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  • Dan Hooker Criticizes Michael Chandler Calling For BMF Fight: ‘It’s Not Our Title’

    Dan Hooker Criticizes Michael Chandler Calling For BMF Fight: ‘It’s Not Our Title’

    Following his loss to Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309, Michael Chandler called for two potential fights in the near future. “Iron” Mike admitted that he planned to push for the winner of the upcoming lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan which is expected to take place early next year.

    After losing the first four rounds in his rematch with “Do Bronx”, which he nearly produced an all-time great comeback in during the fifth round, Chandler pivoted towards two huge match-ups that are still out there for him in the lightweight division. The most obvious of those two options is his long-awaited fight with Conor McGregor that somehow seems less likely than his other call out.

    Chandler said that with Max Holloway committing to lightweight following his UFC 308 loss, he’d love the opportunity to fight for the BMF title that currently belongs to “Blessed”. Another name that is also in the mix for huge bouts at 155-pounds is Dan Hooker who commented on his former opponent’s BMF desires during a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    “The Hangman” believes that contenders need to stop trying to decide who should fight for the BMF title because it’s a belt that is purely for the fans. He’s likely to be in that conversation as someone who always puts on great fights but Hooker isn’t going to start saying that this is what he wants next.

    “I don’t see like Chandler calling for the BMF like why does everyone keep throwing their hands up for the BMF, it’s not up to us. It’s not our title, the BMF title is for the fans. It’s for the fans to kind of get the steam and get it together. People need to stop calling out for the BMF title brother. That’s the fans’ title, it’s their fun.”

  • Charles Oliveira Addresses Myriad Of Fouls From Michael Chandler At UFC 309

    Charles Oliveira Addresses Myriad Of Fouls From Michael Chandler At UFC 309

    Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira was left frustrated by referee Keith Peterson’s officiating of this past weekend’s co-main event.

    Oliveira delivered one of the performances of the night at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, where he added a second victory over former three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler to his record.

    First time around, “Do Bronx” was swarmed early and had to mount an incredible comeback to finish “Iron” in round two and have the 155-pound gold wrapped around his waist.

    In the rematch three and a half years later at Madison Square Garden, things were simpler for the Brazilian for the most part and it was instead Chandler tasked with coming from behind.

    The fifth and final frame saw the American come close to doing so after he rocked Oliveira on the feet and established a dominant position on the ground. The onslaught of strikes that followed, however, caused controversy as they largely appeared to cannon into the back of the eventual victor’s head.

    And that was just the latest instance of apparent fouling, with fans highlighting fence grabs during the fight and “Do Bronx” complaining of eye pokes and glove grabbing.

    During his post-fight press conference at MSG, Oliveira shed light on the multitude of fouls dealt his way at UFC 309, questioning why referee Peterson didn’t intervene a single time.

    ā€œIā€™m not here to criticize,ā€ Oliveira said. ā€œBut I wanna tell you something: there were a lot of blows to the back of the head, a lot of fence grabbing. There was also some eye pokes. And I was telling the ref what was going on, I was calling for his attention and nothing would happen. I hoped that he would intervene, but nothing happened.ā€

    This is far from the first time Chandler has been accused of deliberate fouling. He notably caught the wrath of Dustin Poirier in the aftermath of their fight after appearing to fishhook “The Diamond” during a grappling exchange.

    Oliveira thankfully didn’t have to deal with that kind of foul, and he ultimately recovered from some egregious back-of-the-head blows to have his hand raised by way of a convincing unanimous decision.

    He’ll now turn his attention to the expected lightweight title clash between champ Islam Makhachev and challenger Arman Tsarukyan next month in Los Angeles, as he gears up to potentially battle the winner later in the year.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya appeared impressed while watching Jon Jones send Stipe Miocic into retirement with a brutal kick this past weekend.

    Jones and Miocic headlined Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, completing their long-awaited matchup over a year on from an injury shelving it first time around.

    Returning from a spell on the sidelines that spanned over three and a half years, many dismissed Miocic’s chances of unseating Jones and adding a third heavyweight reign to his illustrious record.

    And the veteran ultimately failed in his pursuit of proving them wrong, with “Bones” following a dominant opening round by eventually finding the finish in the third frame with a vicious spinning side kick to the body.

    In spite of many focusing on his avoidance of Tom Aspinall, Jones’ latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage drew widespread plaudits, including from some UFC peers whom he’s not always seen eye to eye with…

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded on the UFC 309 main card at MSG.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander didn’t have much to say during the finishing sequence in the headliner, instead simply applauding Jones’ work.

    “He did it, as he does,” Adesanya said. “Great main event. … Good to see Stipe hang them up. I still think he went out on top.”

    He was subsequently asked the question on everyone’s lips ā€” will a unification fight with Aspinall happen?

    “I think it’ll happen. If Jones is not retiring, I think they’ll figure it out,” Adesanya said. “Talk to Hunter (Campbell), talk to Dana (White)…sit down in the War Room, they’ll hash it out, they’ll figure it out.”

