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  • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Five-Rounder Set For Paris-Held UFC Fight Night On Sept. 28

    A clash between ranked UFC lightweights Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis is set for the promotion’s return to France.

    After two successful events in Paris thus far, the European nation with a growing passion for mixed martial arts just a few years on from its legalization there will get another visit from the Octagon in 2024.

    On September 28, the UFC will be back at Accor Arena for a UFC Fight Night card, with many of France’s own expected to make the walk.

    While not much has been announced regarding a main event or undercard, it appears that one of the country’s leading names has his spot on the lineup confirmed.

    Ag. Fight first reported that #12-ranked Saint Denis was being lined up to share the cage with the #10-ranked Moicano in front of his home fans. The Brazilian outlet’s report was later confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin.

    A subsequent report from MMA Junkie revealed that the matchup is slated for five rounds.

    Moicano Looks To Continue Momentum From UFC 300, Send Saint Denis On Losing Skid

    With this bout reportedly official in the coming days, Moicano and Saint Denis will be preparing for their clash off the back of vastly different results.

    Moicano (19-5-1) has had a strong year to date, first returning from a lengthy injury layoff by outpointing Drew Dober at the Apex in February. The Brazilian subsequently made the most of a spot on the milestone UFC 300 card in April, knocking out Jalin Turner after “The Tarantula” failed to capitalize on an earlier knockdown.

    Having won three straight since a short-notice main event loss to Rafael dos Anjos in 2022, Moicano is looking to climb the 155-pound ladder into title contention. And although he’ll be fighting down the pecking order in September, his opponent is a highly regarded up-and-comer.

    Saint Denis (13-2, 1 NC) won five straight in his natural weight class following a UFC debut defeat to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. That run included a violent head kick finish of Matt Frevola at UFC 295 last November. The Frenchman was then granted a major chance to impress against former interim champion and veteran top five contender Dustin Poirier.

    Despite a strong start at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, “God of War” faded in the second round and was stopped on the feet by “The Diamond,” a result he put down to the antibiotics used to combat a pre-fight staph infection.

  • UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/1-7/7): Sphere-Held Noche UFC Gets First Four Fights

    UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (7/1-7/7): Sphere-Held Noche UFC Gets First Four Fights

    MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to the upcoming cards.

    With UFC events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

    In recent days, a couple of notable fights were made official by the UFC or confirmed by reputable sources. For more information on those matchups, check out the links below:

    A few lower-profile matchups also came together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

    But it wasn’t all positive, with one fight being adjusted. For that, see below:

    And for more detailed information on one newly booked fight that may have flown under your radar between July 1 and July 7, scroll down and check out this week’s UFC Matchmaking Bulletin spotlighted fight.

    Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes – UFC Abu Dhabi (August 3)

    After failing to capitalize on the main event spotlight earlier this year, Shamil Gaziev will look to get back on track at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    Gaziev (12-1) received a shot at the heavyweight rankings and a maiden headliner in just his second UFC fight, being matched against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the main event of UFC Vegas 87 this past March. The then-undefeated Bahraini was unable to continue into the fifth round, granting “Bigi Boy” the victory by way of TKO.

    To avoid the first losing skid of his career, Gaziev must get the better of Don’Tale Mayes (11-6) in the Middle East next month. “Lord Kong” has exchanged wins and losses since a win over Josh Parisian in 2021, falling short against Augusto Sakai and Rodrigo Nascimento but defeating Andrei Arlovski and Caio Machado.

    This heavyweight fight was first reported by Vestnik MMA.

  • Jorge Masvidal Calls For Nate Diaz Trilogy In ‘Neutral’ Location After Claiming Crowd Influenced Judging In Boxing Defeat

    Jorge Masvidal Calls For Nate Diaz Trilogy In ‘Neutral’ Location After Claiming Crowd Influenced Judging In Boxing Defeat

    Jorge Masvidal appeared to out-land Nate Diaz in the statistics at the conclusion of their boxing match on July 6, but it was not enough to get the win. And “Gamebred” feels the hometown advantage his opponent had played a role in that.

    Diaz scored the win over Masvidal by majority decision in the main event of a card that took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

    The fight proved to be an exciting one that seemingly could have gone either way. The Stockton native had a notable volume-based attack and took over the fight as the former UFC BMF champion’s energy decreased during the middle portion of the fight. In the eyes of many, Masvidal landed the cleaner, more effective, and damaging strikes.

    But one judge scored the bout an even 95-95, while the other two scored the fight 97-93 and 98-92 in favor of Diaz.

    “I definitely know the judges were influenced by the crowd because a lot of those shots were landing in the corner,” Masvidal said at the post-fight press conference. “I was just getting my timing. He’d throw three or four shots that wouldn’t land, and then I’d throw a good power shot. I’d see that I’d hurt him and I’d back him up or he would start goofing around. (I) hurt him to the body numerous times.”

    Jorge Masvidal Feels Nate Diaz’s Hometown Advantage Led To Lopsided Scorecards Against Him

    Masvidal felt he landed the better strikes in the fight, noting the number of times that he seemed to hurt Diaz. However, “Gamebred” claimed the roars of the crowd whenever his rival landed a shot proved to be his downfall and led to two judges scoring the contest in lopsided fashion for Diaz.

    Masvidal feels that if a potential trilogy bout is to go down, then that fight needs to take place in a location where neither man will be a hometown hero.

    “I think one or two of the judges only gave me two rounds. There’s just no way,” Masvidal insisted. “We were looking at the fight right now in the locker room, the meaningful shots, and a lot more of the meaningful shots were landed by me. I just feel that it didn’t go my way, but whatever. We’re 1-1, we can run it back some place like Vegas. Make it a neutral place and let’s f*cking throw down.

    “From what I saw, I definitely hurt him more than he ever hurt me. I got way cleaner shots, especially to the body. He never even did anything to my body. I definitely hurt his body, and a couple times that I hurt him, he backed up,” Masvidal continued. “He put a lot of pressure and he was coming forward but he never hurt me. I don’t think he landed any meaningful punches. Eight rounds to two is f*cking nuts. Whatever, it’s California. I knew I had to get a knockout or some sh*t like this (would happen).”

    Masvidal expressed a desire for a third fight in the ring, too, prior to the press conference. The pair exchanged heated words during that time, needing to be separated.

    “Gamebred” previously scored the win in their first outing in the UFC five years ago, defeating Diaz via third-round doctor’s stoppage in the main event of UFC 244 to win the inaugural BMF championship.

