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  • Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Chael Sonnen Questions Tom Aspinall’s Takedown Ability Against Alex Pereira 

    Coming out of UFC 307, fans are buzzing about the possibility of a showdown between Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and interim Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. After Pereira secured his third title defense by finishing Khalil Rountree in Round 4 of their UFC 307 headliner, he hinted at his future ambitions.

    While he plans to remain in the 205-pound division for now, Pereira expressed interest in eventually moving up to heavyweight. Fueling speculation, Pereira shared an image of Aspinall watching his fight, sparking intrigue from analysts, including former fighter Chael Sonnen.

    Sonnen is captivated by the potential matchup but remains skeptical about how Aspinall would handle Pereira’s grappling.

    Questions Raised

    “I cannot guarantee you that the younger, bigger guy in Tom would win,” Sonnen commented on his YouTube channel. “There’s something special about Alex, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. But I don’t know that Tom has the skills to just go out and take him down, so we might have to take that off the board.”

    Sonnen elaborated on the challenges Aspinall might face: “I think Alex would have a really hard time getting up because of the size, but to get him there, Tom’s probably going to want to trade. He might have a little bit of ego, like everybody else, thinking, ‘Let me show you,’ and it might work out for him. But it could also be a very dangerous proposition.”

    For now, Aspinall’s immediate focus is on the heavyweight division. He’s awaiting a fight against the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which headlines UFC 309.

  • Kayla Harrison Handles PFL’s Mockery With Grace

    Kayla Harrison Handles PFL’s Mockery With Grace

    Kayla Harrison recently responded to the PFL’s jabs aimed at her ahead of her UFC 307 fight.

    Harrison notched a crucial victory over Ketlen Vieira in their bantamweight clash last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. “Fenomeno” put her through a grueling test, but Harrison ultimately prevailed, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win.

    The 34-year-old Ohio native has spent nearly all of her MMA career dominating the PFL’s lightweight division. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has impressively finished 11 of her 15 victories, with her only professional setback coming in November 2022, when she suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Larissa Pacheco in their trilogy bout.

    Merely hours ahead of her bout with Vieira at UFC 307, her former organization, PFL, shared a promotional clip for Pacheco’s upcoming bout against Cris Cyborg on October 19. In the process, they appeared to ridicule Harrison’s sole career defeat.

    PFL co-founder Donn Davis has also often asserted that Harrison departed the promotion out of fear, avoiding potential matchups with Pacheco and Cyborg. However, Harrison appears undeterred by the incessant criticism…

    Harrison On PFL Targeting Her: ‘I’m not going to go low’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Harrison weighed in on the PFL’s attempts to mock her through their promotional video. The former Olympic wrestler stated that she has no intention of speaking negatively about her previous organization, emphasizing her pride in having contributed to its growth.

    “I operate from a place of gratitude, and I grew up in that organization,” Harrison said. “I was able to financially provide for my family. I have financial abundance. I grew so much there. I’m grateful for what I believe I helped build over there. I feel like I was a big part of that, and I take pride in that.

    I’m not going to go low. I’m not going to talk sh*t… That’s not who I am as a person. That’s not the kind of business that I want to do. That’s not what I want to be known for. So I’ll just keep my head down, work hard, you want to talk sh*t about me? Go ahead. I helped build that company.”

    At the UFC 307 press conference, UFC CEO Dana White responded to the unfolding drama between the PFL and Harrison with a chuckle, remarking, “When you’re losing as much money as they are, f**king go for it.”

  • Jake Paul Issues $5M Wager To Mike Tyson

    Jake Paul Issues $5M Wager To Mike Tyson

    Jake Paul recently issued an audacious $5 million challenge to Mike Tyson ahead of their highly anticipated boxing clash.

    “The Problem Child” is preparing to face off against Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight contest set for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Originally scheduled for July 20, the fight was postponed after “Iron Mike” experienced an ulcer flare-up in May.

    Ever since the fight was announced earlier this year, the matchup has been met with widespread skepticism, largely due to the substantial 31-year age gap between Paul and Tyson. Despite the doubts, the boxing icon has repeatedly assured fans that he’s in top form and more than ready to step back into the ring.

    The former undisputed heavyweight champion hung up his gloves after facing Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson returned to the squared circle in November 2022 for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., which concluded in a draw.

    Meanwhile, Paul is riding high on the momentum of a sixth-round knockout victory over Mike Perry in July. Currently on a four-fight winning streak, he has only tasted defeat once, falling to Tommy Fury via split decision in February 2023. “The Problem Child” has made a name for himself by toppling former MMA stars, including Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley.

    With just a month remaining until their matchup, Paul has thrown out an intriguing proposition for “Iron Mike” that could earn him an extra hefty payday.

    Paul Offers $5M If Tyson Lasts Beyond Round 4

    In a TikTok video earlier this week, Paul raised the stakes for his upcoming bout with Tyson, offering a lucrative $5 million bonus if the boxing legend can withstand his barrage past the fourth round. However, the YouTuber-turned-boxer added a playful twist—should ‘Iron Mike’ fail, he’ll have to get a tattoo that reads, “I Love Jake Paul.”

    “Mikey Mikey, if you can last more than four rounds with me, I’ll give you an extra $5 million,” Paul said in the video. “But if you don’t, then you have to get a tattoo that says, ‘I Love Jake Paul.’”

    Paul’s tattoo challenge isn’t exactly a new tactic. After his victory over Woodley in August 2021, the former UFC welterweight champion demanded an immediate rematch. “The Problem Child” agreed, but only on one condition: if he triumphed again, Woodley would have to get an “I Love Jake Paul” tattoo.

    True to his word, after Paul knocked him out, “The Chosen One” followed through and inked the tattoo on the inside of his middle finger.

  • Bisping: Alex Pereira Convincing UFC To Sign His Former Rival Speaks Volumes

    Bisping: Alex Pereira Convincing UFC To Sign His Former Rival Speaks Volumes

    Usually it’s up the UFC matchmakers or Dana White himself to decide which talent they want to bring into the promotion. At the Apex this past Tuesday night on another episode of Contender Series, it was the promotion’s light heavyweight champion that helped make this call.

