MMA News

Category: News

Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news from around the globe. Our comprehensive feed covers all major promotions.

  • MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 31, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Anik says fans are biased against Muhammad
    • Allen labels Olympic Games as corrupt
    • UFC veteran says Mokaev didn’t have a leg to stand on

    Jon Anik Says Fans Criticism Of UFC 304 Main Event Is Out Of Dislike For Belal Muhammad

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes that some fans have been too critical of the UFC 304 main event, due to their dislike of Belal Muhammad.

    Whilst the majority of each round was spent with either Muhammad or Leon Edwards holding the other in a dominant position with little action, the momentum of the fight did swing back and forth at points.

    Anik said that to make it clear, he is a huge fan of both men because whilst he may be friends with the new champion, his career will always be tied to “Rocky” and his title reign.

    On the Anik & Florian Podcast recap of this past weekend’s event, he said that some were looking for a way to criticize Muhammad rather than praise him.

    “So I’m not sure what exactly we are looking for, I think a lot of people just watch Belal Muhammad with a tainted eye and that’s why I tweet, “cry”, right. I am a Leon Edwards fan as anyone knows, ‘Shabba Madda Pot’ is my favorite song.

    “My most significant call of my career is Leon Edwards, the favorite moment of my professional career is when Leon hugged me after the fact, six months later. But, it is time to put respect on the name Belal Muhammad.”

    Arnold Allen Criticizes The Paris Olympic Games Amidst Multiple Controversies

    The Paris Olympic Games are in full swing but this particular instalment has been defined by controversy from the very start.

    In a recent series of posts on social media, UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen voiced his opinions on how the event has become unwatchable over time.

    He may have been planning to spend some time this summer watching the games after returning to the win column this past weekend at UFC 304 but “Almighty” has had to tap out.

    Allen referred to Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde who qualified for this year’s games despite being convicted of child rape in 2016.

    Matt Brown Says The UFC Made The Right Call Regarding Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract Status

    UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on the recent UFC departure of undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev.

    Like many, he admitted that he was surprised at first given the ability and potential that “The Punisher” brings to the table.

    Brown was also able to identify why the UFC would want to walk away from resigning the fighter, if he’s causing issues behind the scenes.

    Crucially, he pointed out how Mokaev isn’t in a position where the juice is worth the squeeze given his profile in the sport and performances, compared to other controversial fighters on the roster.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, “The Immortal” said that he understands the promotion’s call after what went down on fight week.

    “I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.

    “Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen saw some of his ex-rival Jon Jones in the performance of lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett this past weekend.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career at the UFC 304 pay-per-view, getting the better of King Green on the main card to secure a ranking for the very first time.

    “The Baddy” entered the Octagon in front of his home fans at Manchester’s Co-op Live as an underdog and with many backing Green to stall his charge following a close decision against Jared Gordon and failure to finish Tony Ferguson.

    But the Liverpool native needed just one round to prove them wrong, capitalizing on an ill-advised takedown to lock in a triangle choke and render Green unconscious.

    Among those majorly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts was Sonnen, who even compared his ability in the fight to an all-time great…

    Sonnen Praises Pimblett For Dealing With ‘Street Fighter’ Green

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s successful outing on home soil this past weekend.

    More so than the submission finish, “The American Gangster” was impressed by how “The Baddy” combatted a style and approach he won’t have faced in any previous fights or behind closed doors in training.

    The ability to do so, Sonnen says, is something Pimblett shares with the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    “(Green) fights like a street fighter. He’s got his hands down; you don’t know what he’s gonna do. He’s talking to you! It’s like two guys outside a liquor store, truly,” Sonnen said. “You know what? Paddy was dealing with it. It’s hard to deal with ’cause you can’t prepare for it; you can’t prepare for it because your teammates don’t show up drunk talking trash with their hands down.

    “Paddy was dealing with it. That is a Jon Jones-esque ability. Jon Jones is the king of fighting fighters that all he has to prepare is video tape,” Sonnen continued. “He’s got some weird guy that’s some kind of a tool that he has to deal with, and Jon doesn’t bring in the partners and doesn’t have the experience, but he watched him on tape and he came up with a plan because he knows the sport well enough. That’s what Paddy just did.”

    Having caught the eyes of the likes of Sonnen with his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Pimblett will look to continue his development and habit of proving his detractors wrong next time out.

    By all accounts, the Liverpool native will be looking to stake his claim for a spot inside the top 10, having secured the #15 spot in the division as it stands. And given his post-fight callout at UFC 304, he’ll have a close eye on Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis’ upcoming battle in Paris.

  • Javier Mendez Insists Conor McGregor Would ‘Not Be An Easy Night’s Work’ For Islam Makhachev

    Javier Mendez Insists Conor McGregor Would ‘Not Be An Easy Night’s Work’ For Islam Makhachev

    Javier Mendez recently remarked that a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev would be anything but an easy task for the reigning UFC lightweight champion.

    “The Notorious” has proven to be a relentless nemesis for fighters from Mendez’s American Kickboxing Academy, particularly underscored by his tempestuous rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which culminated in the historic UFC 229 showdown in October 2018.

    After Nurmagomedov retired from the UFC in October 2020, his trusted ally and training partner Makhachev emerged to inherit his reign over the lightweight division. Concurrently, McGregor has continued to stoke the flames of their rivalry, relentlessly targeting Makhachev with a series of provocative comments on social media.

    As one of the most iconic figures in UFC history, the former two-division champion captivates vast audiences with his every move. Mendez envisions a potential showdown between McGregor and Makhachev as an unparalleled spectacle…

    Mendez Believes Makhachev vs. McGregor Could Be The Ultimate Potential Showdown

    During a recent conversation with Instant Casino, Mendez likened a potential Makhachev vs. McGregor showdown to the grudge match between the Irishman and Nurmagomedov. The 53-year-old MMA coach suggested that this clash could generate a level of hype comparable to UFC 229.

    “I love Islam vs. Conor McGregor; who wouldn’t want to be involved in a fight that would have an electrifying atmosphere?” Mendez said. “That is a great fight for us and for the fans. One of the greatest feelings I had in my whole entire life was when Khabib and Conor fought because of the real hatred between both sides.”

    However, Mendez emphasized that “The Notorious” brings a wealth of experience and exceptional skills to the Octagon, cautioning that Makhachev should not anticipate a walk in the park.

    “But Conor would not be an easy [night’s] work for Islam because you have to respect the man; he’s got a lot of experience, and the only way you make it an easy night is because you train hard — but it will never be an easy night with a guy like Conor. You better train your butt off because he’s a real fighter, and if he’s going (to) come in prepared, it’s never going to be easy.”

