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  • UFC Fight Night Denver Headliner Tracy Cortez Envisions ‘Surpassing’ Ronda Rousey: ‘I Say This Humbly…’

    UFC Fight Night Denver Headliner Tracy Cortez Envisions ‘Surpassing’ Ronda Rousey: ‘I Say This Humbly…’

    Ahead of her main event debut this weekend, UFC women’s flyweight Tracy Cortez has detailed the kind of success she’s envisioning for herself on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Since losing her professional debut under the Invicta FC banner in 2017, Cortez has experienced nothing but her hand raised inside the cage, winning 11 straight fights to establish herself as one to watch at 125 pounds.

    After adding the name of Erin Blanchfield to her record in 2019 and subsequently securing a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series, Cortez’s winning run has extended with a perfect 5-0 record in the UFC.

    Now, the Phoenix native is set for her toughest test to date in the form of Rose Namajunas. With the former two-time strawweight champion left without an opponent for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event in Denver following Maycee Barber’s withdrawal, Cortez has stepped up on short notice.

    And beyond making the most of the sizable opportunity awaiting her at the Ball Arena on Saturday night, Cortez is foreseeing an ascent to the highest possible step on the women’s MMA ladder…

    Cortez Outlines Lofty UFC Ambitions Ahead Of Main Event Debut

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Cortez looked ahead to the shot at title contention that has fallen at her doorstep this weekend in Denver.

    In terms of what she hopes to achieve with victories over notable names like “Thug Rose,” the #11-ranked flyweight set her sights on going above and beyond the legacy left behind in the cage by a trailblazer for female MMA.

    “You know, I’m very grateful for the way Ronda (Rousey) paved the way for women’s MMA. No one has done it like she has,” Cortez said. “But I say this humbly, I hope to surpass that. She set a goal, and I think us as competitors, we want to keep overstepping these goals and overdoing what our last heroes did.

    “I saw the way she moved and (I’m) finessing and tweaking, making it my own and hoping to surpass what she has done,” Cortez added.

    Having won all five of her Octagon outings to date and cemented a ranking with her victory over Jasmine Jasudavicius at Noche UFC last September, the next step on Cortez’s journey toward the greatness former bantamweight queen Rousey achieved in the cage is a big one.

    To remain perfect in the UFC and notch her first headline triumph, the 30-year-old is tasked with stalling the two-division ambitions of Namajunas.

  • Darren Till Roasts Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Boxing Match: ‘Fluffy Hands, Not A Lot Of Power, In No Fit Physical Shape…’

    Darren Till Roasts Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Boxing Match: ‘Fluffy Hands, Not A Lot Of Power, In No Fit Physical Shape…’

    This past weekend was a big one for former UFC stars making their way into the boxing world as Saturday night’s major contest saw Nate Diaz take on Jorge Masvidal inside the ring.

    On the same night, former UFC title challenger Darren Till also stepped through the ropes for the first time when making his long awaited return to competition at Social Knockout 3.

    Whilst he took this fight just to try and stay active after his bout on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fell off, Till hopes to mix it up with the big names in this scene in the near future.

    With both Masvidal and Diaz being potential opponents for him inside the ring, he was sure to have a keen eye on their rematch that went down in California…

    Darren Till Not Impressed By What He Saw From Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

    The general consensus seemed to be that the boxing clash between Masvidal and Diaz ended up being a better watch that some may have expected.

    Till didn’t see the fight that way, however, as he outlined during his appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.

    “The Gorilla” wasn’t particularly impressed by what he saw from either man but didn’t want to discredit them too much due to the respect he has for them both.

    “I wasn’t impressed mate. Just like, fluffy hands, just not a lot of power, both looked like they wasn’t in no fit physical shape. But as I say, Masvidal, I fought and he beat me fair and square. Diaz, I don’t ever like to diss Diaz too much, I’ve always been a fan since a kid. I think he’s a f****** G of the sport, he’s one of your real ones. Whether you want it in the ring or outside, he’s that guy and that’s what I respect.”

    Till, meanwhile, emerged victorious in bizarre fashion after his opponent claimed to be unable to continue following a shot to the back of the head.

    After a brawl between the pair was split up, the Liverpool native was awarded the victory by way of TKO, marking his first combat sports win since 2019.

  • Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’

    Paddy Pimblett Lays Down A Challenge For Bobby Green At UFC 304: ‘Let’s See If You’ve Got The Balls…’

    UFC lightweight prospect Paddy Pimblett will welcome Bobby Green to enemy territory later this month, and he’s also hoping to welcome him to the ground come fight night.

    After returning from a lengthy injury layoff last December to add the prominent name of former interim champion Tony Ferguson to his growing résumé, Pimblett is set to be back on home soil for his first assignment of 2024 on July 27.

    Prior to two championship headliners at UFC 304, Pimblett will make the walk inside Manchester’s Co-op Live for his first shot at cracking the rankings at 155 pounds.

    The opportunity comes against “King” Green, a veteran contender who is coming off a hard-fought decision victory over Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    In the lead-up, “The Baddy” has insisted that Green’s chin has “gone,” leaving him open to knockouts. Despite that, though, the Liverpool native has challenged the 37-year-old Californian in a different realm of the game…

    Pimblett Invites Green To Put His Money Where His Mouth Is At UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett documented the late stages of his UFC 304 fight camp.

    And speaking to the camera while at his gym, Next Generation MMA in Liverpool, “The Baddy” made note of some of Green’s past comments regarding a possible submission and laid down a challenge for “King.”

    “Bobby makes me laugh. … You was talking about me in 2021, 2022,” Pimblett said. “I also seen a story the other week, him saying, ‘Anyone can knock anyone out with a lucky punch. But Paddy, you’re saying you’re gonna submit me. You can’t submit me!’

    “Grapple with me then, lad? Back your word up,” Pimblett continued. “We both know that you can strike, even though you’ve got no power. We both know that I’ll strike with you and that you can get knocked out. Grapple with me! Let’s see if you’ve got the balls to grapple with me after saying I won’t submit you. Come on, let’s see.”

    It remains to be seen if Green will respond to Pimblett’s challenge.

    But whether on the ground or the feet, “The Baddy” will be looking to thrill his home fans once again, having not competed in the UK since a pair of London triumphs in 2022, both of which came via submission.

  • Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title

    Rafael dos Anjos: Islam Makhachev Is Too Small To Beat Leon Edwards For Second UFC Title

    Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos doubts Islam Makhachev’s chances of achieving two-division glory.

    Makhachev has cemented himself as the 155-pound kingpin with three defenses since completing his long laud out path to the throne formerly occupied by his friend and mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    After submitting Charles Oliveira to win the gold in 2022, Makhachev went on to defeat then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in a pair of contests last year, before most recently stalling Dustin Poirier’s late-career title ambitions.

    With his latest triumph at UFC 302, talk of the Dagestani surpassing “The Eagle’s” legacy and career on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage has increased. Many have pointed to a possible weight change as one factor that could move Makhachev into prime position to be the lightweight GOAT.

