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  • Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

    Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

    The UFC 306 main event may not have been received that well by some sections of the fanbase but it did see the bantamweight title change hands.

    Merab Dvalishvili appeared to be in control for the vast majority of the fight against Sean O’Malley, even if the scorecards tell a different story.

    Though “Suga” was able to hurt his challenger in the fifth and final round, Dvalishvili’s movement, takedowns and reading of the fight were very effective.

    His performance massively impressed the #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen who, since the fight, has called next to face O’Malley.

    Cory Sandhagen Gives His Post-Fight Analysis Of UFC 306 Main Event

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Fanatics View, Sandhagen gave his thoughts on this past weekend’s bantamweight title fight.

    He started by saying that his prediction for the fight had switched as the fight approached, after further consideration.

    “I thought O’Malley was going to catch him until I started getting a little bit closer to the fight and I started talking to other people and getting their opinions and what they thought and blah, blah, blah. I was honestly, and not to change my mind because I’m really bad at calling fights, but I did change my mind in this one and go Merab toward the end of it.

    “Once I started to reflect on how badass it is to go on a 10 or 11 fight win streak and then also never be finished or anything like that, even though he does get clipped in some of his fights, the shots that he got clipped in weren’t necessarily, like they were lead hooks, they weren’t really things that O’Malley even throws, but I thought Merab did awesome.”

    One of the aspects of the fight that Sandhagen was most impressed by was Dvalishvili’s ability to close the distance and shoot for takedowns without putting himself in harm’s way.

    This was always going to be where O’Malley was at his most dangerous but it didn’t end up playing into the outcome.

    “I thought he fought the fight that you should fight if you have Merab’s skill set against O’Malley. I think he moved when he needed to move. The thing that I was most worried about is Merab’s just a very excitable guy and I was worried that he was gonna not be patient and he was going to bounce around and then make a mistake by going in and he was completely patient. He was cool in there, expect for the whole Tim Welch and his thing in the beginning of the fight but man, he just did such an amazing job and that’s a really, really good win because O’Malley is a really serious fighter.”

    Finally, “The Sandman” said that he enjoyed watching this high-stakes clash at the Sphere despite some of the criticisms that it received from fans.

    “I know that a lot of fans were bored with that one or whatever but I really do like watching chess matches and I think that that was Merab just out-chessing O’Malley and that was exciting for me to watch.”

    Read also: ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Explains Why Jon Jones Isn’t On MMA Mount Rushmore

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Explains Why Jon Jones Isn’t On MMA Mount Rushmore

    There is no denying that if you’re listing the names for an MMA Mount Rushmore that is about the most talented and successful fighters we’ve seen in the sport, Jon Jones deserves a spot.

    The current UFC heavyweight champion is arguably the greatest to ever do it but as is always the case with “Bones”, it’s not that simple.

    Some will have reservations about putting Jones on this list due to the various controversies that have clouded his career.

    This means that if you’re looking at MMA Mount Rushmore from the angle of fighters who have had the biggest impact – or if they’ve got a clean disciplinary record – there’s an argument to be made that he misses out.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Excludes Jon Jones From Mount Rushmore Due To Various Controversies

    During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, veteran referee “Big” John McCarthy explained his approach to this debate.

    He said that he prefers to look at this conversation in regards to impact on the sport rather than actual skill which in turn, makes him leave Jones out of the equation.

    “I look at it different. If you want to say best fighters for Mount Rushmore, the best fighters there ever was, well Jon Jones is on it. If you’re going to say give me an MMA Mount Rushmore, the criteria for it is different than just best fighter and there’s things that, you know, have been done in the past that I go no, I can’t put you on that. Let’s just be honest.”

    McCarthy believes that for all of Jones’ success, his headline-generating antics have had a negative impact on the sport during his career.

    He said that this parameter would also disqualify Conor McGregor, despite the unmatched impact that he has had.

    “I take a look at outside of the sport, Jon hasn’t been the greatest ambassador for the sport. He’s had more controversy than I can give him.”

    Read also: Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

  • 41-Year-Old Stephen Thompson Dismisses ‘Old Guy’ Label’ Ahead Of UFC 307

    Veteran UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson doesn’t feel his age, something he’ll look to prove when he returns to the cage.

    Thompson, a former two-time title challenger at 170 pounds, turned 41 this year. Nevertheless, he still occupies a spot inside the division’s top 10, which he’ll hope to defend in Salt Lake City early next month.

    At UFC 307 on October 5, “Wonderboy” will feature on the deep card opposite the rising Joaquin Buckley. Following four straight wins since dropping to welterweight, “New Mansa” is looking to climb into contention at the expense of Thompson.

    But despite the high-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov achieving that feat against him last time out, the striking specialist plans on turning Buckley away from the top 10 to show that he’s got plenty left in the tank.

    Stephen Thompson: ‘I Feel Like I’m 25!’

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Thompson looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024 as he looks to return to winning ways and reignite his hopes of a late-career title shot.

    “Wonderboy” explained his willingness to give rising names in the division the chance to climb against him and branded his clash with Buckley a “test” for where he is at in his career.

    Pre-fight, Thompson still feels in his prime years.

    “I’m still one of the top guys who gives those guys who are coming up a chance. There’s a lot of guys at the top, especially in the welterweight division, that are trying to hold on to their spot as long as they can,” Thompson said. “But I was given the opportunity when I was coming up. … I want to give that back to these guys that are up-and-coming who want to try and take that spot.

    “For me, it’s my test. It’s my test to see if I’ve still got it against these young bucks,” Thompson continued. “Everybody’s looking at me as the old guy. I’m 41, I’ll be 42 in February, but I feel like I’m 25. I’m just as fast and I’m getting better. I don’t mind stepping out and giving these guys that are up-and-coming the chance to prove themselves.”

    Whether or not the feelings of a 25-year-old will translate in the Octagon on Oct. 5 remains to be seen.

    Looking to ensure it doesn’t is a Buckley who has had a stellar year thus far, knocking out Vicente Luque and outpointing Nursulton Ruziboev to established himself at #11 in the welterweight pecking order.

  • Former Opponent Backs ‘More Violent’ Khalil Rountree To Upset Alex Pereira At UFC 307

    Former Opponent Backs ‘More Violent’ Khalil Rountree To Upset Alex Pereira At UFC 307

    A retired fighter who boasts a win over Khalil Rountree wouldn’t be surprised if he unseats Alex Pereira from the UFC light heavyweight throne.

    Pereira, who also previously held gold on MMA’s biggest stage at middleweight, has ruled over the 205-pound division since capturing the then-vacant title in November 2023.

    He stopped Jiří Procházka on that occasion and has since repeated the feat in their International Fight Week rematch, in addition to also defending the belt against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.

