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  • Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Arman Tsarukyan Foresees Future Title Defense Against Charles Oliveira: ‘I Would Like To Finish Him’

    Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes his story with Charles Oliveira is far from complete.

    Islam Makhachev’s highly anticipated lightweight title defense against Tsarukyan is expected to headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18. While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the matchup, excitement among fans is already building.

    Both Makhachev and Tsarukyan have crossed paths with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who suffered defeats to each. The Brazilian lost to Makhachev via submission in their title bout at UFC 280 and fell to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 this past April.

    Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the expected showdown, Tsarukyan expressed an eagerness to solidify his standing in the division. And if victorious against Makhachev, he has his sights set on a rematch with Oliveira to make a definitive statement.

    “Of course, I’m down for everybody,” Tsarukyan said. “Charles Oliveira is one of the best in our division. I feel like Islam, Charles, and I are the top three in the lightweight division right now because Charles beat everyone in the top 15. I beat everybody, too. Islam is the champ, pound-for-pound, but I’m down for everybody.

    “But when I become champion, I would like to fight Charles because our fight was pretty close, people think it was pretty close, and I would like to finish him,” Tsarukyan added.

    https://youtu.be/NYvLfJric60?si=0YHk1kbpa05Xk4OE

    Oliveira, meanwhile, remains in the mix for another title opportunity. The former champion is coming off an impressive five-round decision victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 309 and wasted no time calling for a title shot afterward.

    With Makhachev and Tsarukyan poised to clash at UFC 311, the lightweight division continues to deliver some of the sport’s most compelling matchups.

  • Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    Chael Sonnen Questions Ciryl Gane’s Commitment & UFC 310 Betting Favorite Status Over Alexander Volkov

    At UFC 310 this weekend, another heavyweight could join the conversation that has been dominated by the division’s two titleholders in Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Whichever man gets the win, Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov will prove that they’re the next in line for a title shot even if the future of the division remains unclear right now.

    Since losing to Aspinall in 2022, Volkov has put together a very strong run with four consecutive wins. Gane, on the other hand, hasn’t fought since his victory over Serghei Spivac in Paris last year which saw him bounce back from his loss to Jones at UFC 285.

    The former interim champion has received some criticism since then over not wanting to pursue a fight with Aspinall and then turning down the interim title fight for UFC 304 in July due to a commitment he had made to filming a TV show for Netflix which has since released. Chael Sonnen believes that with these factors being considered, he doesn’t understand why “Bon Gamin” is a clear favorite according to the oddsmakers.

    “Ciryl is a very heavy favorite. I, for the life of me, do not know why.

    “I don’t mean to be negative towards Ciryl but I will share with you, nobody gets better at this sport by not doing it and Ciryl passed up on very big opportunities to go and film a movie that nobody’s ever heard of and most likely will never see but you can’t ever get around that. Every actor wants to be an athlete and every athlete wants to be an actor. There’s no way to ever work that out. So now Ciryl’s going to come in against largely a mere image of himself.”

    Many would point to Gane being a big favorite due to the way that their first meeting played out. In June of 2021, the French fighter dominated against Volkov and won all five rounds on multiple scorecards to earn his sixth consecutive win inside the Octagon.

    Sonnen, however, believes that Volkov has never looked better than he did last time out against Sergei Pavlovich in June in a fight that he believes the Russian coasted through.

    “Volkov went out and didn’t even take him serious. Volkov’s trainer in between rounds brought him water and a comb. He combed his hair in between rounds, I mean he was doing marketing and he was doing a spoof and he was performing cuz he was so unimpressed by your great blonde hope.” 

  • Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Ian Garry: UFC Tampa Booking Proves ‘Coward’ Colby Covington ‘Avoided Me Like The Plague’

    Though their paths might not be crossing in the way that he had hoped, there is no love lost between Ian Machado Garry and Colby Covington. The undefeated Irishman has spent a fair few months of 2024 going back-and-forth with the former interim champion.

    Covington was the opponent that he wanted to face at UFC 303 in June which would have been the perfect co-main event to Conor McGregor’s return against Michael Chandler. Instead, Garry would get the main card opener slot against the former Bellator star Michael “Venom” Page which he won to remain undefeated.

    Considering the war of words between them which stems all the way back to UFC 296 in December last year where they were scheduled to share the card with each other before Garry withdrew due to illness, it only made sense to revisit this match-up. With how much time he has spent trying to get “Chaos” to fight him, it’s not surprising that he would be frustrated when the welterweight switch-up happened.

    Garry agreed to fight Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on December 14, admitting recently that the fight didn’t excite him but no one ranked above him would take the match-up. When Belal Muhammad withdrew from his UFC 310 title defense, Garry replaced him to face Shavkat Rakhmonov this Saturday whilst Covington stepped in to clash with Buckley the following week.

    In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry reacted to Covington refusing to fight him only to accept a fight with “New Mansa” instead for the same date that the Irishman was originally targeting.

    “I was seething, how do you think I feel? Because I’ve been screaming and shouting about fighting that man from the rafters,” Garry said. “This man’s made videos about me, my wife, my kids – talking about all this s***. And here’s this man avoiding me like the plague, and then the second I book in against the scariest man in the division, he’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll fight in Florida.’

    “It just proves, it just shows that he’s a coward, that he wants nothing to do with me,” Garry continued. “The truth is I already know I’ve beaten him. I know I’ve already mentally beaten him. He’s weak. He’s an absolute coward.”

  • Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili Touts Aljamain Sterling’s UFC 310 Prep: ‘Controlled Me, Smashed Me’

    Merab Dvalishvili is expecting a strong performance from his teammate Aljamain Sterling, as the former UFC bantamweight champion gears up for his second outing as a featherweight.

    Following the end of his reign at 135 pounds last year — and after having his calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley fall on deaf ears — Sterling committed to a long-discussed move up in weight.

    And he debuted at 145 pounds in convincing fashion, comfortably outpointing veteran ranked contender Calvin Kattar across three rounds at UFC 300 in Las Vegas this past April.

    After arriving in the featherweight top 10, Sterling’s sophomore appearance in the division at UFC 310 will come against an undefeated contender inside the top five, Russia’s Movsar Evloev.

    Although he’ll enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, Sterling’s team is unsurprisingly confident of an upset.

    During a video recently uploaded to Sterling’s YouTube channel, Dvalishvili spoke about “Funk Master’s” upcoming return, having once again been a part of the 35-year-old’s training camp.

    The reigning bantamweight kingpin admitted struggling to hang with the featherweight contender on the mats. And with that in mind, he foresees Sterling ‘smashing’ the undefeated Evloev.

    “Aljo feels really strong,” Dvalishvili said. “Now he did a bunch of rounds of jiu-jitsu too. He did two rounds with me. I couldn’t do anything. He was on top of me, controlled me, smashed me. That means that Aljo is going to smash his opponent – even though his opponent is really good.

    “I have so much respect for Movsar Evloev, but that’s how the fight game is. The stronger guy wins,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’m very comfortable with Aljo because he’s focused and he feels really strong.”

    Sterling will hope to prove Dvalishvili’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where he’ll look to move past his disappointment at being placed on the prelims and deliver a statement-making performance at the expense of Evloev.

    And should he succeed in that goal, a shot at Ilia Topuria’s featherweight gold and two-division glory could await the New York native in 2025.

  • 8-0 MMA Prospect To Make Pro Wrestling Debut Against Former WWE Star Matt Riddle

    8-0 MMA Prospect To Make Pro Wrestling Debut Against Former WWE Star Matt Riddle

    With an undefeated record of 8-0, flyweight talent Phumi Nkuta is someone that fight fans have had their eyes on for some time. The CFFC and Peak Fighting champion is a name that has been tipped for big things but it looks like his MMA career is being put on hold.

    If there’s one thing that has held Nkuta back in his MMA career, it’s his activity after he had nearly two years out from 2021-2023 due to an injury. Now, he’s looking to progress in a new field by making his professional wrestling debut as House Of Glory’s upcoming event in New York.

    On December 20, HOG “Live For The Moment” will take place at the NYC Arena with a card that boasts the HOG return of one of the most iconic teams in all of wrestling, The Hardy Boyz. Nkuta will also feature on the card against a name and face that will be familiar to both wrestling and MMA fans.

    Matt Riddle came into the UFC via the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter and would go on to fight inside the Octagon 12 times before being released from the promotion in 2013. Aside from one comeback fight earlier this year in Titan FC, Riddle then left MMA behind to pursue pro wrestling where he would go on to become a major star in the WWE.

    Following several suspensions and controversies, he left the WWE in 2023 and has been working for several other promotions on the independent circuit ever since. He recently made his debut for TNA at their “Turning Point” event on November 29. Now, it will be him that is welcoming an MMA fighter through the ropes on December 20.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Sends Welterweight Division Ominous Warning Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Sends Welterweight Division Ominous Warning Ahead Of UFC 310 Return

    Shavkat Rakhmonov enters UFC 310 brimming with confidence as he gears up for a five-round welterweight clash against Ian Garry.

    The fight, set to take place this Saturday in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a shift from the original plan. Rakhmonov was initially slated to challenge Belal Muhammad, but the welterweight champion withdrew from the bout.

    Rakhmonov has built an impeccable 18-0 professional record, with all of his victories coming via knockout or submission. His recent string of dominance includes three consecutive rear-naked choke victories over Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson, solidifying his reputation as a relentless finisher in the welterweight division.

    Speaking on the UFC 310 Countdown show, Rakhmonov reflected on his ongoing evolution as a fighter and his dedication to continuous improvement.

    “I’ve been training at Kill Cliff gym for about three years,” Rakhmonov shared. “There are many fighters at my level, and the competition here is tougher. I think I have enough abilities, but I need to keep improving them. This sport doesn’t stand still, so it’s important to develop skills in all areas continuously. I aim to grow in every area: technique, grappling, and wrestling. In this weight class, I’m a problem for anyone.”

    As Rakhmonov prepares to face another rising star in Garry, fans are eagerly anticipating a showdown that could further cement his status as one of the most dangerous contenders in the welterweight division.

    https://youtu.be/EBuiZj5Jzlc?si=_G39agC4kNCIDY9O
  • Training Partner Describes ‘Lighting In A Bottle’ Kai Asakura: ‘Hardest Hitting 125’er On Planet Earth’

    Training Partner Describes ‘Lighting In A Bottle’ Kai Asakura: ‘Hardest Hitting 125’er On Planet Earth’

    It’s always exciting when the UFC signs a big name from another promotion and fight fans get to see how they stack up against the rest of the roster. In the case of Kai Asakura, things are a bit different to the other times that we have seen this happen in recent years.