    After nearly three years away from the Octagon, McGregor was primed for a highly anticipated comeback last month, set to clash with Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout headlining UFC 303.

    However, just weeks before the showdown, the excitement was abruptly cut short when McGregor revealed he had sustained a toe injury, forcing him to withdraw from the competition.

    The UFC superstar has not fought since July 2021 when he suffered a devastating leg fracture in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Slams US Timing For UFC 304 Title Fight: ‘It’s A Joke!’ 

    Leon Edwards’ coach was seemingly far from pleased to see his man attempting to defend the UFC welterweight title at 5:30 AM this past weekend.

    Edwards put his gold on the line on home soil for the second consecutive year, making the walk in Manchester, England, 16 months on from his first successful defense at the expense of Kamaru Usman in London.

    After adding Colby Covington’s name to his résumé last December, “Rocky” returned to the cage in the UK to headline UFC 304. But unlike his last outing at The O2, the Jamaican-born Brit’s third defense didn’t come in local time.

    Edwards competed at gone 5 AM in the morning as the promotion staged its Manchester return at the Co-op Live with the usual American timings. The champ was ultimately dethroned, with Belal Muhammad putting on a largely dominant display to capture the belt.

    Talk of the US timings remained prominent throughout the event and in the aftermath, and Edwards suggested that he had struggled to adapt. His coach was also among those frustrated with the unnecessary demands placed on home fighters such as the now-former welterweight kingpin…

    Edwards’ Coach On UFC 304 Timing: ‘Belal Never Had To Adjust!’

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Lovell reflected on his man’s defeat in Manchester, which marked Edwards’ first setback inside the cage since a decision loss to Kamaru Usman way back in 2015.

    When asked whether the UFC 304 timings played a part, Lovell let his feelings known on the decision not to accommodate for European fans and the local fighters.

    “You tell me (how much of an impact it had). Whichever fighter have you seen in his home country come out at half past 5, 5 AM in the morning, to fight?” Lovell said. “Realistically, it’s a joke really.

    “Belal never really had to adjust because his clock is set to the times of what we were fighting to. But Leon, in his home country, had to adapt as if he was acclimatizing, as if he was fighting in another country and fighting at 5:30 in the morning,” Lovell continued. “It just doesn’t seem right somehow.”

    Edwards and his team will now look forward to his pursuit of two-time status. With an immediate trilogy fight opposite new champ Muhammad appearing off the table, coach Lovell named Ian Garry as his preferred next opponent for “Rocky.”

    “Remember the Name,” meanwhile, will be focused one establishing his reign and legacy at 170 pounds. In the eyes of man, that should begin with a first defense against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.

  • UFC Veteran Says Promotion Right Not To Re-Sign Muhammad Mokaev: ‘Once You’re Jon Jones…Yeah You Get Away With Some Sh*t’

    UFC Veteran Says Promotion Right Not To Re-Sign Muhammad Mokaev: ‘Once You’re Jon Jones…Yeah You Get Away With Some Sh*t’

    According to one experienced fighter, flyweight up-and-comer Muhammad Mokaev didn’t establish himself enough to “get away” with the actions that seemingly led to his UFC exit.

    Entering this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England, many would have expected a victory for Mokaev to pave the way for a first-time title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Instead, “The Punisher” is posting Job Centre memes having been left without a spot on the UFC roster. How did he get there? Well, seemingly a number of incidents outside the Octagon that left Dana White and the matchmakers wanting out.

    While White remained tight-lipped on the exact reasons behind the decision not to offer Mokaev a new contract following his decision win over Manel Kape, he insisted it wasn’t down to the grappler’s fighting style.

    Many have pointed to the fight week altercation he caused with “Starboy” after sucker-punching him outside a hotel as the kind of incident that likely contributed to the surprising release.

    Mokaev’s supporters have hit back at the UFC, accusing the promotion of double standards given the the history of controversy involving the likes of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. According to one of the sport’s fan favorites, though, Mokaev hadn’t reached the level of stardom required to gain some immunity in the eyes of the UFC brass…

    Matt Brown Backs UFC Decision To Let Mokaev Go

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, retired UFC veteran Matt Brown reacted to Mokaev’s shock departure, which came on the back of the Dagestan-born Brit extending his perfect professional record to 13-0 and UFC slate to 7-0.

    “I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.

    “Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in wait for Mokaev and his career in the coming months. If he has his way, it will seemingly be an immediate return to the UFC flyweight division.

    This week, “The Punisher” has shut down talk of PFL negotiations and insisted he only sees his future playing out inside the Octagon.

  • VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    The lead-up to Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306/Noche UFC headliner at the Sphere in September looks set to be a heated one.

    Mixed martial arts’ premier organization will stage its second celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. Las Vegas is once again the host venue, but the Octagon will be in significantly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC will take place inside the unique Sphere venue. For months now, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a sporting spectacle like nothing seen before.

    Tasked with delivering on that with blockbuster action inside the cage are headliners O’Malley and Dvalishvili, who will collide with the former’s bantamweight championship on the line in the main event.

    The pair have long gone back and forth over their matchup, and that trend shows no sign of waning as UFC 306 approaches…

    O’Malley, Dvalishvili Trade Barbs Over Coach Altercation

    “Sugar” and his Georgian challenger recently shared the same space to complete a promotional shoot for the highly anticipated Sphere show.

    Unsurprisingly, things threatened to boil over. And as O’Malley and Dvalishvili exchanged words, their fellow UFC 306 fighter Alexa Grasso reveled in the tension…

    The point of discussion appeared to surround an altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s head coach Tim Welch back in May. The incident also involved Aljamain Sterling, who had accused the trainer of heckling him from the corner during his title defeat to “Sugar” last August.

    “I will smash O’Malley inside the cage and then smash his coach outside of the cage,” Dvalishvili said.

    O’Malley told his upcoming opponent to follow through on his threats.

    “If you have a problem with him, you can take it up with him. He’ll fight you. If that’s what you want. After the fight, you should definitely try to smack his face. You should definitely try that. That would be funny. You should try that.”

    When Dvalishvili said he was hoping to catch up with Welch on the streets, O’Malley once again welcomed that possiblity.

    “You could street fight him. I’d love to see that. You want to die? Is that what you’re saying? He’ll kill you.”

  • Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Jon Jones is expected to face Stipe Miocic before the end of 2024, with Dana White recently stating that the winner will step into the Octagon against Tom Aspinall to unify the UFC heavyweight championship.

