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  • Caio Borralho Reveals Best Way To Beat Jared Cannonier & Fight ‘Strangest Guy In the Division’ Dricus Du Plessis

    Caio Borralho Reveals Best Way To Beat Jared Cannonier & Fight ‘Strangest Guy In the Division’ Dricus Du Plessis

    Caio Borralho, who fights Jared Cannonier this weekend, has been undefeated in professional MMA since 2015. The former Future FC middleweight champ entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series and has racked up six wins in the promotion.

    After defeating the likes of Abus Magomedov and Paul Craig, Borralho will face the No. 5 ranked UFC middleweight. This is arguably his toughest test yet, as Cannonier is a veteran with explosive knockout power.

    The Brazilian prospect aims to get a title shot after his seventh straight win in the UFC. Here’s how he would like to beat Cannonier to stand alongside other top middleweight contenders like Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland…

    Caio Borralho Highlights The Importance Of Putting On A ‘Mature Performance’ Against Jared Cannonier

    Borralho discussed his next UFC fight on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me Podcast recently. Although he’s prepared for adversity, “The Natural” looks forward to controlling the fight and landing the perfect KO shot or submission.

    At middleweight, Cannonier has been a hard nut to crack for most fighters, except for Israel Adesanya and Whittaker. His last loss to Nassourdine Imavov was seen as an early stoppage by many, including Borralho.

    As a result, “The Natural” understands the significance of an impressive win over Cannonier who’s always hard to take out or dominate.

    “Bisping, I’m finishing him with an amazing performance, like a mature performance. That’s what I need to show the UFC. A mature performance against a top contender, you know. For sure, I’m looking for the KO or for submitting him but the perfect way is that I’m gonna go there, be on his face all the time, put some jabs on him, get some good defense, and then catch him with a good counter punch.”

    Borralho looked back at the two occasions he’s called out Dricus Du Plessis after winning in the UFC. Interestingly, the UFC middleweight kingpin responded to one of his callouts on X, asking him to get a couple more wins in the promotion.

    Borralho has bagged three wins in the UFC since this interaction, which explains why he wants to get inside the Octagon with Du Plessis next.

    “I’m willing to face the strangest guy in the division. And I’m willing to beat his a**. You know, that’s what I’m going to say because I’ve been calling out him two times already so I think the third time UFC gonna hear me after a great feature on Cannonier.”

  • Chael Sonnen Tells Fans To Hold Their Horses On Seeing Magomed Ankalaev As Top Light Heavyweight Contender: ‘Rakić Is That Damn Good!’

    Chael Sonnen Tells Fans To Hold Their Horses On Seeing Magomed Ankalaev As Top Light Heavyweight Contender: ‘Rakić Is That Damn Good!’

    The UFC’s light heavyweight division has been unpredictable as of late after two big matchups were put together that left some questions.

    Magomed Ankalaev has been pushing to face champion Alex Pereira for a long time now, but in order to get his second shot at the title, he will need to get past Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308.

    Meanwhile, Khalil Rountree will leapfrog both him and the majority of the top 10 to face “Poatan” at UFC 307 in an exciting clash of styles that plenty have suggested is premature.

    Many will be expecting Ankalaev to come through yet another light heavyweight contender and continue to call for his shot, but Chael Sonnen believes some may be getting carried away…

    Sonnen Warns Fans Not To Underestimate Rakić’s Chances Against Ankalaev

    During a recent YouTube video, Sonnen spoke about what appears to be a number one contenders’ clash at 205 pounds that is set for October 26.

    Not only were fans surprised to see Ankalaev not securing his date with the champion, many were puzzled by the decision to book him against Rakić. Whilst he is a top five contender in the division, he’s coming off of a loss in another title eliminator when he was stopped by Jiří Procházka at UFC 300.

    Sonnen stated that although this could be the final hurdle for Ankalaev to overcome, it can’t be overlooked how big of an opportunity this is for his opponent.

    “Ankalaev, clearly the number one contender, at least according to you guys. And you know what? I do have a little bit of a problem with that. I’s not a huge problem but I do have just a little one,” Sonnen said. “Which is Rakić is that damn good. You got to understand, Rakić did not get a world title fight — well neither did Ankalaev, but Rakić did find himself in the next best thing.

    “He’s in a number one contenders’ match. That is quite literally the next best thing that you could get to a title fight and he found himself there coming off of a loss. As a matter of fact, he found himself there coming off of a stoppage loss. As a matter of fact, finding himself in this spot actually moves him in front of the guy that he suffered the loss to in Procházka,” Sonnen continued. “I’m only telling you this because that’s how good Rakić is and a lot of people have forgot.”

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

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

    The build-up to Francis Ngannou’s long-awaited MMA comeback and PFL debut continued on Thursday, with the heavyweight powerhouse going face-to-face with opponent Renan Ferreira at the Battle of the Giants press conference.

    Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, hasn’t laced the MMA gloves since his lone successful title defense against Ciryl Gane in January 2022. He later departed the organization following a lengthy contractual dispute and found a new home, putting pen to paper on an exclusive MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League in May 2023.

    He’s yet to enter the SmartCage, however, instead using the freedom granted to him by the PFL to complete his long-discussed venture to the sport of boxing. After shocking the world with his performance against then-WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, Ngannou stayed in that realm of combat for a highly anticipated matchup with former two-time unified champ Anthony Joshua.

    A devastating knockout defeat to the Brit in Saudi Arabia this past March has put a stop to his charge in the ring for the time being, and Ngannou’s sights are instead now on the sport in which he made his name once again.

    “The Predator” will be back in the cage on October 19, making his promotional debut in the main event of a PFL Super Fight card opposite Renan Ferreira, the 2023 heavyweight champ inside the SmartCage.

    The card’s co-headliner, meanwhile, sees another major name make their return as Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg gears up for her first MMA outing in over a year. She’ll meet the PFL’s very first two-weight title winner in Larissa Pacheco this fall.

    Those four names were initially all set to appear at the Battle of the Giants press conference on August 22, held at The Anthem in Washington D.C. However, only Ngannou and Ferreira fielded questions from the media, with Pacheco also appearing briefly. It’s unknown why original plans to have Cyborg in attendance fell away.

    Check out a full stream of the presser below via the PFL’s official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs!

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Stream

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Highlights

    Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Press Conference Faceoff

  • PFL CEO Contradicts President’s Rejection Of Muhammad Mokaev: ‘He Could Absolutely Be The Future Face Of Flyweights Within PFL’

    It doesn’t appear that the PFL higher-ups are on the same page when it comes to undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev.

    Prior to the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester last month, Mokaev appeared to be in prime position to secure a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound gold. Many suggested all that was required was a victory over Manel Kape at the Co-op Live.

    After a dramatic fight week that included him sucker-punching his opponent outside a hotel, “The Punisher” had his hand raised in a three-round fight that certainly underdelivered given the pair’s apparent animosity.