    For a start, unlike fighters like Kayla Harrison or Michael “Venom” Page, he’s going straight into a UFC title shot on his debut this weekend at UFC 310 where he challenges Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight belt in the main event. The other notable difference is that Asakura didn’t become a champion in a promotion that is on a lot of US fans’ radars.

    The 31-year old is a big name in Japan and though some of his wins in RIZIN have certainly put him on the global map, there are a lot of UFC fans who won’t have heard of him until he was signed to the promotion. In a recent interview with The Scrap, Mando Gutierrez looked to help provide some insight into what the title challenger is like and what fans can expect from him.

    Gutierrez has been training alongside Asakura in his first UFC camp and he’s very excited to see what the new arrival will be capable of. He thinks that though the Japanese star has an impressive highlight reel from his time in RIZIN, he will be able to produce these kinds of finishes in the UFC also.

    “Lighting in a bottle bro. Like he has true finishing capabilities. Super strong, super agile, fast as f*** and he cracks man. If there’s one thing I can guarantee you it’s that’s the hardest hitting 125’er on planet earth and I really believe it. Timing, precision, speed, power, all mixed into one just makes him the hardest f****** puncher there is.”  

  • Donald Cerrone Reiterates UFC Return Plan During Kill Tony Appearance

    Donald Cerrone Reiterates UFC Return Plan During Kill Tony Appearance

    During a recent episode of the Kill Tony podcast, live at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas, former UFC icon Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone made a special guest appearance. The 41-year old has recently declared that he plans to return to the Octagon after retiring in July of 2022.

    Cerrone was without a win in his last seven fights but the Hall of Famer, who was inducted in 2023, still has a couple bouts left on his contract and considering that he’s fought 38 times in the UFC, rounding that up to 40 is something he wants to tick off.

    Fighting out of his contract would also allow Cerrone to pursue other options away from the UFC and this is why he was brought out on stage in the first place. “Cowboy” came through the curtain after it was said that there was someone backstage that had a message for Jake Paul.

    After receiving a warm welcome from the fans inside the building, he laid out his current plans for the future which could involve “The Problem Child” once his UFC obligations are fulfilled.

    “I mean if the guy wants to come to MMA, I’ll gladly whip his f****** a** but I am coming out of retirement and I have two more fights on our contract so I want 40 UFC fights, that’s the number so I have two before July to get done and then I’m gonna go out there and give it hell and if Jake wants to jump in line for the a** whipping train, he can jump on and give me all the money.”

    Cerrone was then asked by Tony Hinchcliffe whether he would step into boxing to face Paul like several other MMA fighters like Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz have. He declined this offer, having the self awareness to know that the fight wouldn’t go well for him in this field.

    “No I’m f****** terrible at boxing, I have no head movement. I need to take him down and whip his a**.”

  • Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    Quote: Julianna Peña ‘Guaranteed’ To Lose UFC Title If She Fights Kayla Harrison

    One of UFC Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña’s peers isn’t giving her much of a chance against the charging Kayla Harrison.

    Peña and Harrison appear to be on a collision course for 2025 after their respective victories at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City this past October.

    While the former regained the 135-pound gold in the co-main event by narrowly and controversially outpointing Raquel Pennington, the ex-PFL standout moved to 2-0 in the Octagon with a victory over Ketlen Vieira.

    Harrison had already been pointed to as a worthy title challenger after she emphatically dispatched former champ Holly Holm by way of submission on debut at UFC 300. But having added another name to her record’s win column after being made to fight another contender, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo is widely seen as next in line.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, instead called out longtime rival Amanda Nunes following her victory. And according to one UFC fighter, that’s perhaps smart if she wants to prolong her reign…

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, formerly ranked flyweight Miranda Maverick gave her assessment of the expected next championship contest at 135 pounds.

    Suffice to say, her view won’t make for good reading in the Peña household.

    “I think Kayla will win,” Maverick said. “I think her striking is not very good and hasn’t seemed to improve very much over time, but I think she’ll win regardless. I think she’ll get it to the ground, and Peña won’t be getting back up. Yeah, Peña will lose her title if she goes against Kayla, guaranteed.”

    While an opponent for the first defense of Peña’s second stint on the bantamweight throne has not been confirmed, she has pointed to International Fight Week in mid-2025 as her desired return date.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Hold Back On ‘Weak-Minded’ Kamaru Usman: ‘When It Matters Between The Legs, He’s A Little Man’ 

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Hold Back On ‘Weak-Minded’ Kamaru Usman: ‘When It Matters Between The Legs, He’s A Little Man’ 

    It seems there’s no love lost between UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman.

    The former champion and undefeated Irishman were among four names apparently offered the spot opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov at this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view following the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad.

    It was ultimately the latter who accepted, swapping his headline spot at next Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa to co-headline the final numbered event of 2024 in a title eliminator at 170 pounds.

    Among others — Colby Covington and Carlos Prates, according to Rakhmonov — Garry has benefited from Usman choosing against sharing the cage with “Nomad” inside T-Mobile Arena this week.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry discussed Usman’s rejection of the short-notice assignment against Rakhmonov this weekend, which the Kazakh star says he initially accepted.

    The Irishman went as far as to call Usman “weak-minded,” theorizing that he’ll now push for a showdown with Jack Della Maddalena in 2025 given his weakness in the grappling department.