    Alex Pereira told White why he should sign his former kickboxing rival Artem Vakhitov despite the fact that he delivered a performance that wasn’t overly impressive. The elite striker did get the first round finish but he didn’t exactly blow the roof off the place either.

    “Poatan” jokingly remarked to his former opponent in a video that was posted on social media that Vakhitov now owes him one.

    Michael Bisping Gives Credit To Alex Pereira For Pushing UFC To Sign Artem Vakhitov

    Michael Bisping, who was on commentary for this episode of Contender Series, gave his thoughts on the situation in a recent YouTube video. He said that what Pereira did at the Apex shows exactly the kind of competitor that he is.

    Though Vakhitov is a long way away from getting a shot at the light heavyweight title, his history with Pereira as the last man to beat the Brazilian star in kickboxing is exactly why he’s there in the first place.

    Bisping said it should be commended how Pereira could have easily dismissed his previous opponent, knowing that he could be a threat to him at some stage. The former UFC middleweight champion also pointed out that this could be Pereira being motivated by revenge.

    “The fact that Dana asked him, ‘Hey, this guys who’s the last person to beat you,’ that might get kind of fast tracked a little bit, that might possibly get decent favorable match-ups to meet you because there’s a big storyline and he was the last person to beat you and if he stands and trades with you and plays you at your own game, he might take the title off you. Pereira could have said, ‘well it wasn’t that good was it really, I expected more.’ He could have played down the performance but no, he said he absolutely deserves a shot, gibe him a shot. I’m telling you right, that not only speaks about the type of man that he is but it also speaks about the type of competitor that he is.”

  • Sean Strickland To Train With Bellator Champion For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch

    Sean Strickland To Train With Bellator Champion For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch

    It is all but official that Sean Strickland will be fighting Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship next. When they last fought in January 2024, DDP won a razor-close split decision to become the new champion.

    Strickland returned in June 2024 to win yet another split decision, this time against Paulo Costa which he believed to be enough for another title shot. Du Plessis, on the other hand, defended the title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, becoming the first fighter to submit “The Last Stylebender.”

    To ensure Strickland doesn’t lose the rematch, Eric Nicksick will rely on a Bellator champion who brings out the best in his fighter…

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Trusts Johhny Eblen With Emulating Dricus Du Plessis’ Style In Training

    Nicksick recently appeared on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel to discuss his fighters like Francis Ngannou, Strickland, and Daniel Zellhuber. When asked about the former UFC middleweight champion, he admitted that a better game plan could’ve helped him beat “Stillknocks”.

    The coach then brought up Johnny Eblen, the reigning Bellator middleweight champion. The undefeated American fighter has defended the belt three times and will rematch Fabian Edwards in the upcoming Saudi Arabia card. After healing up from the fight, Nicksick expects Eblen to join Strickland in training for DDP.

    “I’m bringing in Johnny Eblen, for sure. Like, I brought Johhny in, we brought Johnny in for, well, we bring him in all the time but Johnny will fight on the Saudi card so once he gets healed up and ready to come, we’ll have him out here. Johnny brings the best out of Sean, and in styles, I think Johnny can emulate so many different styles for us. He’s another guy I consider a teammate although he’s a, you know, ATT champion. We cross train quite a bit so I’m gonna lean heavy on Johnny Eblen this camp.”

    The coach credited Du Plessis for having an unorthodox yet effective fighting style. Although it is hard to copy such a fighter, he believes Eblen to be the best at it. Despite being an American Top Team fighter, he regularly cross-trains at Xtreme Couture.

    On top of having the best training partners possible, Nicksick wants to rectify a bunch of errors this time around. He highlighted Strickland’s high dependency on his jab and believes adding more tools to his fighter’s arsenal could be worthwhile.

  • Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou Doesn’t Feel Like A Title Fight To Coach – ‘Hasn’t Been Promoted’

    Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou Doesn’t Feel Like A Title Fight To Coach – ‘Hasn’t Been Promoted’

    Francis Ngannou will take on Renan Ferreira for the PFL heavyweight championship on October 19, 2024. The Battle Of The Giants PPV will be the first time fans will witness “The Predator” in MMA since leaving the UFC.

    Ngannou’s last MMA fight was against Ciryl Gane in 2022 when he defended his UFC heavyweight title. By grappling with the challenger for three rounds, he established himself as one of the most well-rounded heavyweight fighters in the world and went on to box Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

    Ngannou’s return to MMA is certainly a huge deal for fans worldwide, but according to his coach, the PFL hasn’t promoted it in the best way possible…

    Eric Nicksick Coach Critcizes PFL’s Battle Of The Giants Theme For Renan Ferreira vs. Francis Ngannou

    Nicksick discussed the upcoming PFL fight between Ngannou and Ferreira on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel. Like many others, he was surprised by the PFL not emphasizing their main event is for the lineal heavyweight championship.

    The PFL has instead marketed Ferreira and Ngannou as two giants boasting unreal knockout power. According to Nicksick, he has to remind himself that “The Predator” is fighting for a title because the promotion is very different from how the UFC promotes a title fight.

    “I literally forgot we’re, let’s say forgot we’re fighting for a title. But it’s like, oh we get another title fight, you know. You think of a five- rounder or whatever else, it’s like that’s how much it hasn’t been promoted. Like, we know, it’s a title fight in the back of my mind, but I had to like, reassure we’re fighting for a title here. You know, it’s like I feel the same way- it’s like I want to hear that more rather than like these two giants fighting. This is for the PFL title, you know. This is huge man, so I don’t know man, I just wish it was promoted a little bit better too.”

    Nicksick admitted to expecting better promotion by the PFL, considering Ngannou’s solid legacy as a UFC champion and his popular bouts against Joshua and Fury.

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Discards Chin-Related Concerns Against Renan Ferreira Despite Anthony Joshua KO

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Discards Chin-Related Concerns Against Renan Ferreira Despite Anthony Joshua KO

    Francis Ngannou last fought in the UFC in January 2022 and left the promotion amidst contract disputes. He’s since had two boxing matches, against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although he lost both bouts, the fight against Fury went the distance and many backed him to be the winner.

