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  • Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Before looking ahead to his next official booking, UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry has his sights set on a different kind of assignment in Manchester later this month.

    Garry is just days on from his latest victory inside the Octagon, as the Irishman extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with an eighth triumph since arriving on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in 2021.

    The result came at the expense of former Bellator standout Michael “Venom” Page, who was narrowly outpointed by “The Future” in the main card opener of this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event.

    In the aftermath, Garry has mentioned names such as former champion Kamaru Usman and the highly regarded Shavkat Rakhmonov as potential next opponents en route to the welterweight gold.

    But the Dubliner is also seemingly planning to make the most of the possibility — however slim — that he could compete with gold on the line in just a few weeks’ time…

    Garry Says He’s Offered To Be Backup Fighter For UFC 304 Main Event

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

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports post-fight, Garry reflected on his success inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, assessed his next steps, and looked ahead to his division’s upcoming title joust.

    In one of two championship contests set for the promotion’s return to Manchester, England, for UFC 304 on July 27, Leon Edwards will run it back with Belal Muhammad in defense of his 170-pound belt.

    Garry is keen to weigh in as the backup fighter for the headliner, especially after seeing the number of matchups that fell through on the UFC 303 card and the same-day opportunity that arrived at Dan Ige’s doorstep.

    “I told the UFC two months ago, ‘When I win at UFC 303, I want to be the backup (at UFC 304).’ I want to be there just in case anything happens,” Garry said. “Look at this fight card (UFC 303), look at how many fights fell through. Dan Ige stepped in today! You know what I mean? Anything can happen, and I wanna be there just in case.

    “Whether it’s Leon, whether it’s Belal; whoever it is. I respect both of those guys’ skillset and talent. I’m aware how good they are,” Garry continued. “But I know I can go out there against any man on the planet and get my hand raised. So for me, I’m gonna be there (in Manchester). I’ve offered to UFC, Hunter (Campbell), and Dana (White), I will be the guy to stand in and make sure that there is gonna be a welterweight world title fight if anyone pulls out. So for me, that’s next.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Garry will indeed appear on the scales a day out from UFC 304.

    But having experienced a tumultuous month of late-notice cancellations, perhaps the promotion will take “The Future” up on his offer to ensure the UK fans inside the newly built Co-op Live have a welterweight title fight guaranteed.

  • Li Jingliang Set For Long-Awaited Return At UFC 305 In Perth On August 17

    Li Jingliang Set For Long-Awaited Return At UFC 305 In Perth On August 17

    “The Leech” is back, with fan-favorite welterweight Li Jingliang set to make the walk for the first time in almost two years at UFC 305.

    Jingliang hasn’t appeared inside the Octagon since falling short in a widely debated split decision opposite Daniel Rodriguez on the shaken-up UFC 279 card back in September 2022.

    The Chinese fighter was scheduled to meet Tony Ferguson, but the changes brought about by Khamzat Chimaev’s weight miss saw him face an opponent who weighed in 10 pounds heavier in “D-Rod.”

    That, along with his personality being more and more on display, saw Jingliang’s fanbase increase. Unfortunately, he’s not been able to capitalize on that with a return to the Octagon after suffering a spine injury.

    Now, as first reported by UFC Weibo and confirmed by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff, “The Leech” is finally ready to make his comeback at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, on August 17, where he’s slated to face the charging Carlos Prates.

    Jingliang Out For Bounce-Back Win Against Prates At UFC 305

    When Jingliang and Prates do battle Down Under, the former will be looking to return to winning ways at the expense of the fast-rising Brazilian.

    Jingliang (19-8) has exchanged victories and losses since moving to a three-fight win streak in 2019. While he fell to defeats at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev and Rodriguez, he sandwiched brutal knockouts of Santiago Ponzinibbio and Muslim Salikhov between them.

    If he’s to continue that trend of bouncing back, the Chinese 36-year-old must blemish the UFC record of Prates (19-6). After an emphatic performance on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a spot on the roster, “The Nightmare” has enhanced his stock with consecutive first-round knockouts of Trevin Giles and Charles Radtke to announce his arrival.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 305 in Perth on August 17 are as follows:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya (middleweight championship main event)
    • Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg (flyweight)
    • Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos (featherweight)
    • Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates (welterweight)
    • Casey O’Neill vs. Tereza Bledá (women’s flyweight)
    • Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight)
    • Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
    • Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker (featherweight)
    • Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes (lightweight)
    Image: DWCS/Zuffa LLC
  • Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’

    Nate Diaz Recalls Negotiations With UFC For First Conor McGregor Fight: ‘I Might Not Be Educated, But I’m Not Stupid…’

    Nate Diaz recently looked back on how his first fight with Conor McGregor came together, and the discussions he had to ensure he was adequately compensated for the short-notice assignment.

    Diaz has long been a fan favorite in the sport of mixed martial arts, but his star well and truly grew to astronomical levels when he shared the Octagon with McGregor in Las Vegas at UFC 196 eight years ago.

    Diaz answered the call on just 11 days’ notice, replacing the injured Rafael dos Anjos to face the then-featherweight titleholder in a welterweight bout.

    Against the odds, the Stockton native handed McGregor his first professional defeat since 2010 and first setback on MMA’s biggest stage, countering the Dubliner’s tired takedown attempt in round two with some brutal ground-and-pound, which set up the shocking rear-naked choke submission finish.

    As well as the victory, a Fight of the Night bonus, and a Performance of the Night bonus, Diaz exited T-Mobile Arena with his heftiest pay check to date. But the figure on it was apparently a far cry from what the UFC first proposed…

    Diaz Says UFC Tried Offering ‘Pennies’ For McGregor 1

    During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Diaz looked back on his first showdown with McGregor and discussed the short-notice bout coming together.

    When discussing the financial implications that many expect to come with fighting McGregor, Diaz confirmed that UFC 196 marked his highest pay up to that point in his career.

    But that was seemingly something he had to work for behind closed doors, outlining the offer originally slid across his desk by the UFC compared to what he ultimately managed to secure.

    “At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’

    “So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”

    Both men have had some major paydays since. For Diaz, that’s currently in the realm of boxing.

    After fighting out his contract with the UFC in a submission win over Tony Ferguson, the Stockton star went on to share the ring with YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul last August.

    Having kept his stock high in defeat against “The Problem Child,” Diaz is next set to revisit his rivalry with Jorge Masvidal, which was forged inside the Octagon at UFC 244 back in 2019.

    Although his current focus is on boxing and his match with “Gamebred” this weekend, Diaz has been firm in insisting that the final chapter in his storied feud with McGregor is not yet written.

    With their series sat level at one win apiece, a trilogy could be in store down the line.

  • Michel Pereira Reveals UFC Return At The Sphere On September 14

    The lineup for what is expected to be a blockbuster UFC pay-per-view at Las Vegas’ Sphere is expected to come together soon, and it appears one of the first names added to the card is the electrifying Michel Pereira.

