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  • Yan Xiaonan, Carlos Ulberg, & More Added To UFC Macau Card On Nov. 23

    Yan Xiaonan, Carlos Ulberg, & More Added To UFC Macau Card On Nov. 23

    The lineup has come together for the mixed martial arts leader’s return to China for a UFC Fight Night card inside Macau’s Galaxy Arena.

    November 23 will see Octagon action take place in Macau for the first time in over a decade. And the promotion is set to bring plenty of notable names along with it to the Chinese region.

    That includes for the main event, which was recently revealed to pit ex-bantamweight champion Petr Yan against former two-time flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo in a crucial clash at 135 pounds.

    And while confirming that on social media, the UFC announced a number of other intriguing matchups. Of note is the next fight for China’s own Yan Xiaonan, as well as charging light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg.

    Seven months on from her failed title challenge against Zhang Weili (18-4, 1 NC) at UFC 300, Xiaonan will look to bounce back in front of her home fans against the #9-ranked Tabatha Ricci (11-2). “Baby Shark” has won two straight, most recently outpointing Angela Hill last month.

    Ulberg (10-1), meanwhile, will be making his return after having an injury take away his chance of competing at International Fight Week this past June, where he had matchups with both Jamahal Hill and Anthony Smith fall through.

    He’ll have the chance to consolidate his spot inside the light heavyweight top 10 when he takes on former title challenger and current #6-ranked contender Volkan Oezdemir (20-7) in Macau.

    Also of note is the addition of Wang Cong (6-0), a women’s flyweight prospect who made a thunderous UFC debut at the Apex in August. After brutally knocking out Victoria Leonardo, “The Joker” will compete on home soil in her sophomore Octagon appearance against Gabriella Fernandes (9-3).

    With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night event in Macau on Nov. 23 are as follows:

    • Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight main event)
    • Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci (women’s strawweight)
    • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg (light heavyweight)
    • Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes (women’s flyweight)
    • Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov (welterweight)
    • Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz (light heavyweight)
    • Nyamjargal Tumendemberel vs. Carlos Hernandez (flyweight)
    • Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa (flyweight)
    • Kangjie Zhu vs. Bin Xie (Road to UFC featherweight final)
    • SuYoung You vs. Jieleyisi Baergeng (Road to UFC bantamweight final)
    • Kiru Singh Sahota vs. DongHun Choi (Road to UFC flyweight final)
    • Xiaocan Feng vs. Ming Shi (Road to UFC women’s strawweight final)

  • Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.

    Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.

    The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.

    After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.

    But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He’s even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.

    But when it comes to the UFC’s alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn’t buying it…

    Sonnen: Masvidal Too Old For Another UFC Stint

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal’s comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.

    While “The American Gangster” suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal’s retirement, he ultimately can’t envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.

    “The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39,” Sonnen said. “Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. … I don’t care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense. That fight isn’t taking it anywhere. It’s not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn’t a top contender.

    “I don’t predict for you that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing,” Sonnen continued. “That’s what I think, but there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise.”

    Regardless of Sonnen’s view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.

    By the looks of things, he’s been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.

  • Nick Diaz Has New UFC Return Date In The Works After Abu Dhabi Cancellation

    Nick Diaz Has New UFC Return Date In The Works After Abu Dhabi Cancellation

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz will likely make his next Octagon appearance before the year is out.

    Diaz — a former Strikeforce and WEC champion — hasn’t competed since UFC 266 in September of 2021, where he was stopped by Robbie Lawler. That outing marked his first in six years and left many calling for his retirement.

    The Stockton native isn’t done yet, however, and he was scheduled to make the walk again last month in Abu Dhabi. But his planned clash with ranked welterweight Vicente Luque fell through owing to a travel issue on the side of Diaz.

    Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that matchup has been kept together and is now targeted to take place at the UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas this coming December.

    Prior to his unsuccessful return three years ago, Diaz’s previous outing saw him share the cage with Anderson Silva in 2015. The Brazilian had his unanimous decision win overturned to a no contest after testing positive for drostanolone and androsterone.

    Diaz, meanwhile, tested positive for elevated marijuana metabolites, leading to a controversial suspension and lengthy layoff on the sidelines for the fan favorite.

    He’ll now look to return to his form of old in his second bout back at the expense of Luque, a longtime figure in the welterweight top 15 who has lost three of his last four.

  • Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Joaquin Buckley is fighting in the UFC 307 prelims against Stephen Thompson. The welterweight matchup is expected to be a back-and-forth striking brawl, leaving many disappointed it didn’t make it to the main card.

    With four straight wins in the welterweight division, Buckley is aiming to secure a title shot as quickly as possible. A win over “Wonderboy” would undoubtedly boost and place him in the top 10.

    The current title challenger at welterweight is most likely Shavkat Rakhmonov, though. As per Buckley, the undefeated prospect with a 100% finish rate is not as skilled as fans believe and will be soundly beaten by Belal Muhammad…

    Joaquin Buckley Claims His Wins Over Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Teammates Are Why “Nomad” Ducked Him

    Buckley appeared in an interview on the Inside Fighting YouTube channel and discussed his next fight alongside the state of the UFC welterweight division.

    “New Mansa” gave the new welterweight kingpin his props, appreciating his work ethic and long road to the title. However, he’s not a fan of Rakhmonov, who’s potentially Muhammad’s first defense.

    Buckley revealed he offered to fight “Nomad” when Jack Della Maddalena had to pull out, but the offer was declined. He also boasts wins over members of the Kill Cliff FC team, where Rakhmonov trains.

    The welterweight compared Rakhmonov’s durability to early Vicente Luque but expects the hype to fade once the Kazakh fighter faces elite competition like Muhammad.

    “Because he knew there was a risk that I beat the majority of his teammates that he trains with. That yes, that we got the number on the whole Kill Cliff can over there. So, I just don’t think Shavkat is as good as people claim. But you know, I feel like he definitely going to get exposed eventually, you know. If that’s not by me, that’s definitely going to be by Belal.”

    For now, Buckley’s focus is on getting past a tough veteran in “Wonderboy”, a nightmare for most fighters on the feet.