    While Jones initially appeared to tease a stance switch inside the Octagon when he suggested he could give the masses what they want, he quickly reverted back to dismissing Aspinall and expressing a desire to face Alex Pereira when he arrived backstage.

  • Dana White: Mike Tyson Was Right & I Was Wrong ā€”Ā Jake Paul Couldnā€™t Do S**t To Him

    Mike Tyson and Jake Paul faced heavy criticism following their highly anticipated fight on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The bout, which aired exclusively on Netflix, was plagued by streaming issues and an underwhelming performance that disappointed many fans as the fight went the distance.

    UFC CEO Dana White had expressed reservations about the event but chose not to dissuade his friend Tyson from participating. Reflecting on the fight, White commended Tyson for accurately assessing the matchup, predicting Paul would fail to knock him out despite the hype.

    ā€œI told him, ā€˜Mike, youā€™re basically 60 years old,ā€™ and heā€™s like, ā€˜You honestly think this fā€”ing kidā€™s gonna do anything to me? Heā€™s not good. Heā€™s not gonna fā€”ing knock me out. Heā€™s not gonna do this. You saw him. He tripped when he was walking down to the ring. He had a hard time walking up the stairs. He had a knee brace on, and Jake Paul still couldnā€™t do anything to him. He made a ton of money, and I know people are mad. You stayed home on a Friday night, but you didnā€™t pay for it, you know what I mean?ā€™ā€

    White further emphasized that Tysonā€™s presence guarantees profitability. He acknowledged Tysonā€™s savvy decision-making, even if the fight didnā€™t meet expectations.

    ā€œJake Paul couldnā€™t do sā€” to him. So he was right, and I was wrong,ā€ White admitted. ā€œ(Dave) Portnoy went out and said it was the greatest con job of all time. But if you didnā€™t think thatā€™s the way the fight would go ā€” I donā€™t know what people expected. Mikeā€™s almost 60 years old. Heā€™s Mike Tyson, but heā€™s 60, and he knew Jake Paul couldnā€™t do anything to him.ā€

    Despite the controversy, the fight demonstrated Tysonā€™s enduring ability to captivate an audience and generate significant revenue.

  • Bo Nickal Doubles Down On Defense Of UFC 309 Performance: ‘This Fight Was Picture-Perfect’

    Bo Nickal Doubles Down On Defense Of UFC 309 Performance: ‘This Fight Was Picture-Perfect’

    UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal continues to push back on suggestions he underperformed this past weekend.

    Nickal was among those to have their hand raised on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view. But unlike his previous Octagon outings ā€” all of which came by way of knockout or submission ā€” the American didn’t draw a positive reaction from the crowd.

    The audience in attendance at Madison Square Garden made their displeasure known throughout Nickal’s three-round contest with formerly ranked middleweight and light heavyweight contender Paul Craig.

    After the decorated wrestling specialist got the nod after 15 minutes of largely forgettable striking, he was heavily booed during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. And they rained down even heavier when Nickal defended the display and expressed how happy he was with the win.

    During his post-fight press conference at MSG, Nickal shared the same sentiment, even going as far as to call his performance in New York City “picture-perfect.”

    “Definitely, itā€™s way better for me and my development,ā€ Nickal said. ā€œIf you look at my cage time and what I had before this, I over-doubled it, for sure. Thatā€™s something that for me Iā€™ve really cornered myself with this reputation of a guy who finishes them and destroys them ā€“ because thatā€™s when the expectation is set. My expectation is to compete to the best of my ability at 100 percent effort.

    “Itā€™s not anything to do with the result. It doesnā€™t matter: decisions, submissions, knockouts. Iā€™m definitely not disappointed with this result. I was way more disappointed with my last fight and I subbed the guy,” Nickal continued. “This fight, for me, was picture-perfect.ā€

    With the result, Nickal has moved to a perfect 4-0 in the UFC and 7-0 overall as a professional mixed martial artist.

    TheĀ three-time NCAA Division I national championĀ and three-timeĀ Big Ten ConferenceĀ champion out ofĀ Pennsylvania State University will now look ahead to his first assignment of 2025, as he edges closer to putting a number next to his name at 185 pounds.

  • Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    Francis Ngannou Sends Messages To Both Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic After UFC 309

    PFL champion Francis Ngannou had a close eye on what unfolded when Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally shared the Octagon this past weekend.

    Over a year on from their originally scheduled fight date, Jones and Miocic collided inside the prestigious surroundings of Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, with the former putting his heavyweight title on the line for the first time at UFC 309.

    Those who feared a difficult night at the office for the returning former champion, who hadn’t competed in three and a half years, had their worries come to fruition.

    After a difficult first round in which he was taken down and battered with elbows, Miocic was eventually finished in round three when a brutal spinning side kick to the body sent him to the canvas.