    Jones has been out of action since winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Although Aspinall has won and defended the interim title, “Bones” is still the official champion and holds a solid #3 ranking in the pound-for-pound list.

    “Bones” has repeatedly talked about considering retirement after the Miocic fight as well. One former UFC champ, however, thinks this move could be detrimental to his legacy…

    Michael Bisping Claims Jon Jones Would Lose Fans If He Retires Without Fighting Tom Aspinall

    Michael Bisping recently discussed the future of the UFC heavyweight division on his official YouTube channel. The winner of Jones vs. Miocic is expected to face Aspinall next, and early odds favor the interim champ.

    “The Count” claimed that despite his GOAT status as a light heavyweight, Jones’ inactivity at heavyweight makes him an underdog against Aspinall. But the former UFC middleweight kingpin also highlighted that his opponent’s lack of fighting experience could benefit Jones, who boasts a record 15 UFC title wins.

    “He hasn’t got the in-ring time, he hasn’t got the experience, the fight IQ of a Jon Jones.”

    Bisping’s other concern is regarding Jones’ will to fight after the Miocic fight. The decision is largely dependent on his performance, and in the eyes of “The Count,” retiring without unifying the heavyweight title wouldn’t sit well with a lot of fans.

    Jones vs. Aspinall has been a highly anticipated fight for over a year now. While the Brit has been respectfully waiting for the opportunity, many think that “Bones” is avoiding the Aspinall fight due to the higher risk of losing.

    Bisping believes such narratives will only get stronger if the UFC heavyweight champion retires after his next scheduled fight.

    “It would suck. Not only would it suck, but it would also be not the best move for Jon Jones in terms of fan appreciation. The narrative would always be that he was ducking Tom Aspinall.”

  • Mike Perry Tells Jake Paul Injury Sustained 10 Seconds Into Fight Affected Performance: ‘You Popped It Right Away!’

    Mike Perry Tells Jake Paul Injury Sustained 10 Seconds Into Fight Affected Performance: ‘You Popped It Right Away!’

    Mike Perry may have been unsuccessful in his fight with Jake Paul but he still received praise for his toughness.

    “Platinum” may not be an experienced boxer or someone that can match Paul for size but he was always going to be a tough opponent to get out of there.

    He did eventually get stopped in the sixth round but as expected with someone like Perry, many would have crumbled much earlier on.

    What makes this even more impressive, and something that Perry is able to take out of this fight, is that he was compromised from the very first punch that his opponent landed.

    Mike Perry Reveals That Jake Paul Broke His Rib With The First Punch That He Landed

    Perry appeared on BS w/ Jake Paul where they spoke about the fight and revealed new details about how it all went down.

    During the podcast, the former UFC fighter said that he is going to take some time off for his rib to recover after it was broken in the opening 10 seconds of the fight.

    He said that he was so focused on keeping his hands up that it left an opening for Paul which he successfully took advantage of from the opening bell.

    With his body badly injured, Perry was forced to drop his guard which left him more susceptible to head strikes which eventually closed the show on him.

    “First 10 seconds, that first punch you hit me with, you popped me. Because look, I knew people were going to be like, ‘Put your hands up,’ Right, so I come out and I’m like this with my hands up and my rib was wide open. You hit me in the rib and I was like, ‘F*** that’s it, I’m putting my hands down.’ You popped it right away and I fought through it I mean there’s something, there’s pieces I can take that I can be proud of but you know, I think it was fair and square.”

    Read also: Jake Paul Reveals Verbal Agreement With Mike Perry To Rematch In PFL, Dirty Boxing Down The Line

  • Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.

    With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.

    Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.

    From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…

    Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier

    Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:

    • Islam Makhachev
    • Arman Tsarukyan
    • Dustin Poirier
    • Conor McGregor
    • Max Holloway
    • Justin Gaethje
    • Alexander Volkanovski
    • Colby Covington

    Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.

    “Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”

    “Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.

    The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.

    Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.

    Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.

  • NSAC Withholds Portion Of Mayra Bueno Silva’s Purse For Cage Jump After UFC 303 Loss

    NSAC Withholds Portion Of Mayra Bueno Silva’s Purse For Cage Jump After UFC 303 Loss

    Mayra Bueno Silva lost to Macy Chiasson at UFC 303 after the cageside doctor stopped the fight due to a deep cut above her left eyebrow. Although the Brazilian was keen to continue fighting, Chiasson was handed the TKO win.

    As Chiasson began celebrating her International Fight Week victory, “Sheetara” hopped the cage and rushed to talk to Dana White. While still dripping in blood from the cut, she seemed to complain about the stoppage and the UFC CEO naturally had no control over the situation.

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has now punished Silva for jumping over the cage at UFC 303, withholding a portion of her purse.

    Mayra Bueno Silva Facing Fined For Jumping Over The Cage At UFC 303

    MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported on X that the NSAC has temporarily cut $2,500 from Bueno Silva’s UFC 303 purse, which amounts to $100,000. Jumping over the Octagon is banned for safety reasons, even though fighters often ignore this rule in the rush of winning a fight.

    King also stated that the women’s bantamweight contender might be asked to pay a fine, which will be determined at the commission’s meeting on August 27.

    If Bueno Silva ends up being fined, she would join Diego Lopes on the list of those recently punished. He had to pay $2,500 for jumping over the cage after his UFC 300 win over Sodiq Yusuff. The commission originally withheld $5,000 from his purse, and Bueno Silva’s sailing on a similar boat.

    Unsurprisingly, Bueno Silva’s penalty has received a mixed response in MMA circles. Some fans have called out the commission for not being equally strict about fouls that happen during fights.

    Suspensions and fines for actions beyond fighting are fairly common in the UFC. The most prominent example is Arman Tsarukyan, the #1-ranked UFC lightweight contender, who is currently facing a six-month suspension for punching a fan while walking out at UFC 300.

  • Former UFC Champion: ‘Falling From Grace’ Transformed Paddy Pimblett As A Fighter

    Former UFC Champion: ‘Falling From Grace’ Transformed Paddy Pimblett As A Fighter

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently remarked that the constant doubts surrounding Paddy Pimblett might have been the catalyst for his transformation into a better fighter.