    “Usman has a big chest and little balls,” Garry said. “He looks good and plays the part, but when it matters between the legs, he’s a little man. That’s my outlook on it. … Him and Colby are older, been through the division, fought these guys. Now they’re getting to the end of their careers and they want to choose the better stylistic matchups. But I guarantee this: Usman is going to try to push for a fight with Jack Della Maddalena because he’s seen how easily Gilbert Burns was able to take him down.

    “If I was in Usman’s shoes, why would I wanna fight the guy that’s long, rangey, difficult to deal with, when I can fight a guy who I watched two people back-to-back be able to take him down quite easily?” Garry continued. “I guarantee you Usman is going to try to push for the JDM fight, because he’s weak-minded.”

    Usman has been the subject of similar criticism from some corners of the fanbase, and he took to his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo this week to hit back at those questioning his decision not to fight Rakhmonov on short notice.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals 3 Welterweights Who Were Offered UFC 310 Fight

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals 3 Welterweights Who Were Offered UFC 310 Fight

    According to Shavkat Rakhmonov, upcoming opponent Ian Garry was among four UFC welterweights offered the short-notice assignment for this weekend.

    Rakhmonov and Garry are set to co-headline UFC 310, which comes as the promotion’s final pay-per-view of 2024. The pair will collide across five rounds with a future shot at Belal Muhammad’s title on the line.

    The Kazakh star was originally expecting his championship opportunity to come to fruition on Saturday night but an injury to Muhammad spoiled those plans. As a result, “Nomad” must now defend his status as top contender.

    In “Remember the Name’s” place has stepped Garry, who was initially preparing to headline next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. That booking evidently could have stayed together had one of three other names offered the Rakhmonov fight given positive responses.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rakhmonov claimed the UFC sent offers to three different names in the division — Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Carlos Prates.

    The undefeated welterweight said Usman accepted before backing out, Covington straight up rejected, and an injury prevented the rising Prates from getting a big chance to climb the ranks into title contention.

    “I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman. But he didn’t accept the fight,” Rakhmonov said. “Also, they offered (it) to Prates, but he was injured. And Colby Covington, he rejected the fight. And I’m happy that Ian Garry accepted the fight. … In the beginning, (Usman) accepted the fight, and then he rejected. Maybe he didn’t want to risk.”

    Garry will hope that their loss is his gain when he looks to be the one who takes Rakhmonov’s ‘0’ — and maintain his in the process.

    The Kazakh and Irish fighters will set the stage for a championship main event inside T-Mobile Arena, as Alexandre Pantoja welcomes Kai Asakura to the UFC in defense of his flyweight belt.

  • PFL Fighter Suspended One Year After Failed Drug Test For Battle Of The Giants PPV

    PFL Fighter Suspended One Year After Failed Drug Test For Battle Of The Giants PPV

    One of the victors on the PFL’s Battle of the Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira card has had their win overturned after failing a drug test.

    The Professional Fighters League staged its latest pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this past October. It marked a big night for the promotion, with heavyweight star Francis Ngannou and all-time great Cris Cyborg both making their SmartCage debuts.

    They emerged victorious in the headline spots, defeating Renan Ferreira and Larissa Pacheco, respectively. A number of other fighters made the most of their position on the major lineup, including Johnny Eblen, Zafar Mohsen, and Paul Hughes on the main card.

    Disaster has struck for one of those names, however.

    MMA Junkie reported this week that Mohsen’s unanimous decision victory over Husein Kadimagomaev has been overturned to a no contest.

    The information came through Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation chief Mike Mazzulli, who confirmed that a drug test submitted by Mohsen on fight night was flagged as positive in the aftermath.

    As a result of his indiscretion, Mohsen has been suspended for a duration of one year and fined an undisclosed amount.

    His contractual status with the PFL is unclear following his debut win under the promotion’s banner in the Middle East.

  • UFC 310 Fighter Confirms Retirement After 3 More Bouts: ‘I Ain’t No Spring Chicken’

    One fighter set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view is close to hanging up the gloves.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is set to stage its final numbered event of the year on Saturday night in Las Vegas, with a host of prominent names set to make the walk inside T-Mobile Arena.

    That even includes on the early prelims, which will see a former champion in Chris Weidman making his return. The 40-year-old is set to do battle with Eryk Anders three weeks on from a bout of food poisoning forcing their matchup off the UFC 309 lineup on fight day.

    Having quickly recovered, Anders’ sights are firmly back on Weidman as he looks to make it back-to-back wins in 2024. But even if he does close out the year on a streak, the former American football linebacker has no plans to make a run.

    During an interview with Thomas Gerbasi for UFC.com, Anders reiterated his goals for the future and timeline for retirement. Having put a five-fight limit on the remainder of his career in June 2023, the 37-year-old stayed true to his word by branding this weekend’s assignment one of three left for him inside the cage.

    “I’m only going to fight three more times,” he said. “This would be one of the three. And two more times after this. So I don’t think so. But it’s still a fun fight, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

    During his UFC career, the former LFA champion has picked up wins over the likes of Markus Perez, Vinicius Moreira, Gerald Meerschaert, Darren Stewart, and Kyle Daukaus. He’s struggled to stay consistent, however, with his charge up the ladder being stalled in defeats to names like Lyoto Machida, Thiago Santos, Elias Theodorou, Khalil Rountree and Krzysztof Jotko.

