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  • Kayla Harrison Discloses Hospitalization Due To Infection Prior To UFC 307

    Kayla Harrison Discloses Hospitalization Due To Infection Prior To UFC 307

    Kayla Harrison recently revealed that she faced a challenging health battle, as she was hospitalized for serious infections in the lead-up to her UFC 307 fight.

    Harrison secured a significant victory against Ketlen Vieira last weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, as most had anticipated, the triumph was far from straightforward for the two-time Olympic gold medalist, as “Fenomeno” tested her resilience and caused a cut on her forehead during the intense second round.

    The former PFL lightweight champion displayed her superiority against Vieira, growing stronger as the fight unfolded and eventually securing a unanimous decision win. However, this marked the first time in her MMA career that the 34-year-old Ohio native truly faced adversity inside the cage.

    It has now come to light that Harrison’s performance may have been compromised due to her hospitalization just a week before the fight…

    Harrison Shares She Was Taking Antibiotics Ahead Of UFC 307

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Harrison disclosed that she battled a serious infection that required her to take antibiotics leading up to her fight at UFC 307, which ultimately resulted in her hospitalization.

    “I don’t really like to make excuses,” Harrison said. “I had to go to the hospital last week. There was blood in my urine. I had a really bad infection that started spreading. I was on antibiotics. I had blood in my urine. There was a bunch of stuff going on, but it’s not an excuse. I have to be the best in the world on my worst day.”

    Harrison further shared that she gained valuable insights about herself and recognized aspects she can incorporate into her training for future fights.

    “Some of the decisions I made it’s going to be good for me. I ate too much I think after I weighed in. I was just so hungry; I think I overdid it. I felt kind of sick on Saturday because I ate too much. I need to do a better job of staying disciplined even after I weigh in. I need to follow the game plan. There’s a lot of stuff I can improve on.”

    Harrison has triumphed in both of her Octagon appearances and is actively campaigning for a title shot. In her promotional debut at UFC 300 this past April, she secured a unanimous decision victory in the second round against former champion Holly Holm.

  • Former Champion Pushes For UFC Lawsuit Settlement, Cites Urgent Need for Financial & Medical Aid

    Former Champion Pushes For UFC Lawsuit Settlement, Cites Urgent Need for Financial & Medical Aid

    In the latest update of the ongoing Le vs Zuffa lawsuit, there have been declarations written by many of the former UFC fighters that are involved in the case.

    The declarations talk about how they have been affected and whether they’re for or against the proposed settlement fee of $375 million over the case continuing and why.

    There could be more money in a settlement if the lawsuit continues but that comes with the risk of it not being reached at all.

    In the declarations posted by John S. Nash, a former UFC champion is passionately against the idea of the lawsuit continuing due to serious concerns.

    Shane Carwin Issues Worrying Reasoning Behind His Need For The UFC Settlement To Be Approved

    Shane Carwin fought just six times inside the Octagon and retired early on in his career due to several serious injuries.

    He is the former interim heavyweight champion, stopping Frank Mir before going on to face Brock Lesnar at UFC 116.

    Carwin notes in his declaration that the proposed settlement of $375 million is an “excellent result”, stating that he fought once under the UFC banner in the specific timeframe.

    His reasoning for wanting this settlement to be agreed upon is due to several key issues in his life that could be solved by this payment that he would recieve.

    The following statements from Carwin himself are disappointing and upsetting to read for long time fans who remember him at his peak.

    “While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many significant injuries, including concussions. I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE including addiction, depression, mood swings, and irritability.”

    Carwin goes on to say that he has had tests done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and Concussion Legacy Foundation at Boston University among others that point to damage to his pre-frontal cortex and left hemisphere.

    He also points out several other health issues including paranoia, fear and anxiety which has been so severe that he was bed bound.

    On top of his health conditions, he says that his time as a fighter has also impacted his ability to work outside of the sport so that he can support himself.

    “Despite having a degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, I have been unable to maintain adequate focus to hold down an engineering job. I face serious challenges in meeting basic everyday expenses for food, shelter, and transportation and in basic life skills necessary to function.”

    Carwin is saying all of this because he doesn’t want the lawsuit to continue if there’s a feeling that the settlement payment could increase.

    He makes it very clear that this result would be a great one and that he cannot afford to wait for this income if the case continues rather than the settlement being agreed upon.

    “This would truly be life-changing money for me and for other members of the class. These funds would also allow me to obtain the healthcare I need and keep a roof over my head and food on my table. The sad reality is that finds years from now may be of no use to me. I desperately need these funds now.”

    One of Carwin’s final statement clarifies his stance once again.

    “For me, a significant recovery in the near future is much more appealing than the possibility of a large recovery several years from now, especially in light of the possibility that there would be no recovery at all if this settlement were not approved. In my situation, a bird in the hand truly does beat two (or three, or even nine) in the bush.”

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

  • Anthony Smith Took Pride In Rountree’s Success vs. Pereira At UFC 307

    Anthony Smith Took Pride In Rountree’s Success vs. Pereira At UFC 307

    A lot of fight fans felt that if Khalil Rountree was going to have success at UFC 307, it would need to come early.

    Alex Pereira is so efficient and effective at setting traps that the fight was always going to get tougher for him in the later rounds and this ended up being the case.

    Perhaps what many didn’t expect is how competitive the first few rounds would be before Rountree’s gas tank and the damage he was taking started to catch up to him.

    As a former opponent of Rountree’s, Anthony Smith was able to take a lot away from watching this fight play out this past weekend in Salt Lake City.

    Anthony Smith Says That Watching Khalil Rountree At UFC 307 Made Him More Positive

    Though he has recently buried the hatchet with Pereira over their previous feud, Smith still took a lot of enjoyment after seeing how well Rountree did against “Poatan”.

    The challenger’s last victory before he fought for the title was against “Lionheart” where he viciously stopped him in the third round.

    Smith was happy that his performance against Rountree clearly wasn’t a one-off after seeing how well he did against Pereira who is a whole different level in the striking.

