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  • Jon Jones: I’m ‘Grateful’ For Dana White’s Strong Support Of No. 1 P4P Status

    For years, Dana White has praised Jon Jones as the greatest fighter of all time. The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight between Jones and Stipe Miocic, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, has been promoted as the bout that could finally settle who deserves the title of greatest heavyweight fighter ever. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly referred to Jones as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion.

    However, some fight fans believe Jones doesn’t deserve that top spot due to his inactivity, arguing that fighters like Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev might be more deserving. For Jones, though, just being mentioned in this conversation is an honor.

    “It’s just an honor, that’s all,” Jones told Kevin Iole with a smile. “It’s a huge honor to even be considered, at 37 years old, one of the most well-rounded fighters in the sport. I’m just very grateful that my boss—a man who’s sat front row for all our fights—sees that in me.”

    Jones went on to share White’s sentiments: “For [Dana] to say, ‘Hey, listen guys, trust me. I know what I’m watching. I know what I’m looking at, and in my opinion, if Jon was the same size as a lot of these other guys, Jon would be in the mix,’ is just incredible.”

    Jones recognizes that with many new fans entering the sport, there’s a “what-have-you-done-lately” mentality. He appreciates that White acknowledges his full body of work, not just his recent performances.

    “I’m grateful that he’s not letting the naysayers or some fans push me to the side. I’ve done a tremendous amount of work for this company—at a very young age, at middle age, and now even at an older age. I’m just grateful to be recognized.”

  • Charles Oliveira: Islam Makhachev is ‘A Little Step Ahead’ Of Arman Tsarukyan

    Charles Oliveira: Islam Makhachev is ‘A Little Step Ahead’ Of Arman Tsarukyan

    Charles Oliveira will join fans in watching Islam Makhachev’s anticipated title defense against Arman Tsarukyan. The bout is expected to showcase the lightweight champion Makhachev facing the rising contender at UFC 311 on January 18, though the UFC has not yet officially confirmed the fight.

    Oliveira is familiar with both fighters, having suffered losses to each. He lost to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 after previously falling to Makhachev by submission in their title fight at UFC 280. Speaking to New York Post Sports, Oliveira shared that, if the fight is finalized, he would lean toward Makhachev as the likely victor.

    “They have very similar styles, and I think each has to watch for the same things,” Oliveira said. “They need to be cautious with the striking, as both have some striking ability, but they also need to be very mindful of each other’s ground game.”

    He continued, “It’s a very close matchup style-wise, but I think Islam has a slight edge over Arman. He’s just a bit stronger. But when it comes down to it, either of them could come out on top.”

    Oliveira is set to face Michael Chandler next Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

  • Ilia Topuria’s Coach: Potential Paddy Pimblett Fight Would Be ‘Abuse’

    Ilia Topuria’s Coach: Potential Paddy Pimblett Fight Would Be ‘Abuse’

    Ilia Topuria’s coach, Jorge Climent, believes a fight between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would be a complete mismatch, lacking any real competition. There was discussion two years ago about the potential outcome if the UFC featherweight champion were to face the lightweight star.

    Tensions between the two fighters escalated in March 2022 when they got into a scuffle at a Fight Night event in London. This altercation followed a series of exchanges on social media, where Pimblett made inflammatory remarks about the Russo-Georgian War.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Climent revealed that despite Pimblett’s trash talk, he wasn’t interested in the fight, and that the UFC has seemingly protected him as a rising star, even though Topuria pushed to make the matchup happen. “I don’t know if that kid is ready to fight someone at a championship level right now,” Climent stated. “Who has he beaten? They keep putting average opponents in front of him just so he can stay relevant. He’s popular because of his personality and the way he talks, but I don’t see him having the skill to face Ilia, and I don’t think he’s earned it.”

    When asked how he thinks a potential fight would go, Climent added, “What would that be—abuse?”

  • Anatoly Malykhin Loses 1 Of 3 Titles To ‘Reug Reug’ In Huge ONE 169 Upset

    Anatoly Malykhin Loses 1 Of 3 Titles To ‘Reug Reug’ In Huge ONE 169 Upset

    Anatoly Malykhin’s three-division kingpin status is no more following ONE 169.

    Malykhin became the first MMA fighter in a major organization to capture gold across three separate weight classes earlier this year when he added the ONE Championship middleweight title to a trophy cabinet that already boasted the heavyweight and light heavyweight belts.

    And after getting the better of Reinier de Ridder for the second time to accomplish that feat, the Russian behemoth turned his sights to defending his thrones.

    His first attempt at adding a successful retention to his résumé came on Friday night at ONE 169, which he headlined inside the famed Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand opposite Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane.

    The Senegalese wrestler entered the event as a significant underdog against the undefeated “Sladkiy,” but he overcame the odds to have the heavyweight strap placed on his shoulder after five rounds.

    Kane started strong, making good on his pre-fight promise to take the Russian champ down. And Malykhin’s use of the ropes to fight his challenger’s smothering wrestling resulted in a yellow card from referee Herb Dean.

    That ultimately proved crucial, as he fell on the wrong side of a split decision verdict to be relegated to two-division titleholder status at ONE 169.

    During fight week, Malykhin had expressed firm confidence in his chances of brushing “Reug Reug” aside before turning his attention to PFL star Francis Ngannou in 2025, having taken issue with “The Predator’s” claim to global heavyweight supremacy.

