster following his third weight miss during his promotional run.

    However, on Friday, Mike Perry’s hybrid combat sports promotion Dirty Boxing announced the signing of Bryan Battle. The Ultimate Fighter Season 29 winner is slated to make his promotional debut at DBX 3 on August 29 at The Hangar in Miami, Florida, in a 185-pound bout with an opponent yet to be determined.

    DBX 3 is slated to be headlined by former UFC heavyweight fighter Jairzinho Rozenstruik, who awaits a new opponent after Rob Perez withdrew from the promotion’s inaugural heavyweight title bout.

    What Is Bryan Battle’s MMA Record?

    Bryan Battle arrives at Dirty Boxing with a professional MMA record of 13-2, 1 NC. His most recent outing came at UFC 310 in December 2024, where he edged Randy Brown via split decision.

    “The Butcher” closed out his UFC tenure with a solid 7-1, 1 NC record, highlighted by five stoppage victories and two Performance of the Night bonuses.

    Bryan Battle to make Dirty Boxing debut on Aug 29
    Image: @bryanbattle68/Instagram
  • Former UFC Champ Feels “Very Sad” for Aaron Pico Amid “Worrisome” Post-UFC 319 Situation

    Former UFC Champ Feels “Very Sad” for Aaron Pico Amid “Worrisome” Post-UFC 319 Situation

    Aaron Pico sustained a brutal knockout loss in his UFC debut and a former multi-time bantamweight champion in the promotion who has worked with Pico before has weighed in on that situation. Appearing on the JAXXON Podcast, TJ Dillashaw discussed Pico’s devastating defeat by way of a spinning back elbow to Lerone Murphy in one of the more hotly discussed fights from UFC 319 which went down on August 16th from Chicago.

    When touching upon his anecdotal experience with the former Bellator MMA star in terms of things Pico does well and what he could improve on for subsequent octagon outings, Dillashaw said [via MMA Junkie],

    “The first time I ever trained with Aaron Pico was when I moved back down here and started training with Sam Calavitta, and from day one, I was like, ‘This kid could be a champion.’ He is so good because he’s an insanely good wrestler and his boxing is just awesome. He drops bombs. He’s got an awesome liver shot.”

    “He looked really good in this fight. But again, I’m going to go back to [feints]. Pico was putting things together. His technique was great and his pressure was awesome, but he’s just moving forward without any feints. He’s not making Murphy guess on what he’s throwing. Pico has now been knocked out a few times and he gets caught with another, back-to-back, spinning back elbow. He walks right into it.”

    Aaron Pico “has everything there is to be a champion”, but is “so tense when he’s fighting”

    While expressing how much effort Pico puts into his training preparations and how he could further optimize his efforts within the heat of live UFC competition, Dillashaw stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “Like, I work hard. This guy, it’s insane how hard he works with Sam Calavitta at the gym. He puts everything into this thing. I’m very sad for him because he’s a very talented guy. He’s been knocked out a few times now, which is worrisome. Pretty heavy knockouts. It’s just some small things he could do a little bit better. He’s so tense when he’s fighting. He’s got this tunnel vision that he’s looking for knockouts constantly.”

    Also, the former UFC titleholder praised Pico as someone who could also hoist UFC gold above his head someday and in addressing the UFC 319 situation while eyeing a more uplifting path forward, Dillashaw quipped [via MMA Junkie],

    “Aaron Pico has everything there is to be a champion, it’s just some small tweaks and changes that he can make. I hope he bounces back from this because I love the guy. He’s an amazing human being. He works his ass off. He’s very talented. Total bummer to have this happen.”

  • Road To UFC Season 4 Semifinals Results & Highlights: Bruna Brasil Ruins Shi Ming’s UFC Debut

    Road To UFC Season 4 Semifinals Results & Highlights: Bruna Brasil Ruins Shi Ming’s UFC Debut

    The Road to UFC Season 4 tournament took place on Friday, August 22, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in China. The event brought together the Asia-Pacific region’s top MMA prospects, who battled for a spot in the finals and the chance to secure a coveted UFC deal, alongside a slate of thrilling featured bouts.

    Headlining the card, Road to UFC Season 3 strawweight winner Shi Ming made her long-awaited UFC debut against Dana White’s Contender Series standout Bruna Brasil. In the co-main event, flyweight action heats up as Nyamjargal Tumendemberel squared off with American prospect Terrance Saeteurn.