    “To be very honest, there was a lot of me those first two rounds that felt really good watching Khalil, like f***, at least it ain’t just me.

    “I was like oh thank God. It would have really hurt my heart if Pereira had went out there and just dusted Khalil in like a round but watching him have some real serious success and land big on, you know how it is as a fighter. You kind of sit back and go, ‘S*** he didn’t land on me like that till the third round’. It was cool and it made he happy for Khalil.”

    Read also: ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

  • Brandon Royval Sees ‘Strong Possibility’ UFC Newcomer Could Beat Alexandre Pantoja

    Brandon Royval Sees ‘Strong Possibility’ UFC Newcomer Could Beat Alexandre Pantoja

    Brandon Royval is set to return this weekend at the UFC Apex where he faces the undefeated Tatsuro Taira in the main event.

    Even after beating Brandon Moreno last time out to cement his status as the #1-ranked flyweight in the division, handing Taira his first win may not be enough for him to secure a second title shot.

    “Raw Dog” has already suffered two defeats to the current champion, Alexandre Pantoja, which makes it significantly harder to put him straight back in.

    Royval spoke in a recent interview with Inside Fighting about how the talk of who will be Pantoja’s next challenger has been pretty quiet.

    After he faced a surprising opponent in Steve Erceg last time out, it would have likely been Muhammad Mokaev as the next in line if he was still with the promotion.

    Royval, however, believes that it could be a new arrival into the division that is next for the champ.

    Brandon Royval Says That Kai Asakura Could Be The Man To Beat Alexandre Pantoja

    Earlier this year in June, the UFC was announced to have signed RIZIN bantamweight champion Kai Asakura.

    The 30-year old Japanese star has got a huge fan following back in his native country and by all accounts, would be jumping in at the deep end once he arrived inside the Octagon.

    Royval took this as him facing Pantoja down at 125-pounds, as he told Inside Fighting.

    “I mean I thought it was Kai Asakura. I thought that was who the next fight would be and I was like, if I win this fight, I’m just gonna call out Pantoja or Asakura. But I mean I’ve still never heard anything so maybe it’s like I’m just starting these rumours myself.”

    Royval was also asked how he would feel about someone new entering the promotion and jumping right into a title shot.

    His response was that someone new being the champion would help his case for another title shot and in his opinion, Asakura would have a good chance of beating Pantoja.

    “Oh I don’t give a s***, as long as it doesn’t affect my road, it would be dope if he wins because if he wins, I for sure get the next title shot. In my opinion, I don’t really care. I just try to get in there when I fit in there so I think if he wins and beats Alexandre Pantoja, which I think is a strong possibility, then I could go fight Kai Asakura.” 

    Read also: Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

  • Khalil Rountree Delivers Motivational Speech To His Teammates

    Khalil Rountree Delivers Motivational Speech To His Teammates

    Khalil Rountree gave a good account of himself in the main event of UFC 307 despite being a sizable underdog.

    Many expected that Alex Pereira would defend his lightweight title in Salt Lake City but the feeling was that the fight would be entertaining for however long it lasted.

    In the end, the challenger made it competitive in the first three rounds but started to slow down and when he did, an incredible display of toughness kept him in there as “Poatan” looked to close the show.

    Just days after the biggest fight of his career, Rountree returned to his home base of Syndicate MMA where his coach, John Wood, used his fighter as a role model for others to follow.

    “As a coach guys, there’s not much more, obviously the best thing is always to go out and get a win and that’s what we’re always looking to do and have that success but all I ask for you guys, one way or the other, is go out and fight your a** off. Go out on your shield like this man did the other night. Shock the world, proved to a lot of people that he deserves to be there, proved to himself, proved to all of us what we already knew, that he’s one of the best in the world so congratulations.”

    Khalil Rountree Tells His Teammates That UFC 307 Setback Had Motivated Him And Should Do The Same For Them

    Rountree then gave his own speech where he reflected on the fight and his performance against one of the biggest stars in the sport.

    His interviews on fight week both before and after the contest featured a lot of talk about self belief and gratitude.

    This was still the case in the words he said days after UFC 307, telling his teammates that he wanted to thank them for their support and share the positives that he was able to take away from the defeat.

    “I’ve gone out there and like represented Syndicate. I think that like not only was I the underdog but it just shows like I’ve been training out of this place for so long and we don’t need all this crazy s***, we don’t need all these guys from all around the world. We just need us, we got enough people here on the mats to make sure that we can go and fight for a title and show who we are so yeah. I just wanted to swing by, I saw everybody’s support in the IG group so I thought let me just go say what’s up to everybody.

    “But yeah, hell of a fight. Dude was big. Dude was big, I tried to use whatever tools I can but it motivated me. I think like just to know that I went in there and put up the fight that I had but I’m not done. We’re not done here, I know Syndicate we’re gonna keep going so yeah, appreciate you guys.”

  • Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    Chael Sonnen: Kayla Harrison Not Next In Line For UFC Title Shot Based On ‘Merit’ 

    If the UFC was to favor a meritocratic route to decide the first challenger to Julianna Peña, former fighter Chael Sonnen believes Raquel Pennington would be getting an immediate rematch.

    Having not competed since being unseated by Amanda Nunes back in July 2022, Peña returned to the bantamweight throne at this past weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” fell on the right side of a widely debated split decision verdict in Utah, bringing a short reign for Pennington to an end in the co-main event.

    Some were pointing to the recent numbered card as a tournament for the 135-pound division, with top contenders Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira meeting earlier in the night.

    The two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion emerged victorious from that clash on the scorecards, seemingly booking a first UFC title shot.

    Sonnen, however, thinks the conversation isn’t quite so clear-cut…

    Sonnen Puts Pennington Above Harrison In Meritocratic Title Shot Queue

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to the events that unfolded in regard to the bantamweight championship conversation at UFC 307.

    While Sonnen acknowledged that Harrison is likely to compete for the gold in her third walk to the Octagon, he suggested that wouldn’t be the case if the decision was based on “merit.”

