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  • Gilbert Burns Honest About Brother’s UFC 305 Fight: ‘He Must Win This To Keep His Job’

    Gilbert Burns Honest About Brother’s UFC 305 Fight: ‘He Must Win This To Keep His Job’

    UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is well aware that his brother Herbert is entering a must-win scenario this weekend.

    The younger Burns sibling is among those set to make the walk to compete on the preliminary card of the UFC 305 numbered event, set to go down inside the RAC Arena in Perth.

    The featherweight veteran has stepped in on short notice, replacing the injured Gavin Tucker to share the cage with Australia’s own Jack Jenkins.

    It’s a key matchup for the 36-year-old Burns, who has lost three consecutive bouts by way of TKO since extending a win streak to five with a submission of Evan Dunham in early 2020.

    Herbert has no doubt been getting plenty of brotherly support and encouragement in the lead-up to UFC 305. But also a reality check, with “Durinho” ensuring “The Blaze” knows what’s on the line…

    Gilbert Burns: UFC 305 Fight Do Or Die For Brother Herbert’s Octagon Career

    During a recent episode of his Show Me The Money podcast, Burns looked ahead to the upcoming numbered event, paying particularly close attention to his sibling’s scheduled appearance inside the cage.

    “Durinho” acknowledged the stakes that surround the fight for Herbert given his losing skid and less than impressive displays, noting that his UFC career will be over if he doesn’t have his hand raised Down Under.

    “My brother’s coming into a very hard moment, to be honest,” Burns said. “He had a shoulder injury (and) two LCL surgeries back-to-back. Last fight he lost by TKO; no confidence going into the fight, a lot of uncertainty. And (now) coming off three losses, bro. So he must win.

    “It’s gonna be hard. I cannot be impartial on that fight; it’s my little brother,” Burns continued. “He must win this fight to keep his job. If he loses, we know he’s out, he has no chance. I talked to him yesterday night…he’s fighting 8 AM on Sunday there. … He’s acclimating very, very good. But Jack Jenkins, that guy has a good heart, couple crazy leg kicks, hits hard, durable. For sure I hope my brother wins, but the conversation we had before he leaves was like, ‘Bro, make sure you leave everything in that cage.’”

    Burns will hope to return to his brother with a first victory since 2020 and a crucial rebound performance following a difficult run of knockout setbacks.

    Should the Brazilian 36-year-old accomplish that feat at the expense of the home fighter this weekend, he would set the stage for his brother’s own key contest down the line. Gilbert is set to headline a UFC Fight Night at the Apex opposite Sean Brady early next month.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Former Opponent Darren Till’s Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘I Did Hit Him Hard…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Former Opponent Darren Till’s Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘I Did Hit Him Hard…’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis got a good laugh out of Darren Till’s recent attempt to impart some wisdom to Israel Adesanya.

    Du Plessis is currently on Australian soil for his first defense of the 185-pound gold, which he wrested from the grasp of Sean Strickland at the UFC 297 pay-per-view in Canada this past January.

    Seven months on, the South African titleholder will finally share the Octagon with Israel Adesanya over a year on from the start of their bitter feud. They’re tasked with headlining UFC 305 inside the RAC Arena in Perth.

    Ahead of his attempt to achieve a record third middleweight crowning, Adesanya recently received some advice from a former opponent of the champ’s. Till, who was submitted by Du Plessis in his final UFC fight in December 2022, took to X in an attempt to outline how “The Last Stylebender” can get the better of “Stillknocks.”

    Having had his attention turned to the tweet, Du Plessis had one poignant question — if you know how to do it, what stopped you at UFC 282?

    Du Plessis Laughs Off Till’s UFC 305 Advice For Adesanya

    During a fight week interview with Fox Sports’ mainevent, Du Plessis was asked if he had seen Till’s attempt to pass down some helpful tips to Adesanya from his experience sharing the cage with the current champion.

    The South African sent a reminder about how their fight played out 20 months ago, before making a jibe about the post-match brawl Till was involved in following his disappointing combat sports return in a Dubai-held boxing match in early July.

    “See, I did hit him hard,” Du Plessis said. “And he seemed to forget — he said he beat me after two rounds. I think in the first round, the strike (count) was 61 strikes for me and zero for me. Then the second round, he had a good round until I took him down. In the third round, I just outstruck him, took him down, and finished him.

    “I mean, I appreciate it, Darren Till is trying other — I know he got taken down by a boxer in the boxing ring. I assume he’s trying a different career path of coaching, so let’s see how that goes,” Du Plessis sarcastically continued. “He should probably mention, ‘Try to defend the takedown or your neck,’ because he didn’t. What’s the guy saying? It was ridiculous. If you saw it that good, why didn’t you do anything about it?”

    Till’s gaze has evidently remained on the upcoming showdown between his former opponent and Adesanya Down Under.

    More recently, “The Gorilla” once again commented on Du Plessis’ style after seeing a clip from the South African’s open workout in Perth. The ex-UFC fighter described the champ’s striking as “so sh*t that it works.”

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, Dan Hooker, & More Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of UFC 305

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, Dan Hooker, & More Complete Open Workouts Ahead Of UFC 305

    The top stars set to be in action at UFC 305 this weekend took to the stage on Thursday for the open workouts in Perth.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is Down Under for the first time this year, returning to Perth, Australia, 18 months on from the Alexander Volkanovski-headlined UFC 284 event in February 2023.

    While that occasion saw the lightweight gold on the line, championship stakes on August 17 will come at middleweight, with reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis putting his belt on the line for the first time against Oceania’s own Israel Adesanya.

    Before “The Last Stylebender” shoots for a historic third title crowning in the main event, his City Kickboxing teammate Kai Kara-France will return from a lengthy layoff to share the cage with Perth’s own Steve Erceg in a crucial co-headlining flyweight contest.

    Elsewhere on the main card, fan favorite Dan Hooker gets the chance to climb into the top five at 155 pounds by stalling the title ambitions of Mateusz Gamrot, hard-hitting Aussie Tai Tuivasa throws down with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and “The Leech” Li Jingliang makes his comeback opposite the fast-charging Carlos Prates.

    The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The main card begins at 10 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 6 PM ET.

    Ahead of it, a number of UFC 305 fighters appeared for the open workouts at the Crown Nightclub in Perth Works on Thursday. You can check out a selection of highlights from the various workouts below:

    Israel Adesanya

    Dricus Du Plessis

    Steve Erceg

    Dan Hooker:

    Tai Tuivasa

  • 2024 PFL 8 Playoffs: Impa Kasanganay vs. Josh Silveira Weigh-In Results

    2024 PFL 8 Playoffs: Impa Kasanganay vs. Josh Silveira Weigh-In Results

    The 2024 PFL Playoffs will resume this Friday with matchups from the light heavyweight and lightweight divisions. Before the bouts can be official, the fighters weighed in today.

    Brian Stapleton was the only fighter to miss weight for his short-notice lightweight bout against Biaggio Ali Walsh. The matchup has changed to a catchweight fight, and Stapleton will give up a percentage of his purse.

