This past Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, PFL Europe 3 produced possibly the best fight to have ever taken place in the Smart Cage.
After his previous opponent withdrew, Lewis McGrillen stepped in as an alternate to face Dean Garnett in the semi-final play-offs of the bantamweight tournament.
What followed was an unbelievable back-and-forth war between the two Brits that featured a staggering 14 knockdowns in just 12 minutes.
The majority of them came from McGrillen, who is known for knocking opponents out cold but Garnett kept recovering and getting back to his feet.
That was until the fifth round where a heavy shot landed and sent Garnett face down to the canvas, giving “McGrizzla” a spectacular walk-off KO moment.
MMA Fans React To Fight Of The Year Contender In PFL Europe
In what will surely go down as one of the best fights of the year, if not one of the greatest bouts in the history of UK MMA, McGrillen vs Garnett sure did turn some heads.
MMA fans reacted on social media to one of the wildest contests that you’re ever likely to see.
However, “Poatan” is a whole different beast when it comes to the stand-up game thanks to his incredible career in kickboxing before he made the switch to MMA.
Rountree’s coach John Wood also stated that they intend to strike in Salt Lake City because that’s where they will get the best out of his student’s skill set, rather than trying to change his approach because of the opponent that’s in front of them.
Pereira Says He Won’t Be Convinced Unless Rountree Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is
Despite this clear statement from his opponent, Pereira isn’t convinced that Rountree will stick by his word once they meet inside the Octagon.
The champion is so effective on the feet that even when he faces fellow strikers, they often divert to using grappling as a plan B.
Pereira commented on this during a recent interview with Kevin Iole before fight week.
Through his coach, Plinio Cruz, “Poatan” suggested a wager that would give him confidence in Rountree’s pre-fight assertion that he will keep the fight on the feet.
“Honestly bro, everybody that said that [they will keep the fight standing] before ended up shooting a takedown on this guy so it’s hard to believe. Alex said that the only way that he’ll believe [is] if Khalil go out in public and say, ‘I promise, I promise that I’m not going to shoot a takedown on this guy and if I do, I’m going to donate a percentage of my purse for charity.’ Then Alex will believe him and say let’s bang.”
Fight week for the UFC 307 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.
Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree and the co-main event between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.
Saturday’s lineup is topped by an intriguing championship clash, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (11-2) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023. He’s since retained possession of the belt by getting the better of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 this past April and Procházka in their short-notice UFC 303 rematch.
If “Poatan” is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must record a victory over Rountree (13-5, 1 NC). “The War Horse” will ride a five-fight win streak into his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, most notably getting the better of former championship challenger Anthony Smith in brutal fashion last time out.
Before those two run it back in the main event at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, one of three women’s titles in the UFC will be at stake.
The women’s bantamweight gold will be contested by current champ Pennington (16-8) and former divisional queen Peña (11-5), as they settle a rivalry that began to brew during their time on The Ultimate Fighter season 18 in 2013. While “Rocky” will return eight months on from her capturing of the then-vacant strap, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to make the walk for the first time since losing the title in her rematch with Amanda Nunes over two years ago.
Ahead of those two contests in Utah, fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 307 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has seemingly confirmed when reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev will return to action.
Makhachev has had just one outing in 2024 — a hard-fought submission win over Dustin Poirier at the Newark-held UFC 302 event to record his second defense of the 155-pound title.
For the third straight year, the Russian was then being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual October pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi. But an injury that required surgery scuppered those plans and ruled Makhachev out for the remainder of 2024.
Khabib Leaks January UFC Title Defense For Makhachev
During a recent interview (via Ushatayka), Khabib provided an update on Makhachev’s return after injury stalled plans for a second assignment in 2024.
While he stayed short of confirming a location or opponent, “The Eagle” did reveal that his protégé has accepted a bout offer from the UFC for an event in January 2025, likely UFC 311.
“UFC offered us a fight already, in January. We accepted it,” Nurmagomedov said. “UFC will announce very soon where it will take place and who will be Islam’s opponent. I will not make an announcement myself, but I can say that we are focused on January.”
Although his name wasn’t mentioned, there’s little doubt about Tsarukyan’s status as next in line for a shot at title glory following his decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April.