    But with Kane now on the throne, perhaps a door has been opened to a huge Senegal vs. Cameroon showdown down the line, should the PFL and ONE come to terms on a cross-promotional event.

    Elsewhere at ONE 169, there were big wins for the likes of Kade Ruotolo and Jackie Buntan. While the lightweight submission grappling champion further showed his MMA promise by club-and-subbing Ahmed Mujtaba, the Filipino-American finally got her hands on ONE gold by outpointing Anissa Meksen for the inaugural strawweight kickboxing title.

    Thai star Rodtang Jitmuangnon also had his hand raised after getting the better of England’s Jacob Smith for the second time. Unfortunately, his weight miss on Thursday meant he was ineligible to exit with the flyweight Muay Thai title.

  • Bo Nickal Insists He Could Beat Shara Magomedov In ’90 Seconds’

    Bo Nickal Insists He Could Beat Shara Magomedov In ’90 Seconds’

    Bo Nickal radiates confidence, asserting he could handle Shara Magomedov with ease if they were ever to meet in the Octagon.

    Magomedov recently boosted his record to 4-0 in the Octagon and an impressive 15-0 overall, delivering a jaw-dropping double backfist knockout against Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308 last month.

    “Bullet’s” distinctive finish has certainly caught Nickal’s attention, yet he believes the undefeated Russian’s style would make for a straightforward challenge.

    During a recent episode of the Nickals and Dimes podcast, Nickal exuded confidence in his abilities, stating he could effortlessly dominate Magomedov. Eager to make this matchup happen, he’s even willing to step into enemy territory for the showdown.

    “I would like to fight him, but it’s not a tough fight, and I would have to go to Abu Dhabi,” Nickal said. “I would have to go to Saudi (Arabia), which – I would do it, but I think it’s not a tough fight. And also, the UFC probably doesn’t want that right now. Maybe they would. Maybe they don’t give a crap: go over to Saudi, make a quick check, 90 seconds, call it a day, fly back.”

    “Bullet” has consistently appeared on Middle Eastern fight cards, as strict regulations from the American Athletic Commission prevent a one-eyed fighter from being cleared to compete in the United States.

    Nickal is set to face Paul Craig in a middleweight clash at UFC 309, slated for Nov. 16 at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden. This highly anticipated bout will mark the wrestling sensation’s return to the Octagon following his impressive second-round submission victory over Cody Brundage at UFC 300 this past April.

  • Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones seems in no mood to entertain claims that he’s dodging a potential clash with Tom Aspinall.

    Jones is locked in to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 309, set for Nov. 16 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Bones” decisively dismissed the notion of facing interim champion Aspinall next, should he triumph over Miocic at UFC 309. He argued that, despite Aspinall’s persistent calls for a title unification fight, the Brit has yet to prove himself worthy of sharing the Octagon with him.

    Instead, Jones hinted that the fight he’s truly eyeing after next weekend is a high-stakes showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, a bout that would solidify his legacy for good.

    Jones has faced fierce backlash from a segment of the MMA community, with accusations swirling that he’s “ducking” a showdown with Aspinall. The drama recently spilled onto social media once again, where “Bones” fired back at his critics in a post that has since been deleted.

    “I’m going to hide in my mansion and not come outside, people are calling me a duck come oh no my world is over” Jones tweeted. “What is this high school? lol”

    Soon after, the longtime former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a more introspective reply, emphasizing that his actions are driven by purpose and that he remains unfazed by external criticism.

    “As at this point in my career, every decision is rooted in purpose,” Jones posted. “My journey isn’t dictated by hype or outside opinions—it’s about crafting a legacy that speaks for itself, one step at a time. I’m here to do what’s right for my career and my legacy, with a vision that’s clear and unshakable. Focused, driven, and in complete control of myself. The story continues, and it’s unfolding exactly as I’ve envisioned.”

    UFC 309 will mark Jones’ long-awaited return to the Octagon after more than a year on the sidelines since claiming the heavyweight title with a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

    He was initially slated to defend his title against Miocic at UFC 295, but the New Yorker was forced to withdraw just two weeks before the fight due to a torn pectoral muscle.

  • UFC Vegas 100 Has Another Co-Main Event Canceled After Late Medical Issue

    UFC Vegas 100 Has Another Co-Main Event Canceled After Late Medical Issue

    After Cody Garbrandt pulled out against Miles Johns, Ricky Turcios vs. Bernardo Sopaj was scheduled to be the UFC Vegas 100 co-main event. However, according to UFC officials, Turcios has pulled out due to medical issues.

    Nolan King reported the news on X:

    Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder is the new co-main event, and Gastón Bolaños vs. Cortavious Romious has been moved up to the main card as well. Having two co-main event fights canceled is understandably disappointing for fans, but many are happy to see De Ridder up the order.

    UFC Vegas 100 Card Updated Order

    Here’s what the coming UFC card looks like after the latest developments:

    Main Card

    • Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates, welterweight (Main event)
    • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Reinier de Ridder, middleweight (Co-main event)
    • Gaston Bolanos vs. Cortavious Romious, bantamweight
    • Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson, women’s strawweight
    • Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dusko Todorovic, middleweight

    Prelims

    • Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Denise Gomes, women’s strawweight
    • Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs. Zach Scroggin, welterweight
    • Matthew Semelsberger vs. Charles Radtke, welterweight
    • Cody Stamann vs. Da’Mon Blackshear, bantamweight
    • Tresean Gore vs. Antonio Trocoli, middleweight
    • Melissa Mullins vs. Klaudia Syguła, women’s bantamweight

    Marcel Dorff reported the updated order for UFC Vegas 100 on X:

    “The Dutch Knight” boasts an impressive 17-2 record, and has only lost to undefeated Anatoly Malykhin. De Ridder is a former ONE world champion at middleweight and light heavyweight. He aims to finish Meerschaert in his UFC debut to create a solid first impression in the middleweight division.