    “Poatan’s” high activity won’t be coming to a halt as he gears up for his third title defense of 2024 at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah early next month. To the surprise of many, his next challenger will be the #8-ranked Rountree, who most recently extended his winning run to five by knocking out Anthony Smith last December.

    “The War Horse” has been branded undeserving by some in the community and will unsurprisingly enter his first PPV main event as a sizable underdog. But someone with experience sharing the cage with him insists he can’t be counted out…

    Tyson Pedro Predicts Rountree To Beat Pereira In Utah

    During a recent interview with the Kairouz Bros, former UFC light heavyweight prospect Tyson Pedro was asked to give his prediction for the next title fight in the division he formerly competed in.

    The Australian made an emphatic Octagon debut as an undefeated fighter back in November 2016, submitting Rountree in the first round at a Melbourne-held UFC Fight Night.

    While he’ll be willing “The War Horse” on to become champ due to his past victory over him, Pedro legitimately believes that the 32-year-old’s edge in “mentality” could pave the way for a surprise title crowning in the “Beehive State.”

    “Is he fighting Alex? … That’s a mad fight,” Pedro said. “That’s a hard one (to predict). I think Khalil’s more aggressive and violent in his approach, as of recently. if you see his (fights), it feels like he wants to kill the people now. … I don’t know if I can go against — you know what, I’m gonna go Khalil because of mentality.

    “I think Pereira’s on a bit of (a high) and he’s just chilling. Once you get content — that’s the only reason I’m saying it. But I’ll go Khalil on that,” Pedro continued. “And also, I want him to win so then I can say I beeat him. Technically I’m the champ! MMA math!”

    Pereira and Rountree’s title clash will top a stacked lineup in Salt Lake City to kick off October. In addition to another championship bout between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña, the likes of Kayla Harrison, José Aldo, Kevin Holland, and Stephen Thompson will all return to the cage.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Bemoans Sean O’Malley’s Lack Of ‘Killer Instinct’ After Hurting Merab Dvalishvili

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Bemoans Sean O’Malley’s Lack Of ‘Killer Instinct’ After Hurting Merab Dvalishvili

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page believes Sean O’Malley failed to capitalize on an opening at the end of his recent title loss.

    O’Malley saw his reign as bantamweight kingpin come to an emphatic end at this past weekend’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view, which he headlined alongside Merab Dvalishvili inside Las Vegas’ Sphere.

    Having unseated Aljamain Sterling from the throne last year and dominated Marlon Vera in his first defense this past March, “Suga” was unable to repeat the feat against “The Machine,” who put in a dominant performance across five rounds to take the decision.

    While predictions of a Dvalishvili win were common in the lead-up, many appeared to expect a more competitive display from O’Malley. And one of his UFC peers thinks he let opportunities to change the tide in the fight slip by.

    Page Visibly Frustrated At O’Malley’s Striking Approach At UFC 306

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page reacted to the two championship headliners that went down inside the Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

    The former Bellator title challenger and current UFC welterweight contender broke down the action, paying particularly close attention to how O’Malley approached things in his favored realm on the feet.

    “MVP” shared plenty of advice that might have been useful to the defending champ throughout the bout’s duration, but he appeared especially puzzled by what he witnessed after O’Malley hurt Dvalishvili to the body late on in the final round.

    “He should be tagging his leg even now. Tag his leg, land a jab, tag his body, land a jab,” Page said while watching O’Malley’s work in round five. “You can’t just do one (attack), you’ve got to go again! I think he’s just too tired. … Teep him, kick him. Now hands as well, you need to mix it all up.

    “Look, how do you throw one shot and then let him move?! It don’t make sense,” Page continued, just before O’Malley hurt Dvalishvili to the body. “Oh! No! Why would you do that (spinning kick)! … Yes, go again, go again. Look, (Dvalishvili’s) desperate now. This is where he was gonna catch him but I think he’s left it too late. … What are you doing, man?! Bro, you’ve got to have a bit more killer instinct, man.”

    While those close to O’Malley suggested he looked off, “Suga” has dismissed any and all excuses and simply admitted he was beaten on the night.

    He’ll now focus on his recovery as he looks toward surgery on a torn labrum in the coming weeks. Beyond that, the now-former champ seems to be targeting a comeback in the second half of 2025.

  • Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier recently reacted to Jon Jones’ clearest retirement statement to date.

    Jones is set to make his first defense of the heavyweight title at UFC 309 this coming November, 20 months on from his crowning at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. The long wait was caused by an injury to the champ, which previously forced him out of a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic.

    In the time since their canceled title clash last November, the division has seen an interim titleholder crowned in Tom Aspinall, who has even notched a successful defense in 2024 by getting the better of Curtis Blaydes.

    While that’s left many calling for Jones to unify the title against the Brit, both he and the UFC have long remained firm on rebooking the Miocic matchup. “Bones” has been the subject of criticism for that, with plenty suggesting he’ll likely retire following the Nov. 16 event and avoid facing Aspinall.

    The chances of that increased a few days ago when Jones told Clocked N’ Loaded that Miocic will more than likely mark his final opponent.

    Cormier Pushes Back On Jones Retirement Before Facing Aspinall

    During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier reacted to Jones’ latest remarks while in Las Vegas for UFC 306 this past weekend.

    “DC” acknowledged that there isn’t much left at heavyweight that’s worth Jones prolonging his career for. But what there is, however, is an interim champ in Aspinall, and his presence is enough for Cormier to see Jones’ potential retirement as leaving incomplete work behind.

    “This is the fight that you want in Madison Square Garden, 1,000 percent,” Cormier said. “(But) hearing Jones say — or hearing the rumor that Jones said, ‘This is it for me,’ it sucks because I do believe that there is some work left to be done, with Aspinall mainly. I don’t think anyone else right now warrants him sticking around. We saw what he did to Ciryl Gane.

    “The guy’s obviously doing well, probably just doesn’t want to fight anymore. So what happens, right? You walk away,” Cormier continued. “I believe that when push comes to shove, they might nudge him if he gets through Stipe. They nudge you, they nudge you, they nudge you, and then you end up getting more money and then you ultimately fight.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Jones will follow through with his frequent hints at retirement come fight night at MSG.

    But with Tom Aspinall set to be in New York City as the backup fighter, it stands to reason that “Bones” will have a vocal interim counterpart in attendance as he announces his decision.

  • Belal Muhammad Questions If Leon Edwards Has The ‘Mentality’ To Earn Another Title Shot

    Belal Muhammad Questions If Leon Edwards Has The ‘Mentality’ To Earn Another Title Shot

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad doesn’t know if recent opponent Leon Edwards has what it takes to earn a chance at redemption.