While “God of War” was hoping to bounce back from his knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in front of his home fans, Moicano had other plans. The Brazilian landed a takedown early and proceeded to put a brutal beating on Saint Denis.
Moicano was his usual charismatic and unpredictable self on the microphone post-fight. But an aspect that perhaps could have been foreseen was his callouts, one of which saw the continuation of his back and forth with a rising name…
Pimblett Gives Short & Sweet Response To Moicano
During Pimblett’s surge up the lightweight ladder, Moicano has frequently dismissed his credentials and vowed to blemish his UFC record should they be placed opposite one another inside the cage.
Moicano evidently thinks so, as he named Pimblett alongside Dan Hooker as his potential opponents following a destructive beatdown of Saint Denis in Paris.
The Liverpool native was quick to respond on social media, unsurprisingly welcoming the chance to quieten the Brazilian and forge a path into the top 10 at 155 pounds.
Pimblett’s win over Green marked his sixth since signing with the UFC in 2021. The former Cage Warriors champion had previously gotten the better of notable names like Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon.
Moicano, meanwhile, is now riding a four-fight winning run inside the Octagon. After a lengthy injury layoff followed a quick submission victory over Brad Riddell in late 2022, the Brazilian has returned this year in style by reeling off three triumphs over Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and Saint Denis.
UFC women’s bantamweight contender Ailín Pérez insists she was well within her rights to celebrate in the way she did this past weekend.
The Argentine fighter featured on the preliminary portion of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Paris, France. She was hoping to extend her winning run to five at the expense of Darya Zheleznyakova.
Pérez did just that, once again showing her grappling superiority. This time, however, she didn’t require the scorecards, forcing a tap from her Russian opponent with an arm-triangle choke inside the first round.
Pérez Rejects ‘Disrespectful’ Claims After Twerking In Defeated Opponent’s Face
Pérez’s celebration split opinion in the community, with some branding it a disrespectful move on the part of the Buenos Aires native.
But the Argentine was quick to dismiss that notion, instead claiming to have been subjected to disrespect from her opponent pre-fight.
My friend @arielhelwani , Darya said some very disrespectful things about me before the fight so I had to do it 🥰 I would love to tell you more about it on your NEW show 💙🇦🇷🏆 #AilinNurmagomedovhttps://t.co/esbhayKHrX
“My friend @arielhelwani, Darya said some very disrespectful things about me before the fight so I had to do it,” Pérez wrote. “I would love to tell you more about it on your NEW show #AilinNurmagomedov“
And that wasn’t the only post-fight tweet that saw a Nurmagomedov theme.
In another, the victorious Argentine claimed to have “Khabib’d the Russian” inside the Octagon at Accor Arena.
Plenty of Pérez’s other posts saw her targeting flyweight contender Tracy Cortez, who got her own back following “Fiona’s” weight miss after previously being branded unprofessional by the Argentine for needing to cut her hair off to make the limit.
It remains to be seen what will come next for Pérez, but she certainly has her sights set high.
When it comes to the promotion’s decision not to grant Magomed Ankalaev a title shot, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira thinks the Russian only has himself to blame.
Following knockout wins over Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, many expected “Poatan’s” next assignment to be dealing with a new kind of threat — the grappling strength of Ankalaev.
Pereira: Title Shot Snub Entirely Down To Ankalaev
During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Pereira looked ahead to his third outing in quick succession, which headlines this weekend’s pay-per-view inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.
“Honestly, it’s not my fault that Ankalaev have such a boring style of fighting that nobody wants to watch, that the guys don’t want to put him in,” Pereira said. “I’m ready to fight the guy. He’s ready to fight me, so whenever they put that fight. People talk about my ground (game), so there’s a good chance I’m going to show everybody.”
Pereira, meanwhile, has frequently expressed a willingness to meet the challenge of Ankalaev. Before potentially focusing on that next, he must avoid the power shots of “The War Horse” on Oct. 5.
MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming cards.
With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.
Between Monday, September 23, and Sunday, September 29, a few notable fights were made official by the UFC or reported by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:
Some already thought that Renato Moicano’s doctor’s stoppage win over Benoît Saint Denis was impressive enough as it was. But new information coming out in the aftermath of the fight has made it just that much more so.