    Bantamweight contenders Gastón Bolaños and Cortavious Romious will now fight on a bigger stage too. Bolaños is coming off a TKO loss and Romious is making his UFC debut after earning a contract at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 Week 2.

  • UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Neil Magny vs. Carlos Prates takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Before heading back to New York City to stage its latest pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden next weekend, the mixed martial arts leader has one final piece of Fight Night business to attend to at the Apex.

    The main event presents an opportunity for the highly touted Prates to further climb the ranks at 170 pounds. The Brazilian will mark the latest rising name looking to establish himself in contention at the expense of longtime top 15 veteran Magny.

    Before that, the likes of TUF winner Ricky Turcios, former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder, and strawweight submission specialist Gillian Robertson will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates takes place on Saturday, November 9, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Welterweight Main Event: Neil Magny (171lbs) vs. Carlos Prates (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Ricky Turcios (136lbs) vs. Benardo Sopaj (136lbs)
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert (185lbs) vs. Reinier de Ridder (185lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson (116lbs) vs. Luana Pinheiro (115.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik (186lbs) vs. Duško Todorović (185.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Strawweight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115.5lbs) vs. Denise Gomes (115lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Gaston Bolaños (135.5lbs) vs. Cortavious Romious (136lbs)
    • Welterweight: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171lbs) vs. Zachary Scroggin (174lbs)*
    • Welterweight: Matthew Semelsberger (171lbs) vs. Charles Radtke (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Cody Stamann (135.5lbs) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (135.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Tresean Gore (186lbs) vs. Antonio Trócoli (186lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Melissa Dixon (137lbs)** vs. Klaudia Sygula (136lbs)

    *Zachary Scroggin missed the welterweight limit by three pounds

    **Melissa Dixon missed the bantamweight limit by one pounds

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm-_sHmg2nA
  • Jon Jones ‘Really Looking Forward’ To Using Once-Illegal Move at UFC 309

    Jon Jones ‘Really Looking Forward’ To Using Once-Illegal Move at UFC 309

    Fight fans are inching closer to the much-anticipated showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. The UFC 309 heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City has been promoted as the bout that could finally determine the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time.

    A significant change to the fight’s rulebook will allow the controversial 12-6 elbow strike, as New York has adopted the updated MMA Unified Rules. Jones is especially enthusiastic about this rule shift, as it directly relates to the only official loss on his record. In December 2009, he was disqualified in the first round by referee Steve Mazzagatti after using a 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill—without a prior warning, despite dominating the fight until that moment.

    Reflecting on the change, Jones told Kevin Iole, “It just makes me wish that the disqualification was overturned. That’s my biggest thought since I learned the rule is no longer banned. But on the other hand, I’ve accepted it, and I’ve been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks. It’s funny because it’s been such a big no-no, and you train yourself not to go there. Now, being able to use that strike – it’s a very devastating move. It opens up so many more options, both standing and in the top position. I’m excited to hopefully be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it at Madison Square Garden.”

    Since the rule change in July, Jones has been preparing to make the most of this weapon against Miocic. “In this next fight, I feel like I will be putting myself in some really great positions to land the technique, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Jones said.

  • Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some other specialist partners.

    A long-time friend and training partner of his is none other than “The King of Kickboxing”, Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch striker is the long-reigning heavyweight champion in GLORY and with his next title defense scheduled for GLORY Collision 7 on December 7, he recently got some sparring rounds in with one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

    Though he didn’t show what could be PPV quality sparring rounds between the two lethal strikers, Aspinall did put up a YouTube video that featured the elite kickboxer. As well as their conversation regarding a potential crossover fight between Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, the interim heavyweight champion invited him on the channel for a “dead leg challenge” which guests have featured on in the past.

    Here, both competitors will take turns throwing leg kicks that start at very low percent power and slowly build. However, usually these guests are not fighters so Aspinall is teaching them the technique and then getting them to do it to him which has little impact on him.

    This time around, in his own words, he is the beginner when he’s in the company of Verhoeven who is one of the best leg kickers in the sport. Given that both of them are very effective kickers, they chose to start right from the 70% mark, going up 10% each time for a total of three kicks each.

    Though Aspinall is able to take the punishment and dish it back out, Verhoeven seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each kick that he takes. His incredible durability is one of his biggest strengths, especially when it comes to competing in Grand Prix tournaments and it’s clear to see why in this video.

  • Michael Chandler On What’s Changed Since First Charles Oliveira Fight: ‘A Star Was Born That Night’

    Michael Chandler On What’s Changed Since First Charles Oliveira Fight: ‘A Star Was Born That Night’

    Michael Chandler is out for revenge at UFC 309 when he faces Charles Oliveira in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden. The two men first met back at UFC 262 where only one of two storybook moments could happen.