    Muhammad unseated Edwards from the 170-pound throne in the summer, heading across the pond to enemy territory to challenge the Brit at UFC 304 inside the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

    Against the odds and predictions of many, “Remember the Name” put on a dominant display to upset Edwards and his home crowd, sweeping the scorecards to extend his unbeaten run to 11 and make good on his pre-fight confidence.

    In the aftermath of the result, Edwards apologized to his fans and vowed to rise back to the top, even promising to “get this back in blood.”

    Muhammad, however, seems to have his doubts…

    Muhammad: Edwards Must Figure Out If He Still Has ‘The Hunger’ To Compete

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Muhammad looked back on his triumph over Edwards and assessed whether or not the Englishman can rebound en route to a trilogy fight.

    “Remember the Name” has little doubt when it comes to his rival’s ability, which he sees as good enough to get him back into the championship conversation. But having long questioned “Rocky’s” mentality, Muhammad thinks that could pose a stumbling block.

    “Skill wise, he has the skill to do it but it’s all about mentality,” Muhammad said. “Because you’ve seen it a lot with undefeated guys, when they get that one loss, a lot of guys don’t know how to take a loss. He hasn’t lost in eight years and he had this long streak. So it comes now from how does he come back from it mentally?

    “Physically, yeah he has all the attributes, the skills to do it, and when you’re looking at the lineup now, I beat a lot of these guys in the top 10 already. So there’s not a lot of guys you’re looking at (like), ‘This guy is the clear No. 1 contender.’ So Leon could go out there and get one win and if it’s a huge win, there’s a possibility that he could get his name back in the mix,” Muhammad continued. “Now he has to figure out what he wants to do with his life. If he still wants to chase it with that hunger inside him.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in the immediate future for both Muhammad and Edwards, but it would appear to be slightly clearer for the former.

    Since his crowning this past July, the new champ has gone back and forth with both Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman regarding his first title defense, which Muhammad’s manager has pointed to as likely for UFC 310 in December.

  • ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss

    ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss

    Many believed Sean O’Malley’s ability to land a knockout shot would favor him against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. To everyone’s surprise, the challenger was never close to being finished in the fight and won via a unanimous decision.

    A memorable moment from the fight arrived in the first round when Dvalishvili called out Tim Welch for yelling his name. Herb Dean had to step in and give the coach a warning regarding excessive coaching.

    While the MMA community is divided over Welch’s unique corner antics, Matt Serra heavily criticized him for his work at UFC 306…

    Matt Serra Believes Tim Welch Got Exposed During Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 306

    During an interview with the new UFC bantamweight champion on the official UFC YouTube channel, Jim Norton and Matt Serra asked him about the first-round drama. Dvalishvili explained the incident to which Serra outright claimed Welch’s move to be shady.

    The former UFC champ then stated that the UFC 306 main event exposed Welch as a coach. O’Malley had been winning and mostly knocking out his opponents effortlessly until now. Like the Petr Yan fight, this was one of those rare times when “Suga” was having trouble finding a way to win.

    “This fight exposed him as a coach because when your guy is winning and knocking people out, sure, you look like a f*****g hero. When your fighter is obviously losing the fight and he starts losing rounds, Tim Welch was like not wanting to hurt his feelings. Okay, good round. No! it was you’re losing f*****g three rounds. You got to get in his a**. You got to say, you got to this. He was afraid that he did not know how to handle his guy on that many rounds. And I thought his f****g corner work was s**t. So, he exposed himself.”

    Instead of keeping it real, Welch kept on appreciating O’Malley which, according to Serra, wasn’t the right thing to do. The UFC Hall of Famer expected the coach to fire up his fighter by telling him that he’s down three rounds and needs to work more to win.

    It is safe to assume that Serra isn’t a big fan of Welch’s coaching style. Having said that, one can’t predict whether more aggressive coaching would’ve helped O’Malley emerge victorious at UFC 306.

  • South Africa’s Sports Minister Says Dricus Du Plessis-Headlined UFC Event In ‘Final Stages Of Negotiations’

    South Africa’s Sports Minister Says Dricus Du Plessis-Headlined UFC Event In ‘Final Stages Of Negotiations’

    South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie recently revealed that negotiations are underway for a potential UFC event in Cape Town, with Dricus Du Plessis slated to headline.

    The reigning UFC middleweight champion has been very adamant in his push to bring the promotion to his homeland of South Africa for the first time. His campaign gained momentum after he secured the title with a hard-fought split decision victory over former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 297 this past January.

    The push for the event seemed to lose steam as the UFC had already locked in most of its venues for the upcoming quarter. However, the topic gained traction again before UFC 305 last month when UFC CEO Dana White hinted that if ‘Stillknocks’ could defeat fellow African star Israel Adesanya, the promotion would seriously consider bringing an event to South Africa.

    With Du Plessis’ impressive submission victory over “The Last Stylebender,” it seems his wish is finally coming to fruition. Positive developments have been steadily aligning, especially after White, during the Noche UFC 306 post-fight press conference, confirmed that he’s “very serious” about hosting a UFC event in Africa.

    McKenzie Confirms Du Plessis As Headliner For Potential UFC Africa Event, Host City Remains Up In The Air

    According to multiple media reports, the DHL Stadium in Cape Town is in talks to construct a temporary roof at an estimated cost of R30 million (around $1.7 million) in preparation for hosting a UFC event in 2025. The 55,000-seat arena was one of the flagship venues during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Following these reports, the South African sports minister recently took to X to acknowledge that they are on the brink of sealing the deal to bring Du Plessis’ next fight to Africa. However, he also noted that the choice of host city is yet to be finalized.

    “I see news articles about @UFCfight of @dricusduplessis happening in Cape Town,” McKenzie tweeted. “We are in the final stages of negotiating for the fight to happen in South Africa. We have not been given the green light. We will know by the end of October, no decision of hosting city can be made yet.”

    With the host city still up in the air, the question of who ‘Stillknocks’ will face in his next title defense remains equally uncertain. Rumors are circulating, with some hinting at a possible rematch against Strickland.

    Alternatively, Du Plessis has also suggested moving up a weight class to challenge reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira — or perhaps Pereira could move down to face him, a possibility he himself has hinted at.

    However, “Poatan” is already scheduled to defend his light heavyweight crown against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 on October 5. Only time will reveal who will ultimately stand across from Du Plessis in the Octagon at the much-anticipated showdown on African soil.

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘Abysmal’ Finishing Rate: ‘Fans Will Get Sick Of Him’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘Abysmal’ Finishing Rate: ‘Fans Will Get Sick Of Him’

    Merab Dvalishvili comfortably beat Sean O’Malley on the scorecards to win the UFC bantamweight championship at UFC 306. He secured six takedowns, ten minutes of ground control, and outstruck the champion to silence all the doubters.