  • Renato Moicano Claims Popularity Matters More Than Rankings In The UFC: ‘Even McGregor…’

    Renato Moicano Claims Popularity Matters More Than Rankings In The UFC: ‘Even McGregor…’

    Renato Moicano will look forward to extending his three-fight win streak as he takes on Benoit Saint-Denis this weekend at UFC Paris. He’ll be headlining an event after four long years and has made tons of new fans lately through his podcast and the ‘Money Moicano’ gimmick.

    Although Saint-Denis is one of the toughest fighters in the lightweight division, Moicano has been fighting elite competition since 2017. He’s spent nine years in the UFC, and a win over BSD would bring him closer to a title shot than ever before.

    As a UFC veteran at this point, Moicano believes that a fighter’s popularity matters more than their ranking and he had quite a few examples to back this claim…

    Renato Moicano Aims To Boost His Popularity Instead Of Rankings For A Successful UFC Run Like Dan Hooker and Conor McGregor

    While talking to the media recently, Moicano was asked about the impact on his rank after beating an opponent like Saint-Denis who’s ranked just below him.

    The Brazilian outright stated that rankings don’t matter as much in the UFC. Of course, the level of competition you face is directly related to your rank but popularity can help the fighters skip past these aspects and get the biggest fights.

    “I think the rankings, they don’t matter. You know, if the rankings matter, things will be easier but no, we saw like last month, Dan Hooker beating Mateusz and they were pretty far on the rankings. So, we see some guys like, even McGregor, back in the day, he was like, I don’t know, how many years without fighting and he was in the rankings. I think this sport, we have to try to see like the popularity, you know, the momentum. And even though Benoit Saint-Denis is ranked behind me, I think he has a lot of momentum. I think he has a lot of popularity, especially in Europe and I think that could catapult me, not to the rankings, but to popularity and I could get even better fights.”

    Moicano used Dan Hooker as an example as he was below Mateusz Gamrot before their fight. Thanks to a split decision victory, “The Hangman” is now a top-five ranked lightweight and will most likely get a title shot after another win.

    Similarly, Conor McGregor was in the UFC rankings for a very long time even when he wasn’t fighting anyone. So, understanding that BSD is quite popular in Europe, Moicano’s goal is to boost his following among European fans even if his rank doesn’t improve much.

    The American Top Team fighter thinks he can ask for the biggest fights in the lightweight division regardless of his rank if he’s a big draw. Either way, he needs to get past “God of War” first.

  • ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    The UFC featherweight division has changed a lot in the last twelve months. Alexander Volkanovski, who looked unbeatable in the weight class, lost via knockout to a rising undefeated prospect Ilia Topuria in February 2024.

    Max Holloway, after clearing out most of the top contenders in the division, moved up to lightweight and knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. While the former champion has been resting and hoping to fight for the title upon his return, Diego Lopes has become an undeniable contender as well, following his dominant win over Brian Ortega.

    With Lopes eyeing a fight in December, UFC legend Chael Sonnen is concerned about its impact on Volkanovski’s title shot…

    Chael Sonnen Shares The Implications Of Diego Lopes Calling Out Alexander Volkanovski

    Sonnen recently discussed the current state of the UFC featherweight division on his YouTube channel. He looked back at how quickly “The Great” went from being P4P No. 1 to waiting for a title shot in a division he reigned over for five years.

    Things seemed straightforward with Holloway fighting Topuria, as Volkanovski would be next while getting the much-needed rest after two straight KO losses. However, Sonnen claims that Lopes agreeing to be the backup for Topuria vs. Holloway at UFC 308 could be a problem for the former kingpin.

    “The American Gangster” remembered that backup fighters for UFC title fights have often ended up getting the title shot next. Although Volkanovski’s legacy cannot be questioned, Sonnen reminded viewers that there are no guarantees in the fight business.

    “Diego Lopes is ready to fight right now, and to back that up, will fly to a different continent and sit in the front row should he need to which is the exact process that Volkanovski did in the exact arena to get his opportunity against Islam. I don’t know how this is going to play out and I don’t have a horse in the race. Diego Lopes has done nothing, I’ve been as impressed as you guys are. Volkanovski, one of the all-time greats, one of my absolute favorite fighters. I don’t have a horse in this race, but make no mistake, there is a race.”

    The former UFC title challenger also pointed out that Lopes is targeting a fight with “The Great” if he doesn’t step in for anyone in November. Yet again, it would be hard for Volkanovski to decline this fight and then ask for a title shot over Lopes.

    “Whether Diego Lopes meant to do this cause secretly, he’s strategically very good at this or Volkanovski doesn’t know what’s happening. He’s going to sit one out because he thinks he has a guarantee. There are no guarantees. There’s one bout agreement, it goes to one guy. There is officially a call out by Lopes, Volkanovski, the ball is yours.”

    All in all, Sonnen worries that Volkanovski’s path to reclaiming the UFC featherweight title is no longer uncomplicated.

  • Former ONE Double Champ Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion

    Former ONE Double Champ Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion

    Former ONE Championship two-division titleholder Reinier De Ridder is the UFC’s latest notable signee, and he believes he’s primed to take on the challenges within the promotion’s highly competitive middleweight division.

    “The Dutch Knight” dominated the ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from November 2020 until this past March. During his tenure, De Ridder initially rode high on the momentum of a seven-fight win streak.

    However, his reign came to an abrupt end as he suffered consecutive defeats to Anatoly Malykhin, resulting in the loss of both titles. De Ridder boasts a professional MMA record of 17-2, with an impressive 11 of those victories coming by way of submission.

    De Ridder is fresh off a first-round knockout victory against Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors this past July, and the 34-year-old Dutchman is confident he can harness that momentum as he makes his entrance into the UFC.

    De Ridder Sets Sights on Top-5 Rivals Following UFC Debut

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, De Ridder revealed his aspirations for dream matchups within the UFC. “The Dutch Knight” expressed a strong desire to challenge himself against the reigning middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, as well as former titleholders such as Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland.

    The grappling prodigy emphasized that he has no time to squander now that he’s joined the UFC, and he’s eager to take on high-profile opponents.