    Road to UFC Season 4 Episode 5 Results

    • Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Namsrai Batbayar def. Agulali via submission (rear-naked choke) (R1, 4:45)
    • Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Sebastian Szalay def. ChangMin Yoon via TKO (R1, 0:47)
    • Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Lawrence Lui def. Ngheim Van Y via TKO (R2, 1:48)
    • Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Aaron Tau def. Yin Shuai via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
    • Welterweight: Kitt Campbell def. Jang Yun-seong via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

    Aaron Tau vs. Yin Shuai

    Lawrence Lui vs. Ngheim Van Y

    Sebastian Szalay vs. ChangMin Yoon

    Namsrai Batbayar vs. Agulali

    Road to UFC Season 4 Episode 6 Results

    • Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: Dom Mar Fan def. JaeHyun Park via unanimous decision (30-27 x2)
    • Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Sulangrangbo def. Sim Kai Xiong via unanimous decision (30-27 x2)
    • Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: SangWook Kim def. Ren Yawei via submission (rear-naked choke) (R2, 3:42)
    • Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Keiichiro Nakamura def. Kaiwen via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 28-27)
    • Co-main Event – UFC Flyweight Bout: Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Terrance Saeteurn via submission (anaconda choke) (R1, 2:53)
    • Main Event – UFC Strawweight Bout: Bruna Brasil def. Shi Ming via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    SangWook Kim vs. Ren Yawei

    Nyamjargal Tumendemberel vs. Terrance Saeteurn

    Shi Ming vs. Bruna Brasil

  • Referee Herb Dean Breaks Down Standing Up Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 319 Championship Match

    Referee Herb Dean Breaks Down Standing Up Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 319 Championship Match

    Herb Dean recently weighed in on some of the discourse regarding Khamzat Chimaev’s championship winning performance on August 16th and a specific decision made during the contest from a regulatory perspective. During an interview with Helen Yee Sports, Herb Dean touched upon Khamzat Chimaev having one of the more dominant performances in UFC history over previous champion Dricus du Plessis.

    Some observers have called the grappling heavy performance boring or tantamount to stalling which did lead to a stand up not onc ebut twice from assigned in-cage official Marc Goddard. Conversely, some saw the refinement of skill needed to dominate an opponent of that caliber.

    Considering he is one of the more tenured referees in the game and has a lot of localized insights on the craft in the context of how he perceived the story that unfurled in the UFC 319 main event and Marc Goddard’s decision making in that DDP vs. ‘Borz’ bout, Dean said,

    “It’s an ongoing conversation that everyone and the stakeholders and everyone in the sport has, but what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve a dominant position, which if you’re not using it to beat your opponent could almost be looked at as a hiding place, a place to burn time? I’m never gonna accuse Khamzat of hiding, because the man’s a savage.”

    (mfn_mma & Herb Dean on Instagram)

    “But if you get a position, like, we can break that one down, the crucifix chest-to-chest position, not a lot of height, very difficult to get a place where you can punch your opponent. Sometimes he’s able to get elbows and you want to reward people, but at the same time, you want to reward someone with a 10-8 for trying to finish their opponent, for taking a risk. It takes a risk to make some space to posture, where you’re going to be able to maybe finish the fight. And I think that’s what we want our sport to look like.”

    Khamzat Chimaev Aiming to Become a Triple Champion in the UFC - Middleweight, Welterweight, and Light Heavyweight

    Khamzat Chimaev and fighters in general “should be trying to work for a finish” says Dean

    Further discussing aspects of Khamzat Chimaev’s record breaking 185 pound title win in Chicago, Dean continued,

    “We want people, if they have a dominant position, we want to see effort to finish the fight, effort to initiate fight-ending sequences. That’s what we’re looking for. If someone’s not in a position where they’re maintaining a safe position but they’re not able to diminish their opponent and finish the fight, then that’s a situation where people are going to get a warning to work. And when they say work, you know, I think you always should be trying to work for a finish.”

  • “Can Barely Walk” – Fans React To Brian Ortega’s Concerning Weigh-In As UFC Shanghai Fight Remains On At Catchweight Despite Complications

    “Can Barely Walk” – Fans React To Brian Ortega’s Concerning Weigh-In As UFC Shanghai Fight Remains On At Catchweight Despite Complications

    In spite of a scare that the fight was off, the UFC Shanghai co-main event featuring Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling will remain on. Some people in the MMA community, however, if the bout should be called off after all.

    It all started with a now-deleted post to X (formerly Twitter) by Alex Beuhein of MMA Mania, who stated that the fight between Ortega and Sterling was off. According to Beuhein, Ortega fainted and hit his head while cutting weight, resulting in him needing to go to the hospital.

    About an hour later, new reports surfaced that Ortega did not leave for the hospital and the fight remained on, albeit at a new catchweight of 153 pounds.

    UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald would take to social media to provide an update on the situation, claiming while the fainting and hospital reports were not true, there was “drama” and Ortega was not going to be able to make the featherweight limit.

    Ortega would weigh in successfully at 153 pounds; however, his sunken appearance during the weigh-in and face-off with Sterling drew major concern amongst MMA fans.

    Brian Ortega’s Appearance During UFC Shanghai Weigh-Ins Draws Concerns, Criticism

    This is Ortega’s second straight fight that has seen him experience weight cutting difficulties. He was scheduled to face Diego Lopes at UFC 303 in a featherweight bout. One day prior, Ortega’s weight difficulties would result in the bout being moved to lightweight before the bout was scrapped and postponed to Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 in September.