    “The Baddy” delivered probably the most impressive performance of his UFC career so far this past weekend. He decisively defeated King Green with a stunning triangle-armbar combination in the first round of their lightweight bout on the main card of UFC 304 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Although Green had a size advantage over Pimblett, he found it challenging to connect his combinations effectively at the beginning of the fight. Meanwhile, Pimblett focused on landing powerful calf kicks. This strategy seemed to unsettle the American, who attempted a takedown midway through the round. The 29-year-old Scouser expertly countered with a guillotine choke before swiftly transitioning into a triangle choke from the bottom.

    Pimblett seamlessly adjusted to Green’s escape attempts, tightening the submission hold with each passing second. He smoothly transitioned the choke into an armbar, and as Green lost consciousness, the referee stepped in to halt the fight at 3:22.

    Despite his six-fight undefeated streak in the Octagon, Pimblett remains a frequent target of online criticism. However, “The Reaper” believes this persistent skepticism has fueled Pimblett’s evolution…

    Whittaker Believes Pimblett Is More Tuned In

    During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker shared his insights on “The Baddy’s” performance at UFC 304.

    The Aussie remarked that Pimblett has shown significant evolution since his previous bouts, displaying an impressive level of focus and grit to secure the victory.

    “I think that falling from grace he had just, you know, lit a fire up his a**,” Whittaker said. “He’s just got so much better for it. I feel like he’s more focused, he’s more switched on than we’ve seen before. And that was the Paddy I wanted to see because that was the one we saw against [Tony] Ferguson. Like, that level of determination, that level of focus, you know, that ability to stay on task, and mate, that’s exactly what happened.

    “Paddy saw an opportunity when Bobby was waiting for a takedown and had the guts and the confidence to go for the submission attempts. That’s half the work — the confidence to go for your submission attempts and to believe in them. And he did that, yeah, and he stopped a guy that doesn’t get stopped often.”

    In the post-fight Octagon interview, Pimblett radiated confidence, saying, “Statement made, b*tch,” after becoming the first fighter to submit Green.

    The Englishman then issued a challenge to Renato Moicano, proposing a showdown later this year or early next year, contingent on the Brazilian overcoming Benoît Saint Denis in their upcoming September bout.

  • IOC Explains Why Boxers Who Failed Gender Test At World Championships Are Cleared To Compete At The Olympics

    IOC Explains Why Boxers Who Failed Gender Test At World Championships Are Cleared To Compete At The Olympics

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced that two boxers, previously disqualified from last year’s World Championships due to failing gender eligibility tests, are now cleared to compete in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Algerian amateur boxer Imane Khelif faced disqualification just hours before her gold medal match at the women’s World Championships in New Delhi last year, having failed a testosterone (Hyperandrogenism) level test mandated by the International Boxing Association (IBA).

    Similarly, Taiwan’s double world champion, Lin Yu Ting, was stripped of her bronze medal at the same event due to gender eligibility issues.

    During that period, IBA president Umar Kremlev revealed that the boxers had “XY chromosomes.” The World Championships, organized by the IBA — a federation now stripped of IOC recognition — highlighted the ongoing controversy over qualification standards.

    IOC Verifies Boxers’ Compliance With Competition Eligibility Rules

    The IOC recently issued an official statement declaring that all athletes competing in the boxing tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games unequivocally meet the competition’s stringent eligibility and entry criteria.

    Furthermore, these athletes meet all applicable medical regulations, ensuring a fair and standardized contest in alignment with international standards.

    “All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations in accordance with rules 1.4 and 3.1 of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.

    “The PBU endeavored to restrict amendments to minimize the impact on athletes’ preparation and guaranteeing consistency between Olympic Games.”

    [h/t Independent]

    Section 3.1 of these regulations mandates that all boxers must present a medical certificate, duly stamped and signed by an authorized medical professional, issued within the past three months.

    Following the IOC’s clarification, Khelif is set to compete against Italy’s Angela Carini in a welterweight bout on Thursday. Meanwhile, Lin will face either Marcelat Sakobi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Sitora Turdibekova from Uzbekistan in the featherweight division on Friday.

    The situation appears reminiscent of the controversy surrounding middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was made to undergo sex testing following her victory at the 2009 World Championships.

    The South African was cleared to return the following year, with reports later revealing that Semenya has the intersex condition 5α-Reductase 2 deficiency, which results in her natural testosterone levels sitting in the average male range.

    The 33-year-old has been unable to participate since new World Athletics rules in 2019 prevented athletes with certain sex development disorders from competing in 400m, 800m, and 1500m events in the female classification unless they take medication to reduce testosterone.

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad shook up the welterweight division at UFC 304 this past weekend by overcoming the odds to become the welterweight champion.

    Leon Edwards had reigned for close to two years. Now, “Rocky” going back to being a contender provides some interesting options for the division.

    Fans have been critical of Muhammad’s style for some time, but the same can’t be said for the current list of top contenders at 170 pounds.

    With the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all in the mix, there’s some great matchups for Edwards, assuming that he isn’t getting a straight rematch.

    His coach believes that one of those names is the best option partly due to his history with the former champion…

    Dave Lovell Says Ian Garry Is His Pick To Fight Leon Edwards Next

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Edwards’ head coach Dave Lovell said that his preferred choice for Edwards’ bounce-back fight would be the #7-ranked Garry.

    The undefeated Irishman previously had some tension with Edwards and his team after spending a brief amount of time training with them at Team Renegade in Birmingham, England.

    Lovell said that this history combined with Garry’s current position in this division make this fight a great return for “Rocky.”

    “I’d like to see Leon fight Ian Garry. Obviously we can keep it British based, either Ireland or over here. Obviously the little background story we had going back last year is a — he’s looking for a scalp. Now Leon’s not champion, he may think well, he’s a good scalp for him to get to obviously march on to get a championship belt or title shot.

    “For Leon, if Leon beats him, that then puts him at the back of the queue and then maybe if they want one more before he fights Belal, if Belal’s still got the belt, well that’ll be the future move, the future plan.”

    Lovell believes Edwards would have the advantage in this fight because of the experience that he brings to the table.

    The Team Renegade head coach said that during Garry’s short time at the gym, they were able to identify some of the weaker areas in his game.

    “I believe Leon would beat him with the simple fact of fight experience. (Garry’s) a good lad, he’s got good skills, but we know — because we’ve seen some when he was at our gym — don’t just think he came to the gym and it was a boogie ride for him, you know, he was getting tapped out by — again, I’m not mentioning no names. If he wants to mention them, that’s up to him.”

  • Muhammad Mokaev Explains Hugging Manel Kape Post-Fight At UFC 304: ‘I’m Young, But I’m Not Stupid’

    Muhammad Mokaev Explains Hugging Manel Kape Post-Fight At UFC 304: ‘I’m Young, But I’m Not Stupid’

    Muhammad Mokaev has detailed his reasoning for burying the hatchet with Manel Kape despite their pre-fight animosity at UFC 304.