    PFL will host the continuation of the playoffs at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. The main event is a light heavyweight rematch between Impa Kasanganay and Josh Silveira.

    In their first clash, Kasanganay won by unanimous decision to become the 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion. The former UFC fighter found success by outpacing Silveira for five rounds to get the judges’ approval. Kasanganay comes into the fight after amassing 11 points to qualify for the playoffs and will target a win to secure a second straight championship finale. That said, his opponent will be motivated to avenge last year’s result and keep his hopes of moving on to the championship alive.

    The co-main event, meanwhile, will feature Rob Wilkinson taking on Dovlet Yagshimuradov in another light heavyweight semifinal. Both fighters are on impressive win streaks and qualified for the playoffs, tied with nine points in the regular season. Currently, DraftKings has 2022 champ Wilkinson as a slight favorite to advance to the next tournament round.

    The PFL 8 preliminary card is expected to kick off the event at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT on ESPN+. The main card will air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ at 9 PM ET/ 6 PM PT. 

    PFL 8: Impa Kasanganay vs. Josh Silveira Weigh-In Results

    (Fight Card Is Subject To Change)

    Main Card (ESPN & ESPN+):

    • Light Heavyweight Semifinal: Impa Kasanganay (203.8 lbs) vs. Josh Silveira (205.2 lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight Semifinal: Rob Wilkinson (206 lbs) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (205.6 lbs)
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Gadzhi Rabadanov (155.8 lbs) vs. Michael Dufort (155.8 lbs)
    • Lightweight Semifinal: Brent Primus (155.2 lbs) vs. Clay Collard (155.6 lbs)
    • Lightweight: Biaggio Ali Walsh (155.4 lbs) vs. Brian Stapleton (160.5 lbs)*

    Preliminary Card (ESPN+):

    • Bantamweight: Danny Sabatello (135.6 lbs) vs. Lazaro Dayron (135.8 lbs)
    • Lightweight: Mads Burnell (155 lbs) vs. Elvin Espinoza (156 lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Thad Jean (170.8 lbs) vs. Chris Brown (170.4 lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jordan Oliver (145.8 lbs) vs. Braydon Akeo (146 lbs)
    • Women’s Featherweight: Michelle Montague (145 lbs) vs. Marilia Morais (145.8 lbs)

    *Brian Stapleton missed the lightweight limit by 4.5 pounds.

  • Tai Tuivasa Describes Sparring With Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘Got The Sh*t Punched Out Of Me’

    Tai Tuivasa Describes Sparring With Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘Got The Sh*t Punched Out Of Me’

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa got a bit of a wake-up call when he threw down with light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira.

    Tuivasa is among the home fighters looking to make a splash in front of their fellow Australians this weekend in Perth, where the RAC Arena will play host to the UFC 305 pay-per-view.

    Having had his losing skid extended to four by Marcin Tybura this past March, “Bam Bam” is in desperate need of a bounce-back performance Down Under. To get it, the hard-hitting fan favorite will need to land first when he and Jairzinho Rozenstruik inevitably go hell for leather on fight night.

    “Bam Bam” completed his fight camp over in Dubai. But before getting it started in mid-June, he got a taste of sparring Pereira, the reigning 205-pound kingpin, during the Brazilian’s Australia tour.

    Suffice to say, that marked about as rude a welcome back to training as imaginable…

    Tuivasa After Sparring Pereira: ‘F*ck, I Better Go Train’

    During his appearance at UFC 305 media day, Tuivasa was asked about his experience sparring with Pereira a couple of months back, specifically the power that came his way from “Poatan.”

    The Aussie admitted that he served as a punching bag, highlighting that the training session came just prior to his UFC 305 fight camp when he wasn’t in the best shape.

    “Yeah, it was kind of my first training session back and I got the sh*t punched out of me,” Tuivasa said. “I think I left a few days after that to Dubai and was like, ‘F*ck, yeah, I better go train.’”

    In terms of Pereira’s power, though, Tuivasa appeared to dismiss the suggestion that the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ packs the kind of dynamite in his fists that he’s not used to experiencing in the heavyweight division.

    “His power was, you know — I fight at heavyweight, so we can take a punch or two,” Tuivasa continued. “It was more I hadn’t been training, went in, and I was f*cking running out of breath and getting the sh*t punched out of me. But that’s the sport we do, and it was all fun and games.”

    And when it comes to avoiding power shots, practice against Pereira could come in handy given who Tuivasa is slated to share the Octagon with this weekend.

    While known for his KO abilities himself, “Bam Bam’s” opponent Rozenstruik is similarly ferocious in the standup realm, recording 13 of his 14 wins by knockout and notably sleeping Allen Crowder with a single jab after just nine seconds in 2019.

  • Israel Adesanya On What He Saw When Facing Off With ‘Pufferfish’ Dricus Du Plessis Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘This Is His First Rodeo…’ 

    Israel Adesanya On What He Saw When Facing Off With ‘Pufferfish’ Dricus Du Plessis Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘This Is His First Rodeo…’ 

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes Dricus Du Plessis is in uncharted territory with their upcoming matchup.

    The pair of rivals will headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, this weekend, where the RAC Arena will play host to the conclusion of over a year of bad blood between Du Plessis and Adesanya.

    When they were originally set to square off in 2023, “The Last Stylebender” occupied the throne at 185 pounds. But when “Stillknocks” couldn’t turn around in time for UFC 293 in Sydney, Sean Strickland took his place and shockingly dethroned Adesanya.

    A victory over “Tarzan” later and the South African is back with his sights set on the Nigerian-New Zealander. This time, however, circumstances are reversed, with Du Plessis now the hunted following his crowning this past January.

    With that in mind, Adesanya sees a fighter trying to act the part in an unfamiliar environment…

    Adesanya On Du Plessis Showdown: ‘I’ve Been Here Before’

    During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Adesanya looked ahead to his attempt to make history as the first three-time middleweight champ this weekend Down Under.

    “The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback having remained away from the cage for the 11 months since his title loss to Strickland. According to Du Plessis, his challenger no longer has the hunger and already has one foot in retirement.

    But while the champ claimed to see a man trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this when staring into the eyes of Adesanya at the on-sale press conference six weeks ago, the former kingpin has turned the tables with his own conclusion.

    “(I saw) a pufferfish. He was just pompous, trying to like, big himself up,” Adesanya said. “This is his first rodeo. This is not my first rodeo. I’ve been here before. I’ve defended my belt multiple times. It’s his first rodeo, so he was trying to — even at the Welcome to Country ceremony yesterday, I found it really weird how I’m listening to the elders speak and he’s trying to meme-mug me. I’m like, bro, pay respect to the original people of the land.”

    Adesanya will look to prove that he’s built for these kinds of high-stakes situations by making good on his promise to make Du Plessis pay for some of his controversial past remarks.

    Such a feat would only add to his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage, with his past accomplishments already leaving him as the consensus second greatest of all time at 185 pounds behind Anderson Silva.

  • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas Official For UFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event, Derrick Lewis Co-Headlines

    Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas Official For UFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event, Derrick Lewis Co-Headlines

    The stakes will be high at 125 pounds when the UFC makes its return to Edmonton, Alberta, this coming November 2.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion hasn’t been in “The Big E” since staging UFC 240 at Rogers Place in 2019. The venue will once again be the host for in-cage action when the Octagon heads back to Canada, this time in the form of a UFC Fight Night.

    While announcing the event to Sportsnet this week, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that elite flyweights Erin Blanchfield (12-2) and Rose Namajunas (13-6) will headline proceedings in “The Great White North.”

    “Cold Blooded” currently sits at #3 in the rankings but is coming off her first UFC defeat, having been outpointed by Manon Fiorot in the Atlantic City main event this past March.

    “Thug Rose,” meanwhile, has risen to #5 on the ladder after bouncing back from a divisional debut loss to Fiorot in Paris by reeling off consecutive headline victories over Amanda Ribas and Tracy Cortez.

    Derrick Lewis Gets Co-Main Billing At UFC Fight Night Edmonton

    Before Namajunas, a former two-time UFC strawweight champion, and Blanchfield do battle to close out the show, another notable name will be in action on Nov. 2.

    White also announced the co-main event for the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, and it’ll see heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis (28-12, 1 NC) return against fellow ranked contender Alexandr Romanov (17-3).

    “The Black Beast” 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 five-round loss to Jailton Almeida in Brazil last November by stopping Rodrigo Nascimento in the UFC Fight Night St. Louis main event this past May.

    Romanov, meanwhile, is sat two places below Lewis in the pecking order at #13. Defeats to Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov initially stalled his planned surge toward the top 10. And although he was able to bounce back at the expense of Blagoy Ivanov in 2023, he was most recently comfortably submitted by Almeida at UFC 302 in Newark.

    With the recent announcements, 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. Alexandr Romanov (heavyweight co-main event)
    • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
    • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
    Derrick Lewis
    Image: UFC.com
  • Eugene Bareman Details UFC 305 Fight Week Interaction With ‘Very Nice’ Dricus Du Plessis & Co.: ‘I Can’t Speak For Israel…’

    Eugene Bareman Details UFC 305 Fight Week Interaction With ‘Very Nice’ Dricus Du Plessis & Co.: ‘I Can’t Speak For Israel…’

    Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, recently revealed that despite the fierce animosity between “The Last Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis, he shares a surprisingly warm camaraderie with the UFC middleweight champion and his team.

    Du Plessis is set to make his inaugural title defense against Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, taking place this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    The tension between these middleweight powerhouses has been building for a while, and it almost reached a breaking point during their fiery altercation in the Octagon at UFC 290 in July 2023. Adesanya and Du Plessis were initially targeted to settle their differences at UFC 293 in September 2023, but “Stillknocks” was forced to withdraw due to an injury.

    However, UFC 290 wasn’t the first time these rivals crossed paths in public. Back in 2016, while both were training at the Tiger Muay Thai facility in Thailand, Du Plessis accidentally collided with Adesanya. Unlike their recent heated exchanges, this hasty encounter was marked by mutual apologies rather than harsh words.

    Beyond the competitive tension, the animosity between them intensified when “Stillknocks” challenged Adesanya’s African identity, questioning the legitimacy of the Nigerian-born fighter who now calls New Zealand home.

    However, this discord doesn’t extend to City Kickboxing’s head coach, who maintains a positive relationship with Du Plessis…

    Bareman Reveals His Unique Connection With Team Du Plessis, Distinct From Adesanya’s Experience

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Bareman shared that he enjoys a cordial rapport with Du Plessis and his team despite their complex history with the former middleweight champion.

    The esteemed MMA coach recounted first meeting the South African team during a 2016 training session at Tiger Muay Thai. At that time, they established a bond that has only deepened over the years, despite the ups and downs involving his own fighter.

    I was actually there; I did some rounds and had a conversation with the boys,” Bareman said. “I was still fighting and sparring, so I remember sparring with the boys and having the video footage where he’s [Du Plessis] sparring Volk [Alexander Volkanovski] and stuff. I’m also in the room sparring somewhere else. Eventually, I got around and we sparred each other as well. Yeah, and I had conversations with them. It was really obvious that they were like brothers, and they were from South Africa, so I remember having some good, decent conversations with them. They’re a very nice team. I can’t speak for Israel, obviously; he’s got his own history, and that’s a little bit different from my history.”

    Bareman further noted that he recently interacted with several members of Du Plessis’ team during UFC 305 fight week and found them to be exceptionally respectful.

    “They’ve come up to me, made their way through the crowd, and said, ‘Hey Coach Bareman or Coach Eugene, how are you? Good to see you again. It’s been so long. Who would have thought after all these years, after us sparring in that little room, that we would all be in this position?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s absolutely amazing.’ I just wish them all the best. There’s some stuff going on, and it’s a good story, I guess. But from my experience back then and now, they’re good people.”

    It remains highly uncertain whether Adesanya and Du Plessis will put their bad blood to rest after their fight. However, one thing is certain: the showdown is set to deliver an electrifying spectacle for fans, fueled by the deep-seated rivalry between the two fighters.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Predicts Head Kick KO In UFC 305 Main Event: ‘The King Is About To Return To The Throne!’

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Predicts Head Kick KO In UFC 305 Main Event: ‘The King Is About To Return To The Throne!’

    Michael “Venom” Page recently offered his insights into the highly anticipated middleweight title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, suggesting that the fight could end with a spectacular head kick knockout.

    “Stillknocks” is set to defend his championship for the first time in a grudge match against Adesanya in the headline bout of the upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    The two fighters were initially expected to square off last September following their dramatic face-off at UFC 290 in July 2023, yet destiny had other plans when an untimely injury derailed Du Plessis. During that time, “The Last Stylebender” faced a surprising setback, losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

    In the wake of his defeat, Adesanya announced that he would be taking a hiatus to prioritize his mental well-being and recalibrate his career. Meanwhile, the South African power puncher made a triumphant return, narrowly defeating Strickland by a split decision to seize the 185-pound title at UFC 297.

    Despite returning from a loss and a year-long break, Adesanya still stands as the odds-on favorite against Du Plessis. The Nigerian-born Kiwi is hailed as one of the most formidable middleweight champions in UFC history, with five successful title defenses under his belt. His reign of dominance is credited to his intricate fighting style, a puzzle that many opponents struggle to solve, combined with his remarkable ability to land potent strikes while maintaining flawless control of range.

    A virtuoso of unconventional striking techniques himself, Page has a deep understanding of just how lethal ‘The Last Stylebender’ can be on his feet against Du Plessis…

    Page Expects ‘Old-School’ Adesanya To Shine Against Du Plessis

    During a recent UFC 305 prediction video on his YouTube channel, “Venom” offered his thoughts on the looming clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya. Page threw his support behind the former middleweight champion, suggesting that Adesanya’s time away from the octagon has likely reignited his hunger and determination.