    On October 19, 2024, Ngannou will finally make his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira. The PFL heavyweight champ knocked out Ryan Bader to claim the title and his first defense is against the lineal heavyweight champion of mixed martial arts.

    Ferreira can end the fight anytime he lands like Ngannou. Despite his fighter coming off a KO loss in boxing, Eric Nicksick is confident in “The Predator” having superior boxing and grappling…

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Admits To Wresting-Heavy Game Plan Against Ferreira But Denies Knockout Threat

    Nicksick recently discussed the future of many of his fighters during an interview on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel. The coach was asked if fans should be worried about Ngannou’s chin deteriorating, as he’s now 38 and last suffered a crushing KO loss against Joshua.

    With 4 oz gloves that are far lighter than standard boxing gloves, Ferreira certainly boasts dangerous knockout power. However, according to Nicksick, Ngannou has an equal chance to knock his opponent out and his boxing has improved drastically in the last couple of years. “The Predator” has largely worked on his movement and knows how to roll with the punches to absorb damage.

    “It turns into a coin flip, right? Like these guys touch you with 4 oz gloves, somebody’s going to sleep. Now, what we do have in our favor is I think the fact that Francis has been working a lot of his boxing, a lot of his footwork, and understanding how to roll with those punches, how to tie his counters into his defense. Just the evolution of his striking to me has gotten much more crisper, much more pristine, over the last couple years and I know that we weren’t able to show that in the Anthony Joshua fight, but, leading up to that Anthony Joshua fight, I mean, he literally, I mean, the best I’ve ever seen him, you know.”

    Nicksick claimed that Ngannou’s boxing was at its best ahead of the Joshua fight. He couldn’t showcase this to the world, though, because at heavyweight, every match is a coin flip thanks to the power each fighter possesses.

    After praising Ngannou’s boxing prowess, Nicksick also admitted to having a grappling-heavy plan against Ferreira. He expects over 25% of the PFL main event this weekend to be on the ground, indicating Ngannou will be ready to grapple if things go south.

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Weigh-In Results: 3 Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira Weigh-In Results: 3 Miss Weight

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After returning to Salt Lake City, Utah for its latest numbered event, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back at its home base to stage another card at the Apex.

    Topping the lineup will be a high-stakes flyweight affair, as former title challenger Brandon Royval looks to secure another shot at unseating Alexandre Pantoja from the throne. To do so, he’ll need to blemish the perfect professional record of rising Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira.

    Elsewhere, the likes of middleweight veteran Brad Tavares, formerly ranked lightweight Grant Dawson, and knockout artist Abdul Razak Alhassan will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira takes place on Saturday, October 12, 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 full replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Royval (125.5lbs) vs. Tatsuro Taira (125.5lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Brad Tavares (185lbs) vs. JunYong Park (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Chidi Njokuani (170.5lbs) vs. Jared Gooden (172.5lbs)**
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (156lbs) vs. Rafa Garcia (154.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez (170lbs) vs. Alex Morono (170.5lbs)
    • Middleweight: Abdul Razak Alhassan (186lbs) vs. Josh Fremd (189lbs)*

    Preliminary Card:

    • Flyweight: CJ Vergara (126lbs) vs. Ramazonbek Temirov (125.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jonathan Pearce (145lbs) vs. Pat Sabatini (145lbs)
    • Welterweight: Themba Gorimbo (170.5lbs) vs. Niko Price (170.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa (241lbs) vs. Sean Sharaf (252lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Julia Polastri (115lbs) vs. Cory McKenna (115lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Dan Argueta (138.5lbs)*** vs. Cody Haddon (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Clayton Carpenter (125.5lbs) vs. Lucas Rocha (125.5lbs)

    *Josh Fremd missed the middleweight limit by 3 pounds, fight canceled

    **Jared Gooden missed the welterweight limit by 1.5 pounds, fight status TBC

    ***Dan Argueta missed the bantamweight limit by 2.5 pounds, fight status TBC

  • Cody Garbrandt Reveals The Secret Behind His Win Over Dominick Cruz

    Cody Garbrandt Reveals The Secret Behind His Win Over Dominick Cruz

    What Cody Garbrandt accomplished back at UFC 207 in 2016 will go down in the UFC history books as one of the greatest performances from a title challenger that we have ever seen. The 10-0 knockout artist was a significant underdog for good reason against, arguably the greatest 135-pounder of all time, Dominick Cruz.

    Garbrandt had put together an impressive run of finishes and had a good narrative with Cruz due to the champion’s history with defeating fighters from Team Alpha Male. However, “No Love” was able to beat the champion at his own game, putting on the kind of performance that no one could have expected.

    He broke down how he was able to secure the biggest win of his career and make it look easy during a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast.

    Garbrandt’s Keys to Beating Dominick Cruz

    Garbrandt said that he already knew a lot about Cruz heading into the fight and that removed the need for him to try and pick apart the unorthodox style that “The Dominator” used to stay a step ahead of his opponents at all times.

    His incredibly unique footwork, timing and angles was something that the challenger was well prepared for due to several factors.

    For a start, he was surrounded by several fighters that had already faced Cruz inside the Octagon and were able to pass what they had learned on to him. Garbrandt also came through the early stages of his career whilst watching Cruz rise through the WEC and into the UFC so he had been studying his game for many years.

    Finally, as he stated on the podcast, Garbrandt also believes that his training from a young age helped him to deal with an opponent like the champion who would be constantly moving. This, he states, was the missing piece of the puzzle that so many others didn’t have.

    “Like I said, watching him, I knew his rhythm and his footwork, just watching him over and over again and then just my style. For sure, my uncle was there since the beginning so he groomed me for this kind of fights. A lot of movement, staying tight, staying high guard, little angles, moving with him.

    That’s one thing, I think a lot of people get in there with Dominick and they’re like, ‘Ah, his footwork, he’s unorthodox, he moves differently,’ and they just kind of like sit there and wait for him to get his rhythm. You got to dance with that guy, you can’t let him do the dance.”

  • Trailer For ‘LA Cage’ Netflix MMA Series feat. Jon Jones & GSP

    Trailer For ‘LA Cage’ Netflix MMA Series feat. Jon Jones & GSP

    A new upcoming MMA TV series is coming to Netflix on November 8 with the French release, “LA CAGE”, arriving on the streaming service. The show follows Melvin Boomer’s lead character who is a young fighter that dreams of making it to the top.