    “When we’re having the discussion of what’s next, I think it would be responsible for us all — because if we’re just coming from a competitive nature or looking at the rankings, something like that, you lose, you don’t get Kayla. You get Raquel,” Sonnen said. “If you’re gonna just pay attention to merit and who’s done what, you don’t get Kayla vs. Peña next, you get Raquel in a rematch.

    “From the world of promotion, there is nothing on Peña vs. Pennington in a rematch. But guys, there was nothing on it three days ago when we saw it,” Sonnen continued. “We’re not in a vastly different situation. If we’re just going to go off of merit, Pennington must be considered. That’s what I’m offering for you. Pennington should be the champion of the world right now.”

    Regardless, Harrison is expecting to receive her opportunity next time out, having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with consecutive wins over top-five opposition at 135 pounds.

  • Jon Jones Nearly Lands Devastating Knee On Gable Steveson In UFC 309 Training

    Jon Jones Nearly Lands Devastating Knee On Gable Steveson In UFC 309 Training

    UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is underway with his preparations for his long awaited return at UFC 309 in November.

    “Bones” will be making the first defense of his title against the former champion Stipe Miocic in what is likely to be the final fight of his career. Jones has been able to build a small but closely knit team around him since moving up to heavyweight but in order to keep it fresh, he was seen getting some new looks in a recent video.

    The former light heavyweight champion was seen working alongside Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson who has hinted at competing in MMA in the past.

    After winning gold in wrestling at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Steveson has tried his hand at professional wrestling and football but is clearly taking an interest in mixed martial arts. If this is going to be a potential career move for him, why not jump in at the deep end by grappling with the consensus greatest that MMA has ever seen.

    Jon Jones Trains With Gable Steveson

    In the multiple training videos posted by Jones on social media, one particular exchange nearly ends very badly for Steveson.

    “Bones” goes for a single leg and when Steveson escapes, he goes immediately for the same technique on Jones, lunging towards his legs. Whether he did it instinctually or didn’t mean to actually connect, Jones throws a knee as a counter which lands but fortunately, doesn’t do much damage.

    The heavyweight champion immediately asks him if he’s okay and breaks the clinch as the two men laugh about it. It certainly would have been a rough welcome to mixed martial arts if Steveson had been hit by a knee that had even a little bit more power behind it.

  • Daniel Cormier: Julianna Peña ‘Dropped The Ball’ By Not Calling Out Kayla Harrison

    Daniel Cormier: Julianna Peña ‘Dropped The Ball’ By Not Calling Out Kayla Harrison

    Daniel Cormier thinks Julianna Peña missed an important opportunity after UFC 307 by not addressing Kayla Harrison, who many see as her likely next opponent. At the event, held in Utah on Saturday night, Peña defeated Raquel Pennington by split decision to reclaim the bantamweight title in the co-main event. Earlier in the night, Harrison had secured her own victory, defeating Kelten Vieira by unanimous decision.

    During Peña’s post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the camera briefly showed Harrison watching the proceedings. Instead of seizing the moment to call out Harrison, Peña expressed her desire for a trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes. Cormier criticized this decision.

    “I will say this: She dropped the ball on the callout. Kayla’s on the screen. Say her name. Why no-sell the person that is clearly going to be your No. 1 contender? There’s no world where she doesn’t fight Kayla Harrison next. She’s fighting her next.”

    – Daniel Cormier

    Cormier continued, “You might as well put the sell on it right now. Don’t wait until the fight is announced. Now you’re a step behind when you had the opportunity to be a step ahead going into your fight with Kayla Harrison, who will be the No. 1 contender for your championship as we go forward.”

    Making the most of it

    Cormier also pointed out that Harrison’s performance against Vieira wasn’t dominant, which could have given Peña confidence in a potential match-up. However, he acknowledged that Harrison is still developing her striking skills.

    “So Julianna Peña should’ve, after this performance, been more willing to say her name,” Cormier added.

    At the end of the day, she becomes the champion again, and Mike Valle and his team at Valle Flow now have two UFC champions on their roster – massive for a gym out of Chicago that isn’t a huge, well-known facility.”

    – Daniel Cormier
  • Joaquin Buckley Doubles Down On Kamaru Usman Callout

    Joaquin Buckley Doubles Down On Kamaru Usman Callout

    Joaquin Buckley is looking ahead after securing a decisive victory at UFC 307, where he knocked out former title challenger Stephen Thompson in the third round. The fight, held in Utah, extended Buckley’s flawless record in the welterweight division. Now he’s aiming even higher—specifically at former champion Kamaru Usman.

    Following his win, Buckley didn’t hesitate to call out Usman. During the post-fight press conference, he doubled down on his challenge, highlighting his 5-1 record in the division. Buckley believes that defeating Usman would not only solidify his reputation but also put him in line for a title shot.

    “(I’m) 5-0 in the welterweight division right now,” Buckley said (via MMA Junkie). “With the run I’m on, beating Usman, a former champion, will cement my name and prove I deserve a title shot.”

    Buckley’s Prediction

    Usman, who has lost his last three fights, has not competed since his defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2022. Despite Usman’s recent struggles, Buckley remains confident in his chances, predicting a knockout victory if they face off.

    “I think I can knock out Usman. Immediately—yeah, immediately. Breaking records,” Buckley said.

  • Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Leon Edwards’ Brother On Loss To Belal Muhammad: ‘Always Had Unfair Situations Given To Him!’

    Fabian Edwards believes his brother, former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, was made to defend his title in “unfair” conditions this past summer.

    After withstanding challenges from both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, Edwards returned for his first assignment of 2024 three months ago.

    “Rocky” was tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Belal Muhammad on home soil, with their rematch headlining UFC 304 in Manchester, England this past July.

    Edwards ultimately failed in that goal, with “Remember the Name” putting on a dominant display to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and ensure he exited the Co-op Live with the welterweight gold in his possession.

    Fabian Edwards Laments Time For Brother’s UFC 304 Title Defense

    During a recent interview with Bloody Elbow ahead of his own upcoming title fight, Fabian reflected on the end of his brother’s reign at the hands of Muhammad in Manchester.