As it turned out, Moicano suffered a severe shoulder injury during the fight, powering his way through the second round with it. Kevin Iole was the first to obtain and share photos of the damaged shoulder, including a gruesome X-ray.
Dana White Brands Renato Moicano A ‘Beast’ After Fighting Through Injury To Win UFC Paris Main Event
UFC CEO Dana White took notice of the injury and was blown away, sharing his thoughts in Iole’s Instagram comments.
“Kids a BEAST!!!!!!”
Moicano put a beating on Saint Denis over the course of the first round. While the Brazilian did not do much in the second frame, the damage his French opponent sustained was enough to warrant the doctor stepping in to halt the bout.
With the result, Moicano has now won four straight and six of his last seven as he continues to rise up the 155-pound rankings.
After a long winning streak, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now been finished in back-to-back fights, having previously lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.
With Moicano’s win, it will be interesting to see if a fight with Paddy Pimblett will come next given “The Baddy’s” call out of him after UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.
It was not the best of nights for Brendan Allen at UFC Paris, coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial co-main event clash of top middleweight contenders.
Allen appeared to be in complete control of the fight over the first five minutes, laying into Imavov and delivering most, if not all, of the activity in the first round. But the American seemed to fatigue from there.
That led to the Frenchman taking control, especially in the grappling realm. Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.
This fight did not do Allen any favors as he aims to finally capture a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. And current champ, Dricus Du Plessis — someone who Allen is not fond of — let him know it on social media after the performance.
Dricus Du Plessis, Brendan Allen Trade Barbs On Social Media After Allen’s Loss At UFC Paris
Allen was not going to let Du Plessis’ comments go unnoticed, giving him a response back. “All In” reiterated a past claim, stating that the South African has been avoiding him during his rise up the middleweight ranks.
Says the one been ducking me since getting in. We dont all get the easy route. Wasnt my night tonight……but ill still fuck you up
Benoît Saint Denis displayed a valuable amount of heart and resilience during the main event of UFC Paris. But it wasn’t enough, as the damage he took forced the doctor to wave off the contest against Renato Moicano after two rounds.
Moicano put a battering on the Frenchman, causing great swelling and damage along his face — especially his eyes. Moicano appeared to take the second round off as Saint Denis battled back.
But as the doctor checked him out after the second, it became apparent that “God of War” was unable to see out of his right eye, forcing the bout’s end.
Saint Denis took to social media to state his thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
Benoît Saint Denis Gives Respect To Renato Moicano After Loss At UFC Paris
“It wasn’t my day, this sport is tough but amazing,” Saint Denis wrote in French. “Thank you all for your continued support. Proud to have been able to represent the (French flag) in the octagon. Respect to my opponent @moicanoufc for facing me at home and congratulations to him.”
Moicano, who battled through his own injury, expressed gratitude to Saint Denis after the fight, even inviting him to train together at some point.
After dropping his UFC debut, “God of War” won five straight, but he has now lost back-to-back outings. Saint Denis was finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.
With UFC Paris: Moicano vs. Saint Denis done and dusted, fans can look forward to witnessing the return of Alex Pereira at UFC 307. The light heavyweight champion will aim to defend his title for the third time this year against Khalil Rountree.
Although Rountree wasn’t the ideal title contender based on rankings, many believe him to be an excellent matchup for “Poatan”. The Brazilian has been knocking people out with left hooks and kicks, and Rountree has been very successful since incorporating Muay Thai into his striking.
Here’s what Rountree’s coach thinks of the champion’s striking and how he plans to do the unthinkable at UFC 307…
Khalil Rountree’s Coach Explains How To Beat An ‘Unstoppable Striker’ Like Alex Pereira Or Sean O’Malley
Wood is still exhilarated by his student Merab Dvalishvili beating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. While discussing Rountree’s UFC 307 fight on the Inside Fighting YouTube channel, he remembered how “Suga” seemed like an unbeatable striker, but Dvalishvili exposed several holes in his game.
“You know, just like, using O’Malley again. [Sean] Was this unstoppable striker and this and that. There’s always, there’s layers, there’s layers to the onion that you have to peel back for the game plan.”