    In this Rocky-like rise, he’s given an opportunity to take that next big step in his career which will lead to bigger and better things.

    All five episodes of the series are directed by Franck Gastambide who also stars in the series, appearing to play the role of Boomer’s coach.

    However, the real element that is going to get MMA fans talking is the inclusion of some of the biggest names in the sport today.

    The trailer that has been released for La Cage shows that no expense has been spared to make this a major release for fight fans. It features three major promotions in the UFC, KSW and French promotion ARES, all with fight scenes that take place at live events.

    Also, the likes of Jon Jones, Ciryl Gane and Georges St-Pierre are all playing themselves. St-Pierre would appear to be the most relevant of the three as the former two-weight UFC champion ends up becoming a part of the team as a huge inspiration to the young fighter.

    La Cage’s IMDB page also lists several other notable names from the French MMA scene as cast members, including the UFC’s Taylor Lapilus and Morgan Charriere, PFL’s Abdoul Abdouraguimov, KSW’s Salahdine Parnasse and ONE Championship’s Anissa Meksen.

    Gane’s involvement in the series would appear to be the reason that he declined fighting Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 304 in July.

  • Nate Diaz Backs A BMF Tournament, But Rejects 2 Proposed Participants

    Nate Diaz Backs A BMF Tournament, But Rejects 2 Proposed Participants

    Nate Diaz has shared his thoughts on Dustin Poirier’s exciting idea for a four-man tournament to determine the next holder of the BMF title. UFC President Dana White has shown some interest in the concept.

    The BMF belt was last defended in April at UFC 300 when Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in a spectacular finish. Poirier, who suffered a knockout loss to Gaethje in their BMF title fight at UFC 291, recently suggested a tournament that would feature himself, Gaethje, Holloway, and Dan Hooker as the competitors.

    Diaz has a notable history with the BMF title, having fought for it in its inaugural match in late 2019 against Jorge Masvidal at Madison Square Garden. The doctor stopped the fight due to a cut on Diaz, resulting in a victory for Masvidal.

    Diaz expressed his opinion on social media about Poirier’s proposed tournament lineup. He feels that Dan Hooker and Max Halloway should be eligible, but the “other 2 nerds” (Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier) aren’t worthy.

    Diaz’s last UFC fight took place at UFC 279, where he secured a fourth-round guillotine choke submission against former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.

  • Bisping Sees UFC Championship Potential In Artem Vakhitov

    Bisping Sees UFC Championship Potential In Artem Vakhitov

    Artem Vakhitov wouldn’t be signed to the UFC right now if it wasn’t for the light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. The former GLORY kickboxer, who was the last man to beat “Poatan” in the sport, earned a contract on this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    Let alone getting this opportunity if it wasn’t for the history that he has with Pereira, the champion himself convinced Dana White to give his former foe a contract after the UFC boss wasn’t overly impressed by his performance at the Apex.

    Vakhitov is still very early on in his MMA career but of course, a third fight between them taking place in MMA would be a big deal but that’s still a long way in the distance right now.

    Bisping on Artem Vakhitov’s Potential

    Vakhitov is sure to get some special treatment once he arrives into the UFC, even if he just moves through the ranks a little faster than most.

    The issue with that is that he’s not ready to compete against top contenders at light heavyweight however, a striking match between him and Pereira would suit him a lot better.

    Former UFC champion Michael Bisping gave his reaction to how this all played out during a recent YouTube video.

    “The Count” was on commentary for this episode and though he also wasn’t overwhelmed by what he saw from Vakhitov on his UFC job interview, he believes that Pereira’s former rival could make it to the top in the years to come. Acknowledging it’s going to be a long road to the top, Bisping sees the greatness.

    “ I think he could do it, I think he’s got the potential. He’s got to work on the takedown defense. he’s got to get used to the little gloves. he’s got to get used to people with offbeat rhythms, because MMA strikers are a bit different to polished kickboxers but if he can do that.

    if he can do the work and apply himself, I think he could have a very bright future and we could see that fight at some point down the line.” 

    – Michael Bisping on Vakhitov’s potential

  • Mario Bautista Blames José Aldo For Grappling-Heavy UFC 307 Ending: ‘He Chose To Stay There’

    Bantamweight contender Mario Bautista believes the criticism of how his fight with José Aldo unfolded at UFC 307 should be directed at the Brazilian.

    The pair collided on the main card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City, with Bautista looking to replace Aldo inside the top 10 at 135 pounds.

    Across three rounds, the 31-year-old achieved that feat, extending his winning run to seven and securing a rise to #9 in the rankings by falling on the right side of a split decision verdict in Utah.

    The manner with which he had his hand raised, however, caused considerable debate online, with many suggesting that his low-action grappling was over-rewarded by two judges.

    Bautista Claims Aldo Could Have Escaped Positions At UFC 307, Opted Not To

    During a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, Bautista reflected on his successful display in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5, which saw his record’s win column receive its biggest addition to date.

    The 31-year-old questioned the reaction to his approach in round three, insisting that any and all backlash to the way the fight concluded should be directed at Aldo.

    “I just wanted him to keep on working. I just wanted him to break out of the clinch, use that energy to get out. And then just kind of stay stuck to him. Keep him working, working,” Bautista said. “I just didn’t really think he was going to — I don’t know, I guess just stay on the wall.

    “I thought he was going to get out. … There were points where like, yeah he was defending the takedown and maybe he could have circled off, but he just chose to stay there,” Bautista continued. “Yeah, I was holding him against the cage. But at the same, I think he did have opportunities to circle off, it’s just he chose not to. … Maybe that’s his resting area. … ‘Maybe the ref will separate us and I’ll be able to get my strikes off,’ and this and that.”

    Bautista went on to say that, as a fan of the sport himself, frustration in that situation should always be toward the fighter who is unable to break the clinch and circle away.

    In addition to the portions of the fanbase giving him stick, Bautista also hit back at one specific individual on social media post-fight, taking aim at Henry Cejudo for the former champ’s negative assessment of his UFC 307 performance.