    The event — originally titled UFC 306 but now set as “Riyadh Season Noche UFC” — will be the promotion’s second celebration of Mexican Independence Day. While the first at T-Mobile Arena was a successful occasion last September, the mixed martial arts leader is looking to go above and beyond this time around.

    On September 14, live sporting action will go down inside the Sphere for the very first time. Ever since confirming the venue for the second instalment of Noche UFC, Dana White has promised fireworks in an unforgettable night.

    And when it comes to that level of excitement, you could do worse than having Michel Pereira making the walk…

    Pereira & ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez Set For Sphere Showcase

    The promotion has been tight-lipped thus far when it comes to which athletes will make the walk inside the Sphere, but Pereira appears to have let slip his inclusion.

    In a post on Instagram, the #13-ranked middleweight uploaded an image of his in-game character on UFC 5 facing off with the man directly below him on the 185-pound ladder, Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.

    In the caption, “Demolidor” revealed that he’s set to share the Octagon with the fan favorite on September 14.

    “HERE WE GOOOO !! September 14th the Sphere Las Vegas will be LIT,” Pereira wrote, translated from Portuguese. “And Carrapato Hernandez is going to meet the Revestrés and Smoke Mix!! Michel Pereira x Anthony Hernandez!! HERE WE GO!!

    Pereira (31-11, 2 NC) was most recently in action on home soil at UFC 301, where he thrilled the Rio de Janeiro crowd with a 54-second finish of Ihor Potieria. The result marked the Brazilian’s third straight win since returning to middleweight, with all three equalling just 3 minutes and one second of Octagon time.

    Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC), meanwhile, has risen into the top 15 courtesy of five consecutive wins since a loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run started with a memorable submission of Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Rodolfo Vieira and most recently saw “Fluffy” force a tap from Roman Kopylov at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

  • UFC 305 On-Sale Press Conference Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya Have Tense Faceoff In Perth

    UFC 305 On-Sale Press Conference Highlights: Dricus Du Plessis & Israel Adesanya Have Tense Faceoff In Perth

    The top fighters confirmed to be in action at UFC 305 on August 17 took to the stage for an on-sale press conference in the event’s host city this week.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will return to Perth next month for the first time since last February. On that occasion, the RAC Arena played host to local favorite Alexander Volkanovski’s competitive lightweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev.

    This time around, the venue will mark the location for the long-awaited comeback of another standout from the Oceanic region, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

    Having not competed since his second reign came to a sudden end at the hands of Sean Strickland in Sydney last September, “The Last Stylebender” will look to return to the throne at the expense of rival Dricus Du Plessis, who unseated Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto this past January.

    Also on the lineup is a teammate of Adesanya’s in Kai Kara-France. With concussion issues keeping him out of a fight close to home 10 months ago and leaving him without Octagon action since a narrow loss to Amir Albazi last May, “Don’t Blink” will look to reinsert his name into the title conversation at flyweight.

    He likely won’t have the backing of the crowd on August 17, however, as he goes up against Perth’s own Steve Erceg. The contest will mark “Astroboy’s” first since falling short of Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound gold at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro a couple of months ago.

    With Fight Club Pre-Sale starting on Tuesday, the promotion hosted a press conference in Perth, where Du Plessis, Adesanya, Kara-France, and Erceg all had mics in hand.

    See below for a full replay of the presser, followed by all the highlights and one of the longest, most intense faceoffs in recent memory between the two UFC 305 headliners.

    UFC 305 Press Conference Replay

    UFC 305 Press Conference Highlights

    UFC 305 Press Conference Faceoff

  • ’10-7 Diego Lopes’ – Fans React After Lopes & Movsar Evloev Trade Barbs Over UFC 303 Fight On X

    ’10-7 Diego Lopes’ – Fans React After Lopes & Movsar Evloev Trade Barbs Over UFC 303 Fight On X

    UFC featherweight contenders Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev recently exchanged heated words on X, much to the MMA community’s amusement, adding fuel to the already unclear matchmaking situation in the division.

    Lopes navigated a tumultuous lead-up to his short-notice fight at UFC 303 last Saturday. Despite the chaos, the highly regarded featherweight contender extended his winning streak, triumphing over Dan Ige, who accepted the bout just a few hours before the showdown.

    With Brian Ortega unable to compete, Lopes chose to remain on the card and face Ige, who resides near the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and heroically stepped up when the UFC needed him most.

    Lopes had his fair share of success with both striking and grappling throughout the first two rounds of their fight. However, Ige mounted a fierce comeback in the final round, pushing the Brazilian to his limits. Despite this, Lopes secured the victory, with all three judges unanimously scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.

    Following Lopes’ triumph, Evloev took to X to propose a rematch against his former opponent at Noche UFC (UFC 306), slated for September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undefeated Russian’s challenge came out of apparent frustration with Aljamain Sterling’s reluctance to schedule a fight.

    “Hey, @Diegolopesmma, I wanna give you a rematch at the Sphere because @funkmasterMMA is running for his life, and this time, I’m gonna finish you.”

    Lopes swiftly fired back at Evloev, accusing him of ignoring his previous callout for a rematch.

    “Have you finally realized that the way the UFC pays attention to you is by mentioning my name? Or are you afraid that tomorrow morning I’ll be in your place in the rankings? It took you 3 months to get back to me. Sit back and watch the big guys do the work.”

    Lopes’ Apparent Rejection of Evloev’s Offer Sparks Fan Reactions

    https://twitter.com/ajtafoya92/status/1808165527849738696
    https://twitter.com/AlexJ_Daugherty/status/1808085268060151904
    https://twitter.com/CovertBetsMMA/status/1808117727673929904

    The two fighters first clashed at UFC 288 in May 2023, where Lopes made his promotional debut on less than a week’s notice. Although he was a fresh face up against a top-ranked opponent, Lopes delivered an impressive performance, narrowly losing a decision in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.

    Following their initial bout, Lopes has been nearly unstoppable in the UFC, amassing a four-fight win streak. In contrast, Evloev has only competed once, securing a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Allen in January.

    Only time will tell if this duo gets the chance to settle their score. However, Lopes has already laid down the gauntlet, expressing his desire to either fight with Ortega or challenge former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC’s highly anticipated event in September.

  • Daniel Cormier On State Of The UFC LHW Division Now Compared To Five Years Ago: ‘How Long Can Alex Pereira Reign…’

    UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago.

    For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, and Cormier. However, none of them experienced the rapid ascent within the division like the reigning champion, Alex Pereira.

    “Poatan” successfully defended his title twice in as many months, most recently delivering a stunning second-round head kick knockout against former rival Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303 last weekend.

    In just 13 professional MMA bouts and nine UFC appearances, Pereira has crafted an extraordinary legacy. He became the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Remarkably, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions within a mere two-year span.