    With his aspirations of a push toward UFC gold evidently a thing of the past, Anders will now be focused on closing out his career in style, starting on Dec. 7 at the expense of Weidman.

  • Ian Garry Predicts Joaquin Buckley Will ‘Starch’ Colby Covington

    Ian Garry Predicts Joaquin Buckley Will ‘Starch’ Colby Covington

    Ian Garry may have a bigger challenge looming ahead, but he’s far from pleased about Colby Covington’s decision to pass on a showdown with him.

    For nearly a year, Garry and Covington have been locked in a simmering rivalry, with both fighters eager to settle their score in the Octagon. The 27-year-old Irishman has been especially vocal about the prospect of facing Covington.

    “The Future” initially had his sights set on a grudge matchup against the former interim welterweight champion in the main event of the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14. However, he was ultimately matched up with Joaquin Buckley instead.

    But when reigning 170-pound champion Belal Muhammad was forced to withdraw from his UFC 310 headliner against Shavkat Rakhmonov due to a bone infection, Garry jumped at the chance to fill the void and salvage the matchup.

    Following the changes, “Chaos” was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Garry, stepping up to face Buckley in the newly adjusted lineup.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry didn’t hold back, slamming Covington for attacking his personal life and calling the American a coward for supposedly avoiding a showdown with him.

    “The Future” went on to predict that Buckley will completely overpower Covington.

    “I believe he’s going to go out there and get absolutely steamrolled by Joaquin Buckley. I think Buckley starches him.”

    “Chaos” has been out of action since his unsuccessful attempt to capture the welterweight title in his third bid against Leon Edwards, a fight that ultimately saw him fall short of his championship aspirations.

  • Kamaru Usman Addresses Backlash For Skipping Short-Notice Shavkat Rakhmonov Fight At UFC 310

    Kamaru Usman Addresses Backlash For Skipping Short-Notice Shavkat Rakhmonov Fight At UFC 310

    Kamaru Usman isn’t holding back against the online criticism after choosing to pass on a short-notice clash with Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

    Rakhmonov was originally slated to challenge reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the headlining bout of the UFC’s final pay-per-view of the year on Dec. 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, the highly anticipated clash was derailed when Muhammad was sidelined by a bone infection in his foot, leaving “Nomad” without an opponent for the big night.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” initially showed interest in stepping up for a last-minute showdown with Rakhmonov, even hinting that he was gearing up in case the opportunity came his way. However, the former UFC welterweight champion later reconsidered, admitting that the date would come too soon for him to be adequately prepared for such a high-stakes clash.

    As a result, Ian Garry seized the opportunity to step in and face Rakhmonov, relinquishing his previously scheduled main event spot against Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14.

    This decision sparked a wave of criticism aimed at Usman, with many accusing him of avoiding the undefeated Kazakh.

    During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast, Usman fired back at the fan backlash over his decision. The 37-year-old Nigerian-born American expressed his frustration, stating that fans were quick to judge without fully understanding the circumstances.

    “I’m seeing people online going, ‘Oh, you’re scared, you ducked him,’” Usman said. “When people who are your fans or fans of a fighter don’t get their desired wish, ‘That’s the fight I want,’ then it’s like, ‘Oh no, that guy must be scared because he didn’t take the fight.’ Like, guys, shut up.

    “World champion, defending belts time and time again, oh, he’s scared? Yeah, shut up. Just because you didn’t get what you wanted — guess what? It’s like your mom telling you, ‘No, you can’t have that toy today.’ You know, you can’t have that toy, so shut your mouth.”

    Usman was last seen in action at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he suffered a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in a short-notice middleweight bout.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” is currently navigating the toughest stretch of his career, having lost his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. Since that defeat, he has struggled, posting an 0-2 record in his past two Octagon outings.

  • Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Prelim Placement: ‘I Am A Main Card Fighter!’

    Aljamain Sterling On UFC 310 Prelim Placement: ‘I Am A Main Card Fighter!’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was puzzled to see his crucial featherweight clash with Movsar Evloev demoted to this weekend’s preliminary card.

    Sterling is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world, showcasing his talent across two weight classes. He excelled as a 135-pound kingpin before transitioning to 145 pounds, where he continues to make waves.

    “Funk Master’s” rise to prominence included an impressive winning streak that culminated in capturing the bantamweight title at UFC 259 with a disqualification victory over Petr Yan. He then successfully defended the belt three times, defeating Yan in a rematch, TJ Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo.

    However, his reign ended at UFC 292, where he lost the title to Sean O’Malley. Undeterred, Sterling moved to the featherweight division and secured a notable victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 this past April

    Now, Sterling is set to face top-five contender Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 on Dec. 7. Surprisingly, the fight will be featured on the prelims rather than the pay-per-view main card. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling expressed mixed feelings about the placement.

    “I didn’t know if I should have been insulted by the placement on the fight card or glass half-full. I guess that’s the best way I try to look at everything in life,” Sterling said. “I get to fight earlier and get to be done earlier. I get to pop open a fresh bottle of Funk Harbor, hang out with the friends, and celebrate a big win. I was a little confused by it, of course.