  • Irish MMA Fighter Jailed After Putting Ex-Partner In & Threatening To Kill Her With Rear-Naked Choke Following Loss

    Irish MMA Fighter Jailed After Putting Ex-Partner In & Threatening To Kill Her With Rear-Naked Choke Following Loss

    An amateur MMA fighter from Northern Ireland will be facing severe consequences after trying to take out frustrations from a loss on his ex partner.

    Carter Coulter pleaded guilty on July 3 at Craigavon Crown Court to charges of criminal damage, threats to kill, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

    Coulter was given a two-year sentence in which he will serve one year in prison and another year on license. The fighter also received a non-molestation order until July 3, 2027.

    Coulter, competing in his second amateur MMA fight on October 30, 2022, was submitted by Nicky Gordon via D’Arce choke in the first round.

    Hours later, Coulter attacked Dolores Gallagher in her own home, locking in a rear-naked choke and threatening to kill her with it. Gallagher was ultimately able to escape and get assistance from neighbors, according to Belfast Live.

    Ex Of Irish MMA Fighter Hopes Sentencing Encourages Others To Leave Abusive Situations

    Gallagher told the news outlet that people came back to their property afterward for drinks following Coulter’s fight. When everyone left, that’s when Coulter struck.

    “He suddenly turned on me and attacked me, knocking me unconscious and dragging me into another room,” Gallagher said. “When I came round, he was standing there screaming at me, and I was terrified that something more serious was going to happen. He then went downstairs and started to sleep on the sofa, so I decided that I would try to sneak out of the house to safety. But as I was doing that, he woke up and then dragged me up the stairs into the bedroom where I begged for him to leave me alone and to not hurt me.

    “He then attacked me again, hitting me over and over across my head, ribs and back before putting me into a rear-naked choke. As he was choking me, I started to see dots all over my vision and was certain that this was going to be the moment that I died, as he was whispering in my ear that he was going to kill me.”

    Gallagher, who also trains MMA, was able to escape the chokehold and run to a neighbor, who notified police.

    The victim added that she still suffers from the injuries to this day and expressed to Belfast Live frustration on what she feels was a light sentencing for her ex and attacker.

    “When I was finally free from him, I have had this court case hanging over my head for nearly two years which has caused me further anguish,” Gallagher said. “I am glad that he has received a prison sentence for the attack, but I am disappointed that it was not a stronger sentence. He will lose a year of his life but I feel like I have lost five years of mine. I just hope that by speaking out and highlighting what type of a person he really is, I can make others aware of him and encourage others in a similar situation to find the strength to leave their abusers and get help.”

  • Nate Diaz Targets Two Other Rematches After Boxing Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    Nate Diaz Targets Two Other Rematches After Boxing Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    Now that Nate Diaz has avenged his previous loss to Jorge Masvidal, he has other names in mind that he’d like to get wins back on.

    Diaz scored a majority decision win over Masvidal in the main event of a boxing card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, on July 6. This served as a rematch — albeit in another sport — five years from their first encounter at UFC 244. Masvidal won the initial fight by doctor’s stoppage, making him the first-ever BMF champion of the UFC.

    Diaz scored the win in the closely contested boxing match with a volume-based attack, despite Masvidal landing the harder and arguably cleaner strikes.

    Following the fight, despite Masvidal’s wishes for a trilogy bout and an exchanging of words, Diaz expressed a desire to get back in the ring with Jake Paul and to return to the UFC to face current welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

    Nate Diaz Calls Out Jake Paul & Leon Edwards After Avenging Jorge Masvidal Defeat

    Diaz doubled down on these thoughts at the post-fight press conference.

    “Just off the top of my head, I would like to whip (Paul’s) ass,” Diaz said. “I would like to get a win against Leon Edwards, who’s the best fighter in the world right now at 170 (pounds). I think that’s something major who actually brings something that I can take and put in a credential box. That’s what I’m going for. I’m not playing for no f*cking fun fights, because that sh*t ain’t fun.”

    Diaz made his professional boxing debut against Paul last year. “The Problem Child” dealt some big damage to Diaz in the opening rounds before going on to win a decision.

    Paul called Diaz out on social media after the fight, claiming that the Stockton native has been ducking him despite the callout. As he noted on X/Twitter this weekend, Paul has previously offered Diaz upwards of $15 million for a rematch in the PFL MMA cage, not in the boxing ring.

    In his second-to-last UFC fight, Diaz dropped a decision to Edwards at UFC 263.

  • ‘Not Opposed To Seeing A Third Fight’ – Fight Fans Left Mixed After Nate Diaz Scores Decision Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    ‘Not Opposed To Seeing A Third Fight’ – Fight Fans Left Mixed After Nate Diaz Scores Decision Win Over Jorge Masvidal

    After losing to him in the UFC in 2019, Nate Diaz has scored revenge in the boxing ring, defeating Jorge Masvidal via majority decision in the main event of a card on July 6 in Anaheim, California.

    Diaz and Masvidal both brought it from the opening bell. Diaz set the pace early, but Masvidal fired off solid shots of his own. Masvidal seemingly took control then, continuing to land the more effective and powerful blows. Masvidal continued this into the fourth round, but Diaz started to bring out the volume.

    Masvidal worked the body, but Diaz seemed to have more energy as the fight got to the halfway mark. That volume helped him bring forward pressure to Masvidal in the sixth round.

    The themes continued into the final few rounds, with Diaz landing noteworthy shots, but Masvidal landing the cleaner and more powerful punches, proving it to be anyone’s battle.

    Ultimately, it was Diaz who came out on top, winning on 97-93 and a 98-92 scorecards. The third scorecard was a 95-95 draw.

    Fight Fans React To Close, Controversial Decision Win For Nate Diaz Over Jorge Masvidal In Boxing Ring

    https://twitter.com/GoatBranding/status/1809833661904117931

    Diaz went on to call out Jake Paul and Leon Edwards after the fight, looking for revenge against Paul in his next outing before intending to return to the UFC and challenge the welterweight champion.

    Masvidal, meanwhile, will look for a trilogy bout with Diaz. His post-fight comments saw some tense words exchanged between the pair.

    Diaz and Masvidal first met five years ago in the UFC at UFC 244. At New York’s Madison Square Garden, Masvidal scored a controversial third-round doctor’s stoppage win over Diaz to become the first ‘BMF’ champion. Masvidal then lost his next four fights, retiring in 2023 following a loss to Gilbert Burns.

    Masvidal’s sole professional boxing match prior to tonight came in 2005, defeating Joseph Benjamin via majority decision.

    Diaz fought twice more in UFC after the loss, dropping a decision to Leon Edwards and scoring a submission of Tony Ferguson. Diaz made his professional boxing debut last year, losing to Paul.

