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  • Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    Caio Borralho Reveals ‘Mantra’ Of Training Camp For Jared Cannonier Win: ‘The New Champ Has Arrived’

    The future appears to be bright for Caio Borralho after pulling off a decision win over Jared Cannonier in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card at the Apex.

    The two had a hard-fought battle filled with plenty of strikes. Borralho’s kicks seemed to get the better of Cannonier in the first round before the former title challenger found a groove with his punches in the second.

    They were even in terms of striking numbers in the third, but “The Natural” managed to get “The Killa Gorilla” wobbly late in the frame. Cannonier battled back in the fourth round by delivering with his power, forming heavy damage around one of Borralho’s eyes.

    The Brazilian managed to gain the fifth round, however, by dropping Cannonier with a one-two in the closing minutes and nearly scoring the finish.

    “I caught him with some good jabs, and I think all these jabs hide my left hand, and when I (was) touching with my left hand, he felt (it) all the times,” Borralho told Megan Olivi for ESPN. “But he’s so durable, you know? He’s so tough. He’s been with the best in the world so many years. Crazy. He was in the UFC in 2015. That was the year of my last defeat, my second MMA fight.”

    Caio Borralho Claims He Is A New Champ On The Rise

    Borralho ventured his way into the UFC after a pair of wins over Aaron Jeffrey and Jesse Murray on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021. Since then, “The Natural,” representing the Fighting Nerds team, has surged upward in momentum by defeating the likes of Paul Craig, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Makhmud Muradov prior to Cannonier.

    Now with bigger opportunities in his future, in addition to his callout of champion Dricus Du Plessis in the Octagon, Borralho is expecting to be placed in the top five of the middleweight ranking when they’re updated next week.

    “I hope to see my name on Tuesday in the top five of this division,” Borralho said. “You know I’m coming for my belt. The mantra of this training camp was to show the new champ arrived. And I think everybody saw that (there is) a new champ on the rising [sic] – a guy that never gives up and (has) all skills.”

  • ‘Free From What? Rehab?’ – Fans React To Conor McGregor’s Cryptic ‘When I Get Free’ Message Amid UFC Return Uncertainty

    The Conor McGregor roller coaster ride continues, and now there appears to be more doubt (once again) that McGregor may not face Michael Chandler this year.

    In new posts on social media, McGregor showed off training footage. However, it came with a curious new hashtag: #FreeTheMac.

    McGregor followed this post up with a simple, four-word message: “When I get free.”

    This has caused great speculation that McGregor may be asking to be released from his UFC contract. The Irishman, whose frequently delayed fight with Chandler was most recently expected to take place at UFC 310 in Las Vegas this December, reportedly has two fights remaining on his current deal with MMA’s leading promotion.

    This also comes days after Belal Muhammad stated that Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman are both being considered as title challengers for a welterweight title fight that could take place at the December pay-per-view.

    The booking of a title fight may cause great concern about McGregor vs. Chandler at the event, as a title fight has not been featured under a McGregor bout since UFC 196 in 2016.

    Conor McGregor Saying He Wants Out Of UFC Contract?

    https://twitter.com/NckMrk/status/1827420465503113333
    https://twitter.com/TheSyedHaq/status/1827419547327922282

    A little less than two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White told the media that McGregor would not fight in 2024. This caused the former two-division champion, in a now-deleted tweet, to encourage fans to tell White they want McGregor vs. Chandler to take place in December.

    The pair were set to fight after both men coached The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year, but the rest of 2023 went without any announcement of a fight.

    Official confirmation finally came from White following UFC 300, with the two set to battle at UFC 303 in June. But a Dublin press conference earlier in that month was suddenly canceled the day before, and it later emerged that McGregor had suffered a toe injury and chose to withdraw from a fight for the first time in his career.

  • Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    There is a realistic possibility that we could be seeing Jiří Procházka competing in a new weight class next time out.

    Just as he did some time after UFC 303, Procházka continued to tease a drop down in weight in a new video on his YouTube channel.

    In the video, the Czech star mentions feeling ready to fight again now, but he is currently waiting for the right conditions to go into a matchup sharp in mind, body, and spirit.

    The interviewer then asks Procházka about the weight he plans to return at. The former light heavyweight champion states that if Dricus Du Plessis were to win at UFC 305, he would look at the possibility of moving down to middleweight. The South African retained the middleweight championship earlier this month at UFC 305, submitting Israel Adesanya.

    “I’ll clear things up a bit there and take the belt,” Procházka said. “But I feel good and strong in the light heavyweight division, even though the guys there are a bit heavier, almost all of them. So I have to say that I have no problem physically and strength-wise, or in any way, with clearing them out.

    “But it would certainly be a challenge for me to go for the belt in the (middleweight) division and then move (back) up. But I’ll really let it flow and see how it unfolds.”

    Jiří Procházka Eyeing Move Down To Middleweight To Challenge Dricus Du Plessis

    Procházka is coming off an unsuccessful challenge of Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 303 in June. The result marked the second time in about seven months that the two clashed over the championship.

    Pereira recently teased his own move down to middleweight to challenge Du Plessis and try to become a simultaneous two-division champion, having already held the 185-pound gold before his move up to 205 pounds.

    Procházka was also asked about rumors of a potential fight with another former light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill. “Sweet Dreams” fell in his own challenge of “Poatan” at UFC 300 — the same card that saw Procházka finish Aleksandar Rakić.

    The Czechia native poured cold water on such rumors during this interview.

    “There hasn’t been any negotiation or discussion with the manager, or anyone else yet,” Procházka said. “I just sent one message regarding Hill, just as an informational note, and I’m not sure if anything has progressed or if someone let something slip. But for now, it’s all just speculation.”

  • ‘Give Him Adesanya’ – MMA Fans React As Caio Borralho Outlasts Jared Cannonier In UFC Fight Night Main Event War

    ‘Give Him Adesanya’ – MMA Fans React As Caio Borralho Outlasts Jared Cannonier In UFC Fight Night Main Event War

    Caio Borralho represents the Fighting Nerds with pride and continued to do so with the biggest win of his career in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event, scoring a decision over Jared Cannonier.