    Mokaev was the subject of plenty of criticism online for his fight style, but the bad news didn’t end there for the 23-year-old, with UFC CEO Dana White surprising many by revealing the promotion wouldn’t be offering the Dagestan-born Brit a new contract.

    White cited antics behind the scenes that rubbed Hunter Campbell and the matchmakers the wrong way as the reason behind letting Mokaev go, and it initially appeared that the Professional Fighters League had been put off by that.

    Following the PFL 7 Playoffs card on August 3, company president Ray Sefo was asked whether his promotion was entertaining the idea of pursuing Mokaev’s signature.

    “I’ve spoken to people in the know and, apparently, he’s just a pain in the ass to deal with,” Sefo said. “And so, no, we’re not interested.”

    That sentiment appeared to be backed up by ex-Bellator matchmaker Mike Kogan, who was among those who crossed over to the PFL following the promotion’s acquisition of his former employer.

    Kogan refuted Mokaev’s claims that discussions had been had, insisting that nobody at the PFL had shown “even an oz of interest.”

    But one man does appear interested — the PFL CEO, no less…

    Peter Murray Sees ‘Opportunity’ With Muhammad Mokaev After UFC Exit

    Peter Murray recently spoke with Sherdog ahead of the PFL’s press conference for Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira and final playoff event at The Anthem in Washington D.C. this week.

    The promotion’s CEO discussed his desire to open up more divisions for future PFL seasons, including a flyweight class. And in terms of who could spearhead a 125-pound roster down, Murray pointed to a talent virtually branded persona non grata by his fellow PFL executives.

    “I do think the flyweight category is something we will be getting into in the future,” Murray said. “I know our guys are looking at it. You look at fighters like Muhammad Mokaev; he’s a 13-0 flyweight from Dagestan. This kid has the second-longest winning streak in UFC flyweight history. He was 23-0 as an amateur. When I look at a kid like that, that’s an opportunity.

    “Whether it’s Muhammad coming into the PFL system in one of our franchises, whether that be the global season or Bellator, and others like him, I think it’s a real opportunity — in particular with international talent in the flyweight weight class,” Murray continued. “Muhammad is the real deal; a lot of respect for him.”

    Donn Davis, you got a third answer to the Mokaev question?

    It didn’t take long for Mokaev to take notice of Murray’s positive comments, seemingly enjoying seeing Sefo’s dismissive remarks quickly contradicted.

    • Read More: Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut
  • Recently Retired UFC Vet Suggests Israel Adesanya’s Time May Be Up After UFC 305: ‘Maybe 5 Years Ago That Was An Easy Fight For Him’

    Recently Retired UFC Vet Suggests Israel Adesanya’s Time May Be Up After UFC 305: ‘Maybe 5 Years Ago That Was An Easy Fight For Him’

    Israel Adesanya was unable to recapture the UFC middleweight title at UFC 305, meaning that for the first time in his MMA career, he’s coming off of back-to-back losses.

    “The Last Stylebender” made it clear in his post-fight interview that he’s not leaving the Octagon for good just yet despite his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in Perth, Australia.

    In fact, even though he did show some weaknesses, there were a lot of positives to take away from his main event display. Up until he was hurt by a big looping shot, it appeared that he was on his way to swinging the contest his way in the fourth round.

    The big question to answer after he put in a good performance but was ultimately defeated is whether Du Plessis was simply the better man on the night, or is Adesanya not as good as he once was?

    Matt Brown Questions Whether Israel Adesanya Is On A Clear Decline

    There were certainly shades of the Adesanya that blew everyone away with his rise up the middleweight ladder and subsequent title reign.

    His accuracy and shot selection was a work of art but his defense did appear to suffer, and he took some big shots from “Stillknocks.” That eventually led to a mistake on the ground which cost him the fight.

    During the latest episode of Fighter vs. Writer on MMA Fighting, UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on this past weekend’s title clash.

    Like many, he liked what he saw from the former champion but he did address some concerns over whether at 35, things aren’t getting any easier for “The Last Stylebender.”

    “I’ve had the question, Izzy is 35, he’s got a lot of miles on him from kickboxing and MMA, is his peak just ending? Is that what happened over the weekend? Is his peak just ending? When he fought [Sean] Strickland, maybe he just had an off night, but maybe he’s slowing down too. Maybe five years ago that was an easy fight for him, and he’s just not in peak form anymore.

    “The way he looked against Dricus, I thought he looked really good, but that could have been him still slowing down a little bit. I thought his defense didn’t look as good as it had in the past, which was kind of the unique thing because he relies so much on reactions. He’s not necessarily a hands tight, high guard, really defensive guy in that sense, really technical. He kind of relies on reactions. When those start slowing down, that’s when guys like Dricus start hitting you. That’s when guys like Strickland start hitting you a lot more. If he’s slowing down a little bit, maybe his time is up?”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the career of Adesanya. In terms of the title picture, it would appear a clash of his former opponents is to come, with Du Plessis expected to run it back with former champ Sean Strickland.

  • Henry Cejudo Provides Update On UFC Return Timeline, Teases Major Career Change

    Henry Cejudo Provides Update On UFC Return Timeline, Teases Major Career Change

    Having failed to reconquer one of the divisions he previously ruled over, former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo wants a crack at the other.

    Cejudo simultaneously held both the bantamweight and flyweight titles in 2019, eventually relinquishing the latter in December 2019 and the former following his retirement post-knocking out Dominick Cruz in May 2020.

    “Triple C’s” decision to hang up his gloves was widely questioned, with many predicting an eventual comeback. That came in 2023, but his return to action hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

    Cejudo’s first fight back saw him challenge for the 135-pound throne against Aljamain Sterling. The 37-year-old fell on the wrong side of a narrow and widely debated split decision after five rounds.

    After choosing against an immediate return to retirement, Cejudo moved to 0-2 since ending his time away from the cage at UFC 298 this past February, with Merab Dvalishvili getting the better of him across three rounds.

    Still, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist remains motivated to reach a mountaintop on MMA’s biggest stage once again. Moving forward, however, he looks to be targeting a different peak…

    Cejudo Keen On Flyweight Return: ‘None Of Those Dudes Can Hang With Me’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, Cejudo provided an update on his current status, revealing that an injury is keeping him sidelined for the time being.

    “Right now, dude, I’ve been icing an injury…for quite some time,” Cejudo said. “I want to make sure that I’m 100 percent on getting back into training. It’s just allowing this injury to freakin’ heal, dude. Father Time is real, dude, I can finally admit it. It’s just little nagging things. But this particular thing, I want to make sure I don’t have to get surgery.

    “If I allow myself to be patient and take my time, allow my injury to recover, then I’m gonna be 100 percent,” Cejudo continued. “Could I fight? I could. But am I gonna do the same thing I did my last fight and fight with a torn groin? I’m not gonna do that no more. I think I’ve learned my lesson.”

    And in terms of his comeback fight, Cejudo suggested that he’s seriously considering adjusting his sights from regaining the bantamweight crown to recapturing the flyweight title.