    Ortega would lose the fight, making it three losses in his last four, starting from an unsuccessful challenge of Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 266.

    Sterling is 1-1 since moving up to featherweight, defeating Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 and losing to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.

  • UFC Shanghai: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang Weigh-In Results

    UFC Shanghai: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    Held at Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China, this is the second time in UFC history that the promotion will hold a card in mainland China. The first instance came back in November 2017, a night that saw Kelvin Gastelum knock out Michael Bisping in what ultimately became the final fight in Bisping’s career. Last year, the UFC held a card in Macau, China, headlined by Petr Yan defeating Deiveson Figueiredo.

    This time around, UFC Shanghai will be topped by light heavyweight action featuring Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang.

    Walker is winless in his last three fights, and this will be his first fight since UFC Saudi Arabia in June 2024. Walker had both a no contest and knockout loss to current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev at, respectively, UFC 294 and UFC Vegas 84, before getting knocked out by Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Saudi Arabia.

    Mingyang is 3-0 in the UFC since coming into the promotion off a knockout win on the first-ever Road to UFC episode. Since then, Mingyang has scored finishes of Brendson Ribeiro, Ozzy Diaz, and Anthony Smith.

    The co-main event will feature former featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega in action against former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Ortega has lost three of his last four, most recently dropping a decision to Diego Lopes at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 this past September. Sterling is 1-1 since moving up to 145 after losing his 135-pound title, defeating Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 but losing to Movsar Evloev at UFC 310.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Sergei Pavlovich, Waldo Cortes-Acosra, Su Mudaerji, and Taiyilake Nueraji will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Mingyang Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Mingyang takes place on Saturday, August 23, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China. The main card begins at 6 AM ET/3 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 3 AM ET/12 AM PT.

    See above for the UFC’s recording of the official UFC Shanghai weigh-ins.

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker (206) vs. Zhang Mingyang (205)
    • Catchweight (153 lbs)*: Brian Ortega (153) vs. Aljamain Sterling (153)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich (255.5) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (262)
    • Flyweight: Su Mudaerji (125.5) vs. Kevin Borjas (126)
    • Welterweight: Taiyilake Nueraji (170) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (170.5)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer (155) vs. Gauge Young (155.5)
    • Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh (126) vs. Charles Johnson (126)
    • Lightweight: Rong Zhu (155.5) vs. Austin Hubbard (155.5)
    • Middleweight: Michel Pereira (186) vs. Kyle Daukaus (185)
    • Featherweight: Yi Zha (145) vs. Westin Wilson (146)
    • Bantamweight: Xiao Long (136) vs. You Su-young (135.5)
    • Light Heavyweight: Uran Satybaldiev (204) vs. Diyar Nurgozhay (205.5)

    *Ortega and Sterling agreed to a 153-pound catchweight contest due to complications Ortega had during weight cut. The fight had initially been reported as off following Ortega hitting his head during weight cut. Sterling had initially met the contracted non-title featherweight limit of 146 lbs.

  • Sean Strickland Agrees To Anger Management In Bid To Reduce Suspension From June 28 Altercation

    Sean Strickland Agrees To Anger Management In Bid To Reduce Suspension From June 28 Altercation

    Sean Strickland is ready to work with the commission in hopes of cutting down his suspension time.

    On Thursday, the Nevada Athletic Commission hit Strickland with a six-month suspension and a $5,000 fine for storming the cage and attacking a fighter at the June 28 Tuff-N-Uff event in Nevada.

    The drama erupted when Strickland and fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis were cornering teammate Miles Hunsinger in his bout against Luis Hernandez at Tuff-N-Uff. After Hernandez sealed the win with a second-round submission, he mocked Hunsinger’s corner with a provocative crotch-chop celebration.

    The taunt instantly set Strickland and Curtis off, prompting both to storm the cage, with the former UFC middleweight champ even managing to land a punch on Hernandez in the melee.

    Strickland’s suspension is scheduled to run until December 29, but it could be shortened to just 4.5 months, clearing him by mid-October, if he completes a commission-approved anger management course. Judging by his recent stance, the polarizing MMA fighter seems ready to take that route.

    Sean Strickland ready to take anger management
    Image: @stricklandmma/Instagram

    Sean Strickland Eyes Early Return By Agreeing To Anger Management Training

    After receiving a six-month suspension, Sean Strickland took to social media to announce his plans to complete the required anger management program, which could shave his punishment down to 4.5 months and make him eligible to fight again on November 14.