Although Rountree is unlikely to grapple like Dvalishvili to neutralize his opponent’s offense, his coach claims that there are several things to capitalize on. Wood acknowledged that Pereira’ striking can look ugly and unconventional but it works like a charm.
For starters, Pereira has explosive knockout power which always keeps his opponents at bay. On top of that, Wood thinks that by performing rather unusual moves, the Brazilian lures his opponents to enter the pocket following which the fight usually ends.
“One, the guy’s got hammers for hands. Two, I think he lulls people into that like, you know, ‘hey, I’m making mistakes’ and you know, ‘come and get me.’ And then, boop! You’re waking up on the canvas,” Wood continued,” No matter sometimes how ugly things might look or maybe unconventional but unconventional works just as well as conventional, if you know what you’re doing.”
Without revealing a lot, Wood shared that Rountree’s game plan heading into UFC 307 is to avoid aggressing unnecessarily. The coach understands that the light heavyweight kingpin only needs one good shot, so he’ll ask his fighter to remain patient and look for real openings.
“That’s my job to make sure that we don’t fall into any of those traps. You’re going to see this, and his hands are down and he’s leading with his face. He wants to get you, you know, no, there’s reasons he’s doing that.”
Wood has a fair assessment of Pereira’s striking game. Will it help Rountree finally win UFC gold at UFC 307, though?
Benoît Saint Denis was left with quite the battle scars on his face as the doctor stepped in to stop his UFC Paris fight with Renato Moicano.
The Brazilian put on a completely dominating display in the opening round, taking the fight to the ground early and having over four minutes of control time there. He landed some vicious ground-and-pound on Saint Denis, busting up his face.
Moicano appeared to take the second frame off, as Saint Denis pressed forward. The damage, however, was not getting any better.
The doctor observed “God of War” and his severely swollen eyes after the second round, and it was determined that Saint Denis’ vision in his right eye was obscured, causing the fight to be waved off.
Benoît Saint Denis Left Battered As Doctor Steps In To Stop UFC Paris Main Event vs. Renato Moicano
BSD looks like he just fought 10 rounds. Guy is next level tough.
That has to be a 10-8 round for Renato Moicano wow. He is looking incredible! Don’t know how Benoit Saint-Denis survived this round #UFCParispic.twitter.com/Ta6v6i66db
Moicano has now won four straight and scored three finishes in this stretch. He called out Paddy Pimblett following the fight after “The Baddy” expressed interest in fighting him post-UFC 304 this past July.
After winning 13 of 15 to start his MMA career, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now dropped back-to-back outings after previously getting finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 in March.
UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, ranked lightweights Renato Moicano (#11) and Benoît Saint Denis (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Nassourdine Imavov faced Brendan Allen in a middleweight matchup.
UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card
Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00
Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Featherweight: William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via TKO: R2, 3.47
Featherweight: Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via KO: R2, 0.27
Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola via KO: R3, 2.59
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy def. Da Woon Jung via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: L’udovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
In the main event, Renato Moicano silenced the Paris crowd with a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Benoît Saint Denis. The doctor waved off the fight at the end of round two after Saint Denis was deemed not able to see out of his right eye.
The referee waves off the contest between Renato Moicano and Benoit Saint-Denis after Saint-Denis couldn't see out of his right eye. #UFCParispic.twitter.com/ncZZGN4gLo
A battle of middleweight contenders in the co-main event of UFC Paris saw Nassourdine Imavov come out on top over Brendan Allen.
Allen was in complete control of the fight in the first round, bringing virtually all of the activity. But in the second frame, the momentum shifted swiftly. Imavov won the grappling battle in that round, taking advantage of a tired “All In” and displaying strong shots from the top ground position.
The American’s striking seemed off in the second stanza, and that stretched into the third, with his French counterpart landing the better strikes and having control of the fight on the mat.
Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.
Nassourdine Imavov Keeps Momentum Alive With Decision Win Over Brendan Allen In Paris
The MW division is so backed up lol. DDP is champ but Strickland and Rob are deserving of a title shot and now even Imavov is right there and may deserve one too, along with Borralho and Chimaev being close. pic.twitter.com/0dCJjl4HdD
Imavov has now won three straight since his no contest with Chris Curtis at UFC 289. The Frenchman’s win streak has also seen him score a majority decision over Roman Dolidze and a controversial finish of Jared Cannonier.