  • UFC Legend Glover Teixeira Teases Comeback With Pereira’s Encouragement

    UFC Legend Glover Teixeira Teases Comeback With Pereira’s Encouragement

    Glover Teixeira recently revealed that he’s contemplating a UFC comeback, spurred on by none other than Alex Pereira.

    Teixeira hung up his gloves for good after a one-sided unanimous decision defeat to Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in January 2023. This marked his second consecutive loss following a fifth-round submission to Jiří Procházka at UFC 275 in June 2022, a result that saw him lose the UFC light heavyweight title.

    Since stepping away from the sport, the 44-year-old Brazilian has embraced the role of mentor to reigning UFC 205-pound kingpin Pereira, playing an instrumental part in his fellow countryman’s meteoric rise to the top of the division.

    It seems that being surrounded by elite athletes and coaching them has reignited Teixeira’s competitive spirit, awakening a newfound enthusiasm for making his return…

    Teixeira On His Potential Comeback: ‘I Keep Going After Challenges’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Teixeira disclosed his aspirations for a possible return to active competition, be it within the UFC or through another venture.

    “There’s nothing [booked], but I’ll definitely go back to competition,” Teixeira said. “I keep going after challenges. It’s hard to stay [training] with no reason why, so I’ll definitely do something. I want to compete. I’ll do some jiu-jitsu, I wanna do… I don’t know, maybe boxing. Or even go back for some fights in the UFC. That’s got to be it because it’s hard, man. I’m feeling great, fighting hard with the guys in the gym. I’ve rolled with some wrestlers, training with Sean Strickland and ‘Poatan.’”

    The former UFC light heavyweight champion further shared that it has been Pereira encouraging him to consider a comeback to the sport.

    “I was doing some light sparring with ‘Poatan’ the other day, and he’s like, ‘F**k, Glover, you have to come back!’ I’m training well, and I’m feeling good. I love this. I’m not saying I want to fight, but I want to compete. If it’s jiu-jitsu, Lovato, or guys like that, I wanna do some matches, that’s for sure.”

    Teixeira made his UFC debut in May 2012 and experienced a career filled with significant highs and lows. After an impressive five-fight win streak from 2019 to 2020, he captured the UFC light heavyweight title by defeating Jan Błachowicz at UFC 267 in October 2021.

    Teixeira currently holds a professional record of 33-9, with 18 of those victories coming by way of knockout and 10 secured through submissions.

  • Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor

    Khalil Rountree Reveals Post-Fight Advice From Conor McGregor

    Anyone who was watching along during UFC 307 this past weekend will have noticed one thing on social media.

    Conor McGregor is well known, or “Notorious” you could say, for being very vocal about his opinions on fights and people’s performances. This was the case during the PPV card in Salt Lake City where he weighed in on several fights that place on the main card, from Kevin Holland’s injury to Mario Bautista’s controversial win.

    Like every fight fan, McGregor came away from the event with two strong feelings following an entertaining main event. He was both impressed by the performance that Alex Pereira delivered and the toughness and will displayed by Khalil Rountree.

    McGregor’s Advice

    Having posted on social media via his own X account and in comment sections underneath Instagram posts, McGregor has already made his feelings on the main event clear.

    However, he did also personally reach out to Rountree as the title challenger recently revealed during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast.

    The #8-ranked contender was able to surprise a lot of people by starting the first few rounds with a decent amount of success but ultimately, wasn’t able to maintain this.

    He recapped his performance with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, stating what he could have done better to push Pereira even further.

    Rountree said that one key point regarding him not pressuring “Poatan” enough was made to him by McGregor in a serious of messages that he received once UFC 307 was behind him.

    “A couple days after the fight I got some messages from Conor and it was really cool to get some messages from him, but one thing he pointed out was that I could’ve put more pressure.

    Just like you were saying, when he was going up against the cage, yeah, he has that left hook, but if I would have just been a little bit more relentless with my pressure and not backed off so much and retook the centre of the cage, I think I would’ve been able to apply a little more damage to him”

    – Khalil Roundtree
  • UK Politician To Compete At Page vs. Condit-Headlined Polaris Event

    UK Politician To Compete At Page vs. Condit-Headlined Polaris Event

    Polaris 30 has already made some headlines in the MMA world for the marquee match-up that will headline the grappling event in London on November 2.

    At the top of the card, UFC star Michael “Venom” Page will face a former icon of his weight class when he competes against former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit.

    Polaris has been known to attract big names from the MMA world for special one-off attractions and this event is set to be no different. However, where the promotion is breaking new ground is by getting coverage outside of the sporting world.

    That’s thanks to Will Stone who will also be in action at the event despite being an active politician in the English town of Swindon.

    UK MP Will Stone Books Polaris Contest Against MMA Veteran

    Stone was elected as the MP, or Member of Parliament, for Swindon North in July but prior to this, was a dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He’s spent 17 years learning the art and even ran his own 10th Planet school in his local area before having to hand it over when he became an MP.

    Stone will be taking on a veteran of the UK MMA scene in SBG Manchester’s Matt Inman who previously fought 12 times in Cage Warriors. The politician hopes that by doing this, he can help to raise the profile of the sport.

    “I’m not trying to be the best in the world, I’m not even trying to be the best at my club anymore. I’m going there because it’s a fun thing to do and I love the sport,” he told ITV West Country.

    When I started 17 years ago very few people knew what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was….but if it wasn’t for me doing this, 90% of the people in parliament wouldn’t know what it is.”

    – Will Stone
  • Yaroslav Amosov Planned To Join The UFC While Still Being In Bellator

    Yaroslav Amosov Planned To Join The UFC While Still Being In Bellator

    Last month, former Bellator welterweight champion Yaroslav Amosov announced that he is now a free agent.

    He posted on Instagram to share the news and reflect on his time in Bellator where he spent the best part of six years with the promotion. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Amosov provided more in details about the decision to leave Bellator and what his next steps will be.

    Having teased a potential move over to the UFC in his initial post, whether we will see him step inside the Octagon was always going to be the question that everyone had on their minds.