    With years of fighting experience and his own status as a two-division UFC champion, Cormier possesses an intimate understanding of the fighters and the current dynamics of the 205-pound division.

    “DC” observes that the landscape has dramatically shifted in the past five years, especially due to Pereira’s dominance and exceptional striking prowess…

    Cormier Highlights Dramatic Change in Current LHW Fighting Styles

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier delved into the current state of the light heavyweight division, with “Poatan” reigning as champion and his challengers on the horizon.

    They discussed Magomed Ankalaev’s recent challenge to Pereira, where the undefeated Dagestani intriguingly promised not to rely on wrestling in their potential title fight.

    “DC” pointed out that five or six years ago, the top fighters in the division primarily had wrestling or grappling backgrounds. In contrast, the present-day contenders are increasingly reliant on striking skills.

    “Look at this weight  class right now, Chael, I see no wrestlers.” Cormier said. “I don’t see any wrestlers all the way to #10. #6 guy in the world is Nikita Krylov.”

    The former Olympian further assessed the prospects of dethroning Pereira, considering the challengers’ fighting styles.

    “If nobody wrestles this guy, Chael, how long can Alex Pereira reign at top of the division? Because it feels if you’re forced to stand with him and strike with him, you really have no chance.”

  • Dan Ige Reveals He Didn’t Even Know Weight Class For Short-Notice UFC 303 Fight: ‘The Only Thing I Read Was Numbers…’

    Dan Ige stepped in on four hours’ notice to fight Diego Lopes in the co-main event of UFC 303. The fight was a fairly entertaining affair, with Lopes securing the first two and Ige bouncing back in the third.

    On June 13, 2024, Ortega vs. Lopes was announced as the co-main event for UFC 303. Just before the weigh-ins, the bout was shifted to lightweight from featherweight.

    Things took another turn as Ortega pulled out due to illness on fight night. This is when Ige agreed to fight Lopes at a catchweight of 165 pounds – only he didn’t even know that that was the weight limit for the fight.

    Dan Ige Reveals How He Happened To Be On Weight To Fight Diego Lopes At UFC 303

    Ige recently appeared on the Michael Bisping YouTube channel and discussed his initial reaction to fighting on four hours’ notice. His first thought was to eat for energy and get hydrated.

    “I was in the kitchen, just grabbing things, like what am I doing? What do I do with my hands? I was just like, I gotta eat, I gotta fuel. I’m like, starting to grab things. I’m like, what do I, what do I need? I start hydrating because I was like, if I’m gonna fight, need to be hydrated.”

    Amidst these worries, “50k” admits to not even checking the weight mentioned on the contract before signing it. He claims to be more intrigued by the paycheck and the opportunity to do something unprecedented.

    “I didn’t even know I had to weigh in Bisping. I didn’t know how this was working. They told me, they’re like, what do you weigh? I was like, I was 164-165 this morning, somewhere along those lines. So, they sent me the contract, it said 165 for the bout agreement, I didn’t read. Only thing I read was numbers because I was like sweet, the money’s in there, we’re good.”

    Ige then revealed he wasn’t expecting to weigh in officially for the fight. However, his concerns regarding missing weight and its impact on his purse were cleared as he stepped on the scale at 164.5 lbs.

    The new UFC 303 co-main event was announced as soon as the short-notice fighter made weight, and the rest is history.

    Read More: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision

  • Jamahal Hill All Praise For ‘Evolved’ Alex Pereira After UFC 303 Performance: ‘Beautiful Adjustments, Bro!’

    Jamahal Hill was sure to have a close eye on the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend when the light heavyweight title was on the line.

    “Sweet Dreams” was unsuccessful in reclaiming the title at UFC 300 after he was stopped by Alex Pereira in the main event.

    Saturday night saw “Poatan” secure another title defense, this time in a rematch with former champion Jiří Procházka where he beat him even more impressively than the first time around.

    Hill broke the fight down in a video on his YouTube channel where despite his hunger to avenge his loss and take back the title, he gave lots of credit to his former opponent.

    Jamahal Hill Says Alex Pereira Looked Better Than Ever At UFC 303

    In his breakdown of the fight, Hill spoke about a few things that he noticed from Pereira that were different to his previous fights inside the UFC.

    Heading into this highly anticipated rematch, a lot was said about how Procházka was winning the first fight against “Poatan” until he was caught by his opponent’s lethal left hook.

    Hill pointed out how Pereira was able to take control of the fight much earlier on this occasion and dominate the contest until it was over, unlike many of his other fights.

    “Great main event, absolutely dominant performance by Alex from start to finish. I believe this is honestly probably the first that I’ve seen where Alex came out and won the fight from start until he got the finish. He didn’t have to come back and, it was still some adversity, Jiří still presented his challenges in it but he adapted and he made good adjustments.”

    Hill also spoke about the technique that Pereira used to set up his left hook that once again spelled the beginning of the end for Procházka.

    Having been on the end of an advancing, lunging left hook from the champion in April, Hill analyzed how his former foe made the adjustment in order to land the strike as a counter whilst moving away from his opponent, different to what he did back at UFC 295.

    “The adjustment that I seen that Alex made from that was the check hook. More so before, you see him in come like he steps in with that hook and he tries to land it leaning in and throwing his power forward. This time we seen him implement it from more of a defensive and a counteractive manner in this particular fighting sequence.

    “The first hook that he landed on Jiří, he hit him and you could see the eyes roll, you could see him get dazed a little bit. From there, he landed another one that kind of wobbled him, that kind of shook the legs a little bit and then he landed the one at the end of the round that put him out, that put him on his back. It’s beautiful adjustments bro, beautiful adjustments. He looked evolved, he looked like he’s taking more steps and getting better as a fighter.”

  • ‘This Guy Is Such A Trash Person’ – MMA Fans Annoyed After Sean Strickland Puts A Beating On Navy Seal In Sparring

    ‘This Guy Is Such A Trash Person’ – MMA Fans Annoyed After Sean Strickland Puts A Beating On Navy Seal In Sparring

    It’s another day in the world of MMA and that means another controversial sparring video from the former UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland.

    Strickland is best defined by his lack of any filter and his love of sparring which, in turn, is why he has been so successful at 185 pounds.

    However, despite being one of the best middleweights in the world, he rarely holds safety in the training room as a priority.

    The latest video of Strickland getting some work in sees him fighting a former Navy Seal and the term ‘fighting’ is used incredibly loosely here.

    In a short clip, he appears to wear down his sparring partner early on and from that point on, continues to toy with him and hit him repeatedly, as his opponent stands still against the cage.

    With blood coming from his nose, the trained soldier who clearly has no right being in there with Strickland, repeatedly falls to the floor only for the former middleweight champ to tell him to get back up to his feet again.

    MMA Fans React To Sean Strickland Putting A Beating On A Navy Seal

    MMA fans reacted on social media to the latest video of Strickland beating someone up for seemingly his own enjoyment.