    Read Also: ‘This Is Actually Insane’ – Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

  • ‘This Is Actually Insane’ – Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    ‘This Is Actually Insane’ – Fans Left Fuming As Fanmio Stream Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    Professional wrestling fans know the story of the infamous WCW Halloween Havoc pay-per-view in 1998. After a disasterous Hollywood Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior match, the WCW world title battle between Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page proved to be a classic — but people didn’t get to see it because the pay-per-view broadcast ran overtime.

    You would think in a world where we have streaming platforms aplenty and are used to the nature (for better or for worse) of combat sports pay-per-view pacing, we wouldn’t have such a mistake again. Unfortunately, we somehow did with Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal.

    After a grueling co-main event battle between Shane Mosley Jr. and Daniel Jacobs, and an undercard criticized for its pacing, the main event battle between Diaz and Masvidal kicked off at 1:18 am ET. But just as the fireworks in the ring were ready to start, those who were watching on the Fanmio pay-per-view service saw their feeds shockingly crash.

    Ultimately, the Fanmio broadcast never went back up. And from the moment the broadcast went down, the combat community on social media went full scorched earth on the service.

    Fight Fans Demand Refunds After Fanmio Broadcast Goes Down At Start Of Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal

    https://twitter.com/annellawafer_/status/1809824226913972324

    As of publication time, Fanmio has yet to release a statement in response to the issues and fan outrage. It is unknown if refunds will be issued.

    Diaz scored a majority decision win over Masvidal, edging Masvidal out in a battle of volume from Diaz vs. power from Masvidal.

    Following the fight, Diaz announced intentions to get revenge on Jake Paul before returning to the UFC. Masvidal, meanwhile, hopes to have another battle in boxing, with the two trading words and needing to be separated.

    Read Also: Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Results & Highlights: Diaz Wins Slugfest

  • Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

    Conor McGregor Makes Prediction For Boxing Match Between ‘Little Play Around Dipsh*ts’ Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal

    Conor McGregor has made his opinion known on tonight’s boxing battle between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal.

    As McGregor recovers from his toe injury that led to the postponement of his long-planned MMA return with Michael Chandler — and as we wait for a new date to be announced for such a fight — he has eyes turned toward a main event boxing showdown between two other names that have been UFC stars.

    McGregor is very familiar with Diaz as a fighter, and it’s that experience that partly makes him predict that the Stockton native will come out on top in this fight at Anaheim’s Honda Center on Saturday.

    In fact, McGregor took to social media to state that he has placed a major, $500,000 bet down on Diaz tonight.

    Conor McGregor Places $500K Bet That Nate Diaz Defeats Jorge Masvidal In Boxing

    “Range, form, experience, solely hands being used, I can’t see Masvidal causing any problems to Nate in a boxing ring whatsoever,” McGregor posted. They are both little play around dips**** in a fight, play around bollox, but I feel Nate does him in easy here for real.”

    McGregor and Diaz fought in two legendary battles at UFC 196 and UFC 202. Fighting on just over a week’s notice, the American fan favorite submitted his Irish counterpart in upset fashion at UFC 196.

    McGregor got his revenge in a closely contested encounter by a majority decision win at UFC 202, which at one point was the most bought pay-per-view in UFC history.

    Meanwhile, Masvidal and the former two-division champion never fought in the Octagon, with UFC CEO Dana White at one point noting that McGregor would look small fighting “Gamebred” at 170 pounds.

    Diaz and Masvidal faced off at UFC 244 in November 2019, with the Miami native winning via third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become the inaugural BMF champion.

  • Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    Stipe Miocic Rejects Claim From ‘Crying’ Fans That He’s Holding Up The Heavyweight Division: ‘The UFC Can Pick Who They Want!’

    As Tom Aspinall gets ready to defend the interim UFC heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes later this month at UFC 304, fight fans will have to remain patient before seeing the actual heavyweight title on the line again.

    That’s because the expectation is for Jon Jones to defend the title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of the UFC’s annual November pay-per-view card at New York’s Madison Square Garden. This had been the plan for UFC 295 last year until Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training.

    In spite of Aspinall winning the interim belt on this card, however, the seeming desire of the UFC’s to have Jones vs. Miocic at MSG, as well as the pair’s own desire for this fight to happen, resulted in “Bones” not being stripped or vacating the title with his injury — and the UFC’s patience in delaying this fight.

    Fight fans on social media, however, have voiced frustration with the situation. Many have expressed a lack of desire to see Jones vs. Miocic, with many preferring a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall — or a champion vs. champion superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira.

    Miocic Admits He Would ‘Feel The Same Way’ If He Was Aspinall

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Miocic was asked about the outcry from fans and their impatience or lack of desire for the fight. Miocic’s response was simple — fans need to stop “crying” because this is what he, Jones, and the UFC all want.

    “I get it. I’d feel the same way but I’m not taking anything away from him (Aspinall),” Miocic said. “The UFC can do what they want. It is what it is. There’s only one guy I want to fight, it’s Jon Jones. But at the same time, the UFC can pick who they want.

    “People don’t know this but there were a couple of other times where I was ready to fight and they gave them another guy. What am I supposed to do? I’m not holding up any division like everyone says. I don’t care. Do what you want and stop crying. I’m not saying he’s crying. I’m just saying like fans and stuff like that.”

    Though there has not been an official announcement from the UFC, Miocic confirmed that the plan right now is for him and Jones to face off inside MSG this November.

    Jones has repeatedly mentioned the date November 9 on social media, even though a David Gilmour concert (one in a series) is scheduled for that night at the arena.

    After dominating the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s, Jones moved up to heavyweight. After a three-year hiatus from the cage, Jones defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to capture the then-vacant UFC heavyweight championship.

    Miocic, meanwhile, has not fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. With Andrei Arlovski’s recent departure from the promotion, Miocic has not fought anyone on the current UFC roster.

  • Nate Diaz’s Disclosed Pay Nearly Doubles That Of Jorge Masvidal For Upcoming Boxing Match

    Nate Diaz’s Disclosed Pay Nearly Doubles That Of Jorge Masvidal For Upcoming Boxing Match

    Despite coming out on top in their UFC encounter five years ago, Jorge Masvidal is not one of the top-two earners of the boxing card that he and Nate Diaz will be headlining on July 6.

    The California State Athletic Commission revealed the purse salaries on fight day, with MMA Fighting being the first to report them.

    Diaz will have the most guaranteed money out of all participants on the night, walking away with a minimum of $500,000. Masvidal, meanwhile, will only make $300,000 guaranteed.