    Although it’s still uncertain what specific program Strickland must complete to meet the commission’s requirements, the 34-year-old Californian has doubled down on his resolve to make a swift return to the Octagon, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

    “Well! Ready to put this to bed and get back in the cage,” Sean Strickland wrote on Instagram. Can’t have a terrorist as a champion, sadly I think Im the only one to change that. Appreciate the commission for getting this done.. Anger management here I come…”

    Sean Strickland last competed at UFC 312 in February, where he came up short in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown, dropping a one-sided unanimous decision to then-champion Dricus Du Plessis. Over his past eight Octagon outings, Strickland has gone 4-4.

    Sean Strickland
    Image: UFC/YouTube
  • Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission has finally ruled on a suspension for UFC fighter Sean Strickland, suspending the former UFC middleweight champion six months.

    The suspension is retroactive to June 29, the date of the incident at a Tuff-N-Uff event that led to Strickland’s suspension. Strickland will be eligible to return to action on December 29.

    The NSAC, however, further ruled that Strickland’s suspension can be reduced to four-and-a-half months if he completes an anger management course. This would make him eligible to return on November 14.

    Strickland also faces a $5,000 fine, plus fees.

    This ruling comes one month after the initial planned NSAC hearing for Strickland.

    Sean Strickland Suspended Six Months After Punching Fighter At Tuff-N-Uff Event

    Strickland was present at an event hosted by Tuff-N-Uff, and broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass, on June 29. Strickland and teammate Chris Curtis were in the corner of Miles Hunsinger as he took on Luis Hernandez.

    After submitting Hunsinger, Hernandez taunted Hunsinger’s corner, looking in the direction of the two UFC fighters. This caused Strickland and Curtis to come into the cage, with Strickland throwing punches at Hernandez, with at least one landing before security intervened to break the altercation up.

    Curtis was not suspended; however, he was fined $2,500 plus fees.

    Strickland has not been in action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title rematch at UFC 312 in February.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has provided an interesting perspective on Khamzat Chimaev‘s dominant UFC 319 win over Dricus du Plessis.

    In the main event of UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus du Plessis to become the new UFC middleweight champion. He did so by utilizing his superior wrestling skills from start to finish, and by the time the fight was over, it was pretty clear to see that he had comfortably earned the right to call himself the new champ.

    While Khamzat Chimaev was impressive, though, many felt as if Dricus du Plessis produced a disappointing performance. Of course, only DDP himself knows what he was capable of in there, and it’d be intriguing to see what would happen if they ran it back one day.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen provided an analysis of how Khamzat Chimaev was able to control Dricus du Plessis in Chicago.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 win

    “It’s very important that you understand how Chimaev controlled Dricus because you’ve never seen this before. I have never seen it and that includes in the practice room. Not to this extent, not with somebody of that level… So picture Dricus, he’s on all fours… Chimaev’s behind him… Dricus would like to stand up at that point, and he tried, but he failed. 

    “When you fail at that, your next best option is to get under attack. And when Chimaev attacked him, Dricus was ready for it. Dricus got reversals at one point, but he looked good. It created a grappling atmosphere, which is what Dricus is used to.”

    “Chimaev didn’t confuse and control Dricus due to his advancements. He controlled Dricus with the basics. Bump him forward. Pull him back. Take him left. Take him right. Make him reset. Make him reset. Make him reset as the time is ticking down. And that was the part that was the most fascinating. 

    “He outgrappled him by demonstrating less grappling than he was capable of. And that really bothered some people. I will just tell you, I’ve never seen it before.”

  • Caio Borralho Not Impressed with Khamzat Chimaev’s Safe Performance Against Dricus Du Plessis

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has given his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev’s win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is the new king of the middleweight division after taking the championship from Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319. We also know that Caio Borralho is a rising contender at 185 pounds and in his next fight, he’ll face Nassourdine Imavov in an attempt to move one step closer to receiving a title shot.

    Caio Borralho is certainly an interesting prospect but in the eyes of many, Khamzat Chimaev seems pretty unstoppable right now. One of the reasons for that was the nature of his win over DDP, as ‘Borz’ was able to pretty much dominate him on the ground from the first minute until the last.

    In a recent interview, though, Caio Borralho gave an interesting point of view on how Chimaev was able to perform.

    Caio Borralho’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 win

    “I’m not impressed about the domination. I think he did what he always does in all his fights. The only difference is that he didn’t finish this time. That’s why people are upset—because people want to see a finish. But he dominated in a dominant fashion. Dricus didn’t have any response to anything. But to be fair, he did a great job defending the chokes and all the attacks Khamzat did. But besides that, he just couldn’t take it. He had no answers for that.”

  • Sean O’Malley Addresses Retirement Rumors: “Life comes at you fast”

    UFC star Sean O’Malley has opened up on the possibility of him retiring from mixed martial arts sooner rather than later.

    As we know, Sean O’Malley is one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts today – and especially in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC bantamweight champion and while he may have lost his last two fights to Merab Dvalishvili, many believe he still has what it takes to climb back to the top of the mountain, either at 135 pounds or 145.

