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  • ‘Coach Khabib Does It Again’ – MMA Fans React As Jailton Almeida Secures Dominant UFC 302 Win After Receiving Tips From ‘The Eagle’

    ‘Coach Khabib Does It Again’ – MMA Fans React As Jailton Almeida Secures Dominant UFC 302 Win After Receiving Tips From ‘The Eagle’

    The first finish of the night at UFC 302 came courtesy of Jailton Almeida who made quick work of Alexandr Romanov.

    “Malhadinho” bounced back in style from his tough loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 which ended his undefeated streak inside the Octagon.

    Following prior complaints in some of his fights regarding not actively seeking a finish, Almeida didn’t take long before locking in the rear-naked choke after securing an early takedown.

    After Romanov attempted to get back to his feet, the choke was locked in and the tap came soon after to break a run of decisions on the card.

    Almeida said in his post-fight interview that he saw the scorecards roll in whilst backstage, and was looking to finish the fight as soon as possible.

    During fight week, he stated that he received some great advice from Khabib Nurmagomedov to improve his game. MMA fans were quick to highlight that after he secured UFC 302’s first finish.

    MMA Fans React To Jailton Almeida Breaking Decision Streak At UFC 302 With First-Round Sub

    Due to the criticism that Almeida has faced in the past, particularly for his 25-minute domination over Derrick Lewis, MMA fans were stunned to see the first finish of the night come from the Brazilian.

    The reactions poured in on social media, with some hoping that it would be the first of many finishes in Newark.

    In his post-fight interview, Almeida called to face Ciryl Gane in a fight that would make a lot of sense for the headliner spot in Paris in September.

    https://twitter.com/mmaSharke/status/1797076122611425650

    https://twitter.com/JayLoJL/status/1797076144392683566

  • ‘Remove Solecki From The Roster Yesterday’ – MMA Fans Unhappy With Grappling-Heavy Grant Dawson Decision Win At UFC 302

    UFC 302 didn’t appeal to some MMA fans, even on paper. And things did not get better when Grant Dawson took on Joe Solecki during the preliminary card.

    Dawson, known for his grappling, not only scored on all three of his takedown attempts for the fight, but he also had just under 14 minutes of control time during the 15-minute contest – without landing much damage from top position.

    Solecki may have taken the first round with more effective activity going for a guillotine choke, but it wasn’t enough to get past Dawson’s unrelenting pressure. Dawson scored 30-27s on two judges’ scorecards and 29-28 on the third.

    MMA Community Rips On One-Sided, Grappling-Heavy Victory For Grant Dawson Over Joe Solecki At UFC 302

    https://twitter.com/raffaelprospero/status/1797072351609159731

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    This win helps Dawson rebound from a knockout loss at the hands of Bobby Green in October.

    Meanwhile, this is Solecki’s second straight loss after already losing to Drakkar Klose in December.

  • ‘This Needs To Be The End’ – Boxing Fans React After Deontay Wilder Suffers Brutal KO Loss To Zhilei Zhang

    ‘This Needs To Be The End’ – Boxing Fans React After Deontay Wilder Suffers Brutal KO Loss To Zhilei Zhang

    Deontay Wilder suffered his second consecutive loss in Riyadh after he was stopped by Zhilei Zhang in the fifth round.

    “Big Bang” landed a huge right hand as Wilder looked to land one of his own, spinning “The Bronze Bomber” around before Zhang followed up with another shot that sent him to the canvas.

    The main event win for Zhang made it a clean sweep for Frank Warren and Team Queensbury in their 5 v 5 clash with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.

    It also means that Wilder has lost four of his last five, beating Robert Helenius in between his losses to Zhang and Joseph Parker and back-to-back defeats at the hands of Tyson Fury.

    Many have suggested that this could be the end for Wilder, who was undefeated at 42-0-1 until the rematch with Fury.