    “Once I’m ready, there’s a lot of options, man. There could be a potential return at flyweight. These are a lot of things I’m contemplating,” Cejudo stated. “With the bantamweight division getting hot and me kind of coming in, there’s been a lot of talk of potentially me going back down, man. Getting a fight with (Brandon) Moreno and winning the belt once again.

    “I’m gonna be making a commitment to go out there and just do another run, another run at these titles,” Cejudo added. “It’s gonna be a big sacrifice on all of our parts. … I’m committed to getting back to the ‘Triple C’ again. … None of those dudes (at flyweight) can hang with me.”

    Cejudo previously teased another run at 125 pounds during last month’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event. While commenting on Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape’s rivalry and subsequent dud inside the cage, the Olympic gold medalist teased potentially ‘saving’ the division.

    Cejudo went on to note in his conversation with King that should he decide on a flyweight return and get a green light from the UFC, he plans to complete the drop down in weight correctly, taking around six months.

    With that in mind, fans can perhaps expect to be waiting a while before seeing the former ‘champ-champ’ back inside the Octagon.

  • Paddy Pimblett On Dan Hooker’s Upset Win Over Mateusz Gamrot At UFC 305: ‘Could Be A Nice Fight For Me…’

    Paddy Pimblett On Dan Hooker’s Upset Win Over Mateusz Gamrot At UFC 305: ‘Could Be A Nice Fight For Me…’

    One of the clear highlights of the UFC 305 pay-per-view this past weekend was the lightweight contest between Mateusz Gamrot and Dan Hooker.

    Given Gamrot’s position in the division and recent wins, many expected him to get this victory to take one more step closer to a title shot. However, “The Hangman” had other plans.

    He managed to win a split decision and a top five ranking spot following a great clash between them, which sent the Perth crowd crazy after witnessing the Fight of the Night bonus winner.

    One fellow lightweight contender who had his eye on this clash was Paddy Pimblett. “The Baddy” recently entered the top 15 at 155 pounds with a submission win over King Green at UFC 304.

    He gave his live reaction to the fight on his YouTube channel, where before the first bell sounded, he teed up the idea of meeting either man down the line.

    “I could end up fighting one of these couldn’t I?”

    Paddy Pimblett Agreed With Decision, Tees Up Dan Hooker Encounter In The Future

    Like many, Pimblett agreed that Gamrot was the favorite going in. He did, however, make a point of stating that Hooker shouldn’t have been such a big underdog due to the caliber of opponents he has faced.

    “The Baddy” wasn’t surprised to see “Gamer” get takedowns, but over the course of the fight, he watched as “The Hangman” kept pouring on the pressure with his forward momentum.

    The fight was a close one, which the scorecards and Pimblett’s reaction seconded. But the former Cage Warriors champion did agree that Hooker did enough to get his hand raised.

    While there may be 10 ranking spots between them, “The Baddy” would be open to testing himself against the fan favorite in the future.

    “Fight of the night so far of what I’ve watched. Let’s see the decision anyway. I reckon Hooker, lad, to be honest. 29-28 Gamrot. 29-28 Hooker, upset, Dan Hooker back in the top five,” Pimblett said. “Could be a nice fight for me in the future.”

  • Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    Ilia Topuria Reacts To Max Holloway’s BMF Title Not Being On The Line At UFC 308: ‘When I Beat Him, He Can’t Say He’s A BMF’

    While not officially up for grabs in the UFC 308 main event, Ilia Topuria still believes Max Holloway’s BMF status is at risk of disappearing.

    As has been the case for the past two calendar years, lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev was being lined up to headline the promotion’s annual pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi in October.

    But with an injury set to keep the Dagestani sidelined until the end of the year or early 2025, the main event spotlight in the Middle East this time around will go to Topuria, the reigning featherweight champion, and all-time great Holloway.

    The pair will do battle for the Georgian-Spaniard’s gold, which he won at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 this past February. “Blessed,” meanwhile, garnered support for his latest chance to regain the belt by capturing the symbolic BMF strap with an emphatic last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.

    Putting this matchup together hasn’t appeared to be easy, with both men accusing the other of delaying a booking. On Topuria’s part, he originally suggested that he’d only share the cage with Holloway if the Hawaiian’s BMF belt was also put on the line.

    That wish hasn’t been granted, but “El Matador” claims not to be bothered…

    Topuria On lack Of BMF Stakes At UFC 308: ‘I’m Just Concentrating On My Title Defense’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Topuria looked ahead to his first defense of the featherweight gold this fall.

    The champ confirmed that just his title will be up for grabs come fight night on Oct. 26. But according to Topuria, Holloway will still lose BMF status should “El Matador” deliver the kind of performance he’s expecting in the UFC 308 main event.

    “The BMF title is not going to be on the line,” Topuria said. “To be honest, I don’t care. They took that decision and, at the end of the day, it’s like, when I’m going to beat him, he can’t say he’s a BMF or however they want to call him. I’m just concentrating on my title defense and that’s it. I don’t care about anything else.”

    Topuria will have the chance to make good on his confident pre-fight predictions in close to two months’ time, when his newly started divisional rule meets about as tough a test possible from its first challenger.

  • 2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Weigh-In Results

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Weigh-In Results

    The 2024 PFL Playoffs continue this Friday with matchups from the featherweight and welterweight divisions. Before the bouts can be made official, all fighters weighed in today.

    The event will occur at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. In the main event, former PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane takes on Kai Kamaka III to determine who will advance to the finals.

    All fighters successfully weighed in except Eric Alequin, who was unable to do the weight cut for his welterweight matchup against Luca Poclit. The fight is officially canceled for tomorrow’s card.

    After missing the 2023 PFL Championships last year, Loughnane has been on a mission to become a two-time tournament winner. His last victory was an impressive TKO win due to a doctor stoppage against Justin Gonzales at PFL 6 on June 28.

    DraftKings currently has the former champion as the favorite to win on Friday. However, Kamaka III is a tough opponent to defeat. The former Bellator featherweight is on a five-fight win streak and has the ability to pull off the upset.

    Elsewhere on the card, Shamil Musaev will face Murad Ramazanov in a welterweight rematch. They fought each other at PFL 6 in a close fight until the second round. Musaev was able to get a TKO victory after landing a devasting left hook and a barrage of punches. Ramazanov faces the challenge of avenging his loss, but he did have moments of success, including getting a takedown. After their first fight, both welterweights will try to adapt and implement a game plan to move forward to the championships final.

    The PFL 9 preliminary card will kick off the event at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT on ESPN+. The main card will air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ at 10 PM ET/ 7 PM PT.