    “The middleweight division is just crazy right now with its constant handovers when it comes to the belt, but I do think the king is about to return to his throne,” Page said. “There’s a different level of focus right now when it comes to Izzy after he had a little back and forth with [Alex] Pereira, got his one back. That was unbelievable because he put so much mental strength into that. He kind of just wasn’t in the same mindset after that; he kind of relaxed a bit too much and then obviously lost the belt. Now he’s back after giving himself some time to just, I guess, get that motivation again.”

    The Englishman further added that he anticipates a striking clinic from Izzy, one that will expertly neutralize the grappling and takedown threats posed by “Stillknocks”.

    “I do think we’re going to see the old school Izzy. Dricus is going to want to grab him and take him down to the floor. I think he’s [Adesanya] going to struggle initially to try and find the timing, but then when he starts getting plugged, it’s going to be a bit of a desperate takedown, which he may get, but I see Izzy standing straight back up on him and then just getting to work on his hands until I think he just gets demoralized. My boy is going to find a way to land. I could even see a head kick coming or a big punch that’s going to rock him and take him out of the fight.”

    Adesanya stands on the brink of history. If he secures a victory on August 17, he will join the exclusive ranks of the legendary Randy Couture by claiming an undisputed UFC title for the third time in a division. This monumental achievement would firmly establish his place among the greatest icons in MMA history.

  • Dan Hooker Reveals He Will ‘Probably’ Be Highest-Paid UFC Lightweight In New Five-Fight Deal

    Dan Hooker Reveals He Will ‘Probably’ Be Highest-Paid UFC Lightweight In New Five-Fight Deal

    Dan Hooker recently revealed that he inked a lavish new deal with the UFC, claiming it could potentially make him the highest-paid lightweight fighter on the roster.

    “The Hangman” is gearing up for a clash with Mateusz Gamrot on the main card of UFC 305, scheduled to go down this weekend at the iconic RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    Hooker has been particularly exhilarated about competing on the Australasia pay-per-view card, especially since it offers him the chance to fight alongside his City Kickboxing teammates, Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France.

    The 34-year-old New Zealander last stepped into the Octagon against Jalin Turner at UFC 290 in July 2023, where he showcased incredible grit by fighting through a broken arm to earn a hard-fought split-decision victory. He was originally set to make his comeback against Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night Austin last December, but he was forced to pull out after reinjuring his arm.

    Hooker has been a constant fixture in the UFC’s 155-pound division since 2014, earning notable victories over respected fighters such as Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder, and Jim Miller. Despite these impressive wins, he has struggled to fully harness his momentum and consistently perform at the level of his true potential.

    As one of the division’s seasoned veterans, Hooker is now reaping the rewards of his dedication, having recently signed a fresh deal with the UFC—a development that has sparked excitement for him…

    Hooker On New UFC Deal: ‘They Don’t Pay for Playing Nice’

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker revealed that he’s secured a fresh five-fight contract with the UFC. “The Hangman” explained that the negotiation process was lengthy.

    While the exact details of Hooker’s contract remain under wraps, now that the deal is sealed, he’s confident it catapults him into the upper echelon of earners within the lightweight division.

    “It’s been in the works for some time. I was on my last fight, which was supposed to be against Bobby Green and all that,” Hooker said. “So, it’s something that’s been in the background for quite a while now, but to finally get it all signed before this big deal is great. As far as I know, besides the big pay-per-view guys and the champs, I’ll probably be the highest-paid lightweight out there. You’ve got to stand your ground, brother—they don’t pay you for being nice.”

    Hooker is currently riding the momentum of a two-fight resurgence after a brief and challenging stint in the featherweight division, where he endured a first-round knockout at the hands of Arnold Allen in March 2022. With a UFC record of 13-8, Hooker is determined to keep his victorious momentum going come Saturday night.

  • Michael Chiesa Recalls ‘That Version’ Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Will Go Out On A Limb & Say I Think He Could Have Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘

    Michael Chiesa Recalls ‘That Version’ Of Tony Ferguson: ‘I Will Go Out On A Limb & Say I Think He Could Have Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘

    At one point in time, Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Tony Ferguson was right at the top of every MMA fan’s bucket list for fights they wanted to see.

    Despite the two men undergoing multiple training camps and fights weeks in preparation for one another, it never did materialize during their careers.

    With Nurmagomedov retiring in 2020, history has been much kinder to him as he walked away from the sport with his undefeated record intact.

    Ferguson at his peak was able to match the lightweight winning streak of “The Eagle” but he now finds himself holding the UFC record for the most consecutive losses.

    That being said, it can’t be forgotten just how desirable this fight was when both men were beating everyone else at 155 pounds.

    Michael Chiesa Says 2016 Tony Ferguson Could Have Beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov

    In a recent interview with BJPenn.com, Michael Chiesa spoke about how he prepared to face Ferguson at the recent UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi.

    He revealed how rather than watching his opponent’s latest outings, he went back to watching the very best of the former interim lightweight champion in order to make sure that he was training to fight Ferguson at full force.

    Chiesa would go on to win the fight via a submission but watching footage on his opponent only made him appreciate the winning run that he went on between 2013-2019, even more.

    He said that in one of the biggest “what ifs” in MMA history, he believes that the 2016 version of “El Cucuy” in particular had a strong chance of handing Nurmagomedov his first and only loss if they had met inside the Octagon 8 years ago.

    “I will admit like going back and watching some of his recent fights, I wouldn’t say gave me a false sense of security but I was definitely like this isn’t the film to watch, I’m going to go back and watch the film that I was watching to prepare for him in 2016. I watched that Rafael Dos Anjos fight a lot because I feel like that version of Tony Ferguson that we saw in the Octagon against Rafael Dos Anjos, I feel like he could have beat anybody in the world. I mean, I will go out on a limb and say I think that he could have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov if that was the version of him. I think that was his peak. The peak was RDA and even though he still won fights from there, I still think it started to go down a little bit.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

  • ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    ‘This Is Just A Bet Between Dana & Conor To See How Long Mikey Will Wait’ – Fans React To News That McGregor Will Not Fight In 2024

    With every passing week, it looks like the goal posts are being adjusted for when fans can expect to see Conor McGregor return to the Octagon.

    He made the decision to withdraw from his planned comeback fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June to a broken toe that he wished to recover from.

    Unfortunately, rescheduling a fight like that isn’t as easy as seeing when both men are ready to go, and that appears to have caused some complications.

    McGregor appears to be targeting December which is yet to have any fights announced but Dana White’s recent comments clarified where the UFC is at with this right now.

    During his post-fight press conference following the return of the Contender Series, he gave this update on his communications with “The Notorious”.

    “We talked yeah, we didn’t meet up but we talked and yeah, he wants to fight so we’ll figure it out.”

    When asked how soon that may be, White clarified that McGregor will not be fighting in 2024.