    Borralho got Cannonier in trouble during the opening round, picking him apart with his kicks. The veteran contender and former title challenger, however, got himself on the board in the second rframe when he started to find his groove in his punching, which included a brief wobble of “The Natural” late in the round.

    The two had an action packed third stanza and were just about even in terms of significant strikes landed, especially to the head. Borralho, however, ended up getting Cannonier wobbly. And even when “The Killa Gorilla” tried to fight back with his power, he stumbled, showing he was still rocked. Cannonier, however, was able to survive the round.

    Borralho continued to bring heavy pressure in the fourth round, but the 40-year-old brought his power, landing damaging shots. By the end of the frame, notable swelling could be seen around one of Borralho’s eyes.

    But late in the fifth round, Borralho delivered again, landing a one-two that dropped Cannonier. The Brazilian scrambled and got to work with strong ground-and-pound. The American, however, managed to survive the attack and a subsequent choke attempt.

    That was enough for the judges, as two scored the fight 49-45 and one 48-46, all for Borralho.

    Caio Borralho Rocks Jared Cannonier Twice, Solidifies Himself As Middleweight Contender At UFC Fight Night

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    Borralho has won all but two of the fights in his professional career thus far. He’s 6-0 in the Octagon after winning a contract through a victory over current Bellator fighter Aaron Jeffrey on Dana White’s Contender Series. He entered this fight coming off a knockout of Paul Craig at UFC 301, and Borralho will now find himself in the mix of top middleweight contenders.

    Borralho used his post-fight interview to call out Dricus Du Plessis, who retained his UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, last weekend.

    Cannonier, meanwhile, has now lost two straight and three of his last five, stretching back to his unsuccessful challenge of then-champion Adesanya at UFC 276 in the summer of 2022.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Caio Borralho Decisions Jared Cannonier

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, ranked middleweights Jared Cannonier (#5) and Caio Borralho (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Angela Hill faced Tabatha Ricci in a strawweight matchup. The event also featured this year’s TUF finales.

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight Main Event: Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier via unanimous decision (49- 45×2, 48-46)
    • Women’s Strawweight Co-Main Event: Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Middleweight (TUF 32 Finale): Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder via TKO: R2, 1.49
    • Featherweight (TUF 32 Finale): Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli via KO: R2, 1.30
    • Welterweight: Michael Morales def. Neil Magny via TKO: R1, 4.39 
    • Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan via submission: R2, 4.12

    Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight: Francis Marshall def. Dennis Buzukja via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) 
    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese def. Jose Medina via split decision via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev def. James Llontop via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Josiane Nunes via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30)

    Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo via KO: R1, 1.02 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Wang Cong def. Victoria Leonardo

    Making her UFC debut, Wang Cong took just over a minute to KO Victoria Leonardo in their flyweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Gerald Meerschaert def. Edmen Shahbazyan

    Gerald Meerschaert came from behind to submit Edmen Shahbazyan with an arm triangle in the second round.

    Michael Morales def. Neil Magny 

    In this welterweight bout, Michael Morales got it done with a TKO of Neil Magny in the first round.

    Mairon Santos def. Kaan Ofli

    Mairon Santos earned a UFC contract after finishing Kaan Ofli in the TUF 32 featherweight finale.

    Robert Valentin def. Ryan Loder

    Robert Valentin earned a spot in the UFC after stopping Ryan Loder in the TUF 32 middleweight finale.

    Tabatha Ricci def. Angela Hill

    In the co-main event, Tabatha Ricci earned a unanimous decision win against Angela Hill.

    Caio Borralho def. Jared Cannonier

    In the main event, Caio Borralho earned a unanimous decision against Jared Cannonier.

  • ‘Ricci & Hill Did Not Skip Cardio Day’ – MMA Fans React To Barnburner In UFC Fight Night Co-Main Event

    ‘Ricci & Hill Did Not Skip Cardio Day’ – MMA Fans React To Barnburner In UFC Fight Night Co-Main Event

    Tabatha Ricci and Angela Hill delivered an intense and high-action co-main event at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    Ricci looked to bring the pressure to Hill right away in the first, as the two traded throughout the course of the opening round. That led to plenty of trading over the course of the fight’s 15 minutes.

    The high pace saw “Baby Shark” control the action in the first frame, but the second presented a much closer story. Ricci again looked to take charge and bring pressure in the pocket. Her American counterpart, however, looked to answer her attacks with counters and seemed to land the cleaner shots. The Brazilian did manage to score a takedown during the stanza.

    Hill managed to put up a strong third round to try to solidify things in her favor. However, all three judges ultimately gave the nod to Ricci with scores of 29-28.

    Tabatha Ricci Scores Decision Win In Closely Contested, Striking-Filled Battle With Angela Hill

    https://twitter.com/RichardAMann/status/1827566006954324398
    https://twitter.com/CharlieQuinnMMA/status/1827564787309441407

    Ricci has now won back-to-back bouts and has emerged victorious from six of her last seven. She is now most likely guaranteed a spot in the top 10 of the UFC’s strawweight rankings.

    Hill, meanwhile, is now 2-2 in her last four fights.

  • VIDEO: Mairon Santos Folds Opponent With Brutal Left Hook To Win TUF 32 Featherweight Tournament

    VIDEO: Mairon Santos Folds Opponent With Brutal Left Hook To Win TUF 32 Featherweight Tournament

    Mairon Santos introduced himself to the UFC in style, scoring a highlight knockout of Kaan Ofli to claim the crown for the featherweight portion of The Ultimate Fighter season 32.

    Santos got the better of his Team Grasso teammate during the opening round at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, scoring better with his strikes.

    Then, in the second round, Santos landed a right-left combination that faceplanted Ofli. A few follow-up shots later and the referee stepped in to give the tournament championship to Santos.