    But although the reigning titleholder has frequently expressed his plans to move up, one of Makhachev’s peers doesn’t see him getting the better of the champ above…

    ‘RDA’ Dismisses Makhachev’s Chances Of Beating Edwards

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rafael dos Anjos was asked for his take on Makhachev’s welterweight ambitions.

    The Dagestani looks set to be tasked with at least one more assignment at 155 pounds in the form of Arman Tsarukyan before looking to join the ‘champ-champ’ club.

    But should Makhachev get the better of the Russian-Armenian again and earn a shot at Leon Edwards, “RDA” doesn’t expect him to have the size and physicality to dethrone “Rocky.”

    “I remember when I moved up, I fought all the contenders. … When you move up and go straight for the title, of course you have a bigger chance to become champion,” dos Anjos said. “But I don’t think Islam — he’s got very good momentum right now, but I don’t think he could beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion.

    “I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.””I just think the size difference — Leon is a much bigger guy. And we saw smaller guys like Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble,” dos Anjos continued. “Poirier, man, he’s very tough, but he used to fight at 145 (pounds) and he gave Islam a hard fight.”

    Before potentially getting the chance to prove the Brazilian wrong, Makhachev must further cement his grip on the lightweight crown.

    In addition to Tsarukyan likely being next in line should he complete the requirements to reduce his suspension to six months, Charles Oliveira has also reiterated his plan to work his way to a second dance with Makhachev, while Michael Chandler claims to have been offered a title opportunity.

    Edwards, meanwhile, is next tasked with defending his welterweight strap in a rematch against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester this month.

    Beyond that, the Brit isn’t short on potential challengers, with the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all waiting in the wings as first-time matchups.

  • MMA News Today: Fight Night Weights Show 14-Pound Difference Between Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal, Johnny Walker Told He Has ‘BJ Penn Levels Of CTE’ After Sharing Dinosaur Theory, & More

    MMA News Today: Fight Night Weights Show 14-Pound Difference Between Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal, Johnny Walker Told He Has ‘BJ Penn Levels Of CTE’ After Sharing Dinosaur Theory, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 9, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Masvidal put on twice as many pounds as Diaz after making weight
    • Fans aren’t buying Walker’s dinosaur theory
    • Vakhitov says Pereira is defensively vulnerable

    Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal Fight Day Weigh-Ins Show Drastic Difference

    With the California State Athletic Commission looking to cut down on excessive weight cutting in combat sports, the fight nights weights for the recent Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing match were released.

    The most noteworthy result shows that Jorge Masvidal made a staggering near 30-pound gain between weighing in and showing up on fight night.

    After hitting 175.2 pounds on Friday, he then weighed in at 204.1 pounds, which is a 16 percent increase in body weight.

    Diaz, who won the fight via majority decision, gained 14.6 pounds after coming in on Saturday at 190.2, meaning that he put on half as much weight as his opponent.

    Masvidal competed at both 155 and 170 pounds during his tenure in the UFC. By the time he stepped inside the ring this past weekend, he was closer to the light heavyweight mark.

    Johnny Walker Receives Pushback After Posting Dinosaur Extinction Theory

    It’s an understatement to call Brazil’s Johnny Walker one of the most unpredictable characters in MMA today.

    He recently gathered some attention on social media after he responded to an Instagram post from MMA great Georges St-Pierre.

    “GSP” shared a video about the dinosaurs and how they were made extinct and largely wiped off the face of the earth by an asteroid.

    Walker, in the replies to the post, provided his own theory about how it wasn’t an asteroid that killed them off, but perhaps humans did it instead…

    “Sorry champ but i am not sure about it anymore! I don’t believe that a asteroid ☄️ extinguished the dinosaurs 🦖 , it may be the men , take a look at some saints around the world like the flat of Russia that have a dragon and a guy that probably kill lots of it , and Brasil also have a saint , and lots of other cultures have history about some hero that killed a dragon = Dino 🦖! I’m just saying, history always change and the winner of some war tells his side of the truth ! We never know the actually real truth”

    It didn’t take too long before fans took notice of his comment and gave their sceptical reactions to his take.

    The Last Man To Defeat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Breaks Down His Weaknesses As A Striker

    Alex Pereira has been on an incredible upwards trajectory since making the switch to MMA, but what some fight fans might not know is that he suffered a defeat in his final kickboxing fight.

    After losing a split decision the first time around, Artem Vakhitov got the better of “Poatan” in the rematch before Pereira made the decision to leave Glory behind to really pursue MMA.

    Vakhitov, who has also been trying his hand at MMA as of late, spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about where he believes Pereira is vulnerable, having been one of the few to outstrike him.

    He said that the UFC light heavyweight champion’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness,but the issue many of his MMA opponents have is that they’re not confident enough to try and exploit it.

    “His biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense,” Vakhitov said. “Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing.

    “These other guys haven’t done well against Alex because their striking isn’t at a high enough level. They aren’t confident against him and they think he’s unbeatable, so in their heart they are already defeated before the fight starts,” Vakhitov continued. “But I have beaten him before in pure striking competition, and I am sure I’ll do it again if we can get our trilogy match in the UFC.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Can Create ‘Fan Uprising’ Against Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.

    Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between “Bones” and Stipe Miocic.

    Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.

    The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.

    But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, “DC” says hope is not completely lost…

    Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.

    While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion’s next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, “DC” doesn’t believe everything is set in stone just yet.

    For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.

    “I can’t wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy,” Cormier said. “Here’s the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.

    “You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we’ve seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.’ … But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he’s only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight,” Cormier continued. “If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he’s clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that would do for my man Stipe.”

    Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn’t see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.

    In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested “Razor” was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That’s despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.

    Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.

  • Brendan Allen Rejects Paris Bout As He Won’t Fight Below Moicano vs. Saint Denis: ‘One Coming Off A Loss, One Barely Wins’

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen appears set to decline a trip to the French capital after being snubbed of the main event slot.

    Allen, who currently occupies the #7 spot at 185 pounds, extended his winning run to seven in his first assignment of 2024, outpointing Chris Curtis in one of the year’s best fights to avenge his 2021 loss to “The Action Man.”

    That result came in an Apex main event this past April, coming on the heels of two other main events at the low-capacity facility in Las Vegas.

    And having had a taste of being on UFC Fight Night posters, Allen is now turning down high-profile matchups if he’s not headlining…

    Allen Says No Main Event, No Deal For UFC Fight Night Paris

    During a video recently uploaded to Instagram, Allen provided an update on his current status three months on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon.

    “All In” revealed that he has been offered a top five opponent in the form of Nassourdine Imavov, with the promotion looking to have the pair do battle at the UFC Fight Night scheduled for Paris, France, this September.

    That card recently had its main event reported, with the always entertaining Benoît Saint Denis expected to headline in front of his home fans in a lightweight joust against Renato Moicano.

    Allen, however, believes he has more of a right to top spot on the lineup.