    Of course, the sparring partner would have surely known what he was in for given the reputation of the man that he would be standing across the cage from.

    Strickland posted on social media before the video was published online where he said that despite his dislike of Navy Seals, the guy earned his respect.

    “This guy is such a trash person”

    “Strickland when they fight back”

    “Sean good at dominating non pros lol”

    “It’s almost like they are completely different skill sets.”

    “Other guy was barely fighting back. Why doesn’t Sean do this to professional fighters??”

    “What’s the point of this ?”

    “How did bro do worse than Sneako?”

    “why would anyone actually think they could do this?”

    https://twitter.com/silversteinmma/status/1807976673834320303

    Read also: VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Longtime Rival Alex Pereira’s Knockout Of Jiří Procházka At UFC 303

  • Colby Covington Claims Nick Diaz Ducked Him But Will Not ‘Put Down The Diaz Brothers & Talk S**t About Them’

    MMA legend Nick Diaz is set to return to the Octagon on August 3 when he faces Vicente Luque in Abu Dhabi.

    It has been three years since the Stockton original last competed in the UFC and that, in turn, was a comeback from a six-year hiatus.

    Before his fight with Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, Diaz was reportedly offered several opponents before the decision was made to run back his first clash with Lawler.

    Colby Covington revealed in a recent interview with Submission Radio that he was one of the names in contention for a fight with Diaz – which would have surely been chaotic to say the least.

    Colby Covington Says Nick Diaz ‘Ducked’ The Fight But He Has Nothing Bad To Say About Him

    During the interview, Covington spoke about how there were talks of him facing off with Diaz back in 2021, with Madison Square Garden as a potential destination.

    The former three-time UFC welterweight title challenger said that he understands why the UFC hasn’t attempted to revisit this fight after Diaz turned this option down.

    “Unfortunately, he hasn’t been offered to me in about three years. The last time Hunter had called me with Nick Diaz’s name across my desk was when they offered me to him in Madison Square Garden about three years ago so, he turned down the fight, he didn’t want the fight so I think the UFC just knows that they can’t match that up.

    “I mean, that’s the biggest mismatch in UFC history to give me a guy like Nick Diaz so it wouldn’t be doing the company any justice to put some guy that’s over the hill and past his prime versus the guy that’s in his prime and the best welterweight on earth right now, Colby Covington.

    Covington also said that despite this and some comments that the Diaz brothers have made over the years, he has no hard feelings towards them after this fight didn’t come together.

    He said that he even shared a moment with the elder Diaz following one of his fights where the leader of the “Nick Diaz Army” was very complimentary of his skills and career.

    Covington states that despite Diaz being “scared” to fight him, he has nothing negative to say about one of MMA’s most iconic siblings.

    “He knew at that time that I was the best welterweight on earth. He came up to me one time when I fought, after UFC Sacramento, and he’s like, ‘Yeah you’re the future of this division’ and showed me a lot of respect so I’m not going to put down the Diaz brothers and talk s*** about them.

    “They’ve said some things about me but they’ve done great things in this sport and I’m not going to sit down and say anything bad about them but he did dodge the fight. He was scared to fight me and that’s facts, that’s truth.”

    Read also: Colby Covington Reacts To Ian Garry’s Latest Victory At UFC 303: ‘Anybody Could Be 15-0 Fighting 15 Bums’

  • ‘We Really Are About To See Khabib Come Back & Fight Before We Get GTA 6’ – MMA Fans React To Rumors Of Nurmagomedov’s Bank Accounts Being Seized By Russian Government

    ‘We Really Are About To See Khabib Come Back & Fight Before We Get GTA 6’ – MMA Fans React To Rumors Of Nurmagomedov’s Bank Accounts Being Seized By Russian Government

    News came to light several weeks ago regarding reports of financial troubles for the former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    After things appeared to be going quiet on that front, the latest update says completely the opposite as things are becoming increasingly severe.

    Russian media platform MASH have now reported that Nurmagomedov has had all of his bank accounts seized by the Russian tax authorities.

    This is due to him reportedly being in debt which equates to over 3 million US dollars.

    Nurmagomedov’s team had denied the claims at first but there is no official statement as yet in response to the latest details.

    MMA Fans React To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Reported Financial Troubles

    MMA fans reacted on social media to the newest updates regarding Nurmagomedov’s financial issues with the Russian tax authorities.

    The name of the former UFC lightweight champion has also been in the news due to a terrorist being identified as someone that once trained in the same Dagestani gym.

    Nurmagomedov passionately came out against this also but it didn’t stop him from receiving criticism online.

    “We really are about to see Khabib come back and fight before we get GTA 6”

    “All I know is if Conor McGregor sees this tweet he’s going to have an absolute field day 😂”

    https://twitter.com/May_twenty3rd/status/1807739376417300859

    “Not very Goatlike”

    “Bro’s having a rough year”

    https://twitter.com/ElonRakhmonov/status/1807741978538635501

    “Khabib about to go box with Jake Paul.”

    https://twitter.com/3darkone3/status/1807752045098586298

    “How is Khabib in 3 Mil of debt when he supposedly made like 20M alone in the McGregor fight and thats not even including everything else?”

    https://twitter.com/AlecFall0n/status/1807755257117577575

    “He pissed off Putin and the Russian Oligarchy in some way. I am willing to bet the relations soured.”

    As several replies to the news showed, many were waiting for Conor McGregor’s reaction which surely wouldn’t take long to come through on social media.

    Whilst McGregor didn’t say anything on this latest update, he did repost the following video on social media in response.

    Read also: Colby Covington Reacts To Ian Garry’s Latest Victory At UFC 303: ‘Anybody Could Be 15-0 Fighting 15 Bums’

  • Dana White Doesn’t Rule Out Potential Cross-Promotion Fight Involving Francis Ngannou: ‘We’re Obviously Talking About Lots Of Different Options…’

    Dana White has frequently claimed that Francis Ngannou left the UFC to avoid fighting Jon Jones. Naturally, the relationship between the two men soured before “The Predator” left the promotion.

    However, White’s flourishing ties with Turki Alalshikh might open doors for cross-promotion fights in the UFC. After hosting several spectacular boxing and MMA events, Riyadh Season will sponsor the Noche UFC event in The Sphere.

    When asked if Riyadh Season could convince him to work with Ngannou again, the UFC CEO said this during the UFC 303 post-press conference:

    “I think that, what this guy’s [Alalshikh] done in a short amount of time is pretty incredible. So, we’re obviously talking about lots of different options with this guy. And I respect him, I like him, so, we’ll see what the future holds.”

    UFC 306 is the first event in the promotion’s history to have a title partner. With new stakeholders coming into play, Ngannou facing UFC heavyweights like Aspinall and Jones might not be far-fetched.