    Recently, though, Sean O’Malley had some fans worried when he teased the idea of retiring at some point in the near future. Some felt as if he was just messing around but either way, it certainly feels like something he’d contemplate given how many other ventures he has outside of the fight game.

    In a recent interview, Sean O’Malley made it clear that he’s grateful for every single time he gets the chance to train and compete.

    Sean O’Malley discusses possible retirement

    “Life comes at you fast, but there’s no plans as of now to stop fighting. But you can never know what’s going to happen. Every time I get on the mats and I’m training, I’m grateful for that session.”

    ‘Suga’ went on to suggest that he could be back in the cage competing for the UFC by the end of the year.

    Sean is a determined guy and it’ll be interesting to see whether or not he continues to push for gold.

  • Zhang Mingyang ‘Respects’ Johnny Walker’s Power But Will Knock Him Out at UFC Shanghai

    Zhang Mingyang ‘Respects’ Johnny Walker’s Power But Will Knock Him Out at UFC Shanghai

    UFC light heavyweight contender Zhang Mingyang is ready to strike with Johnny Walker when the two collide in the main event of UFC Shanghai this weekend.

    For Zhang Mingyang, this is an incredibly important fight at this point in his career. The youngster is ready to prove that he’s ready for even bigger opportunities at 205 pounds and in order to do that, he has to get through Johnny Walker. We all know that the Brazilian is a strange and difficult guy to deal with in the cage, but he’s also someone who has picked up his fair share of losses over the years.

    Zhang Mingyang wants to make a statement and given the current state of the division, a big win here could take him to within just one more victory of a championship opportunity. That may have seemed crazy not so long ago, but it certainly seems to be the case now.

    In a recent interview, Zhang Mingyang made it clear that he’s more than happy to strike with Johnny Walker.

    Zhang Mingyang looks forward to Johnny Walker challenge

    “I am very honored to fight Johnny Walker in this main event. Johnny is a very tough fighter with great skills. I have been preparing very hard for this fight.”

    “I have a lot of respect for Johnny Walker. He’s a powerful and experienced fighter. I will do my best to bring a great fight for the fans.”

    Buckle up, folks, because it looks like we could be in for a fun one.

  • Brian Ortega: “The next chapter is WARTEGA”

    Brian Ortega: “The next chapter is WARTEGA”

    UFC featherweight contender Brian Ortega has said that he’s heading into UFC Shanghai with a ‘WARTEGA’ state of mind.

    This weekend, Brian Ortega will make his return to the cage when he squares off with Aljamain Sterling. The fight looks set to be one of the biggest of the month, especially given the stakes involved at 145 pounds. Both men are hoping to make a push for a title opportunity, and both are known for their work on the ground.

    With that being said, Brian Ortega has certainly used his hands effectively in the past. In addition to picking up some big knockouts, he also managed to drop Alexander Volkanovski in their previous title showdown. Now, he’s hoping to do the same to Sterling.

    In a recent interview, Brian Ortega made it crystal clear that a new version of him will be heading into battle in Shanghai.

    Brian Ortega looks ahead to next chapter in his career

    “The next chapter is WARTEGA. It’s just time that I not care and just go to war. I do good when I just go to war. Sometimes I try to care about the intricacies of the point scoring and this and that and I get too deep into that, and it’s like, bro, let’s just fight, man. Let’s go to war and let’s not do it in a dumb way.”

    “For me where I’m at is just fighting, man, that’s kind of where I’m at. I don’t know if it… yeah. For me it’s just fighting, going to war, and just loving what I do.”

  • Baisangur Susurkaev Pledges To Claim Middleweight Title Within Two Years Following UFC 319 Win

    Baisangur Susurkaev Pledges To Claim Middleweight Title Within Two Years Following UFC 319 Win

    Baisangur Susurkaev envisions his path to UFC gold with the same pace he set this past week.

    Susurkaev has enjoyed a whirlwind few days. On Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series, he scored a first-round knockout over Murtaza Talha to secure his UFC contract. Buoyed by his victory, “Hunter” approached UFC CEO Dana White to be added to the UFC 319 undercard alongside his countryman Khamzat Chimaev, and the promotion head honcho granted his wish.

    After stepping into his DWCS bout on just four days’ notice, Susurkaev was booked for his UFC debut with the same short turnaround to face fellow newcomer Eric Nolan, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

    The undefeated Russian weathered a late flurry from Nolan in the first round that nearly rocked him, but he stayed composed and maintained relentless pressure. In the second round, he secured a takedown and repeatedly dragged the fight back to the canvas.

    Gradually working his way to Nolan’s back, he unleashed a series of punches to create an opening. With a perfectly locked-in rear-naked choke, Susurkaev forced “Night Time” to tap at 2:01.

    After scoring back-to-back wins in just four days, “Hunter” is riding a wave of unstoppable confidence.