    Either the former Bellator star was going to finally make his way into the UFC and in two fights, become the lightweight champion or “Do Bronx” would finally win the big one after years of being on the roster. Chandler is happy to admit that it was Oliveira’s night back in 2021 where his dream of winning the gold was temporarily shattered.

    Though he didn’t get the Conor McGregor fight that he waited so long for, this opportunity to avenge his loss to the former champion and get himself back in the title picture was the kind of chance that he knew he has to grab with both hands. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Chandler spoke about what has changed since his first encounter with Oliveira.

    He believes that for all of the experience that he accumulated outside of the UFC, he’s a far different competitor now compared to the one that was making just his second appearance inside the Octagon.

    “I was extremely green, extremely early at that point when I fought Charles and yes, I had been fighting for years, I was 34-years old, had 20-something fights but at that point in time, I had only competed in the Octagon for a little over two minutes. I had just beaten Dan Hooker, knocked him out in two and a half minutes… I was inexperienced. Charles, I think a star was born that night. That was really the night, whenever Charles became champion, and then he went on the run and he beat Gaethje, he beat Poirier, and he really became the champion and really solidified himself.”

  • Javier Mendez Snubs Khabib & Makhachev While Naming Best Fighter He’s Trained

    Javier Mendez Snubs Khabib & Makhachev While Naming Best Fighter He’s Trained

    Javier Mendez has had some of the best fighters in the history of MMA walk through his doors at AKA and has had a front row seat to some of the all-time greats at work. In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, one of the most successful coaches in the game was asked to pick who, of all the great champions he’s worked with, takes the top spot.

    Mendez has got a lot of options to pick from his earlier champions like Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier to more recent examples. Many would assume that Khabib Nurmagomedov or his lightweight heir, the current pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev, would also be in the conversation.

    However, Mendez subverted expectations by naming the cousin of “The Eagle” who is the reigning Bellator lightweight champion. At 18-0 with one no contest, Usman Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters that isn’t currently signed to the UFC.

    His recent comments suggested that he hopes to move across to the Octagon once his teammate, Makhachev, has finished his run at the 155-pound champion so that he can take over in his absence which would be one of the UFC’s biggest signings in some time. Mendez said that whilst Nurmagomedov may not have the same list of accomplishments as the other fighters in the gym, he’s the most talented and is still improving as 26-years old.

    “I see Usman [Nurmagomedov] as being pound-for-pound the greatest fighter myself, he’s got all the attributes. He’s the most talented I’ve ever trained… If at one point he never goes [to the UFC], great. He’s still gonna be regarded as one of the great ones… what he does in that cage is like nobody. I’ve never seen anybody do the transitions, the movement that he does. He’s unbelievable and he’s only 26, he’s only getting better.”

  • Bo Nickal Explains The Hardest Part Of Transitioning To MMA, Which Aspects Came Easy To Him

    Bo Nickal Explains The Hardest Part Of Transitioning To MMA, Which Aspects Came Easy To Him

    At UFC 309, Bo Nickal looks to continue his ascent up the middleweight ladder by earning just the seventh win of his professional career. It’s not normal for a fighter with this much experience to be competing against a seasoned contender like Paul Craig on the main card at Madison Square Garden.

    Nickal’s highly credentialed wrestling background singled him out as a super prospect from the moment he decided to begin training in MMA. His grappling gives him a huge advantage over many opponents but of course, developing the rest of his skillset is crucial to his success.

    That will be put to the test in his fight against Scotland’s Craig who is an incredibly dangerous submission threat, specifically off his back. With Nickal making it clear that he won’t hesitate to test his own jiu-jitsu skills, this might be the first fight where we see him need to utilize his whole arsenal to get the victory.

    During a recent podcast interview with Demetrious Johnson on The MightyCast, Nickal spoke about which aspects of the sport have been the easiest to pick up and which have taken him more time to get up to speed with.

    “It’s interesting, I picked up jiu-jitsu pretty quick. Obviously still learning, still growing, trying to improve that area of my game but the jiu-jitsu came pretty fast. I always had a wrestling style that I think fit just because I was rolling on my back a lot. Like if I had to roll to my back to give up a couple points or to get the pin or to get some points, I was never afraid to do that and you mentioned earlier like I wrestled predominantly folk style but as a kid, I wrestled tons of freestyle and Greco, almost just as much as I had wrestled folk style and so just those different styles and I think my experience with scrambling and different things like that, I was really comfortable with that.”

    Nickal then spoke about the aspect of the sport have been the hardest for him to pick up. Unsurprisingly, it’s an element of his striking that has taken him the most time to get used to given his grappling background.

    “The hardest thing for me to learn honestly like kicks. Calf kicks, body kicks, throwing kicks, checking kicks. It’s like such a different thing and you have to be so loose. I noticed like at first when I’m throwing kicks and stuff, I can throw like three or four kicks and I’m gassed out.”

  • Former Opponent On Brandon Moreno’s Win: ‘This Is What I Want To See’

    Former Opponent On Brandon Moreno’s Win: ‘This Is What I Want To See’

    #1-Ranked flyweight contender Brandon Royval was watching closely this past weekend as the UFC returned to Edmonton for a Fight Night event. In the main event, former champion Brandon Moreno reminded everyone just how good he can be.

    The Mexican star put on a dominant performance to hand Amir Albazi his first loss inside the Octagon, looking back to his best after suffering consecutive losses in his last two outings. His boxing skills and speed have always been two of his best attributes but it’s been a while since we really saw him control a fight from start to finish.

