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  • Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’

    Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’

    Dricus Du Plessis has always had his fair share of critics during his UFC run, despite being undefeated inside the Octagon.

    During his climb up the middleweight ladder, many were critical of his ability to fight at a constant pace over three rounds due to him becoming visibly tired in some of his earlier fights.

    Even since there has been an improvement from “Stillknocks” in this area, there is often conversation about his unorthodox, and at times reckless-appearing approach which lacks finesse – but has been incredibly effective for him.

    This was case and point in the main event of UFC 305 this past weekend where he was able to walk down and catch Israel Adesanya with big looping punches to hurt him and find the submission win in the fourth round.

    Unfortunately for those that don’t rate the champion’s technique, he has been keeping receipts.

    Dricus Du Plessis Reminds Steve Erceg Of His Criticism After UFC 305

    After successfully defending the middleweight title for the first time, Du Plessis made sure to circle back to a few people who had doubted him or talked down on his ability during fight week.

    There are clear elements of his game that you wouldn’t necessarily teach a young fighter but the champ knows how to make it work for him.

    One of the criticisms that clearly he took notice of was Steve Erceg labelling him as a 6/10 overall fighter due to some of his more unpredictable tendencies.

    Erceg was stopped in front of his home fans in Perth this past weekend with Kai Kara-France securing a massive first-round win in the co-main event.

    Via his Instagram story, Du Plessis took a moment to remind the former flyweight title challenger of what he had said after they ended up on opposite sides of the win column on August 17.

    MMA fans reacted to the champion getting the last word in via social media.

    “Dude has all the receipts. He’s coming for everyone.”

    “this guy is against the whole world right now”

    “Tbf erceg gave himself a 7, it seems like he just has a really high bar”

    “If everyone doubted me like how they did Iโ€™d come back for everyone too”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanyaโ€™s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: โ€˜You Have An Incredible Sonโ€™

  • ‘Dude Didn’t Wanna Get Slammed’ – MMA Fans React To Aggressive Streamer Backing Down Against ‘Rampage’ Jackson

    ‘Dude Didn’t Wanna Get Slammed’ – MMA Fans React To Aggressive Streamer Backing Down Against ‘Rampage’ Jackson

    A video posted on social media showed of a recent confrontation between a streamer named Ac7ionman and the CEO of F3 Energy, Harrison Rogers, that went viral.

    What starts as some kind of dispute over a contract and potential legal case escalates when Ac7ionman repeatedly makes fun of Rogers and claims that he’s going to sue him for putting his hands on him, with video evidence.

    Things immediately take a turn once, of all people, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson exits the bathroom to see what all the fuss is about.

    Ac7ionman then leaves the room double quick whilst Jackson attempts to understand what just happened.

    “Who was that? I’m trying to take the hardest s*** of my life, I hear some m*********** come on, look at me, I’m sweating my a** off.”

    The streamer then returns to the room, continuing to shout and scream about the lawsuit that he’s going to file, only for ‘Rampage’ to walk towards him, usher him back out of the room and close the door on him after getting a few insults of his own in.

    “God damn, dude’s annoying as f***”

    Fans React After ‘Rampage’ Jackson Puts A Swift End To Viral Beef With His Presence

    The combat sports world has had an interesting relationship with streamers and the way that they conduct themselves.

    On this occasion, the fans on social media were happy to see how suddenly, this somewhat awkward and cringe-inducing exchange was ended by the emergence of ‘Rampage’, who was able to escort Ac7ionman out of the way without doing anything.

    “Legalize beating the shit outta live streamers”

    “Dude didn’t wanna get slammed.”

    “Bro was scared for his life”

    https://twitter.com/brodyunfiltered/status/1825331886463356945

    “Rampage baby!! That man left quick AF”

    “Bro RAN once he saw Rampage”

    “Bro had his chest puffed out until Rampage showed up and then he turned into a little b**** LMFAOOO”

    “Not his screams fading in the distance”

    Read also: Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

  • Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anywayโ€ฆ’

    Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anywayโ€ฆ’

    Dan Hooker delivered one of the stand out performances at UFC 305 to ascend up the lightweight division by beating Mateusz Gamrot.

    It’s been some time since “The Hangman” was in the mix at the top of the 155-pound weight class but that is certainly the case after he pulled off the underdog win over one of the top contenders.

    In his post-fight interview following the Fight of the Night clash, Hooker spoke about the number of exciting options that he now wants to chase down after this win.

    Part of his declaration to the matchmakers sitting cage side included Conor McGregor, which took some by surprise.

    “Look at me now! I want them all brother! I want the BMF, I want Conor McGregor, I want a title eliminator, I want everything brother! I want it all Sean, I want it all Hunter!”

    Dan Hooker Explains “Troll” Motivation Behind Conor McGregor Call Out

    In a post-fight interview with TheMacLife, Hooker explained why he chose to mention McGregor’s name inside the Octagon after getting his hand raised.

    Of course, McGregor is still the biggest fight out there across the entire sport, let alone the lightweight division, which means he often gets called out and has done for nearly a decade.

    Hooker’s call to namedrop “The Notorious” wasn’t necessarily financially motivated, though that is a huge incentive for trying to get this fight.

    He said that this decision was made more because he thinks it would be hilarious to get this fight instead of McGregor being welcomed back to the UFC by Michael Chandler, which fans have waited so long to see at this point.

    Hooker was defeated by Chandler back when “Iron” Mike made his UFC debut in 2021 so taking the biggest fight of his career away from him would be sweet revenge.