    “This is for everyone that’s asking me what’s up, when am I fighting?” Allen said. “Two weeks ago, they said Imavov in Paris. I said yes. I said I want to be main event because I’ve main evented three in a row, won all three. I’m going into enemy territory, so if we’re going to do it for all the risk, all the gain, let’s go. Main event.

    “Next thing you know, we see (Saint Denis) and Moicano are the main event. I ain’t f*cking going all the way to Paris for these two dudes to go over me. One dude is coming off a loss, the other one barely wins, bro. Nah, I’m not with it,” Allen continued. “So Imavov, if you want to fight, you want this work, whatever you want to call it, come on over to America, we’ll get it done. There’s no way we should be below these guys. I know it’s the Ultimate Followers Championship, but even though they got the followers, just put them on the card, people are going to come anyway.”

    This marks consecutive years in which Allen has rejected main events against high-ranked opponents.

    “All In” turned down a headliner against Roman Dolidze last September because he wanted a higher-ranked name. While the Georgian was #7 at the time, Allen went on to face the #13-ranked Craig.

    This occasion has seen Allen refuse a showdown with the current #4-ranked contender at 185 pounds.

    It remains to be seen who the Californian will share the cage with next, and whether his decision to turn down a top five opponent will stall his planned surge to the title.

  • Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere

    Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has appeared to lose patience with the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

    Sterling announced his arrival in the featherweight division with a successful divisional debut at UFC 300 this past March. “Funk Master” utilized his grappling to limit all of Calvin Kattar’s offense en route to the scorecards.

    Since then, much of the discussion regarding Sterling’s sophomore outing at 145 pounds has involved Evloev, who sits three places above the ex-bantamweight at #5 in the rankings.

    While the pair expressed mutual interest in the fight, they’ve since been at odds over its apparent delay, with both throwing blame at one another.

    Evidently, Sterling has now had enough of that back and forth…

    Sterling Adjusts Sights From Evloev To Lopes

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling provided an update on his future plans, as he looks to climb toward the gold at 145 pounds in pursuit of two-division glory.

    With a lengthy period of discourse with Evloev not resulting in an official booking, “Funk Master” expressed frustration at the Russian’s ongoing “excuses.”

    And with that, he has a fresh name in mind for his desired appearance at the Sphere for Noche UFC this fall.

    “Stay tuned. Hopefully we’ll have some fight news for you guys. I’m thinking about Aljamain Sterling vs. Diego Lopes as the Sphere,” Sterling said. “That has a nice ring to it.

    “Movsar, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing. I gave him a date, he hasn’t accepted yet. He started making all these excuses,” Sterling continued. “Either you want to fight on my terms or I’ll go fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at the Sphere, September 14.”

    Interestingly, Evloev’s different take on why the long-discussed fight with Sterling isn’t coming to fruition has also led him to the doorstep of Lopes and a potential rematch.

    Lopes is one of the fastest-rising names in the division, having followed a competitive short-notice debut against Evloev last May with four straight wins, the first three of which came in the opening round.

    Most recently, the Mexico-based Brazilian defeated Dan Ige in a UFC 303 matchup that came about on just hours’ notice following the extremely late withdrawal of Brian Ortega.

    While Lopes remains outside the top 10 and four places below Sterling in the featherweight pecking order, “Funk Master” seemingly wants to capitalize on the hype around the 29-year-old’s name on a major platform this September.

  • Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    Last Man To Beat Alex Pereira In Kickboxing Highlights His Biggest Weakness: ‘You Saw That In His Second Fight With Adesanya…’

    A figure from Alex Pereira’s kickboxing past sees some gaping holes in the UFC light heavyweight champion’s game.

    When Israel Adesanya reigned supreme over the UFC’s middleweight division and defeat appeared a distant possibility, talk emerged of one man whom he couldn’t get the better of in kickboxing crossing over to mixed martial arts.

    That man was Pereira, who now occupies the light heavyweight throne having previously unseated “The Last Stylebender” at 185 pounds. And “Poatan” is now the subject of similar discussion.

    In 2021 — Pereira’s final year in the striking-only sport — the current UFC star did battle with Artem Vakhitov twice under the Glory Kickboxing banner. After falling on the right side of a split decision first time around, the Brazilian was outpointed in the rematch, marking the end of his journey in the promotion and the sport as a whole.

    Vakhitov, meanwhile, won a single subsequent fight before making his own transition to MMA, where he’s since gone 2-1 inside the cage.

    While still early on in his journey, the Russian appears to already be laying the groundwork for a third combat sports showdown with Pereira in a different environment…

    Artem Vakhitov: Alex Pereira Very ‘Open’ To Punches

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Vakhitov spoke about his venture to MMA and unsurprising desire to work his way to a history-fueled clash against Pereira on the sport’s biggest stage.

    “MMA was always interesting for me anyway, but obviously I am very motivated by the prospect of getting that trilogy match with Pereira,” Vakhitov said. “He’s a superstar now and I am happy for him, but when I hear people saying he’s the best striker in the world … well, I think it’s time for MMA fans to learn about me and my team, put it that way.”

    Vakhitov went on the break down what he seemingly percieves to be an overrated striking game, highlighting the major weakness he sees in Pereira’s approach. And the 33-year-old used “Poatan’s” sole defeat to Adesanya at UFC 287 in April 2023 as the prime example of it.

    “His biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense,” Vakhitov said. “Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing.

    “These other guys haven’t done well against Alex because their striking isn’t at a high enough level. They aren’t confident against him and they think he’s unbeatable, so in their heart they are already defeated before the fight starts,” Vakhitov continued. “But I have beaten him before in pure striking competition, and I am sure I’ll do it again if we can get our trilogy match in the UFC.”

    Pereira was quick to respond to his former kickboxing rival, advising the Russian to avoid going down this path off the back of what he described as bad advice from somebody close to him.

    “Poatan” signed off by recommending a Vakhitov whom he described as “lost” to seek management, and he even provided a recommendation for his ex-opponent.

  • Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Michael Chandler was expected to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. “Iron” has been out of the Octagon for almost two years now, and he has mostly been adamant about fighting McGregor in his return.

    However, Chandler recently surprised fans by announcing on X that he’s been offered to fight Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but never rejected the claim about the offer.

    Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes that Chandler can actually get a title shot despite being out of action since November 2022. He has crucial advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion, though…

    Chael Sonnen Tells Michael Chandler Not To Miss A Fight With Islam Makhachev For Conor McGregor

    On his official YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” discussed Chandler’s future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed. He reiterated his theory that the Dubliner might not ever return after pulling out of UFC 303.

    In the mind of Sonnen, offering Makhachev could be the UFC’s way to indirectly tell Chandler that he won’t ever get to fight the former two-division champion.

    On these grounds, Sonnen thinks Chandler should now consider alternatives. Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title is certainly an exciting opportunity, and it could be more fruitful than waiting for “The Notorious.”

    “If Michael Chandler is offered Islam Makhachev, there is a message being delivered to him, that he has got to be able to hear,” Sonnen said. “The words, ‘We cannot get you Conor McGregor. We are not going to get you Conor McGregor.’”