    Masvidal actually has just the third-most guaranteed money out of everyone on the card. Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who competes on the Diaz vs. Masvidal undercard, will earn $350,000 in guaranteed money.

    Other notable figures from the card include Chris Avila making $210,000, Shane Mosley Jr. making $160,000, and Daniel Jacobs making $100,000. Jacobs, however, missed weight for his fight, so half of his purse will go to Mosley Jr., his opponent.

    The full listed of guaranteed salaries is listed below.

    • Nate Diaz $500,000
    • Jorge Masvidal $300,000
    • Daniel Jacobs $100,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Shane Mosley Jr. $160,000
    • Anthony Pettis $350,000
    • Chris Avila $210,000
    • Curmel Moton $40,000
    • Nikolai Buzolin $8,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Amado Vargas $100,000
    • Sean Garcia $50,000* (fined 20 percent of his purse)
    • Devin Cushing $60,000
    • Manuel Correa $15,000
    • Luciano Ramos $5,000
    • Dan Hernandez $3,500
    • Alan Sanchez $55,000
    • Luis Lopes $22,500
    • Steve Dunn $500
    • Gabriel Costa $2,500
    • Jose Aguayo $40,000
    • Bryce Logan $6,000
    • Ken Lopez $18,000
    • Andres Martinez $600

    As previously mentioned, these salaries are just guaranteed money and do not include earnings of pay-per-view sales that certain fighters may receive. They also do not include locker room bonuses, sponsorship earnings, and other means of revenue.

    Diaz and Masvidal will meet in a 10-round light heavyweight bout in Saturday’s main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

    The two first met at UFC 244 in November 2019, with Masvidal winning via third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO to become the inaugural BMF champion.

  • VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner

    VIDEO: Darren Till’s Combat Sports Return Ends In Brawl After Punch To Back Of The Head, Till Announced As Winner

    Darren Till may have scored a win in his return to combat sports action, but the ultimate result was a disaster inside the ring.

    Till took on Moh Mutie in the featured contest of Social Knockout 3 in Dubai, UAE. During the fight, Mutie turned his head, with the former UFC fighter landing a light strike to the back of the head.

    While this would normally be considered an illegal strike, Till was declared the winner by TKO after Mutie was left apparently unable to continue, claiming to feel dizzy after the punch.

    But the action did not stop there, as the pair got into a brawl following the fight ending, with both teams getting involved.

    Darren Till Involved In Brawl After Defeating Moh Mutie In Combat Sports Return

    https://twitter.com/cutman_mase/status/1809657875683242458

    Till had been originally scheduled to return in a bout with Julio César Chávez Jr. on July 20 at the originally scheduled Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card before the main event was delayed.

    Till had been out of action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022. He exited the UFC last February after requesting his release to pursue other ventures.

    Till’s opponent, Mutie, is a Middle Eastern MMA fighter known as “The Palestinian Gorilla” with an MMA record of 2-2-1.

  • ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    ‘You Can’t Really Say Anything Negative About Him’ – Dan Hardy Sticks Up For Conor McGregor After UFC 303 Drama

    Conor McGregor has fought through injuries throughout his career and had never pulled out of a scheduled matchup until UFC 303. While past opponents and some rivals have taken sly digs at the Irishman, others have recognized the risks of fighting with a broken toe.

    By the time McGregor returns, he’d have been out of the Octagon for over three years. The former two-division champion lost three out of his last four fights, and it is hard to see the win over Cerrone as a feather in his cap.

    Naturally, “The Notorious” aims to be fully prepared for his return. Getting back in the win column will instantly open up a ton of exciting fights for the Dubliner.

    For now, though, plenty of focus remains on McGregor’s decision to pull out of UFC 303. But Dan Hardy has a different view to many critics when it comes to the UFC 303 drama and McGregor’s injury…

    Hardy Claims Conor McGregor Respects Michael Chandler Enough Not To Fight Him With A Broken Toe

    Hardy recently appeared on the From The Stands YouTube channel and talked about the postponed fight between McGregor and Chandler.

    The former UFC welterweight title challenger instantly pointed out that the McGregor we’ve long known would never pull out of a fight that he thinks is winnable despite an injury.

    “We know what Conor’s like, he’s not going to pull out of a fight that he feels like he can win, even if he is injured. I think this shows that he’s got a lot of respect for Michael Chandler and he knows that he needs to be on his A game because, I mean, he wants to get back on track, right? He wants to be back in the win column.”

    ”The Outlaw” also reviewed the importance of toes for McGregor to make the most of his wide striking stance.

    “What we know about McGregor is that, you know, he is, you know, he’s very much about footwork, especially the best versions of McGregor, (it) requires him to be mobile. And he’s got a long stance, which means he uses the big toe and the little toe just as much as one another to keep himself mobile.”

    McGregor mostly gained acclaim for his consistency and willingness to fight during his rise to stardom. In contrast, he now has everything he ever wanted from the sport. On top of that, losing three fights in a row will naturally hurt his brand.

    “You know, you can’t really say anything negative about him because we know that (he) would take fights on short notice if you felt capable of competing. And I really want the best version of McGregor because ultimately we might be counting on one hand the amount of times we see him fight again.”

    All these factors compel Hardy to side with McGregor for taking his time leading into the Chandler fight.

  • Mike Perry Wary Of Fan Backlash If He Angles For Mike Tyson Match: ‘The One Fight I Don’t Want To Have, Mike Perry vs. The Internet’

    Mike Perry Wary Of Fan Backlash If He Angles For Mike Tyson Match: ‘The One Fight I Don’t Want To Have, Mike Perry vs. The Internet’

    Mike Perry recently voiced his apprehension about inciting fan outrage if he were to pursue a future boxing match against the legendary, yet much older, Mike Tyson.

    Perry is currently slated to fight Jake Paul on July 20 in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    This matchup was announced after Paul’s planned fight against “Iron Mike” on the same date was pushed to November 15 due to the former undisputed heavyweight champion’s health scare.

    Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up during a flight in May, leaving him nauseous and in need of medical attention. Although his team initially claimed he had fully recovered, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the 58-year-old boxing legend was not fit to compete in July.

    The upcoming bout against Paul presents a tremendous opportunity for “Platinum” to elevate his profile on a grander stage. Already thriving as a bare-knuckle fighter, Perry is the biggest star in BKFC, boasting impressive victories over notable opponents like Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez.

    Despite securing the fight due to unexpected circumstances, Perry is eager to compete against Tyson if he secures a win against the YouTuber-turned-boxer on July 20.