    “I didn’t necessarily call him out, I just said like, because I am absolute troll, so it’s like the biggest troll move you could do of all time is to snake that fight off Chandler. Like he waits all that time and then Conor just fights me anyway, like that would be gold. I would feel like the biggest snake troll of all time.”

    Read also: Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: โ€˜You Just Have To Love The Internetโ€™

  • Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ย 

    Josh Culibao Reflects On UFC 305 Setback: ‘Felt I Still Won The Fight But That’s Not Up To Me To Decide’ย 

    UFC featherweight Josh Culibao was disappointed not to have his hand raised on home soil, especially given his view on the judges’ scoring.

    Culibao was among the Australians in action at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, facing Ricardo Ramos during the preliminary card. The Sydney native’s most recent win came in the promotion’s previous visit to the city in February 2023, with Culibao submitting Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC 284.

    After that result, the 30-year-old fell to his first career skid, dropping consecutive decisions to Lerone Murphy in London and Danny Silva in Las Vegas. And UFC 305 saw “Kuya” fall on the wrong side of a split verdict for the second straight fight.

    Culibao’s clash with Ramos was extremely close, with the Brazilian coming back into the fight after appearing in danger of getting finished early on. The Aussie received criticism from some for his showboating during the bout, with many pointing to it as the reason he was unable to secure victory.

    Culibao, though, believes he still deserved the nod…

    Culibao Apologizes To Fans After Narrow UFC 305 Loss

    Hours on from his defeat at the RAC Arena, Culibao took to social media with his first comments since having his run of losses extended to three.

    After giving credit to his opponent, “Kuya” apologized to his supporters. Culibao did, however, still express disagreement with the score reached by two of three judges cageside.

    “It is what it is, hats off to youย @ricardoramosmmaย you brought the fight and made a great dance partner,” Culibao wrote. “Sorry to all my fans and supporters out there. I couldnโ€™t get it done. I felt I still won the fight but thatโ€™s not up to me to decide.ย Glad I still got to go out and perform and put on a show for the Aussie crowd.”

    It remains to be seen what will come next for Culibao, who is months away from his first winless year in the UFC since 2020, in which he was stopped by Jalin Turner at lightweight and fought to a split draw with Charles Jourdain in his return to 145 pounds.

  • Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight

    Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight title at UFC 305 by submitting former champion Israel Adesanya in a back-and-forth encounter.

    Though he was able to secure the tap in the fourth round, it was the striking from “Stillknocks” that led to the finish.

    His unorthodox and sometimes reckless approach to moving through ranges whilst looking to land big punches found a home and hurt “The Last Stylebender” which was the beginning of the end.

    On his YouTube channel, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley gave his immediate reaction to the main event where he highlighted Du Plessis’ blitz assault and gave props to both men.

    “DDP has some funny a** like blitzes that just looks so sloppy and weird but he connects somehow and they’re heavy f****** punches and Izzy did look good. He looked like he was in good shape, defended that good takedown a few times. Like he said, he made a few small little mistakes. I mean I thought he was winning a decision, close fight. DDP showed why he’s the champ.”

    Sean O’Malley Believes Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland 2 Will Be Another Close Fight

    In the aftermath of this past weekend’s event in Perth, it appears that the next time Du Plessis will be back inside the Octagon will be for his first rematch in the UFC.

    The South African champion won the title by defeating Sean Strickland earlier this year in a split decision, that the American passionately believes he should have gotten.

    O’Malley gave his thoughts on that fight having already seen how difficult it was to separate them at UFC 297.

    “Sean Strickland is fighting the winner, we already knew that. DDP versus Sean Strickland 2, the first fight was very, very, very close, could have gave it to Sean Strickland. He was the champion at the time and I feel like if you’re going to beat the champ in a split decision, it’s got to be more dominant than that so that was a very, very close fight, that’s going to be a fun one to run back.”

    “Suga” went on to say that he believes this particular match-up is won or lost by who performs better on that night due to their styles.

    “I think those guys can fight 10 times, it’s a coin flip every time. I don’t think it’s going to be f****** one guy is going to dominate. Those two styles are just going to be whoever shows up better on that night.”

    Read also: Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

  • Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

    UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will seemingly have the chance to end her 2024 on a win streak in “The Sunshine State.”

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion recently confirmed its schedule for the remainder of 2024, with 15 events set across nine different cities. Tasked with closing out the year is Tampa, Florida, where a UFC Fight Night will take place on December 14.

    While the card remains without a main event as it stands, one notable matchup has been reported. According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, the #8-ranked Dern (14-5) is set to run it back with Amanda Ribas over five years on from their first meeting.

    Dern Set For Chance To Avenge First MMA Loss At UFC Fight Night Tampa

    When they share the Octagon for a second time on Dec. 14, Dern will be looking to avenge her loss to Ribas and finish the year with consecutive triumphs.

    Dern, an ADCC and no gi BJJ (black belt) world champion, enjoyed an unbeaten start to MMA life. But she had her record blemished following seven straight wins when she ran into Ribas in 2019, losing by way of unanimous decision.

    While a four-fight win streak brought Dern back into contention, the grappling specialist has been inconsistent ever since and recently tasted her first losing skid after defeats to Jรฉssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

    Having bounced back by outpointing Loopy Godinez in Abu Dhabi this month, Dern will look to enjoy a run of victories to reignite her title ambitions.

    Mackenzie Dern
    Image: @ufc/X

    Lemos will hope to put a stop to those plans by repeating her feat from five years ago. The Brazilian currently finds herself ranked at both strawweight and flyweight, with her most recent outing coming in defeat opposite Rose Namajunas at 125 pounds.