    The retired UFC middleweight warned “Iron” not to overestimate his current options. He pointed out that fighting Makhachev won’t decrease Chandler’s chances of fighting McGregor in the future.

    “Don’t make that mistake. You’ve got to get the matches you can get when you can get them. You’ve got to win the matches you can win when you can win them. You’ve got to sign the matches you can sign when you can sign them. In front of everything else, get the fight and get it into the ring.”

    Arman Tsarukyan, seemingly the only UFC lightweight with a solid case for a title shot, is out until October at least after being handed a suspension for the punch he threw at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout.

  • Marc Goddard Claims MMA Judging Is Better Than It’s Ever Been: ‘Despite What People Think…’

    Marc Goddard Claims MMA Judging Is Better Than It’s Ever Been: ‘Despite What People Think…’

    Marc Goddard recently said that MMA judging is at its peak, emphasizing that officials consistently deliver genuine decisions regardless of popular opinion.

    MMA judging has long been a contentious issue within the sport. Critics argue that some cageside scorers fail to adhere to established criteria, lack sufficient experience in the sport, and occasionally render questionable decisions.

    Claims of a misaligned scoring system and lack of quality control in judge training and selection contribute to the ongoing controversy, making it a recurring issue at many events.

    Goddard is a highly respected and seasoned MMA referee with over two decades of experience, having officiated numerous high-profile bouts in the UFC and other leading promotions.

    With his extensive background, it’s reasonable to assume that Goddard has a profound grasp of the operations and the mindset required to accurately score a fight.

    And the Brit maintains that MMA judging has reached new heights of sophistication…

    Goddard Asserts ‘Misconceptions’ Have Tainted MMA Officiating

    During a recent interview on the Overdogs Podcast, Goddard was asked to share his thoughts on some of the significant errors and contentious calls by MMA judges in recent times.

    The UK-based MMA referee responded by highlighting his extensive experience in judging numerous fights and his role in educating newcomers about the intricacies of judging.

    “Of course, I am a judge; I do judge. I teach judges. I teach referees and judges.”

    Goddard added that although judging has markedly improved recently, controversial decisions are an unavoidable aspect of the sport. However, he pointed out that the most significant challenges in MMA judging arise from widespread misunderstandings and fan biases, which muddle the perception of fairness in officiating.

    “Despite what people think, judging now and MMA officiating now is better than it’s ever been. Yes, you’re going to get contentious decisions, and yes, you’re gonna get — but one of the biggest problems we have with MMA judging is misconception. People hear things in certain ways, and they just dive into a rabbit hole with them. They take no time to understand. … And that’s what frustates me and my colleagues.”

    In addition to his role as an MMA referee, Goddard is a former practitioner and submission grappler who competed in 14 heavyweight matches during his five-year fighting career.

    He concluded his competitive journey with a record of 7-6-1 before retiring from active competition in 2008. Furthermore, he holds a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains How He’ll Deal With Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Uniqueness’ At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya Explains How He’ll Deal With Dricus Du Plessis’ ‘Uniqueness’ At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya is returning to the Octagon to face Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 305 in Perth. Last September, he lost the title to Sean Strickland in a huge upset and awaits to finally settle his rivalry with “Stillknocks.”

    On his rather quick path to becoming the kingpin, Du Plessis defeated the likes of Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. With his unusual grappling style and striking, which were initially doubted heavily by many MMA enthusiasts, he’s become a hard nut to crack in the middleweight division.

    Here’s how Adesanya, one of the most celebrated strikers ever, plans to counter Du Plessis’ unique style at UFC 305…

    Israel Adesanya Aims To Stick To His Classic Style To Beat Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305

    Adesanya recently appeared in an interview uploaded on The Sias du Plessis Show YouTube channel. The former two-time UFC middleweight champion seemed unbothered by his next opponent’s unpredictable style and physicality.

    “The Last Stylebender” remembered his KO win over Alex Pereira, who appeared to hold a size advantage over all middleweights in the UFC. Accordingly, Du Plessis’ size and unorthodox style on fight night won’t compel Adesanya to change his strategy.

    “I fought the largest middleweight, Alex Pereira, and I knocked him out,” Adesanya said. “How am I gonna deal with Dricus’ uniqueness? It’s just be unique myself. Be unique to who I am. Never again will I ever stray away from my style or my flow just because I wanna do something different or pander or anything like that.”

    Adesanya also revealed that he plans to fight like his usual self at UFC 305. Fans can expect him to maintain distance and attempt to piece up Du Plessis from the outside with clean strikes if this is true.

    “I’m always gonna stick to my style and stick to what I do best, which is beating people up in fantastic fashion. And, yeah, I’ve done that my whole career, and I wanna get back to that,” Adesanya added. “I’m not really worried about the outcome. It’s more about the journey.”

    The Nigerian-New Zealander repeatedly mentioned that he wants to enjoy the process rather than worry about the outcome of his fight with Du Plessis.

    Will this mindset, accompanied by his classic striking style, be enough to reclaim gold at UFC 305? Only time will tell.

  • Jon Anik Names First-Time Opponent That ‘Makes Sense’ For Nate Diaz’s Planned UFC Return

    Should Nate Diaz follow through on his publicly expressed desire to make a UFC return, Jon Anik has the ideal opponent in mind for him.

    Diaz was back in combat sports action this past weekend for the first time in 11 months. Having fallen short in his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul last August, the Stockton star ran it back in the ring with ex-UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

    In addition to his first triumph in the ring, Diaz was looking to avenge the setback he was given at the hands of “Gamebred” back in 2019 when Madison Square Garden hosted the inaugural BMF title fight.

    On that occasion, Masvidal was rewarded for his dominance on the feet with a TKO by way of doctor’s stoppage. After Saturday’s match at Anaheim’s Honda Center, that result remains the Miami native’s most recent win.

    After a competitive 10 rounds on July 6, Diaz was awarded the victory via majority decision. Masvidal was quick to call for a trilogy to take place in a neutral location, but it would appear that the Stockton native has other plans.

    And in addition to a second dance with Paul, that seemingly includes unfinished business on MMA’s biggest stage…

    Anik Says Diaz Has ‘A Lot Of Fight’ Left, Pitches UFC Return Opponent

    During the latest episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast, the UFC’s lead play-by-play commentator reacted to Diaz’s first victory inside the boxing ring this past weekend.

    Anik noted that Diaz once again highlighted a UFC return as part of his plans down the line, and he insisted that in spite of the veteran fighter’s age and stint away from MMA competition, he can never be counted out against elite opposition.

    “Nate Diaz back in the UFC. I don’t know to what extent that is possible in short order, but it’s very encouraging that that is one of the first things sort of on the tip of his tongue,” Anik said. “And far be it for anyone to bet against this guy in a high-profile setting against an elite fighter. Yeah, there’s certain matchups, right? Maybe you don’t like him against Sean Brady, but there are plenty of matchups that are good for Nate Diaz. … I think he’s got a lot of fight left.”