    Earlier this year, Moreno faced Royval in a rematch in Mexico City where after losing a split decision, he announced that he would be taking some time off. Though Moreno didn’t stay away from the gym for too long, the time with his family clearly led to him coming back revitalized and Royval enjoyed seeing that from him.

    The result seemingly worked out in favor of “Raw Dawg” who could have found himself waiting behind Albazi in line for a title shot if he had got his hand raised given his winning streak in the division.

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Royval said though he’s happy Moreno won because of the impact it has on his standing in the current title picture, he was excited to see his former foe looking dialled in and on point in Canada.

    “I thought he looked sick bro, I had such a good time watching him. I liked the look in his eye when he walked out like the moment he walked out, I was like alright cool, this is what I want to see. It was like a p***** off Brandon Moreno ready to go and he fought with the f****** attitude and a chip on his shoulder and I love that, I love to see that.”

  • Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. After winning the title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, the newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his fight with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

    While many fans are interested in watching two legends face each other before they hang up their gloves, others simply want the UFC heavyweight division to move forward. Tom Aspinall has defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt once and has finished most top contenders in the first round.

    Jones is a considerable favorite against Miocic, and while he’s teased retirement in the past, he discussed potential future opponents during an interview on the Kevin Iole YouTube channel.

    “Tom Aspinall, is, I don’t want to say nobody but, he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything and I understand that, I mean he won his belt against Sergei. Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else, so, it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me,” He continued. “A guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be, not only financially worth it, but, legacy worth it, would be Alex Pereira.”

    When asked if he would fight Aspinall after beating Miocic, Jones outright rejected the current interim UFC heavyweight champion. He compared the English heavyweight to Johnny Walker, who many thought could dethrone “Bones” at light heavyweight.

    “Bones” mentioned that he’s accepted a fair amount of risky fights back in the day, and he now only expects an opponent that makes sense to him financially and legacy-wise. On these grounds, he named Alex Pereira a more exciting fight than Aspinall.

    Unsurprisingly, “Bones” is being called out for not giving any credit at all to an interim champion with a title defense. That said, it’s hard to speculate on the future of the heavyweight division accurately until the UFC 309 main event concludes.

  • Michael Chandler Targets ‘Craziest’ Fight Run Against Makhachev, Holloway, & McGregor

    Michael Chandler Targets ‘Craziest’ Fight Run Against Makhachev, Holloway, & McGregor

    Michael Chandler has been out of action for almost two years, having last fought Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Outside of TUF 31, he’s spent most of this time waiting for Conor McGregor, but after the upheaval around UFC 303, he finally moved on to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.

    Following his razor-close split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, Oliveira is currently the #2 ranked UFC lightweight in the world. So, defeating him should put Chandler in line for a title shot.

    Chandler fought frequently in the UFC since his debut against Dan Hooker. It appears he wants to compensate for the two-year hiatus by fighting as many high-profile names as possible before 2025.

    Chandler recently appeared on the SHAK MMA YouTube channel for an interview. When asked if he would fight McGregor or Makhachev after a win over Oliveira, “Iron” stated that getting the UFC lightweight title is his priority. He also feels the need to settle the rivalry with “The Notorious” which began with TUF 31.

    “The title is the number one goal but there is some unfinished business. Chandler vs. McGregor TUF 31, it needs, that chapter needs to close to some point. Conor wants that fight. He’s talked about it openly in public, in interviews. Obviously, I want that fight. I’m not focused on it right now. I’m focused on Charles, but it’ll be interesting you know. Because you also got to remember, Islam is fighting probably in January, could be late January. He’s gonna go into Ramadan in February, all of March, won’t be able to go till training camp, won’t be able to fight till June July. I’m not trying to wait till June or July. So, Conor could sneak in there, we could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. Conor, Chandler vs. Islam, Chandler vs. Max. The craziest four or five fight-run in a 12-month period that anyone’s ever seen.”

    Besides Makhachev and McGregor, “Iron” is also interested in fighting former UFC featherweight champion and the reigning BMF champion Max Holloway in 2025. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see this fight too, as both fighters boast an aggressive, fearless, and striking-heavy fighting style.

    It’ll be interesting to see how many superfights Chandler can be a part of before the end of 2025. For now, he needs to focus on beating Oliveira, who already holds a TKO win over him.

  • Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White and Jon Jones recently offered starkly different opinions on whether the much-anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall will come to fruition following UFC 309.

    Jones is set to make the first defense of his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 295 in November 2023, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute after “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

    As a result, Aspinall stepped in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a stunning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, the Brit has been outspoken about his desire to face Jones in a title unification bout. However, the former light heavyweight champion has repeatedly brushed off the idea, with the UFC CEO also firmly asserting that Jones’ next challenge will remain Miocic.

    Both Jones and Miocic have repeatedly suggested that their upcoming bout could mark the end of their careers. Despite that, in a recent interview with TNT Sports, White expressed his belief that the winner of UFC 309 would likely face Aspinall next.

    https://youtu.be/aUhZ8UG2cNQ?si=OtrHvO53p7RzjvC4

    But during an interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, “Bones” outright rejected the notion of facing Aspinall next should he emerge victorious against Miocic next weekend.

    Jones argued that the interim heavyweight champion has yet to prove himself worthy of facing him in the Octagon.