    She’ll now return to the weight at which she earned a bonus with a TKO of Luana Pinheiro last November, looking to defend her #5 spot against her fellow Countrywoman Dern.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    The coach of UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis likes the idea of his man facing Alex Pereira, but not as “Poatan” has proposed.

    Du Plessis maintained his grip on the 185-pound crown at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, adding a first successful defense to his resume at the expense of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    Their entertaining main event and the South African’s feat of becoming the first to submit “The Last Stylebender” remains a hot topic, but talk is also already turning to what could lie next for him.

    Judging by Dana White’s recent remarks, that would appear likely to be a rematch with Sean Strickland, the man from whom Du Plessis captured the middleweight gold this past January. But one other notable name recently put his name into the mix.

    Reigning light heavyweight and former middleweight kingpin Alex Pereira was on hand with his post-UFC 305 reaction, teasing a returning to the 185-pound division to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    That callout got a positive response from Du Plessis’ coach. Well, sort of…

    Du Plessis’ Coach Accepts Pereira Fight โ€” On One Condition

    During a backstage interview with Submission Radio at the RAC Arena, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser reflected on his man’s triumph Down Under and looked ahead to what could be next.

    In terms of Pereira’s social media post, the Team CIT head trainer green lit a clash between Du Plessis and “Poatan,” but only if it sees the South African receive an opportunity at achieving two-weight glory.

    “No, I wonโ€™t give him (Pereira) the joy to go down to 185; weโ€™ll just go up,” Visser said. “He (Du Plessis) doesnโ€™t want to beat him (at middleweight because) heโ€™ll say that (they’ve) gone down, he was fatigued, and whatever. So no, weโ€™ll go up.

    “Iโ€™m sure that the UFC will be okay with it, if thatโ€™s what heโ€™s said, (and) I know Dricus is game. So weโ€™ll go up, we wonโ€™t wait for him to come down,” Visser continued. “Heโ€™s fighting in October, so I really hope that the UFC gives us this blessing for December.”

    For now, Pereira will be preparing for his surprise return at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City this fall, with the Brazilian set to put his light heavyweight belt on the line against Khalil Rountree on October 5.

    What would come after a potential victory over “The War Horse” remains to be seen, but it seems that a possible middleweight return now sits alongside frequent heavyweight teases for “Poatan.”

  • Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’

    Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’

    Things didn’t go to plan for heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa at UFC 305, as his lengthy losing skid got further extended by Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

    Since rising to a career high #3 in the rankings when a knockout of Derrick Lewis put him on a five-fight winning run, fan favorite Tuivasa has experienced nothing but defeat inside the Octagon.

    This year began with “Bam Bam” suffering a fourth straight loss, with Marcin Tybura adding to the woes of the Australian’s setbacks opposite Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov.

    And at this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, it was the turn of Rozenstruik to get in on the action. “Bigi Boy” followed up on his headline win over Shamil Gaziev earlier in 2024 by comfortably outpointing Tuivasa in enemy territory.

    Tuivasa On UFC 305 Setback: ‘We Live To Fight Another Day’

    Following his latest defeat, Tuivasa soon took to social media with his first comments.

    In a post on Instagram, “Bam Bam” acknowledged the effort he put into camp and expressed understandable disappointing at failing to have his hand raised in front of his home fans Down Under.

    Nevertheless, the Aussie won’t be kept down, with the 31-year-old telling his fans that he “lives to fight another day.”

    “Fuck. What a sport,” Tuivasa wrote. “I put my all into this camp and didnโ€™t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans I put my all into this didnโ€™t get the treats. My bad ๐Ÿ˜Œ love you all the real ones โค๏ธย Live to fight another day.ย AUSSIE FANS I LOVE YOU C**TS BEST IN THE BIZZO ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿฅฐ We live to fight another day ๐Ÿ˜Œ”ย 

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for Tuivasa. He had previously outlined his intention to return for a third fight this year following UFC 305. Whether or not that plan remains after Saturday’s loss is unclear.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

    Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis had nothing but kind words for the parents of defeated opponent Israel Adesanya this past weekend.

    The pair appeared to have one of the more heated rivalries seen on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year, centered around Du Plessis’ controversial remarks last year about becoming the first Africa-residing champion.

    After that paved the way for a tense UFC 305 fight week and some emotional press conference exchanges, “The Last Stylebender” and “Stillknocks” did battle in the main event, with the latter finding the submission in round four.

    The two rivals quickly patched things up inside the Octagon, showing immense respect for one another following an enthralling and competitive headliner. And that trend continued backstage at the RAC Arena, where the families of both fighters embraced.

    Du Plessis, Adesanya Families Enjoy Respectful Interaction Post-Fight

    Footage captured by MMA Junkie soon after UFC 305 showed Du Plessis and Adesanya catching up behind the scenes, with the champ gifting the Nigerian-born New Zealander a custom-made, South Africa-themed jacket.

    While Adesanya shared some words with his victorious opponent’s family and coach, Du Plessis interacted with the former two-time titleholder’s parents, thanking both for “raising a warrior.”

    “You have an incredible son,” Du Plessis said at one point during the interaction.

    During his post-fight press conference, the champ opened up on his brief conversation with Adesanya’s family and the gift he had prepared for his challenger.

    “I will never disrespect your parents, and he said he understands that,โ€ Du Plessis said. “Weโ€™re not friends because on a personal level, we do not see eye-to-eye. But warrior-to-warrior, and after spending time (with him) in that octagon and what heโ€™s achieved in the sport, you canโ€™t not respect that man.