    Mokaev and Kape collided on the preliminary card of this past weekend’s pay-per-view event, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Their fight was among the most anticipated in the lead-up, partially down to the bad blood that appeared to exist between the two flyweight contenders owing to a number of physical altercations.

    Following an apparent bust-up at the UFC Performance Institute in March instigated by “Starboy,” Mokaev returned the favor on home turf during UFC 304 fight week, sucker-punching his opponent outside the fighter hotel.

    The pair went on to attempt to come to blows inside the Octagon moments before their bout, but that aggression did not transcend into the contest itself, which played out in a low-volume and unentertaining fashion en route to the scorecards.

    At the end of the final round, the pair embraced in a hug, something that many might have been surprised to see given their back and forth beforehand.

    Mokaev On Settling Kape Beef: ‘The Man Is Here To Feed His Family’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS5BRRMCNFQ&t=177s

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Mokaev reflected on his victorious performance over Kape and addressed some of the talking points that emerged from the UFC 304 matchup.

    When asked about his respectful post-fight interaction with his Angola-born Portuguese rival, “The Punisher” insisted that when it comes time to do battle inside the Octagon, the hatchet must be buried.

    “It was more personal. It happened in Vegas five days before my fight against Alex Perez. I had a cut. … Once he came to Manchester, once I see him, I had to welcome him to Manchester,” Mokaev said. “You know, the man is here to feed his family. He has a baby, I have a kid in the house. We’re both here to make our fridge full. I cannot kick a man down. He is already down.

    “In this situation, I could have got knocked out tonight too. And I wouldn’t like it if somebody kept kicking me down and talking sh*t,” Mokaev continued. “What ever happened, it happened on the streets. Inside the Octagon, I think it should be settled. I’m young, but I’m not stupid.”

    Despite that, Kape has been criticizing Mokaev on social media in recent days, first slamming him for a number of fouls that took place before later accusing him of tapping to a guillotine choke.

    The Dagestan-born Brit’s online activity, meanwhile, has largely centered around his surprise UFC release. At the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, Dana White revealed that the promotion wouldn’t be renewing Mokaev’s contract owing to factors outside of the Octagon.

  • Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks Tom Aspinall should switch strategy if he really wants to tempt Jon Jones into a fight.

    Aspinall’s case for the next shot at Jones grew ever stronger in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Close to home, Aspinall put his interim heavyweight title on the line in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, pursuing both a successful first defense and redemption for the injury-forced TKO setback he fell to opposite “Razor” in 2022.

    It took the Brit just one minute to achieve those goals, dropping Blaydes with a stiff jab before reigning down ground-and-pound for the first-round stoppage.

    As expected, Aspinall had Jones’ name on his lips post-fight, remaining respectful with his latest callout of the heavyweight titleholder. One of Jones’ former opponents, however, thinks he needs to abandon his nice nature…

    Cormier: Aspinall Must ‘Get Louder’ & ‘Rile Up’ Jones

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his take on the events that unfolded at UFC 304 from cageside inside Manchester’s Co-op Live.

    “DC” touched on his Octagon interview with Aspinall following the co-headliner, claiming the Brit needs to change approach and begin ‘riling up’ Jones if he is to ensure a future dream showdown with the former two-time light heavyweight champ.

    “This guy seems to be the future and the present of the heavyweight division,” Cormier said. “You know, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are gonna fight each other, and deservedly so. … When they get to New York and they fight, Tom Aspinall needs to be in the building, if he’s smart.

    “I watched him finish, I watched the way the crowd reacted to him, and I watched his callout to Jon Jones. And in Tom Aspinall fashion, he was nice about it,” Cormier continued. “He needs to rile up Jones a little bit to get the people more invested. … I have seen the crowd get so behind a certain person that the organization will pivot. … Maybe they’ll pivot and make Aspinall vs. Jones right now. We don’t know…but Aspinall has to get a little bit louder.”

    Jones had a short and succinct response to Aspinall’s UFC 304 triumph and post-fight callout on social media. By all accounts, the Brit’s emphatic performance did little to convince “Bones” or the UFC to alter their plans for an expected November title fight.

  • Colby Covington Describes Running Into Dustin Poirier At Florida Restaurant: ‘He Walked Out Like A Good Little B*tch’

    Colby Covington Describes Running Into Dustin Poirier At Florida Restaurant: ‘He Walked Out Like A Good Little B*tch’

    It’s been a little while now since UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington was publicly beefing with a fellow fighter, but some grudges don’t go away that easily.

    The former interim welterweight champion’s high profile split from American Top Team meant that some relationships weren’t able to be rebuilt.

    Most notably, he and his former training partner Jorge Masvidal will probably never see eye-to-eye again after what happened between them both before and after they met inside the Octagon at UFC 272.

    There is another former teammate of his who will also not bury the hatchet, and with Covington still living and training around the same area, they’re bound to cross paths…

    Colby Covington Says Dustin Poirier Had His Chance But Didn’t Do Anything Last Time They Met

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Covington was asked whether he has encountered Dustin Poirier whilst being out in Florida. He said that this exact scenario actually played out not that long ago.

    In Covington’s version of events, “The Diamond” got up and left without saying anything.

    “Chaos” has called to fight his former ATT teammate several times in the past, but with lightweight fan favorite Poirier seemingly being ready to wind his career down, this looks unlikely.

    Covington stated that despite Poirier previously claiming that it was “on sight” between them, there wasn’t much of an interaction.

    “That’s funny you say that. I crossed paths with him about three months ago at NYY Steakhouse, Coconut Creek Casino, which is in the same city he trains at, the gym. He came by the steakhouse and I looked at him eye-to-eye and I was like, ‘What’s up b****? It’s on sight? Do something, say something,’ and he just walked right out the restaurant because he knows.

    “You can talk big to the media, you can talk big in front of a camera, but when you’re in front of someone’s face and you feel their energy and you know what they’re capable of, that’s when it’s a different story. Now you can’t run your mouth, now you can’t do anything. If you wanted to do something, he could have done something. I stood up, I looked him right in the eyes and he walked right out of the restaurant like a good little b****.”

  • Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Should his long wait for a Conor McGregor fight not be rewarded, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has been told to adjust his sights to Paddy Pimblett.

    Pimblett secured the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, held inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    After decisions over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson, the former of which came in close and controversial fashion, “The Baddy” entered his first shot at cracking the 155-pound rankings as an underdog.