    However, the former UFC welterweight fighter is cautious of potential public outcry, as many might disapprove of the matchup due to the significant age difference…

    Perry Eyes Tyson Fight But Hesitant About Public Reaction

    During a recent ESPN MMA interview, Perry was asked if he would consider fighting Tyson next, should he defeat “The Problem Child” and take his spotlight on November 15. “Platinum” eagerly affirmed his desire to face the boxing icon.

    “Yes, absolutely. Of course, man, I’m thinking about that. I would definitely do it.”

    However, the 32-year-old Michigan native acknowledged that facing Tyson would be the biggest matchup of his career, and he doesn’t want to provoke public backlash unnecessarily. For now, he is concentrating solely on his fight with Paul.

    “The comments can be negative already, anyway, so now they’re going to say, ‘Oh, now you’re gonna fight the old guy.’ The internet is undefeated. That’s the one fight I don’t want to have is Mike Perry vs. the internet because I could be the guy to beat the internet, bro. Fighting Mike Tyson would be obviously be cool but I’m just focused on July 20, man. I gotta have tunnel vision, this is my opportunity to show the world.”

    When Paul vs. Tyson was first announced, the MMA community raised alarm bells over the staggering 31-year age gap between the fighters, a difference that would set a new record in professional boxing history.

    “Iron Mike” hasn’t fought professionally since retiring during his bout against Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson made a comeback in November 2020, stepping into the squared circle for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., which ended in a draw.

  • Israel Adesanya Has Kind Words For Robert Whittaker After His Big Win Over Ikram Aliskerov: ‘Robbie’s That Guy!’

    Israel Adesanya Has Kind Words For Robert Whittaker After His Big Win Over Ikram Aliskerov: ‘Robbie’s That Guy!’

    During a recent appearance on the Today Show Australia, Israel Adesanya took the moment to congratulate a former opponent on his recent victory.

    Robert Whittaker produced back-to-back wins when he stopped Ikram Aliskerov in the late-notice main event of UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia on June 22.

    “The Reaper” is now back into the title picture after getting Aliskerov out of there in the first round to build on his decision victory against Paulo Costa at UFC 298 this past February.

    Adesanya and Whittaker have met two times inside the Octagon, with “The Last Stylebender” coming out on top on both occasions.

    While reacting to footage of his iconic UFC 243 walkout in Melbourne, the Nigerian-New Zealander took a second to praise his Australian peer.

    “I was fighting the local hero, Rob Whittaker, who just actually had a great win a week or two weeks ago, but I was fighting him here.

    “It was beautiful. Robbie’s that guy. We fought twice. We always have history but it was good to see him back in the win column, and he’s coming for me, so I got to stay ready.”

    Israel Adesanya Says Dricus Du Plessis Feud Is About Respecting ‘The Guys Who Came Before You’

    If Adesanya’s fight with Whittaker — which pitted Australia and New Zealand up against one another — was a big deal, it has nothing on the grudge match that is on deck for UFC 305.

    “The Last Stylebender” is set to finally go up against the current middleweight world champion, South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis, and it’s safe to say that they don’t see eye-to-eye.

    Much of the tension between them stems from comments made by Du Plessis about how him winning the middleweight title and bringing it back to Africa would make him the first true African champion because he still lives and trains out of the continent.

    Adesanya spoke about this during his recent TV appearance, stating that the lack of respect being shown to the people that came before the current champion is where he feels his next opponent crossed the line.

    “For me, it’s you have to honor the guys who came before you. He’s the guy saying, ‘I’m the real African champion,’ but look, you wouldn’t have been able to do what you’re doing at home in South Africa if myself, Francis Ngannou, and Kamaru (Usman) didn’t pave the way for you. So you have to respect your elders and I’ll make sure I do that to him.”

    Du Plessis and Adesanya will headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, on August 17. The bout comes almost a year on from the latter’s most recent appearance, an upset loss to Sean Strickland in Sydney.

  • Steve Erceg On Potential Alexandre Pantoja Rematch: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going To Do If Some Other Guy Can Beat Him…’

    Steve Erceg On Potential Alexandre Pantoja Rematch: ‘I Don’t Know What I’m Going To Do If Some Other Guy Can Beat Him…’

    The learning curve once a fighter joins the UFC roster roster can often be a steep one. Many fighters take some time to find their feet and work their way toward chasing a spot inside the rankings, and dreams of fighting for a title often have to be put on hold while they settle into the big leagues and slowly carve out a name for themselves.

    Not so for Steve Erceg.

    The Australian flyweight, who is set to face Kai Kara-France at UFC 305 later this summer, only made his debut inside the Octagon in June 2023 when he beat David Dvořák by unanimous decision in Canada at UFC 289. He followed that up with another win at UFC 295 against Alessandro Costa, before picking up a highlight reel knockout of Matt Schnell in March of this year.

    In a surprising turn of events, the 28-year-old was drafted in to fight Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 in Rio De Janeiro just two months later. While the fight didn’t go his way, “AstroBoy” believes the experience will stand him in good stead going forward.

    “I feel like more people know who I am now,” Erceg said during an interview with Submission Radio this week. “That’s obviously good for getting big fights and opportunities, so that’s great, and I found out that I can hang at that level.

    “He’s beat a lot of contenders, basically everybody in the division, so the fact that I was able to hang there for five rounds, and I felt that I was the one coming over the top at the end…that was awesome. It just obviously sucks that I have to look at his record now with my name associated with it, but whatever.”

    Erceg Aiming For Rematch With Pantoja Post-UFC 305

    Erceg was also asked whether he thinks a rematch could be on the cards, and if he believes Pantoja will still be the one holding the belt by the time he’s able to work his way back into title contention.

    “I really hope he’s still the champion because I don’t know what I’m gonna do if some other guy can beat him and I f**kin’ couldn’t. … I don’t like to swear, but…yeah, so I’d prefer if it was him at the top still. We’ll sort it out.”

  • Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    The UFC’s welterweight division has always been one of the most talent-stacked weight classes in MMA.

    Champions such as Georges St-Pierre, Tyron Woodley, and Kamaru Usman have each built legacies at 170 pounds that will be spoken about for decades to come, while other names like Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and Carlos Condit have all gone down in the history books as some of the finest fighters to ever grace the sport.

    Current welterweight champion Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Belal Muhammed in Manchester, England, later this month, and there are a number of exciting options awaiting “Rocky” should he emerge victorious from the main event of UFC 304 on July 27.

    Dan Hardy Gives His Thoughts On New UFC Welterweight Stars

    Another UFC welterweight legend has been giving his thoughts on the exciting young prospects populating the top 10 at 170 pounds this week.

    Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy fought in the Octagon 10 times between 2008 and 2012 and faced Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 111, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about what it takes to hang with the elite of that particular division.