    “I feel like Tom Aspinall is — I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything; he hasn’t done anything. And I understand that, I mean, he won his belt against Sergei, but Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else. So it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble with someone else making a name off of me.”

    Jones went on to say that he’s primarily focused on competing against high-profile opponents, those capable of elevating his already storied career. At the moment, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is the opponent who piques his interest the most.

    “If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy-worthy, it would be Alex Pereira. Alex Pereira and I are both 37 years old right now. I weigh about 235 [pounds]; I’m an incredibly light heavyweight. I think Pereira walks around at 240, and I think that fight would add much more to my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

    • Read More: Tom Aspinall Explains How Stipe Miocic Can Beat Jon Jones At UFC 309
  • Colby Covington On Why He’s Backing Miocic At UFC 309: ‘A Real American With Morals & Values’

    Colby Covington On Why He’s Backing Miocic At UFC 309: ‘A Real American With Morals & Values’

    Colby Covington is throwing his support behind Stipe Miocic to beat Jon Jones in their upcoming title fight.

    Jones is set to defend his heavyweight belt against Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, slated for Nov. 16 at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

    “Bones” enters the fight as a heavy favorite, with many MMA analysts predicting he’ll dominate the former champion with ease. However, Covington has offered a contrasting view, believing that Miocic is poised to deliver a stunning upset.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, “Chaos” was asked to predict the UFC 309 headliner. The former interim welterweight champion commended Miocic’s relentless work ethic while casting aspersions on Jones, pointing to his turbulent past as a reason he believes “Bones” is unworthy of the victory.

    “Stipe is a great American; he’s a patriot,” Covington said. “He’s a first responder, and the guy’s a hard worker. He’s managed being a firefighter while being a UFC champion. I mean, to have a double life like that is just so impressive, and I can only imagine his work ethic. So I’m really rooting for a real American, a guy that has morals and values — something that Jon lacks.

    “He [Jones] has no morals and values; he’s a terrible person. He’s beaten his wife, he’s had multiple drug challenges, terrible steroid charges, so he’s not a good person. He doesn’t deserve to win, so I’m rooting for Stipe, and I hope he gets it done.”

    Jones and Miocic were originally scheduled to clash at UFC 295 in November 2023. The fight was unexpectedly called off when the reigning champion sustained a torn pectoral muscle just weeks before the event.

    The New Yorker claimed the heavyweight title with a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. Meanwhile, Miocic has been out of action for over three years. His last appearance came at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he was knocked out by Francis Ngannou, costing him the championship.

    • Read More: CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss
  • Brandon Royval: Brandon Moreno’s Latest Win Cleared Way For My UFC Title Shot

    Brandon Royval: Brandon Moreno’s Latest Win Cleared Way For My UFC Title Shot

    Brandon Royval was hoping for Brandon Moreno to have his hand raised in victory when he faced Amir Albazi at UFC Fight Night 246 this past Saturday in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And that’s exactly what happened. The former champion returned to peak form, delivering a dominant performance against Albazi.

    Royval himself has two recent wins over Moreno, followed by an impressive victory against Tatsuro Taira in a “Fight of the Night” showing. In his view, these achievements position him as the new #1 contender for a title shot.

    “I think the only thing that was cleared up completely was that I’m next for the title shot,” Royval told MMA Junkie. “That’s what this fight did: It cleared the way for me. I thought he [Moreno] looked amazing. I had such a good time watching him. The moment he walked out, I was like, ‘All right, cool, this is what I want to see: a fired-up Brandon Moreno, ready to go.’”

    Royval continued, “He fought with attitude and a chip on his shoulder, and I loved that. I really believe the flyweight division has been more exciting than ever. People often criticize us, saying the top three or four guys are just clearing out everyone else, but I think the division is at its peak.”

    Royval will now have to wait for the outcome of flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s title defense against former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura on Dec. 7 at UFC 310. Regardless, he expects to face the winner.

  • Francis Ngannou Called Out By Three-Division Champ For 2025 Superfight To Decide ‘Best Heavyweight In The World’ 

    Francis Ngannou Called Out By Three-Division Champ For 2025 Superfight To Decide ‘Best Heavyweight In The World’ 

    The top heavyweight competing in Asia’s leading martial arts promotion plans to prove his superiority over the rest of the pack by facing and defeating PFL champion Francis Ngannou next year.

    Having not competed in MMA since January 2022, Ngannou made his highly anticipated return to the sport in which he made his name last month following a two-fight stint in the boxing ring.

    Debuting for the PFL, “The Predator” headlined a pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opposite Brazil’s Renan Ferreira. While the 2023 PFL heavyweight title winner was expected to pose a threat by many, he was battered en route to a knockout defeat within the first round.

    The result saw Ngannou crowned the inaugural PFL Super Fight heavyweight champ, and he subsequently reaffirmed his belief that no heavyweight comes close to matching him.

    Unsurprisingly, the uber-confident Anatoly Malykhin has something to say about that.

    During a recent interview with MMA Knockout, the three-division ONE Championship king reiterated his desire to do battle with another of the planet’s most devastating heavyweight knockout artists.

    And the Russian’s fire for that fight appears to have been flamed by “The Predator’s” claim to global supremacy in the division following his successful return to the cage last month in the Middle East.