    “To give him that jacket was a reminder, a token of appreciation and a thank you for this,” Du Plessis continued. “Itโ€™s a memory for me, itโ€™s such a massive moment in my life. I brought the jacket here specifically to give it to him.”

  • FFNYC: Watch Jake Paul & Mike Tyson Face Off & Presser Highlights

    FFNYC: Watch Jake Paul & Mike Tyson Face Off & Presser Highlights

    Jake Paul and Mike Tyson began the hype and path toward their November 15 battle with a press conference in New York City on August 18, held as one of the final events of the three-day Fanatics Fanfest NYC.

    Though the press conference began 40 minutes after it was originally scheduled to start, the Javits Center theater was packed to capacity and the crowd was raucous. From the moment Paul entered, he was mercilessly booed and jeered; meanwhile, Tyson received non-stop cheering throughout the event.

    The press conference was hosted by Ryan Clark, who discussed the bout which he called the biggest boxing event in the world, bringing together six generations of boxing fans.

    Both men expressed not just a desire, but a promise, to knock the other man out in their fight on November 15 in Dallas, Texas.

    Paul claimed that he was the one who brought the fight’s lucrative Netflix deal to Tyson, claiming that it was Tyson who insisted the fight be sanctioned as it is.

    Tyson responded by stating that he’s taken this fight because he can, calling it the best of all time vs. a YouTuber, which resulted in the crowd directing a “YouTuber!” chant at Paul multiple times during the press conference.

    After just a couple of media questions, the two stared down, with some physicality appearing to show.

    Paul vs. Tyson was originally scheduled to go down in July before Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up on a plane.

    Paul enters this fight on a four-fight win streak, most recently stopping Mike Perry last month.

    This will be Tyson’s first sanctioned pro fight since his loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005, which ultimately served as Tyson’s retirement bout. Tyson battled Roy Jones Jr. to an eight-round draw in an exhibition bout in November 2020.

  • Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling, & Other MMA Fighters React To Dricus Du Plessis Submitting Israel Adesanya At UFC 305

    Alex Pereira, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling, & Other MMA Fighters React To Dricus Du Plessis Submitting Israel Adesanya At UFC 305

    Both men appeared to take round one to feel each other out and get their striking going. Adesanya landed strong starts early but appeared to get caught by Du Plessis later in the round.

    Du Plessis changed his gameplan in the second and looked for takedowns quickly, scoring multiple takedowns and fighting against wizzers from Adesanya. Du Plessis threatened a choke on more than one occasion. Adesanya appeared to get some sort of knockdown off a punch, but Du Plessis fell into him, knocking Adesanya down and allowing Du Plessis to get back into grappling control against the fence.

    Both men had their moments during the third round, with Adesanya rocking Du Plessis with a spinning back elbow, and Du Plessis stunning him with combinations. But the New Zealander was landing more on the feet, with his work to Du Plessis’ body of note.

    Adesanya continued to get the better of Du Plessis on the feet and troubled him in the fourth. That is, until Du Plessis blitzed back, getting to Adesanya’s back and bringing him back to the ground. There, Du Plessis finally locked in the same rear-naked choke he looked for in the second round and scored the submission.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis gave respect to Adesanya, squashing their beef.

    Meanwhile, despite the assumption a rematch between DDP and Sean Strickland will be next, and Alex Pereira defending the light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree in October, Pereira took to social media to tease a move back down to 185 to challenge Du Plessis.

    Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya To Remain Middleweight Champion

    https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1825035282686611801

    Du Plessis and Adesanya had a heated confrontation following UFC 290, where Du Plessis knocked out Robert Whittaker to earn a future title shot.

    Du Plessis entered tonight with a nine-fight win streak, having not lost since dropping the KSW welterweight title in October 2018. Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January to win the UFC middleweight title.

    This marked Adesanya’s first fight since his heavy upset loss to Strickland at UFC 293, losing the middleweight championship after regaining it from Alex Pereira at UFC 287. Adesanya had previously won the belt with a knockout of Whittaker at UFC 243 in October 2019, successfully defending the title five times before dropping it to Pereira at UFC 281.

  • UFC 305 Results & Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya

    UFC 305 Results & Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis Submits Israel Adesanya

    UFC 305 took place tonight from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!ย 

    In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis put his middleweight title on the line against former champ Israel Adesanya. While in the co-main event, Kai Kara-France took on Steve Erceg in a flyweight matchup.ย 

    UFC 305 Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya via submission: R4, 3.38 ย 
    • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg via TKO: R1, 4.04  
    • Lightweight: Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Heavyweight: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def Tai Tuivasa via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 27-30)
    • Welterweight: Carlos Prates def Li Jingliang via KO: R2, 4.02  

    Preliminary Card

    • Heavyweight: Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa via technical submission: R1, 4.56
    • Featherweight: Ricardo Ramos def. Joshua Culibao via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)  
    • Womenโ€™s Flyweight: Casey Oโ€™Neill def. Luana Santos via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 30-26) 
    • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns via TKO: R3, 0.48

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight: Tom Nolan def. Alex Reyes via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Song Kenan def. Ricky Glenn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
    • Flyweight: Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll via submission: R1, 2.39

    Only one fighter missed weight at the weigh-ins, with Jesus Aguilar tipping the scales 1.5 pounds over the flyweight limit. 

    The early preliminary card begins at 6:30 PM ET, the preliminary card at 8:00 PM ET and the main card at 10:00 PM ET. Make sure to catch all the UFC 305 results and highlights as they happen below! 