    2024 PFL 9 Playoffs: Brendan Loughnane vs. Kai Kamaka III Weigh-In Results

    (Fight Card Is Subject To Change)

    Main Card (ESPN & ESPN+):

    • Featherweight Semifinal: Brendan Loughnane (146 lbs) vs. Kai Kamaka III (145.6 lbs)
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Magomed Umalatov (170.6 lbs) vs. Neiman Gracie (170 lbs)
    • Featherweight Semifinal: Gabriel Braga (146 lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (145.8 lbs)
    • Welterweight Semifinal: Shamil Musaev (170.2 lbs) vs. Murad Ramazanov (171 lbs)

    Preliminary Card (ESPN+):

    • Welterweight: Ray Cooper III (171 lbs) vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov (170.5 lbs)
    • Featherweight: Tyler Diamond (146.6 lbs) vs. Enrique Barzola (145.4 lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jesse Stirn (145.6 lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145.3 lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana (263.8 lbs) vs. Kent Mafileo (248 lbs)
    • Welterweight: Shido Boris Esperanca (170.8 lbs) vs. Tyler Hill (171 lbs)
  • Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling doesn’t believe Dana White had an appropriate reaction to Merab Dvalishvili’s recent cut.

    Dvalishvili, who is set to challenge current 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley for the title in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 at the Sphere next month, was scolded by White this week after he posted a video online showing a facial laceration.

    The Georgian uploaded a number of videos of the cut he suffered 25 days out from his first championship opportunity, raising slight concern in the community about his status for the September 14 card.

    “The Machine” has since clarified that nothing will prevent him from making the walk to do battle with “Sugar” in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean everyone thinks the decision to publicly display the cut was smart.

    Chief among them was the UFC CEO, who slammed Dvalishvili during the press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    Those comments, however, didn’t sit well with one of Dvalishvili’s closest friends and teammates, and somebody who’s had his own fair share of back and forth with White in the past…

    Sterling Defends Teammate Dvalishvili From White’s Wrath

    When it comes to rocky relationships between fighter and higher-ups, not many have had public disagreements with the likes of White quite like Sterling.

    The now-featherweight contender has taken issue with comments regarding his desire not to fight Dvalishvili while he was bantamweight champ, as well as what he saw as pressure to accept a quick turnaround to fight O’Malley last August.

    Suffice to say, “Funk Master” has never been one to shy away from speaking out against things said by the UFC CEO. And that trend continued this week, with Sterling leaping to the defense of Dvalishvili following White’s scathing reaction to the post detailing the Georgian’s laceration in training.

    “Everyone is making a much bigger deal over ‘the little cut’, even the boss. Merab shares his stories of training camp, the good, the bad, the ugly, and ppl LOVE him for it. There’s nothing ‘stupid’ about it, period,” Sterling wrote. “He’s training, and will show up Sept 14, like he always does. Is this about betting lines?? Is it about a fight cancelation?? Respectfully, this reaction was a bit over the top IMHO.”

    Dvalishvili has since shown his return to the training room on social media, as he gears up for the chance to bring O’Malley’s reign to an end and avenge his teammate’s knockout loss to the striking specialist in Boston last year.

  • UFC Confirms Bantamweight Veteran Arrested On Kidnapping, Assault Charges Has Been Released

    UFC Confirms Bantamweight Veteran Arrested On Kidnapping, Assault Charges Has Been Released

    Longtime UFC bantamweight Casey Kenney has been released from the promotion following his arrest on kidnapping and assault charges.

    Kenney, a former LFA interim flyweight and bantamweight champion, debuted on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage with a win over Ray Borg in 2019. He went on to compete a further seven times in the Octagon, facing the likes of Merab Dvalishvili.

    The 33-year-old hasn’t competed since 2021, a year in which he suffered consecutive split decision losses to Dominick Cruz and Song Yadong.

    Three years on, that losing skid has been confirmed as the final chapter of Kenney’s UFC career, with the organization confirming to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin that the 135-pound vet has been released amid troubling allegations of domestic abuse.

    Ex-UFC Fighter Kenney Accused Of ‘Repeatedly Striking, Slapping, Biting, Headbutting, Choking’ Partner

    Kenney was arrested on Saturday, August 16, on a number of charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident.

    Per MMA Fighting, the veteran fighter was taken into custody by Phoenix Police Fugitive Apprehension Detectives and booked on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault (strangulation), and assault.

    According to Maricopa County court records, Kenny is facing six charges in total, the most serious of which is a class 2 felony for kidnapping. If convicted, the Indiana native is facing up to 12.5 years in prison.

    Reports of an incident involving Kenney first arose when the alleged victim’s mother accused the fighter of domestic violence in a post on Instagram.

    MMA Fighting’s report includes a probable cause statement obtained from Maricopa County court records, detailing some harrowing accusations being leveled against the now-former UFC fighter.

    “Between the dates of 7-21-2024 at approximately 11:00 p.m. and 7-22-24 at approximately 12:14 a.m. while at the single family residence located at [address redacted], [suspect] Casey Kenney committed kidnapping, aggravated assault by strangulation and assault against [victim] Jasmine Mendez by repeatedly striking, slapping, biting, headbutting and choking [victim] Jasmine for several hours resulting in abrasions to Jasmine’s lip and discoloration to Jasmine’s arms and petechiae to Jasmine’s neck. 

    “Furthermore, during the 13 hours at Casey Kenney’s residence, Jasmine was incapable of escaping the residence due to Casey routinely grabbing hold of Jasmine and holding her in place during her attempts while threatening to cause more physical harm. Casey Kenney advised Jasmine Mendez that if anyone shows up he will shoot them and if her mother shows up he will shoot her in the head. Jasmine Mendez stated she desires prosecution in this matter at this time.”

    Kenny has since been released from police custody. His case now has a status conference scheduled for August 22 and a preliminary hearing four days later.

  • Mateusz Gamrot Sets Sights On Next Opponent After UFC 305 Setback: ‘If The UFC Likes It…’

    While he’s still reflecting on what went wrong Down Under this past weekend, UFC lightweight Mateusz Gamrot already has a next matchup in mind.

    Gamrot emerged from the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, $50,000 better off after playing his part in the Fight of the Night. But the Polish standout failed to secure his main objectives — a fourth straight win and potential title shot next time out.

    Those plans were stalled by Dan Hooker, who has risen up the 155-pound pecking order by six places after falling on the right side of a split decision opposite Gamrot inside the RAC Arena.

    Having lost his place in the top five, “Gamer” is now out for redemption. Not for his latest defeat, though. Gamrot has another setback he wants to avenge before the year is out…

    Gamrot Targets Dariush Rematch For December.

    Speaking to Polsat Sport’s Paweł Wyrobek this week, Gamrot looked ahead to his plans to return to action for one more fight in 2024.

    And in his bid to immediately bounce back from his loss to Hooker, the #8-ranked lightweight wants the man directly above him in the rankings — and the man who first halted his charge toward gold back in 2022.

    “I think December would be good to come back,” Gamrot said. “If the UFC likes it too, I would like to fight Beneil Dariush. It would be good time to do this. I lost first fight with him, so I think it’s good time for a rematch.”

    When the interviewer suggested the winner of the upcoming Paris showdown between Benoît Saint Denis and Renato Moicano as another possible option, “Gamer” reiterated that Dariush is his firm preference.

    Gamrot and Dariush shared the cage at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. Coming off a Fight of the Night victory over current top contender Arman Tsarukyan, “Gamer” was looking to snap his veteran opponent’s lengthy losing skid to secure an opportunity at the belt.