    “Right now. Let’s go,” De Ridder said. “I’m ready. That’s what I’m here for. It would be so cool to finally get a shot at those guys. They’ve been around for so long. I’ve been around for a little while now, as well, so it would be very cool to finally get a chance to fight those guys… Adesanya, Dricus, Strickland, all of them. Why not?”

    However, before “The Dutch Knight” can focus on his desired matchups, he must first conquer veteran Gerald Meerschaert in his promotional debut at a Fight Night event on November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

    MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

    Jon Jones is undeniably a cornerstone in the debate over who holds the title of the greatest MMA fighter of all time. His skills, beyond doubt, reinforce this assertion, showcasing a career marked by unparalleled success and accomplishments.

    “Bones” etched his name in the history books by becoming the youngest champion in UFC history at just 23 years old, triumphing over Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011.

    Jones remained unbeaten during his reign as the UFC light heavyweight champion, successfully defending his title a staggering 13 times against the very best that the 205-pound division had to offer.

    Despite his remarkable achievements, the 37-year-old New Yorker’s career has been marred by several notorious controversies that may overshadow his legacy. This, in fact, is the reason why Josh Thomson does not view “Bones” as a great champion in UFC history.

    Thomson Says Jones’ Positive PED Results Mar His Reputation

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, “The Punk” and “Big” John McCarthy delved into the discussion surrounding the longest title defense streak in UFC history and pondered who truly deserves to be called a great champion.

    The former UFC referee highlighted Jones’ name in the conversation, but Thomson challenged this notion, asserting that “Bones” testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs undermines his status as the most dominant champion in the sport’s history.

    “What defines a great UFC champion is to never have tested positive for a f**king steroid or for a d*ck pill or for anything,” Thomson said. “So automatically, that’s going to exclude two guys that I hold in very high regard, despite one of them not liking my teammates, which is Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. I’m sorry, but that’s something—let’s not p*ssyfoot around this whole thing.”

    Jones faced a one-year suspension in 2016 after failing a drug test for androgen-related substances prior to his highly anticipated UFC 200 matchup with Daniel Cormier. Later, “Bones” tested positive for turinabol, resulting in his victory over Cormier at UFC 214 being changed to a no-contest.

    Thomson went on to emphasize that he regards former champions such as Demetrious Johnson, who boasts 11 title defenses, and Georges St-Pierre, with nine defenses to his name, as the greatest titleholders in UFC history.

    Jones is preparing for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon after more than a year away, following his triumphant victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023, where he captured the undisputed heavyweight title.

    He is scheduled to defend his championship against former titleholder Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin

    Stephen Thompson recently disclosed the one fib from Shavkat Rakhmonov that truly irked him after their matchup.

    “Wonderboy” is gearing up to square off against Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight clash on the preliminary card of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Thompson is set to make his comeback to the Octagon after a 10-month hiatus, having not competed since his second-round submission defeat to the unbeaten Rakhmonov at UFC 296 in December 2023.

    In the lead-up to their clash, both fighters had agreed to engage exclusively in striking. However, Rakhmonov chose to grapple and ultimately secured a swift victory.

    While Thompson respects the 29-year-old Kazakh fighter’s skills, he feels disheartened by his opponent’s attempt to rationalize his change in approach, claiming he suffered a serious ankle injury before their bout despite having promised to prove he was the superior striker.

    Thompson Critiques Rakhmonov & Team For Justifying Change In Strategy After Their Bout

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Thompson reflected on his defeat to Rakhmonov, voicing his dissatisfaction with “Nomad’s” coach, Henri Hooft, for attempting to explain the decision to pursue takedowns during the fight.

    “Wonderboy” noted that he recalls Hooft making similar remarks following his bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 264.

    “It was funny because afterward the same coach as Gilbert Burns, and after the Gilbert Burns fight, the coach came up and was like, ‘I’m sorry the fight was boring, but that’s the only way to beat you,’” Thompson said. “He said the same thing after the Shavkat fight.”

    Thompson acknowledged that grappling is an integral aspect of the sport and emphasized that he should have been better prepared for it. However, he expressed disappointment that Rakhmonov didn’t honor his commitment to keep their bout strictly to striking.

    “So I knew that’s what they were planning on. He was not planning to strike with me. He wanted to hem me up, get me to the floor, and submit me, which he did very well. That’s part of the game. I’ve got to be ready for that. But especially after the fight, they’re saying that. You can say that during the fight to get me thinking one thing, but after the fight, you’re saying, ‘I was going to strike with the guy, but I hurt my ankle.’ Nah, dude. It got me a little bit. Very few things frustrate me — that got me a little bit. Just admit it.”

    “Wonderboy” once enjoyed an impressive seven-fight win streak. However, since his title rematch loss to Tyron Woodley at UFC 209 in March 2017, the 41-year-old South Carolina native has struggled to reclaim his former glory. In his last 10 bouts, he has tallied a disappointing record of 4-6.

    • Read More: Stephen Thompson Reacts To Being On UFC 307 Prelims After Fighting On Main Cards For A Decade Straight
  • Brendan Allen Admits He’s Missing One Thing To Secure First UFC Title Shot: ‘That’s Not My Jam…’ 

    Brendan Allen Admits He’s Missing One Thing To Secure First UFC Title Shot: ‘That’s Not My Jam…’ 

    When it comes to fighting, UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen thinks he will have done everything possible to secure a title shot after this weekend.

    Allen is among those who’ve arrived in enemy territory to do battle with a French fighter in their home nation on Saturday night, when the UFC is set to stage its third event in Paris.

    While “All In” publicly declined the assignment at first owing to his anger at not headlining, he eventually accepted a three-round co-main event opposite a contender four places above him on the ladder in the #4-ranked Nassourdine Imavov.

    The bout comes five months on from Allen emerging victorious from a memorable rematch with Chris Curtis at the Apex, where the 28-year-old Californian was able to avenge his most recent defeat and extend his streak of triumphs to seven.

    But despite his winning form, Allen acknowledges one aspect of the game in which he falls short of others when it comes to being given an opportunity at the gold…

    Allen Cites Lack Of Social Media Following Has One Unchecked Box For UFC Title Shot

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Allen looked ahead to his second walk to the cage of 2024, which sees him competing outside of the United States for only the second time in his UFC career.