    The younger of the fighting siblings pointed to the 5 AM start time as a major factor in Leon’s defeat at UFC 304. The decision to keep timings on the US pay-per-view schedule is just the latest instance of “Rocky” being made to compete in “unfair situations,” according to Fabian.

    “You know what it is? It was the time,” Fabian said. “I know everyone will say, ‘Oh, the time,’ or whatever, but most people couldn’t even stay awake until that time. So having to fight (for) a world title fight at that time? Come on. I’ve said it to everyone, how he performed in that fight was exactly how the last couple of weeks in training was. We were just like, putting it off because you do find things.

    “That’s just the way it goes. Leon’s never had an easy path,” he continued. “Even once he became champion, he’s always had unfair situations given to him, but it is what it is. He will be back.”

    It remains to be seen what lies next in the career of Leon Edwards, but he vowed to bounce back and “rise again” in his first post-fight remarks on social media.

    For now, the UFC star will have his focus and energy on the exploits of his brother, as Fabian gets set for a second opportunity at dethroning Johnny Eblen in Saudi Arabia next weekend.

  • Kevin Holland Tells Troll He Feels Like A ‘Total Piece Of Sh*t’ After UFC 307 Injury Loss

    Kevin Holland Tells Troll He Feels Like A ‘Total Piece Of Sh*t’ After UFC 307 Injury Loss

    UFC middleweight Kevin Holland is understandably not pleased with the manner in which he fell to defeat in Salt Lake City this past weekend.

    Holland had an opportunity to break into the top 10 at 185 pounds at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City. He was matched up against Roman Dolidze after returning to the weight class in style at the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk this past June.

    While he left the Polish veteran injured after finding an armbar at UFC 302, the grappling exchanges against Dolidze saw “Trailblazer” on the receiving end of a painful night.

    After attempting to break the Georgian’s control in round one, an awkward twist on the ground resulted in Holland audibly reacting to an injury. And although he managed to see out the round before clutching his rib, the bout was waved off before the second frame.

    Holland Agrees With Abusive Internet Troll’s UFC 307 Take

    No fighter in the sport is safe from those in the MMA community who choose to unload on them in defeat, and that’s especially the case when an injury leads to a fight’s conclusion.

    Holland was evidently the recipient of such messages from trolls post-UFC 307, and he revealed an interaction with one in a recent Instagram Story.

    An attached image showed DMs from a user who berated him by branding him a “sh*t fighter.” While some would either ignore the troll or perhaps hit back, Holland went a different route.

    “Can’t have a response to everyone but yeah I feel like a total piece of sh*t,” Holland captioned his Instagram Story. “My bad to all the ones who put some bread on the line or told they friend I was gonna win. I’m a p*ssy.”

    Holland also agreed with the troll while directly responding to them.

    With the unfortunate result in Utah, “Big Mouth” has now lost three of his last four. Prior to returning to middleweight, Holland dropped back-to-back decisions opposite Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page.

  • Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    Amanda Nunes Reacts To UFC 307, Peña Callout With ‘Call Me’ Plea To Dana White

    It would appear that what went down at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City has further spurred the comeback fire underneath former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.

    Having hinted at a return from retirement earlier this year, two matchups appeared of interest to the Brazilian at this past weekend’s pay-per-view. Before her former opponents Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña collided for the title she vacated last year, ex-teammate Kayla Harrison had her second UFC outing.

    Following the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s Octagon debut in April, Nunes questioned why she hadn’t been called out. While her name remained absent from Harrison’s lips at UFC 307, the same can’t be said for “The Venezuelan Vixen.”

    After regaining the 135-pound title in the co-main event, Peña made good on her promise to address Nunes inside the Octagon, believing her to be far from done as an active fighter.

    Whether it was that callout or Harrison’s performance earlier in the night, somebody seemingly got the Brazilian legend’s attention…

    Did UFC 307 Awaken ‘The Lioness?’ Nunes Requests Call From The Boss

    While Nunes remained silent in the immediate aftermath of Peña’s title win and subsequent callout, she emerged on social media this week with a message for UFC CEO Dana White.

    MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz, a Brazilian journalist, provided context behind her Instagram video video, noting that Nunes was singing along to “Outdoor,” a song created by Brazilian samba group Só Pra Contrariar.

    The original lyrics include, “Oh please call,” and, “I Miss you so much.” Nunes is said to have altered the lyrics to, “Call me, please.”

    If Nunes does officially commit to a return, it remains unclear whether her goal will be regaining the title, settling the score with Peña, or having a long-awaited showdown with former teammate Harrison.

    Regardless, should predictions of “The Lioness” meeting the winner of the expected Peña vs. Harrison clash come to fruition, she’ll have the chance to kill two of those birds with one stone.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Set For Combat Sports Return vs. Former UFC Champ

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Set For Combat Sports Return vs. Former UFC Champ

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page will enter a different realm of the fight game for his next taste of competition.

    2024 has marked Page’s debut year in the UFC, having had his switch from Bellator confirmed shortly after the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired his former employer.

    The Brit has had mixed success, arriving with a strong showing opposite Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in Miami but falling short of a rise into title contention against the undefeated Ian Garry at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

    Against the Irishman, Page had his grappling deficiencies exposed. That, evidently, is an area “MVP” is looking to improve in before making his return to the Octagon.

    The Londoner’s focus will entirely be on his ground game in the coming weeks as he gears up to compete in a grappling match under the Polaris banner.

    News of Page’s debut in the promotion was reported by Ariel Helwani, who revealed that the 37-year-old will face former interim UFC champion Carlos Condit at the London-held Polaris 30 event on November 2.

    While he’s never been submitted in professional MMA, two of Page’s three defeats came by way of grappling. Before Garry utilized control to get the job done this year, Logan Storley pulled off a similar gameplan across five rounds to win interim Bellator gold back in 2022.

    Condit, meanwhile, announced his MMA retirement in September 2021. The decision followed a defeat to Max Griffin two months prior, which brought “The Natural Born Killer’s” late-career win streak to an end.