    Yaroslav Amosov Says The UFC Has Been On His Mind For Quite Some Time

    Amosov detailed to Nolan King how he had been waiting to for his Bellator contract to expire after not being offered any fights by the promotion. However, leaving them to pursue his dreams of fighting in the UFC was already something that he had made clear, which he thinks may be why there was a longer period of waiting.

    “Maybe 2023, one maybe two years ago, we said to Bellator that we had a plan, we don’t want to continue on, we don’t want to sign new contract and after finishing contract, we go outside and I think that’s why continue my contract in one year. Maybe that’s why but yeah, we have plan, we will go to UFC.”

    – Yaroslav Amosov

    The plan that Amosov speaks about is fairly simple, he wants to sign a one-fight deal elsewhere, potentially looking at January as an ideal time frame, and then move into the UFC.

    This is somewhat similar to the path that former ONE Championship fighter Reinier de Ridder took recently where after getting one win on UAE Warriors, he was announced to have signed with the UFC shortly after. Amosov has clearly had his sights set on the MMA leader for some time but now he can put his plan into action.

    “Now we have plan. We sign contract to just one fight and after one fight, we want go to UFC.”

    – Yaroslav Amosov
  • Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    Francis Ngannou: PFL Opponent Renan Ferreira A ‘Little Less Than Me’ In All Areas

    While Francis Ngannou respects the threat that upcoming PFL foe Renan Ferreira brings to the table, he doesn’t see where the Brazilian is superior.

    Ngannou is set to make the walk for an MMA fight for the first time since a successful UFC title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. Following that, “The Predator” was sidelined through injury before choosing to exit the promotion at the start of last year.

    After putting pen to paper on an MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League, Ngannou used his newfound freedom to make his long-held boxing ambitions a reality.

    And although consecutive bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua led many to question his future in the cage, the Cameroonian will indeed resume his MMA career on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, where he’s slated to headline a PFL pay-per-view against Ferreira.

    The Brazilian veteran is coming off title success in the PFL’s heavyweight season last year and a rapid knockout of Bellator kingpin Ryan Bader this past February.

    Despite his opponent’s winning form, however, Ngannou sees no area of the game where he’ll be outmatched by Ferreira come fight night…

    Ngannou Brands Ferreira A ‘Lesser Version’ Of Him

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Ngannou looked ahead to his upcoming return to MMA competition in the Middle East.

    When discussing the threat posed by “Problema,” Ngannou acknowledged that his foe is solid in all areas. But in terms of where the Brazilian’s abilities could surpass his, “The Predator” sees nothing.

    “I don’t know. He is very athletic. He’s very skilled, well-rounded,” Ngannou said. “But I think whatever it is, it’s a little less than me [laughs]. He is a little less version of me, I would say so.”

    Ngannou will look to prove that assessment correct come fight night in Riyadh next weekend, when he dips his toes back into mixed martial arts waters for the first time in close to three years.

  • Brandon Royval Labels Next Opponent Tatsuro Taira ‘Overrated’

    Brandon Royval Labels Next Opponent Tatsuro Taira ‘Overrated’

    Brandon Royval attempts to continue making the case for why he deserves another flyweight title shot this weekend.

    The #1-ranked contender seemingly has less to gain than his opponent in their upcoming main event clash at the UFC Apex.

    Tatsuro Taira will be difficult to deny if he’s able to extend his undefeated streak in the UFC to seven by taking out his toughest test in “Raw Dawg”.

    Royval knows that there’s a lot of hype around his next opponent and that gives him the opportunity to steal some of the momentum so that he can force his way into another rematch with the champion, Alexandre Pantoja.

    The excitement around the 24-year old Taira is seemingly reflected in the betting odds for this fight that have the Japanese contender as the favorite.

    Brandon Royval Believes That The Odds Makers Are Way Off On His Next Match-Up

    In an interview with Mike Heck for MMA Fighting, Royval gave his reaction to being the underdog in this fight despite his experience at the top level.

    The former title challenger has trained with his upcoming opponent in the past, stating in a different interview that they last worked together around a year ago.

    Despite being impressed by Taira’s winning streak inside the Octagon, he did say that he was somewhat surprised to be fighting him this soon.

    Royval told MMA Fighting that when he looks at the betting odds, he’s convinced that hype has led to things being the wrong way round, suggesting that Taira isn’t as good as this line suggests.

    “When I saw that I’m like, am I seeing something wrong or whatever. I’m one of the most underrated dudes in the flyweight division, I’ve been thinking that for years and I also think Taira might be one of the most overrated guys in this division right now, and no disrespect on him. I’ve trained with him, he seems like a very nice kid and I’m not trying to be disrespectful. I do believe he’ll be a champion one day but I think he’s overrated and I think I’m underrated.”

  • Brandon Royval On Failed Talks To Fight UFC Newcomer: ‘Asked For More Money…They Said No’

    Brandon Royval On Failed Talks To Fight UFC Newcomer: ‘Asked For More Money…They Said No’

    UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royval returns to action on Saturday night at the Apex, but he nearly had a much different assignment a couple of months ago.

    Royval last competed in Mexico City this past February, where he exacted revenge on Brandon Moreno in their headlining rematch. With that result, “Raw Dawg” is ranked #1 at 125 pounds.

    He’ll now have the chance to potentially secure another shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s title this weekend, when he tops a UFC Fight Night lineup at the Apex opposite the #5-ranked Tatsuro Taira.

    Had the UFC’s plans come to fruition, however, Royval would have been set to compete in other surroundings against a fighter without a number next to their name — or a UFC fight on their record…

    Royval On Rejecting Asakura Fight: ‘Not Getting A Guaranteed Title Shot, Not Getting More Money…’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Royval looked ahead to his upcoming headliner with Taira and revealed that he was almost set for a much different test far from home.

    “Raw Dawg” said he was offered the chance to welcome Kai Asakura to the promotion at the UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia this past August.

    But after his requests for additional payment for the long-distance trip and guarantees of a title shot should he win were rejected, Royval opted against heading Down Under to face the former Rizin champion.