    “2025, for me, is a year when a really big fight should happen, that’s what I want. Because Ngannou, Francis Ngannou, recently said that he’s the best fighter on the planet, which he cannot and should not be saying until he faces me,” Malykhin said. “So my fight against Ngannou is something that needs to happen in 2025. I think everybody looks forward to that, everybody wants that fight, and we need to have it to decide once and for all who is the best heavyweight in the world right now.”

    Anataoly Malykhin
    Image: ONE Championship

    And beyond himself, “Sladkiy” sees plenty of threats to Ngannou from Russian brutes already under the PFL banner, naming 2024 PFL heavyweight finalist Oleg Popov and former Bellator champion Vadim Nemkov.

    “Francis Ngannou is a strong fighter. I watched his fight (with Ferreira), he’s got a great skillset,” Malykhin stated. “He has got some great opposition in PFL. That’s Oleg Popov, who’s definitely gonna win the (heavyweight tournament). Everybody needs to keep his eyes on Popov, this guy is going to be absolutely amazing. I can see great things coming for him. And of course there is Vadim Nemkov, who is another amazing Russian fighter.

    “As for Ngannou, I think that it was more of a psychological pressure for him to come back into the ring after such a long break from MMA. But I think he did well, he did well,” Malykhin continued. “But his words after the fight, I think were a little bit premature. He shouldn’t have said that he is the greatest heavyweight in the world.”

    For now, Malykhin’s sights are on a different African heavyweight behemoth — one currently competing alongside him in ONE.

    The heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight champ will put the first of those titles on the line against Senagalese powerhouse Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane tomorrow night at ONE 169.

    The build-up to their showdown at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand has been a heated one, with the pair almost coming to blows at the hotel and press conference faceoff during fight week.

  • CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss

    CSAC Director Supports Overturning Jon Jones’ Controversial Loss

    Jon Jones might finally see the sole blemish on his otherwise flawless record erased, with California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster voicing his backing for this change.

    “Bones” one loss in his 29-fight MMA career came against Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale in December 2009. Despite overwhelming Hamill throughout the first round, Jones was disqualified for delivering a then-illegal 12-6 elbow.

    Jones, with longstanding support from UFC CEO Dana White, has made numerous attempts over the years to overturn his disputed loss, though each effort has fallen short. Recently, however, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports lifted the ban on 12-6 elbow strikes, with the revised rules taking effect last weekend at UFC Fight Night in Edmonton.

    A faint ray of hope appears to be emerging for the UFC heavyweight champion as Foster, one of the key advocates behind the legalization of the once-banned strike, has now stepped forward to support Jones in his quest to have the loss overturned.

    During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Athletic Commission director expressed his dissatisfaction with how the ruling was handled at the time, suggesting that the outcome could have been changed to a no contest rather than a DQ.

    “The rule is what it was then; it’s different now. It would be hard to go back…I’d be actually supportive of getting rid of [his loss], but it’s not my decision. … I didn’t like the way it was enforced back then, but that was 14 years ago,” Foster said. “I think there were — look, we’re talking about 14 years later. At the time, I thought there were other ways you could handle that situation rather than flat giving the guy a loss.”

    Although Foster is a staunch supporter of “Bones” having his loss overturned, the final decision rests with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, they have consistently declined to make any changes since 2009.

    After a hiatus of over a year, Jones is preparing for his return to the Octagon, where he will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the headliner of UFC 309. The eagerly anticipated clash is scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 16.

  • Colby Covington Includes Paddy Pimblett On List Of Opponents He’d Welcome For His UFC Return

    Colby Covington Includes Paddy Pimblett On List Of Opponents He’d Welcome For His UFC Return

    Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington is eyeing a return to action next year, and he has a couple of potential foes in mind.

    Covington hasn’t appeared inside the Octagon since his third failed attempt at capturing undisputed gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage last December.

    Having previously had his ambitions stalled by Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards continued the trend against Covington at UFC 296 to record his second — and ultimately last — successful defense of the 170-pound belt.

    “Chaos” put that result down to a broken foot sustained in the very first round. And although he targeted a return once healing from that this past summer, he most recently pointed to his work on the campaign trail for Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election as the reason behind his ongoing absence.

    With that, the controversial UFC veteran now has his sights on an early 2025 return to active competition.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington claimed that talks are ongoing over a potential showdown with Jack Della Maddalena in the first quarter of 2025.

    While “Chaos” was surprisingly respectful when discussing the Australian, the same can’t be said when his attention turned to an option from outside his division…

    “A fight that’s being talked about, this guy’s running his mouth a little bit, which is weird because every time I see this guy, he puts his eyes down and he walks past me like a little b*tch,” Covington said. “Now he wants to throw stones in the media. I don’t know if you’ve seen, Paddy Pimblett, he’s been throwing some stones.

    “He’s been running his mouth in the media, saying, ‘I’ll go up to welterweight, I’ll fight Colby.’ Of course he wants to come up to welterweight and fight me or Conor (McGregor), the two biggest names in the UFC right now,” Covington continued. “He’d be honored and be lucky to get this fight. But I think we need to get it going. I don’t like when people talk big to the media and don’t back up their talk. … We need to hold him accountable for his words…stupid, dumb bowl cut.”

    Pimblett has long expressed a firm dislike toward Covington, calling him out for the supposed persona he’s employed for much of his UFC career.

    “The Baddy” was notably among the vocal critics of the American’s conduct at the pre-fight press conference for UFC 296 last December, during which he made unsavory comments about Edwards’ deceased father.

  • Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman Discusses Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov On Short Notice At UFC 310: ‘The UFC Knows Who To Call’

    Kamaru Usman seems ready to step up on short notice to face Shavkat Rakhmonov and keep the UFC 310 main event intact.

    The headliner for the final UFC pay-per-view event between reigning welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Rakhmonov was called off last month after “Remember the Name” disclosed he had to pull out due to a bone infection in his foot.

    Since then, “Nomad” has voiced his desire to remain on the card, even campaigning for an interim title showdown, ideally against former longtime champion Usman. Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, confirmed that the UFC is currently in talks and has proposed “The Nigerian Nightmare” as a possible opponent for the matchup.

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman discussed the possibility of stepping in on just a month’s notice to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310. He stated that the UFC would reach out to a fighter primed to challenge the undefeated Kazakhstani, and should the promotion come calling, he would unquestionably accept.

    “I’m still in that gym, you know,” Usman said. “If the UFC is going to call who they think is going to be legit tough enough and man enough to step in there on this crazy enough to step in there on short notice and go out there and possibly shock the world, definitely the UFC knows who to call when that situation happens. And if they do give me a call, I’m going to answer the call. We get a couple of things straight, and if we have to do it, I don’t shy away from any of that.”

    “The Nigerian Nightmare” is no stranger to stepping in on short notice to face undefeated fighters. Usman took on the challenge of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023 with less than two weeks’ notice, ultimately suffering a majority decision loss.

    Usman is currently enduring the most challenging phase of his career, having lost his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. Since then, he has gone 0-2 in his last two Octagon appearances.

  • Alexandre Pantoja: Henry Cejudo Would Need ‘Surgery’ To Make Flyweight Again

    Alexandre Pantoja: Henry Cejudo Would Need ‘Surgery’ To Make Flyweight Again

    UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja isn’t buying former two-division king Henry Cejudo’s talk of a return to 125 pounds next year.

    Cejudo’s comeback from a short-lived retirement hasn’t gone to plan thus far. “Triple C” has gone 0-2 at bantamweight since returning three years on from his successful title defense opposite Dominick Cruz.

    After narrowly falling short of immediately regaining the crown against Aljamain Sterling in May 2023, Cejudo failed to stake his claim for another opportunity when he battled Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 this past February.

    Having now slipped down the pecking order at 135 pounds, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist plans to take his pursuit of another stint as UFC champ back down to flyweight.

    In the summer, Cejudo provided an update on his current status, noting that an injury has been keeping him on the sidelines. When he is healthy and ready to make the walk again, he seemingly expects to do so as part of the division he ruled over after unseating the great Demetrious Johnson in 2018.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Pantoja reacted to Cejudo’s apparent plans to cut down for another title run at flyweight.

    Suffice to say, the champ has his doubts…

    “When you go to the surgery doctor, yeah, he needs (liposuction) to make the weight,” Pantoja said jokingly. “I don’t think he can make the weight again. He’s too big. I’d love the opportunity. If Cejudo can do that, I’ll give him five pounds to fight. It will be a dream to fight with Cejudo, of course. He’s a legend.”

    For now, Pantoja will have his full attention on a different name set to arrive in the division.

    In Kai Asakura, “The Cannibal” is scheduled to meet a former Rizin champion who has his sights on a memorable first foray into the Octagon at UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

  • Chael Sonnen Highlights UFC 309 Prelim Fighter: ‘A Bit Of A Triple Threat’

    Chael Sonnen Highlights UFC 309 Prelim Fighter: ‘A Bit Of A Triple Threat’

    At UFC 309 on November 16, one fighter will make a childhood dream come true when he makes the walk at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. 2024 has been a year of bucket list moments for Oban Elliott who has earned back-to-back wins inside the Octagon.

    The Welsh fighter secured his UFC contract on the Contender Series and will now look to make it three wins in a row at welterweight when he faces off with Bassil Hafez on the prelims. Elliott is a big pro wrestling fans and therefore, it’s no surprise that his MMA idol growing up was none other than “The Bad Guy”, Chael Sonnen.

    They’ve been in communication for many years but at Elliott’s debut at UFC 298 in February, they finally got to meet in person. Though this was clearly a full-circle moment for “The Welsh Gangster”, it was also a great interaction for Sonnen, as he spoke about in a recent video on his YouTube channel.

    Sonnen gave some insight into Elliott’s life and career so far and how he feels privileged that the rising talent would take him along for each step of the journey.

    “It’s a bit of a triple threat from Oban. He’s got the skills, came with the DNA and the grit. Little boy that had a dream and never lost sight of it, right. All discipline is is remembering what your goal is. That’s all it is but it’s a very hard thing to do and he embraced social media, he was a smart guy… when he did the whole thing, he stayed nice. He’s a real triple threat.”

    Elliott’s personality and mentality is what Sonnen wanted to draw the most attention to. He went on to compare him to Anthony Smith who Sonnen believes is another fighter that doesn’t just know how to fight and play the game, he’s a strong individual outside the cage too.

    “He never got somewhere and forgot how he got there and that’s a special kind of person. The fighter, yeah man, this guy can squabble. He’s about to fight at Madison Square Garden. He went from a railroad with a guy with a dream thanking Lord in heaven above that he got airtime on Ariel Helwani’s show, he’s going to be fighting at Madison Square Garden so it’s quite a story and there’s a lot more to it. I’m just getting started but moving forward, learn the name.”