    “I guess they have their rhyme or reason for what they do, the UFC brass, and it is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s not my organization. I don’t call the shots. I just go out there and compete, and it’s up to me to go out there and prove these guys wrong,” Sterling continued. “Hey, I am a main card fighter. I think people are going to be in for a very big surprise, and the UFC is going to realize we messed up big time by not putting this on the main card.”

    Sterling’s confidence and determination to prove his worth as a main card fighter could make his bout against Evloev one of the most talked-about moments of the night, regardless of its placement.

  • Joaquin Buckley: Ian Garry Will Beat Shavkat Rakhmonov By ‘Fleeing’ At UFC 310

    Joaquin Buckley: Ian Garry Will Beat Shavkat Rakhmonov By ‘Fleeing’ At UFC 310

    UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley is expecting Ian Garry to maintain his ‘0’ when he does battle with fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    Garry has been drafted in on late notice to co-headline this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where the T-Mobile Arena will play host to a crucial clash at 170 pounds between two of the top unbeaten talents at 170 pounds.

    While Rakhmonov was originally set to challenge for Belal Muhammad’s gold in the main event, an infection forced the champion’s withdrawal. With that, the Kazakh standout will have to defend his top contender spot opposite a former training partner.

    Betting odds currently have “Nomad” a signifcant favorite to do so, with his line sitting at -375 on DraftKings. The man who had his matchup with Garry fall through as a result of the recent shuffle, however, sees the underdog having his hand raised.

    During an interview with MiddleEasy, Buckley provided his thoughts on Garry’s new bout with Rakhmonov, which spoiled “New Mansa’s” plan to become the first to defeat the Irishman a week later in the UFC Tampa headliner.

    In recent bouts, “The Future” has been criticized for grinding out decision wins with a technical and safe approach. And Buckley expects the Dubliner to employ that exact strategy en route to an upset at UFC 310.

    “A lot of people are not going to believe me, but I think Ian Garry is going to win – by the skin of his teeth, just like the rest of his wins that he had,” Buckley said. “Whether that’s with ‘MVP’ or with Geoff Neal. He does a good job of staying safe and surviving, and if you don’t have the feet to kind of hunt down guys like that, where they’re constantly moving and constantly evading, and you set up traps.

    “Obviously, you’re not going to be able to land those power shots. … If you get in the fire with Shavkat Rakhmonov, you’re going to get burned,” Buckley continued. “But I don’t see Ian Garry running into that burning house. He’s going to try to flee and evade the whole time, and I can see Ian Garry getting his hand raised by decision.”

    Garry will look to prove Buckley’s prediction correct come fight night versus Rakhmonov in “Sin City” this weekend — thought perhaps in a more emphatic and impressive faction than the American is envisioning.

    “New Mansa,” meanwhile, has a new target in his sights for Dec. 14 in Tampa.

    The #9-ranked contender will still have the opportunity to climb the ranks, as he looks to add to the woes of Colby Covington following his third failed bid for the undisputed crown last December.

  • Ciryl Gane Addresses ‘Total Misunderstanding Of What Was Happening’ In Jon Jones Loss

    Ciryl Gane is just days away from stepping back into the Octagon, where he will face former Bellator heavyweight champion Alexander Volkov in a rematch at UFC 310 on Dec. 7. This bout was initially scheduled for October at UFC 308, but Volkov withdrew due to a knee injury.

    Ahead of his next outing, Gane continues to reflect on his devastating loss to UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at UFC 285 in March 2023 — a defeat he describes as a pivotal learning experience.

    He rebounded impressively with a TKO victory over Serghei Spivac at a UFC Fight Night event in Paris six months later.

    Speaking during the UFC 310 Countdown episode, Gane opened up about his mindset during the Jones fight, admitting that he felt disconnected in the cage.

    “When I look back at it, it was obvious that I was not there. It represented exactly how I felt on the day of the fight. It was a total misunderstanding of what was happening,” Gane said. “I don’t recognize myself there. It’s something I’ve never done in my life. I’ve never fought that way before. My distance management, my movement, the alertness that I love to show — I had none of that.”

    Despite the setback, Gane views the experience as a turning point in his career.

    “Looking back, I think that this experience may have been beneficial,” Gane continued. “For me personally, it helped me to refocus on myself. It gave me a spirit of revenge, a competitive spirit.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBuiZj5Jzlc

    Now fully refocused and determined, Gane will look to capitalize on his growth as he prepares for a second meeting with Volkov, hoping to solidify his path back to the top of the heavyweight division.

  • Former UFC Title Challenger Becomes Champion At 43 Years Old

    Former UFC Title Challenger Becomes Champion At 43 Years Old

    Former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami has become a champion following his recent win at Shooto 2024 Vol. 8 on November 30. The 33-year old Japanese legend earned his second consecutive victory over Kim Jae-young in Tokyo to win the vacant Shooto middleweight title.

    Having made his MMA debut in 2002, the 54-fight veteran has fought in several of the top promotions in the sport. With outings in the likes of Pancrase, PRIDE and Rumble on the Rock, Okami debuted with the UFC in 2006 where he defeated Alan Belcher at UFC 62.

    He would go on to have a very successful first run with the promotion, winning multiple title eliminators and even challenging Anderson Silva for the middleweight belt at UFC 134. Following a loss to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in 2013, Okami was surprisingly cut from the promotion despite winning three in a row before that defeat.