    Mairon Santos Puts On Striking Display, Lands Brutal KO To Claim TUF 32 Featherweight Title

    Santos entered this season as one of the most experienced featherweights, coming in with a 13-1 record and having recently fought in the LFA. His only MMA loss heading into the season came at the hands of another TUF alumnus in Dan Argueta.

    Santos defeated Edwin Cooper Jr. and Guillermo Torres to advance to the finals.

    On the other side, Ofli, the former HEX Series featherweight champion, defeated Nathan Fletcher and Roedie Roets to advance to tonight’s fight.

    The Ultimate Fighter season 32 was coached by UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko ahead of their trilogy fight at UFC 306 on September 14.

  • ‘Did What Garry Couldn’t’ – Fans React As Michael Morales Drops Neil Magny With Spinning Elbow, Stays Undefeated With Relentless Ground & Pound

    ‘Did What Garry Couldn’t’ – Fans React As Michael Morales Drops Neil Magny With Spinning Elbow, Stays Undefeated With Relentless Ground & Pound

    Michael Morales continues to be on the rise in the UFC’s welterweight division. And with a finish of Neil Magny now on his record, it will be interesting to see if this nabs the Ecuadorian a spot in the rankings at 170 pounds.

    The still-unbeaten Morales put on a brutal and dominant performance with his striking at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, particularly with a spinning elbow that landed and knocked Magny down with about 100 seconds left in the first round.

    Morales subsequently made his way on top of Magny, landing strong ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in for the first-round TKO.

    Michael Morales Puts Beating On Neil Magny To Remain Undefeated At UFC Fight Night

    After a win over Nikolay Veretennikov on Dana White’s Contender Series, Morales is now 5-0 in the Octagon, scoring finishes of Trevin Giles and Adam Fugitt in addition to decisions over Max Griffin and Jake Matthews.

    Magny, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last five fights. This is “The Haitian Sensation’s” first time being knocked out since a loss to Santiago Ponzinibbio in November 2018.

  • Gerald Meerschaert Surpasses Anderson Silva Record With Incredible Comeback Submission Of Edmen Shahbazyan At UFC Fight Night

    Gerald Meerschaert Surpasses Anderson Silva Record With Incredible Comeback Submission Of Edmen Shahbazyan At UFC Fight Night

    There is a new record holder for most finishes in UFC middleweight history, and his name is Gerald Meerschaert.

    Meerschaert’s history-making performance came in comeback fashion on top of that, going from nearly getting finished by Edmen Shahbazyan to scoring a second-round submission in the opening bout of the UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho main card.

    The veteran 185lber was in trouble early in the sophomore stanza when Shahbazyan dropped him with a body shot. “The Golden Boy” got right to work with fast-paced ground-and-pound, looking to finish Meerschaert off as “GM3” covered up and looked to move away.

    Fortunately for the 36-year-old, a lot of the punches from Shahbazyan went off the arms, allowing Meerschaert to stay in the fight.

    The once highly touted prospect stayed on the ground as he stopped his attack, which also played right into Meerschaert’s favor. The grappling specialist was able to make his way into an arm-triangle and score the submission.

    Gerald Meerschaert Sets New Record For Most Finishes In UFC Middleweight Division History

    The tap-out was Meerschaert’s 12th finish in the UFC middleweight division, his 11th via submission.

    The longtime divisional mainstay now moves to 37-17 in his career and has won two straight and three of his last five fights.

    Shahbazyan, meanwhile, is now 2-2 in his last four following a three-fight losing skid. He has not strung together consecutive wins since 2019.

  • VIDEO: Debutant Wang Cong Kicks Off UFC Fight Night With Devastating One-Punch Knockout

    VIDEO: Debutant Wang Cong Kicks Off UFC Fight Night With Devastating One-Punch Knockout

    Wang Cong brought a vicious beginning to UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho, as well as her Octagon career, thanks to a brutal knockout to claim victory in just 62 seconds in the card’s opening bout.

    With the win, Cong set the second-fastest knockout in UFC women’s flyweight history.

    The Chinese fighter connected with a solid one-two, which saw a right cross connect on the button and drop opponent Victoria Leonardo in vicious fashion.

    Wang Cong Drops Victoria Leonardo In Just One Minute With Strong Right Hand

    This was Wang’s first win since defeating Paula Luna on Road to UFC this past May.

    She made her professional MMA debut in 2022, competing for promotions such as UAE Warriors and Kunlun Fighting World Championship while going 4-0 with two finishes.

    Leonardo, meanwhile, has now lost four of five since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020.

    Saturday’s event will be headlined by a crucial middleweight contest between former title challenger Jared Cannonier and the fast-charging Caio Borralho. Elsewhere, the likes of Neil Magny and Angela Hill will make the walk to the Octagon.

  • Late Medical Issue Leaves UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho One Bout Down

    Late Medical Issue Leaves UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho One Bout Down

    An Apex card that was already questionable in the minds of some fans received a hit just as the broadcast of UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho started.

    The broadcast opened with the commentary team announcing that the preliminary card bout between two TUF 32 participants, Zygimantas Ramaska and Nathan Fletcher, was scrapped due to a medical issue for Fletcher. According to UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald, the cancellation came just minutes before the card was scheduled to begin.

    This knocked the lineup down to five preliminary card fights and five main card bouts.

    Zygimantas Ramaska vs. Nathan Fletcher Canceled Due To Medical Issue Minutes Before UFC Fight Night Begins

    Both men competed on season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, which was coached by UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Alexa Grasso and former champion and upcoming challenger Valentina Shevchenko.

    Ramaska defeated Bekhzod Usmonov in the opening round of the featherweight tournament in a fight considered one of the best of the season. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission did not medically clear him on late notice to move on to the semifinals.

    Fletcher, meanwhile, was defeated by Kaan Ofli in the opening round, and any potential plans for him to replace Ramaska in the tournament were dashed the week prior when it was discovered he had a broken fibula.