    During his memorable MMA stint, Condit defeated the likes of Thiago Alves, Dan Hardy, and Rory MacDonald. In 2012, he got the better of Nick Diaz to capture the interim UFC welterweight title, subsequently falling short against Georges St-Pierre.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington Falls, Max Holloway Gets Lightweight Boost

    UFC Rankings Report: Colby Covington Falls, Max Holloway Gets Lightweight Boost

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 307, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: Julianna Peña’s regaining of the bantamweight title this past weekend was only enough to move her above Manon Fiorot to #4 on the P4P list, keeping her below the other two female champions in the UFC and Alexa Grasso.

    Women’s Strawweight: Tecia Pennington ensured that Carla Esparza’s career would end in defeat at UFC 307, falling on the right side of a split decision. As a result, “The Tiny Tornado” has returned to the rankings at #15, with Karolina Kowalkiewicz making way.

    Another strawweight victor in Salt Lake City was Iasmin Lucindo, who has climbed a mammoth six positions to #8 following her win over Marina Rodriguez. The defeated Brazilian has slipped three spots to #9, allowing for small boosts for both Mackenzie Dern (#6) and Amanda Ribas (#7)

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: After losing the gold in her first defense, Raquel Pennington has slipped back to top contender status at 125 pounds. She’s one place above Kayla Harrison, whose victory over Ketlen Vieira has seen her become the #2-ranked bantamweight contender.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: The backlash toward Mario Bautista for his victorious performance over José Aldo has not prevented a rise into the top 10. The 31-year-old now sits at #9, with his defeated opponent one place worse off than he entered UFC 307 in at #11.

    Unrelated to the events of UFC 307, meanwhile, Marlon Vera (#6) has moved above former champion Henry Cejudo (#7).

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: Weeks out from his featherweight title challenge — and months on from his lightweight triumph over Justin Gaethje — BMF titleholder Max Holloway has moved deeper into the top 10 at 155 pounds. “Blessed” has climbed two places to #8, leaving him above Mateusz Gamrot (#9) and Rafael Fiziev (#10).

    Welterweight: At 170 pounds, Colby Covington has dropped further from title contention. “Chaos” is now out of the top five and occupies #6, having surrendered his position to Sean Brady.

    Further down the pecking order, Joaquin Buckley is up two places to #9 following his late knockout of Stephen Thompson at UFC 307. “Wonderboy” is now down at #11.

    Middleweight: He may not have had his hand raised in a desired manner, but Roman Dolidze is still on the up after UFC 307. The Georgian benefitted from a rib injury suffered by Kevin Holland during a grappling exchange and has been rewarded with a one-spot rise to #9, a position he shares with Paulo Costa.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • ‘Get In Line’ – Kamaru Usman Laughs Off Joaquin Buckley’s UFC 307 Callout

    ‘Get In Line’ – Kamaru Usman Laughs Off Joaquin Buckley’s UFC 307 Callout

    Joaquin Buckley did the unthinkable at UFC 307 by becoming only the second fighter ever to knock out Stephen Thompson. He tried to grapple the veteran striker from the get-go. but “Wonderboy” could get back to his feet quickly every time.

    Based on the official scorecards, the third round would’ve decided the winner of the fight but Buckley sealed the deal with an overhand right. Interestingly, it was similar to the overhand superman punch Anthony Pettis landed to knock out Thompson five years ago.

    “New Mansa” called out Kamaru Usman after the victory but it seems like the former champ has no intentions of entertaining that fight…

    Kamaru Usman Admits Joaquin Buckley’s Calling Him Out At UFC 307 Was Better Than The Conor McGregor Callout

    In the latest Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast, Henry Cejudo asked Usman about Buckley calling him out after the impressive KO win at UFC 307. The American fighter is now 5-0 at welterweight and is clearly riding an impressive win streak.

    However, “The Nigerian Nightmare” outright laughed at the callout and asked Buckley to get in line since the latter’s not the only welterweight to call out the former kingpin recently.

    “Take a number and get in line! I believe he’s probably, what, the 10th, 11th guy? I don’t know how many guys have called me out. It is what it is. It’s obviously, like DC said, it’s a more reasonable callout for him because he is on the streak. He’s been doing good work inside there. I believe he was losing that fight and it was just a way to be relentless and find the shot, eventually, to get that finish. So, you know, hats off to him.”

    However, Usman gave Buckley his props for winning against “Wonderboy” in the best way possible. He also agreed with Daniel Cormier that this was a much more sensible callout than his last fight.

    From the looks of it, Buckley will have to yet again wait for his dream opponent. A couple more memorable wins would make him an undeniable title challenger, though.

  • Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev

    Kamaru Usman Calls Alex Pereira ‘Pound-For-Pound King’ Over Islam Makhachev

    Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt for the third time in 2024 at UFC 307. He stopped Khalil Rountree via TKO in the fourth, further skyrocketing his popularity.

    Pereira’s exciting fighting style and consistency are second to none in the UFC at the moment. With five title fight wins already, he’s solidified his legacy and fans now expect to see him in the heavyweight division or take on Magomed Ankalaev.

    Kamaru Usman has all the praise in the world for “Poatan” after his UFC 307 victory. So much so, that he called the UFC light heavyweight kingpin the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world over Islam Makhachev.

    Kamaru Usman Explains Why Alex Pereira Is His Pound-For-Pound Best Fighter Despite Islam Makhachev Having More Tools

    On the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound With Kamaru & Henry podcast on YouTube, Usman and Henry Cejudo debated who deserves to be the P4P best fighter after UFC 307. While “Triple C” still gave the title to Makhachev, Usman had a new opinion after “Poatan” dismantled Rountree’s game plan masterfully.

    According to the former UFC welterweight champion, fighters in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions should be judged differently. At anything over 200 pounds, having a strong ground game is a challenge because of the strength and energy required.