    Why Riyadh Season was roped in as a sponsor of Noche UFC

    During the UFC 303 post-press conference posted on TheMacLife YouTube channel, White reiterated that he’s spent over $15 million on producing Noche UFC. The UFC CEO then jokingly claimed this to be the reason behind the new sponsors for the event.

    When asked about the factors that led to Riyadh Season becoming the title partner of UFC 306, here’s what he said:

    “I spent $17 million on production and it’s not even September yet.”

    It is worth noting that Riyadh Season featured massive boxing cards like Fury vs. Ngannou, Joshua vs. Ngannou, and Fury vs. Usyk. In early 2024, the Kingdom Arena also hosted the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event.

    While discussing the impact of new sponsors, White admitted to having a good relationship with Turki Alalshikh. He also appreciated the boxing events organized by Riyadh Season.

    “I actually respect Sheikh Turki. He’s a nice guy and we have actually formed a relationship over the last couple of months. I respect what he’s done with boxing. He’s the only guy that could ever pull this off. Making these big fights and the fight was good.”

    READ MORE: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision At UFC 303: ‘I Need To Start Working On These Finishes’

  • ‘Check The Bank Accounts, Check The Bookies’ – UFC Star Accuses Opponent Of Cheating In The Aftermath Of UFC 303

    ‘Check The Bank Accounts, Check The Bookies’ – UFC Star Accuses Opponent Of Cheating In The Aftermath Of UFC 303

    Ian Machado Garry doubles down on his allegations against “MVP”.

    The lead up to UFC 303 was chaotic to say the least. The postponement of the main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler dominated the headlines in the weeks before International Fight Week, and the carousel of replacement fighters that were drafted into (and subsequently fell back out of) the co-main event slot beggared belief.

    The bizarre fight card shake-up continued well into fight day, as Dan Ige was drafted in at the last second to replace Brian Ortega opposite Diego Lopes in scenes never witnessed before in UFC history.

    Amidst all the matchmaking chaos, one of the more interesting stories to emerge from the pre-fight press conference was Ian Machado Garry’s accusation that his opponent Michael ‘Venom’ Page had attempted to bribe his team (Chute Boxe) for information regarding his training camp and game plan.

    Garry maintains that he has proof of the attempted bribe but that his team rebuffed the advances.

    Speaking at the press conference after his unanimous decision victory over ‘MVP’ ‘The Future’ doubled down on the accusations.

    “We do all these drug tests, we do all this stuff to go, ‘you’re clean, you’re not doing drugs’…but someone came out here and offered money for my information from my team? Thank God Chute Boxe is f**kin rock solid” said the Irishman. “Thank God Chute Boxe go ‘No’…we shut it down and we locked everything down, nothing went out. We had a blackout on Instagram and stuff and socials”.

    ‘That’s Filthy And That’s Cheating’ – Garry Doesn’t Let Page Off The Hook

    Garry said in the post-fight press conference that he has already reported the allegations to the powers-that-be and also queried whether his opponent may have a history of this kind of behavior – and whether there may be evidence of links to gambling.

    “For me, I said to the (Nevada State Athletic) Commission, they were like, ‘Look, there’s no rules against it’. I was like, ‘Well let’s make sure there is, because it’s cheating and it’s dirty and we can’t be doing all this stuff when it comes to testing and making sure the sport’s clean, and then people are being dirty in other regards. So let’s make a rule.

    “And also, has anyone ever made money on it? Has there ever been any side bets on it? If you know what I know and I’m putting money on it because we have inside information it’s f**kin dirty…so that’s what I think when I said there should be suspension for life. I believe that if you go check the bank accounts and if you go check the bookies I guarantee there’s been some money won somewhere along the line, and that’s filthy and that’s cheating to me”.

    Read More: Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision

  • UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

    UFC Rankings Report: Alex Pereira Surpasses Jon Jones On Pound-For-Pound List After UFC 303

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

    And in the aftermath of UFC 303, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Given how firm he’s been in laughing off suggestions that Islam Makhachev should be ranked above Jon Jones in the P4P pecking order, Dana White likely won’t be pleased with the latest update. As first reported by renowned journalist John Morgan, the UFC heavyweight champion has dropped a further position to #3.

    Now in his place at #2 is Alex Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight kingpin who cemented his grip on the crown with a second victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 303. That result has boosted “Poatan” above both Leon Edwards (#4) and Jones on the P4P list.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: A few months on from her successful debut at UFC 300, Kayla Harrison has jumped above Ketlen Vieira (#14) to move up to #13 in the P4P ranks.

    Women’s Strawweight: Gillian Robertson secured a crucial victory at UFC 303, outpointing the retiring Michelle Waterson-Gomez. As a result, she’s climbed two places to #13, leaving Iasmin Lucindo and her defeated opponent at #14 and #15, respectively.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva had a strong start this past weekend rendered null by a brutal cut sustained from a Macy Chiasson elbow. The former title challenger has dropped three positions to #6 due to the doctor stoppage, with her victorious rival up two spots to #5. The changes have left Harrison (#3) and Irene Aldana (#4) one place better off each, while Holly Holm has had a slight fall to #7.

    Flyweight: At 125 pounds, Cody Durden has risen one position to #14, while David Dvořák has returned to the top 15 on the final step of the ladder despite his reported release.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Diego Lopes had a difficult UFC 303 fight week, going from a Brian Ortega fight at 145 pounds to an Ortega fight at 155 pounds to a same-day notice Dan Ige fight at 165 pounds. He ultimately emerged victorious, and the Mexico-based Brazilian has been rewarded with a two-spot climb to #12 in the featherweight rankings. That’s left him above Bryce Mitchell (#13) and Ige (#14).

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith was another fighter faced with a late-notice assignment at UFC 303. After Carlos Ulberg pulled out, “Lionheart” fought and lost to ranked middleweight Roman Dolidze. The result has seen Smith (#11) fall below Ulberg (#10) at 205 pounds.

    Meanwhile, the Georgian’s celebrations about being ranked in two divisions turned out to be premature, with Dolidze not appearing in the light heavyweight top 15 post-UFC 303.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • MMA News Today: UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler, McGregor Involved In Social Media Throwdown, UFC Commentator Feels Michael ‘Venom’ Page Displayed ‘Lack Of Depth’ In Loss To Ian Garry, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor all trade shots
    • Sanko says “MVP” needs the right dance partner
    • Cejudo still has Pereira grappling concerns

    Top UFC Lightweights Makhachev, Poirier, Chandler & McGregor Engage In Social Media Crossfire

    Some of the top names in the UFC’s lightweight division have been exchanging blows on social media with Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler all letting their feelings about one another be known.

    The conversation was sparked by a post from Poirier where he said if Arman Tsarukyan is unable to fight for the lightweight title, he would be happy to jump back in with Makhachev following their fight at UFC 302.

    “The Diamond” had also been firing back at Conor McGregor in response to the recent social media posts that were made by “The Notorious” in reference to their previous encounters.