    Boxing Fans Call For Deontay Wilder To Retire Following KO Loss

    Wilder may only have four losses on his record but he looks a significantly different fighter in his last few performances following his consecutive defeats to “The Gypsy King”.

    After he was stopped for the third time in his career, the boxing world weighed in with their thoughts on the fight and what should be next for Wilder after another tough result.

    https://twitter.com/AbzTalks1/status/1797062364082123206

  • ‘They Should Be Ashamed’ – Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, & MMA Media Go Off On Judge After Unacceptable Scorecard To Kick Off UFC 302

    ‘They Should Be Ashamed’ – Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier, & MMA Media Go Off On Judge After Unacceptable Scorecard To Kick Off UFC 302

    Fight fans may have to brace themselves after the opening bout of UFC 302 saw quite the controversial scorecard in a one-sided victory.

    The early prelims for UFC 302 opened with a bout between The Ultimate Fighter alumnus Mitch Raposo and Andre Lima. While Lima committed a couple of fouls in the opening round to get a hard warning, Raposo put together little offence of note throughout the fight.

    One judge, Dave Tirelli, however, seemed to be watching a completely different fight and awarded the bout to Raposo with a 29-28 score. The remaining two judges, however, scored the fight for Lima, earning him a split decision.

    The score in Raposo’s favor, however, was enough to get Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, on the commentary desk for UFC 302, to openly criticize officiating and scoring of fights.

    “I’ve really been an advocate for open scoring and more judges,” Rogan said. “I think three judges is too few.” He also said that “they should be ashamed” to produce a scorecard in favor of Raposo.

    Daniel Cormier also echoed Rogan’s sentiments, heavily criticising the judge with the errant scorecard – Dave Tirelli.

    MMA Community Goes Off On Judge Who Scored Fight For Mitch Raposo Over Andre Lima At UFC 302

    This was Lima’s first fight following his UFC debut, which he won in peculiar circumstances by disqualification after opponent Igor Severino bit him.

    Raposo, who was making his UFC debut, saw a four-fight win streak snapped with this loss.

  • ‘Poirier By Guillotine!’ – Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 302 From The MMA Community

    ‘Poirier By Guillotine!’ – Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 302 From The MMA Community

    UFC 302 is almost upon us, and many in the mixed martial arts community have been posting some late takes on the event.

    The promotion hosts its latest pay-per-view card from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tonight, where it could mark last chance saloon in Dustin Poirier’s hopes of achieving undisputed championship status in the UFC lightweight division.

    Headlining UFC 302, Poirier is tasked with bringing an end to the reign of Islam Makhachev, a feat that then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski failed to achieve in two attempts last year.

    The co-main event also boasts considerable stakes, as former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland looks to remain within touching distance of the belt. Having missed out on an immediate rematch with Dricus Du Plessis, “Tarzan” must stall the ambitions of Paulo Costa, who is facing the prospect of a long journey back up the ladder should he move to 0-2 in 2024.

    Also on the lineup, fan favorite Kevin Holland makes the walk as a middleweight once again, top 10 heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida completes a quick turnaround following his first UFC loss this past March, and Randy Brown looks to open the PPV main card in style opposite Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    To prepare yourself for tonight’s event, catch up on the latest betting odds here, look back on the faceoffs from Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins here, and follow along with the results and highlights here, live from 6:15 PM ET.

    MMA Community Gives Final Thoughts On UFC 302: ‘Poirier By Guillotine!’

    UFC 302 will get underway shortly, meaning the buildup and time for talking is almost over.

    The MMA community is sure to be locked in and engaged in hot discussion over the events that unfold in the coming hours, but throughout today, plenty have been getting in their late predictions and final thoughts on the momentous occasion. 

    https://twitter.com/SkylarSton311/status/1796958228367941842

    https://twitter.com/elchacaboxing/status/1796956132889727220

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  • VIDEO: Look Back On Islam Makhachev’s Journey To Lightweight Title Glory Ahead Of UFC 302 Return

    VIDEO: Look Back On Islam Makhachev’s Journey To Lightweight Title Glory Ahead Of UFC 302 Return

    UFC 302 headliner Islam Makhachev left a path of destruction in his wake en route to having gold wrapped around his waist for the first time in mixed martial arts’ premier promotion.