    “The Machine” had to wait a long time to get his first UFC title shot. After losing his first two fights in the promotion, he won ten in a row and fired through top tier competition like Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo to become the undeniable contender.

    Many believe that Dvalishvili’s fighting style is one reason why the UFC didn’t push him as much as other stars like Sean O’Malley, Umar Nurmagomedov, or Ilia Topuria. Here’s what Georges St-Pierre’s coach thinks on the matter…

    GSP’s Coach Criticzes Merab Dvalishvili For Rarely Threatening To Finish Sean O’Malley Or Past Opponents

    Firas Zahabi discussed the UFC 306 main event on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel recently. The coach admitted to loving Dvalishvili’s unhinged personality and smartness inside the Octagon but couldn’t help but notice the lack of finishes on his record.

    “His finishing record is abysmal guys. I gotta be honest. I’m telling you guys I love the guy he’s the new world champion I think he’s awesome. However, his finishing rate. Imagine you could take down almost everybody you’ve ever fought and you literally only have one submission. That doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t make any sense. You’re literally taking everyone down, how come you never finish?”

    Zahabi highlighted that Dvalishvili has had the potential to take down all his opponents (except Jose Aldo). Still, he only has one submission win in his pro MMA record which is as baffling as it sounds.

    According to GSP’s coach, Dvalishvili must prioritize finishing his fights as a champ. His title victory already has MMA circles divided and a couple of similar performances might stop him from reaping all the benefits of being a UFC champion.

    “If he doesn’t do it. I’ll tell you something. The fans will get sick of him. They’ll get sick of him running around the ring and just taking people down. Running around the ring and taking people down, like, they’re going to get sick of that. He has to entertain the crowd, he has to show finishing ability. If he doesn’t, can be disastrous to his career.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Out Of Movsar Evloev Fight At UFC 307: ‘I Need All My Tools’

    Aljamain Sterling Out Of Movsar Evloev Fight At UFC 307: ‘I Need All My Tools’

    Aljamain Sterling moved up to featherweight after losing his UFC bantamweight championship to Sean O’Malley. He dominated Calvin Kattar in his divisional debut and was scheduled to fight Movsar Evloev at UFC 307 next.

    However, Sterling has pulled out of the UFC 307 bout because of an injury that he sustained during sparring. Despite taking the right precautions and undergoing stem cell therapy, he hasn’t been able to recover properly and announced his injury via YouTube and X recently.

    “I think it’s a tough test. And I truly do believe I have the abilities to beat you. So, let’s do this in December. And I’ll see you on the other side of the Octagon. But if you decide not to wait, I can respect that also. Because I know you’re trying to fight for a belt as am I and the only way to do that is to go through each other.”

    Aljo still wants to fight Evloev but expects the latter to wait until December. The undefeated Russian featherweight is naturally unhappy with this development, and here’s what he plans to do now…

    Movsar Evloev Responds To Aljamain Sterling Pulling Out Of 307 Because Of Injury

    Evloev has been training for his next featherweight fight in the UFC for four months. Even with all the bad blood between him and Sterling so far, he isn’t interested in pushing back the matchup.

    Evloev shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he is willing to stay on UFC 307 and will fight anybody. From Diego Lopes to Dan Ige to Josh Emmett, there are a bunch of matchups that fans have already suggested.

    With consecutive wins over Ige, Lopes, and Arnold Allen, undefeated Evloev at 18-0 is certainly one of the most interesting prospects in the UFC featherweight division. A win over a former champ like Sterling could have secured him a title shot or, at the very least, put him in a title eliminator.

    Similarly, Sterling looked forward to fighting Diego Lopes after beating Evloev. Such massive wins would’ve put him in a comfortable spot to challenge Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway for the title.

    It is worth noting that Nate Landwehr is also out of his UFC 307 bout against Austin Hubbard. He’ll be replaced by Alexander Hernandez.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Reveals Major Training Change Ahead Of UFC 308 Return After Latest Illness

    Khamzat Chimaev Reveals Major Training Change Ahead Of UFC 308 Return After Latest Illness

    Khamzat Chimaev recently revealed that he’s made major adjustments to his training regimen to aid in his recovery from past illnesses, ensuring he’s in top form for his highly anticipated comeback next month.

    “Borz” is preparing to square off against former champion Robert Whittaker in a high-stakes, five-round co-main event at UFC 308 on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    The two fighters were originally slated to meet in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia this past June. However, just two weeks before the showdown, Chimaev was forced to pull out due to an unspecified illness. Ikram Aliskerov stepped in on short notice to save the headliner, only to get knocked out by “The Reaper” in under two minutes.

    Once regarded as one of the most dangerous and active fighters on the UFC roster, Chimaev’s momentum has drastically slowed, with only two Octagon appearances since his hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 in April 2023.

    Much of the 30-year-old Russian’s UFC career has been hampered by illness and recovery from injuries. However, with the looming challenge of Whittaker and the prospect of a potential middleweight title eliminator, Chimaev appears more determined than ever. He’s leaving no stone unturned, making significant changes to his training approach.

    Chimaev Enlists His First Wrestling Coach For UFC 308 Comeback

    During a recent appearance on the HUSTLE VLOG on Russian YouTuber Adam Zubayraev’s channel, Chimaev revealed that in light of his past health issues, he has brought back his first wrestling coach, Salim Noutsalkhanov, to guide his UFC 308 fight camp.

    “The point is they now let me rest and recover properly. I used to go to the gym and just train till I was done,” Chimaev said. “Yes [I would train just to get exhausted] but then I ended up in the hospital like the last time when I was in the hospital three times in a row in the space of three weeks. My immune system went down, I got sick, and now I use a better approach.”

    Chimaev further expressed strong confidence in Noutsalkhanov’s coaching abilities, emphasizing his experience in training legendary freestyle wrestlers such as Buvaisar Saitiev.

    “I work with good coaches; Salim raised a lot of world champions; he also trained Buvaisar Saitiev for the Beijing Olympics with people like that. I am going to take a big step forward.”

    [h/t Bloody Elbow]

    Chimaev last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 294 in October 2023, where he took on former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a short-notice matchup. During the bout, “Borz” sustained a torn ligament in his hand.

    Additionally, this past January, images of Chimaev’s swollen face made rounds on social media. The undefeated Chechen later revealed that he had been battling a serious infection that had spread through his upper body, ultimately leaving him requiring ventilator support.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Bothered’ By Valentina Shevchenko’s Octagon Interview At UFC 306

    According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Valentina Shevchenko left a key topic out of her Octagon interview inside the Sphere.

    Shevchenko was among the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, where she regained the women’s flyweight crown to start her second reign in the division.

    To do so, “Bullet” got the better of Alexa Grasso at the third time of trying, upsetting the pro-Mexico crowd at the promotion’s second annual celebration of the nation’s independence day with a dominant grappling performance across five rounds.