    Dana White told Yahoo Sports at the time that though he “liked” Okami, he had become a gatekeeper and with the roster being full, they needed to give opportunities to other fighters. Following several appearances in the World Series of Fighting, which later became the PFL, Okami returned to the UFC in 2017 where he fought three more times, ending his time in the promotion with an overall record of 14-7.

    From there, he signed to ONE Championship where he fought four times before his back-to-back fights with Jae-young in Shooto. Okami posted on social media to celebrate his recent title win, reflecting on how he has come up short as the runner-up several times throughout his career but now, he has reached the top.

    “I was able to win the Shooto World Middleweight Championship. I made my professional debut at the age of 20, and experienced a bitter defeat in my final fight for the UFC middleweight championship. After that, I lost the WSOF championship, fought overseas one after another, and now I’m in my 23rd year. I’ve shed so many tears, but winning this belt at the age of 43 is special to me. Thank you for your support.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    It looked for a long time like Dricus Du Plessis’ next middleweight title defense would see him face Sean Strickland in a rematch but that was until Khamzat Chimaev changed the narrative. Du Plessis won the middleweight title at UFC 297 in January by beating Strickland via a split decision and after the former champ rebounded with a win, this was the clear direction to go in.

    The only other potential candidate at the time was another former champion in Robert Whittaker but when he was booked to face Chimaev at UFC 308, all the title plans needed to be put on hold until that fight played out. What we ended up getting was a statement win from the undefeated Chimaev who became just the second man to submit “The Reaper” in 34 pro fights.

    As a result, Chimaev challenging Du Plessis for the belt is now the most exciting fight in the division but one barrier to it happening could be the issues that “Borz” has faced in regards to staying active. His recent social media post appears to address that and remove it from the conversation.

    Chimaev has not fought in the United States since UFC 279 in 2022 with his wins over Whittaker and Kamaru Usman both taking place in Abu Dhabi. He previously told Kevin Iole that if Donald Trump was re-elected as President, fighting in the United States wouldn’t be an issue for him.

    “Let Donald Trump win the fight and I will be there.”

    Posting on X, Chimaev tagged the 185-pound champion with nothing more than an image and eye emoji attached to get across his point that there is nothing that can get in the way of him being the next challenger. It now looks likely that we will see this huge fight take place at middleweight with it potentially being held in the United States.

  • PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    PFL CEO Says ‘Saudi Partners’ Want Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Superfight

    According to the PFL, the only side stopping a heavyweight megafight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones is the UFC.

    Talk of Ngannou and Jones colliding has existed ever since the former rose to the mountaintop in the UFC with a knockout of Stipe Miocic. With “Bones” having expressed his intention to move up in pursuit of two-division glory, “The Predator” laid down the gauntlet.

    Jones, however, took a further two years to make the transition to heavyweight, and by the time he was ready to return, Ngannou had departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute.

    The former light heavyweight kingpin ultimately succeeded the Cameroonian on the throne, and that’s only increased debate over who would emerge victorious between the pair.

    Ngannou’s new employer, for one, appears keen to find out.

    Be it founder Donn Davis or CEO Peter Murray, the PFL higher-ups have repeatedly expressed a willingness to co-promote a superfight between Ngannou and Jones with the UFC.

    During an interview with Adam Catterall for talkSPORT MMA while in Riyadh for last week’s 2024 PFL World Championship, Murray reiterated that. He even suggested his promotion’s “partners” in Saudi Arabia are keen for the fight to come together.

    “Yeah, I mean, we’re supportive of it,” Murray said. “I mean, the fighters want the fight. Jon Jones wants the fight, Francis wants the fight, we want the fight, our partners here in Saudi want the fight. And so, you know, it comes down to, does the UFC want to step up to it or not? Period.”

    The PFL became the latest sporting entity to sign a deal with Saudi Arabia in 2023, selling a minority ownership stake to SRJ Sports Investments. The deal marked the first for the fund, which was launched by the PIF (Public Investment Fund). It was reported that the agreement was for investment in excess of $100 million into the PFL.

    This year, meanwhile, saw the UFC head to the Middle Eastern nation for the first time. In addition to touching down in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Season also became the first title partner of a UFC event when it sponsored the Sphere show this past September.

    With that connection in mind, perhaps a co-promoted clash between Ngannou and Jones isn’t quite as impossible as it seemed 12 months ago.

  • Jorge Masvidal Confirms UFC Return For April In Miami

    Jorge Masvidal Confirms UFC Return For April In Miami

    Jorge Masvidal appears to have a date and location for his UFC return as he recently confirmed in an appearance on Jake Shields’ Fight Back podcast. “Gamebred” has been talking about stepping foot inside the Octagon once again for several months now but it now looks like plans are starting to be putting in place.

    His last fight in the UFC to this point came at UFC 287 in Miami where after a loss to Gilbert Burns, he announced that he would be stepping away. This decision loss in April of 2023 marked his fourth outing in a row without a win, suffering defeats to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in the run that followed his three-fight win streak that turned him into a major star.

    Masvidal then stepped into the boxing world where he lost a majority decision to Nate Diaz this past July having previously beaten him in the UFC to become the inaugural BMF titleholder at UFC 244. He told Shields that his return will take place in the same city two years on from his loss to Burns though he doesn’t have an opponent confirmed as of yet.