    “Not this year, he won’t fight this year.”

    McGregor responded to these comments via social media with his own post that once again pushed for the fight to take place in December, stating that he has already planned out his preparations for this time frame.

    MMA Fans React To Conor McGregor’s 2024 Return Being Ruled Out

    This update was obviously disappointing for a lot of fans on social media who appear to be coming to the realization that we might never see McGregor step back inside the Octagon after this long and drawn out process.

    It wasn’t ideal to have him withdraw from UFC 303 but the Irishman seemed to be committed to taking some time to heal, before diving right back into his training, postponing the fight rather than cancelling it altogether.

    Even Chandler, who has been put through the ringer in the past few months, seems to be ready to move on at this stage.

    Fans gave their take on the latest McGregor update from the UFC boss via social media.

    “How does he go from a toe injury to not fighting this year… Ridiculous”

    “It’s over, he’s never fighting again.”

    “Idk why y’all still allowing yourselves to be strung along. McGregor and Dana are playing games. If Conor was serious this would’ve already happened. If he’s not done yet, he’s definitely close to the end. Don’t know what he’s trying to prove but this is getting sad.”

    “Unreal. This has become comical at this point. I’d love to know what the excuse is this time.”

    “I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just a bet between Dana and Conor to see how long Mikey will wait.”

    “Michael Chandler putting the red panties away. Maybe next year.”

    “it’s been “not this year” for the passed three years. hang it up already.”

    Read also: Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

  • Darren Till On Israel Adesanya Being In The Top 10 MMA GOAT List: MMA Fans Are Quick To Go ‘You’re S**t!’

    Darren Till On Israel Adesanya Being In The Top 10 MMA GOAT List: MMA Fans Are Quick To Go ‘You’re S**t!’

    Israel Adesanya has got a huge task waiting for him on August 17 in Perth, Australia.

    After losing his UFC middleweight title in a shock upset against Sean Strickland at UFC 293, he made the decision to take some long overdue time away.

    In fact, his one-year break is the longest he has taken since signing to the UFC, where he has been one of the most active major names on the roster.

    Coming back to face Dricus Du Plessis is a tall order but in doing so, he can make history by becoming a three-time champion at 185 pounds.

    It was already incredibly impressive when he got revenge over Alex Pereira in their rematch to win back the title for the second time but to do it again, could put him into all-time great conversations.

    Darren Till Agrees That UFC 305 Is Huge For Israel Adesanya’s Legacy

    During a recent interview with Title Sports Network, former UFC middleweight contender Darren Till gave his thoughts on what a win at UFC 305 could do for Adesanya’s legacy.

    Having already looked to pass on some advice to “The Last Stylebender” based on what he learned in his fight with Du Plessis two years ago, the scouse fighter has always been open about being a fan of Adesanya.

    He agreed with the sentiment that reclaiming the middleweight throne will at least put Adesanya into ‘top 10’ conversations regarding legacy.

    Till did also add that this in itself is a problem with the MMA fanbase, where opinions can change drastically from fight to fight due to recency bias.

    “Yeah, I think if Adesanya beats Du Plessis, he’s in that conversation [of top 10 GOATs in MMA] cuz he’s beat everyone. So yeah, I think people, this is the problem again we were talking about the MMA fans, they’re so quick to just go, ‘Oh you’re s***!’ It’s just quite annoying like Adesanya is a f****** phenom and I’m one of them guys that talk a lot of s*** but when it comes down to reality, you have to give like respect to some of these, yeah the props, 100%.”

    Read also: Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

  • ‘Ain’t Gonna Help The Glass Chin But Sure’ – MMA Fans React As Johnny Walker Ditches Conor McGregor’s Gym To Train With Khabib Nurmagomedov

    ‘Ain’t Gonna Help The Glass Chin But Sure’ – MMA Fans React As Johnny Walker Ditches Conor McGregor’s Gym To Train With Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Having spent time earlier in his career training in both Scotland and England, Johnny Walker eventually found his way to SBG Dublin in Ireland.

    Joining the gym in 2020 after facing some adversity following his rapid climb up the light heavyweight rankings, the Brazilian has spent the majority of his UFC tenure with this team.

    Here Walker would develop a great relationship with head coach John Kavanagh, who is most well known for being the main man in the corner of Conor McGregor.

    However, following another patch of difficult results, it looks like the knockout artist is now looking to take himself out of his comfort zone once again.

    Recent photos that were posted by “iamthebay” on Instagram show a training session at the American Kickboxing Academy, or AKA, in California.

    Here, Walker can be seen getting some work in with the likes of Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov, as well as the UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

    MMA Fans React To Johnny Walker Training Alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov After Years At SBG

    Walker has always been a fighter that generates talking points both in and out of the cage and this has now extended to his training.

    Though it’s far from uncommon to see fighters move between top gyms during their careers, you won’t see many that switch from McGregor’s home base to that of his arch rival’s.

    In Walker’s case, working with some of the top grapplers in the sport could help to round out his skill set, making this invaluable training for him.

    MMA fans reacted on social media to the images of Walker and Nurmagomedov sharing a mat together.

    “If Johnny comes into his next fight with a chin I’m heading to dagestan”

    “Ain’t gonna help the Glass chin but sure”

    “Good idea to change his fighting style”

    “Johnny Walker will become Dessert Eagle”

    “If he leaves John Kavanagh for Khabib and AKA, he can maybe turn his career around”

    “I know Conor is big mad seeing this. Walker was training at SBG, which is Conor’s gym now hes training at AKA, which is Khabib’s gym…”

    “The best move, as proven with all the fighters that go train with them”

    https://twitter.com/RuflonMMA/status/1823679784762609708

    “Khabib swap your chin with him he needs it more than you”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

  • UFC 305 Fighter Predicts Knockout Loss In Islam Makhachev’s Future Due To Weight Cut: ‘I’ve Shared A Training Room With Him…’ (Exclusive)

    UFC 305 Fighter Predicts Knockout Loss In Islam Makhachev’s Future Due To Weight Cut: ‘I’ve Shared A Training Room With Him…’ (Exclusive)

    UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has made it very clear that competing at a higher weight class is in his future plans.

    The pound-for-pound #1 wants to add a second belt to his collection after giving Alexander Volkanovski the opportunity to do the same on two occasions.

    There may be an issue with this intention for the time being after his friend Belal Muhammad became the welterweight champion, but you can be sure that it’ll still be on his bucket list.

    Having had a behind the scenes look at one of Makhachev’s earlier UFC fight weeks, Ricky Glenn is surprised that it hasn’t happened already.

    Makhachev’s coach and long-time teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov cut a lot of weight in order to make 155-pounds and it caused issues at points in his career.

    Whilst the current champion hasn’t had too many concerns in recent years, Glenn recently recalled his experiences of watching what he would put himself through to make the 155 pound limit.

    Ricky Glenn Recalls Watching Islam Makhachev Train Like A ‘Zombie’ During Tough Weight Cut

    Glenn is set to return this weekend at UFC 305 where he will compete at welterweight for the first time in his UFC career against Song Kenan.