    The Boston native went on to point out one specific matchup that would make sense for Diaz’s potential Octagon comeback: a rearranged showdown with Dustin Poirier.

    “Dustin Poirier and I were talking at UFC 303 as he was there doing the television work. There just aren’t that many fights right now for Dustin. It seems like he has the appetite to go out on a win,” Anik continued. “Dustin has intimated that he wants to fight one more time, and on the very short list of opponents that actually makes some fiscal and competitive sense is Nate Diaz. We’ll see if that’s something that actually materializes.”

    Poirier and Diaz were set to share the cage back at UFC 230 in 2018, but “The Diamond” was forced out after sustaining a hip injury.

    Interestingly, rumors of the pair giving the matchup a second attempt emerged the last time Poirier’s future appeared uncertain. In the aftermath of his title loss against Charles Oliveira in December 2021, the Louisianan pointed to Diaz as the only opponent that appealed to him at the time.

    The former interim champion instead defeated Michael Chandler in his return, and after bouncing back from a defeat to Justin Gaethje last July by knocking out Benoît Saint Denis, he received his third shot at the undisputed belt.

    When Islam Makhachev got the better of him at UFC 302 last month, it seemed that retirement was a real possibility. But a number of weeks on from his latest failed attempt at ticking off the final box in his career, “The Diamond” has picked up hints of another go at the kind of farewell he is after.

  • Marc Diakiese Explains ‘Relief’ Switching From UFC To PFL: ‘The Way They Treated Me As A Fighter…’

    Marc Diakiese Explains ‘Relief’ Switching From UFC To PFL: ‘The Way They Treated Me As A Fighter…’

    Former UFC lightweight Marc Diakiese is one of the latest fighters to make the switch over from the UFC to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    He leaves behind a seven-year stint in the promotion, a run that saw him compete 15 times inside the Octagon.

    His PFL signing was announced at the recent PFL Europe event in Newcastle and his debut fight has already been made official.

    “Bonecrusher” will compete in a battle of Brit strikers when he faces Tim Wilde in London on September 14 in his Bellator Champions Series debut.

    Diakiese has now spoken more about his decision to make the switch in order to start what he sees as a new chapter for his career.

    Marc Diakiese Says Lack Of Activity Led To Him Leaving UFC, Joining PFL

    Diakiese spoke about his departure from the UFC in a recent interview with InsideFighting, during which he made it clear that he didn’t want to say the wrong thing or give the wrong impression.

    For him, the decision became an easy one over time because of two main factors, one from both sides.

    Diakiese was becoming frustrated with how long he was having to wait before receiving fights, and after his win over Kauê Fernandes last November, he was even waiting to be cut by the promotion.

    He detailed how this growing frustration and desire to be active meant that he felt like he was being “set free” when everything was finalized with the PFL.

    “Fresh start. For me, people see it different, but for me, it’s actually a relief. I can actually focus on certain things that I want to focus on, as in my career, so it’s a perfect spot for me and I’m really happy where I am,” Diakiese said. “There was a couple issues with myself before leaving, so I’m just happy that I’ve been given a spot where I can perform because I’m 31. Like I said, I want to be busy, active, put on a show. Not just one win and wait six months. For me, I can’t be doing that.

    “It might come out wrong but it was just like, I don’t want to wait, I don’t want to wait around. It were like okay, I had a fight in Brazil, after that I got given another fight in Vegas but it was another five-week notice, it was too short for me and I was hoping for something (in) Europe. Then they said July, so I was waiting for that, but then for some reason I got nothing from them on the July card. So I’m going to wait around and just keep waiting. I want to be active.”

    The other side to the coin was that although he was hoping to be kept more active in the UFC, he was coming around to the idea of signing with the PFL after attending events and speaking to fighters on the roster.

    As he has previously stated, Francis Ngannou played a role in the move, which only made the decision easier once it became time for him to make the call.

    “Just the way they treated me as a fighter and like, yeah, I’m sure you know I’ve been speaking to Francis Ngannou for quite a while and he spoke to me like I was a younger brother and talked to me maybe like six months ago, eight months ago. You know when you’ve come back to it and you just think about it and you’re like, ‘Is it right? Is it not?’ But when it came, it was the easiest decision, like, ‘Yeah okay, I don’t want to sign with anybody else but PFL.’”

  • Tai Tuivasa Urges ‘C**ts’ On Social Media To Stop Telling Him How To Fight: ‘Keep Your Opinions To Your Self!’

    Tai Tuivasa Urges ‘C**ts’ On Social Media To Stop Telling Him How To Fight: ‘Keep Your Opinions To Your Self!’

    UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa has issued a rebuke to social media detractors who constantly bombard him with hateful comments, attempting to school him on fighting techniques.

    “Bam Bam” has always captivated audiences with his electrifying entrances and the steadfast support of his loyal followers at every fight. However, in light of his current struggles, critics have capitalized on the situation to disparage Tuivasa for his performances.

    Tuivasa is celebrated for his formidable, hard-hitting fighting style, which he has consistently demonstrated throughout his 15-fight UFC career. However, the Australian is currently enduring a four-fight losing skid, having been most recently submitted in the first round by Marcin Tybura in a UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex this past March.

    Tuivasa has previously experienced a three-fight losing streak in the Octagon but managed to turn his fortunes around by racking up five consecutive victories. This time, though, the journey back to the win column seems to have been taking a toll on him.

    Tuivasa Pushes Back Against Fans’ Fighting Lessons

    “Bam Bam” recently took to X and shared a compilation video showing fans critiquing his fighting style and offering advice in the comments. Tuivasa singled out one fan’s suggestion that he should diversify his approach beyond brute power.

    In the caption, the Aussie expressed frustration with the flood of unsolicited advice on his social media posts and in his direct messages, urging those who haven’t competed at his level to refrain from offering opinions.

    He emphasized that he competes against the world’s top fighters and values input only from those with comparable experience.

    “This is 90% of the c**ts in my comments and DMs telling me how to fight,” Tuivasa wrote. “I fight the top fighters in the world; unless you are one of them or have done it before, keep your opinions to your self!”

    Tuivasa is gearing up for his comeback fight against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 305, scheduled to take place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on August 17.

    Before his recent setbacks, Tuivasa was riding high on a streak of five consecutive knockout victories, with notable wins over Derrick Lewis, Augusto Sakai, and Greg Hardy. He currently boasts an Octagon record of 8-7.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is intrigued by the possibility of Jiří Procházka joining the division he formerly competed in.

    Procházka is currently just over a week on from his latest outing at the UFC 303 pay-per-view, which saw his second failed bid to achieve two-time champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage play out.

    Having had his light heavyweight reign brought to an end by a severe shoulder injury in late 2022, “BJP” returned in competition for the then-vacant belt at UFC 295 last November. On that night, Alex Pereira exited the cage with the gold in his possession, completing two-division glory in the process.

    With both subsequently recording wins at UFC 300 this past April, they ran it back on short notice after the June 29 numbered event was left in desperate need of a headline savior.