    Most fighters would expect to be in the running for a title shot after notching seven straight wins. But while that is Allen’s target should he have his hand raised to make it eight, he believes his approach to social media provides somewhat of a hurdle.

    “Ideally speaking, if I go out there and beat Imavov, especially if I finish Imavov within three rounds in his hometown, in front of his people, I think I’ve checked every single box except for one to fight for the title,” Allen said. “There’s nothing I can really do overnight to check the one other box, which is (social media) followers. I don’t know. That’s not my jam. Everything on a fighting level, I think I’ve done every single thing.”

    Regardless of his low-key presence on social media, Allen will look to negate that deficiency by letting his fighting talents do the talking when it comes to securing a first shot at championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And with the winner of next month’s UFC 308 co-headliner between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev likely to stake their claim, a strong performance at the expense Imavov is required for “All In.”

  • Dustin Poirier Praised For Wanting Hard Match Up As Potential Next Fight: ‘You Can’t Ask Anything More…’

    Dustin Poirier Praised For Wanting Hard Match Up As Potential Next Fight: ‘You Can’t Ask Anything More…’

    Dustin Poirier recently received accolades from MMA analysts for expressing his desire to take on a stylistically challenging opponent in his next fight.

    “The Diamond” came up short in his third—and possibly final—quest for the undisputed UFC lightweight title against reigning champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 this past June. Poirier endured a grueling back-and-forth battle before ultimately succumbing to a submission in the fifth round.

    After his setback, Poirier hinted that his last appearance in the Octagon might be behind him. However, just a few weeks later, the former UFC interim champion experienced a shift in perspective, revealing that he still feels a strong desire to fight—provided the matchup is enticing enough for him.

    It appears that “The Diamond” has put an intriguing bout in place for himself, as he recently teased on X his desire to settle the score with Justin Gaethje in a highly anticipated trilogy match.

    Considering Poirier’s 1-1 record against “The Highlight”, MMA analysts Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy praised his determination to pursue challenging matchups, even as he nears the later stages of his career.

    Thomson Says Poirier Never Wants The ‘Easy Road’ In His Career

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, both Thompson and McCarthy lauded Poirier for considering a trilogy bout with Gaethje. “The Punk” noted that the 35-year-old Louisiana native is driven by the prospect of facing Gaethje and never hesitates to embrace the toughest challenges in his career.

    “The fact that Dustin’s calling for the fight means that this guy motivates him enough to say, ‘You know what? Let’s run this back; let’s do it a third time; let’s give the fans what they want,’” Thomson said. “I’ve never looked at Dustin as someone who wants the easy road; he’s not that guy.”

    McCarthy remarked that the opponents “The Diamond” has faced over his career embody the highest level of competition in the UFC lightweight division, and that is truly commendable.

    “If you’re going to look at it from a certain point, you know everybody he was fighting was either a champion or a former champion,” McCarthy said. “We’re talking top of the food chain with every guy that he was fighting, and it’s just amazing. You know, I think it was from the Dan Hooker fight; I could be wrong, but I mean, just crazy who that guy has been fighting. You can’t ask anything more from a fighter than what you get from Dustin Poirier.”

    Poirier suffered a devastating knockout at the hands of “The Highlight” in their rematch for the ‘BMF’ title at UFC 291 in July 2023. However, in their initial encounter back in April 2018, Poirier emerged victorious, finishing Gaethje after an intense showdown.

  • Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    Jon Anik’s Verdict On UFC 306 Main Event: ‘Guys Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad…’

    The sport of MMA moves so fast that even after a major event like UFC 306, there is very little time before everyone has moved on to the next major talking point.

    Merab Dvalishvili winning the UFC bantamweight title in the main event of the promotion’s second annual Noche UFC already feels like it happened months ago.

    His performance against Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere answered some very intriguing questions that fans had going into the fight.

    Not only was Dvalishvili able to dominate the fight with his grappling when he did close the distance, he was able to avoid taking significant damage for the majority of the duration.

    Jon Anik Says Fighters Like Merab Dvalishvili & Belal Muhammad Don’t Get Enough Credit

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Middle Easy, UFC commentator Jon Anik gave his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s performance.

    He looked to really emphasize how it wasn’t just the grappling of the challenger at UFC 306 that was impressive, it was his overall game.

    Dvalishvili was constantly moving and giving O’Malley something new to think about and thanks to his unrelenting gas tank, that continued across all five rounds.

    Anik also made reference to Belal Muhammad’s title win at UFC 304 where of course, the biggest takeaway was his grappling success, but that didn’t tell the whole story of the fight where his striking was also very effective.

    “A lot of people might have fancied Umar (Nurmagomedov) against either guy and maybe now they’re not so sure just given how dominant Merab was and guys like Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad are never going to get credit for what they do as strikers. If they have a nice jab or a nice point of entry but man, the total package of Merab, like the dude needs to be tested for science right? And yeah, I’m saying that for comedic value but what is inside of there?”

    Read also: UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

  • UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

    UFC Commentator Highlights Julianna Peña’s Key Quality That Will Serve Her Well At UFC 307

    Julianna Peña is set to return at UFC 307 after being away from competition for nearly two years.

    The last time that she stepped inside the Octagon, it was as the women’s bantamweight champion.

    Though she came up short on that night in a rematch with Amanda Nunes at UFC 277, her comeback will see her look to reclaim the gold on October 5.

    To do so, Peña will need to answer some questions about whether her time away and injuries will play a factor in her attempt to dethrone Raquel Pennington in Salt Lake City.

    Jon Anik Says That Juliana Peña’s Meanness Will Help Her Overcome Ring Rust At UFC 307

    UFC commentator Jon Anik expressed in a recent interview with Middle Easy that he isn’t concerned about Peña’s time away from the Octagon heading into this fight.

    Though he did say that ring rust can be a factor depending on the fighter in question, he believes that the challenger is not someone that it will phase.

    Anik referenced how if you listen to how the former champion’s coaches and teammates speak about her, they will immediately make reference to her aggressive mindset when she’s in the cage.

    With this in mind, he doesn’t think that we will see anything less than the very best that Peña has to offer, come October 5.