Meanwhile, Allen’s seven-fight winning run was snapped in Paris, a streak that saw him earn victories over Curtis, Paul Craig, and Bruno Silva.
The 2024 PFL Europe Playoffs took place on Saturday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!
Having broken onto the scene with its regular season and playoff format in North America, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has begun its pursuit of further prominence around the globe.
In 2023, that took sizable step forward with the maiden PFL Europe season. And the sophomore campaign moved closer to its lucrative conclusion in Lyon, France today when the playoff bouts went down inside the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.
After the season bouts all eyes were on local favorite and former PFL global lightweight finalist Stevie Ray as he returned from retirement to headline on home soil.
“Braveheart” thrilled his home crowd by notching his self-created submission, the Scottish twister, for the second time in his career to submit Lewis Long in the very first round.
While the event was broadcast on DAZN for select countries, it was unfortunately not available to audiences in the United States. However, MMA News has you covered below with the full results and all the highlights below.
2024 PFL Europe Playoffs Results & Highlights
Main Card:
Welterweight Main Event: Stevie Ray def. Lewis Long via submission (Scottish twister): R1, 4:21
Catchweight (150lbs) Co-Main Event: Rob Whiteford def. Roger Huerta via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Mark Ewen def. Yassin Chtatou via submission (D’arce choke): R1, 2:30
Bantamweight Playoff: Lewis McGrillen def. Dean Garnett via KO (left hook): R3, 1:45
Bantamweight Playoff: Alexander Luster def. Julian Lopez via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 1:15
Welterweight Playoff: Florim Zendeli def. Jack Grant via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Welterweight Playoff Bout: Daniele Miceli def. Ibrahima Mané via TKO (uppercut & punches): R1, 1:26
Preliminary Card:
Lightweight Playoff: Jakub Kaszuba def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Official #PFLGlasgow Result: Jakub Kaszuba def. Daniele Scatizzi via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Jakub Kaszuba faces Connor Hughes at PFL Europe Lightweight Championship in Lyon on December 14th!#PFLGlasgow | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/RVDsXNe9Rm
Official #PFLGlasgow Result: Florim Zendeli def. Jack Grant via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Florim Zendeli faces Daniele Miceli at the PFL Europe Welterweight Championship in Lyon on December 14th!#PFLGlasgow | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/7HLIedf76b
Alexander Luster drops Julien Lopez and locks in a rear-naked choke to finish the fight in the first round! #PFLGlasgow | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/zpYZm4aRfH
Bryan Battle may have come out on top with a finish at UFC Paris, but he also may have made himself public enemy No. 1 in France with his post-fight promo…
Battle put on a solid striking display before scoring a finish in the second round of his fight with Kevin Jousset. He then landed a brutal flurry of strikes that resulted in a referee’s stoppage, giving “The Butcher” the victory.
The American flipped the home crowd off following the fight as the fans inside Accor Arena expressed displeasure in their compatriot losing.
Battle then took to the mic and encouraged the French crowd to continuously rain down the jeers they were bringing to him.
Bryan Battle Encourages Boos From Crowd After Finish Of France’s Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris
“Keep booing me, baby” Battle said. “Keep booing me. I love it. I love it. Listen, listen. People have been booing me and doubting me since I started training. I love it. The more you boo me, the stronger I get, baby! I’m used to this. Nobody can stop me!”
All time promo from Bryan Battle. Love it!! Holding no prisoners. #UFCParis
Bryan Battle just showcased how you go entirely full heel without being cringe. “NO WAY YOU THOUGHT I WAS GONNA LOSE A FIST FIGHT WITH A FRENCH DUDE.” Lmaoo #UFCParis
In his native France, Farès Ziam pulled off a vicious knockout that seemed to come out of nowhere to score a late victory over Matt Frevola on the main card of UFC Paris.
Ziam appeared to show continued improvement over the course of the fight’s first two rounds, seemingly in a comfortable lead as the contest headed into the third.
It was there, however, where Ziam unleashed violence that no one saw coming.
With the two of them against the fence, Ziam turned Frevola and landed a stunning knee to the head that dropped the American out cold to score a KO of the Year contender.