    “It does feel like it’s wide open,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on the From The Stands podcast. “We’ve got a lot of newer faces in the division now that have started to come and clear out the Colby Covingtons and Kamaru Usmans that are no longer really in the topics of conversation, which is good for the division.

    “We talk about Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and Ian Garry…either him or Shavkat (are talked about as) being the guy,” Hardy continued. “Clearly Ian Garry holds him in very high regard, as we all do as well. but Ian Garry and Shavkat are two of the new faces that are most likely going to define this division in the next few years.”

    Hardy also added two more names to the list.

    “Jack Della Maddalena…some of the best hands in all of mixed martial arts in my opinion. He’s got very, very slick boxing. I think he can go a long way.

    “Another one…Sean Brady. I still feel like Sean Brady’s going to be one of the most difficult fights for any single person in the division.”

    With a combined record of 66 wins and only three losses, the quartet of Garry, Rakhmonov, Brady, and Della Maddalena are not only freshening up the welterweight division, they seem to be raising the bar to new heights entirely.

  • Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    What Alex Pereira has been able to accomplish during a short time in MMA has been nothing short of execeptional.

    The Brazilian certainly arrived in the Octagon with some hype behind him because of a stellar career in kickboxing, where he was famed for his one-punch knockout power.

    He already made history in the sport of kickboxing by becoming the first man in the history of Glory to hold titles at two weight classes simultaneously.

    Fast forward several years and he hasn’t just succeeded in transitioning to MMA, he’s become one of the best in the world. As a result, he is one of the biggest names in the MMA.

    And according to this ex-fighter, one of the best across any sport…

    Chael Sonnen Says Alex Pereira’s Greatness Transcends Combat Sports

    In a recent appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Chael Sonnen spoke about Pereira’s unprecedented rise in MMA and how it may transcend combat sports.

    He made the case that, for a start, nothing like this has ever been done in fighting, where someone is able to reach the very top in effectively two different sports.

    Sonnen also chose to look at the bigger picture by bringing the entirety of sport into question. Once again, Sonnen insisted that no one has ever been this successful in two different fields during their career.

    Pereira’s kickboxing skills are obviously a vital part of what he does in MMA, but even Dana White recently admitted that he once had reservations about how well “Poatan” would do inside the Octagon, where opponents can grapple with him.

    Sonnen believes that Pereira’s career deserves to be looked at in sport as a whole, making some bold claims about just how great he truly is.

    “I can guarantee it never happened in combat sport. I’m telling you, in sport! I’m old enough to remember when Bo Jackson was playing football and went and played baseball, but he wasn’t 36 when he started and he didn’t become the best in the world.

    “I have never seen a rise like this. Basketball, baseball; anyway you want to do it. This might be the greatest athlete of all time. I mean that’s silly, it might be true.”

    Pereira could be in for his toughest test to date later this year should expected plans come to fruition.

    Off the back of another knockout at UFC 303 this past weekend to successfully defend his light heavyweight title for the second time, “Poatan” could face a stiff grappling challenge in the form of Magomed Ankalaev.

  • Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Former ONE Championship Strawweight King Jarred Brooks Names Jon Jones As The Perfect Fighter

    Jarred Brooks has achieved great success since departing the UFC and signing with ONE Championship, where he currently competes in the strawweight division.

    After losing his belt via disqualification at ONE 166 earlier this year, he is set to return at ONE Fight Night 24 in an interim title fight with Gustavo Balart. In the meantime, Brooks recently put together his perfect fighter in an interview with FightWave.

    He picked out which fellow athletes he would combine in order to build an unbeatable force of nature based off naming certain fighters renowned for their specialist skills…

    Jarred Brooks Says Picking Jon Jones For Each Category Would Build A Perfect Fighter

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0bGB9609-o

    Brooks started with his own specialist field, the grappling realm, where he picked two names who also compete in ONE Championship.

    Garry Tonon was one of the top submission grapplers in the world before making the move to competing in MMA, a venture that Kade Ruotolo has also recently embarked on.

    Brooks has said multiple times that his dream fight would be against the legendary Demetrious Johnson, who is the flyweight champion in ONE. He picked both “Mighty Mouse” and Merab Dvalishvili for cardio.

    In the boxing ranges, he named two featherweights who could be lined up to face one another in the near future as Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway continue to trade words on social media.

    Brooks also didn’t take long to name his pick for which fighter he would want for their kicking game, taking the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    After adding “Bones” to his create-a-fighter, Brooks went on to say that, in reality, the correct answer to this question would be to pick the UFC heavyweight champion for each category.

    “It’s Jon Jones, period, though. 100 percent, and I’ve watched him since I was 12.”

    Jones has held the UFC’s heavyweight gold since his divisional debut in Las Vegas last March, which saw him submit Ciryl Gane in quick time.

    The Rochester native is expected to make his first defense against Stipe Miocic this November at Madison Square Garden, a year on from their canceled showdown in New York City.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently responded to the naysayers questioning the supposed burnout affecting both his and Israel Adesanya’s fighting careers, pointing to their stellar records as UFC champions.

    “Alexander the Great” suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February, marking his first setback as a featherweight. This loss came on the heels of another finish by reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the first round at UFC 294 last October, making it Volkanovski’s second consecutive KO defeat.

    The loss to Topuria concluded his four-year tenure as champion. Volkanovski, one of the UFC’s most active fighters, has participated in nine title bouts over the past five years. However, the Australian is now on a break from the Octagon to focus on his mental health and recuperate.

    A segment of the MMA community has voiced apprehensions that Volkanovski’s recent defeats stem from his grueling schedule, suggesting that his relentless string of back-to-back fights has led to burnout.

    However, “Alexander the Great” rebuffs these claims, insisting that his relentless pace in competition has been a key factor in his and his close friend and City Kickboxing training partner Adesanya’s rise to greatness as champions…

    Volkanovski Credits Active Competition for His & Adesanya’s Championship Success

    During a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel with Adesanya’s younger brother, Volkanovski addressed critics who doubt their careers.

    The former featherweight titleholder expressed that he finds “The Last Stylebender’s” reign as middleweight champion deeply inspiring for his own journey.

    “Being active is where you’re gonna make your most money. So get active. I learned that from Izzy, he’s got the right form, and I love it. When we talk about our mentality, like myself and Israel Adesanya, people start to say, ‘Oh, you burned yourself out,’ and they try to look at it as a bad thing.

    “But we wouldn’t be the champions we were. We wouldn’t be in the position we are now mentally and everything. Our mentality and our mindset, that’s what made us great champions to be able to defend that.”