    Many were quick to express their disappointment with the lack of action in the Noche UFC co-headliner, but one former fighter-turned-analyst was left frustrated for a different reason…

    Sonnen Criticizes Shevchenko For Omitting Fiorot From Post-Fight Interview

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen outlined one aspect of the latest numbered card that he wasn’t the biggest fan of.

    “The American Gangster” pointed to Shevchenko’s post-fight interview, questioning why she chose to focus on an abundance of thank yous instead of addressing the expected first challenger to her second divisional rule.

    “Can I tell you what one of my least favorite parts (of UFC 306) was? It’s very simple,” Sonnen said. “There was an alternate that flew in and weighed in in case anything happened in the Grasso/Shevchenko fight, (Manon) Fiorot. … At a minimum, it would have been nice if Valentina mentioned her.

    “I feel like it’s clear that Fiorot is next. She was almost that night. And after the fight, Valentina went in a different direction. She wanted to thank Hunter Campbell and Dana White as opposed to call out an opponent,” Sonnen continued. “I felt for Fiorot. To come over there, get licensed, go through all the medicals, go through the training camp, the weight cut, and there’s no opportunity, which means there’s not a very big check to split up with your team. At a minimum, you could have had a callout. … On a human level, to a degree, it bothered me.”

    Fiorot successfully made weight last Friday as the backup fighter for the co-main event of the Sphere-held event. Her services were ultimately not required on fight night, and her title shot is instead expected to come off the back of a full preparation down the line.

  • Aljamain Sterling Excited At Prospect Of Facing Diego Lopes In Title Eliminator After UFC 307

    Aljamain Sterling Excited At Prospect Of Facing Diego Lopes In Title Eliminator After UFC 307

    It’s a huge few weeks for the UFC’s featherweight division leading up to UFC 308, where the champion will be making his first title defense.

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is one of the most anticipated fights of the year, but in the meantime, there’s still plenty of movement to happen at the top of the division.

    Diego Lopes earned his spot in the top five this past weekend at UFC 306 (Noche UFC), where he defeated former two-time title challenger Brian Ortega.

    However, despite his incredible rise after losing his UFC debut, Lopes could need one more win in order to earn a title shot, and his next opponent could be decided at UFC 307…

    Aljamain Sterling Talks About The Potential Of Facing Diego Lopes In A Title Eliminator

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is looking to earn back-to-back wins at 145 pounds when he clashes with the undefeated Movsar Evloev on October 5 in Salt Lake City.

    Whoever wins that fight will be in a great position to fight someone right near the top of the rankings which, as Sterling pointed out, could end up being Lopes.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, “Funk Master” laid out his idea of how things will play out.

    “I can see, because (Alexander) Volkanovski’s guaranteed his next title shot no matter who wins between Ilia and Holloway, that Lopes is probably gonna have to fight again. So, I would imagine that between the the winner of myself and Movsar, I think that’ll probably end up being the next title challenger.”

    Sterling also said that off the back of Lopes’ win over Ortega, this is a fight that gets him excited because he sees the Brazilian as a tough test.

    Getting past the undefeated Russian is a big hurdle in the first place, but a fight with Lopes would have huge title implications for the winner.

    “It definitely is an exciting time for the featherweight division and for myself because that’s not an easy fight and that excites me. That’s the most exciting part about it.”

  • ‘Georges It Is Past Your Bedtime’ – MMA Fans React After St-Pierre Posts UFO Update On Social Media

    ‘Georges It Is Past Your Bedtime’ – MMA Fans React After St-Pierre Posts UFO Update On Social Media

    Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre will always be remembered as one of the greatest to ever do it. That was the case when he retired on top of the sport back in 2013 but his return at UFC 217 in 2017, where he defeated Michael Bisping to win the 185-pound belt, added to it.

    However, if there’s one thing that was slightly bizarre about the time that St-Pierre decided to go on hiatus after his welterweight title reign, it was his fascination with aliens.

    It has been some time since the days where “GSP” would make comments that would have fans both puzzled and concerned all at the same time. But if you thought that he had moved on from this passion of his, you are sorely mistaken, as a recent social media post proves.

    St-Pierre looked to get his followers talking about the latest development in UFO sightings, claiming that, “If you are not aware of this topic, it is high time you learn more about it.”

    Fight Fans React To Georges St-Pierre’s Recent Dive Back Into The World Of Aliens & UFOs

    It certainly didn’t take MMA fans too long before giving their take on St-Pierre’s latest social media post.

    In addition to some mocking remarks, his statement did seem to generate the desired conversation regarding UFOs and UAPs with a fair amount of responses back to him with follow-up points.

    “Most of the time it’s the government trying out new military stuff that will quite frankly be announced to the public 50 years from now They’re always ahead.”

    “Thank you for raising awareness on this subject, George! I’ve been covering this topic extensively. More people need to realize this is absolutely real and the implications of this phenomena are extremely significant for our world. We need answers.”

    On the other hand, there were those that were, once again, puzzled to say the least.

    “Georges it is past your bedtime”

    “GSP talking about UFOs did not see that coming”

    “welcome to the gang George”

    “Talk about when they kidnapped you”

    “You were a UFM in the UFC- Unbeatable Fighting Machine”

    “That was a curve ball”

    “7 Missed Calls from Joe Rogan”

    “Thanks for the heads up George’s St-Pierre I’ll keep an eye on the situation”
  • Cory Sandhagen Claims Top Five Contender Turned Him Down For December

    Cory Sandhagen Claims Top Five Contender Turned Him Down For December

    Former interim UFC bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen says a notable name toward the top of the rankings recently rejected the chance to throw down with him before the end of this year.

    Merab Dvalishvili now sits at the top of the bantamweight division following his win over Sean O’Malley this past weekend at UFC 306. With “Suga” now set to return to the contender ranks, there is sure to be several other 135-pounders wanting to face him in his next outing.

    One of those names is Cory Sandhagen, who is looking to bounce back from his defeat to Umar Nurmagomedov in August.

    With the Dagestani likely being the next contender in line, Sandhagen thinks that he and O’Malley makes a lot of sense, especially after he claims he was turned down by another top contender…

    Cory Sandhagen Says Deiveson Figueiredo Rejected December Fight

    Dvalishvili has made it pretty clear that, in his opinion, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is most deserving of the next title shot. The Brazilian has won three in a row since moving up a weight class with impressive performances against Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera.

    With O’Malley potentially taking some time off, a fight between Sandhagen and “Deus Da Guerra” would make a lot of sense while Nurmagomedov challenges for the belt.

    However, in his post-event breakdown of UFC 306, Sandhagen revealed on his YouTube channel that this fight has already been offered and declined on Figueiredo’s side.

    “The Sandman” initially said that the fight was targeted for September but later corrected himself by saying that it was on the table for December.