Frevola was unconscious for several minutes after the finish.
Farès Ziam Lands Brutal KO Of The Year Contender With Vicious Knee On Matt Frevola’s Head
Arguably the greatest knee I have ever seen in MMA. WOWOWOW! That was amazing #UFCParis
For the first time since his 2021 return, Nick Diaz will be back in the Octagon once again, taking on Vicente Luque as part of the main card for UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.
Following the announcement of that rescheduled contest, Diaz posted a teaser to his Instagram page, showcasing footage of a training session to the tune of Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.”
Diaz and Luque were originally scheduled to face off at UFC Abu Dhabi early last month before the fight was postponed due to travel issues on the side of the Stockton native.
Nick Diaz Releases Training Footage Ahead Of UFC 310 Return
Diaz last fought in the Octagon at UFC 266, losing a rematch with old foe Robbie Lawler by way of TKO.
That fight was Diaz’s first since his infamous UFC 183 main event bout with Anderson Silva — a fight in which Diaz failed a drug test and was nearly banned for life by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Diaz’s last UFC win came against BJ Penn at UFC 137 well over a decade ago.
Luque, meanwhile, has suffered defeat in three of his last four, most recently losing to Joaquin Buckley in Atlantic City back in March.
Another finish and another post-fight show from Ailín Pérez, as she scores a first-round submission of Darya Zheleznyakova on the preliminary card of UFC Paris.
Pérez was able to bring the fight to the ground and locked up Zheleznyakova in an arm-triangle choke, scoring the submission quickly in the opening round.
Following the submission, in classic Pérez style, she started to twerk, notably doing so in the direction of her opponent.
Ailín Pérez Twerks In Darya Zheleznyakova’s Face After Submitting Her At UFC Paris
Pérez has now won four straight in the Octagon, scoring her first finish since 2022 in this bout. The Argentine did, however, miss weight by 0.5 pounds for this fight.
Zheleznyakova, meanwhile, is now 1-1 in the Octagon since coming over from ARES FC.
In his relatively short time in the UFC thus far, Alex Pereira has quickly earned a pair of championships and status as a top name in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Some are eyeing a potential move to heavyweight for Pereira, who defends the UFC light heavyweight championship next weekend against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. But he has previously noted that he could be looking at a move back down to middleweight in the wake of Dricus Du Plessis retaining the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
In a new interview with The Schmo, “Poatan” stated the move to 205 pounds was done in order to take a break from tough weight cuts.
“I would like [a fight with Du Plessis] to be at middleweight,” Pereira said. “I told everybody that I just needed a break from 185, from all those weight cuts. I feel good, I feel healthy right now.”
Pereira, who was also a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in GLORY Kickboxing, made his UFC debut as a middleweight at UFC 268. He quickly won three straight before challenging Adesanya, his old kickboxing foe, for the middleweight title at UFC 281.
Pereira won via fifth-round finish but was knocked out by Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 287.
Pereira then moved up to light heavyweight, defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 before defeating Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 for the light heavyweight title.
Pereira has since defended the 205-pound title against Jamahal Hill and Procházka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.
Chael Sonnen, like millions of others, is a huge fan of Alex Pereira, who has won two UFC belts and defeated five champs in just two years. His stoic persona matches his appalling fighting style amazingly well, and despite not speaking English, he has won the fans over with his flashy knockouts and consistency.
“Poatan” has already headlined UFC 300 and UFC 303 in 2024. He’ll defend the light heavyweight championship again at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree and walking away with an impressive win is bound to skyrocket his popularity even further.
While the world keeps theorizing the reason behind Pereira’s unprecedented rise, Chael Sonnen believes that the secret could be quite simple…
Chael Sonnen Believes Alex Pereira To Be A Genius With Simplicity Like John Smith, One Of The Greatest Freestylers Of All Time
Sonnen invited Mike Soccio onto his YouTube channel for a podcast where they discussed all things combat sports, including Pereira. According to the writer, “Poatan” might be extremely clever in training with Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 307 because the latter absolutely despises Rountree.