    Makhachev replied to Poirier’s message, as did fellow top lightweight Chandler who then also went back-and-forth with the lightweight champion due to their history inside the Octagon.

    The full series of crossfire posts shows that there is no love lost between any of the four lightweights.

    Laura Sanko Says Michael ‘Venom’ Page Needs The Right Match-Up After UFC 303 Defeat

    Michael “Venom” Page was defeated by Ian Garry at UFC 303 after the Irishman used his grappling to secure the victory.

    Whilst Page had some strong moments on the feet, he was taken down and out-grappled by one of the welterweight contenders who isn’t known for this particular skill set.

    UFC commentator Laura Sanko spoke in an interview with Submission Radio about how this fight showed some of the flaws in Page’s game.

    She said that whilst there are still plenty of options for “MVP” in the UFC, it needs to be against the right opponent after what we saw this past weekend.

    “Yeah, he definitely showed a little bit of lack of depth in terms of the details of the ground game and I think anybody that really appreciates the fine art of jiu-jitsu is going to spot those.

    “There are still plenty of really interesting, fun fights for MVP on the UFC roster. The truth of the matter is he needs the right stylistic match-up.”

    Henry Cejudo Says The Jury Is Still Out On Alex Pereira And His Grappling

    Former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo isn’t ready to start calling Alex Pereira the best in the world right now due to one concern.

    “Triple C” spoke on his Pound 4 Pound podcast about how “Poatan” is still yet to face an elite grappler that will be able to take him out of his comfort zone.

    Despite being able to deal with other strikers in emphatic fashion, as he did in the main event of UFC 303, a huge test awaits him in Magomed Ankalaev.

    Cejudo also referred to the fact that Pereira is yet to mention a potential super fight with the heavyweight champion Jon Jones because of the wrestling pedigree that “Bones” brings to the table.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Henry Cejudo Still Unconvinced By Alex Pereira Despite UFC 303 KO Win: ‘He’s Not Mentioning Jon Jones Because I Think He Knows…’

    Alex Pereira saved UFC 303 by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round with a vicious head kick. He walked out of the Octagon with minimal damage, and fans are already discussing his next fight.

    At light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is seemingly the only fighter with a case for a title challenge. However, more fans want “Poatan” to move up a weight class and have a super fight with Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.

    Apart from the loss to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has mostly looked invincible in the UFC. Is he really that good or is he yet to be properly tested by a superior grappler? Here’s Henry Cejudo’s two cents on the matter…

    Henry Cejudo Expects Alex Pereira To Fight ‘Well-Rounded Wrestler’ Before Taking On Jon Jones

    In a recent episode uploaded on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, the former UFC champions discussed the UFC 303 main event. “Triple C” congratulated the Brazilian but quickly pointed out how the outcome wasn’t surprising because the fight didn’t go to the ground.

    According to Cejudo, Procházka should’ve avoided a battle on the feet as Pereira will always have an edge there. He also thinks that the UFC light heavyweight champion still needs to beat a remarkable wrestler like Ankalaev to prove his well-roundedness.

    “It’s not until Alex Pereira really fights somebody like Ankalaev where I’m gonna say, ‘okay, this guy is the…’ is he the real deal? 100 percent but, could he get past a well-rounded wrestler? Someone who’s going to bring in the grappling?”

    “Triple C” criticized Pereira’s past opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for trying to strike with him. Like many, he believes that fights with heavyweights Jones and Aspinall will truly test his mettle because of the wrestling.

    “The IQ of the light heavyweight division, dude, I think everybody just wants to strike, Kamaru. I think that’s where everything goes wrong.”

    Cejudo claims that Pereira hasn’t talked about fighting Jones because it won’t be his ideal matchup. This is also why the former UFC double champ is excited to see Pereira vs. Ankalaev at light heavyweight first.

    “Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”

  • ‘Mortgage On Alex’ – Fans React To Alex Pereira Opening As Underdog For Potential Magomed Ankalaev Fight After UFC 303

    The opening betting odds have been released for the matchup many expect to serve as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s next title defense, and they’ve certainly split opinion.

    Pereira further cemented his grip on the crown at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view. “Poatan,” a former two-weight Glory Kickboxing kingpin, headlined International Fight Week on short notice opposite a familiar foe of his in Jiří Procházka.

    Like at Madison Square Garden last November, it was Pereira who had his hand raised. On this occasion, however, the finish came in a much more definitive and violent fashion.

    As if often the case when a champion keeps ahold of their belt, it didn’t take long for a potential challenger to make their voice heard, with Magomed Ankalaev calling for an opportunity to unseat the Brazilian later this year.

    Odds were quickly put out by BetOnline.Ag, with Pereira opening as a +210 underdog against Ankalaev’s -250 line.

    The Dagestani has long been touted as a future champion by many, and it would appear that his wrestling ability has left the oddsmakers seeing “and new” as a real possibility should the UFC match them together next.

    Fans React To Pereira vs. Ankalaev Odds: ‘Is This A Joke?’

    Unsurprisingly, the opening odds became a topic of discussion and debate in the MMA community.

    Having just seen “Poatan” enhance his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage with yet another brutal knockout, some laughed off the odds and proclaimed that they’d be getting paid handsomely for betting on the champ.

    Others, however, made note of Ankalaev’s well-rounded game, which is expected to give Pereira the kind of grappling test that he’s yet to experience inside the Octagon.

  • Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision At UFC 303: ‘I Need To Start Working On These Finishes’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry was disappointed not to finish a fight within the distance for the third straight time this past weekend.

    At Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view, Garry was tasked with opening up the main card in what marked his second Octagon assignment of the year. After getting past Geoff Neal in February, the undefeated Irishman was faced with a tougher striking test in Michael “Venom” Page.

    In the lead-up, “The Future” expressed a distinct lack of interest in the fight and vowed to “run through” the Englishman with ease. While he ultimately had his hand raised at T-Mobile Arena, it was far from a walk in the park.

    Garry secured victory on the scorecards, edging out a final round with his grappling to secure 29-28 verdicts from the three judges cageside.

    For the Dubliner, he maintained his position close to the top of the division and kept the 0 on his record. But like many fans who were expecting more from the clash, Garry didn’t exit the cage without some frustration…

    Garry ‘Irritated’ At Going The Distance With Page

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

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Garry reflected on his performance and result opposite the tricky Page at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

    The former Cage Warriors champion admitted disappointment at his failure to finish “MVP” before the final horn, especially after both Neal and Neil Magny made it the 15-minute distance in his previous two bouts.

    “I nearly had the heel hook as well. Look, that for me is just little details on locking up things,” Garry said. “I said to Demian (Maia), ‘Do you know what we need to do now? We need to go every possibility of finish and we need to lock in the minor details; hand position, head position, feet position. We just need to go over it all.’

    “And it needs to be the same on the feet. I need to start working on these finishes because no one’s more irritated than me at having a third f**king decision in a row,” Garry continued. “Even though it’s against elite competition, it f*cks me off.”