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Jesus Aguilar earned the first finish of UFC 305 with a guillotine submission of Stewart Nicoll in the first round of their flyweight bout.

    Jack Jenkins def. Herbert Burns

    In this featherweight bout, Jack Jenkins got it done with a TKO of Herbert Burns in the third round.

    Valter Walker def. Junior Tafa

    Valter Walker earned a technical submission win after an apparent verbal tap by Junior Tafa at the end of the first round of their heavyweight matchup.

    Main Card Highlights

    Carlos Prates def Li Jingliang

    Carlos Prates earned a walk-off KO against Li Jingliang in the second round of their welterweight bout.

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik def Tai Tuivasa

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik got it done by split decision against Tai Tuivasa in their heavyweight bout.

    Dan Hooker def. Mateusz Gamrot

    In this lightweight bout, Dan Hooker earned a split decision win against Mateusz Gamrot.

    Kai Kara-France def. Steve Erceg

    In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France got back in the win column with a first-round TKO of Steve Erceg.

    Dricus Du Plessis def. Israel Adesanya

    In the main event, Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight crown after locking in a rear-naked choke to submit Israel Adesanya.

  • ‘I’m Certain Steve Is Better Than What He Showed’ – MMA Fans & Fighters React As Kai Kara-France Produces First Round KO Win At UFC 305

    ‘I’m Certain Steve Is Better Than What He Showed’ – MMA Fans & Fighters React As Kai Kara-France Produces First Round KO Win At UFC 305

    Kai Kara-France is back in the win column by knocking out Steve Erceg in the first round at UFC 305. The fight started slow with both fighters making reads. However, an overhand left from the New Zealander in the final minute dropped Erceg, eventually ending the fight.

    Kara-France was on a two-fight losing streak heading into his UFC 305 co-main event bout. Although his split-decision loss to Amir Albazi was criticized by many, he needed a win to re-enter the title picture.

    With his UFC 305 win, Kara-France has reminded fans of his threatening style and ability to finish the fight spontaneously. On the flip side, many of Erceg’s supporters have admitted to expecting a better striking display from “Astroboy”.

    Fans Back Kai Kara-France To Fight Alexandre Pantoja For The UFC Flyweight Championship Next

    https://twitter.com/MMAUnderrated/status/1825022786051404074
    https://twitter.com/Trending_Memers/status/1825022780167106976

    After bagging his thirteenth first-round finish, “Don’t Blink” asked for a title fight in his post-fight interview. Fans admire his explosive fighting style, and a win over Erceg could be enough for the UFC to hand him a title shot.

  • ‘Poirier vs Hooker 2 Anyone?’ – MMA Fans React To Dan Hooker Edging Out Mateusz Gamrot In UFC 305 War

    ‘Poirier vs Hooker 2 Anyone?’ – MMA Fans React To Dan Hooker Edging Out Mateusz Gamrot In UFC 305 War

    Dan Hooker will find himself back in the upper echelon of the lightweight division once again after UFC 305, as he defeated Mateusz Gamrot in a closely contested war.

    Gamrot got off to a strong start in the opening round, landing damaging shots on Hooker and nearly locking him in a submission. Hooker, however, seemed to show some fire in the closing seconds of the round.

    That fire continued into the second round, as “The Hangman” brought forth plenty of pressure against Gamrot, including some sharp elbows. That said, Gamrot did not relent in his offense either.

    The third ultimately proved to be a very even round, with both men trading control throughout.

    Two judges gave the fight to Hooker, giving the win to the Oceania fighter.

    MMA Fans React To Hooker’s UFC 305 Win Over Gamrot

    Hooker has now won three straight and will be likely in for a big opportunity in his next outing. The New Zealander himself mentioned in his post-fight interview a BMF title fight with Max Holloway, a showdown with Conor McGregor and a title eliminator (or interim title fight) with Arman Tsarukyan.

    This fight snapped a three-fight win streak for Gamrot, meanwhile. Entering this fight, only he and Tsarukyan had wins in their most recent fights out of those in the top five of the lightweight contender rankings.

  • ‘Tui Tuivasa Is Giving Me Tony Ferguson Vibes’ – MMA Fans React To ‘Bam Bam’ Earning Ridiculous 30-27 Scorecard Despite Getting Dominated At UFC 305

    ‘Tui Tuivasa Is Giving Me Tony Ferguson Vibes’ – MMA Fans React To ‘Bam Bam’ Earning Ridiculous 30-27 Scorecard Despite Getting Dominated At UFC 305

    Jairzinho Rozenstruik may find himself back in the top-10 of the UFC’s heavyweight rankings come next week, but the story after his win doesn’t come from his performance, but that of one judge’s scorecard.

    Rozenstruik pieced up Tai Tuivasa in their UFC 305 encounter, being technical with his striking and doing serious damage. Tuivasa hurt his leg with a leg check in the second round, and Rozenstruik nearly finished with a couple of flurries in the round.

    But while one judge saw the fight 29-28 Rozenstruik, and another 30-27 Rozenstruik, a third judge, Howie Booth, scored every round for Tuivasa — despite unanimous agreement from MMA media and MMA fans that Rozenstruik won rounds two and three.

    MMA Fans And Media Blast Judge Who Awarded Tai Tuivasa A 30-27 Card Despite Being Dominated By Jairzinho Rozenstruik

    https://twitter.com/Qutb_Patia/status/1825007703942455721
    https://twitter.com/fawadalijourno/status/1825007700393996291

    Rozenstruik has now won three of his last four fights.

    Tuivasa, meanwhile, has dropped five straight.