    “I have to admit when, and this is a part of being a man, you have to admit when you feel like you’ve made an error. And in the revelation lately, what I’ve come to is, I realized I’ve been judging Alex Pereira based on what I would be judged at. There’s a lot more men that weigh, walk around on this earth close to 170 to 185 pounds.”

    So, Usman no longer holds Pereira accountable for not showcasing his grappling because it is simply not prevalent enough in his weight division. He’s been decimating the top light heavyweight and middleweight contenders with ease, which is enough for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to call him the P4P best UFC fighter.

    Usman broke down the UFC 307 main event and appreciated how Pereira looked calm throughout the fight. Against a dangerous southpaw like Rountree, he decided to rely on his jab instead of the left hook that usually wins him matches.

    “I think he is pound-for-pound king because of the way he’s able to fight. Not the way he’s able to fight but the way he’s able to make his opponents fight and the way he’s able to dispose of his opponents. I love Islam and his abilities, I think Islam of course has more tools in the shed but for what you have to work with, Alex Pereira I believe he’s the pound-for-pound.”

    The UFC welterweight acknowledged that fighters with relentless wrestling like Merab Dvalishvili have been succeeding in the UFC lately. However, he also pointed out that such a fighting style is usually present in lower weight classes, and even Magomed Ankalaev wouldn’t replicate Dvalishvili’s style at light heavyweight.

    “I can’t be biased to the standard that I’m held to. The standard that Islam is held to because there’s a lot more men that weigh Islam’s size and my size than they do Alex Pereira’s size. So, with what Alex Pereira has to work with, he’s disposing of these guys that way so I have to give that to him.”

  • ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    ‘How Scary Is It?’ – Daniel Cormier Imagines ‘Amateur’ Alex Pereira With A Well-Rounded MMA Skillset

    Alex Pereira is easily the biggest star in the UFC right now. Other big names in the promotion are either nearing retirement or losing fights while the Brazilian just keeps showing up every two months and knocking his opponents out.

    Pereira’s UFC 307 title defense against Khalil Rountree was widely regarded as an impressive performance in MMA circles. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin survived the challenger’s best punches and offense in the first two rounds, then broke him down in the third and fourth.

    Pereira boasts a wealth of experience in kickboxing but has become a top draw in MMA within just 14 pro fights. According to Daniel Cormier, if the former UFC middleweight champion keeps improving his skill set, the best might be yet to come…

    Daniel Cormier And Chael Sonnen Discuss Why Alex Pereira Taking Over MMA Doesn’t Make Sense

    During the latest Good Guy / Bad Guy episode on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, UFC vets Cormier and Chael Sonnen talked about Pereira’s meteoric rise. He’s one of the top pound-for-pound athletes in the UFC, and despite not speaking English, boasts millions of fans worldwide.

    Although many complain that “Poatan” is yet to be tested by a solid grappler, Cormier considers it a silver lining. He believes the Brazilian had already won six title fights with a rather finite skillset and he’s only going to improve from here.

    Pereira has been training with Glover Teixeira throughout his MMA career and the latter is as knowledgeable in grappling and BJJ as it gets. If the UFC champ can add takedown defense and decent grappling to his arsenal as well, Cormier is right in predicting Pereira to be unstoppable. José Aldo is a great example of an elite striker who reached unprecedented heights by mastering the ability to defend takedowns.

    “On Saturday, it seemed like we saw the best Pereira. But did we? We saw a great Pereira doing the thing that he does so well. But he’s an amateur. So, he’s going to get even better. So, now you got a guy that’s a world champ already, with a very limited skillset that every new skill he picks up, is going to just add to his toolbox. Like how scary is it? When we truly, the idea of what we get when Alex Pereira is complete because, right now, as I said, he just won his 10th fight. He only has 12 mixed martial arts fights in total.”

    Indeed, Pereira has yet to face grapplers who can test his ground game properly. For instance, Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad shut down precise strikers like Sean O’Malley and Leon Edwards, respectively.

    If “Poatan” can get past Magomed Ankalaev or heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, though, he will undoubtedly become one of the scariest fighters on the planet by far.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    Israel Adesanya watched closely as UFC 307 went down this past weekend, where a former foe of his was back in action.

    The former two-time middleweight champion is always able to offer unparalleled analysis when Alex Pereira is stepping inside the cage.

    They’ve faced each other on four occasions in various rule sets, and despite his prior losses to “Poatan,” Adesanya is the only man to beat him in the UFC.

    Via the reactions video on his YouTube channel, FREESTYLEBENDER, fans got the chance to watch “The Last Stylebender” enjoy a fun fight and devastating performance from Pereira to cap off the night.

    Israel Adesanya Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Ruthless Display At UFC 307

    Now that he’s not competing against him and they’re in different weight classes, Adesanya is able to join the ranks of all the fans that enjoy watching Pereira do what he does best.

    Throughout his reaction, he constantly drew attention to things that Pereira is doing or thinking based on his experiences of fighting and studying “Poatan.”

    Despite a strong start to the fight from the challenger, Adesanya believed that Pereira was only going to get stronger as the fight went on.

    “Round two, if ‘Poatan’ gets past this or doesn’t get knock him out, I think he’ll be fine. Khalil is better early on… I think he has to. If not, ‘Poatan’ is gonna get those leg kicks going again.”

    Adesanya also pointed out in-between rounds how well the champion is able to recover in tough fights, whispering about how he knows all too well about this.

    “He’s a f****** demon bro. I felt it.”

    The third round came to a close and the former champ made the call that Pereira was going to close out proceedings in the fourth round now that he had really found his groove in Salt Lake City.

    “I can feel it, I can feel it. Now it’s gonna be ‘Chama’ time.”

    Throughout the fourth round, Adesanya repeatedly called for Pereira to switch up his approach and target the body which he eventually did, ending the fight after a barrage of strikes that Rountree somehow withstood.

    “Good on him, he lasted longer than I thought he would but at least someone else took him to the fourth round, shows how good Khalil is.”

    Adesanya rounded out his thoughts on the fight by talking about what is in front of both Pereira and Rountree going forward.