    Ofli and Mairon Santos compete later tonight in the featherweight final of the show, while Ryan Loder and Robert Valentin compete in the middleweight finale.

  • Alex Pereira Defends UFC Against Backlash To Khalil Rountree Title Shot: ‘The Way Ankalaev Has Been Acting…’

    Alex Pereira Defends UFC Against Backlash To Khalil Rountree Title Shot: ‘The Way Ankalaev Has Been Acting…’

    Alex Pereira has taken to playing defense on behalf of the UFC following the announcement of his next title defense.

    In the days prior to UFC 305, UFC CEO Dana White officially announced UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, with Alex Pereira defending his UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event against Khalil Rountree.

    The UFC was met with backlash over the selection of Rountree as the title challenger. “The War Horse” has won five straight and has Performance of the Night bonuses in three of his last four wins. Rountree, however, is only ranked #8, coming off back-to-back finishes of Chris Daukaus and Anthony Smith.

    Many were instead clamoring and believing that the next challenger would be Magomed Ankalaev, who will instead face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 later that month. The Russian, ranked #2 at light heavyweight, is coming off a huge knockout of Johnny Walker from the start of 2024.

    The decision to pick Rountree over Ankalaev has left many feeling that the UFC and CEO Dana White still hold a grudge against him for the UFC 282 light heavyweight title fight with Jan Błachowicz that ended in a draw. That was despite many feeling Ankalaev deserved the nod that night.

    In a new YouTube video, however, Pereira claimed that while he also hoped for a fight with Ankalaev, the Dagestani does not want to fight him.

    “I always wanted to fight against Ankalaev,” Pereira said via translation. “I threw that to the organization, left it very clear, but Ankalaev didn’t want to fight against me. I don’t know the reason — if it was the location, if he just didn’t want to.

    “He isn’t the champion; he can’t pick anything. I think it’s the opportunity that shows up; he didn’t want it. He has his reasoning. I don’t know what it is,” Pereira continued. “Came to tell you guys, I’m not scared of anyone, and everyone knows my history.

    Alex Pereira Claims Magomed Ankalaev Refused To Fight Him, Promises Striking War With Khalil Rountree

    Pereira added that the way Ankalaev is acting, in his mind, could result in him not taking the fight with Rakić seriously and costing himself an eventual title shot.

    “Ankalaev is talking about Jiří (Procházka), saying he is a false fighter, that he isn’t good since he lost two times to me. Everyone knows my story, seen my fights, not just UFC but also in (GLORY) Kickboxing, what I did to my opponents. He is taking these two fights to talk bad about the guy. I think Ankalaev has to be very careful with Rakić. The way Ankalaev has been acting his last fights, no one likes it. Fight was a tie, everyone saw it.

    “I think he should watch out for Rakić. He is talking a lot about me, he is going to knock me out and all that. It’s what he says, but at the time, we’ll see if that’s what it is. But I think he should watch out with this fight. (It’s a) very dangerous fight for him; maintain focus on this fight because he is getting a tough opponent.”

    Pereira added that despite Rountree’s ranking, the UFC thinks it’s the best matchup stylistically and that he is confident they will put on an entertaining performance.

    Pereira, furthermore, pointed out his own meteoric rise to the top of the UFC as reason people should not count Rountree out.

    “I think he is a guy showing work,” Pereira said. “It is going to be a good fight for us both. We both like to strike. Not just good for us, but for who is watching. Like I said, I thought it was going to be Ankalaev, but I think the organization sees it as a guy who will give a good fight. They are doing all this for you guys, to please you guys. Same way how I wasn’t ranked. Things happen very fast; look at what you guys get whenever I fight.

    “So I think they are thinking the same thing for Khalil, giving him this opportunity. Ranking doesn’t matter. What matters is the work he has been doing, giving a show. I think it will be a good fight.”

  • Muhammad Mokaev Signs With New Promotion Following UFC Departure

    Muhammad Mokaev Signs With New Promotion Following UFC Departure

    Muhammad Mokaev finally has a new home after his public departure from the UFC last month. “The Punisher” has signed with Brave CF, where he previously competed prior to the UFC.

    Mokaev’s signing was first reported by the BBC before the promotion put out a press release announcing his signing.

    In a statement in the release, Brave CF president Mohammad Shahid said Mokaev and his talents were welcome with open arms, and he appeared to accuse other promoters, including UFC CEO Dana White, of trying to defame the Dagestan-born Brit’s character.

    “There has been an unjust persecution of his character and attempts to use defamation to feed personal vendettas, and is evidently clear that there are no clear reasons as to why the best athlete in the world cannot compete,” Shahid stated. “This is not what the sport is all about, and for BRAVE CF to have him back is fantastic, and he now can become a voice for all these challenges. Not only that, his return solidifies our ethos to have the best fight the best irrespective of any other variable, be it of creed, sex, color or marketability.

    “We would like to welcome back Muhammad Mokaev, an undefeated superstar, who is an amateur legend, with two IMMAF world titles, and someone who has proven to be the best flyweight in the world, with no losses to his amateur or professional record. This is a very exciting time for Brave CF.”

    Muhammad Mokaev Signs With Brave CF Following UFC Departure

    Mokaev made his professional MMA debut with Brave CF in 2020, scoring a decision win over Glenn McVeigh at Brave CF 37. Five of the seven fights Mokaev had prior to signing with the UFC were in the organization, with “The Punisher” going 4-0 (1 NC).

    Mokaev later went 7-0 in the UFC and was a top flyweight contender. However, he was not re-signed by the promotion, with White criticizing Mokaev in a UFC 304 post-fight press conference for “so much bad s*** that happened behind the scenes.”

    That card saw Mokaev defeat Manel Kape in a lackluster outing after a fight week that included multiple confrontations between the pair, including one where Mokaev sucker-punched “Starboy.”

    PFL’s Ray Sefo later added that he had heard Mokaev was a “pain in the ass” and the promotion was not interested in him.