    When giving his thoughts on Makhachev’s current title reign, Glenn recalled how he previously shared a training room with him during fight week for the Iowa native’s UFC debut back in 2016.

    He said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see someone stop the current champion in the future if he remains at lightweight, with what he puts his body through to make the weight.

    In fact, this fight week that Glenn was reflecting on saw Makhachev bounce back from his one and only career defeat, when he was knocked out by Adriano Martins at UFC 192.

    “He’s just on a whole other level and he cuts a lot of weight. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved up because man, I’ve shared a training room with him. I think it was, it might have been my debut fight, he fought Chris [Wade] but days before weigh-ins and just zaps. Could barely move and they’re just throwing punches like this fast, it’s just super slow, like a zombie.

    “But, he makes the weight somehow and can recover but I’d be worried eventually if he can’t recover good enough, someone’s going to TKO or knock him out I think with cutting that much weight. It’s impressive how much he cuts and fills back up.”

    Read also: Brendan Allen Highlights What ‘Insanely Lucky’ Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Defense Against Israel Adesanya Will Come Down To (Exclusive)

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Mateusz Gamrot’s Win Over Top Contender Arman Tsarukyan Ahead Of UFC 305

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Mateusz Gamrot’s Win Over Top Contender Arman Tsarukyan Ahead Of UFC 305

    UFC 305 fighter Mateusz Gamrot broke into contention in the lightweight division by emerging from a high-level main event with his hand raised just over two years ago.

    The #5-ranked contender at 155 pounds will return on the main card of this weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with getting the better of Dan Hooker if he’s to make it four wins on the bounce and maintain his position in the title picture.

    Before a defeat to Beneil Dariush stalled his surge toward the top, “Gamer” established himself high up the division by getting the better of memorable UFC Fight Night main event opposite Arman Tsarukyan, who has since risen to #1 in the rankings.

    The pair of European standouts battled it out across a competitive five rounds of action inside the Apex, with the Polish fighter ultimately falling on the right side of all three scorecards.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Gamrot vs. Tsarukyan fight from UFC Vegas 57 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7I1oollANg

    Gamrot will hope to similarly impress with his performance this weekend and stake his claim for a first-time shot at the lightweight title.

    Having come under criticism for his control-heavy style in recent times, “Gamer” has acknowledged the need to deliver fireworks with his display opposite Hooker if he’s to secure a more favorable position in the “politics” that decide championship opportunities in the UFC.

  • Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t think it’s wise for Dricus Du Plessis to rile Israel Adesanya up ahead of their championship clash Down Under this weekend.

    Du Plessis will defend his middleweight belt for the first time since winning it from Sean Strickland when he makes the walk to headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event, which takes place inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    To maintain his grip on the belt, the South African is tasked with stalling Adesanya’s planned return to the throne for a record third time.

    Beyond championship stakes, however, their matchup appears to be motivated by a bad-blood rivalry, sparked by some comments Du Plessis made regarding his status as the first fighter to achieve title glory on MMA’s biggest stage having been born, trained, and resided in Africa.

    An early Octagon interview also saw Du Plessis use the term “real African,” which rubbed the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman the wrong way.

    With that in mind, there appears to be a personal element to the bout for the Nigerian-New Zealander. And one ex-fighter thinks that’s a dangerous scenario for the champ…

    Sonnen On Adesanya’s UFC 305 Return: ‘When He Has Something Personal…’

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the matchup tasked with topping the lineup in Perth.

    In terms of the bad blood that appears to be fueling the animosity between the pair of headliners, “The American Gangster” thinks Adesanya now has the one element that was missing from his last UFC fight.

    “It’s wildly important that our viewers understand what these guys are fighting for,” Sonnen said. “Israel Adesanya has done his finest work when it’s personal. As a matter of fact, the worst performance he’s put forward was against Sean Strickland, and the only thing that was missing was a personal feud. He didn’t have a problem with Sean when that fight happened. He wasn’t really looking at Sean. … When that fight was over, Dana wanted to do a rematch; in fact he offered Izzy an immediate rematch. He said no. He just never had heat with Sean.

    “When he has something personal — excuse me, he called out Yoel Romero. You know how crazy that is? … It was personal. He told Dana, ‘Hey man, I got into this business because there’s guys that I want to fight…I don’t care what Yoel’s record is.’ That’s why this is so important,” Sonnen continued. “They didn’t just throw a belt out there…didn’t just dangle some pay-per-view points. The belt has nothing to do with it on Izzy’s side. And I will just contend for you, he does his final work when it’s personal.”

    Having stated that he’s returning to competition to “take heads” instead of with any focus on the gold, Adesanya will hope to start by beheading the reigning middleweight kingpin come fight night in Australia.

    And should he settle that grudge successfully by having his hand raised, perhaps he’d next turn his gaze back to Strickland and redemption against his fellow former champ.

  • Li Jingliang Reveals Changes He’s Made During 2-Year Layoff Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘You Guys Will See A Different Leech!’

    Li Jingliang Reveals Changes He’s Made During 2-Year Layoff Ahead Of UFC 305 Return: ‘You Guys Will See A Different Leech!’

    Returning UFC welterweight contender Li Jingliang has been fine-tuning his mindset and approach to fighting during an extended period on the sidelines.

    Following a submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev in late 2021, Jingliang rose to prominence in 2022, somewhat down to his knockout of Muslim Salikhov but also due to his likable personality.

    And fanfare surrounding “The Leech” only grew when he accepted a clash with a Daniel Rodriguez who weighed in 10 pounds heavier on just one day’s notice at UFC 279. Jingliang ultimately fell short on the scorecards in a decision that was widely debated.

    Unfortunately for the Chinese fighter, he’s been unable to bounce back from that controversial setback. Although he was scheduled for the opportunity to at UFC 287 in April 2023, a back injury ruled him out of that event and condemned him to the recovery table.

    Now almost exactly two years on from his last fight, the 36-year-old is back. He’ll open this weekend’s UFC 305 main card in Perth, Australia, against the high-flying Carlos Prates.

    And according to Jingliang, the Brazilian will be sharing the cage with a new and improved “Leech”…

    Jingliang Has Message For UFC Peers After Layoff Learning Experience: ‘We All Need To Make A Change’

    During a recent fight week interview for UFC.com, Jingliang reflected on the lengthy period he’s spent out of competition due to injury.

    Despite the frustrating stint, “The Leech” insisted he remained committed to improving himself as a fighter. And having altered a number of areas, he expects to be better than ever when the cage door closes behind him Down Under.

    “The injuries bothered me a lot. But after I recovered from the injury, I was fully committed to all the training sessions; every single minute, I was fully committed,” Jingliang said. “People like me because my never give up motto and spirit. … I have to thank UFC again because I’ve learned a lot here. … Even now, I still have my dream to become champion, so I have to master my destiny. For me, my fists will decide my destiny.