    Image: @dwcs/Instagram

    Baisangur Susurkaev Confident He Will Be UFC Middleweight Champion Within Two Years

    During the UFC 319 post-fight press conference on Saturday, Baisangur Susurkaev recapped his incredible week and confirmed he intends to keep the momentum going, aiming for one, and possibly two, more fights before the year ends.

    “I’m hoping for New York [in November],” Susurkaev said. “I really would like to fight in September, but I do feel like I have an injury in my foot, so I don’t know if I’ll be ready in time.”

    “Hunter” firmly stated that while he isn’t in a hurry for his first UFC title shot, he expects to capture the middleweight championship within just two years.

    “In two more years, I’m going to be champion. I don’t need it fast. One month, two months to get ready for the next fight, and I’m ready. I’m going to be champion.”

    Baisangur Susurkaev boasts an unblemished professional record of 10-0, with nine of those victories coming via finishes within the second round.

    Image: @realhuntermma/Instagram

  • Johnny Walker Has Been Learning the Chinese Language To Better Connect with the Shanghai Audience

    Johnny Walker Has Been Learning the Chinese Language To Better Connect with the Shanghai Audience

    Johnny Walker feels confident he can get the crowd on his side as he endeavours to learn more Chinese to better endear himself to the Shanghai crowd on Saturday. Speaking on MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his UFC Fight Night 257 headliner, the 33 year-old combatant spoke about his journey with the local language ahead of his clash with Zhang Mingyang this weekend.

    This is a high stakes clash in the light heavyweight division with Walker vs. Mingyang pitting the number thirteen contender agaisnt the number fourteen ranked light heavyweight, respectively. When describing his desire to connect with the Chinese fanbase and his broader vision of thingsbeyond August 23rd, Johnny Walker said,

    “Wherever I go in the world, I feel at home. I see the Chinese here, they all like me, you know. I’m learning a little bit of Chinese as well to connect with the fans already. And I can’t wait to come back to China to fight again. I’m going to get the crowd on my side too and I’m going to do a good job here because it’s a good place to be, China, big market, and it’s really a good city, has good food, good everything here as well.”

    “Even if they’re not, they’re going to be on my side after, because I’m going to win this fight and I’m going to conquer the crowd for sure. And the dream of the Chinese belt championship is going to still live in me, you know? I can bring the belt back here when I get it.”

    “Of course, I’ve been practicing my Chinese a bit and I know some Chinese words, and one is very special that is going to connect with the crowd.”

    “Wherever I go in the world, I feel at home. The Chinese fans are amazing, they like me. I’m already learning some Chinese to connect with them. I can’t wait to come back and fight again here.”

    Johnny Walker’s Xtreme Couture shift was ‘one of the best moves for my career’

    Johnny Walker has been trying out some newer things lately beyond learning a new language and that extends to a change in what gym he hones his skills at. The Brazilian combatant has been working out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas as of late and describing in the same MMA Junkie Radio interview how much of a difference just being in Vegas in general has made for him, Walker stated [via MMA Junkie],

    “It was a very good move, one of the best moves I did for my career. Not just because of Xtreme but because of the UFC Performance Institute. Of course, Eric is an amazing coach. He’s been an amazing add to my career. A lot of big guys there to train [with]. Performance Institute have breakfast, lunch, dinner, physiotherapy, recovery, strength and conditioning, so everything I need to achieve the next level. I’m very happy. That was my best training camp that I did, and I just feel very excited and amazing.”

  • Marc Goddard Receives Herb Dean’s Backing After UFC 319 Main Event Intervention Controversy – ‘I’m Okay With Those Standups’

    Marc Goddard Receives Herb Dean’s Backing After UFC 319 Main Event Intervention Controversy – ‘I’m Okay With Those Standups’

    Marc Goddard finds support from a fellow community member in the wake of the recent fight dispute.

    Last week, in the UFC 319 main event, Khamzat Chimaev overpowered Dricus Du Plessis to claim the middleweight title with a one-sided unanimous decision.

    “Borz” overwhelmed Du Plessis throughout the fight, dictating the action with constant chain wrestling and suffocating top control. He landed 12 takedowns, repeatedly trapping the defending champion in crucifix positions and keeping him on the defensive for most of the bout.

    Khamzat Chimaev dethrone Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319
    Image: @ufc/X

    Late in the fourth round, referee Goddard stepped in to separate Chimaev from “Stillknocks,” seemingly due to a stalemate. The 51-year-old official made a second stand-up late in the final frame, a decision that has ignited widespread debate within the MMA community, drawing criticism from former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and other pundits.

    Herb Dean Defends Marc Goddard Amid Debate Over UFC 319 Headliner Intervention

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Helen Yee, veteran referee Herb Dean weighed in on Marc Goddard’s decision to separate Khamzat Chimaev from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319. While Dean acknowledged that “Borz” was clearly dominating, he defended his fellow official, noting that MMA should not reward fighters who simply hold dominant positions without actively pursuing a finish.