  • 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Brendan Loughnane Outlasts Kai Kamaka III

    The 2024 PFL Playoffs continued on Friday night with the last of three semifinal events in the postseason, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

    The Professional Fighters League was back this week, with the championship finals at featherweight and welterweight decided at The Anthem in Washington D.C.

    In the 145-pound main event, 2022 PFL kingpin Brendan Loughnane returned for the next step in his pursuit of a second title. To reach another final, the Brit got the better of ex-UFC fighter Kai Kamaka III across three rounds.

    He’ll now go on to face Timur Khizriev with $1 million prize money and this year’s featherweight championship on the line after the Russian outlasted Gabriel Braga in the other semifinal

    The welterweight bracket, meanwhile, saw Magomed Umalatov make good on his favorite status by defeating Neiman Gracie in the PFL 9 co-main event. That result ensured an always likely all-Russian final, with his compatriot Shamil Musaev beating another Russian in Murad Ramazanov in their immediate rematch.

    With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights!

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Brendan Loughnane def. Kai Kamaka III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
    • Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Magomed Umalatov def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight Semifinal: Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev def. Murad Ramazanov via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Welterweight: Mukhamed Berkhamov def. Ray Cooper III via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Enrique Barzola def. Tyler Diamond via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight Jose Perez def. Jesse Stirn via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Kent Mafileo via KO (punch): R2, 4:50
    • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperança def. Tyler Hill via TKO (punches): R1, 3:31

    Shido Boris Esperança Def. Tyler Hill

    Maxwell Djantou Nana Def. Kent Mafileo

    Jose Perez Def. Jesse Stirn

    Enrique Barzola Def. Tyler Diamond

    Mukhamed Berkhamov Def. Ray Cooper III

    Shamil Musaev Def. Murad Ramazanov

    Timur Khizriev Def. Gabriel Braga

    Magomed Umalatov Def. Neiman Gracie

    Brendan Loughnane Def. Kai Kamaka III

  • Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Alex Pereira will return at UFC 307 to defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Khalil Rountree. A couple of weeks later, no. 2 ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev will fight no. 5 ranked Aleksandar Rakić in a potential title eliminator.

    The announcement has left fans divided with many complaining about the no. 8 ranked fighter getting a title shot. Top UFC light heavyweight contenders like Jamahal Hill and Jan Błachowicz have questioned the matchmaking process as well.

    On the flip side, admirers of Rountree’s explosive striking are expecting him to put on a great performance against Pereira. Here’s how Daniel Cormier looks at the UFC 307 main event and why he thinks it’s the right move by the UFC…

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Wouldn’t Put Alex Pereira Against Magomed Ankalaev Despite Him Being The Obvious Choice

    Cormier and Ben Askren discussed Pereira vs. Rountree on the former’s official YouTube channel recently. While Askren seemed perplexed by how “The War Horse” is fighting for the title, Cormier understood the decision because of Pereira’s growing stardom.

    “Ankalaev seems so obvious a choice but not really the choice because I wouldn’t put him in there with Alex right now. Like honestly, Alex Pereira is actually selling pay-per-views and he’s making money for you as a company. I don’t know if Ankalaev can do that right now.”

    By frequently fighting in major events like UFC 300, UFC 303, and now, UFC 307, “Poatan” has quickly amassed millions of fans. However, as per DC, he’s yet to be as big a star as Conor McGregor.

    The former UFC champ further explained that McGregor’s unprecedented stardom helped his opponents make a name for themselves by beating him. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier are fine examples of the same.

    “If you beat Conor McGregor, you become a pay-per-view attraction. If you beat certain guys, you kind of take their shine and you become that attraction. I don’t know if you beat Pereira, you become that attraction. I don’t know, I think he is the attraction. I don’t know, just by beating him, if he’s the big enough star yet to elevate the next guy to the point that they’re selling a whole bunch of paper.:

    Cormier believes that Pereira is yet to reach McGregor’s levels of popularity where he generates new stars, even while losing. As a result, the UFC would want to give “Poatan” favorable matchups and make him the center of attention for as long as possible. At the moment, the promotion won’t risk ending the reign of its biggest star in recent times.

    Read also: Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

  • PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’

    PFL Star Touted For Ronda Rousey-esque Growth: ‘She Knows Exactly When To Switch Off The Savage & Become The Sweetheart…’

    Ronda Rousey will always be a massive part of the history of MMA and whilst she was a pioneer in many ways, no female fighter has been able to reach that same level of star power.

    There have been many athletes that come along with elements of star potential but the PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva appears to have everything.

    It was clear that she had a special quality about her when talking to the media but of course, none of that matters if you can’t back it up in the cage.

    Despite detractors regarding her quality of opponents, Ditcheva has beaten everyone that the PFL has put in front of her to go from winning the PFL Europe tournament last year to advancing to the finals of the regular season this year, where she will take on former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in a must-see bout.

    Sean O’Connell Says Dakota Ditcheva Has Everything She Needs To Be A Huge Star

    Ditcheva appeared on stage moments before the press conference for Francis Ngannou’s PFL debut, where she was joined by Jake Paul who compared her to Rousey.

    PFL commentator Sean O’Connell believes that whilst she might be doing it in a different way, he can understand the comparisons between the former face of women’s MMA and one of the most exciting contenders around right now.

    He spoke in an interview with TalkSPORT about how Ditcheva has the world at her feet because she ticks every box to become a huge star.

    “She has the potential to be a superstar but not for the same reasons as Ronda Rousey. Ronda was the pioneer, Ronda was the one that broke the barrier and got women into the UFC and unfortunately, that’s a milestone that can never be reached again even for someone with the star caliber of Dakota Ditcheva. You could make the argument that it’s going to be harder for Dakota to reach those heights of celebrity but she absolutely is capable of it.

    “First of all, because of how incredible she is as a fighter but also she understands the media game, right. She knows exactly when to switch off that savage and become the sweetheart again. She’s got the look, she’s got the charisma and when you have that plus the ability to knock women out like she does, the sky is the limit.”