    “He’s got some hard fights in front of him but he’s that guy right now, he’s on… honestly, that’s how I called it but I thought it was going to be early but shout to Khalil ’cause heart. Fighting with a broke nose, f***** eye and intelligence not to blow his nose in the fight, respect and his stock goes up after this, so yeah, what a moment.”

  • John McCarthy Slams Referee For ‘Destroying’ UFC 307 Fight: ‘Stop, Quit, Retire!’

    John McCarthy Slams Referee For ‘Destroying’ UFC 307 Fight: ‘Stop, Quit, Retire!’

    Former renowned MMA referee John McCarthy was among those less than impressed with the work of one official at UFC 307 this past weekend.

    Plenty of talking points emerged from Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Utah. Unfortunately, not all of them focused on the actual fighting held inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.

    Instead, questionable judging and outright terrible refereeing caused a heap of discourse online. The latter of those conversations was down to the work of Dave Seljestad.

    In his final assignment of the night, Seljestad was the third man inside the cage for Cesar Almeida and Ihor Potieria’s middleweight preliminary contest. It proved to be a painful bout for the Ukrainian, who was on the receiving end of a low blow and at least four eye pokes. Despite his complaints, the fouls were largely ignored by the referee.

    And — as if “The Duelist” didn’t have reason enough to feel hard done by — he was granted just seconds in dominant clinch positions before Seljestad decided to separate the fighters, much to the bemusement of the commentary team and MMA masses.

    It doesn’t take one of the most experienced refs the sport has seen to outline what Seljestad did wrong. But for those still needing an explanation…

    McCarthy On UFC 307 Ref: Congratulations, You ‘Sh*t The Bed!’

    During the latest episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside Josh Thomson, McCarthy reacted to the officiating controversy from UFC 307.

    The veteran referee did not mince his words when it came to Seljestad’s performance, accusing him of trying to make the fight about himself and urging him to give up his career as third man inside the cage.

    “I’ll tell you what, the referee absolutely destroyed this fight. It was bad,” McCarthy said. “Potieria got eye poked probably five to six times in this thing. I know the referee. He’s been around forever. He’s been reffing in Utah for over 20 years. … Look at when he’s checking the fighters and he starts doing this big swooping motion over the tape of the glove, and he makes it dramatic. You go, ‘Dude, I don’t know if you realize, this isn’t about you.’

    “He f*cking broke them off of clinches. Guy gets into a clinch on the fence, 10 seconds and he separates them. You look and you go, ‘It’s all about you isn’t it? … Congratulations, Dave Seljestad. You made a fight bad,” McCarthy continued. “You absolutely just sh*t the bed. It was horrible. You did something completely outside of what the rules for the sport are. … What are you in there for? … Stop, quit, retire! The sport has passed you by and you’re not doing your job, so you’re no good for anybody.”

    Seljestad’s lack of action regarding Almeida’s fouls and egregiously quick clinch separations caused a stir on social media, with many going as far as to brand it the worst performance from a referee in UFC history.

    Suffice to say, he may struggle to get on the officiating lineup when the promotion returns to Utah…

  • Matt Brown: Poirier ‘Took McGregor’s Soul’—Questions His Future in MMA

    Matt Brown has raised questions regarding Conor McGregor’s mindset and future in the sport after a planned fight with Michael Chandler fell through. There is speculation about what’s next for the former two-division champion. 

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory. While speaking about McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown pointed out that McGregor is not grinding like others in the sport and doubts fans will see the same McGregor ever again. 

    While looking back on the fight, Brown feels Poirier changed McGregor in more ways than people realize. 

    “When that [fight] happened, it looked to me that Dustin took his soul that day,” Brown said. “I think we all felt that. Maybe we didn’t know it would be as severe as it is. We thought Conor’s a warrior, he’ll be back soon. But when you back and you watch that fight, Dustin took his f*cking soul.”

    Brown added, “I thought Nate Diaz might have taken a little bit the first time, but Conor bounced back from it. Whatever Dustin did to him, I think Dustin actually took his soul, and he no longer had the desire to compete anymore.”

    UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects the megastar to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    What’s Next After UFC 307? Full Confirmed UFC 308 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On Oct. 26

    UFC 307 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Salt Lake City last week, where the Delta Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Beehive State.” Of note were title fight wins for Alex Pereira and Julianna Peña, as well as important victories for Kayla Harrison and Joaquin Buckley.

    While the aftermath of the October 5 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 145-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 308, set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on October 26, reigning featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria will compete for the second time this year, this time in defense of gold. Following a knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to capture the crown, “El Matador” will next face the challenge of BMF titleholder Max Holloway.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker looks to continue his fine winning form in 2024. “The Reaper” is set for a second attempt at sharing the cage with Khamzat Chimaev following their canceled headliner in Saudi Arabia this past June.

    Ankalaev, Murphy, Magomedov Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 308

    Before Topuria defends his belt and Whittaker looks to secure a shot at regaining champ status in the Middle East, a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes surging featherweight Lerone Murphy. Despite an impressive main event win over Edson Barboza earlier this year, “The Miracle” will be defending his #12 spot in the rankings against Dan Ige, who is returning for the first time since his same-day assignment opposite Diego Lopes this past June.

    Prior to that, Pereira’s next challenger at light heavyweight could be decided as #2-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev shares the cage with the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić

    And opening the main card will be a familiar face in the Middle East, Sharabutdin Magomedov. Two of “Bullet’s” Octagon wins have come in Abu Dhabi, with the other going down in Saudi Arabia. The Russian will make the walk inside Etihad Arena again on Oct. 26, this time to throw down with Armen Petrosyan.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the welterweight clash between ex-lightweight titleholder Rafael dos Anjos and Geoff Neal, which is currently slated to top the preliminary portion of the event.