    The result saw Jones add a successful heavyweight defense to his already illustrious rĆ©sumĆ©, and that unsurprisingly drew a reaction from a man he’s long gone back and forth with.

    Taking to X with his reaction moments after the main event concluded, Ngannou returned the favor by repeating the “I see you” line Jones posted in response to the Cameroonian’s winning debut under the PFL banner last month.

    “Jones looked great out there tonight,” Ngannou wrote. “Congrats Jonny boy. I see you (wink)”

    While a possible showdown between Jones and Ngannou looks set to enter the “what if” realm of matchups, “The Predator” had a lengthier address for a man whom he has thrown down with ā€” twice.

    Following his defeat in New York City, Miocic announced his retirement, and Ngannou was among those paying tribute to the former two-time heavyweight king on social media.

    “Thank you, champion @stipemiocic, for all youā€™ve done for our sport and, above all, for the class you embody and the example you set,” Ngannou wrote. “Iā€™m grateful for how our battles have shaped me into a better fighter; those moments taught me more than years in the sport. Enjoy your well-earned retirement and best wishes for all your future endeavors.”

    Miocic faced MMA’s hardest hitter twice in the UFC, first outpointing Ngannou to become the first man to beat him in the Octagon at UFC 220.

    Three years later, the pair renewed hostilities at the Apex, where “The Predator” got his redemption and crowning moment in violent fashion.

  • Former UFC Title Challenger Darren Till Set To Box Tommy Fury At Misfits Event

    Former UFC Title Challenger Darren Till Set To Box Tommy Fury At Misfits Event

    Former UFC welterweight and middleweight contender Darren Till will be returning to the boxing ring, this time making his professional debut.

    Till, who competed unsuccessfully for the 170-pound gold on MMA’s biggest stage, will face Tommy Fury on Jan. 18 in the main event of a Misfits Boxing card at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

    Ariel Helwani broke the news on social media this weekend.

    Till competed in a boxing ring for the first time earlier this year, defeating Mohammad Mutie at an event in Dubai. The bout was infamous for Mutie being ruled unable to continue due to an injury from what appeared to be rabbit shots to the back of the head, but the two continued to brawl after the bout was declared over.

    Darren Till To Make Professional Boxing Debut Against Tommy Fury

    Till was once a rising English prospect who joined the UFC as an undefeated fighter in 2015. “The Gorilla” went 5-0-1 to start his UFC run, which included wins over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

    That earned him a welterweight title shot against Tyron Woodley at UFC 228, which the Scouser lost via second-round submission.

    Till went on to get knocked out by Jorge Masvidal in upset fashion, marking the start of “Gamebred’s” sudden rise to superstardom. The Brit then rebounded with a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in his middleweight debut, but he was unable to continue that winning form at 185 pounds.

    “The Gorilla’s” UFC run ended with three straight losses against Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, and current middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.

    The 10-0 Fury, meanwhile ā€” the half-brother of former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury ā€” will be fighting after being inactive throughout 2024. “”TNT” handed Jake Paul his sole boxing loss in February 2023 before a decision win over KSI eight months later.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie Joins UFC 310 Card

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie Joins UFC 310 Card

    MMA News has you covered with this weekā€™s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

    With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if theyā€™re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    Between Monday, November 10, and Sunday, November 17, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For those matchups, check out the list below:

    But it wasnā€™t all positive, with two fights falling through or being adjusted. For those, see below:

  • Jon Jones Reiterates Desire To Fight Alex Pereira After UFC 309 Win: ‘I’m Not Worried About The Tom Fight’

    Jon Jones Reiterates Desire To Fight Alex Pereira After UFC 309 Win: ‘I’m Not Worried About The Tom Fight’

    If Jon Jones steps back into the Octagon, heā€™s made it clear he expects to be compensated handsomely. Following his dominant third-round victory over former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Jones addressed his future in the sport.

    The fight concluded with a spinning back kick to Miocicā€™s body, solidifying Jonesā€™ position as one of MMAā€™s most formidable fighters. However, the conversation has now shifted to whatā€”or whoā€”comes next for the reigning heavyweight champion.

    Two potential matchups are on the table: a clash with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall or a showdown with reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. At the UFC 309 post-fight press conference, Jones made it clear which fight he prefers.

    “I’m not really worried about the Tom fight; I’m worried about the Pereira fight; that’s what I want to do,” Jones said. “I think if the UFC wants me back, that’s the fight they’ll make. I’ve been really clear about my intentions… I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. Give the dude what he wants at the end of the day. I feel like I’m at a place where I want to take super-fights. I don’t want to fight dangerous up-and-comers anymore. I want to fight dangerous, established champions. So, Tom can have the heavyweight championship; I don’t really care about it.”

    Jones also hinted at retirement if his terms arenā€™t met, stating, “One of the really good things about negotiating is being willing to walk away from a deal, and that’s the deal that I want. If that’s not what the fans want, I guess I’ll say Sayonara.”