    UPDATE: The judge who scored the fight for Tuivasa has been relieved of his duties for the rest of the night.

  • ‘Mini Poatan’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Carlos Prates Flatlining Li Jingliang In Brutal UFC 305 Knockout

    ‘Mini Poatan’ – MMA Fighters & Fans React To Carlos Prates Flatlining Li Jingliang In Brutal UFC 305 Knockout

    Carlos Prates has become the first fighter to knock out Li Jingliang in his 29 pro fights. The Brazilian welterweight entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series and has now racked up three wins in the promotion.

    “The Nightmare” displayed his striking prowess at UFC 305 from the get-go but never rushed to the finish. He knocked down Jingliang a couple of times before finally landing the knockout blow in the second.

    “The Leech”, as usual, showed heart and walked forward even while taking Prates’ best shots. This is the first time he has suffered two consecutive losses in his pro record.

    While it’s unclear what’s next for Jingliang, Prates has grabbed all the praise from fans and fighters worldwide.

    Carlos Prates’ Explosive Fighting Style Could Make Him A Problem In The UFC Welterweight Division

    https://twitter.com/FKNWOLVES/status/1824997838054408228
    https://twitter.com/Malcolm_fleX48/status/1824997841154023506

    The UFC welterweight division already has contenders like Jack Della Maddalena and Shavkat Rakhmonov with high finish rates. Prates climbing the ranks in similar fashion can naturally make the division more intriguing for the fans.

  • ‘Some Borderline Paul Daley Behavior’ – MMA Fans React To Junior Tafa Slapping Valter Walker After Controversial Verbal Submission Loss At UFC 305

    ‘Some Borderline Paul Daley Behavior’ – MMA Fans React To Junior Tafa Slapping Valter Walker After Controversial Verbal Submission Loss At UFC 305

    A highly contentious aftermath came as the result of the finish of the featured UFC 305 prelim, as Valter Walker pulled off a sudden first-round win over Junior Tafa.

    After getting rocked by Tafa’s striking early, Walker took the fight to the ground, where he secured solid control of the fight and did not let up.

    As the seconds of the first round ticked down, Walker locked in a leg lock and got a yell of pain from Tafa, which caused the referee to step in.

    Tafa protested, slapping Walker after the fight and exchanging barbs with him.

    Though Tafa was unhappy and the UFC commentary team initially confused, the referee, under the Unified Rules of MMA, is allowed to call a verbal submission if a fighter cries out from pain.

    Valter Walker Scores Verbal Submission Win Over Junior Tafa

    https://twitter.com/FitzP980/status/1824988582051778791
    https://twitter.com/YuniBaka6/status/1824988549638246493
    https://twitter.com/cagecide/status/1824987313887162811

    Walker scores his first UFC win tonight, rebounding from dropping his UFC debut to ลukasz Brzeski in April.

    Tafa is now just 1-3 in the UFC.

  • ‘What Happens When You Play Around & Think You’ve Got The Win’ – MMA Fans React After Josh Culibao Loses Close Split Decision To Ricardo Ramos

    ‘What Happens When You Play Around & Think You’ve Got The Win’ – MMA Fans React After Josh Culibao Loses Close Split Decision To Ricardo Ramos

    Josh Culibao and Ricardo Ramos fought a competitive battle during the UFC 305 prelims, with two judges ultimately feeling Ramos deserved the nod in a close, controversial split decision.

    Though Culibao damaged Ramos’ leg badly, leaving him limping, the Brazilian had complete control once the fight went to the ground, threatening a choke and nearly finishing the fight there in round one.

    Culibao got back to work in the second round, landing more with his striking and having some fun in the process – courtesy of a ballerina-style spin.

    In a close round three, two judges felt that Ramos, through the use of a takedown and doing what he could with his control, deserved the win.

    However, it was clear that Culibao landed the greater damage through the fight.

    Ricardo Ramos Earns Win In Narrow, And Controversial, Split Decision

    https://twitter.com/cursedmma187/status/1824983183084892586

    Ramos snaps a two-fight losing skid with the victory tonight, coming in off back-to-back submission losses to Charles Jourdain and Julian Erosa.

    Culibao has now dropped three straight after starting his UFC run 3-1-1.

  • ‘Burns Isn’t Even PFL Material’ – Merciless MMA Fans React After After Jack Jenkins Makes Herbert Burns Quit At UFC 305

    ‘Burns Isn’t Even PFL Material’ – Merciless MMA Fans React After After Jack Jenkins Makes Herbert Burns Quit At UFC 305

    Just under a year after suffering an injury in his last fight, Jack Jenkins is back in the win column, defeating Herbert Burns during the UFC 305 prelims.

    Jenkins overwhelmed Burns on the feet, as he worked several hard-hitting combinations, compared to the single shots that Burns offered. Burns dropped to his back multiple times during the second half of the fight, unsuccessfully inviting Jenkins to get into his guard, with the referee forcing the fight back to the feet.

    Jenkins dropped Burns early in the third round with a low kick and punch, and Burns was unable to get to his feet, forcing the referee to stop the fight and award Jenkins the win.

    Burns’s lackluster performance was targeted on social media.

    Jack Jenkins Forces Herbert Burns Unable To Continue At UFC 305

    https://twitter.com/sebs0077/status/1824967301197594855
    https://twitter.com/4batzzzz/status/1824967325134524585
    https://twitter.com/2frank2fella/status/1824962985988657514
    https://twitter.com/OsakaFightClub/status/1824967277302722914

    Jenkins, who scored a third-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, is now 3-1 in the Octagon. The Australian native scored wins over Don Shainis and Jamall Emmers but suffered an arm injury against Chepe Mariscal at UFC 293 last year.