    Read also: 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Results & Highlights (7 PM ET)

  • St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Du Plessis Breaking ‘Old School’ BJJ Principles Led To UFC 305 Win

    St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Du Plessis Breaking ‘Old School’ BJJ Principles Led To UFC 305 Win

    Dricus Du Plessis retained the middleweight title at UFC 305 by submitting Israel Adesanya in the fourth round.

    Considering the styles of both fighters, it’s not necessarily surprising to see the champion get the victory in this fashion but the result doesn’t tell the full story.

    “Stillknocks” was able to get the tap by hurting Adesanya on the feet, jumping on his back and quickly locking in the choke which his opponent admitted was caused by a simple mistake that he made in defending it.

    Du Plessis has always been a very effective finisher with 20 of his 22 pro wins ending inside the distance but what impressed one of the top minds in the sport was how he circumnavigates a basic rule of Jiu-Jitsu to threaten with submissions.

    Firas Zahabi Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Ignores Jiu-Jitsu Fundamentals When Finishing Fights

    Firas Zahabi gave his thoughts on the main event during a recent YouTube video on the Tristar Gym channel where he pointed out an interesting element of Du Plessis’ game which may have been overlooked.

    The head coach of Georges St-Pierre referenced how one of the first things you’re taught in Jiu-Jitsu is that you go position over submission.

    Especially in MMA where strikes are involved, going for an attack and losing your position as a result can be incredibly costly, but the middleweight champion ignores this altogether.

    Rather than looking to control Adesanya first, he went right for the choke which caught his opponent off guard and gave him insufficient time to regain his bearings.

    Zahabi highlighted this after seeing the South African champ pull off his first title defense.

    “He choked him and I realized something about Du Plessis. When Du Plessis gets somebody down, he jumps immediately on the choke, he doesn’t solidify position you know and in Jiu-Jitsu, we’re always taught, the old school mentality was like position, position, position, and then submission. It was like always burnt into our minds. You take the guy down, you stabilize him, you stabilize him, you stabilize him and then you submit him. Well Du Plessis doesn’t do that, he flies in the face of everything everybody ever told us.”

    Read also: Jared Cannonier Dismisses Caio Borralho’s Grappling Superiority Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Main Event: ‘I Fought Glover Teixeira!’

  • Sean O’Malley Feels Defeating Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov Would Be All-Time Career Highlight: ‘It Would Be Hard To Top That…’

    Sean O’Malley Feels Defeating Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov Would Be All-Time Career Highlight: ‘It Would Be Hard To Top That…’

    Should Sean O’Malley successfully defend his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, another big fight awaits the champion.

    Umar Nurmagomedov will look to become the second fighter in his family to win UFC gold following his win over Cory Sandhagen.

    Alongside the fact that it’s a great clash of styles, this fight is huge because of Umar’s family bond with the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    The former UFC lightweight champion is sure to be in his corner for that fight and that’s something that adds extra incentive for “Suga”.

    Getting the chance to test himself against one of the best minds in the sport makes this one even more significant for his legacy.

    Sean O’Malley Says Even Two-Weight Success Would Struggle To Top Going Up Against Umar & Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Having Khabib in the mix with his cousin is going to make the fight feel bigger and that suits O’Malley well if it does end up happening.

    Since retiring from MMA with his undefeated record intact, “The Eagle” has earned a phenomenal reputation as a coach and cornerman.

    In many ways, he stepped into the role that was left behind after his father, Abdulmanap, passed away.

    O’Malley spoke in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA about how getting the chance to go up against this Nurmagomedov family team would be a career-high moment for him.

    “I never really thought about it but just kind of off the top of my head right now if I think about it, that would be cool. Khabib’s a legend, 29-0 and very disciplined, serious guy which would make it even more fun.

    “It’d be hard to top that, like I guess beating Ilia or Max after that, like there’s guys you could top that with but it’d be hard to get too excited for. I don’t know, I’m thinking out loud right now. It would be cool.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

  • Dan Hardy Highlights Difficulty For Francis Ngannou In Renan Ferreira Fight: ‘I Might Wrestle But Then I’ve Got Five Rounds…’

    Dan Hardy Highlights Difficulty For Francis Ngannou In Renan Ferreira Fight: ‘I Might Wrestle But Then I’ve Got Five Rounds…’

    Francis Ngannou is set to make his return to MMA on October 19 where his PFL debut comes with some big unknowns.

    Earlier this year, in his second venture into pro boxing, he was stopped for the first time in his career by Anthony Joshua.

    It was a devastating finish after being dropped several times in the early stages of the fight and we don’t know how Ngannou will bounce back from such a tough loss.

    In Renan Ferreira, he meets a fellow super-athlete who has proven his ability to connect with massive power at an unmatched range.

    We have seen Ngannou use his grappling to secure the win when he defeated fellow-striker Ciryl Gane but will this be the same version that we see in Riyadh later this year?

    Dan Hardy Breaks Down What Version Of Francis Ngannou We Will See On His Return

    If there’s one area that is a weakness on Ferreira’s side, it’s his wrestling ability which has been an issue for him during his PFL career.

    PFL commentator and analyst Dan Hardy isn’t convinced that even with this in mind, we will see Ngannou lace up his wrestling shoes because it’s not his usual game.

    He spoke in an interview with talkSPORT shortly after the first meeting between Ngannou and Ferreira about how coming in with a grappling approach may not be the best idea for “The Predator”.

    “It certainly could, especially the psychology around it right. Especially that first round where I mean, it’s not like he’s stepping back in against another heavyweight, like this guy is a legit phenom. He’s a freak, he’s tall, he’s fast, he can do backflips off of one leg, it’s ridiculous. So then you’ve got to think, if I’m Francis Ngannou and I’m standing across from this guy, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, I might wrestle but then I’ve got five rounds. If I start to slow down over five rounds, this guy could beat me up with a jab from a distance.’