    Dariush had different plans, dropping Gamrot at one point in the fight en route to a unanimous decision verdict. The American hasn’t had his hand raised since, falling via knockout to both Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan.

  • Ilia Topuria Confident About Knocking Max Holloway Out In The First: ‘Much Easier Than With Volkanovski’

    Ilia Topuria Confident About Knocking Max Holloway Out In The First: ‘Much Easier Than With Volkanovski’

    Ilia Topuria grabbed the UFC featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski in just his seventh fight for the promotion. He now boasts a perfect 15-0 record and will defend the belt for the first time against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2024.

    Many looked past Topuria as an overconfident prospect ahead of the Volkanovski fight because he updated his record and status as the UFC featherweight kingpin on social media beforehand. However, he knocked out the champion in the second and silenced all the doubters.

    “El Matador” is similarly sure about being the first fighter to knock out Holloway, that too in the first. He also claims “Blessed” to be an easier matchup for him than Volkanovski…

    Ilia Topuria Predicts ‘Completely Masterpiece’ Performance Against Max Holloway At UFC 308

    Topuria discussed his first title defense in an interview on the official MMA Junkie YouTube channel recently. He outright rejected fans who rank Holloway’s striking highly and proclaimed himself to be better in all areas.

    “I feel like I’m way better than him everywhere. Simple like that. It’s like, it’s going to be a completely masterpiece, you will see, you will see. I will knock him out in the first round, there’s no doubts about that. It’s going to be even much easier than with Volkanovski because I consider that Volkanovski was like, a way difficult matchup for me and he proved it right? He beat the guy three times.”

    “El Matador” also considers Volkanovski to be a much harder matchup for him than Holloway. “The Great” beat Holloway thrice, and a victory over him could be the source of Topuria’s high confidence.

    Topuria added that Holloway’s been more vocal than usual with him due to fear. He also advised the challenger to avoid the wild swinging exchanges toward the end of rounds as it would make it easier for the champ to get a KO victory.

    The UFC featherweight champion highlighted that he knocked out Volkanovski in seven minutes, unlike Holloway who’s had 75 minutes to do so.

  • Former UFC Champ Backs Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili Revealing His Cut Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘Not Everything Needs To Go On Social Media!’

    Former UFC Champ Backs Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili Revealing His Cut Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘Not Everything Needs To Go On Social Media!’

    In arguably the biggest fight of his career, Merab Dvalishvili will challenge Sean O’Malley for the UFC bantamweight championship. The bout will headline the Riyadh Season Noche UFC event at the Las Vegas Sphere on September 14, 2024.

    While O’Malley avenged his only MMA loss to Marlon Vera in his first title defense, Dvalishvili is riding a 10-fight win streak in the UFC. The contender holds wins over big names like Marlon Moraes, José Aldo, and Petr Yan. This explains the hype behind the bantamweight title bout.

    However, the main event was temporarily in jeopardy as Dvalishvili revealed a cut under his eye. UFC President Dana White wasn’t happy about the situation, and Michael Bisping couldn’t agree more…

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Merab Dvalishvili Shouldn’t Have Posted His Cut Before Sean O’Malley Fight

    Bisping discussed Dvalishvili’s injury on his official YouTube channel recently. He highlighted that fighters now usually post most of their life on social media to increase engagement with fans. Naturally, this wasn’t the case a couple of decades back, and being silent about injuries during camps was preferred.

    “Dana’s right when he talks about boxers. Of course, he’s probably talking about the boxers of his generation. Dana knows a lot about boxing as well as mixed martial arts of course. Back in the day, social media wasn’t a thing. The new generation, though, they live on social media. Your entire life is on social media”

    The former UFC middleweight champ then explained why White was right in being upset with Dvalishvili’s behavior. For starters, a crisp striker like “Suga” can easily target the cut and make “The Machine” bleed early on in the fight.

    “I tell you what, if I was fighting for a main event against Sean O’Malley to become the UFC champion of the world, and I got cut, I would not post it on social media. I’m not talking s**t on Merab. I think Merab is awesome, he’s a great guy, he’s an incredible fighter. The performance against Cejudo solidified that he is the next man in line, but not everything needs to go on social media!”

    Bisping also looked back at major injuries he sustained before some of his biggest UFC fights. He had stitches near his eye before the first fight with Luke Rockhold and infamously broke his ribs a week before the Georges St-Pierre fight. “The Count” kept these injuries secret and expects modern-day UFC fighters to follow suit.

  • MMA Analyst Feels UFC Trying To Cut Costs With Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Fight: ‘He’s Still On That S**tty Contract’

    MMA Analyst Feels UFC Trying To Cut Costs With Jared Cannonier vs. Caio Borralho Fight: ‘He’s Still On That S**tty Contract’

    Josh Thomson recently suggested that the UFC might be cutting costs with the upcoming matchup between Jared Cannonier and Caio Borralho.

    The two middleweight contenders are poised to square off in the main event of a UFC Fight Night this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Cannonier is fresh off a contentious fourth-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Louisville this past June. This setback halted the momentum “The Killa Gorilla” had built with his dominant consecutive victories over Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland.

    Meanwhile, Borralho is riding high after delivering an impressive second-round knockout of Paul Craig at UFC 301 in May. “The Natural” is currently on a six-fight win streak, fueled by his back-to-back standout performances at Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021.

    This fight offers distinct opportunities for both fighters: Cannonier is eager to reestablish himself in the title conversation, while Borralho is aiming to break into the top 10 middleweight rankings with a victory this weekend.

    Thomson Believes UFC Sees Greater Potential In Borralho For The Future

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast with former MMA referee “Big” John McCarthy, Thomson delved into why the UFC might have paired a seasoned veteran like Cannonier with a rising prospect such as Borralho.

    “The Punk” speculated that the UFC might either be banking on the Brazilian to rise as a future force in the middleweight division or that this matchup could simply be a strategic move to trim expenses.

    “I think it’s two reasons why they do,” Thomson said. “One is Caio Borralho is someone we’re not paying a lot of money right now, and we’re probably paying Jared Cannonier maybe double, so that’s one reason. Second is Jared Cannonier is 40 years old, and we’re paying him all that money, but we know he won’t be around much longer.”

    “So let’s see if we can get the young stud an opportunity to get a win over a highly ranked fighter, and we can get him to fight top-level fighters for less money because he’s still on that sh*tty contract. So they’re going to keep—that’s the way this business works.”

  • Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail

    Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail

    Sean Strickland recently recounted the tale of getting arrested during his time in South Africa and how that pivotal incident reignited his MMA career.

    The former UFC middleweight champion has earned as much attention for his fighting skill inside the Octagon as for his ability to spark controversy beyond it. With his audacious and unfiltered personality, he’s become a well-known figure in the MMA world, regularly voicing provocative opinions on a variety of commonplace issues.