    The 35-year-old Aussie further expressed his gratitude for avoiding extended layoffs from fighting, attributing his legacy as a dominant champion to his relentless activity in the sport.

    “That mentality got us, how many times defending champ? … But I was thankful that I was like that for how long I did. I wouldn’t have the appreciation from the people if I weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have the money in the bank like I do, and I wouldn’t be able to look after my family like I’m able to right now if it wasn’t for that.”

    “The Last Stylebender” also took a voluntary break after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. Initially, he jokingly suggested that he might not return to the Octagon until 2027.

    However, Adesanya is poised to challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, set to take place on August 17 in Perth, Australia.

  • Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results: Three Fighters Miss Weight

    Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results: Three Fighters Miss Weight

    Former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal weighed in today ahead of their rematch in the boxing ring this Saturday. MMA News has the results here!

    The rivalry between Diaz and Masvidal has returned to the surface this year. In 2019, they faced each other in the main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. UFC fans expected the matchup to be an action-packed fight, as both had an impressive win before the event. Unfortunately, it ended in anticlimactic fashion, with Masvidal winning by doctor’s stoppage.

    Both fighters will seek a more decisive victory in the boxing ring tomorrow. Ahead of the event, all fighters weighed in today to make it official.

    All fighters weighed in at the proper weight limit except for Daniel Jacobs, Nikolai Buzolin, and Sean Garcia. Their fights are expected to go on as planned.

    Fans of Diaz are hoping he is coming into his rematch against “Gamebred” more motivated than he has in past fights. In his most recent outing last August, he made his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul. Diaz showed spurts of competitiveness but was outmatched and knocked down in the contest, which Paul won by unanimous decision.

    This Saturday marks a big night for the California native as he tries to prove that he still has more left in his combat sports career.

    For Masvidal, he is no stranger to competing in a boxing ring. He has one win on his pro boxing record after defeating Joseph Benjamin by majority decision in 2005. Although he has fared better in the sport than Diaz, the former BMF champion’s win from 19 years ago was a four-round fight. Saturday’s matchup will be a 10-round affair, which some fans believe could benefit Diaz more than the Miami native.

    That said, Masvidal has shared in the lead-up to his showdown with his rival that he plans to get a knockout to settle their issues for good.

    Masvidal vs. Diaz will occur at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main card will start at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on Fanmio for $49.99. Fans looking to watch the card on DAZN must be subscribed and buy the pay-per-view.

    Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Weigh-In Results

    Main Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Nate Diaz (175.6lbs) vs. Jorge Masvidal (175.2lbs)
    • Super Middleweight: Daniel Jacobs (169.2lbs)* vs. Shane Mosley Jr. (167.6lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Anthony Pettis (175.3lbs) vs. Chris Avila (175.6lbs)
    • Lightweight: Curmel Moton (133.5lbs) vs. Nikolai Buzolin (137.7lbs)*
    • Lightweight: Amado Vargas (134.1lbs) vs. Sean Garcia (138.1lbs)*
    • Lightweight: Devin Cushing (131.9lbs) vs. Manuel Correa (131.2lbs)

    * Sean Garcia missed the lightweight limit by 3.1 pounds.

    * Nikolai Buzolin missed the lightweight limit by 2.7 pounds

    * Daniel Jacobs missed the super middleweight limit by 1.2 pounds.

  • Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Darren Till Predicts Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry, Provides Update On Future: ‘We Always Push For War, Never Peace!’

    Former UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to finally make his combat sports return this weekend after taking a late-notice fight at Social Knockout 3 in Dubai.

    Till was previously scheduled to make his long awaited boxing debut against Julio César Chávez Jr. on the undercard of Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson. With that card being postponed until November, the fight was off, but the Brit hopes that he will still be a part of that event in some capacity when it takes place later this year.

    It has taken him a long time to get back in the mix, and after having this big fight collapse, he doesn’t want to lose out on the big opportunities that could have come with getting a win on July 20.

    Till is still targeting two of the biggest names that are out there for him in boxing as they’re set to meet on the originally planned date for Paul vs. Tyson.

    Darren Till Talks Wanting To Face Jake Paul & Mike Perry, Predicts Their Upcoming Fight

    In an interview with Fred Talks Fighting ahead of his return to competition, Till laid out his plans for the near future.

    Regardless of what happens on July 20, he is hoping to face either Mike Perry or Jake Paul, and there’s no denying that both fights would be big occasions for “The Gorilla.”

    “I think it’s either Jake Paul or Mike Perry at this point. Me and Mike Perry have got a lot of history. … It’s always beef, it’s always war with Mike. We always push for war, never peace.”

    Till also gave his prediction for the upcoming clash between Perry and Paul that was announced shortly after the postponement of the Tyson fight.

    The former UFC fighter finds it difficult to call a winner because of what both men bring to the table, but he is leaning ever so slightly toward “The Problem Child.”

    “I keep 50:50 on both, some days I say Jake ‘cause I know Jake’s the bigger man, but then I don’t think you can rule Perry out. Perry’s a tough man and he’s been beating all these veterans now. like, I think it’s a 50:50. I’m gonna sway towards Jake a little bit more.”

  • Coach Hints At Major Career Change For Jiří Procházka After UFC 303 Defeat: ‘A Potential Restart…’

    Coach Hints At Major Career Change For Jiří Procházka After UFC 303 Defeat: ‘A Potential Restart…’

    Following his bounce-back win over Aleksandr Rakić at UFC 300, Jiří Procházka made the claim that competing at the weight class below could be an option for him in the near future.

    He said that going into his fight in April, he didn’t have much weight to cut in order to make the light heavyweight limit, which made him confident of dropping to middleweight at some stage.

    Procházka told Michael Bisping in an interview that it was something he was thinking about as a way to further challenge himself, even after the former middleweight champion warned him of how tough the weight cut may be.

    “So, good food with some good diet for me, I think 84 kilos, middleweight will be no problem. I’m still thinking about that, how I can feel with these guys in middleweight because I know I can do that.

    “I’m looking forward to that because I want to try more clear foods in preparation because I really know how to work with my body, with that weight, and I feel it can be good.”

    Jiří Procházka’s Coach Says Middleweight Would Give Them A ‘New Start’ Post-UFC 303

    Moving to middleweight looks to be back in contention for Procházka after he was unable to reclaim the light heavyweight title this past weekend at UFC 303 in a rematch with Alex Pereira.

    Many were critical of his approach to the fight, with the former champion also stating that he would need to go back and work on becoming a new version of himself if he was going to continue fighting.