    “After the two-year layoff, I changed a lot. My training style, my daily behavior, my psychology; everything has changed, also my mindset,” Jingliang continued. “So I want to say to all the other athletes that we all need to make a change sometimes. We can not be stuck at the same point for a long time. So for me, after this long layback, I know what I want. I have changed. You guys will see a different ‘Leech.’”

    Jingliang will now look to reap the rewards from those changes when he feels the Octagon floor beneath his feet for the first time in 23 months.

    And should the Chinese fan favorite announced his comeback in style by blemishing the currently perfect UFC record of the highly touted Prates, “The Leech” would be right back in the mix at 170 pounds.

  • ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    ‘This Is Actually So Embarrassing’ – Fans React To Video Highlighting UFC’s Editing Of Israel Adesanya Quote To Remove Francis Ngannou Mention

    The UFC has been getting some backlash after removing one of the “three kings” from an Israel Adesanya quote in the recent Countdown episode.

    Adesanya is set to headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight title. The Nigerian-New Zealander will shoot for a historic three-time crowning inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    The build-up to Saturday’s numbered event has been relatively heated after Adesanya took issue with some of Du Plessis’ past comments regarding his status as the “real African” in the UFC.

    “The Last Stylebender” has accused the South African of downplaying his achievements, as well as others who came before him like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou. And the promotion played up to that storyline in its Countdown episode for UFC 305 — only, with just two of the “kings.”

    A recent video posted on X by AFeldmanMMA showed Adesanya making note of both Usman and Ngannou, who joined him as the “three kings” hailing from Africa who simultaneously held UFC gold in their possession, during the UFC 305 on-sale press conference.

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

    The instance marks the latest controversy surrounding the UFC”s attitude toward Ngannou since his departure at the start of 2023.

    After he chose to pursue his contractual demands elsewhere, the promotion notably incorrectly branded Tafon Nchukwi the “only Cameroonian fighter in UFC history” during a broadcast.

    Fans Slam Continued Ngannou Erasure: ‘UFC Can Try As Hard As They Want…’

    Members of the MMA community online were quick to give their takes on the latest example of the UFC looking to avoid any mention of Ngannou.

    Plenty were up in arms, accusing the UFC of attempting to diminish the former heavyweight champion’s legacy. The promotion wasn’t without its defenders, however, in addition to those who took issue with the branding of Nchukwi as the first Cameroonian UFC fighter but saw no issue with the editing of Adesanya’s quote.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dan Hooker’s Bloody Brawl With Jalin Turner Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Dan Hooker’s Bloody Brawl With Jalin Turner Ahead Of UFC 305 Return

    UFC 305 star Dan Hooker had to fight through significant adversity to have his hand raised in memorable fashion when he last entered the Octagon.

    The lightweight fan favorite will return on the main card of this weekend’s pay-per-view event at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with getting the better of Mateusz Gamrot if he’s to climb back toward the title picture at 155 pounds.

    Hooker has won two straight since a difficult run of form, most recently showing that his time toward the top is far from over by stalling the ambitions of Jalin Turner. The pair put on one of the fights of the night at UFC 290 last July, both wearing the damage from a three-round battle.

    “The Tarantula” got the better of the early goings, notably connecting with a brutal head kick that Hooker somehow ate and maintained consciousness. “The Hangman,” though, was able to rally in rounds two and three to fall on the right side of a split decision — a feat made only more impressive by the fact Hooker had competed with a badly broken arm for the majority of the fight.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Hooker vs. Turner fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhoIoS5Ytc

    Hooker will look to achieve a similar result come fight night Down Under, but likely without the grueling three-round nature of the contest and the severely broken arm he emerged from Las Vegas with over a year ago.

    The New Zealander has, however, vowed to give Gamrot the “most exciting” fight of his career. And with “Gamer” also acknowledging the need to entertain if he’s to fight for gold soon, perhaps the Perth fans will be in for a barnburner when these two lightweights share the cage.

  • Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    Daniel Cormier Wasn’t Interested In Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Before ‘Uncomfortable’ Bad Blood

    It took a some animosity for ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier to see this weekend’s main event as a matchup worth getting excited for.

    Middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will put his title on the line for the first time in the headliner of the UFC 305 pay-per-view, where he’s tasked with stalling the three-time champ ambitions of Israel Adesanya.

    The pair will enter the cage inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, in the culmination of a feud sparked well over a year ago as a result of some controversial remarks from the then-future titleholder.

    In one of his early post-fight interviews in the UFC, “Stillknocks” branded himself the promotion’s “real African” fighter, referring to his continued stay in the continent. He reiterated that sentiment in regard to his pursuit of gold, vowing to become the first champion who was born, resides, and trains in Africa.

    The comments resulted in some tense exchanges with Adesanya, who recently berated his opponent’s “colonialist mindset” at the start of UFC 305 fight week.

    With that in mind, the sensitive nature of their bad blood shows no sign of waning as fight night approaches, and one former champ doesn’t see that as a bad thing…

    Cormier: ‘I Want To See The Fight’ Because Of Du Plessis & Adesanya’s Feud

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to this weekend’s PPV headliner Down Under.

    In terms of the animosity between the pair ever since Adesanya took issue with Du Plessis’ words, Cormier suggested that in spite of the “uncomfortable” nature of the bad blood, it’s still taken his interest in the matchup from zero to 100.

    “You don’t wanna say the wrong thing because it’s so easy to offend people on either side of the coin,” Cormier said. “When he (Du Plessis) said it, I thought he would kind of walk it back because of Usman and because of Ngannou and because of Izzy. He’s not walking it back. He’s standing on his idea that he’s the only true African champion. I don’t know that I’d agree…but for me, more importantly than all of that, I want to see the fight.

    “If you would have told me, Chael, before all of this…all of this stuff that makes it so hot, that makes it so uncomfortable, I can seriously say to you I wasn’t very interested in those two guys fighting,” Cormier continued. “Now though, Chael, I am so interested in these two fighting because there’s something there. I love great fighters fighting each other, but when there’s a little bit extra, that is what draws me in as a fan. … This one this weekend has two of the best middleweights in the world, but they also have that bad blood, and it makes it fun.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge within the steel surroundings of the cage this weekend, 13 months on from their heated faceoff during International Fight Week.

  • Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

    According to UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has not lost a step.

    Muhammad was crowned kingpin at 170 pounds courtesy of a dominant upset victory over Leon Edwards at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, late last month.

    Having achieved his title dreams on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, “Remember the Name” had plenty of thanks to pass around to those who helped him reach the position he now finds himself in.

    Among them is Khabib Nurmagomedov and the members of his team.

    Prior to his knockout victory over Sean Brady in 2022, Muhammad sought the help of the former UFC lightweight champion and even had his guidance from the corner on fight night.

    Be it in person or over the phone, Muhammad has had a similar helping hand from “The Eagle” ever since. With that in mind, the welterweight champ is uniquely placed to describe the condition Khabib is in when it comes to hands-on training.