    Strickland has consistently found himself at the heart of controversy, entangled in several scandals over the years. From almost being yanked from his short-notice title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Australia, allegedly for assaulting a civilian at Bondi Beach, to receiving a stern warning from UFC CEO Dana White that he could be deported from Canada before his UFC 297 bout with Dricus Du Plessis due to his polarizing views on the LGBTQ community—the 33-year-old Californian’s antics have often put him on thin ice.

    Strickland Reveals He Ended Retirement To Fight In South Africa To Pay Off Bail Bond

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Strickland was asked why he isn’t keen on the idea of having his rematch against UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the titleholder’s homeland of South Africa. “Tarzan” revealed that he visited the country long ago and wasn’t fond of it, which is why he prefers the fight to happen in the United States instead.

    The American went on to share that during his time in Durban, he was arrested by the local police for reasons unmentioned and found himself in urgent need of cash to post bail. With limited options, he realized that the quickest way to earn the money was by taking a fight, despite the fact that he had already retired at that point.

    Strickland disclosed that he accepted a last-minute bout against Donavin Hawkey at the King of the Cage: Platinum event in November 2010 to quickly secure some cash.

    “Funny enough, I actually got arrested and had just retired from fighting. I had to pay a bail bondsman, so it was either pay the bail or go to jail. If you need quick cash, what do you do? So, I went and fought this guy named Donavin Hawkey on two weeks’ notice in South Africa just to pay the bondsman not go to jail.“

    “Tarzan” went on to mention that the fight reignited his passion for MMA.

    “That’s literally how I got back into MMA. I was bored, broke, living in gyms, and I’m 19 years old, riding a bicycle like a loser, thinking, ‘I’m done with this sh*t.’ Then I got arrested. I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, well, I guess you have to pay the bail bondsman or go back to jail.’”

    Strickland seized the 185-pound title from Adesanya last September, but his reign was short-lived, as Du Plessis dethroned him this past January. Following his decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, Strickland is eager for a rematch with “Stillknocks”.

    However, his position as the top contender is precarious, as the winner of the upcoming UFC 308 clash between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev could easily leapfrog him in the race for the title shot.

  • Classy Jared Cannonier Doesn’t Hold Anything Against Referee Jason Herzog For Controversial Imavov Stoppage: ‘He’s Human’

    Classy Jared Cannonier Doesn’t Hold Anything Against Referee Jason Herzog For Controversial Imavov Stoppage: ‘He’s Human’

    Jared Cannonier recently conveyed that he bears no animosity toward referee Jason Herzog for the controversial stoppage of his fight against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Louisville.

    Cannonier suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Imavov in June when Herzog stepped in to halt the fight as the former UFC middleweight title challenger attempted to defend himself against a relentless barrage of strikes from his opponent.

    Although “The Killa Gorilla” appeared shaken before the stoppage, it didn’t seem that he was on the brink of being finished, as evidenced by his visible frustration and immediate protest of the referee’s decision.

    Herzog, widely regarded as one of the most respected and experienced referees in MMA, faced intense scrutiny from the MMA community for what many deemed a premature stoppage. Even Cannonier, at the time, described the entire situation as “gut-wrenching.”

    Despite the controversy, “The Killa Gorilla,” who is set to make his return to the Octagon this Saturday to headline a Fight Night event against the undefeated Caio Borralho, insists that he holds no grudges against Herzog for the loss…

    Cannonier on Herzog’s Judgment: ‘We All Make Mistakes’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Cannonier opened up about his stoppage loss to Imavov. The 40-year-old Texan emphasized that Herzog wasn’t at fault, noting that the referee was simply fulfilling his duty and, in fact, spared him from taking further damage from his opponent.

    “I’m not going to be salty like that. Herzog is a good referee,” Cannonier said. “I mean, he’s human; we all make mistakes or erroneous judgments, you know what I mean? To whatever degree we may perceive them to be, he was just doing his job in keeping me safe—or, you know what I’m saying, getting paid off to let the Frenchman win, I don’t know. But whatever the f**k, man. I didn’t go in there and knock out Imavov, so this is what I have to deal with.”

    Cannonier further expressed that he wants to ensure such mistakes don’t occur again.

    “I get the lessons from the unfortunate things that may have happened, like these stoppages and sh*t like that. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen again. Hopefully, these refs will give me an opportunity—if they see me on my feet, don’t stop the fight. You won’t see me on my feet getting battered like a speed bag making that sound or something like that.”

    Cannonier’s loss was a tough setback, especially after his impressive back-to-back victories over Marvin Vettori and Sean Strickland. A win would have positioned him as a prime contender for a second shot at the championship, but now he finds himself pushed further down the ranks in the contender lineup.

  • Former UFC Champion Benson Henderson Set For Misfits Boxing Debut

    Former UFC Champion Benson Henderson Set For Misfits Boxing Debut

    The next step in Benson Henderson’s career post-mixed martial arts is set, as the former UFC champion has been booked for his boxing debut.

    Henderson held the lightweight title on MMA’s biggest stage between 2012 and 2013. He sits alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and BJ Penn as one of four record holders for the most consecutive defenses in the division.

    After his UFC stint came to an end, “Smooth” continued under the Bellator banner, challenging for gold unsuccessfully on three occasions. The most recent came in defeat against Usman Nurmagomedov in March 2023, marking his final outing in the cage.

    Like many, Henderson’s MMA retirement hasn’t completely brought his combat sports story to an end. Last December, the 40-year-old debuted in the Karate Combat Pit, outpointing his fellow former UFC champ Anthony Pettis.

    And Henderson is now set to dip his toes into yet another sport…

    Henderson Meets Fellow UFC Vet Chris Avila In Misfits Tournament

    It was announced this week that Henderson will feature on the latest card for Misfits Boxing, a crossover boxing promotion founded by English YouTube star and celebrity pugilist KSI.

    To date, the likes of Logan Paul, Dillon Danis, Tommy Fury, Paige VanZant, Le’Veon Bell, and Anthony Taylor are among those who have competed at the events.

    Misfits Boxing 18, set for the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle, England on September 14, will see Henderson added to that list. He’s slated to do battle with another ex-UFC and Bellator fighter, Nate Diaz protégé Chris Avila.

    The pair’s contest will serve as one of two light heavyweight semifinals making up a one-night tournament. In the other, Idris Virgo is set to throw down with Fes Batista, with the two winners meeting later on to crown the champion.

    The main event of the influencer card will see Elle Brooke defend her MFB middleweight title against BKFC veteran Jenny Savage. The Brit was originally expected to run it back with VanZant following their draw earlier this year, but that hasn’t come to fruition.

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen recently suggested that Alex Pereira’s upcoming clash with Khalil Rountree could be the ideal launchpad for the Brazilian’s much-anticipated leap into the UFC heavyweight division.

    “Poatan” is gearing up to defend his light heavyweight crown for the third time as he faces Rountree in the headline bout at UFC 307, slated for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    However, numerous fans have voiced their apprehensions about the matchup, pointing to Rountree’s ongoing suspension for the unintentional intake of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Meanwhile, others argue that Magomed Ankalaev, currently on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, would have been a more fitting contender for the 205-pound title.