    “So for me, the confident but reckless Ngannou is the real danger on the feet in this one and we might see him go back to his wrestling again but ultimately, I think that the work that Ferreira has done at ATT [American top Team] has really shored up his wrestling and his grappling so even that’s not a foregone conclusion. I think we’re going to get a striking extravaganza and really, honestly, it’s the first one to land clean.”

    Read also: 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Results & Highlights (7 PM ET)

  • UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest pay-per-view Down Under at the RAC Arena in Perth this past weekend, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back on home soil to put on another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a crucial clash of top contenders in the middleweight division, with former title challenger Jared Cannonier and the fast-rising Caio Borralho both looking to put themselves in a strong position within the title picture.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Angela Hill, Neil Magny, and Edmen Shahbazyan will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon, while this year’s TUF finales also go down inside the Apex.

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Borralho takes place on Saturday, August 24, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 7 p.m. ET/4p.m. PT.

    See above for a live stream of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Main Event: Jared Cannonier (184lbs) vs. Caio Borralho (186lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight Co-Main Event: Angela Hill (115.5lbs) vs. Tabatha Ricci (115lbs)
    • Middleweight (TUF 32 Finale): Robert Valentin (185lbs) vs. Ryan Loder (186lbs)
    • Featherweight (TUF 32 Finale): Kaan Ofli (145lbs) vs. Mairon Santos (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Neil Magny (170lbs) vs. Michael Morales (171lbs)
    • Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (184.5lbs) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Dennis Buzukja (155.5lbs) vs. Francis Marshall (156lbs)
    • Middleweight: Zachary Reese (184.5lbs) vs. Jose Medina (186lbs)
    • Lightweight: Viacheslav Borshchev (155.5lbs) vs. James Llontop (154.5lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135lbs) vs. Josiane Nunes (136lbs)
    • Featherweight: Zygimantas Ramaska (146lbs) vs. Nathan Fletcher (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Wang Cong (125lbs) vs. Victoria Leonardo (125lbs)
  • ‘Cain Looks Like He Was Holding Back Tears’ – MMA Fans React To Khabib Nurmagomedov Reminiscing With Cain Velasquez

    ‘Cain Looks Like He Was Holding Back Tears’ – MMA Fans React To Khabib Nurmagomedov Reminiscing With Cain Velasquez

    In a recent video posted on Instagram by AKA head coach Javier Mendez, two of the gym’s greatest fighters shared a touching moment.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov may have defined this stable for many years but before him, there was heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez flying the AKA flag alongside Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier.

    Velasquez competed in one of the biggest fights in the history of the gym when he faced Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 and brought the heavyweight title back with him.

    In the video, Nurmagomedov is watching the fight on his phone whilst stood next to his former teammate, speaking about the impact this fight had on him, recalling how he watched it hundreds of times.

    It’s a warm exchange as “The Eagle” gives deserved props to one of the heavyweight division’s greatest fighters.

    MMA Fans React To Khabib Nurmagomedov Taking A Second To Recognise Cain Velasquez

    The fans reacted on social media to Nurmagomedov celebrating one of the biggest nights in the history of AKA.

    Velasquez will always be a legend of the sport but what he did that night against Lesnar put him into a whole new level of recognition and in turn, this brought a lot of credibility to AKA, where Nurmagomedov would go on to spend his years.

    “Cain look like he was holding back tears”

    “Feels so good to watch khabib fanboying”

    “My goat knows how to respect your elders esp when they’re going through tuff times”

    “Khabib has respect for him, he was a champion before Khabib was and treated him like family and He still remembers that”

    “Team AKA produced the best UFC champions out of every camp in the USA.”

    https://twitter.com/KhabibsRightEar/status/1826789276933091668

    “Guys like Khabib are the best kind of people to have in your corner”

    “Perfect time to go rewatch that fight.”

    Read also: Battle Of The Giants: Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights & Faceoff

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Points Out Weakness In Dricus Du Plessis Ahead Of Potential Rematch: ‘If The Wrestling Does Happen…’

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Points Out Weakness In Dricus Du Plessis Ahead Of Potential Rematch: ‘If The Wrestling Does Happen…’

    Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick has already spoken about how a rematch with Dricus Du Plessis won’t need big changes from them.

    Their first encounter at UFC 297 where Du Plessis came away with a split decision to become the middleweight champion, was a closely contested affair over five rounds.

    Making small adjustments before running it back will be key because, as we saw in the first fight, there isn’t much to separate these two.

    The fight was predominantly a striking exchange between them but the occasional takedown attempts from Du Plessis opened up some moments that they could capitalize on in the rematch, in Nicksick’s opinion.

    Eric Nicksick Says Sean Strickland Can Use Transitional Grappling Against Dricus Du Plessis

    Nicksick knows better than to expect his fighter to go out there in a title fight and start shooting for takedowns.

    Strickland’s style is very set in its ways and we saw that when he faced elite strikers in Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, and didn’t once try to take the fight to the ground.

    Where Nicksick feels they can have success after watching the first fight play out is in the transitions after Du Plessis attempts takedowns.

    The Xtreme Couture head coach was able to take lessons from UFC 297 and the time he cornered Brad Tavares against “Stillknocks”, to find this one area.

    “The one thing I will bring up that I feel like Sean doesn’t give himself enough credit for – so when Dricus took Sean down, there was some transitional grappling, things that I want to see Sean implement a little bit more. Sean never was really held down, we were never like taken down and laid on our back but there, Sean’s really good at hitting the switch and Sean’s really good at counterbalancing and taking the back to where I think Sean could implement a little ground and pound and top pressure himself.

    “Anecdotally looking back at what Brad did, when Brad fought Dricus, Brad got on top and Brad rode Dricus all the first round so I think Dricus is a very good topside grappler, I don’t think he’s that great off his back so I’m not saying we need to go and initiate the wrestling but if the wrestling does happen, I think Sean can reverse those positions and get on top and create some havoc up there.”