    “It’s amazing to listen to Juliana Peña’s coaches, to a man, talk about her relative meanness and nastiness. They can’t even get to the skills because Rick Little and Mike Valley both are just like dude, meanest man or woman in the gym, you know what I mean? So I don’t worry about her, I just think she’s sort of one of these ultimate competitors. The layoffs not ideal, the injury history is not ideal and Raquel Pennington just knows how to win fights.”

    Read also: Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

  • Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Set For UFC Fight Night In Macau On Nov. 23

    Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Set For UFC Fight Night In Macau On Nov. 23

    The UFC’s return to Macau looks set to have high stakes in the bantamweight title picture.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is set to take the Octagon back to Macau — an autonomous region on the south coast of China — for the first time in a decade later this year, with the Galaxy Arena playing host to a UFC Fight Night card on November 23.

    And the lineup looks to have its first major addition in the form of a clash between former champions.

    Per Brazilian reporter Léo Guimaraes, ex-bantamweight kingpin Petr Yan (17-5) and former two-time flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo (24-3-1) are set to meet in a crucial showdown at 135 pounds in Macau.

    Yan, Figueiredo Expected To Battle For Potential UFC Title Shot In China

    Should this bout be made official, one man could leave Macau with a shot at the bantamweight belt set for down the line.

    For Yan, that would present another chance to regain the divisional title. The Russian previously held it prior to a disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling in 2021. While he subsequently captured interim status, he fell short against “Funk Master” in their rematch.

    The tough times continued for Yan in the subsequent months. He first suffered a controversial split decision loss to Sean O’Malley in 2022 before being convincingly outpointed by another then-future champ in Merab Dvalishvili the following year. But having bounced back in style by stalling the charge of Song Yadong at UFC 299 this past March, “No Mercy” is now targeting a return to a win streak for the first time since 2020.

    To do so, the Russian standout will have to hand Figueiredo his first defeat at 135 pounds. “Deus Da Guerra” committed to a long-discussed bantamweight switch following the end of his second flyweight rule against Brandon Moreno in early 2023. He’s since reeled off three straight wins to rise to #5 in the rankings, defeating Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera.

    Deiveson Figueiredo
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

    Herb Dean Uses Dana White’s Contender Series Example To Explain ‘Let’s Work’ Calls During UFC 306 Main Event

    Veteran referee Herb Dean came under some criticism following his role as the official inside the cage during the main event of UFC 306.

    The fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title wasn’t exactly a fight of the year contender, but it wasn’t dull either.

    Despite the stakes that were involved in this fight, Dean repeatedly told Dvalishvili to work when he was wrestling O’Malley, specifically towards the end of the fight.

    He later explained that this was not a call that he made because the challenger wasn’t doing anything – rather, it was because Dvalishvili wasn’t attempting to cause damage or finish the fight in these exchanges.

    Herb Dean Says That The Contender Series Is Proof Of What The UFC Wants MMA To Look Like

    In a recent interview with Helen Yee Sports, Dean spoke more about why he is asking fighters to work more in these positions.

    He believes that though a fighter using his grappling to negate his opponent’s offence is an effective technique, it isn’t what the UFC want the sport to look like.

    To prove his point, Dean made reference to Dana White’s Contender Series and how those fights prioritize action and aggression.

    We have seen several occasions throughout the eight seasons of the show, where fighters win in convincing fashion but don’t earn contracts because their performances didn’t show that hunger and killer instinct that the UFC is after.

    Dean believes that the reason for that is to fill the roster with fighters who are always looking for the finish, rather than stalling the action to secure a victory by any means necessary.

    “I’m always gonna be learning something new from some of these athletes if they take some time to share with me. But, it’s what we want our sport to look like and I think we want our, I’m going to do the Contender Series tonight, I think we want the fights to look like the guys that get signed on the Contender Series.

    “That’s what I think that, that’s why they sign those guys because I think that’s what they want our sport to look like and so guys who maybe get ahead and are going to manage position… if that’s what we want our sport to look like, somebody in charge let me know. But, I think we want it to look like the fights on the Contender Series so that’s why we tell guys to work.”

    Read also: Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

  • Former ONE Double Champ Reinier de Ridder Gets Opponent For UFC Debut

    Former ONE Double Champ Reinier de Ridder Gets Opponent For UFC Debut

    After being announced to have signed with the UFC just yesterday, an opponent has already been found for Reinier de Ridder’s Octagon debut.

    The former two-weight world champion in ONE Championship comes in as the MMA leader’s latest major signing from another promotion.

    After losing his titles in back-to-back fights with Anatoly Malykhin, de Ridder fought outside of ONE last time out where he stopped Magomedmurad Khasaev in the first round at UAE Warriors 51.

    “The Dutch Knight” will now make his promotional debut on November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

    His opponent will be fellow middleweight submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert, who is a UFC veteran with 21 appearances inside the Octagon.

    The news was first reported by UFC op Eurosport on Instagram.

    With a staggering 41 submission victories between them, this looks to be a grappling fans delight but as you often get with match-ups like this, it could end up playing out on the feet if both men have too much respect for each other’s specialities.

    Meerschaert comes into the fight after extending his submission wins record in back-to-back fights.

    This year, he has secured the tap against both Edmen Shahbazyan and Bryan Barberena, to bounce back from consecutive losses.

    The card on November 9 is yet to have a main event announced after the originally scheduled headliner between Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi was brought forward one week.

    Read also: Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

    To prepare for his long awaited MMA return, Francis Ngannou is doing his training camp out in Paris before October 19.

    Any heavyweight in the sport will tell you that one of the biggest problems that they encounter is finding suitable training partners to work with.

    This is even more true when you’re preparing to fight a 6’8″ opponent in Renan Ferreira.

    Team Ngannou’s problem could have been temporarily solved this week thanks to the UFC arriving in Paris for Saturday night’s event at the Accor Arena.

    Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, has built a strong relationship with another of the world’s best heavyweights – whom he was hoping to cross paths with in the French capital.

    Eric Nicksick Says He Would’ve Loved To Connect Ngannou & Aspinall

    In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Nicksick said that he hoped to connect Ngannou with the interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall this week.

    Unfortunately, Aspinall wasn’t making the trip over for the fights on Saturday but the Xtreme Couture coach still thinks it could happen at some stage.