    As for Pereira, anticipation is swirling around his future, with many wondering what’s next for the striking phenom who has already claimed titles in two weight classes. He has hinted at the possibility of moving up to the heavyweight division, where he could potentially become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    However, before he can chase that historic milestone, “Poatan” must first conquer the formidable challenge posed by the heavy-hitting Rountree. Sonnen believes that the fight with “The War Horse” could be pivotal in shaping Pereira’s path forward…

    Sonnen Thinks Pereira Will Jump To Heavyweight If Rountree Hands Him A Loss

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The former UFC middleweight title contender remarked that “The War Horse” might be the most stylistically challenging opponent Pereira has faced to date.

    “Khalil Rountree is going to roll over Alex Pereira,” Sonnen said. “So all of this talk about Khalil not deserving a [title shot], Khalil should not be in those positions—there’s only one person that needs to believe that, and that is Alex Pereira. It’s a very, very dangerous fight, and why on Earth take the risk? We think that we know, whether we do or not, but we have a consensus as to why not Ankalaev?”

    Sonnen went on to suggest that the quickest and most efficient path for “Poatan” to transition to the heavyweight division would be if he suffers a defeat at the hands of Rountree at UFC 307. Such a loss would relieve him of the obligation to defend his 205-pound title.

    “The best way to get Alex to heavyweight—because we can’t make him a heavyweight tomorrow if he’s got the 205-pound belt—is to remove the 205-pound belt from the equation. We could all agree with that, right? Anyone not fighting for a title can move weight classes right now. So, the best way to get him to heavyweight is not to clean out the division and keep doing more work and saying all the right things on social media. That is a way, but it takes a lot of time and some luck. The best way? Get him beat, get the belt off him, and he’s free to become a heavyweight.”

    Pereira has been an unstoppable force since his commanding entrance into the 205-pound division, starting with a decision victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. He went on to capture the vacant light heavyweight title in a showdown with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 and has since successfully defended his crown, notching two defenses within just two months. Most recently, he delivered a stunning second-round knockout against Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 303.

  • Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones won’t have his stance affected.

    The topic of Jones’ first title defense has long raged on. While it was initially set to come eight months on from his crowning in a divisional debut opposite Ciryl Gane, it’s now been 17 months since he completed multi-weight glory at the Frenchman’s expense.

    A planned bout against Stipe Miocic last November fell away due to an injury for Jones, throwing the division up in the air. The surging Tom Aspinall was subsequently crowned interim champ at the Madison Square Garden-held event.

    But despite the presence of another titleholder, both Jones and the UFC have remained firm on plans to reschedule the clash with Miocic. Criticism of that only increased when the Brit defended his gold with a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Many of those against Jones and Miocic sharing the cage for the title have pointed to the latter’s layoff. The heavyweight legend hasn’t competed since suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou three and a half years ago and is now 42 years old.

    But Jones has frequently dismissed the suggestion that he’s chasing a lower level of opposition, defending Miocic against those branding him “washed.” That trend continued in a social media post this week, with the Rochester native branding anyone who follows that line of thought a “casual.”

    “Man, I appreciate the boss and the comments he made at last nights press conference. Sounds like I have some massive options on the table, an athletes dream,” Jones wrote. “Right now I need to get back to focusing on the task at hand. Despite what some of the casuals think, Stipe is really no joke. It’s crazy that we live in a world where you can go from the best heavyweight ever to washed up after a bad performance. The reality is Francis would’ve knocked out 98% of people on the planet that night, but somehow Stipe is washed up?

    “Stipe not competing in so long tells me that he’s had plenty of time to heal and rebuild. Let me get back to focusing on the actual task at hand, that’s what got me this far. My focus, I do what others can’t,” Jones added.

    Fans Make Their Voices Heard After Jones’ Latest Refusal To Unify UFC Heavyweight Division

    Unsurprisingly, Jones’ latest post reiterating his avoidance of Aspinall and stance that nothing but a showdown with the returning Miocic should be next drew out plenty of reactions on social media.

    While plenty berated the former light heavyweight champ, accusing him of “ducking” his British counterpart, some others backed Jones’ right to finish out his career in the way he chooses.

    https://twitter.com/OG1BonnyP/status/1826284180772475126
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826283582593355790
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826282321085112478
    https://twitter.com/TheSpergScholar/status/1826282292370960435
  • Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’ 

    Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’ 

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has been getting vocal about the division he was once a part of, and that continued this week with some opinions on the top middleweight fighters.

    Till hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since a defeat to then-future champion Dricus Du Plessis in late 2022. The start of the subsequent year saw “The Gorilla” granted his release from the UFC, and he’s since had just one boxing outing.

    All the while, the Liverpool native has vowed to return to the Octagon down the line and hasn’t shied away from giving his assessments of various fighters and matchups, especially at his most recent fighting weight in the UFC of 185 pounds.

    That was on display this month when Till posted numerous tweets about the UFC 305 main event between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, offering advice to the latter while constantly berating his former opponent.

    That trend has remained this week, but it wasn’t just the South African taking fire…

    Till Berates Some, Praises Others: ‘DDP I Hate Your Guts…Sean I Like’

    In a recent X post, Till gave his honest take on a number of notable names in the middleweight division, expressing somewhat positive thoughts on Marvin Vettori, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker.

    All three still caught some flak, but it was Du Plessis and Adesanya who took the brunt of it.

    “Marvin I really like but ur sh*t. DDP I hate ur guts and ur sh*t. Izzy!!!! Ur gay and ur sh*t. Sean I like and ur ok cos u beat me up in the gym once I boxed ur head off. Whittaker I f**king love u but I beat you, you chose the sh*thouse way and took me down 10 seconds in the last round… ur sh*t.”

    Till also didn’t miss an opportunity to quip at himself.

    “Have I missed anyone out? Oh sh*t yeh… myself, I’m f**king so shit I really am.”

    And newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad also briefly entered the Scouser’s crosshairs.

    “Also Belal Muhammad isn’t a real fighter strip him of his title he cheated against Leon!!!!!”

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Surprised’ By Dan Hooker’s Top 5 Ranking After UFC 305 Win: ‘That Should Not Have Happened’

    Apparently beating a top five contender doesn’t warrant a place inside the top five…

    That’s according to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, who has been reflecting on the events that unfolded at this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    Among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 305 was Dan Hooker, a lightweight fan favorite who enjoyed a difficult fall from grace during the pandemic. In more recent years, however, “The Hangman” has returned to winning ways in style.

    And after defending his place in the rankings opposite Claudio Puelles in late 2022 before making a statement in victory over the highly regarded Jalin Turner in 2023, Hooker’s first outing of this year saw him leap back into the title conversation.

    The New Zealander came out on the right side of a split decision verdict opposite the highly regarded Mateusz Gamrot. And this week he was rewarded with a rise into the top five, where his defeated opponent previously sat.