    His coach, Martin Karaivanov, spoke in an interview with TN CZ Sport about how this could mean moving to middleweight in order to begin a new chapter of his career.

    “Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov said (translated by MMA Mania). “He is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it. It won’t be my decision, but a team decision.

    “Middleweight would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus on. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”

    Having admitted that he either needs to evolve as a fighter or not return to competition following a second setback at the hands of “Poatan,” perhaps “BJP” will look to do so down at 185 pounds in pursuit of becoming the promotion’s latest double champ.

  • Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Tyson Fury’s Brother Admits Father John’s Advice In Oleksandr Usyk Fight Was Counter-Productive: ‘Them Instructions Is Sometimes Not What you need…’

    Following the first loss of his professional career, there was some criticism regarding the corner work that was done by Tyson Fury’s team in his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

    Fury appeared to be behind in the later stages of the fight after nearly being stopped in the ninth round. While some of his corner team looked to correct some mistakes that he had been making in the fight, his father John Fury was more focused on motivating his son.

    Fury could be heard in the corner saying that all “The Gypsy King” needed to do was get through the final stages of the fight in order to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion despite the fact that the scorecards had it in Usyk’s favor.

    Shane Fury Says His Father Was More Concerned With Protecting Tyson Fury Than Giving CFight Advice

    The brother of Tyson Fury, Shane Fury, is the latest to give his thoughts on whether or not the corner were partly to blame for the defeat in May.

    Tyson’s uncle Peter has been very critical in recent weeks with his words about how there was far too many voices all saying different things and talking over one another rather than delivering precise and clear information.

    He questioned the professionalism of the corner and how each man should have their specific job and stick to that rather than everyone trying to play head coach.

    Shane echoed this without being quite as critical, telling iFL TV that his father was trying to protect his son rather than giving him the right advice on how to win the fight.

    “My take is, deeply, truly, my honest opinion is my dad wants what’s the best for his son, and the best for his son after he’s been put down and nearly out cold is to get him through the fight. F*** the boxing, you can be KO’d and not wake up. That’s his mentality ’cause he wants the best for his sons, but sometimes when you want the best for someone, it’s maybe not the best instructions. Them instructions is sometimes not what you need.”

  • Julianna Peña Explains What Separates Her From Other Fighters: ‘I’m Going To Fight To The Death!’

    Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña believes she has something that most of her peers do not.

    Peña, who is currently sat at #1 in the 135-pound rankings, is expected to serve as the first challenger in longtime rival Raquel Pennington’s maiden title defense following “Rocky’s” capturing of the then-vacant belt at UFC 297 this past January.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” is in pursuit of two-time champ status, having briefly held the gold after a monumental upset against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 in December 2022. The ex-bantawmeight queen was originally set for a chance to regain the crown in a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes last June, almost a year on from the Brazilian’s emphatic victory in their rematch.

    But after injury kept her out of both that fight and the championship joust that followed Nunes’ retirement, Peña’s layoff is fast approaching the two-year mark. Nevertheless, she remains firmly in the title conversation and has no doubt about what she sees as an inevitable return to top spot.

    Peña has continued to tout her perceived superiority over the rest of the bantamweight roster, and she recently warned Pennington about the kind of fighter she’ll be facing later this year…

    Peña ‘Preparing’ To Give Her Life In Every Fight

    During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X doing International Fight Week, Peña looked ahead to her long-awaited comeback and the matchup that is reportedly set to stage it this October.

    “The Venezuelan Vixen” noted that nothing will change in terms of how she approaches her expected title clash with Pennington. No matter who shares the cage with, Peña claims to have a ‘fight to the death’ attitude.

    “I go into fights the same way mentally. Preparing for literally giving my entire life, and if I have to die in there, I’m gonna die in there,” Peña said. “I think that it doesn’t matter who stands across from me, I’m always going to approach it the same. I’m going to fight to the death. That, to me, is kind of what separates me from other fighters I feel like. I’m literally going to give my entire life, it doesn’t matter who stands across from me. I am my biggest opponent.”

    Peña will look to prove as much should it be required against Pennington down the line. While a date for their likely fight remains unconfirmed, current talk is placing the pair on a pay-per-view card rumored for Salt Lake City in October.

    Whether in Utah or at an event elsewhere this year, the former champion will be hoping to announce her return in style and make a firm statement to the division’s current crop of top contenders.

  • MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More

    MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 5, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • “MVP” plans to learn and come back stronger from UFC 303 setback
    • WBC refuses to work with Ryan Garcia after latest offensive outburst
    • Ankalaev believes he can exploit Pereira’s striking in one area

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Speaks On Social Media After First UFC Setback

    Michael “Venom” Page suffered his first defeat in the Octagon at UFC 303 this past weekend where he was beaten on the scorecards by Ian Garry.

    Despite displaying some of his unpredictable striking at it’s best, he was unable to prevent his opponent from taking the fight to the ground.

    Page could have been lined up for a massive fight if he was able to hand Garry the first defeat of his career, but now it’s time to go back to the drawing board for the London-based fighter.

    Page spoke for the first time since the setback via a post on his Instagram profile, where he reflected about learning from this defeat in order to come back stronger.

    “When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal. #ufc303”

    WBC Cut All Ties With Ryan Garcia After Latest Controversial Rant Goes Too Far

    WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán has taken action against controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia after his latest outburst pushed the line too far.

    Garcia made headlines after using incredibly offensive racial slurs and referencing George Floyd during a rant on X Spaces.

    With Garcia’s behavior only appearing to become more erratic and troubling since his clash with Devin Haney, the people around him are starting to act.

    Sulaimán said that the governing body will be cutting all ties with Garcia from this point on and refuse to work with him.

    His post on social media also makes reference to how he has declined the opportunity for help from the WBC on multiple occasions, claiming that they wished to support him through is struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

    “Exercising my authority as president of the WBC , I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan well being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse”

    This latest outburst also led to Garcia’s family putting out a statement, insisting that they don’t support the things he said and that they don’t reflect who he truly is.

    Magomed Ankalaev Makes Bold Claim About Alex Pereira’s Striking

    Ask any MMA fan who the best striker in the sport is right now and you’re likely to be given the name of the UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.

    Following his latest title defense at UFC 303, where his devastating stand-up skills were on full show once again, his likely next opponent has made a bold claim.

    Magomed Ankalaev believes that he will dethrone “Poatan” when they eventually meet, and while he would be expected to have an advantage in the grappling, he also believes that he can out strike the champion.

    Ankalaev spoke in an interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie about the one aspect that he sees in Pereira’s striking that he believes he would be able to take advantage of.

    “I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

    Read more on the story here.

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