    According to Dean, stand-ups in such scenarios are appropriate to keep the action flowing and preserve the excitement of the sport.

    “I don’t think anything was wrong with his [Marc Goddard] standups, Dean said. “Khamzat dominated the fight round. This is an ongoing conversation that stakeholders and everyone in the sport has, but what do we want this sport to look like? Do we want people to achieve a dominant position, which, if you’re not using it to beat your opponent, could almost be looked at as a hiding place, as a place to burn time? And I’m never gonna accuse Khamzat of hiding because, I mean, the man’s a savage.

    “But if you get a position, we can break that one down, the crucifix chest-to-chest position, not a lot of height, very difficult to get to a place where you can punch your opponent. Sometimes he’s able to get elbows, and you want to reward people. But we can talk about 10-8 [round], and at the same time you want to reward someone with a 10-8 for trying to finish their opponent, for taking a risk… I’m okay with those standups that Marc Goddard did.”

    Goddard, with over two decades of officiating experience, has established himself as one of MMA’s most respected referees, having overseen hundreds of high-profile bouts in the UFC and other major promotions.

    MMA referee Marc Goddard
    Image: @marcgoddard_uk/Instagram
  • Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz Didn’t Want to Face Me Even For $5 Million

    Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz Didn’t Want to Face Me Even For $5 Million

    Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz have not entered live competition in years but they are still getting lucrative offers to compete with former UFC champions. The former UFC champion in this instance is Tyron Woodley with ‘The Chosen One’ mentioning the GSP and Diaz gialogue while speaking to Action Network.

    Woodley has also not competed in a few years since being stopped inside the distance during his boxing rematch with Jake Paul in late-2021. When touching on the situations with both St-Pierre and Diaz as well as why the respective fights never ended up getting traction or materializing at all, Tyron Woodley said,

    “I offered GSP $5 million to fight me in the Middle East. I had an organization, and we was gonna promote a fight, for me and GSP and he just flat out said, ‘Tyron, I’m not in that space any more, I’m not fighting anymore. I appreciate the offer,’ I said,’ cool, well, if you’re not in that space, we’re not’. It was nothing disrespectful, because he is the best welterweight of all time. He’s the greatest. So why would I not want to fight him?”

    “If I beat Georges St. Pierre, nobody would care about [my losses to] Gilbert Burns, Vincente Luque, Colby Covington, or Kamaru Usman. None of those losses matter. I’m the best welterweight of all time, so I was looking at it from that standpoint. I did think I could beat him. I never got a chance to prove it when I was at my peak.”

    “And, he just declined the fight. And then I turned around and Nick Diaz offered him the same amount of money off, $5 million to fight in the Middle East. He liked the message I sent him. He hearted it, but he never replied back.”

    Georges St-Pierre
    (Tyron Woodley & Georges St-Pierre on Instagram)

    Georges St-Pierre and his last fighting foray

    Georges St-Pierre last stepped into the cage in November 2017 and cemented himself even further in the history books. GSP would compte at the world’s most famous arena and ascended to the UFC championship throne once again and in a new weight class no less. At UFC 217, the Canadian combatant would do battle with Michael Bisping for the middleweight crown.

    The long time welterweight kingpin would vault himself into that rareified air of two division UFC champions when Georges St-Pierre submitted ‘the Count’ to claim the 185 pound strap inside of Madison Square Garden in the pay-per-view headliner.

  • Aljamain Sterling is Confident in Avoiding Brian Ortega’s Nasty Chokes

    Aljamain Sterling is not obtuse to the problems on the ground that Brian Ortega presents but is confident in how his own skillset matches up with that in their UFC Fight Night 257 co-main event bout. This consequential contest at featherweight takes place in Shanghai on August 23rd.

    Speaking to Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie, the former UFC bantamweight champion covered several subjects as he aims to further climb the UFC’s featherweight hierarchy by taking on a former multi-time title challenger at 145 pounds in the promotion. This Saturday will see Sterling and Ortega do battle for a higher rankings position with the number seven and number five ranked contenders in the division, respectively, testing skills.

    When getting into the machinations of this massive matchup at 145 pounds this weekend, Sterling said,

    “I think my style matches up well with him. He does have some tricky stuff off of his back and on top. He’s pretty tough and has a really nasty head and arm choke. I haven’t really seen him go for many other submissions, maybe a guillotine and a triangle, but overall he’s pretty well versed with chokes, so I’ve got to be careful.”

    “I think my top pressure and passing game should be good enough to get to some good dominant positions. Hopefully, I can get to where I’m really strong, which is side control or the back mount.”