    Burns has now lost four straight, having not tasted victory in the Octagon since UFC 250.

  • Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    A UFC fight appeared to break out at the venue that hosted last night’s PFL Playoffs event, as ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori went at it โ€” just not in the cage.

    The scuffle took place on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, immediately following the PFL card.

    There were multiple reports and videos that flooded social media in the immediate aftermath, but MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin brought out the clearest report. According to him, Vettori swung and missed at UFC light heavyweight Tuco Tokkos.

    Michael Johnson tried to step in to move everyone away, but Allen connected with a one-two on Vettori, dropping him to the casino floor.

    Video of the incident can be seen below:

    https://twitter.com/Im565097757086/status/1824685398997520868

    Dana White Takes Shot At PFL In Response To Brendan Allen & Marvin Vettori’s Post-Show Scuffle

    UFC CEO Dana White appeared to see the footage and decided to use the opportunity to take a light-herted jab at his rival promotion.

    “Had to be fight of the night if it was at PFL,” White wrote.

    Allen and Vettori were originally scheduled to square off in the main event of UFC Vegas 90 in April before Vettori pulled out of the fight due to injury. Since then, however, the two have continuously exchanged harsh words to one another.

    Allen instead rematched and defeated Chris Curtis in that main event. The win was Allen’s seventh in a row, and he is scheduled to face Nassourdine Imavov in Paris next month.

    Vettori, a former middleweight title challenger, has lost three of his last five. He has not fought since June of last year, dropping a decision to Jared Cannonier.

  • UFC 305 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Gamrot vs. Hooker, Tuivasa vs. Rozenstruik, & More

    UFC 305 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Gamrot vs. Hooker, Tuivasa vs. Rozenstruik, & More

    UFC 305 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturdayโ€™s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, August 17, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who is tasked with getting the better of returning great Israel Adesanya if he’s to record a first successful title defense and stall the three-time ambitions of the Nigerian-New Zealander.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another two Oceanic fighters in action. Pursuing a win in his home city is Steve Erceg, who competes again three months on from a narrowly failed title bid opposite Alexandre Pantoja. Hoping to send him to a first career skid is Kai Kara-France.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker, heavyweight slugger Tai Tuivasa, and returning welterweight Li Jingliang.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 305 main card here.

    UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 305 (as of 8/17), courtesy ofย DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (-108) vs. Israel Adesanya (-112)
    • Kai Kara-France (+185) vs. Steve Erceg (-225)
    • Mateusz Gamrot (-410) vs. Dan Hooker (+320)
    • Tai Tuivasa (+200) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-245)
    • Li Jingliang (+275) vs. Carlos Prates (-345)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Junior Tafa (-118) vs. Valter Walker (-102)
    • Joshua Culibao (-122) vs. Ricardo Ramos (+102)
    • Casey O’Neill (+120) vs. Luana Santos (-142)
    • Jack Jenkins (-625) vs. Herbert Burns (+455)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Tom Nolan (-1200) vs. Alex Reyes (+750)
    • Song Kenan (-218) vs. Ricky Glenn (+180)
    • Stewart Nicoll (-205) vs. Jesus Aguilar (+170)
  • UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 305 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at Perth’s RAC Arena provides a chance for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial artsโ€™ biggest stage.

    After unseating Sean Strickland in the American’s first defense this past January, the South African will look to avoid the same fate when he puts the gold on the line Down Under opposite former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.

    Title stakes could be down the line for the co-main event winner, meanwhile, with recent challenger Steve Erceg looking to immediately bounce back from his first UFC setback against the returning Kai Kara-France.

    Elsewhere on the UFC 305 card, lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker shoots for a top-five ranking opposite Mateusz Gamrot, hard-hitting heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik likely swing for the fences, and China’s Li Jingliang makes a long-awaited comeback.

    Ahead of the event, 23 out of the 24 fighters successfully made weight, with Jesus Aguilar’s 1.5-pound miss of the flyweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday night (Saturday local time) was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 305 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the faceoffs!

    UFC 305 Ceremonial Weigh-In Stream

    UFC 305 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs

    https://twitter.com/UFC_AUSNZ/status/1824644087280005191
    https://twitter.com/UFC_AUSNZ/status/1824645141052699124
    https://twitter.com/UFC_AUSNZ/status/1824645549095629304
  • UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses

    UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses

    UFC 305 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    For the first time in 2024, the Octagon is Down Under, with the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, playing host to the promotion’s latest pay-per-view event. And the mixed martial arts leader has brought a lineup worthy of the occasion with it across the world, including a title fight and a host of notable undercard bouts.

    The championship clash at the top of the card will see Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s heated feud finally reach the steel surroundings of the Octagon, with the South African’s middleweight title on the line.

    Elsewhere, top flyweights Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg will look to engineer themselves a second shot at UFC gold in the co-main event, while Oceanic favorites Dan Hooker and Tai Tuivasa will also hope to deliver highlight victories on the main card.

    UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya Weigh-In Results

    UFC 305 takes place Saturday, August 17 (August 18 local time) at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

    See above for a replay of the UFC 305 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (185lbs) vs. Israel Adesanya (184lbs)
    • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France (125lbs) vs. Steve Erceg (125.5lbs)
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot (156lbs) vs. Dan Hooker (155.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa (265lbs) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (259lbs)
    • Welterweight: Li Jingliang (171lbs) vs. Carlos Prates (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa (244lbs) vs. Valter Walker (252lbs)
    • Featherweight: Joshua Culibao (146lbs) vs. Ricardo Ramos (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill (125.5lbs) vs. Luana Santos (126lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins (145.5lbs) vs. Herbert Burns (146lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Tom Nolan (155.5lbs) vs. Alex Reyes (156lbs)
    • Welterweight: Song Kenan (171lbs) vs. Ricky Glenn (171lbs)
    • Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll (126lbs) vs. Jesus Aguilar (127.5lbs)*

    *Jesus Aguilar missed the flyweight limit by 1.5 pounds, forfeits 20 percent of his purse

  • 2024 PFL 8 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Impa Kasanganay Makes Second Straight Championship Final

    2024 PFL 8 Playoffs Results & Highlights: Impa Kasanganay Makes Second Straight Championship Final

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

    Theย Professional Fighters Leagueย was back this week, with the championship finals at light heavyweight and lightweight decided inside the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

    In the 205-pound main event, 2023 PFL kingpin Impa Kasanganay returned for the next step in his pursuit of back-to-back titles. To reach a second consecutive final, “Tshilobo” got the better of his championship opponent from last year, Josh Silveira, again.

    Having won that contest, Kasanganay will face either former Bellator fighter Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov with $1 million prize money and this year’s light heavyweight title on the line. That’s after the Turkmenistani outpointed 2022 champ Rob Wilkinson in the co-headliner.

    The lightweight bracket, meanwhile, included Clay Collard’s attempt to make his second straight championship final and keep his hopes of a first title win alive. He ultimately failed in that task, with Brent Primus instead advancing to meet Russia’s Gadzhi Rabadanov, who knocked out Canada’s Michael Dufort.

    Outside of semifinal action, notable names like Biaggio Ali Walsh and Danny Sabatello will also took to the SmartCage in “The Sunshine State.”

    With the event concluded, check out the full results below, followed by all the highlights!

    2024 PFL 8 Playoffs Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight Semifinal Main Event: Impa Kasanganay def. Josh Silveira via decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Light Heavyweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Dovlet Yagshimuradov def. Rob Wilkinson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Michael Dufort via KO (punches): R2, 1:51
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Brent Primus def. Clay Collard via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
    • Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Brian Stapleton via KO (punches): R1, 0:55

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ends in majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
    • Lightweight: Mads Burnell def. Elvin Espinoza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Welterweight: Thad Jean def. Chris Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Featherweight: Jordan Oliver def. Braydon Akeo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Featherweight: Michelle Montague def. Marilia Morais via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 1:44

    Michelle Montague Def. Marilia Morais

    Jordan Oliver Def. Braydon Akeo

    Thad Jean Def. Chris Brown

    Mads Burnell Def. Elvin Espinoza

    Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron (Majority Draw)

    Biaggio Ali Walsh Def. Brian Stapleton

    Brent Primus Def. Clay Collard

    Gadzhi Rabadanov Def. Michael Dufort

    Dovlet Yagshimuradov Def. Rob Wilkinson

    Impa Kasanganay Def. Josh Silveira

  • Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘You Just Have To Love The Internet’

    Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘You Just Have To Love The Internet’

    Darren Till recently expressed frustration with the backlash he received online after offering fight advice for Israel Adesanya’s upcoming bout against Dricus Du Plessis.

    “The Last Stylebender” is poised to challenge the reigning middleweight champion in the main event of UFC 305, set to take place this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    Drawing upon his own encounter with Du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022, Till recently took to X to offer Adesanya some strategic insights for his highly anticipated return. He highlighted the critical role of feints, advising Adesanya to use them to provoke overreactions from Du Plessis, who has a tendency to overcommit under pressure.

    “The Gorilla” suggested that Adesanya maintain his distance and wait for the perfect moment to unleash his powerful strike combinations. Reflecting on his own fight, Till noted that “Stillknocks” often charges in recklessly and urged the Nigeria-born Kiwi to be cautious in those moments. Instead of retreating, the Brit advised that Adesanya should stand his ground and counter with a well-timed strike, turning Du Plessis’ aggression into an opportunity for a decisive blow.

    Tillโ€™s analysis and fight recommendations were grounded in realism and could prove invaluable for the former longtime champion. However, what he didnโ€™t foresee was the wave of mockery from fans, who quickly turned on “The Gorilla” due to his loss to Du Plessis.

    Now, the former UFC star has a few words for the MMA communityโ€ฆ

    Till Strikes Back At Critics Of UFC 305 Advice For Adesanya

    Frustrated by the torrent of online criticism following his advice to Adesanya, Till recently took to X to clap back at his naysayers.

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger highlighted the irony of the MMA community, pointing out that while fans are quick to impose their opinions, they rejected his insights simply because they came from an ex-UFC fighter.

    “MMA fans & trolls are the best. I see them all the time giving advice to fighters and opinions, etc,” Till tweeted. “But meโ€ฆ. An ex-UFC fighter is not allowed to give anyone advice cos they jump on saying what do I know, etcโ€ฆ Arghhhh, swear to god, you just have to love the internet. Itโ€™s greatโ€ฆ”

    After a series of tough losses in the Octagon, “The Gorilla” chose to part ways with the UFC and stepped into the world of free agency. He returned to competition for the first time since UFC 282, making his squared-circle debut in a four-round exhibition bout against Mohammad Mutie at Social Knockout 3 last month.

    Till secured a second-round TKO, but the future of the 31-year-old Scouser in combat sports now remains uncertain.