    He has been very outspoken about wanting to settle the score with Leon Edwards which stems all the way back to their backstage altercation at the O2 Arena in London over five years ago. With “Rocky” recently stating on a DAZN broadcast over the weekend that he will be making his return to headline the London card on March 22, it doesn’t look like he will be a potential candidate to welcome Masvidal back.

    “I will be back. April next year in the UFC. Yes sir. We don’t have the opponent yet. Hopefully, by December we get the opponent. In April, Miami card.”

  • Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Dan Hardy: Jon Jones ‘Certainly Not’ World’s Best Heavyweight

    Jon Jones isn’t just the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, he’s largely considered to be the greatest of all time. However, as Dan Hardy spoke about in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s the best in his weight class right now.

    Many believe that with the sheer amount of heavyweights he has beaten compared to Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall might be the best in the weight class even if he doesn’t have the longevity of somebody like “Bones” just yet. Francis Ngannou left the UFC without ever losing his heavyweight title and in his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, he showed that he also has to be in the conversation.

    Hardy believes that if there was a fight to decide the best heavyweight on the planet, Jones wouldn’t even factor into the equation.

    “I think Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best. I think he’s the best representation of mixed martial arts generally that we’ve ever seen. I think he’s still evolving, which is terrifying. But is he the best current heavyweight on the planet? I don’t think so.

    “I think the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou would be the answer … no disrespect in any way to Jon. Current heavyweight champion but not the current best heavyweight on the planet. Certainly not.”

    Hardy went on to describe Jones as “bottom of the rung” in regards to the incredible physicality that Aspinall and Ngannou bring to the table as legitimate heavyweight-sized competitors though he would hold advantages in other areas.

    “The creativity of Jon Jones and the wisdom, the fight IQ, that reigns supreme. I just wonder if he’s got that ability in the heavyweight division with someone as fast as Tom Aspinall and someone as powerful as Francis Ngannou. There were times when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I think if Ngannou lands those shots, Jon Jones doesn’t get back up.

    “I also think the speed of Tom Aspinall would allow him to land punches against Jon Jones and Ngannou that both of those guys wouldn’t see coming and wouldn’t be able to stop. The question is would he be able to do that kind of damage to knock them out. I don’t know. I’ve seen Francis take some big shots. I know obviously he got knocked out by Anthony Joshua but at the same time, you’re talking of an elite level boxer who’s an incredible athlete at the same time. I mean, it’s just so difficult to pick one.”

  • Igor Severino Returns After Being Cut From The UFC Over Biting Disqualification

    Igor Severino Returns After Being Cut From The UFC Over Biting Disqualification

    Igor Severino is set to make his MMA return after serving a nine-month suspension due to a disqualification loss in the UFC. The Brazilian earned his spot on the roster via last year’s season of the Contender Series where he improved to 8-0.

    At just 21-years old with all eight wins coming by way of finish, Severino looked to be an exciting addition to the flyweight division but that all came crumbling down in his Octagon debut. At the UFC Fight Night event that was headlined by Amanda Ribas vs. Rose Namajunas at the Apex on March 23, he was disqualified for biting André Lima in the second round.

    Lima complained to the referee and with visible bite marks on his arm, there was no denying what had just happened. As a result, Severino was cut from the UFC, fined by the Nevada Athletic Commission and suspended until the 23rd of December.

    He’s now set to make his debut for European promotion OKTAGON on their end of year card, OKTAGON 65, which takes place at the O2 Arena in Praha on December 29. He will move up a weight class to face the promotion’s former bantamweight champion, Jonas Mågård, who previously lost the title to Felipe Lima who has since earned a debut win inside the Octagon.

    Lima was very honest in the aftermath of his disqualification loss and the consequences that came with his actions. He now has the opportunity to put this behind him by moving on with his career. In a video posted by OKTAGON on social media, he announced his arrival.

    “Hey guys, Igor here. I will make my debut in OKTAGON MMA against Jonas Mågård. I’m very excited for the fight, I can’t wait to go there and put on a show for everybody. Jonas, I see you soon, I’m ready. December 29th, let’s go.”

  • Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    Former Cage Warriors Fighter Set For Sentencing After Attack Leaves Neighbour With Facial Fractures

    A mixed martial arts fighter has admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm after being accused of repeatedly punching his neighbour.

    Damien Forgie, 36, went 3-0 as a professional MMA fighter between 2010 and 2012. He most notably captured a rear-naked choke submission win over Cihan Kocer at Cage Warriors 41.

    The Englishman hasn’t competed since defeating Paul Rocha by way of kimura at Shock n’ Awe 11, having had fights for Cage Warriors canceled in both 2014 and 2015.

    Damien Forgie
    Image: David Lethaby

    Per a report from KentOnline, Forgie brutally assaulted his neighbour, Billy Stokes, near their homes in Gravesend, England this past April, leaving him with facial fractures. The fighter is said to have landed “at least 10 blows” after jumping a fence to attack Stokes.

    In October, Forgie appeared in court and admitted to the assault. He was bailed and a pre-sentencing report was ordered to be carried out. A motive for the attack was not revealed during the hearing.

    During a recent appearance at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Nov. 19, Deputy District Judge Nicola Fleck heard that the report had not been completed in time.

    The incident, which lasted 32 seconds and saw Forgie pin his neighbour to the ground before punching him, was deemed to severe by Judge Fleck to be heard in the lower court. As a result, the case has been sent to Maidstone Crown Court, where the fighter will be sentenced.