    With the other top names in the division being busy or inactive, he sees this as the perfect time to finally match him and O’Malley up.

    “I got to say, I think that you’re absolutely insane if you don’t want to see me and O’Malley fight next, okay. I am pretty sure that maybe the entire division is going to be calling out Sean O’Malley next, just because that’s the way that people do things, but you guys know that this has been a fight that’s been in the works for a long time. I’m not going to try to sound like I’m trying to throw this idea at you guys, you guys know it’s a good idea. Back me up on all that stuff, me and O’Malley got next.

    “Figgy turned down a fight against me in September, which is just kind of whack because I thought that Figgy was a little bit more about that life than that. I’m kind of actually hurt that Figgy doesn’t want to fight me in December. I don’t know what that dude’s plan is, I think Yan’s out for a little bit, Henry’s like hurt/not hurt sometimes. I don’t really know what goes on with that guy, but me and O’Malley got next.”

  • UFC Bantamweight Recalls Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scuffle At UFC 304: ‘I Just Kind Of Lost It…’

    UFC Bantamweight Recalls Michael ‘Venom’ Page Scuffle At UFC 304: ‘I Just Kind Of Lost It…’

    Michael “Venom” Page may not have been competing on home soil at UFC 304 but he was still in the headlines for a fight that could have happened.

    Video footage captured after the event showed an altercation between Page and UFC bantamweight Farid Basharat at the fighter hotel.

    Alexander Volkanovski also detailed the situation after being caught in the middle of it, where, despite his best attempts to keep Basharat from getting to “MVP,” he was unsuccessful.

    The two men, at least from the video, tried to get at each other for some time until, with the help of security, they were separated and situation was deescalated.

    Ahead of his return against Victor Hugo at UFC 308, Basharat gave his side of the story.

    Farid Basharat Explains How He Nearly Came To Blows With Michael ‘Venom’ Page

    In an interview with InsideFighting, Basharat explained exactly what happened at the fighter hotel following UFC 304 in Manchester.

    He said that his relationship with Page goes way back to when he and his brother Javid were training at the same gym as “MVP,” London Shootfighters.

    Having left that gym on less than ideal terms, they didn’t want anything to do with Page or the rest of the team. Although he had a brief interaction with the welterweight contender on the shuttle back to the hotel after the July event, Farid said there was no drama at first when Page started speaking to him.

    “I shake his hand, I say ‘Okay, good.’ I keep it short because I don’t really want to, I don’t really like him, I don’t want to speak with him. Anyway, we get off the shuttle, we go back to, I just walk off and we’re in the hotel. I go through the lobby and he kind of tries to put his arm around my shoulder and I just kind of like brush it off and say like, ‘No, I don’t really want to speak with you, thank you.’ He was obviously drunk a little bit because I could smell it and his ego must have got a little dented.”

    Basharat then said that despite his wishes for them to go their separate ways and leave it at that, Page continued to press him on what the issue was.

    The 27-year-old added that things got heated from there, stating that getting into a fight at 7 AM in the morning with a fighter four weight classes above him wasn’t something that he was actively pursuing.

    He claimed to have flipped was when Page threw a “cheap shot” at him while he was distracted by one of the Londoner’s friends.

    What made him tip even further over the edge was that despite Basharat being the one who needed to get through members of security and a former UFC featherweight champion, it was Page who was backing up.

    “In my head, I was so annoyed. I was thinking, ‘Just step to the left a little bit and we can make something happen. We could at least throw a couple of exchanges, a couple of shots,’ you know? But look, these situations, I’m not sitting here like some bad boy trying to create hostile situations, trying to get into fights, but sometimes when you have to go, you have to go. If someone starts on you, it doesn’t matter.

    “It doesn’t matter who, why, where, when and at that point. I just lost it to be honest, and you’ll see in the video, I was trying to get ahold of him for probably about 10 minutes. The video cuts out short but honestly, I just kind of lost it because I couldn’t believe I was trying to deescalate a situation, I was trying to go my way and stuff and this coward…he’s the one that throws a punch. In my head, I was so p*****, I just wanted, at that point, I would have done anything to get my hands on him. But now, whatever, I don’t care about this guy. When I see him, we’ll deal with it however.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Uses O’Malley vs. Vera To Justify Merab Dvalishvili’s Preferred Next Opponent

    Aljamain Sterling Uses O’Malley vs. Vera To Justify Merab Dvalishvili’s Preferred Next Opponent

    Despite the UFC’s attempt to get the ball rolling toward the next bantamweight title fight, Merab Dvalishvili has other plans in mind.

    The 135-pound weight class crowned a new champion in the main event of UFC 306, where Dvalishvili comfortably defeated Sean O’Malley.

    It was known going into the fight that Umar Nurmagomedov was likely going to be next, and that was only solidified when he was there in-person for the new champ being asked about the prospect of facing him.

    Dvalishvili, however, believes that it is Deiveson Figueiredo who is the most deserving contender because he has more wins over top bantamweight contenders.

    Aljamain Sterling Says Merab Dvalishvili Has Strong Case For Deiveson Figueiredo Being Next

    In an interview with Submission Radio, Aljamain Sterling weighed in with his thoughts on Dvalishvili’s stance on his first title challenger.

    The former bantamweight champion and long-term friend and training partner of the Georgian titleholder believes that his reasoning makes a lot of sense.

    “Funk Master” pointed to how there have been many more instances where a title challenger was less deserving of this opportunity than Figueiredo currently is.

    With this in mind, Sterling hopes that his teammate will get to have some input into deciding what will be the first step of his title reign.

    “I don’t know who the UFC actually wants to push. I know Merab wants to face Deiveson Figueiredo based on his merit of what he’s done in the bantamweight division. I believe he’s beaten Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, submitted him, and ‘Chito’ Vera. So it’s kind of hard to argue Merab’s point. I do understand that Umar did beat Sandhagen, who was ranked #2 at the time, so there’s an argument there. But I think I can see both sides, and if the champ wants to fight Deiveson Figueiredo, I mean, O’Malley got to fight a guy that wasn’t even ranked in the top five (Marlon Vera).

    “So I don’t think it’s that crazy of a matchup. I don’t think the guy’s undeserving. I don’t think anyone could say he’s undeserving. But, you know, the UFC is going to do what makes the most money for them and hopefully the champ has a say in that.”

  • South Africa Reportedly Planning $1.7 Million Stadium Renovation To Host Dricus Du Plessis UFC Title Fight

    South Africa Reportedly Planning $1.7 Million Stadium Renovation To Host Dricus Du Plessis UFC Title Fight

    In his post-fight press conference after UFC 306, Dana White once again stressed that finally bringing the Octagon to Africa is a big priority for the promotion.