    But on fight night, Pimblett thrilled his home fans by making good on his promise of a quick finish against King Green, choking the veteran contender out with a triangle choke following a surprising takedown attempt from the renowned brawler.

    With that, the Liverpool native has entered the top 15 and has his sights set on a top 10 contender in Renato Moicano. But according to one former fighter, Pimblett could be in line for a bigger assignment should things play out in a certain way…

    Sonnen Backs Pimblett To Replace McGregor If Comeback Delay Continues

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s impressive display on home soil.

    Assessing what could be next for “The Baddy” in his pursuit of UFC gold, “The American Gangster” ventured further up the lightweight rankings than expected, highlighting the Brit as the “perfect replacement” to fight Chandler should his long-awaited McGregor showdown remain in the fantasy realm.

    “I used to believe that Paddy was a regional fighter,” Sonnen said. “What do I mean by that? Well, he can sell a lot of tickets at a specific venue, so keep bringing him to that geographical location. You can’t main event the guy, you can’t five-round him, you can’t move him up the rankings too fast, but bring in the right opponent, we’re gonna have some fun for three or four years. I don’t see Paddy that same way anymore.

    “Paddy is two fights away, Daniel. They’ve gotta be the right two fights, but he is two fights away (from) fighting for a world championship,” Sonnen continued. “I love these rankings right here (10 to 15), but if they were to keep going, eventually they’re gonna come to a name called Michael Chandler. If Michael Chandler does not get the fight with Conor, this, to me, looks like the perfect replacement.”

    Judging by his reactions on social media, Chandler was seemingly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts inside the cage at UFC 304. Nevertheless, he doesn’t appear to have his focus on “The Baddy” just yet.

    As has been the case since the start of 2023, Chandler remains hell-bent on sharing the Octagon with McGregor. Following their UFC 303 cancellation, latest reports have placed their rearranged showdown at the Las Vegas pay-per-view in December.

  • Muhammad Mokaev Dismisses PFL Talk, Pleads With Dana White To Re-Sign Him After UFC 304

    Muhammad Mokaev Dismisses PFL Talk, Pleads With Dana White To Re-Sign Him After UFC 304

    Following his seventh consecutive win inside the Octagon, 23-year-old undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was removed from the UFC rankings and roster.

    Dana White announced in his post-fight press conference after UFC 304 that the promotion would not be renewing his contract after it expired with his fight against Manel Kape in Manchester.

    While Mokaev claimed that he had been warned by UFC staff about his wrestling-heavy fighting style, White said that this isn’t a factor and that the decision was instead made due to his conduct outside of the cage.

    Another rumor was cleared up once the news was made official as Mokaev’s manager denied any chance of his release being caused by negotiations that were being held with the PFL whilst he was still under contract with the UFC.

    Muhammad Mokaev Posts Statement, Clarifies Lack Of Interest In PFL & Hopes Of Re-Signing With UFC

    Mokaev has spoken about the current situation regarding his status with the UFC now that the dust has settled on this past weekend.

    He made it clear that going to the PFL was never a priority for him for multiple reasons. Not only has his main focus always been to achieve UFC gold, the PFL doesn’t currently have an active flyweight division, or bantamweight for that matter.

    “The Punisher” noted that despite this rocky relationship with the UFC, he still hopes to return to the Octagon in the near future to continue working his way toward the belt.

    “My dream is to become UFC Champion. I turn them all down because UFC gave me the platform to put my name out there and earn money to feed my family! btw PFL don’t have flyweight division. All these journalists that make this shit up are idiots! I hope Dana resigns me, this is my dream to become champion!”

  • MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 30, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Pimblett scolds Muhammad after title win
    • Alalshikh gives strong prediction for UFC vs. Canelo
    • Sonnen points out that Aspinall is finishing big guys with ease

    Paddy Pimblett Posts Reaction To UFC 304 Main Event, Belal Muhammad Becoming Champion

    A video posted on Paddy Pimblett’s YouTube channel gives fight fans a behind the scenes look at his fight night experience this past weekend.

    “The Baddy” delivered one of the performances of the night at UFC 304 in Manchester when he submitted King Green in the first round to earn a lightweight ranking.

    The main event, however, did not end on such good terms for the UK fighters and fans as Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion.

    In the video, Pimblett is seen reacting to the official decision before going on to label Muhammad as the “most boring champion ever.”

    Turki Alalshikh Not Worried About Saudi-Backed UFC 306 Going Up Against Canelo Álvarez

    It’s incredibly rare to see any major sporting events going up against the UFC, but that is exactly what Canelo Álvarez will look to do on September 14 with his fight against Edgar Berlanga.

    Alvarez has a track record for fighting on Mexican Independence Day, but he missed out on this last year after the UFC booked the T-Mobile Arena for the first Noche UFC card.

    The MMA leader will instead be hosting UFC 306 this year at the Sphere, which is being built up to be an event like no other.

    Part of the reason that both events are going head-to-head in Las Vegas is because UFC 306 is being sponsored by Riyadh Season and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, which has allowed the UFC to go big on this particular card, meaning Álvarez could run the T-Mobile on this occasion.

    Speaking to ESPN, Turki Alalshikh gave a short response to how he believes the Saudi-backed Sphere event will compete with Álvarez.

    “We will eat him,”

    Chael Sonnen Says Tom Aspinall Is Doing Something That Even Mike Tyson Struggled With

    Tom Aspinall’s incredible ability to end fights early on means that he has unbelievably low amounts of Octagon time despite being a world champion.

    The interim heavyweight champ has said it himself that he wants opponents to test him in deeper waters but nobody can take him there.

    Following his one-minute finish over Curtis Blaydes this past weekend, Chael Sonnen was full of praise for the Brit in a recent YouTube video.

    He compared Aspinall to arguably the greatest knockout artist combat sports has ever seen and said that he is even capable of finishing fights in ways that Mike Tyson couldn’t even accomplish.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Claims Injury Affected UFC 304 Performance: ‘He Couldn’t Wrestle The Way He Needed To’

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Claims Injury Affected UFC 304 Performance: ‘He Couldn’t Wrestle The Way He Needed To’

    Leon Edwards’ coach has looked to add some context to the former UFC welterweight champion’s wrestling struggles against Belal Muhammad.

    Edwards headlined this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, defending the 170-pound gold in a rematch with Muhammad.

    Against the odds and despite many backing the champ to retain, “Remember the Name” proved that his confidence was well placed by putting on a largely dominant display across five rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.