Unsurprisingly, Strickland has been going off on Rountree in recent interviews. From claiming that “The War Horse” is in a cult to calling him a beta male, the former UFC middleweight champion has left no stone unturned in explaining why he doesn’t like Pereira’s next opponent.
“Turns out Pereira is legit. It turns out he’s an actual badass and when an actual badass. Right? Everybody’s a gangster until a gangster walks in the room. And it turns out, Pereira is actually the tough guy even though he didn’t have the sport and he doesn’t have a black belt in anything.”
Soccio believes this could be Pereira’s way to get under Rountree’s skin without having to be the bad guy. He thinks that it’s a genius move, but Sonnen assumes things are a lot simpler for the UFC light heavyweight champion.
“Clearly he’s a genius. But I agree with you. I don’t think it’s deeply thought out. I don’t think his book would have a whole bunch of chapters to it. I bet you it’s something really simple.”
Sonnen looked back at the time when he asked John Smith about winning the Olympic Games gold in 1988 against all odds. Smith’s response that he just decided to be the world champion in 1988 made “The American Gangster” realize how a lot of greats hardly care about external factors.
Sonnen puts Pereira in a similar category. He doesn’t think “Poatan” is trying to scare his opponents through mental warfare or trash talk. Instead, he’s deeply focused on improving himself and taking out any opponent put in front of him.
“He had decided that he, it had nothing to do with that guy beat my brother or my family’s been to court. Or he’s the gold medalist or I’m still in college and has never been done. It had nothing to do, he had decided that he was going to be Olympic champion,” Sonnen continued, “These greats, though, right? These greats, they think differently and it’s not always more complex. Sometimes, it’s more basic and I just say that because I think that Pereira is probably the more basic.”
Scoring and controversy go hand in hand in MMA. The sport is still relatively new, and tons of decisions over the years have left the fans divided, enraged, and dissatisfied, among other things.
From Dominick Reyes losing against Jon Jones to Paddy Pimblett getting the nod against Jared Gordon, there are countless examples of controversial MMA decisions. Such incidents can occur at an amateur event as well as during a UFC title fight, which explains why the MMA community expects the scoring system to get more objective.
Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks is easily one of the most questioned decisions ever, and Marc Goddard broke it down to explain how scorecards in MMA can vary greatly…
Marc Goddard Reveals Unnoticed Factor That Made Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks A Split Decision From Unanimous
Goddard recently appeared on the talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel to deliver a masterclass on MMA scoring. When asked about judges having contradictory scorecards after a fight, the renowned referee brought up GSP’s last defense of the UFC welterweight title before leaving the sport temporarily.
Goddard started by explaining that 15 scores had to be submitted by three judges across the five rounds between St-Pierre and Hendricks. Fourteen of these 15 scorecards were identical. One judge scored the first round for Hendricks, which turned the majority decision into a split one.
“It’s perfectly understandable why he scored it that way because if you look at the fight and you’ll see there’s a certain point in the first round when Johny’s against the cage. He’s defending a double leg, George is in on a double with him and he throws a series of elbows and you know yourself, being elbowed in the head is not a nice experience and depending on what’s between your ears, that can make a hollow sound or a dull sound. But you look, it was a series of elbows, he was physically marked up by them. And if you look, go back and watch that fight, and as you see those elbows come in, who’s the judge that sat right underneath where they’re happening, Nelson ‘Doc’ Hamilton. And he saw something which was used in his. It was a close round, but at that point, it was enough to swing him.”
Goddard pointed out that the judge who scored the first round for Hendricks (the ref says it’s Nelson Hamilton mistakenly, but it was Glenn Trowbridge) was seated right next to the fighters during the sequence when “Big Rig” landed some vicious elbows on GSP while defending a double leg. According to the referee, the impact of these elbows would’ve been obvious to one judge in a way it wasn’t for the other two.
By using this example, Goddard wanted to point out how real-time scoring is very different from what the fans see. Based on their sitting position, all judges get a different viewing angle and hear differently which naturally affects their decisions.
The acclaimed MMA figure further explained that in contrast to popular understanding, a split decision signifies a close fight. However, because fans have usually placed bets and they’re very passionate about their favorites, split decisions are often instantly seen as robberies.