    Hosting events in new locations is never an easy process for the MMA leader, but when you have a champion like Dricus Du Plessis, where there is a will, there is a way.

    The reaction that the middleweight champion received after his title-winning performance at UFC 297 really got the ball rolling.

    It’s clear that there would be huge interest in seeing the Octagon touch down in South Africa with Du Plessis headlining the show, but the logistics of making it happen is where issues occur.

    The biggest hurdle to get past when looking at stadium shows is the weather, something White has long cited when pushing back on such events. However, it looks like Cape Town Stadium are ready to make some sizable investments to remove this barrier to entry…

    Mayor Of Cape Town Reveals Proposal To Build Temporary Roof Over Cape Town Stadium

    The Executive Major of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, recently spoke about plans to build a temporary roof in order to bring the UFC to the stadium.

    In an interview with Cape Talk, Hill-Lewis said that he expects things to move relatively quickly.

    “We’ve said to the national government, the minister (Gayton McKenzie), that we think we could do it absolutely soon, sometime around March next year. But we would need confirmation quite soon so that we could get cracking.” (h/t IOL)

    Though there are other venues that could host a major UFC event, they simply don’t have the capacity of the 55,000 seater that was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Hill-Lewis approximated that it would take around two months to build and would cost upwards of R30m (around $1.7 million).

    There has been some pushback from other figures, such as the founder of lobby group Stop CoCT Sandra Dickson, who have criticized whether it’s necessary to do this rather than hosting it another venue, calling the plan “a limited short-term and temporary solution.”

    Dricus Du Plessis & Robert Whittaker
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • PFL CEO Insists Jake Paul Will Fight ‘Very Credible’ Opponent In MMA Debut

    PFL CEO Insists Jake Paul Will Fight ‘Very Credible’ Opponent In MMA Debut

    When YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul does finally enter the cage for his first taste of mixed martial arts action, it’ll be against a “very, very credible” opponent.

    That’s according to Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray, who recently addressed Paul’s long-discussed planned venture to the multifaceted sport, which was promised when the ex-Disney star signed with the PFL 20 months ago.

    Thus far into his combat sports tenure, “The Problem Child” has made a splash in the ring, largely by getting the better of veteran MMA fighters like Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Tyron Woodley.

    2024 has seen his focus remain on boxing, and after defeating BKFC star Mike Perry this past June, Paul is set to close out his year by headlining the first live combat sports event to be broadcast on Netflix opposite legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson.

    With that, a crossover to MMA has slipped from the surface. But the PFL evidently remains confident of that coming to fruition. If and when it does, the promotion doesn’t plan on having Paul face a low-level foe…

    Peter Murray Provides Update On Jake Paul’s MMA Venture: ‘Not Easy To Cross Over…’

    During an interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Murray briefly spoke about the status of Paul’s MMA plans, insisting that the Cleveland native remains committed to testing his skills inside the SmartCage.

    When he does, many appear to be expecting “The Problem Child” to throw down with a fighter of similar inexperience when it comes to MMA. But Murray dismissed that notion, instead stating that Paul will face “credible” competition from the jump.

    “(There’s) plenty of options…and Jake is committed to fighting a very, very credible, well-rounded MMA fighter, and (it’s) not easy to do,” Murray said. “Not easy to cross over from boxing into MMA. You know, the crossover from MMA or other disciplines into boxing is a lot easier.”

    Paul has posted comments and footage related to MMA training on social media for a number of years. But although a signing with the PFL in January 2023 appeared set to pave the way for a debut in the sport that year, “The Problem Child’s” combat sports action remains isolated to the ring as it stands.

  • Tatiana Suarez Doesn’t Get Title Shot, Reportedly Faces Contender At UFC 310

    Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024.

    Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite Yan Xiaonan at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April.

    The Californian appeared to be in a two-horse race with Virna Jandiroba, whose submission of Amanda Lemos in a UFC Fight Night main event in the summer marked her fifth straight triumph.

    Should recent reports come to fruition, however, neither woman has been given the assignment. Instead, they’ll have to battle one another for it.

    According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, a clash between the #1- and #3-ranked strawweight contenders is set to take place on the UFC 310 card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7.

    Suarez, Jandiroba Expected To Meet In Likely Title Eliminator At UFC 310

    Should this bout be made official by the UFC, the final pay-per-view of 2024 will include high stakes at 115 pounds.

    Suarez (10-0) has done what she can to make up for lost time after injuries kept her away from the cage for close to four years. After announcing her return with a submission win over Montana De La Rosa up at flyweight, the 33-year-old wrestling specialist forced a tap from Jéssica Andrade to put her immediately back into the strawweight title conversation.

    Jandiroba (21-3), meanwhile, has found winning form following an inconsistent 3-3 start to life in the UFC. After defeats to Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas stalled her rise, the Brazilian has gone on her longest winning run on MMA’s biggest stage, outpointing Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez before a bonus-winning submission of former title challenger Lemos in what marked her main event debut.

    Suarez vs. Jandiroba joins a light heavyweight matchup between Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes as the second fight reported for UFC 310 on Dec. 7.

    Tatiana Suarez
    Image: Chris Unger/UFC/Zuffa LLC)

  • Michael Chandler Explains Why He Won’t Call Failed Wait For Conor McGregor ‘Wasted Time’

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler insists that the patience he showed in a failed pursuit of fighting Conor McGregor only had positive effects on him as an individual and fighter.

    By the time Chandler next enters the Octagon, it will have been two years since his previous outing. After a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at Madison Square Garden in 2022, the former Bellator champion will return to New York City this coming November to run it back with Charles Oliveira.

    The pair’s five-round co-headliner at UFC 309 was announced this past weekend, bringing an end to Chandler’s lengthy wait to welcome the sport’s biggest superstar back to action.

    The 38-year-old was penciled in as McGregor’s return opponent way back at the start of 2023 when they were announced as opposition coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. After over a year of patient waiting for an official fight date, their UFC 303 headliner this past June didn’t come to fruition owing to an injury suffered by the Irishman.

    Many have long urged Chandler to move on from the “Notorious” star, and his decision to finally do so has been used as a ‘told you so’ moment by some in the mixed martial arts community.

    But while Chandler’s sights may now be off McGregor for the time being, he firmly disagrees with claims he ‘wasted’ the best part of two years in the latter part of his career by waiting for the Dublin native…

    Chandler On McGregor Wait: ‘It Wasn’t Wasted Time Because Of The Man I Became From It’

    During a recent appearance on the Ultimate Human Podcast with Gary Brecka, Chandler addressed his decision to stray from the uncertainty-filled McGregor path and put his crosshairs back on the UFC lightweight title.

    “Iron” admitted that his period on the sidelines was far from easy. But he seemingly has no regrets about the process, saying it moulded him into a better person.