    Additionally, Jones emphasized that he expects a lucrative payday, referencing his desire for ā€œfā€”k you money,” should the UFC want him to fight Tom.

  • Dana White Reacts To Jon Jones’ UFC 309 Win: Heā€™s The Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter In The World

    Fight fans were treated to an extraordinary performance from Jon Jones as he defeated former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

    The dominant win culminated in the third round when Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic’s body, securing a spectacular finish. UFC CEO Dana White lauded Jones’ achievement, declaring it solid proof of his status as the greatest fighter in MMA history and the current best in the world.

    ā€œThis guyā€™s fight IQ is off the charts,ā€ White said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference. ā€œIs everybody going to admit now heā€™s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? Let me tell you, this thing had upset written all over it. All the talk about Jon Jonesā€”Stipe seemed pissed, focused, and he came here to win. He looked good, he was in phenomenal shape, and the list goes on. Jon picked him apart. ā€¦ He looked incredible. I just donā€™t know how any of you guys donā€™t see how heā€™s the greatest fighter in the history of f*cking people fighting.ā€

    As for whatā€™s next for Jones, his future plans remain uncertain. However, White suggested that a fight against rising star Tom Aspinall could be the biggest heavyweight bout in MMA history. Jones is leaning towards a fight with light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.

  • ‘As Impressive As Jake Paul’s Win Over Mike Tyson’ – Fans React As Jon Jones Sends Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With UFC 309 Finish

    ‘As Impressive As Jake Paul’s Win Over Mike Tyson’ – Fans React As Jon Jones Sends Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With UFC 309 Finish

    The UFC’s GOAT battle ended with Jones adding another name to his long list of fallen opponents, as he finished Stipe Miocic to retain the UFC heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 309 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

    Jones had a strong start after a feeling out process to start the fight, scoring a takedown a couple of minutes into the round and landing some brutal elbows that could have finished the outing.

    The Rochester native seemed to take the second frame off but still landed the better shots. He then finished off Miocic in the third with a brutal spinning kick to the body.

    Miocic announced his retirement from MMA after the fight. Jones, meanwhile, did not commit to calling it quits, but stated he’d have to do some negotiating with Dana White and Hunter Campbell before signing on for a fight with either interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall or light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira.

    Jon Jones Puts Stipe Miocic Into Retirement With Third-Round Finish To Retain Heavyweight Title At UFC 309

    Jones and Miocic were originally set to clash at last year’s Madison Square Garden event, UFC 295, before Jones tore his pec.

    This marked his first defense of the UFC heavyweight title since winning the then-vacant belt with a submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

    Meanwhile, Saturday’s headliner was Miocic’s first fight since losing the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021.

  • UFC 309 Results & Highlights: Jon Jones TKOs Stipe MiocicĀ Ā 

    UFC 309 Results & Highlights: Jon Jones TKOs Stipe MiocicĀ Ā 

    UFC 309 took place tonight from Madison Square Garden in New York, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, Jon Jones put his heavyweight title on the line against Stipe Miocic. While in the co-main event, Charles Oliveira faced Michael Chandler in a lightweight matchup.Ā 

    Make sure to catch all the UFC 309 results and highlights as they happen below!Ā 

    UFC 309 Results: Main Card

    • Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic via TKO:Ā R3, 4.29
    • Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler via unanimous decision (49-46×2, 49-45)
    • Middleweight: Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Womenā€™s Flyweight: Viviane AraĆŗjo def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Catchweight (165lbs): Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop via unanimous decision (29-28×3)

     
    Preliminary Card

    • Bantamweight: Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Lightweight: Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via submission: R1, 2:44
    • Featherweight: David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27×3) 

     
    Early Preliminary Card

    • Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00 
    • Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via TKO: R1, 2.55
    • Welterweight: Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via KO: R3, 0.40

    Womenā€™s Flyweight: Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Oban ElliottĀ def. Bassil Hafez

    In this welterweight matchup, Oban ElliottĀ earned a KO of Bassil Hafez in the third round.

    Ramiz BrahimajĀ def. Mickey Gall

    Ramiz BrahimajĀ earned a first-round TKO of Mickey Gall in their welterweight scrap.

    Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz

    In this heavyweight bout, Marcin Tybura earned a TKO of Jhonata Diniz by way of doctor’s stoppage.

    Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson

    In this lightweight bout, Jim Miller earned a first-round submission of Damon Jackson.

    Main Card Highlights

    Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop

    In this 165-pound catchweight bout, Mauricio Ruffy earned a unanimous decision against James Llontop.

    Viviane AraĆŗjo def. Karine Silva

    Viviane AraĆŗjo got it done on the scorecards against Karine Silva in their flyweight bout.

    Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig

    Bo Nickal kept his unbeaten streak alive with a unanimous decision against Paul Craig.

    Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler

    In the co-main event, Charles Oliveira got it done on the scorecards against Michael Chandler.

    Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic

    In the main event, Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title with a TKO of Stipe Miocic in the third round.