    A key part of Muhammad’s title triumph was his renowned grappling game, as he utilized a smothering wrestling arsenal to control Edwards for significant portions of the UFC 304 headliner. That came as a surprise to many given Edwards’ strong wrestling defense, which helped him outpoint both Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington last year.

    Now, some extra information has been attached to the former champ’s failure to combat Muhammad’s takedowns…

    Coach Lovell Was ‘Dubious’ About Edwards Fighting Through Injury At UFC 304

    During a recent interview on Submission Radio, coach Dave Lovell reflected on his man’s setback in Manchester this past weekend, which marked his first defeat since a decision loss to Usman in 2015.

    While he acknowledged Muhammad’s display and suggested it simply wasn’t Edwards night, the experienced trainer did reveal some injury troubles that he believes hampered “Rocky’s” ability to handle the challenger’s main offense at UFC 304.

    “Where Leon was concerned, a lot of people don’t know this — and I’m not making any kind of excuses for him — but we had a few niggles in camp. His back was niggling him,” Lovell said. “So he couldn’t wrestle the way he really needed to, offensively and defensively. We’re not taking anything away from Belal’s performance. He did well; the best man won on the night. But Leon will be back.

    “I was very dubious because these niggles were going on for about maybe five or so weeks on or off. He had to go to a chiropractor (for) regular massages. But again, after one session, it was back to square one,” Lovell continued. “In the back part of my mind, I was thinking, ‘Should we go for this?’ But because he hadn’t fought for so long, Leon said he wanted it, so we just pushed forward through the injury, trained through the injury, and then tried to get through and get a victory. Unfortunately, it never happened.”

    Edwards made no mention of the physical problems he seemingly entered the cage with at UFC 304 himself. In a short and succinct post-fight statement, “Rocky” apologized to his fans and vowed to regain the gold.

  • Colby Covington Unimpressed By Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Title Win: ‘He’s Obviously On The Right Steroids’

    Colby Covington Unimpressed By Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Title Win: ‘He’s Obviously On The Right Steroids’

    We can unsurprisingly count UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington among those unimpressed by his division’s newly crowned champion.

    Belal Muhammad completed his ascent to the mountaintop on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend, getting the better of Leon Edwards in the main event of the UFC 304 pay-per-view at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.

    The five-round headliner was largely dominant for the challenger, who made good on his promise to unseat “Rocky” in emphatic fashion and begin a new era at 170 pounds.

    Of course, while plenty were left impressed by Muhammad’s efforts in England, he still has his fair share of detractors. Among them is Covington…

    Covington On UFC 304 Main Event: ‘I Can Tell You Who Lost & That’s The Fans’

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Covington gave his first reaction to Muhammad’s championship victory across the pond this past weekend.

    Despite not watching the fight itself, “Chaos” was confident that it would have been short on entertainment and a poor watch for the fanbase.

    And after taking aim at both the new champ and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, “Chaos” insisted he would have no problems taking the welterweight gold away from Muhammad, whom he also accused of steroid use.

    “I can tell you who lost and that’s the fans. I feel bad for the fans that they got robbed of some entertainment,” Covington said. “Belal the racist juice monkey won. Now that he finally made his first check off the prelims, he can finally fix that dildo that’s on his face. … That’s only if Ali doesn’t take all his money because we know his scumbag manager is a thief.

    “I didn’t watch the fight, man. … I know that Leon made so much money in the last fight with me that I don’t think he’s hungry anymore,” Covington continued. “(Muhammad’s) a f*cking p*ssy. … The only time (he) wanted to fight me was when I already had a title fight signed, sealed, and delivered. Otherwise he’s never said my name because he knows he’s a little b*tch and he knows what I’d do to him. If I cross paths with him, he won’t be champion anymore. … I’d love to fight him. I’ll do whatever it takes to get to that. … He’s got nothing for me. … He’s obviously on the right steroids right now, doing the right cycles. He had a one night, lightning in a bottle-type performance.”

    Despite Covington’s claims, Muhammad had mentioned him long before his title shot was confirmed last year. “Remember the Name” called out “Chaos” way back in 2017 in the aftermath of his victory over Tim Means at UFC Fight Night 121 in Sydney, Australia.

    It didn’t take long for Muhammad to respond, taking aim at Covington 0-3 record in undisputed UFC welterweight title fights in a comment under a clip of the ex-interim titleholder’s recent remarks.

    Covington most recently fell short of the belt in Edwards’ second defense. A comfortable decision victory for the Brit followed the American’s two previous title losses at the hands of Kamaru Usman in 2019 and 2021.

  • Paddy Pimblett Acknowledges Alternative Option To Renato Moicano For Next Fight After UFC 304: ‘If He Wants His Head Punching In…’ 

    Paddy Pimblett Acknowledges Alternative Option To Renato Moicano For Next Fight After UFC 304: ‘If He Wants His Head Punching In…’ 

    Should his original callout post-fight at UFC 304 not come to fruition, Paddy Pimblett has at least one other name in mind.

    Pimblett was among the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, where he was one of many home fighters making the walk.

    “The Baddy” put in one of the night’s standout performances, rendering ranked lightweight King Green unconscious with a triangle choke for the technical submission victory in the very first round.

    As a result, Pimblett has found himself debuting in the top 15, meaning a whole new set of possible opponents lie in wait for the Liverpool native. One in particular has caught the former Cage Warriors champion’s eye, with Renato Moicano on the receiving end of his Octagon callout at UFC 304.

    Moicano is currently set to headline the UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, this September opposite Benoît Saint Denis.

    Should the result of that matchup leave a battle with the Brazilian off the table, Pimblett wouldn’t mind throwing down with one of Moicano’s fellow countrymen instead…

    Pimblett Open To ‘Punching In’ Dos Anjos For Past Tweets

    During a backstage interview with Full Send MMA, Pimblett reflected on his performance at UFC 304 and assessed what could be next in his journey up the lightweight ladder.

    While he reiterated his desire to share the Octagon with Renato Moicano, Pimblett did entertain another name, former champion Rafael dos Anjos, who sits one place above him in the 155-pound rankings.

    “There are some names. Renato beat Jalin though,” Pimblett said to shut down Turner as an option. “I’ve seen dos Anjos say himself that he’s moving up to welterweight; he’s not fighting at lightweight anymore. So you never know, I could end up moving up higher than 15 in the rankings if ‘RDA’s’ moving up.