    Having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with three knockouts in his first five outings, Garry will no doubt be hoping to return to those finishing ways moving forward.

    And now that he spends most of his time training over at Diego Lima’s Chute Box Academy in São Paulo alongside the likes of the UFC’s all-time most prolific submission artist Charles Oliveira, perhaps the Irishman’s next stoppage will come by way of a choke or hold.

  • What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27

    What’s Next After UFC 303? Full Confirmed UFC 304 Main Card For Manchester On July 27

    UFC 303 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for International Fight Week. Of note were victories for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, fast-rising featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes, and undefeated welterweight Ian Garry.

    While the aftermath of the June 29 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 170-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 304, set for the newly built Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, reigning welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will make the walk for the first time this year, making his third defense of the gold in a rematch against Belal Muhammad.

    There will also be title stakes between familiar opponents in the co-headliner, as interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes two years on from his devastating knee injury opposite “Razor” just 15 seconds into their UFC Fight Night main event in London.

    Pimblett, Mokaev, Allen Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 304

    Before Edwards and Aspinall defend their championships on home soil in the main and co-main events, respectively, a number of other high-profile Brits will take to the Octagon looking to make the post of their position on the major card.

    That includes up-and-coming lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who gets his toughest test to date in the form of the #15-ranked Bobby Green. After extending his unbeaten UFC record to 5-0 by getting the better of Tony Ferguson, the Liverpool native has the chance to break through into the top 15 against “King,” who most recently outpointed Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.

    Prior to that, Dagestan-born Brit Muhammad Mokaev will look to stake his claim for a first shot at the flyweight gold when he meets former Rizin champion Manel Kape. “The Young Punisher” most recently edged past ex-title challenger Alex Perez at the Apex in March. “Starboy,” meanwhile, hasn’t competed since a victory at UFC 293 in Sydney last September, with a weight miss and injury subsequently scrapping his two scheduled rematches with Matheus Nicolau this year.

    Another local favorite will open the main card, with Ipswich native Arnold Allen looking to get back on track. Following a valiant effort in defeat against Max Holloway in Kansas City last April, “Almighty” fell on the wrong side of a tight and debated decision opposite Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. To bounce back, Allen must halt the resurgence of striking specialist Giga Chikadze, who most recently returned to winning ways at the expense of Alex Caceres in Singapore last August.

    See below for the full UFC 304 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Leon Edwards (C) vs. Belal Muhammad (welterweight championship main event)
    • Tom Aspinall (C) vs. Curtis Blaydes  (interim heavyweight championship co-main event)
    • Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)
    • Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
    • Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (featherweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (featherweight)
    • Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight)
    • Caolán Loughran vs. Ramon Tavares (bantamweight)
    • Mick Parkin vs. Łukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
    • Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
    • Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight)
    • Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira (women’s strawweight)
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight) 
    Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

  • Diego Lopes Highlights Two Opponents He’d Like To Face In Sphere Return After UFC 303 Win

    UFC featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes has his sights set on two options for his expected matchup at the Sphere this September.

    Lopes’ outing at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event was among the biggest stories throughout International Fight Week, as he co-headlined in incredible circumstances.

    After answering a short-notice call to face Brian Ortega on the June 29 card following the original co-main event falling through, the Mexican-based Brazilian stepped up once again when “T-City” couldn’t make the featherweight limit last Friday morning.

    On fight day, however, Lopes found himself back on the scales, this time to weigh in for a 165-pound catchweight contest against Dan Ige. That came about after Ortega was struck by illness hours before UFC 303.

    Lopes ultimately emerged victorious over his late-notice replacement opponent, grinding out a unanimous decision victory across three rounds of action inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Pre-fight, Lopes had already announced his intention to make the turnaround to fight at the Sphere in September. And having gone above and beyond last week, it would appear that the UFC is unsurprisingly set to grant that wish…

    Lopes Calls For Rescheduled Ortega Fight Or Volkanovski Clash At The Sphere

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaXTQaGJF9s

    During a backstage media scrum at T-Mobile Arena, Lopes reflected on his tumultuous fight week and victorious performance at UFC 303 while in conversation with reporters.

    Responding to a question regarding his next fight from Caroline Pearce of TNT Sports, the Mexican-based Brazilian reiterated his plan to make the walk inside the Sphere for Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

    And the surging featherweight also had a couple of opponents in mind…

    “I would really love to fight on the Sphere (card). If you think about this, it’s such a special day, Mexican Independence Day weekend. I live in Mexico. It would be amazing to fight,” Lopes said. “They could just basically reschedule the fight against Ortega, I’d love that.

    “If that’s not available, I’d love to have a fight against Alexander Volkanovski. I think that would be a great fight as well,” Lopes continued. “I think we need to sit down with the UFC and check what the plans are, but I think it should be somebody in the top five that I should be fighting with.”

    When quizzed on the possibility of rescheduling Ortega vs. Lopes for the September 14 event during his post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White noted that the promotion needs to gauge “T-City’s” availability and plans.

    Volkanovski, meanwhile, has been taking a break from competition ever since losing the featherweight title in violent fashion against Ilia Topuria in February.

    While he’s been firm in stating that the gold will be on the line in his comeback fight, perhaps the allure of the Sphere could tempt the Australian to do battle with one of the division’s fastest-rising names.

  • Colby Covington Reacts To Ian Garry’s Latest Victory At UFC 303: ‘Anybody Could Be 15-0 Fighting 15 Bums’

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington unsurprisingly had a firm take on rival Ian Garry’s recent success inside the Octagon.

    Garry emerged victorious from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past weekend, where he opened the UFC 303 pay-per-view card alongside striking specialist Michael “Venom” Page.

    The pair didn’t set the cage alight as some were expecting, with the Irishman instead utilizing his grappling to get the better of “MVP” in rounds one and three to secure a unanimous decision triumph on the scorecards.

    In the lead-up, the former Cage Warriors champion expressed absolutely no interest in squaring off with Page at UFC 303, an event at which he’d initially hoped to face Covington as the co-headlining act for Conor McGregor’s return.

    “Chaos” publicly dismissed that matchup, branding Garry a “nobody.” And he believes that stance has been vindicated having seen the Dubliner’s efforts on Saturday night…

    Covington On Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘That Was Pathetic!’

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington provided his thoughts on Garry’s decision win over Page on June 29, which extended his perfect professional record to 15-0.

    “Chaos” laughed off mention of that unblemished slate, suggesting that Garry has built it by fighting “bums.” And while insisting that “The Future’s” performance was well below requirement, Covington mentioned UFC CEO Dana White’s take on the UFC 303 main card opener to support his point.

    “Fighting cans from the Indian Casinos league, oh, big deal,” Covington said. “Anybody could be 15-0 fighting a bunch of 15 bums. Even Dana White himself said what he thought of the performance. He thought it was a draw. He doesn’t think there should have been a winner.