    And according to him, Khabib — who retired with a 29-0 record following his successful title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020 — is still a step above the rest…

    Muhammad: Khabib ‘Toyed With Me’ In Training

    During a recent appearance on ex-UFC athlete Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen’s The Fighter and The Kid podcast, Muhammad further described the work he’s been putting in with Khabib and some of the big names on the Nurmagomedov team.

    “Remember the Name” admitted he was regularly schooled on the mats, including by the retired lightweight legend himself. And when it comes to Khabib’s continued mixed martial arts capabilities, Muhammad says he’d back “The Eagle” to capture gold again at any weight.

    “There’s not a weak person in that group. Every single one of the people is beating me up,” Muhammad said. “Khabib’s freakin’ playing with me, throwing me around. I’m just like, ‘Man, I’m fighting for the world title and this guy’s just toying with me.’

    “Literally, when I was in New Jersey I was like, ‘Bro, I’m getting killed by him,’” Muhammad continued. “Khabib’s still — literally he could come back and be a champion right now in any division he wants to. … It’s literally unbelievable.”

    Unfortunately for fans hoping to see those claims tested inside the cage, Khabib has remained firm on his refusal to entertain a comeback since hanging up his gloves.

    While he was initially a regular fixture in the camps and corners for the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, “The Eagle” took an extended break from traveling in 2023.

    Recent months have seen his return to that realm, however, with Khabib first cornering Makhachev against Dustin Poirier this past June and more recently calling the shots for his cousin Umar’s victory over Cory Sandhagen earlier this month.

  • Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    Dana White Reaffirms Stance On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘A Guy That Did Everything Wrong…’

    UFC CEO Dana White has doubled down on the promotion’s decision not to re-sign undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev.

    Mokaev appeared to be entering a title eliminator at 125 pounds when he shared the Octagon with then fellow top 10-ranked contender Manel Kape at the UFC 304 pay-per-view in Manchester, England, late last month.

    In the end, “The Punisher” was making the walk to the Octagon for the final time inside the Co-op Live. That’s despite the Dagestan-born Brit having his hand raised and remaining unbeaten, both in the UFC and across his amateur and professional careers.

    During his post-fight press conference, White revealed the promotion wouldn’t be re-signing Mokaev after he fought out his contract on home soil. While the grappler’s fight style had been pointed to as a criticism in recent times, the UFC chief insisted the issues leading to the release came away from the Octagon.

    The weeks since have seen considerable debate over Mokaev’s exit, with many accusing the UFC of double standards given the trouble caused by the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones away from fights.

    White, however, is holding firm on the call to let Mokaev go…

    White Tells Mokaev: ‘You Put Yourself In This Position!’

    During the post-fight press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was asked about the organization’s decision to let Mokaev go.

    White reiterated that problems outside of the cage left the matchmakers and executive Hunter Campbell less than pleased with “The Punisher,” to the point where they were content losing him from the flyweight roster.

    And when it comes to Mokaev’s complaints and disagreement on social media about the decision, White said he has nobody to blame but himself.

    “It is what it is. I always say this, this is an opportunity to be here and to perform in front of the entire world. He’s just a guy that did everything wrong and pissed these guys off,” White said. “I wasn’t involved in any of the stuff that happened with him, but you know, the matchmakers and Hunter were, and they weren’t happy with him.

    “They weren’t happy with the way he acted. They weren’t happy with a lot of things he did and said. I guess you can look back now and regret it, but you did it,” White continued. “You put yourself in this position.”

    Despite his offer to fight for free and pleas for a UFC return, it would appear that Mokaev has considerable work to do away from the Octagon if he’s to convince the higher-ups of the merits that come with re-signing him down the line.

    And in terms of where he’ll attempt that, it seems fans aren’t far away from finding out Mokaev’s first post-UFC destination.

  • Israel Adesanya Predicts Dricus Du Plessis Will ‘Shoot Straight Away’ At UFC 305: ‘I Doubt He’ll Want To Strike With Me’

    Israel Adesanya Predicts Dricus Du Plessis Will ‘Shoot Straight Away’ At UFC 305: ‘I Doubt He’ll Want To Strike With Me’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya expects for his wrestling defense to be required come fight night against Dricus Du Plessis.

    Adesanya will headline this weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view event in competition for Du Plessis’ title. The South African captured the crown by dethroning Sean Strickland, who secured his brief reign by upsetting “The Last Stylebender” close to a year ago.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander has not competed since, instead taking time to rest and recuperate following a period of intense activity after his undisputed title win back in 2019.

    The RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, will be the stage for his mixed martial arts comeback, and Du Plessis is the man tasked with preventing a historic three-time feat at 185 pounds for Adesanya.

    And while he used his unorthodox but effective striking style to get the better of Robert Whittaker and Strickland in the past, Adesanya expects his South African rival to resort to his grappling when stood across from his kickboxing talents…

    Adesanya Ready To Prove Himself In The Grappling Realm Again

    During an interview with Stake, Adesanya looked ahead to his first appearance inside the Octagon in 11 months and assessed the matchup that awaits him.

    While those backing the champ have seemingly pointed to his forward-pressure style on the feet, which appeared to contribute to Adesanya’s undoing against Strickland, “The Last Stylebender” is predicting a quick grappling entry from Du Plessis.

    “I think he’s going to shoot straight away. I doubt he’ll want to strike with me for too long,” Adesanya said. “This is something that people always say, but I’ve shown before that I can wrestle too. It might not be how everyone else wrestles, but I can wrestle too. That’s why I ended up becoming world champion.”

    Should that be the case, Adesanya will look to prove those who doubt his grappling arsenal wrong by bringing the fight back to his favored environment, where he wants to deliver on the emphatic performance that both he and teammates like Alexander Volkanovski have predicted for him.

  • Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 1 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 1 Highlights As 4 Prospects Secure Contracts

    The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series kicked off 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. And episode one of season eight this week saw four prospects move a step closer to their title dreams on MMA’s biggest stage.

    The return of DWCS began in violent fashion courtesy of former Cage Warriors standout Lone’er Kavanagh, who landed a short left hook to brutally knock out the highly touted An Tuan Ho in the very first round.

    Flyweights set the pace, and the featherweights soon matched it. Continuing the trend of vicious stoppages, MMA Lab’s Jose Delgado landed a flush knee to the head of Ernie Juarez to get things done in round two.

    The other two victors to land finishes, light heavyweight Bruno Lopes and middleweight Mansur Abdul-Malik, were also rewarded with contracts, although the decision to grant the former one caused considerable debate on social media.

    Rami Hamed’s lackluster decision win over Meng Ding 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.

    Lone’er Kavanagh Def. An Tuan Ho Via KO: Round 1, 2:35

    Jose Delgado Def. Ernie Juarez Via KO: Round 2, 1:25

    Bruno Lopes Def. Mikheil Sazhiniani Via TKO: Round 2, 4:14

    Mansur Abdul-Malik Def. Wesley Schultz Via TKO: Round 2, 3:55