    Aljamain Sterling thinks UFC Shanghai bout being 5 rounds is “kind of f***ing stupid”

    Aljamain Sterling is prepared for twenty five minutes of competition but is still unsure why the promotion booked his Brian Ortega bout for five rounds. This was expressed by Aljo during a recent interview with Mike Heck of MMA Fighting as Aljamain Sterling stated [via MMA Fighting],

    “Yeah, I don’t know why it’s five rounds. I don’t know if Brian Ortega is the one who asked for five rounds. But like, five-round main events, if you’re not the champion, you get an extra pay incentive. So I’m kind of annoyed because we’re not getting extra pay for five rounds.”

    “I’m like, ‘Did he want to fight five rounds for no extra money?’ I think it’s kind of f*cking stupid. Like, what are we getting out of this? We’re not getting a trophy at the end of this, so why are we fighting five rounds? This is 10 extra minutes of training, 10 extra minutes of fighting. I don’t know. I legitimately do not know. We’ve got the same manager, so. I don’t want 5 rounds. Like, who wants to do five rounds? Who wants to fight more for the same pay rate that they’re going to get? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev as UFC Champion is a ‘Disaster’ – But Not How you Expect, Former UFC Champ Explains

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has explained why Khamzat Chimaev being UFC middleweight champion is a nightmare for the rest of the division.

    Khamzat Chimaev captured the middleweight title at UFC 319 by dominating Dricus du Plessis. He did so with his incredible wrestling ability and ever since then, people have been wondering the same thing: who on earth is going to stop this guy? He is a force of nature and if he can do that to DDP, he can probably do it to a lot of other middleweights – if not all of them.

    Recently, Din Thomas said that he was concerned about Khamzat Chimaev being world champion due to his inactivity. He isn’t someone who tends to fight a great deal inside the cage, raising a few eyebrows about whether or not he would be an active champion.

    Michael Bisping, however, has a different thought process when it comes to the reign of Khamzat Chimaev.

    Michael Bisping’s thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev as UFC champion

    “I don’t mean because of what Din Thomas said. Din Thomas was like, ‘He isn’t going to be able to fight too frequently. He struggles to get visas and stuff like that.’ No, when I say this is a disaster, it’s a disaster for the division because from what I see there, ain’t nobody—ain’t nobody apart from Reinier de Ridder—ain’t nobody beating him. Reinier de Ridder is the only guy that has a shot because of the jiu-jitsu, because of the skills that he has off his back. Okay.”

  • Paulo Costa makes big claim about Khamzat Chimaev’s security at UFC 319

    UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has told a story about Khamzat Chimaev’s reported security at UFC 319.

    As we know, Paulo Costa isn’t a big fan of Khamzat Chimaev – who is now the middleweight champion after his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. It seems unlikely that we’re going to see the two square off anytime soon, mainly because there are plenty of others in the division who are currently ahead of Costa in the pecking order.

    Still, you never know what could happen, especially after Paulo Costa’s impressive win over Roman Kopylov. He has the skills necessary to make a real run in this division but as so often seems to be the case, he may well be his own worst enemy. With that being said, that isn’t going to stop him from going on a verbal tirade against the champ from time to time.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa had the following story to tell about ‘Borz’.

    Paulo Costa’s story about Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319

    “We had everything set up to go to Chicago after my fight against Roman Kopylov. We contacted UFC, and they said, ‘Paulo, it’s better you not go there because he might have like 20, many people surround him to protect him from you. So it’s better not to go.’ They said it’s a big fight to protect him from you. 

    “That’s what they said. I can’t believe that. He brought a whole army. He is the kind of guy who always walks with some guys to protect him too. They said, ‘It’s better you not go there because we don’t know where this guy is going to be in the arena and they can attack you or do something against you.’ So that’s crazy.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev’s style: Michael Bisping responds to critics of his dominant wrestling

    Khamzat Chimaev’s style: Michael Bisping responds to critics of his dominant wrestling

    UFC legend Michael Bisping has some thoughts on those who are going after Khamzat Chimaev for what they perceive to be a boring style of fighting.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. He dominated Dricus du Plessis over five rounds in the main event of UFC 319 and in doing so, he firmly established himself as the best 185-pounder on the planet. Of course, because of his wrestle-heavy style, a lot of people weren’t big fans of how he secured the title.

    Despite that, Khamzat Chimaev will still likely be recognized as one of the biggest stars in the sport today – and rightfully so. He has had a great rise to the top, and it’ll be really interesting to see how long he remains champion.

    In a recent video, Michael Bisping had some words for those who have been criticizing Khamzat Chimaev in recent days.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “Some people might not have liked the performance, but those people should watch boxing or kickboxing. This is mixed martial arts. I hated fighting wrestlers. I wanted to stand and trade punches, knees, elbows, kicks. But you have to be able to fight wrestlers and stop takedowns. You can’t blame Khamzat for taking someone down like that. The man had 21 minutes of control time in a 25-minute fight. It’s ridiculous, but that’s the sport.”

    Love him or hate him, Khamzat has found a style that works, and it’s taken him all the way to a championship.