    The Czech star answered the call and looked to right the wrongs from his first showdown with “Poatan.” But unfortunately for the former champ, he was soundly beaten second time around.

    In the aftermath, a disappointed Procházka admitted he needs to “evolve” as a fighter or simply not compete any longer. Separately, his coach pitched a drop to middleweight following his man’s latest setback at 205 pounds.

    That idea appears to be one that gets a former title challenger in both divisions off his seat…

    Sonnen ‘Loves’ The Idea Of Middleweight Procházka

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to talk of Procházka possibly testing the middleweight waters down the line, a move that the former champ himself has previously insisted would be doable.

    While he suggested a divisional switch is not a necessity for “BJP” despite his two defeats to the current light heavyweight kingpin, “The Bad Guy” did point out a number of mouthwatering matchups that could await the Czech star down at 185 pounds.

    “Jiří Procházka’s coach suggests the former champion should move down to middleweight. … Well, I don’t want to take on that coach or his opinion because he is damn good and he created a world champion there,” Sonnen said. “I believe what he is offering, in front of everything else, is that it is not time for Jiří to retire. I agree with that, fully.

    “I don’t believe there is a meaningful difference if you become a world champion in a different division. … Jiří at 185, that is completely fascinating to me. I love that idea,” Sonnen continued. “I really don’t want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira (again). I didn’t really want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira last weekend. That’s just not the one that I was itching for. But I tell you what, Jiří Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You have my attention. Jiří Procházka vs. Sean Strickland, vs. Izzy Adesanya, wow, vs. Robert Whittaker, woah, things just got really interesting. Jiří Procházka vs. Khamzat Chimaev! Jiří at 185, I love this concept, but I’m not bothered by the concept of Jiří staying at 205.”

    It remains to be seen what Procházka’s plans are for the future and whether he shares his coach’s view on a middleweight move next.

    But regardless, the always entertaining “BJP” is already back to his unique and unorthodox training regime back in Czechia.

  • Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Green Changing First Name To ‘King’ Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Can Officially Call Me The Kingslayer’

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To Green Changing First Name To ‘King’ Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘Can Officially Call Me The Kingslayer’

    Paddy Pimblett looks to continue his undefeated streak in the UFC when he returns on July 27 at UFC 304.

    “The Baddy” is sure to get an incredible reaction when he makes the walk in Manchester, despite it being the early hours of the morning.

    His opponent, while known as a fan favorite on the roster, will be welcomed to England as the away fighter, but this won’t phase the #15-ranked lightweight.

    In fact, his next outing is set to be the first of a new chapter in his career after King Green, formerly known as Bobby Green, announced that he had officially changed his name on social media.

    Paddy Pimblett Reacts To UFC 304 Opponent Changing His Name To King Green

    Green had laid out his plans in the past for wanting to change his first name to his longtime fight moniker in order to show just how far he has come in his career and what he has been able to achieve.

    July 27 will be his 50th professional fight, but flying to England to face a star like Pimblett after changing his name to King is sure to be one of the most memorable.

    It didn’t take long for his opponent to catch wind of this news, as “The Baddy” prepares to face the same man under a different name.

    He posted on social media to give his thoughts on this change for Green and, suffice to say, he won’t be following suit anytime soon…

    “This mushroom has actually changed his name to King so yous can officially call me the Kingslayer on July 28th”

    UFC 304 will be headlined by two title fights, with welterweight champion Leon Edwards’ rematch against Belal Muhammad and interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall’s second dance opposite Curtis Blaydes following Green vs. Pimblett.

  • Marc Goddard Names One UFC Champion He’ll Never Referee Fights For: ‘When He Was Just An Amateur…’

    Marc Goddard Names One UFC Champion He’ll Never Referee Fights For: ‘When He Was Just An Amateur…’

    When a big UFC main event is about to begin, you’re guaranteed to see one of just a few of the recognizable top officials in the sport standing between the fighters.

    Marc Goddard has been one of the staple referees working in the sport for some time now and is a former ‘Referee of the Year’ winner at the Annual MMA Awards.

    Despite being such a prominent fixture of the biggest events of the year, there are some occasions where the Brit has decided to remove himself from the equation for various reasons.

    Having been in and around the sport for such a long time, it’s only natural that you’re going to build connections with certain fighters or teams that may effect your ability to remain impartial.

    Marc Goddard Says You Never Have & Never Will See Him Referee A Leon Edwards Fight

    During a recent and rare podcast appearance, Goddard spoke about one of his only exceptions to officiating a fight on the Overdogs Podcast.

    He noted that fans will never see him be the third man in the cage when a current UFC champion is in action because of his ties to that fighter.

    With that in mind, you can expect to see a name like Herb Dean or Jason Herzog in the Octagon for the upcoming main event of UFC 304…

    “Leon Edwards, you’ve never saw me referee Leon Edwards in the UFC and you never will. Why? Because I was Leon Edwards’ first coach in MMA way back when, when he was just an amateur. But again, the common sense element for me…you never saw me referee him and you never will because we’ll just keep it out the way.

    “I just don’t want any hassle and I don’t want to be put in a predicament where I’m making a call that could go against him, so it’s both ways.”

    Goddard also revealed that there are other scenarios that can lead to him turning down a particular assignment.

    He gave the example of how he withdrew from being the official for Israel Adesanya’s rematch with Alex Pereira last April in Miami.

    Goddard gave the reason that after Adesanya wasn’t satisfied with the stoppage of his first encounter with Pereira five months prior, the official didn’t want this to have any impact on the challenger in the second fight.

  • Nick Diaz’s Former Coach Disagrees With Decision To Accept Vicente Luque Fight: ‘If I Was Advising Nick…’

    Nick Diaz’s Former Coach Disagrees With Decision To Accept Vicente Luque Fight: ‘If I Was Advising Nick…’

    Fight fans were certainly caught off guard to see an announcement seemingly drop out of nowhere regarding Nick Diaz’s UFC return.

    His last outing against Robbie Lawler three years ago also came as a shock, but given the way that fight ended and the lack of movement since then, many would have assumed that we wouldn’t see Diaz back inside the Octagon.

    The Stockton native is now set to take on #14-ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque in the co-main event of the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    However, Diaz’s former coach has some worrying comments about the fight that aren’t going to go down well with fans who are excited to see him back…

    Cesar Gracie Expresses Concern Over Nick Diaz’s Return Against Vicente Luque

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Cesar Gracie gave his thoughts on the Octagon return of Diaz.

    He made it clear throughout that he isn’t involved in this fight, so while he is still in constant communication with Diaz, he doesn’t know much about it.

    Nevertheless, Gracie doesn’t think that coming back against a top 15 competitor in Abu Dhabi is the right move for his former fighter considering where he is at in his career.

    “I’m really not that involved in that fight, gonna be perfectly honest with you. That wasn’t my idea, it wouldn’t have been the fight that I would’ve — like, if I was advising Nick, I wouldn’t have advised him to do that fight.

    “It’s in Abu Dhabi, I wouldn’t advise to go fight overseas at this point. Luque is a very tough guy, Nick is a tough guy but it just doesn’t make that much sense for me. Where Nick is at in his career and I don’t know, it’s not the fight that I would’ve made.”