    See below for the full UFC 308 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Championship Main Event: Ilia Topuria (C) vs. Max Holloway
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Robert Whittaker vs. Max Holloway
    • Featherweight: Lerone Murphy vs. Dan Ige
    • Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakić
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Rębecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai
    • Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Santos
    • Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira
    • Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Justin Tafa
    • Bantamweight: Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
    • Welterweight: Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
    • Middleweight: Bruno Silva vs. Ismail Naurdiev
    • Light Heavyweight: Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira
    Magomed Ankalaev
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt Eying New UFC Contract: ‘Money Talks’

    Cody Garbrandt has a big decision to make as the final fight on his current UFC deal approaches.  The former UFC champion is slated to meet Mile Johns in a bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 247 on Nov. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Garbrandt has gone 2-3 in his last five fights and is coming off a submission loss to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 300. 

    With such name recognition, the UFC would likely want to re-sign him, or he could have interest from other promotions if he tests out the free agent market. “No Love” stated in a recent interview on the Jaxxon Podcast that he’s looking to stay with the promotion. 

    “(I’m) still going through some things with the UFC. This is my last fight on the contract, so (I’ve) got to get together with them and see what we can come up with,” Garbrandt said (H/T to MMA Junkie). “I’d love to (re-sign). I love the UFC – I think especially where the sport is going. I love mixed martial arts. Obviously, UFC is the premier league to fight in. But, you know, money talks.”

    – Cody Garbrandt

    Chasing Fulfillment

    Garbrandt is looking to get another shot at the title before he hangs up his gloves because he doesn’t feel fulfilled from his bantamweight title run after winning the title from Dominick Cruz. 

    “For me, it’s not being satisfied,” Garbrandt said. “I think winning the title, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I won it and was like, ‘That’s it?’ because I think I fixated on it for so long and visualized myself doing it, and when I did it, it wasn’t like this huge surprise, ‘Oh sh*t, I did it.’ Obviously, I was happy for the people around me that were with me from the beginning.”

    Garbrandt added that he hopes to five for another 5-8 years but knows how unpredictable the fight game can be.

  • Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    Dana White Baffled by Mario Bautista’s Strategy, Ref’ Role in UFC 307 Aldo Fight

    UFC 307 featured Mario Bautista getting his hand raised and securing the biggest win of his career when he got a split decision nod from the judges over Jose Aldo inside the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    The fight had some moments, but most fans criticized the lackluster bout. In the third round, there was controversy as Bautista stalled for time when he clinched Aldo up against the fence and walked away with the win.

    Coming out of the fight, UFC President Dana White gave his thoughts on the fight and the referee’s decision to let Bautista hold Aldo against the cage for so long.

    “I always think that the referee should be more active on that, 100%, especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall,” White told the media. “You guys aren’t going to f—king let up on this, are you? I guess we’ll get into it.

    If you’re judging a guy, whether it is control, if it’s this or that, if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? Right? And if you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just madness.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference

    Not Winning The Fight

    White continued by noting that it showed Bautista didn’t want to strike and stand with Aldo, so he used the fence. He feels that it’s the referee’s job to prevent that from happening. 

    “When they see it continually happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you keep breaking them up…I mean, it’s common sense when the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and not win the fight. As a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

    – Dana Whtie at the UFC 307 Post-Fight Press Conference
  • Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Umar Nurmagomedov is looking increasingly likely to be the next contender for the bantamweight title that changed hands at UFC 306.

    Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t sold on the idea following his win over Sean O’Malley last month but with several other top contenders either booked or coming off of losses, it doesn’t look like he will have much choice in the matter.

    Nurmagomedov has only fought one contender in the top 15, Cory Sandhagen, meaning that his first title defense if he was to win the belt would open up a lot of opportunities. With the biggest name in the division in “Suga” returning to the role of contender, it’s not likely to be long before he’s back in a big fight even if the fighters around him in the rankings stay active.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Sean O’Malley Would Deserve To Fight Umar Nurmagomedov When He’s Champion

    There’s a strong chance that O’Malley finds himself in a title fight unless the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo or Petr Yan are able to make a statement when they meet.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke about how O’Malley would be at the top of their priorities if he’s successful against Dvalishvili.

    “Suga” has recently undergone surgery but if the timelines end up working out, which you’d imagine they will given his recent update, Abdelaziz said that O’Malley deserves this opportunity even if he is coming off a loss.

    “Sean O’Malley just have a surgery. The plan was Umar beat Merab and after that Umar gives Sean O’Malley a title shot coming off a loss because I believe Sean O’Malley deserves it. He built the division, he made everybody money, why not give the guy love for making the 135 (division) exciting as it is today.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

  • Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Ankalaev’s Manager: ‘Embarrassing’ If Pereira Avoids Next Fight

    Alex Pereira made it clear in his post-fight interview at UFC 307 that he has no plans to leave the light heavyweight division right now.

    “Poatan” has flirted with both moving up to heavyweight and returning to middleweight but said himself that competing at 205-pounds is a sweet spot for him right now. Though his clash with Khalil Rountree in the main event delivered an entertaining fight, many expected Magomed Ankalaev to be his opponent in Salt Lake City.

    The #2-ranked contender will instead face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 later this month where if he wins, there surely can be no denying him.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Magomed Ankalaev Has To Be Next For Alex Pereira

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gave his thoughts on the current title picture at 205-pounds. He believes that Pereira’s statement on remaining at light heavyweight gives him no option but to face Ankalaev if he defeats Rakić in Abu Dhabi.

    Abdelaziz also pointed to some of his other fighters that have also had to campaign for a long time in order to get their title shots. He said that like the examples he gave, Ankalaev will make up for this long period of waiting by being champion for a significant period of time.

    “It would be embarrassing if he did this. He clearly said he’s not running, it would be clearly running but listen, let’s see what happens. Ankalaev needs to focus on Rakić but if I’m a champion and I believe I’m the best in the world, I’m going to fight anybody and listen, remember Islam Makhachev take him a long time to get there but when he’s there, he’s there for a long time.

    Khabib, Kamaru, these guys wait for a long time to become a champion, they hang around for a while and I believe this is going to be the deal for Ankalaev.” 

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Reflects On Brutal Loss To Alex Pereira At UFC 307: ‘Didn’t Win The Title But I Grew’