“There’s so many factors that come into play when you’re looking at MMA, not just on the highest level. This is regardless of level. There’s so many factors, line of site, your view, how you hear things, how you see things, etc,” Goddard continued, “You know, obviously, if you’re cut or swollen during the fight, the judges can see it. All these factors mate and it’s so like, like I said when the public jump on something because of it’s something they heard and obviously all their misunderstanding on top of that, it just snowballs and exasperates it. And it’s mindblowing!”
By bringing up several minor factors that MMA fans ignore as viewers, Goddard aimed to highlight how likely it is for scorecards to be different, especially in close fights. However, the popular sentiment is that scorecards should be unanimous in most cases and a split decision means that at least one judge got it wrong.
Jorge Masvidal recently lauded a Bellator champion, declaring that he envisions this fighter as a future titleholder in the UFC.
The individual in question is none other than Masvidal’s teammate at American Top Team (ATT), reigning Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen.
Eblen launched his professional MMA career under the Shamrock FC banner in July 2017, quickly rising through the ranks. After just four fights, he caught the attention of Bellator MMA, making his promotional debut in March 2019, securing a commanding decision victory over Chauncey Foxworth.
“Gamebred” sees immense potential in Eblen and confidently predicts that he is destined for an even greater future in the sport…
Masvidal Claims Eblen Shines Brighter Than Other Training Partners At ATT
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal was asked about the fighter who has challenged him the most during training sessions at ATT, as he charts his own MMA comeback. The former BMF titleholder acknowledged that while all his training partners are high-level competitors, Eblen stands out as someone who appears to be in a league of his own.
“Gamebred” expressed his belief that Eblen could eventually make his way to the UFC and has the potential to become a champion in the world’s premier MMA promotion.
“Everybody I shake hands with and train with, they’re all pushing me; they’re all freaking pushing me, man. But I got in some good quality rounds with Johnny,” Masvidal said. “Johnny’s getting ready to scrap, and f**k, he’s like on another level right now; he’s hitting the gas pedal very hard. He’s a real nightmare right now at the gym for everybody he’s going with. I’m never gonna name anyone, but there are a lot of guys Johnny’s going in there with, man, and he’s putting in good work. I think this guy’s going to be a future UFC champion.”
Marc Goddard recently provided an in-depth explanation of how takedowns are evaluated in MMA fights.
The value of takedowns in the estimation of MMA judges remains a very polarizing and complex issue, especially considering that judging is one of the most crucial elements of the sport.
With over 20 years of experience, Goddard has solidified his status as one of the most venerable referees in MMA, having officiated numerous marquee matchups in the UFC and other top promotions. Considering his extensive background, it’s evident that the 50-year-old official has a nuanced understanding of the ins and outs of the game.
Goddard Outlines How MMA Judges Focus On Inflicted Damage When Scoring Fights
During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard was prompted to elaborate on the influence of takedowns on judges’ scoring in an MMA bout. The renowned referee pointed out the absurdity of the belief that simply scoring a takedown and finishing a round on top guarantees a fighter wins that round. He emphasized that not all takedowns carry the same weight and that judges perceive them differently.
“People think that if you finish the round on top or you take someone down that you’ve won the round; it’s so absurd,” Goddard said. “Not all takedowns are the same, obviously, as not all punches and not all kicks are the same. So if I take you down, if I just run into you and bundle you to the ground and I land in a closed guard or a half guard, yes, it’s an offensive action; yes, it can be given some credit, but it bears absolutely no significance compared to somebody who, like I said, comes back to the effectiveness, the damage, and the impact.”
Goddard elaborated that in a fight, judges hone in on the damage a fighter inflicts on their opponent, viewing it as the primary metric for scoring while everything else merely serves as a supporting detail – even in the context of a takedown.
Meaning, the type of takedown is considered by judges.
“If I clinch with you and I hip tie you or suplex you over my head and slam you or bang you into that mat with impact, again, that could outdo 12 or f**king 13 outside bundles or trips you had before when we fight. Make no mistake about it; the number one criterion, the preeminent factor that a judge will consider, is damage. That’s what it is. It used to be the word ‘impact’; they never liked the word ‘damage,’ but let’s be honest: you’re in a fight, and my job is to damage you within the realms of the rules to render you potentially unable to continue in that fight anymore.”