    “They offered me that fight (Asakura) in Australia,” Royval said. “I asked them for more money, I asked for a handful of stuff, and they said no. And then I asked them for one of any of those things, and they said no. And I was like, all right, well, then I’m not gonna go f*cking fight some dude, not in the UFC, for not much money, all the way across the (world) where I’m not getting any sleep. I’m not getting any of this, I’m not getting a guaranteed title shot, I’m not getting any more money.

    “I got to bring my whole team out there if I’m going to go out there because I need to get my Arcadian rhythm in cycle. So it’s like, I got to fly out my whole team and guys that look like Kai Asakura. So it was one of those (things where) financially, (it) doesn’t make sense to me,” Royval continued. “And then it’s also, like, the risk doesn’t (exceed) the reward. If I go out there and lose, I just lost (to) somebody without a ranking, and if I go out there and win, they’re not guaranteeing me a title shot or anything. So there was really no reward in that.”

    Things have seemingly worked out well for Royval, who is now days away from facing a fellow top-five contender in what will mark his second consecutive UFC main event.

  • TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’

    TJ Dillashaw ‘Not Mad’ With José Aldo Losing UFC 307 Decision: ‘Lost The Fight Himself’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw doesn’t have much sympathy for José Aldo after he came up short in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

    Aldo returned on the main card of the UFC 307 pay-per-view on Oct. 5, making his second appearance inside the Octagon since bringing his short-lived retirement to an end in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.

    While the Brazilian immediately forged a path back into the rankings at 135 pounds by getting the better of Jonathan Martinez, Mario Bautista was able to spoil his plans for a late-career title shot in Utah.

    The 33-year-old fell on the right side of a split decision verdict, a result that proved controversial. Many gave the nod to Aldo after determining that Bautista didn’t do enough with his control against the cage.

    UFC CEO Dana White was among those questioning the two judges who leant the way of Bautista. One of the division’s former titleholders, however, saw no issue with the result…

    Dillashaw: Aldo ‘Kept Himself’ Against The Cage

    During a recent episode of the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw reflected on the events that unfolded at UFC 307, including the main card clash in the weight class he formerly ruled over.

    Dillashaw differed from many with his take on Aldo vs. Bautista. He insisted that the ex-featherweight kingpin could have done much more to avoid granting Bautista such a long period of control in round three, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

    “It surprises me…there’s techniques like this that (Aldo) doesn’t like — get off the cage,” Dillashaw said. “The loss for him, like with the fight cards, they thought Aldo should’ve won. I don’t know. He kept himself there (against the cage). Like, I’m not too mad. He lost the fight himself.”

    It remains to be seen what comes next for Aldo, who was hoping to defend his spot inside the bantamweight top 10 in Salt Lake City before focusing on those above him.

    With his UFC 307 loss marking the first bout on a new multi-fight deal with MMA’s leading promotion, Aldo will likely look to rebound and revive his ongoing ambitions inside the Octagon soon enough.

  • VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    VIDEO: Ilia Topuria & Max Holloway Trade Barbs In Face-To-Face Interview Ahead Of UFC 308

    The build-up to the UFC’s annual October pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi has picked up with a face-to-face interview between its two headliners.

    The promotion will be back in the Middle East for the third time this year, and back inside the Etihad Arena just over two months on from UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov being staged at the venue.

    This time, the Abu Dhabi crowd will be treated to championship stakes and one of the most highly anticipated fights of 2024 thus far, as featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria puts his gold on the line opposite legend Max Holloway.

    Topuria, Holloway Verbally Spar Pre-UFC 308

    In the months leading up to UFC 308, the pair set to collide in the main event have gone back and forth on social media and during their respective interviews.

    And that trend continued weeks out from the Oct. 26 event, as “El Matador” and “Blessed” joined UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald for a virtual face-to-face interaction.

    Fitzgerald wasn’t required too often, with Topuria and Holloway frequently abandoning questions to trade barbs at one another.

    On the champ’s side, the Georgian-Spaniard dismissed Holloway’s boxing credentials and gave a critical review of his UFC 300 win over Justin Gaethje, branding the fight “boring” and the last-second knockout absent of technique.

    Holloway’s rebuttals remained consistent throughout: we’ll see what happens on Oct. 26.

  • UFC Fighter Antonio Trócoli Arrested, Accused Of Assaulting Mackenzie Dern’s Ex-Husband

    UFC Fighter Antonio Trócoli Arrested, Accused Of Assaulting Mackenzie Dern’s Ex-Husband

    UFC middleweight Antonio Trócoli was arrested in California last Friday on misdemeanor battery charges.

    The Brazilian was apprehended following an incident in Huntington Beach, which allegedly involved the ex-husband of UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, to whom Trócoli is now married.

    The arrest was confirmed by police in an email to MMA Fighting this week.

    “A subject by the name of Antonio Trocoli da Silveira Filho was arrested by the Huntington Beach Police Department on Oct. 4, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the 8700 block of Dolphin Street, Huntington Beach,” Huntington Beach police said in a statement. “He was arrested for misdemeanor battery, and the case has been sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s Officer for review.”

    The Orange County district attorney’s office has not officially brought a case against Trócoli, 33, who lost his short-notice UFC debut to Sharabutdin Magomedov in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Antonio Trocoli & Shara Magomedov
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Dern’s Ex-Husband Claims Video Shows Trócoli Punching Him

    Although official details provided by police are scarce, Dern’s ex-husband sent a statement to MMA Fighting in which he claims to have been the victim of Trócoli’s alleged assault.

    Wesley Santos — a professional surfer who was formerly married to Dern and has a daughter, Moa, with the strawweight fighter — accused Trócoli of ongoing harassment, including sending abusive messages by way of his child.

    He claims things came to a head last Friday after he dropped his daughter off at school, following which he says Trócoli pulled up in a car and proceeded to strike him before fleeing.

    “Mackenzie Dern is my ex-wife and after our divorce she married Antonio ‘Malvado’ Jose Trocoli da Silveira Filho,” Santos said. “We divorced and have shared custody of our daughter Moa, but Antonio never stopped following me. We had a deal that he would not be part of the custody but he was always nearby, threatening and disturbing in every custody change. He sent messages through Moa, saying he would beat me up, and Moa told me clearly.