    Read also: Jared Cannonier Dismisses Caio Borralho’s Grappling Superiority Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Main Event: ‘I Fought Glover Teixeira!’

  • Jared Cannonier Dismisses Caio Borralho’s Grappling Superiority Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Main Event: ‘I Fought Glover Teixeira!’

    Jared Cannonier Dismisses Caio Borralho’s Grappling Superiority Ahead Of UFC Fight Night Main Event: ‘I Fought Glover Teixeira!’

    Jared Cannonier looks to return to the win column this weekend by turning back a UFC middleweight contender on the rise.

    Caio Borralho has won six in a row to find himself in this position, but in Cannonier, he faces by far his toughest test to date.

    Despite what fans saw from him last time out at UFC 301, where he stopped Paul Craig in devastating fashion, the Brazilian is better known for his grappling skills.

    Given the high-level opposition that he has faced during his time competing at both middleweight and several other weight classes in the UFC, this isn’t something that is going to faze “The Killa Gorilla.”

    Jared Cannonier Doesn’t Understand Why People Underestimate His Grappling

    In a recent interview with MMA Junkie ahead of this weekend’s middleweight main event, Cannonier was asked whether, in his mind, this fight boils down to if he can stop Borralho from having success with his takedowns.

    The 185-pound stalwart doesn’t have this point of view and isn’t afraid to let his opponent test his grappling if that’s the way things end up going. He believes that his ground game is slept on by the rest of the division, potentially because you very rarely see opponents try to take him down.

    “If he ends up on the bottom, it’s not going to be too good for him down there either, so I got all the confidence in my ground game,” Cannonier said. “I don’t know why people think my ground game isn’t good. I haven’t been submitted in the UFC, I haven’t been submitted in my career.

    “When I was green, I fought Glover Teixeira. I spent a lot of time underneath him and didn’t get tapped, and I was green as far as my grappling goes back then,” Cannonier continued. “I’m much better now. I’m attacking you guys. If you guys think you want to take me down, you’re more than welcome to try.”

    Cannonier believes Borralho and the rest of the middleweight division could be in for a shock if the ground is where they think his weakness is.

  • Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s common knowledge in MMA circles that Francis Ngannou and Dana White have a rocky relationship. After being the UFC’s biggest heavyweight superstar for quite some time, Ngannou left due to contract-related conflicts, and White has never been happy about it.

    Since Ngannou’s departure, White has frequently taken jabs at the former UFC heavyweight champ. The UFC President has blamed him for not fighting Jon Jones and has discredited his boxing career as well.

    In the press conference for his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou finally fired back at White’s latest comments…

    Francis Ngannou Reveals Why Jon Jones Fight Didn’t Happen Despite His Request

    While talking to journalists at the PFL press conference, Ngannou flipped the script and claimed that Jones didn’t want to fight him in the UFC. He allegedly requested the fight multiple times but was told that “Bones” wasn’t willing to fight as he was enjoying life in Albuquerque.

    “As far as I’m concerned, it was Jon Jones didn’t want to fight for me, according to them. And so many time that we sit down on the meeting, I’m like, oh it can’t happen Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore. You know, like he live in Albuquerque. He live his small life. He has a lot of money in his bank account, you know. So, I think, the guy who control the narrative can say whatever he wants but that’s just the narrative. I never, I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight but I didn’t want that like a trap, to get into some deal and get to something I didn’t want.”

    As per “The Predator”, another reason why the Jones fight couldn’t happen was his contract. He was down to fight the UFC light heavyweight GOAT but wanted a contract that benefited him in ways other than just money. This included the freedom to box, in-cage sponsorships, and health insurance, among other things.

    Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC fell apart when both parties couldn’t negotiate a contract that fulfilled the former’s demands. Instead, the UFC heavyweight champ left the promotion and signed with the PFL.

  • Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

    Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

    Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili at Riyadh Season Noche UFC in the Las Vegas Sphere on September 14, 2024. The event will celebrate Mexican Independence Day and UFC CEO Dana White has promised unprecedented production quality.

    With a spectacular win at The Sphere, O’Malley can significantly boost his popularity in MMA circles and draw new fans. However, his opponent has won ten consecutive fights in the UFC with relentless pressure and dominant wrestling.

    Amidst the gradually increasing hype for his next fight, “Suga” revealed his mixed feelings about headlining a massive card like UFC 306…

    Sean O’Malley Expects The UFC To Promote His Fight, Not Just The Sphere In The Lead-Up To UFC 306

    O’Malley talked about the opportunity to headline a card as massive as UFC 306 on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast recently. With UFC 305 done and dusted, the UFC bantamweight champ acknowledges that Riyadh Season Noche UFC will soon get all the eyes.

    “I’m very excited. Now that it’s like, you know, the last fight, the pay-per-view is last weekend so now it’s, you know, it’s always the next pay-per-view, that’s being talked about so now that that fight’s over, we got The Sphere coming up.”

    “Suga” realizes his fight with Dvalishvili is the UFC 306 main event over Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway, now scheduled for UFC 308. Conor McGregor was also rumored to be added to the card. He’s naturally honored to get this chance from the UFC but expects the promotions to improve as the event approaches.

    O’Malley highlighted that the UFC has promoted The Sphere and the event’s theme more than the fighters, including him and Dvalishvili. However, he looks forward to things getting better once promotion on social media begins.

    “A little annoyed-ish about the promotion of The Sphere. The Sphere is the show. I’m the one doing interviews, not The Sphere. Let’s promote Sean vs. Merab, the Suga show. I’m the one fighting let’s go baby. But, you know, it is what it is. The Sphere is going to be f*****g legendary, it’ll be epic, it’ll be cool. But yeah I think these next few weeks are really going to, you know, things are still going to start coming out. ESPN Will start posting, UFC will Start Posting. So, it’s going to feel big soon.

    “Suga” leaves no opportunity to take sly digs at his opponents through funny skits and memes on social media platforms. He’s also fulfilling his media responsibilities as a UFC champion, which explains his aforementioned expectations from the promotion.