    While that didn’t come as a surprise to many, Sonnen was shocked. And he sees it as a mistake on the part of the rankings panel…

    Sonnen Questions Hooker’s High Place In UFC Lightweight Top 15

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reflected on Hooker’s triumph Down Under this past weekend and commented on talk of him sharing the cage with Charles Oliveira next.

    At one point, “The American Gangster” noted “The Hangman’s” recent surge up the pecking order at 155 pounds, expressing surprise and disagreement with Hooker being granted a place inside the top five.

    “I owe an apology. … It was stated from Conner Burks, ‘Tatted Dan Hooker is undefeated and about to be ranked in the top five.’ I wrote back and said, ‘Well, you’re half right.’ … I have to apologize to Conner,” Sonnen said. “Hooker got ranked in the top five. That should not have happened.

    “I’m surprised that that happened. We don’t know who that rankings committee is, but I think we can comfortably understand that Conner is one of them, they spoke, and that’s how they did it,” Sonnen jokingly added.

    Regardless, Hooker is indeed now a top five contender on MMA’s biggest stage, and he’ll look to ride that momentum all the way into a first title shot down the line.

  • Original Opponents Derrick Lewis, Alexandr Romanov Get New Matchups For UFC Fight Night Edmonton 

    UFC heavyweight contenders Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov will have new opponents to contend with in Edmonton this November. That’s after the promotion cut their original co-main event in two.

    Lewis and Romanov were recently announced as the co-headliner for the promotion’s return to the Canadian city, setting the stage for top women’s flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas.

    It’s not taken long for those plans to change, however. The Nov. 2 card at Rogers Place will now see Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) do battle with the unranked Jhonata Diniz (8-0) in the co-main event. Romanov (17-3), meanwhile, will see his chance to bounce back come against “The Black Beast’s” most recent opponent, Rodrigo Nascimento (11-2, 1 NC).

    News of Lewis vs. Diniz was first reported by Laerta Viana, with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King subsequently confirming both new matchups for the Edmonton-held UFC Fight Night.

    Prospect Diniz Gets First Shot At Heavyweight Rankings Opposite UFC Vet Lewis

    The co-main event split presents a major opportunity for Diniz, who now has the chance to earn a number next to his name at the expense of a former title challenger and one of the division’s most notable names.

    The 33-year-old Brazilian moved to 8-0 as a professional at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on August 10, outpointing Karl Williams for his second victory in the promotion since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last September. He’ll now look to move into contention by recording his biggest win to date in “The Great White North.”

    Lewis, meanwhile, will be in pursuit of his first win streak since a knockout of Curtis Blaydes secured him a title shot back in 2021. He’s since gone 3-5, most recently rebounding from a comfortable decision defeat to Jailton Almeida in Brazil last November by stopping Nascimento in the headline act of UFC Fight Night St. Louis this past May.

    While Nascimento looks to rebound from that result, Romanov was most recently submitted by Almeida at UFC 302 in Newark this past June. That defeat prevented the Moldovan from returning to a win streak, having previously gotten the better of Blagoy Ivanov in 2023.

    With these changes, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:

    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight main event)
    • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight co-main event)
    • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
    • Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
    • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
  • Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    Dana White ‘Takes Responsibility’ For Francis Ngannou Erasure In UFC 305 Video, Apologizes To Israel Adesanya

    UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the controversy surrounding a quote from Israel Adesanya in the latest Countdown episode being edited to remove any mention of Francis Ngannou.

    The lead-up to this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view was heated after Adesanya took issue with some of middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC. The Nigerian-New Zealander accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like welterweight veteran Kamaru Usman and former heavyweight kingpin Ngannou.

    The promotion unsurprisingly included that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305. But while much of what was said by “The Last Stylebender” surrounded the “three kings,” the UFC eliminated one from the equation.

    During UFC 305 fight week, AFeldmanMMA posted a video on X showing Adesanya speaking about Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC titles a number of years ago. The quote came during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference weeks before the event.

    Accompanying that clip was the same moment shown on Countdown, but heavily edited to remove any mention of the “three kings” and Ngannou.

    That drew heavy backlash throughout the community, with Adesanya himself speaking out against the promotion’s apparent attempts to erase the Cameroonian’s legacy and part of history in the UFC.

    White Addresses Ngannou Erasure: ‘Somebody In The Company Made That Decision’

    During the press conference following this week’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the controversy surrounding the promotion’s Ngannou erasure by Kevin Iole.

    White and other senior UFC figures close by insisted they weren’t aware of the editing of the quote to remove “The Predator,” with White suggesting it had to have been an employee acting of their own volition.

    “I don’t know about this. Do you?” White asked UFC staff who were present. “It was something that we produced? Are you sure that we produced this? What show was it on? Like Embedded or something? I don’t disagree with that (Adesanya’s criticism). But literally everybody who’s sitting in here right now, including our head of PR, doesn’t know about it. When did Israel say it, post-fight? We’ll find out what happened.

    “If that’s true and that was done, and it was something that we produced, then somebody in the company made that decision,” White continued. “Listen, you know me. If I said we did it, I’d say, ‘Yeah, f*ck him and this is why we did it.’ I know nothing about it, nobody ever asked me about it, and this is the first we’re hearing about it.”

    It evidently didn’t take long for Iole to receive a follow-up statement, posting an update on social media. According to the veteran reporter, White took full responsibility for the controversy and quickly called Adesanya to apologize.

    “I had asked @danawhite tonight about the UFC scrubbing @francis_ngannou out of the Countdown show for #UFC305 tonight. He said he’d look into it. Just called me and took full responsibility. His complete answer will be in my story upcoming shortly.

    “I should also had here for full context that Dana said he’d already called @stylebender to apologize,” Iole wrote.”

    It remains to be seen whether Ngannou will also be receiving an apology. It was, after all, his legacy being erased…

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 2 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 2 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. In episode one of season eight last week, four prospects moved a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    And the sophomore episode added another four talents to the UFC roster. That included Australia’s Cody Haddon, who opened proceedings with an impressive ‘club and sub’ victory over Billy Brand, dropping him with a stiff left hook before finding the rear-naked choke in the first round.

    Violence continued a few fights later. After Cortavious Romious did enough across three rounds to impress White, Rizvan Kuniev left little doubt with his buzzer-beating knockout of Hugo Cunha. The outing marked the Russian’s first bout since having a win over PFL’s Renan Ferreira overturned after he tested positive for a slew of banned substances.

    He’ll be looking ahead to a new chapter in his career alongside Andreas Gustafsson, who utilized hard knees in the clinch to get the better of Pat Pytlik midway through round two of the main event.

    Torrez Finney’s lackluster decision win over Cam Rowston marked the only fight not to produce a new UFC athlete on Tuesday night.

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

    Cody Haddon Def. Billy Brand Via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke): R1, 3:09

    Cortavious Romious Def. Michael Imperato Via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Rizvan Kuniev Def. Hugo Cunha Via TKO (Punches): R1, 4:59

    Andreas Gustafsson Def. Pat Pytlik Via TKO (Knees): R2, 3:20