    At 40 years old, Diaz hasn’t had his hand raised inside the cage since his win over BJ Penn at UFC 137, a staggering 13 years ago.

    Gracie also expressed some concerns over whether this fight actually happens, stating once again that everything is a little bit up in the air right now, at least on his end.

    “I don’t even know what’s going on with that fight, to be honest with you. I spoke to Nick today and, yeah, I don’t have any plans for that fight to be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going to happen with that one at all.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis Recalls ‘Frustrating’ Sean Strickland Fight: ‘He Said Till Death & Just Walked Backwards’

    Dricus Du Plessis recently looked back on the fight that saw him crowned as the UFC middleweight champion earlier this year.

    Du Plessis is currently gearing up for his first defense of the 185-pound title, which goes down (under) in Perth, Australia, as the UFC 305 pay-per-view main event next month.

    The South African will finally square off with Israel Adesanya close to a year on from their originally planned showdown. After upsetting Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis was expected to challenge “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 293 in Sydney last September.

    But their rivalry — a sensitive and historical one born out of Du Plessis’ controversial comments regarding the UFC’s African champs — was put on the back burner after an injury to “Stillknocks.”

    In his place, Sean Strickland made the long-haul flight to Australia and capitalized in emphatic fashion, outpointing Adesanya dominantly.

    While that served as another delay in Adesanya vs. Du Plessis coming to fruition, the latter brought the matchup back to the surface when he rendered Strickland’s reign a short one at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January.

    Du Plessis Describes Fighting ‘Very Tricky’ Strickland

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis reflected on his experience fighting the unique style of Strickland in Canada six months ago.

    After noting his former opponent’s shock win over Adesanya, the reigning champ outlined the difficulty that comes with fighting “Tarzan’s” unorthodox approach.

    More than handling that, however, Du Plessis said his real agitation came when Strickland failed to deliver on his promise of a ‘fight-to-the-death’ war — a criticism that has since reared its head again after Strickland’s victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.

    “(Strickland’s) a very tricky guy. He’s hard to hit, he has a sneaky jab — not a lot of power, but he hits the target and is really, really hard to catch,” Du Plessis said. “Let me say it this way, it was frustrating (to fight him) because he said, ‘Till death,’ and he just walked backwards the whole time. So that was a little frustrating.

    “But I mean, he did catch me with that jab for the first two rounds the whole time,” Du Plessis continued. “To be honest, I felt the jabs and I just thought, ‘I’ll just go through them.’ All of a sudden, I just couldn’t see out of my eye anymore. I realized, ‘I have to start blocking these.’”

    Having successfully gotten past Strickland’s style in narrow fashion, Du Plessis is next tasked with replicating his ex-rival’s feat from 2023.

    After some heated interactions last year and a tense faceoff at the UFC 305 on-sale press conference last week, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally throw down inside the cage on August 17 at Perth’s RAC Arena.

  • MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 8, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • White argues that UFC is the best at what they do rather than a monopoly
    • There’s a new “King” in the lightweight division
    • Top 15 lightweights scheduled for UFC’s return to Paris

    Dana White Insists UFC Isn’t A Monopoly Because ‘Anyone’ Can Start An MMA Promotion

    During the long process of the antitrust lawsuit that was filed against the UFC by former members of the roster, the case was granted class certification.

    While a settlement was eventually reached, many concluded that the class certification validated the allegation that the UFC holds a monopoly over the sport. Unsurprisingly, the promotion disagreeds with that notion.

    Dana White spoke out on this during a recent interview with Fox News, where he debated the idea that the MMA leader prevents others from being able to compete at its level.

    He made the case that the UFC is simply the best at what it does, but that it’s not stopping others from trying to replicate the success achieved by the sport’s leading promotion.

    “People have called us ‘monopoly’ and all this stuff for years. We’re not a monopoly, we’re just the best,” White said. “We’re the best at what we do, there’s no barrier to entry, anyone could get into this.

    “You could start a league tomorrow and pay the guys whatever you want, you can do whatever you want but a lot of smart, talented, big business moguls have got into this sport and tried to compete with me and they couldn’t do it,” White continued. “But everybody — there’s no barrier to entry, anyone can get into this thing tomorrow.”

    Bobby Green Officially Changes His Name To ‘King’ Green Ahead Of UFC 304 Return

    Islam Makhachev sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division as the world champion and pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport. Now, however, 155 pounds has a new king.

    #15-ranked Bobby Green made his intentions clear in the past that he was looking to change his name, but it has now been made official.

    When he makes the walk at UFC 304 later this month to face Paddy Pimblett, he will do so under a new name, King Green.

    He gave fans a glimpse of the official documentation on Instagram, which clearly shows that from this point on, he will answer to King and King only.

    Renato Moicano Set To Face Benoît Saint Denis In Paris Over Five Rounds

    The Octagon is set to return to the French capital for a third consecutive year, with UFC Paris going down at the Accor Arena on September 28.

    Ag. Fight reported that top 15 lightweights will face off in Paris with France’s Benoît Saint Denis taking on Brazil’s Renato Moicano. MMA Junkie later confirmed that the contest is set to take place over five rounds.

    It remains to be seen whether that marks the break of Ciryl Gane’s streak of Paris headliners, or if “God of War” and his Brazilian counterpart are set for a five-round co-headliner.

    Moicano is riding a three-fight win streak from the #10 spot, while Saint Denis, who is two spots below him in the rankings, will look to bounce back from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in March.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Rising UFC welterweight Ian Garry has his sights set on those above him for his next fight, but he doesn’t see one former champion as a likely candidate.

    Garry extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 last weekend at UFC 303, where he recorded his eighth triumph on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage since signing in 2021.

    After climbing the ranks with victories over Neil Magny at UFC 292 last August and Geoff Neal this past February at UFC 298, the former Cage Warriors champion was forced to turn his gaze to a figure below him in the pecking order to secure an outing during International Fight Week.

    The Irishman opened the June 29 pay-per-view main card against Michael “Venom” Page, a former Bellator standout who debuted successfully at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    Despite some backing “MVP’s” unique striking to be the difference, Garry edged the Londoner out for a decision win inside the T-Mobile Arena. While the result hasn’t seen the Dubliner climb the ranks, it should see him matched against a top contender next time out.

    When it comes to who, though, “The Future” doesn’t see the former champ sitting inside the top five as an option…

    Garry Predicts Usman Won’t Want To Fight ‘Someone So Young & Dangerous’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a post-fight interview with TNT Sports’ Caroline Pearce in Las Vegas, Garry looked ahead to what could await him upon his return to the cage following UFC 303.

    The Irishman has been vocal in calling out fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov since his win over Page. And Garry explained that preference by suggesting both Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman will likely “run.”