    “I feel bad for the fans. The fans got robbed of a pay-per-view opener. That was pathetic. That guy’s fighting the number 14 guy in the world and barely scraping by,” Covington continued. “I think he lost the fight. I feel bad for the fans. They got robbed. But it just shows how much of a bum he is. … He was willing too do whatever he wanted to get on the Conor McGregor card because his name’s ‘Corner McGregor,’ the Conor McGregor wannabe. He pulled all these strings to get on the Conor card and then Conor left him on the alter. … The guy’s an absolute nobody and he’s a bum.”

    Although much of Garry’s focus following his win over Geoff Neal in February was on Covington, it would appear that he’s accepted the sailing of that ship.

    Rather than reiterating a desire to face “Chaos” post-UFC 303, the Irishman instead mentioned Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman as desirable next foes. It remains to be seen who Garry will share the cage with next, but after a third straight decision, he’ll no doubt be looking to finish whoever it is inside the distance. 

  • Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg Added To Perth-Held UFC 305 On August 17

    It’ll be Oceania vs. Oceania in Oceania when former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg share the Octagon at UFC 305 on August 17.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is set to be back on Australian soil later this summer, where Perth’s RAC Arena will play host to an event for the first time since Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski’s memorable five-round battle last February.

    Topping the lineup this time will be UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis and divisional legend Israel Adesanya. And the Nigerian-New Zealander won’t be the only fighter from that region competing close to home.

    As well as the likes of Joshua Culibao and Jack Jenkins, New Zealand’s Kara-France is set to meet Australia’s Erceg in a key bout in the context of the flyweight division. 

    The fight was announced by the promotion, while Kara-France himself discussed his long-awaited comeback at UFC 305 in an interview with Christopher Reive for the New Zealand Herald.

    Kara-France, Erceg Target Bounce-Back Win At UFC 305

    When the #4-ranked Kara-France and #9-ranked Erceg throw down in Perth in less than two months’ time, both will be looking for a crucial rebound performance.

    Kara-France (24-11, 1 NC) hasn’t been in action since June 2023 when he suffered a narrow main event decision loss to Amir Albazi at the Apex in Las Vegas. The result sent “Don’t Blink” onto the first losing skid of his UFC career, having followed an interim title defeat opposite Brandon Moreno 11 months prior at UFC 277 in Dallas.

    If the New Zealander is to taste victory for the first time since his win over Askar Askrav 27 months ago, he must stall the charge of Erceg (12-2) and his pursuit of a rematch with reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja. The Aussie battled “The Cannibal” in the main event of UFC 301 in Brazil this past May, an opportunity that came off the back of three quick wins following his arrival in the promotion.

    Despite a valiant attempt in Rio de Janeiro, “AstroBoy” was ultimately unable to unseat the champ. After expressing his desire to bounce back on home soil this August, Erceg has had his wish granted, and he’ll now look to return to the win column at the expense of Kara-France.

    Image: Jason Silva/USA TODAY Sports

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Longtime Rival Alex Pereira’s Knockout Of Jiří Procházka At UFC 303

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had a stoic reaction as Alex Pereira rendered Jiří Procházka unconscious.

    Pereira headlined this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view in defense of his light heavyweight title. The Brazilian, who previously held the belt at 185 pounds, was once again tasked with stalling Procházka’s pursuit of two-time status.

    While the finish of their first fight back at UFC 295 last November left many dissatisfied and bemoaning the stoppage as early, that was not the case second time around, as “Poatan” brutally knocking “BJP” out with a head kick and follow-up punches on the ground.

    As has become a common occurrence whenever he enters the cage, Pereira’s latest triumph once again had fans in the arena and at home on their feet yelling Joe Rogan-esque screams.

    But one man’s reaction was a far cry from that…

    Adesanya Reacts To Pereira vs. Procházka 2: ‘Damn, That’s Bad’

    In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya and some of his training partners can be seen reacting to the events that unfolded at the International Fight Week event on June 29.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander had a strong connection to the main event, having faced Pereira four times across mixed martial arts and kickboxing, defeating him once by way of KO last April.

    Since the pair last faced off, Pereira has flattened his opponents three times with his renowned power. With that, Adesanya was seemingly not at all shocked by Saturday’s finish and remained stoically reclined on his couch as “Poatan” floored his Czech counterpart with a head kick.

    “Damn, that is bad. Oh, that is bad,” Adesanya said in the immediate after of the finish. “This card was cursed”

    Much has been made about the potential of Pereira and Adesanya competing their MMA trilogy up at light heavyweight down the line.

    For now, “The Last Stylebender” has his sights set on regaining the middleweight gold and settling his grudge with another rival in Dricus Du Plessis, whom Adesanya has gone back and forth with for well over a year.

    They’re set to headline the upcoming UFC 305 event in Perth, Australia, on August 17.

  • Dan Hooker Admits After Four Years That Dustin Poirier Submitted Him With A Guillotine: ‘He Just Didn’t Ever Realize That I Was Out…’

    Dan Hooker Admits After Four Years That Dustin Poirier Submitted Him With A Guillotine: ‘He Just Didn’t Ever Realize That I Was Out…’

    Ask any of Dustin Poirier’s training partners and they will tell you that his guillotine choke is a real problem in the gym.

    Despite his unwavering affection for this technique, “The Diamond” is yet to win a fight by this specific method. However, things could have been very different.

    In 2020, Poirier produced a fight of the year contender against a fellow lightweight that doesn’t have an ounce of quit in him, Dan Hooker.

    The fight had just about everything with both men having their moments in a true battle of wills that eventually went the way of the Louisiana native via unanimous decision. 

    New details from Hooker himself suggest that Poirier could have got his hand raised even earlier had he and the referee noticed something in the middle of the fight.

    Dan Hooker Says Dustin Poirier Choked Him Out With A Guillotine But No One Noticed

    In the third round of their incredible clash at the Apex, New Zealand’s Hooker looked to switch up his approach by shooting for a takedown on Poirier.

    As he has been known to do, “The Diamond” caught his opponent in a guillotine and looked to wrap up the submission to close the show.

    Hooker was able to survive the choke and make his way out after it appeared to be tight, or so it seemed.

    On a recent episode of mainevent for Fox Sports, Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski came onto the topic of close calls with submission attempts.

    As Volkanovski reflected on his own nail-biting moment against Brian Ortega, his fellow Kiwi shared a never-before-heard story. 

    “A funny one, in the Poirier fight, he had me in a guillotine and I might have been the first guy that he ever submitted in the guillotine but he just didn’t even realize I was out so I actually woke up.

    “It was the third round, I shot for a takedown and he jumped the guillotine and then he must have just run out of steam squeezing because I woke up and I was like, ‘Oh the fight’s still going’, I was like, ‘This is cool’. So he did finish a guillotine, just no one realized.”