  • ‘McGregor Probably Laughing’ – Fans React As Charles Oliveira Survives Late Michael Chandler Rally For Lopsided UFC 309 Decision

    ‘McGregor Probably Laughing’ – Fans React As Charles Oliveira Survives Late Michael Chandler Rally For Lopsided UFC 309 Decision

    Charles Oliveira secured his second win over Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 309, but just like their first encounter in 2021, the fight wasn’t without high drama.

    “Do Bronx” dominated the first four rounds and looked one shot away from finishing the fight at multiple points, as proven by the unanimous scorecards of 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45.

    Oliveira looked to grapple a lot more in this fight than in his recent outings, securing consistent takedowns and taking Chandler’s back multiple times. However, in the fifth round, “Iron” nearly turned the tide in what would have been an all-time great comeback.

    The former three-time Bellator champion needed a finish, and after hurting the former champion on the feet, just like in their first fight, he was seemingly one shot away from the referee stepping in. That would have been controversial due to many of the strikes seemingly hitting the back of Oliveira’s head in just one example of fouls going unnoticed by referee Keith Peterson.

    Oliveira was able to protect himself off his back once again, take time to recover, and get back to his feet. After surviving a few more strikes, he secured yet another takedown to close out the round and get his hand raised.

    In one of the highlight reel moments of the night, the Madison Square Garden crowd nearly blew the roof off of the iconic venue when Chandler ended the fight by back-slamming Oliveira, who had taken his back not once but twice in another similarity to UFC 262.

    In his post-fight interview, Oliveira said that he will be ready to face the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, while Chandler called out Conor McGregor ā€” again. Fans reacted on social media to the dominant performance from Oliveira, which ended in chaotic fashion.

    Oliveira himself posted an immediate reaction to the fight on X.

    https://twitter.com/CharlesDoBronxs/status/1858026388814520341
  • ‘Khamzat Kills Bo’ – Fans React As Bo Nickal’s UFC 309 Decision Over Paul Craig Draws ‘Overrated’ Chants Inside MSG

    ‘Khamzat Kills Bo’ – Fans React As Bo Nickal’s UFC 309 Decision Over Paul Craig Draws ‘Overrated’ Chants Inside MSG

    New Yorkers are unafraid to show their honest opinions, and that resulted in a harsh reaction toward Bo Nickal as he took a decision win over Paul Craig at UFC 309.

    The fight was ultimately quiet throughout the 15 minutes. The first round could have fallen either way, as Nickal looked to stand in front of Craig and land low kicks. “Bearjew,” however, checked those and landed kicks of his own.

    The second frame saw the American wrestler land the harder strikes, though the round felt quieter than the first. The third stanza saw Nickal stun Craig on a couple of occasions but not follow up on it. That round also saw a brutal reaction from the MSG crowd, bringing down boos and chants of “Overrated!”

    The undefeated prospect ultimately swept the judges’ scorecards for the win.

    Bo Nickal Gets Booed By MSG Crowd As He Defeats Paul Craig At UFC 309

    https://twitter.com/BackPackCamX/status/1858010989452525718

    This marked Nickal’s fourth bout in the UFC after winning a pair of fights on Dana White’s Contender Series. His run in the Octagon thus far has seen him score finishes of Jamie Pickett, Val Woodburn, and Cody Brundage.

    Craig, meanwhile, has now lost three straight and five of his last six.

  • VIDEO: Watch Mauricio Ruffy Drop James Llontop With No-Look Uppercut En Route To UFC 309 Decision

    VIDEO: Watch Mauricio Ruffy Drop James Llontop With No-Look Uppercut En Route To UFC 309 Decision

    Mauricio Ruffy earned his second consecutive win inside the Octagon in the main card opener of UFC 309, defeating James Llontop via unanimous decision.

    The highly touted Brazilian still produced some highlight-reel moments but wasn’t able to secure another show-stealing finish as a huge favorite against his late-notice replacement opponent.

    Llontop missed weight ahead of the fight despite both men agreeing to a catchweight, but it didn’t have the impact that many assumed it would. In the end, it was the Peruvian who got better as the fight went on, winning the third round with his constant pressure as Ruffy appeared to significantly slow down.

    However, it was the toughness of Llontop that earned him the most plaudits after he ate some huge shots, including a devastating look-away uppercut that dropped him in the second round.

    Ruffy never looked like losing the fight after landing significant damage in the first two frames en route scorecards of 29-28 across the board, but it was certainly a tougher outing than many expected following his incredible debut win over Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 301 this past May.

    The Fighting Nerds standout called out BenoƮt Saint Denis as both Ruffy and his teammates continue to have massive campaigns in 2024.

    Check out the moment that nearly closed the show in the second round below:

  • ‘Retired Someone 5 Years Younger’ – Dustin Poirier & Others React As Jim Miller Successfully ‘Jumps The Gilly’ At UFC 309

    ‘Retired Someone 5 Years Younger’ – Dustin Poirier & Others React As Jim Miller Successfully ‘Jumps The Gilly’ At UFC 309

    The ageless wonder that is Jim Miller earned his 27th win inside the Octagon at UFC 309, where he submitted Damon Jackson on the preliminary card.