    “I also have seen ‘RDA’ tweet about me in the past, though. So if he wants his head punching in, I’ll punch his head in,” Pimblett continued. “But as I say, I’m thinking Moicano more than likely.”

    Despite suggesting his lightweight stint was over following a knockout loss to Rafael Fiziev in 2022, “RDA” returned to the division unsuccessfully against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    Following that setback, the Brazilian once again suggested he’ll only consider welterweight contests moving forward. But perhaps his past comments on Pimblett and the high-profile nature of that matchup could draw him back to 155 pounds.

    In the aftermath of “The Baddy’s” win over Tony Ferguson last December, “RDA” branded Pimblett “terrible” and insisted he wouldn’t even need a fight camp to defeat him in the cage.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Arrives At Lightweight, Belal Muhammad Debuts On Pound-For-Pound List

    UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Arrives At Lightweight, Belal Muhammad Debuts On Pound-For-Pound List

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 304, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: In addition to reaching the mountaintop at 170 pounds, Belal Muhammad’s title-winning triumph over Leon Edwards this past weekend has seen him join the P4P rankings. The newly crowned welterweight champion has debuted at #6, with his defeated opponent dropping three spots to #7. Muhammad’s arrival has resulted in the removal of former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

    Also on a climb is the other man who left the Co-op Live with gold in his possession, Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight kingpin’s rapid knockout of Curtis Blaydes has seen him rise by two places to #9, jumping above Max Holloway (#10), Dricus Du Plessis (#11), and Alexandre Pantoja (#12).

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: After some controversial antics and a lackluster victory at UFC 304, Muhammad Mokaev evidently didn’t do enough to convince the promotion he was worth re-signing. As a result of his departure, “The Punisher” has been quickly removed from the 125-pound rankings. That’s paved the way for Cody Durden to return at #15.

    The man he beat at UFC 304, Manel Kape, has fallen by one position to #9, with both Steve Erceg (#7) and Matheus Nicolau (#8) receiving two-spot boosts to jump above “Starboy.”

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Arnold Allen’s decision win over Giga Chikadze in the early hours of Sunday morning was enough to secure his return to the top five at 145 pounds. “Almighty” has moved up by one spot to share the #5 place with former opponent Movsar Evloev.

    Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett was among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 304, putting King Green to sleep with a triangle choke to record his first success over ranked opposition. As expected, the result has pushed “The Baddy” into contention, with the Liverpool native replacing Green at #15.

    Welterweight: With Muhammad surging to the throne in Manchester, Edwards has slipped back to the #1 position as the leader in the chasing pack. That’s also left former champ Kamaru Usman one place worse off at #2.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: After falling short in his first UFC title shot, Blaydes has been relegated to #5 in the heavyweight pecking order, with Sergei Pavlovich replacing him at #4 a month on from his defeat to Alexander Volkov in Saudi Arabia.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’ 

    Belal Muhammad Says Trash Talk From Fans At UFC 304 Only Motivated Him More: ‘I’m From The South Side Of Chicago!’ 

    Newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad says hostility from fans only aided in his successful pursuit of gold this past weekend.

    Muhammad emerged from enemy territory with the 170-pound title in his possession, having headlined the UFC 304 pay-per-view alongside Leon Edwards at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

    Against the odds and predictions of many fans, pundits, and fellow fighters alike, Muhammad made good on his vows to dominate “Rocky” in his own backyard, utilizing his grappling to secure large periods of control and finding success on the feet too.

    With that, “Remember the Name” was able to silence a crowd that didn’t shy away from letting him know their feelings as he made his way to the Octagon. That trend was also visible last week at the press conference and ceremonial weigh-ins.

    While some may be negatively affected by such a reception, Muhammad says it was ideal…

    Muhammad Relished UFC 304 Boos: ‘I Want That Energy’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2w081fkcBw

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Muhammad reflected on his experience competing in front of a hostile Manchester crowd.

    While Muhammad had downplayed the support Edwards had in the UK, “Remember the Name” was seemingly pleased to be on the receiving end of heavy boos during fight week events and his UFC 304 walkout.

    “Honestly, I liked it. It was motivation,” Muhammad said. “I like to get booed. I want that energy. Like I said, I’ve been doubted my whole career. Those boos, they only push me to go harder.

    “I’m from like, the south side of Chicago, so I’m not afraid of like, altercations or people talking trash to me. I love that type of energy,” Muhammad continued. “When they’re talking trash to me or I get an opponent I can talk trash to, those are the best kind of fights for me.”

    Having proved plenty wrong with his ascent to top spot at 170 pounds, Muhammad will now turn his attention to cementing his grip on that crown and beginning the pursuit of another.

    This week, Muhammad debuted in the pound-for-pound rankings at #6, just behind featherweight champ Ilia Topuria and bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley. With some title defenses down the line, “Remember the Name” will hope to further climb that pecking order.

  • Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen recently lauded Tom Aspinall’s formidable punching power, boldly asserting that the Brit possesses the knockout ability to take down heavyweight boxers against whom even the legendary Mike Tyson struggled.

    Aspinall triumphantly retained his interim heavyweight title with a stunning 60-second knockout of his former foe, Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only loss in the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 304 this past Saturday in Manchester.

    The 31-year-old Salford native delivered a powerful right hand that sent “Razor” crashing to the floor, then topped it off with a relentless barrage of punches to the head, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.

    Since returning from injury in July 2023, Aspinall has been unstoppable, securing three first-round knockout victories. He has now won seven of his UFC fights by first-round stoppage, boasting an average fight time of just 2:02—the shortest in the promotion’s history.

    Sonnen Stunned by Aspinall’s Devastating Punching Power

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen weighed in on Aspinall’s victory over Blaydes at UFC 304. “The Bad Guy” noted that while it may not have been the Englishman’s finest performance in the Octagon, his incredible knockout power still managed to shift the momentum decisively in his favor.

    “I’m watching Tom, surprised by himself that it wasn’t a perfect fight by Tom,” Sonnen said. “Curtis was actually fundamentally doing some things a little bit better than Tom. And one thing about Tom is these boys he’s putting down, these are the big heavyweights, and I’m talking about size. I’m talking about actually getting on the scale and what they tip the scale at.”

    Sonnen went on to say that Aspinall’s punching power is so formidable that he could knock out big heavyweights – something even “Iron Mike” Tyson had trouble with.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    After his win, Aspinall renewed his call for a unification bout with Jon Jones, who claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023 at UFC 285.

    “Bones” is expected to defend his title for the first time later this year against Stipe Miocic, a matchup that UFC CEO Dana White is adamant about making a reality.