    With both men being right at the top of their weight class in different promotions, the sparring videos alone would be PPV-worthy.

    He said that the short distance between England and France means that Aspinall may be able to join their camp before they leave for Saudi Arabia.

    Nicksick did say that though the Brit isn’t in town, he did offer to help out in a different way, by giving them a list of names who may be of use as sparring partners to mimic Ferreira.

    “I was hoping that he’d [Aspinall] be out here and we’d get some training in and not saying it won’t happen, maybe it can before we get out of here because he’s like an hour flight away. He’s not too far away but he was gracious enough to send me some names of his training partners and guys that we could use and try to bring out here to help out Francis but he was all about it man and Tom’s been a great friend and a great guy to have in the circle.”

    Read also: Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

  • Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

    For the first time, a UFC event will be taking place in the French capital without the country’s only champion to date closing the show.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Paris this week, staging an event in France for the third straight year. The UFC debuted inside the Accor Arena in 2022, just under three years on from the legalization of MMA in the country.

    On that night, former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane thrilled his compatriots by knocking out Tai Tuivasa. And “Bon Gamin” repeated the feat last September when he stopped Serghei Spivac with strikes.

    This year, however, presents an opportunity for a different French standout to make a splash in the main event spotlight: Benoît Saint Denis.

    Six months on from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in Miami, “God of War” will look to bounce back in front of a no doubt rowdy Parisian crowd when he shares the cage with Renato Moicano.

    Gane’s Coach Explains Decision Not To Fight At Latest UFC Paris Event

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, coach Fernand Lopez commented on the UFC’s latest visit to his country and the fact that his star student won’t be a part of it this time around.

    “We don’t have to talk about it with the UFC coming to Paris. It’s obvious that they want Ciryl to fight in Paris, and I was thinking about Ciryl fighting in Paris. This is what we talked (about doing),” Lopez said. “But an opportunity showed up with a better opponent in terms of ranking, a better opportunity in terms of pay-per-view, and better career constructions to go back to the belt.

    “It makes sense for us to accept that opportunity. Ciryl already fought two times in Paris, finished his opponent two times in Paris, and enjoyed the moment to win in Paris,” Lopez continued. “I think for him, it is a new challenge to go to Abu Dhabi, a new different market, and for him to be qualified if they need him for the (title).”

    Of course, plans have changed since Lopez made those comments. Gane will no longer have the chance to make a splash in Abu Dhabi next month following the withdrawal of Alexander Volkov through injury.

    Instead, the Frenchman looks set for the chance for redemption in Las Vegas, where he was submitted in the opening round by Jon Jones in March 2023. His clash with Volkov is expected to be rescheduled for UFC 310 at the T-Mobile Arena this December.

    Meanwhile, Saint Denis has the chance to close the gap on his fellow countryman when it comes to being France’s poster boy for MMA. To do so, he’ll need to return to winning ways at the expense of Moicano this weekend.

  • ‘Bad Man Coming…’ – Fans React To UFC Signing Former Two-Division ONE Champion Reinier de Ridder

    ‘Bad Man Coming…’ – Fans React To UFC Signing Former Two-Division ONE Champion Reinier de Ridder

    The UFC middleweight division just got an eyebrow-raising addition.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion has appeared more willing to sign high-profile names who established themselves under the banners of other organizations in recent times.

    Notably, the UFC has added Michael “Venom” Page, Kai Asakura, and Kayla Harrison to its roster. Now joining them is Reinier de Ridder, a former two-division ONE Championship titleholder who became a free agent earlier this year.

    After reports of his arrival, “The Dutch Knight” confirmed that he is UFC bound in a video on his Instagram account.

    De Ridder (17-2) recorded his final ONE win in July 2022 when he submitted Vitaly Bigdash with an inverted triangle choke. The result was a successful defense of his middleweight (205 pounds) belt, which he held alongside the promotion’s light heavyweight championship (225 pounds).

    But the Dutchman had his then-perfect record blemished and both of his titles ripped away in a two-fight series with Anatoly Malykhin, who now holds three pieces of gold in ONE.

    The 34-year-old parted ways with ONE following his March loss to the Russian, competing once since. De Ridder returned to winning ways with a knockout victory over Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors 51 this past July.

    He’ll now look to continue his momentum inside the Octagon, where he’s expected to make a splash at 185 pounds.

    Fans React To Reinier de Ridder’s UFC Signing

    Unsurprisingly, the news of the UFC’s latest high-profile signing drew immediate reactions from the MMA community on social media.

    The fanbase appeared split, with some backing de Ridder for immediate success and others suggesting that the Breda, Netherlands native has arrived in the sport’s leading promotion too late in his career.

    https://twitter.com/CTE_Society/status/1838690686302093648
  • Merab Dvalishvili Told He Must Fix ‘Abysmal’ Stat To Gain Fan Support As UFC Champion

    Merab Dvalishvili Told He Must Fix ‘Abysmal’ Stat To Gain Fan Support As UFC Champion

    According to one prominent figure in MMA, it would be disastrous for UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili’s career if he doesn’t start recording finishes.

    Dvalishvili currently sits on the throne at 135 pounds following his biggest win to date earlier this month. In the headlining act of the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view at the Sphere, the Georgian unseated Sean O’Malley.

    While predictions had varied in the lead-up, Dvalishvili enjoyed dominance throughout the five-round main event in Las Vegas, capturing the crown by way of unanimous decision.

    The result marked “The Machine’s” 11th straight victory under the UFC banner. But the ongoing run has seen Dvalishvili record just one finish — a comeback knockout of Marlon Moraes in 2021.

    Aside from that firefight, the champ used his renowned cardio, pace, and grappling prowess to outlast opponents. But while that got him to the title dance, one notable coach doesn’t think it can continue now that he’s holding gold…

    Coach Zahabi Sees Major Issue With UFC Champ Dvalishvili’s Style

    During a video recently uploaded to the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, coach Firas Zahabi reflected on Dvalishvili’s title win inside the Sphere and assessed the style that has seen him reach the top.

    Although “The Machine’s” approach has proved mightily affective when it comes to having his hand raised inside the Octagon, the Canadian trainer doesn’t think it’s sustainable and will soon lead to significant fan backlash.