    The record holder for the most fights and victories in UFC history extended both stats after he caught his opponent in a vintage Miller guillotine choke for the first-round finish.

    The 21st submission win of his career saw him bounce back from a one-sided loss to Bobby Green at UFC 300 this past April, and it doesn’t look like he is going anywhere just yet. He told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview that at 41 years old, he’s still got a few more left in him while also pointing out his incredible record for finishing fights at the highest level.

    Jon Anik did bring attention on the broadcast to Jackson laying his gloves down inside the Octagon in retirement but declining a post-fight interview. He moved up to lightweight for this fight after a decision loss to Chepe Mariscal last time out, seemingly ending his UFC career with a record of 6-6, in addition to one no contest and one draw.

    MMA fans reacted to Miller’s slick submission win at the world’s most famous arena via social media. Miller even got a tip of the hat from a man that will always show respect for any fighter that jumps for the guillotine choke, Dustin Poirier.

  • VIDEO: Marcin Tybura Bloodies Jhonata Diniz With Elbows To End His Undefeated Streak At UFC 309

    VIDEO: Marcin Tybura Bloodies Jhonata Diniz With Elbows To End His Undefeated Streak At UFC 309

    The experience of Marcin Tybura ultimately proved to be too much for Jhonata Diniz at Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view, as the veteran heavyweight took the victory following a doctor’s stoppage after two rounds.

    The previously undefeated prospect had a strong start when he appeared to catch Tybura in the opening seconds of the fight, stunning him. The fight ended up going to the ground, where Diniz tried to work and get the finish. A leg-lock submission attempt, however, saw the Polish contender end his offensive attack and take top control for the remainder of the round.

    Tybura brought even more intensity with seconds left in the second frame, working his way into full mount and landing some nasty elbows that busted Diniz wide open.

    The doctor would not allow Diniz to continue into the third round, forcing the TKO win.

    Marcin Tybura Brutally Causes Doctor’s Stoppage In Win Over Jhonata Diniz At UFC 309

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1857958864299143246

    Tybura has won two of four and four of his last six now.

    Meanwhile, this marked Diniz’s first loss in professional MMA. He and Derrick Lewis were scheduled to face off at UFC Edmonton earlier this month before Lewis was pulled from the card one day before the event.

    Prior to tonight, Diniz, an alumnus of Dana White’s Contender Series, defeated Austen Lane and Karl Williams in the Octagon.

  • VIDEO: ‘Welsh Gangster’ Oban Elliott Flattens Bassil Hafez In Brutal KO At UFC 309

    VIDEO: ‘Welsh Gangster’ Oban Elliott Flattens Bassil Hafez In Brutal KO At UFC 309

    Oban Elliott secured his first finish inside the Octagon in the second fight of the night at UFC 309 when he squared off with Bassil Hafez at welterweight.

    “The Welsh Gangster” came into the fight off back-to-back wins since signing via Dana White’s Contender Series last year but wanted to produce a statement this time around.

    His displays against Val Woodburn and Preston Parsons showed a lot of sides to his game, but with both wins coming via decision, a finish is what he wanted at UFC 309. That’s exactly what he delivered at the world’s most famous arena.

    The opening two rounds weren’t particularly action-packed, with Elliott seemingly winning the fight convincingly with his striking from the outside, utilizing his speed and a variety of kicks to stop Hafez from closing the distance. Despite the favorite appearing in control up until the finish, two judges had the fight even going into the third whilst one had Hafez up two.

    At the start of the third frame, a huge right overhand from the Welshman sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

    Several follow-up strikes on the ground forced Marc Goddard to step in and wave the fight off, producing the first finish of the night back in the old gloves.

    Watch the highlight reel finish below:

  • Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Canceled Due To Medical Issue Hours Before UFC 309 Clash

    Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Canceled Due To Medical Issue Hours Before UFC 309 Clash

    Chris Weidman’s return to New York at UFC 309, which some anticipated to be a potential retirement fight, will now not take place.

    Just hours before he and Eryk Anders were scheduled to make the walk for their fight on the preliminary card at Madison Square Garden, Anders was forced out of the bout with a medical issue, per an announcement at the start of the early prelim broadcast.

    The reports of the fight’s cancelation were first reported on X by users @TheMMAFoo and @MagicM_MMABets.

    Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders Scrapped From UFC 309 At Last Minute

    This was to be Weidman’s first fight in New York since being knocked out by Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at UFC 230.

    Weidman is 1-1 in his comeback from his horrific leg break against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. His retirement bout was not confirmed, but plenty of pundits and fans expected the former middleweight champion to potentially call time on his career after tonight’s bout.

    Anders, meanwhile, last fought in March, defeating Jamie Pickett.