    “I dropped my daughter at school this past Friday and was going back home on a skateboard when I saw a white car stop, and I started recording. It was Antonio. He got out of the car and punched me, and the car kept moving [along], and he ran back inside the car. Cops were called, there were several witnesses, and Antonio was arrested for battery.”

    Dern and Santos’ divorce played out publicly in 2023, with the pair exchanging accusations of domestic abuse.

    In court, the UFC fighter claimed to have been the victim of repeated physical and emotional abuse throughout her marriage with Santos, alleging to have once had a door slammed on her leg while being dragged out of their house during a fight.

    The pro surfer responded by accusing Dern of similar abuse, providing evidence of a bloody nose that he claimed was caused by a punch from his then-wife.

    Trócoli is yet to comment on his arrest and the charges against him. He’s currently scheduled to return for his second UFC outing against Tresean Gore at the Apex on Nov. 9.

  • Jamahal Hill Finally Explains Yawning After Alex Pereira Beat Khalil Rountree

    Jamahal Hill Finally Explains Yawning After Alex Pereira Beat Khalil Rountree

    UFC 307 was yet another card saved by Alex Pereira as he put on a memorable performance against Khalil Rountree, an opponent who unexpectedly gave him a tough fight.

    The challenger landed several clean shots in the first two rounds, keeping fans worldwide at the edge of their seats. However, Pereira eventually altered his game plan and unleashed his gas tank in the third to sway the momentum and win via TKO in the fourth.

    The UFC 307 main event was anything but boring, which explains why fans weren’t happy with Jamahal Hill yawning in the audience. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has finally opened up on his true intentions behind the reaction…

    Jamahal Hill Calls Out ‘Disrespectful’ MMA Fans For Misunderstanding His Reaction To Alex Pereira Knocking Out Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Hill recently broke down all UFC 307 fights on his YouTube channel. Before diving deep into the main event, he claimed his yawning reaction was misunderstood by the media.

    “Sweet Dreams” gave Rountree his props for giving the UFC light heavyweight kingpin a run for his money in the first two rounds. The challenger performed much better than his expectations in every way. In contrast to what Hill had predicted, Rountree landed efficiently, had decent cardio, and showed exceptional durability.

    “It’s crazy how y’all see a clip with no context, no nothing and y’all just be ready to talk s**t and just attack and come disrespectful as ever. And it’s like hilarious, all right. So, now, I wasn’t miked up, or anything like that, so I couldn’t explain the context of the yawn and things like that after the fight. I think I did hear a reporter told Alex, “Oh, Jamahal said the fight was boring.” I never said the fight was boring.”

    Hill also clarified that he never claimed Pereira vs. Rountree to be a boring fight. Him yawning after the main event was a way to tell that he wasn’t surprised or impressed. To prove this, he even reflected on his UFC 307 predictions.

    “Now, to the yawn, the yawn at the end was. Was it entertaining? Yes. Was I impressed? No. I was not impressed. You know, I’m ready to go. Did I see anything in the cage that scares me or that I didn’t expect to see? No. So, as far as reacting and everything, I don’t think I really need to do much of a reaction to this fight because, before, if you watch, or you watch my breakdowns, you can see I told you exactly how the fight was going to go.”

    To be fair to Hill, he did mention Rountree’s inability to land counters against properly set-up shots, especially jabs. He also mentioned that the challenger would gas early as the height disadvantage would compel him to explode to hit “Poatan”. Both these predictions were indeed on point.

  • Renato Moicano Discovers ‘Unbelievable’ Hole In José Aldo’s Game After Mario Bautista Loss

    Renato Moicano Discovers ‘Unbelievable’ Hole In José Aldo’s Game After Mario Bautista Loss

    Renato Moicano is arguably at the prime of his career in terms of momentum and popularity. His four-fight win streak as a UFC lightweight includes popular names like Jalin Turner, Benoit Saint-Denis, and Drew Dober, and he’s eyeing to fight the biggest stars in the division now.

    Many fans believe Moicano to be a rising prospect because of his charisma on the mic. However, he’s been in the UFC since 2014 and has fought the best of the best in the UFC featherweight division until moving up a weight class.

    Moicano faced José Aldo in the biggest match of his career in 2019. He lost via second-round TKO but claims he could’ve emerged victorious with a game plan similar to Mario Bautista…

    Renato Moicano Claims Mario Bautista Will Benefit From Beating José Aldo Like Alexander Volkanovski And Merab Dvalishvili Despite Controversy

    Moicano, Gilbert Burns, and Matty Betts discussed all things UFC in the latest episode of Show Me The Money podcast on YouTube. Interestingly, Burns believes Aldo lost the fight because Bautista could hold him against the cage. The UFC welterweight instead blamed the referee for allowing the stalling.

    Moicano understandably had a completely different concern. In 2019, he was definitely fighting a much better version of the Brazilian legend and a victory could’ve helped him secure a title shot. After UFC 307, Moicano believes he should’ve held Aldo against the cage as well but admitted that he wasn’t aware of the strategy.

    “I’m so mad that I lose to José Aldo because if I knew that he could not escape to the cage, I would do the same thing. Because, when I was like, supposed to fight José Aldo, I say, okay, I’m not taking this motherf****r down because he has a 100%…90% takedown defense ratio. But, he cannot escape the cage, unbelievable! Because Mario Bautista is not strong, he doesn’t look strong.”

    The Brazilian fighters did acknowledge that Aldo might’ve been less active in the clinch because of fatigue. It is important to note that the fight took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, a venue notorious for affecting athletes’ cardio because of altitude.

    The UFC lightweight contender also went against the masses and claimed that having Aldo on his resume will benefit Bautista in the long run. The likes of Merab Dvalishvili and Alexander Volkanovski were criticized for how they beat the former UFC featherweight champ too but over the years, their wins aged like fine wine.

    “You know, once you beat a guy like José Aldo. Remember Merab or Volkanovski, everybody was talking s**t about the performance back in the day. Nobody cares anymore. Everybody say he beat Aldo, you know, and I think it’s going to be exactly the same. People forget.”

    Moicano didn’t agree with Burns and stated Aldo was robbed at UFC 307, though. He just identifies several positives for Bautista as well and thinks that the American bantamweight contender can still turn his career around for good.