    “On the ground, guys, I’ll tell you something, Merab never finishes,” Zahabi said. “Look, I love Merab…I love his personality. I love the craziness, I love the fact that in the beginning of round one, Merab is yelling at O’Malley’s corner. … He’s a very charming, lovable character. … The only one thing you can predict about Merab is that he’s going to shoot that takedown. His cardio is unmatchable. … The good thing about Merab, his cardio is amazing. His personality is amazing. The bad thing about Merab, he doesn’t finish — he doesn’t even get close to a finish.

    “His finishing record is abysmal, I’ve got to be honest,” Zahabi continued. “I’m telling you guys, I love the guy, he’s a world champion. I think he’s awesome. However, his finishing rate — imagine you can take down almost everybody you’ve ever fought, and you literally only have one submission. That doesn’t make any sense. … He needs to have in-depth, super-deep courses on how to finish — submission, ground-and-pound — he has to change his style. … If he doesn’t do it, the fans will get sick of him. … They’ll get sick of him running around the ring and just taking people down. They’re going to get sick of that. He has to entertain the crowd. … If he doesn’t, it could be disastrous to his career.”

    Those remarks likely won’t bother Dvalishvili for now, as he’s continuing his celebrations after achieving his championship ambitions in the sport’s leading promotion.

    But as his reign gets underway, perhaps the Georgian will look to show an increased killer instinct and dispatch challengers inside the distance.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 7 Highlights As 5 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with some memorable highlights on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

    DWCS, the inaugural season of which took place back in 2017, sees some of the top prospects in mixed martial arts enter the cage in front of White and the matchmakers, looking to put in a performance worthy of a place on the UFC roster.

    Last year’s edition saw 46 fighters bag a deal with the sport’s premier promotion across 10 events, up on the 43 from 2022. Through six episodes of season eight, 24 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the seventh added another five talents to the UFC roster. That included 22-year-old featherweight prospect Kevin Vallejos, who delivered arguably the highlight of the night by stopping Cam Teague with an onslaught of punches in the second fight on the card.

    Three finishes followed, with Italian welterweight Daniel Frunza also forcing a stoppage with strikes while light heavyweight Kevin Christian and heavyweight Danylo Voievodkin found submissions.

    All four of those winners earned contracts from White, as did Brazilian strawweight Alexia Thainara. Despite going the distance, the 26-year-old did enough to impress and secure her path to the Octagon.

    With that in mind, see below for the moments that landed five athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Alexia Thainara Def. Rose Conceicao Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Kevin Vallejos Def. Cam Teague Via TKO (Punches): R1, 2:23

    Kevin Christian Def. Francesco Mazzeo Via Submission (Armbar): R2, 4:17

    Daniel Frunza Def. Vadym Kutsyi Via TKO (Punches): R2, 3:30

    Danylo Voievodkin Def. Bailey Schoenfelder via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R1, 1:13

  • Stephen Thompson Reacts To Being On UFC 307 Prelims After Fighting On Main Cards For A Decade Straight

    Stephen Thompson Reacts To Being On UFC 307 Prelims After Fighting On Main Cards For A Decade Straight

    Stephen Thompson was hoping to take on Joaquin Buckley in a five-rounder at UFC 307. He is the second-oldest member of the UFC roster behind Stipe Miocic but was expecting to have the edge in cardio against Buckley, who is 30.

    The veteran is known for his Karate-inspired stance and crisp striking that often produces exciting matches. Many predict that Buckley won’t try to grapple with “Wonderboy” to a decision unlike past opponents, generating a ton of hype for the welterweight matchup.

    However, Thompson’s wish for a five-rounder has become a far-fetched dream because his fight has been demoted to the UFC 307 prelims. While the rising prospect expects this to be his last free fight for the fans, Thompson is rather disappointed…

    Stephen Thompson Believes His UFC 307 Bout Against Joaquin Buckley Could Have Replaced Other Fights On The Main Card

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RDauugAV1A&t=592s

    Thompson recently appeared in an interview on the Bodog Canada YouTube channel to discuss his upcoming bout and other UFC-related matters. He believes that his next fight should be a banger because Buckley’s been keen to stand and trade with him.

    The likes of Belal Muhammad, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Gilbert Burns used their superior grappling to dominate “Wonderboy” which helped them gain ranks but didn’t please the fans. On the other hand, Kevin Holland and Thompson delivered an instant classic as the former didn’t take the fight to the ground despite getting pieced up on the feet.

    “A little weird at this point, knowing what kind of a fight this is going to be. You’d figure that they’d want to have all eyes on it. Now I’m not sure if it was because, you know, the last time I was supposed to fight in Salt Lake City my opponent didn’t make weight. But, Joaquin Buckely is notorious for making weight so I know he’s going to be a professional and we’re going to go out there and have fun but yeah, it was a little disappointing like what’s going on.”

    “Wonderboy” was reminded in the interview that he last fought on the prelims on September 22, 2013, against Chris Clements. After eleven long years, he’s back to fighting on the prelims which is unsurprisingly a bummer for the veteran who never backs down to face young challengers looking to climb the welterweight rankings.

    The American kickboxer, being the NMF, didn’t name names but stated that his fight could’ve been picked over some fights on the UFC 307 main card. Regardless, he and Buckley have promised to give fans a thrilling battle and prove why they deserved to be on the main card.

    “It’s wild. I don’t know why they put that on the card. I mean, there’s some fights on the main card that I think should be on the prelims but you know, it is what it is.”

  • Khalil Rountree’s Coach Talked Him Out Of Retirement A Decade Before His UFC 307 Title Fight Against Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree’s Coach Talked Him Out Of Retirement A Decade Before His UFC 307 Title Fight Against Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree reached The Ultimate Fighter 23’s final but lost to Andrew Sanchez who controlled him for the majority of the fight. He then lost to Tyson Pedro via submission and needed to urgently rack up some wins to secure his place in the promotion.

    From having such a rocky start in the UFC to challenging Alex Pereira for light heavyweight gold, Rountree has naturally come a long way. He’s riding a five-fight win streak including four knockouts and many believe his bout against “Poatan” will be fireworks as well.