    As a result of the cancellation, the preliminary card start time has been pushed back to 6:30pm ET.

  • Mike Tyson Issues First Statement On Jake Paul Loss: ‘I Almost Died In June’

    Mike Tyson Issues First Statement On Jake Paul Loss: ‘I Almost Died In June’

    Mike Tyson has come out with his first remarks since losing to Jake Paul in the main event of their card at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas less than 24 hours ago.

    “Iron Mike” was not knocked down during the fight but was significantly slow and tired as the fight went on. The 58-year-old, who was competing in his first sanctioned professional boxing outing since 2005, lost to the younger Paul brother via unanimous decision.

    That said, in his statement released on social media, the heavyweight great expressed having no regrets for entering the ring at his age.

    Tyson, in fact, considered his performance a moral victory, given the circumstances of his health from this past summer. On May 31, Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up on an airplane. The former champion revealed in the statement that he almost died, having had multiple blood transfusions and losing about 25 pounds.

    Mike Tyson Releases Statement Declaring Victory In Defeat

    “To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for,” Tyson said in the statement.

    Tyson came out strong on the front foot in the opening round, bringing out that aggressive style he was known for over the course of his career.

    But “Iron Mike” slowed from the second round on, as Paul worked him over with combinations and landed at will. Though the heavyweight legend showed defense, he had landed less than 20 punches by the time the final round came.

    Paul, during the event’s post-fight press conference, said he carried the veteran when he realized midway through the fight how drained he appeared, stating he “didn’t want to hurt someone that wasn’t able to do much.”

    Paul responded to Tyson’s statement, praising him for his legendary status in the sport and thanking him for the opportunity to fight.

    Paul has now won five straight since his loss to Tommy Fury.

    Paul has teased an announcement soon, but it is unknown what could be in hold for his next fight.

  • Dana White On Khamzat Chimaev: ‘I Want Him To Fight For A Title Here In The United States’

    UFC CEO Dana White is keeping the hype alive for Khamzat Chimaev, whose meteoric rise in the MMA world continues to turn heads.

    At UFC 308, the undefeated star delivered a stunning performance, submitting former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round and breaking the Australian’s teeth in the process.

    Following this dominant victory, many believe Chimaev is now on a collision course with current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. While White previously hinted that Sean Strickland was next in line for a title shot, Chimaevā€™s overwhelming display of skill has sparked speculation about a shift in plans.

    During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White praised Chimaevā€™s performance and hinted at big plans for the fighter.

    ā€œHe looked incredible. His manager was telling me before the fight that mentally, physically, and emotionally, heā€™s the best heā€™s ever been. He said, ā€˜Iā€™m telling you, wait until you see him on Saturday,ā€™ and he was right. He was dead on.

    ā€œThis guyā€™s never looked better, especially against the competition that he had. Iā€™m looking forward to him getting a title fight in ā€™25. Weā€™ll see how this plays out here, but I want him to fight in the United States. I want him to fight for a title here in the U.S.ā€

    With Whiteā€™s endorsement and a flawless record, Chimaevā€™s path to a title fight appears inevitable. Whether itā€™s Du Plessis or another challenger standing across the Octagon, 2025 could mark the year Chimaev claims UFC gold.

  • Nick Diaz Out Of UFC 310, Themba Gorimbo Fills In To Fight Vicente Luque

    Nick Diaz Out Of UFC 310, Themba Gorimbo Fills In To Fight Vicente Luque

    Fan favorite Nick Diazā€™s highly anticipated return to the Octagon has been delayed.

    Diaz was initially scheduled to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310 on Dec. 7, marking his first fight in over three years. However, the matchup has been scrapped as Diaz has officially withdrawn.

    Stepping in for the Stockton native, per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Themba Gorimbo will now take on Luque at the event. While the UFC has not yet confirmed the new bout, an announcement is expected soon.

    Diaz last competed in September 2021 at UFC 266, where he suffered a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler. Before that, he endured a challenging stretch in his career, going 0-2-1. His losses include decision defeats to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in 2012 and Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 in 2013. Additionally, his 2015 bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 was overturned to a no contest after Silva failed a drug test.

    Gorimbo, who steps in for Diaz, boasts a professional record of 14-4 and is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. Since joining the UFC, Gorimbo has achieved a solid 4-1 record, with notable decision victories over fighters such as Ramiz Brahimaj and Niko Price.

    This reshuffle comes amid other significant changes to the UFC 310 lineup. A toe infection forced UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad out of the main event, leading title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov to pivot and now face Ian Garry.

    The event will be headlined by a UFC flyweight championship bout between current titleholder Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura.

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry Official For UFC 310, Colby Covington Fills vs. Buckley

    Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry Official For UFC 310, Colby Covington Fills vs. Buckley

    After a toe infection to Belal Muhammad forced the UFC welterweight champion out of UFC 310, the Dec. 7 card now has an answer to who will be headlining.