    “Colby’s never taking the fight. He’s running scared. … After (UFC 303), he’s like, ‘Yeah, f*ck that, see you later.’ He’s jumping on someone’s rented yacht, acting like it’s his,” Garry said. “Look, there’s Usman, one of the greatest champions we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s gonna run scared and he’s not gonna f*cking make the call either. He doesn’t want to fight someone so young and dangerous.

    “I just have to see how the rest of the division plays out now,” Garry continued. “I’m in the driving seat. There’s only a couple of people I can fight that are gonna be above me.”

    Garry and Usman briefly trained under the same roof, with the Dubliner spending time at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, where “The Nigerian Nightmare” splits his time with Trevor Wittman’s facility.

    The former champ hasn’t directly addressed a potential fight with Garry in the aftermath of UFC 303. He did, however, assess how far “The Future” is from the title, noting he could be two fights away given the names that still sit above him in the rankings.

  • Randy Brown Calls Out Top 10 Welterweight For UFC Fight Night Paris Showdown

    Having extended his winning run last month, rising UFC welterweight prospect Randy Brown has his sights set on the division’s top 10.

    Brown has established himself as a leading up-and-comer at 170 pounds, winning seven of eight fights since the turn of 2021. His sole defeat in that period came against elite competition in the form of the #5-ranked Jack Della Maddalena.

    “Rude Boy” has bounced back emphatically after that setback in Australia last February, winning three straight against Wellington Turman, Muslim Salikhov, and most recently Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    Brown got the better of Zaleski dos Santos at the UFC 302 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, early last month. And having likely moved to within touching distance of the top 15 as a result, the 34-year-old is setting his sights on a welterweight who has long boasted a number next to their name.

    Brown Wants Neal In The French Capital: ‘Give Me A Chance To Climb!’

    Just over a month on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Brown took to social media to stake his claim for an opportunity to climb not just into the rankings, but the welterweight top 10.

    “I’ll fight Geoff Neal in Paris,” Brown wrote.

    In a subsequent post, Brown expanded on the callout of Geoff Neal and explained why he deserves an opportunity to climb toward contention at 170 pounds.

    “My development has been nothing short of incredible. I’m proud of that and I’m willing and ready to test myself against any man in the division. I want the tough fights. Give me a chance to climb!”

    Neal hasn’t competed since falling short against Ian Garry at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February. That result came 11 months on from another setback at the hands of an undefeated contender, with Shavkat Rakhmonov submitting him at UFC 285.

    With “Handz of Steel” now on a losing skid, it stands to reason that he’ll need to defend his #10 position on the welterweight ladder next time out.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    Magomed Ankalaev Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Interaction With Anthony Joshua: ‘One More UFC Champion Wants To Run To Boxing’ 

    After Alex Pereira caught the attention of boxing great Anthony Joshua to spark talk of a venture to the ring, Magomed Ankalaev has reminded the UFC light heavyweight champion of his presence.

    Pereira has risen to stardom on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in less than three years, capturing both the 185 and 205-pound titles and delivering some brutal knockouts in the process.

    “Poatan” currently reigns on the heavier of those two thrones, a position he cemented last weekend in the UFC 303 main event by adding a knockout win over Jiří Procházka to his résumé for the second time.

    In the aftermath, many have suggested that Pereira’s success and prominence has transcended MMA. At the very least, he’s captured intrigue from the boxing world, with Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight champion, recently backing the former two-weight Glory Kickboxing champ for yet another sporting switch.

    “AJ’s” suggestion came on X, where Pereira was quick to respond. The light heavyweight kingpin admitted that a boxing move has always been his “dream,” and he asked the British star for opponent recommendations.

    “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight?”

    That interaction didn’t make for good reading for the man seemingly waiting in the wings for “Poatan” in MMA…

    Ankalaev Unimpressed By Pereira Entertaining Boxing Talk

    Magomed Ankalaev has staked his claim for a shot at Pereira’s belt ever since opening his 2024 campaign with a vicious knockout of Johnny Walker at the Apex.

    And the Russian was quick to reiterate his perceived number one contender status in the moments after the champ’s International Fight Week success in Las Vegas on June 29.

    With patience not part of his approach to securing another title chance, Ankalaev has since remained active on social media, mostly vowing to stop Pereira on the feet.

    In one of his latest posts, the Russian took aim at Pereira for entertaining talk of a boxing switch.

    “@AlexPereiraUFC One more Ufc champion want to run to boxing because he knows he’s going to lose his belt next,” Ankalaev wrote.

    In another tweet, Ankalaev once again promised to shock the community by knocking Pereira out. He also insisted that the Brazilian has no need for a boxing switch until he’s faced his toughest test inside the cage.

    “Me vs you I’m knocking you out the first round You don’t need boxing you need your biggest challenge in your life @danawhite @Mickmaynard2”

  • Dricus Du Plessis On What He Saw In Israel Adesanya’s Eyes During Staredown: ‘Trying To Convince Himself He Still Wants To Do This’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis drew some conclusions from his long faceoff with Israel Adesanya last week.

    After a bitter feud dating back to the start of 2023, Du Plessis and Adesanya will finally have the chance to settle their grudge inside the Octagon at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, next month.

    Having been unable to make the turnaround post-beating Robert Whittaker to face “The Last Stylebender” in Sydney last September, “Stillknocks” set this bout up once again by dethroning Sean Strickland months after he upset Adesanya Down Under.

    With their long-awaited showdown just over a month away, Du Plessis and his challenger went face to face in Perth for an on-sale press conference.

    Following some firm words with microphone in hand, the pair engaged in one of the lengthiest and most intense faceoffs in recent memory. And according to the champ, he learned a thing or two from it…

    Du Plessis Saw Uncertainty In Adesanya’s Eyes During Perth Faceoff

    During a recent appearance on the All Talk podcast, Du Plessis looked ahead to his opening defense of the middleweight title and reflected on his first in-person interaction with Adesanya during the UFC 305 buildup.

    The South African spoke about the importance of pre-fight faceoffs, even branding them the first part of a bout. And given what he claims to have seen in the eyes of Adesanya, the champ evidently believes round one went to him.

    “Once I get into that zone for any staredown, there’s no humor in that. That’s when things get serious. That’s part of the fight right there, winning that exchange,” Du Plessis said. “Almost a theme for me in this whole fight is seeing that Israel Adesanya…he has done great things in this sport. But when it comes to as big as he’s gonna get, he has been as big as he’s gonna get. When it comes to the title defenses and the winning streaks, that will never come again because he doesn’t have the time.

    “His biggest achievement for him personally was beating Alex Pereira. He had this nemesis who’s beaten him multiple times. And after that fight, he was ready to call it quits,” Du Plessis continued. “That’s what I saw in his eyes as well; trying to convince me but more so trying to convince himself that he still wants to do this and that he still has what it takes to be the best fighter in the world. As soon as you’re asking yourself that question, you’re in a dark place.”

    Whether or not Du Plessis draws the same conclusion when they go face to face again when fight week rolls around in Perth remains to be seen.

    But given his golf jibe relating to retirement during the recent presser, it would appear that “Stillknocks” sees Adesanya having one foot out the door ahead of his first fight in 11 months.