    John Wood recently shared an inspiring story of him convincing Rountree to not retire at the outset of his career…

    Khalil Rountree Might’ve Never Challenged Alex Pereira At UFC 307 If His Coach Didn’t Stop Him From Retiring

    Wood appeared on Daniel Cormier’s official YouTube channel recently to talk about one of his oldest students finally fighting for a UFC title. The coach remembered “The War Horse” wanted to retire from MMA after his third or fourth fight.

    “I think, it was you know, third or fourth fight, he was talking to me about wanting to retire and going to construction. He’s like, yeah, I think I got this good construction job it’s gonna pay money. I said whoa, whoa, bro, no no no, I was like, just give me a year. Give me a year and I promise you do whatever I’ll support you after that. just give me a hard year. And you know, through that process, The Ultimate Fighter came.”

    The Syndicate MMA head coach naturally asked Rountree to hold his horses and train with him seriously for at least a year. It is safe to say that the American fighter made the right choice as he would enter The Ultimate Fighter 23 and reach the finals.

    Although Wood was initially upset by the decision, he claims that Rountree matured while training in Thailand and learned how to digest the hype and responsibility he received as a talented and exciting prospect.

    “We had some ups, had some downs and then you know, he moved to Thailand after the Gokhan Saki fight. And kind of, you know, found himself as a person, as a man. You know, I think he was gone for a couple of years and ended up hitting me back up,” Wood continued. “It’s been nothing but great since he’s been back and we’ve had nothing but success. He’s really matured as a fighter.”

    The coach admitted to having the same excitement regardless of which of his fighters is fighting. However, the UFC 307 main event might be one of his most memorable moments because he’s helped Rountree and stuck by him from the very beginning.

  • ‘He’s Got Russian Blood’ – Brendan Allen Unsure About UFC Paris Crowd Supporting Nassourdine Imavov

    ‘He’s Got Russian Blood’ – Brendan Allen Unsure About UFC Paris Crowd Supporting Nassourdine Imavov

    Just days after Merab Dvalishvili explained why the Nurmagomedov clan shouldn’t represent Russia, Brendan Allen has questioned the support Nassourdine Imavov would get at UFC Paris this weekend because of his Russian heritage.

    Allen is heading into the fight with one of the longest win streaks in the UFC middleweight division. On the flip side, Imavov is coming off a controversial TKO win over Jared Cannonier.

    Here’s how Allen feels about fighting in Paris against an opponent who might benefit a ton from being local…

    From Judges To Rounds, Brendan Allen Lists Things in Nassourdine Imavov’s Favor Ahead Of UFC Paris

    While talking to MMA Junkie recently, Allen opened up on Imavov not agreeing to a five-round fight with him. When asked whether it’s helpful to know that he was ready for a five-round fight while his opponent wasn’t, he laid down the more obvious advantages “The Sniper’ boasts as the local fighter.

    “Not really. I can see that point but I don’t think so. Like, end of the day, he got his way, and it’s still in his favor in his hometown, in front of his people, with probably his judges, and everything else. So, it is what it is.”

    Allen’s boldest claim was that the officials could favor Imavov if the fight goes to a decision. Before his latest split decision win against Chris Curtis, Allen submitted four opponents in a row and he might be looking to get another finish this weekend amidst the mistrust of judges.

    Allen acknowledged that he isn’t aware of Imavov’s story but pointed out that the latter was born in Russia which is indeed true. The French middleweight hails from Dagestan but moved to France at an early age. He’s been training in Paris since 19, so it makes perfect sense for him to represent France.

    “I haven’t fought on, obviously, like a crowd that’s probably going to be against me. Even though, I don’t know how they view Imavov. You know, I don’t know if they view him as a real Frenchman because obviously he’s got Russian blood I think. I don’t know his story so I don’t know exactly what he is or how they view him. But either way, they boo me, like whatever.”

    However, the American middleweight couldn’t help but question if the local crowd would support Imavov as much because of his Dagestani roots. Regardless, he doesn’t seem too bothered by finally fighting in front of a crowd after headlining multiple cards in the UFC Apex.

  • Diego Lopes Eyes Former Champion For Potential December Return: ‘He Doesn’t Like To Wait, & Neither Do I…’

    Diego Lopes Eyes Former Champion For Potential December Return: ‘He Doesn’t Like To Wait, & Neither Do I…’

    Diego Lopes recently shared his ambitious plans for the future, stating his intention to challenge a former UFC featherweight champion upon his potential return in December.

    Lopes secured perhaps the most defining triumph of his career to date when he outclassed Brian Ortega, earning a unanimous decision win at Noche UFC 306 earlier this month.

    The victory not only skyrocketed the 29-year-old to the #3 spot in the 145-pound division but also significantly boosted his stock. Lopes has been on an absolute tear over the past year, racking up five consecutive wins and cementing his status as a force to be reckoned with.

    Lopes is now primed for high-stakes matchups, eager to secure his first title shot at the earliest opportunity…

    Lopes Offers To Serve As UFC 308 Backup Or Sets Sights On Volkanovski For December

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Lopes reiterated his willingness to step in as the backup fighter for the featherweight title bout between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308 next month.

    The surging contender also mentioned that if those plans fall through, he’s eager to face former longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski in December to move a step closer to the title.

    “If that doesn’t happen, we’d like the possibility of fighting Volkanovski in December,” Lopes said. “He doesn’t like to wait, and neither do I, so that could be a good fight. A lot can happen, but I think the two most viable options for us right now are being the backup fighter in Abu Dhabi or fighting Volkanovski in December. The UFC is aware that I’m available for [UFC 308], so it depends on what they want to do.”

    Lopes went on to express that a potential clash with “The Great” would present a highly intriguing stylistic matchup.

    “The Volk fight would be very interesting because he’s shown he can adapt well to everybody’s style, especially when his opponent is taller until he fought Topuria. But I think I can also adapt well to guys who are shorter than me, so it would be a very interesting fight.”

    Volkanovski is currently on a hiatus, having not fought since suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career. “The Great” was dethroned at UFC 298 this past February, where he endured a second-round knockout by Ilia Topuria, bringing an end to the title reign he had held since December 2019.

    • Read More: Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’