    Per an announcement from UFC CEO Dana White that dropped during Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, intended title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov will no longer be competing in the main event of UFC 310.

    Tha Kazakh star has instead been moved to the co-main event slot and will face fellow undefeated contender Ian Garry in a five-round, non-title fight.

    The UFC flyweight championship match between champion Alexandre Pantoja and his latest challenger, debutant Kai Asakura, has been promoted to the new UFC 310 main event.

    Furthermore, as a result of Garry competing at UFC 310, Colby Covington will be filling in for him in the UFC Tampa main event on Dec. 14 against the Irishman’s originally booked opponent, Joaquin Buckley.

    Garry Replaces Muhammad In UFC 310 Bout vs. Rakhmonov, Pantoja vs. Asakura Promoted To Main Event

    Rakhmonov became next in line for the welterweight title after his finish of Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, as well as Muhammad’s title win against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. But “Nomad” will now have to put his shot on the line in a matchup with Garry.

    The Irish rising star has fought twice in 2024, earning decision wins over Geoff Neal in February and Michael “Venom” Page four months later.

    Garry and Covington, meanwhile, had been linked to face one another over the course of the last year due to intense hatred between the two seen across social media. “Chaos,” however, has previously stated that he does not feel “The Future” deserves a fight with him.

    Covington is also on the outside looking in of the welterweight title picture, having not fought since his own disappointing outing against Edwards at UFC 296 last year.

    Buckley, on the other hand, has won five straight, most recently knocking out “Wonderboy” at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City just last month.

  • ‘Jake Paul About To Call Out Joe Biden’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia, & Others React As Paul Comfortably Beats 58-Year-Old Mike Tyson On Netflix

    ‘Jake Paul About To Call Out Joe Biden’ – Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia, & Others React As Paul Comfortably Beats 58-Year-Old Mike Tyson On Netflix

    Those who believed Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson would be the same old song and dance as other Jake Paul spectacles in the ring proved to be correct.

    The YouTuber-turned-boxer defeated Tyson in a one-sided decision in the main event of a card at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

    Tyson, in his vintage style, came out aggressive, looking to chase down the 27-year-old and flashing his power with his initial shots. Paul tried to clinch up more than once in the round, landing a key right hand.

    “El Gallo,” however, started to get into a groove over the next few rounds, working Tyson over with combinations. Paul became the fighter on the front foot when Tyson slowed down as the minutes went on. While “Iron Mike” tried to increase his pace, his younger opponent was simply faster and landed at will.

    Tyson seemed to pick things up in the seventh round, but by this point, had landed just 16 punches. And he did nothing in the eighth round to change the tide, as Paul ended up pulling off a near complete sweep on the scorecards to win a unanimous decision.

    Fighters & Fans React As Jake Paul Easily Defeats Mike Tyson

    Conor McGregor

    The fight was originally scheduled to take place in July, but the bout was postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up on a flight.

    “The Problem Child” instead face Mike Perry, defeating the bare-knuckle champion via sixth-round knockout. That was the Cleveland native’s fourth straight win since suffering the lone loss of his boxing career against Tommy Fury.

    Meanwhile, Friday’s results marked Tyson’s first professional boxing match since his loss to Kevin McBride in 2005. Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fought in an exhibition bout in November 2020.

  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Results & Highlights: Paul Outpoints Tyson

    Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Results & Highlights: Paul Outpoints Tyson

    Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson took place on Friday night, and MMA News is here to bring you all the action.

    Four months on from their original fight date falling through,Ā YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul and heavyweight legend Tyson gave their matchup a second go at reaching the ringĀ inside Arlingtonā€™s AT&T Stadium.

    The pairā€™s eight-round professional heavyweight contest was tasked with headlining the very first combat sports event to be streamed live on the Netflix platform, which also staged the championship rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

    After a blockbuster co-headliner, Paul outpointed Tyson in a lackluster main event, which saw 58-year-old “Iron Mike” land just 18 times across the 24-minute distance.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by the best highlights.

    Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight: Jake Paul def. Mike Tyson via unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 79-73)
    • Lightweight: Katie Taylor (C) def. Amanda Serrano via unanimous decision (95-94, 95-94, 95-94)
    • Welterweight: Mario Barrios (C) vs. Abel Ramos ends in a split draw (112-114, 116-110, 113-113)
    • Super Middleweight: Neeraj Goyat def. Whindersson Nunes via unanimous decision (59-55, 60-54, 60-54)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green def. Melinda Watpool via split decision (97-93, 94-96, 96-94)
    • Lightweight: Lucas Bahdi def. Armando Casamonica via majority decision (95-95, 96-93, 98-92)
    • Featherweight: Shu Shu Carrington Jr. def. Dana Coolwell via unanimous decision (80-70, 80-70, 80-70)

    Neeraj Goyat Def. Whindersson Nunes

    Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos

    Katie Taylor Def. Amanda Serrano

    Jake Paul Def. Mike Tyson