    “Maybe this was the way it was supposed to be the entire time,” Chandler said. “I want to finish that chapter. We waited and there were so many ups and downs. I went through things with it. Being away from my family but then not actually getting to fight was very tough.

    “It wasn’t wasted time. I would never say it’s wasted time, right? Anybody listening, you’ve had times in your life and were like, ‘Man, that was a waste of time.’ But was it? It wasn’t really wasted time because of the man I became from it,” Chandler added.

    Chandler’s preparation will now switch to “Do Bronx,” a former champ he’ll be familiar with having shared the cage with him back in May 2021. The pair competed for the then-vacant lightweight belt, with “Iron’s” early success being rendered null when the Brazilian found the fight-ending shots in round two.

    The ex-Bellator standout will look to avenge that defeat and set up a showdown with the reigning kingpin in 2025 come fight night at MSG, where he and Oliveira will set the stage for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight clash.

  • Former UFC Champ Says Herb Dean Officiated ‘Like He Had Money On O’Malley’ At UFC 306

    Former UFC Champ Says Herb Dean Officiated ‘Like He Had Money On O’Malley’ At UFC 306

    Count former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw among those confused by Herb Dean’s actions in this past weekend’s main event.

    The veteran official was tasked with being the third man inside the Octagon for the Noche UFC (UFC 306) headliner inside the Sphere, where Sean O’Malley put his 135-pound gold on the line against Merab Dvalishvili.

    Dean wasn’t short on involvement early on, with a war of words between the challenger and coach Tim Welch in O’Malley’s corner forcing his intervention, shortly followed by a warning to “The Machine” for repeatedly kissing the defending champ’s back while in control of him on the ground.

    Later in the fight, the referee featured in a different way as he frequently called for more action while Dvalishvili held a dominant grappling position.

    While that was enough to cause debate, Dean’s decision to do the same while the pair were on the feet in the main event’s dying seconds saw him become the subject of heavy criticism from the commentary team and fans online.

    Dillashaw Slams Dean For UFC 306 Main Event Refereeing: ‘Shouldn’t Be Involved Like That’

    During a recent episode of the JAXXON PODCAST, Dillashaw looked back on the events that unfolded inside the Sphere alongside Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Luke Rockhold, and Jason Parillo.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion was firm with his criticism of the third man inside the cage for Saturday’s headliner, suggesting Dean refereed favorably toward the defending champion.

    “It’s complete bullsh*t,” Dillashaw said. “You can’t tell two fighters to work when they’re on their feet. I could run circles if I wanted to. You can’t tell me to go and work. … It’s not like I’m stalling against the cage. We’re striking, and you’re telling me to work. Like, I might run into something now ’cause you’re coaching me on how I am supposed to fight. The ref shouldn’t be involved like that.

    “I thought it was very weird. It was almost like he had money on O’Malley,” Dillashaw continued. “(It was) like he wanted Merab to keep going so O’Malley could catch him with something. It was weird.”

    Dean’s performance in the main event has remained a prominent talking point days on from the show, as has factors away from the fighting action itself such as Welch’s controversial corner tactics.

    While many have lauded the UFC for the spectacle it put on inside the Sphere, those likely weren’t the topics that the promotion hoped would come out of the pay-per-view main event.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 6 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 6 Highlights As 4 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 five episodes of season eight, 20 prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the sixth added another four talents to the UFC roster. That included heavyweight Tallison Teixeira, who delivered the highlight of the night in the penultimate bout when he knocked out Arthur Lopes to secure his path to the Octagon.

    Earlier on, two finishes opened the card, with lightweight Ahmad Hassanzada locking in a rear-naked choke to render Dylan Mantello unconscious and middleweight Ateba Gautier stopping Yura Naito with punches.

    The three who found finishes all exited the Apex with UFC deals, as did bantamweight Elijah Smith, son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith. He got the better of New Zealand’s Aaron Tau by way of unanimous decision in an entertaining main event.

    The contest between Benjamin Bennett and Joey Hart was the only matchup not to produce a new contract this week, with the former’s split decision victory not enough to persuade White to bring him aboard the UFC.

    With that in mind, see below for the moments that did land four athletes contracts with the UFC.

    Ahmad Hassanzada Def. Dylan Mantello Via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R3, 2:14

    Ateba Gautier Def. Yura Naito Via TKO (Punches): R2, 4:00

    Tallison Teixeira Def. Arthur Lopes Via KO (Punches): R1, 1:57

    Elijah Smith Def. Aaron Tau Via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

  • ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    ‘Completely Insincere’ – UFC Legend Laughs Off Jon Jones Claiming Stipe Miocic Fight As His Last

    Jon Jones, while talking to the media at UFC 306, hinted at retiring following his UFC 309 headliner against Stipe Miocic. The former UFC light heavyweight champion debuted for the promotion in 2011 and has amassed the most title fight wins (12) so far, naturally making his retirement a big deal among fans.

    After being the most dominant UFC light heavyweight ever, Jones moved up to heavyweight. In March 2023, he beat Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut to capture the division’s undisputed championship. However, he has yet to defend the title and despite Tom Aspinall finishing all top contenders, former champ Miocic is getting the title shot.

    Although Jones has mentioned retirement several times at this point, Chael Sonnen simply doesn’t buy it…

    Chael Sonnen Lists Why Jon Jones Isn’t Serious About Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight

    Sonnen opened up on the recently confirmed matchup between Jones and Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship on his YouTube channel. He acknowledged that MMA fans are now more excited to see “Bones” being tested by Aspinall who even defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    “The American Gangster” believes that Jones’ retirement is not the UFC legend’s idea at all. Somebody from the media or the internet randomly questioned his retirement and since then, he’s agreed to it a couple of times.

    In Sonnen’s view, Jones teasing retirement after fighting Miocic is a clever yet effective marketing idea. Over the years, the light heavyweight GOAT has amassed millions of fans who would tune in to watch him fight for potentially the last time without a second thought.

    “I’m watching this. Oh, Jon has grabbed on to that retirement idea. He did not mean it, it was completely insincere, it wasn’t even his idea. Somebody else said it, he heard it, thought it might be good to go with. And a couple of different reasons guys that are not going to retire say that they’re going to retire. A couple. One could be, he heard somebody else say it thought it might be good marketing. He never comes out and does anything to try for marketing and he went for it. Another one is just the same reason you did things like that when you were a child. So that somebody else would tell, oh no, hey, whoa, we want you, you’re great.”

    Sonnen, Jones’ former rival, is optimistic that we’ll see him in the Octagon against Aspinall before he retires. He stated that “Bones” adding “most likely” to his latest statement about retirement gave it all away. The undisputed heavyweight champ is either selling his upcoming fight or wanting the UFC to stop him from retiring through obvious incentives.