    The UFC lightweight champion will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with recording a third successful title defense at the expense of divisional veteran Dustin Poirier.

    Makhachev had long been touted as a likely successor to his friend, coach, and mentor, the great Khabib Nurmagomedov. A 10-fight win streak that included victories over Arman Tsarukyan, Drew Dober, and Dan Hooker, as well as main event triumphs at the expense of Thiago Moisés and Bobby Green, eventually landed the Dagestani his first shot in 2022.

    With the vacant gold on the line, Makhachev made the most of it at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, where he dropped and submitted Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira. He’s since cemented his grip on the crown with two successful defenses at the expense of then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion looked back on Makhachev’s journey to title success at 155 pounds in a video on its official YouTube channel.

    There remains plenty for Makhachev to achieve inside the Octagon, and by the sounds of things, that includes potential two-division supremacy down the line.

    But before turning his attention to the welterweight division and Leon Edwards’ championship belt, the Dagestani standout still has some work to do at lightweight, starting against Poirier on June 1.

  • Daniel Cormier Urges Michael Chandler To Go Hard At Conor McGregor During UFC 303 Dublin Press Conference

    Daniel Cormier Urges Michael Chandler To Go Hard At Conor McGregor During UFC 303 Dublin Press Conference

    Monday sees Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler come face-to-face for the first time since they coached The Ultimate Fighter.

    From that point, it was a long time before their fight was official for UFC 303 on June 29, so both men have had a long time to think about one another.

    On the series itself, things remained fairly relaxed between them for the most part as Chandler didn’t get too heated or bothered by anything McGregor said.

    The only time that there was clear tension was when McGregor’s team weren’t doing well in the tournament, so “The Notorious” was particularly on edge.

    Daniel Cormier, however, believes that Chandler needs to flip the script.

    Cormier Says Chandler Should Stand Up For Himself More At UFC 303 Press Conference 

    During a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA, Cormier said that he needs to see something different from Chandler at the press conference.

    In his opinion, “Iron” Mike made it too easy for McGregor to call the shots and run the show during their interactions on TUF.

    He called for Chandler to put his foot down at the 3Arena in Dublin, even if it means exaggerating his own worth in this fight.

    Not letting the Irishman control the narrative over how important Chandler is to this fight will not be easy, but it’s what “DC” wants to see from him.

    “Conor grabs him by the face and Conor’s almost like talking down to Michael the whole time. It is on Michael Chandler to go to Ireland, show Conor McGregor, like, ‘Hey, I understand who you are, I recognize that you are the A-side of this deal, but you do not get to treat me as I’m just a supporting cast. This thing doesn’t go off without me.’ Maybe that is overstating his value, it might be but overstate your value, make this man realize that he cannot treat you as a subservient, like, ‘I’m not there to be the guy that elevates you.’”  

  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Postponed After Boxing Legend’s Recent Health Scare

    The planned boxing showdown between YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson won’t be going ahead this summer.

    Paul and Tyson were due to do battle at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 20, headlining the very first live combat sports event to be broadcast on the Netflix streaming platform. 

    The bout immediately drew controversy upon its announcement owing to the three-decade age disparity between the former Disney star and the boxing legend, who will be 58 by the time the originally planned fight date rolls around.

    And backlash to the professional contest increased recently when “Iron Mike” experienced a health scare while on a flight from Los Angeles to Miami, with images emerging of the veteran boxer in a wheelchair.

    That issue, revealed to be ulcer flare-ups, has now caused a postponement.

    Netflix took to social media to announce the news, noting that the matchup will be kept together and instead take place toward the end of the year. The venue is expected to remain the same.

    “Unfortunately Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will not face-off on July 20 as planned. Tyson’s recent ulcer flare up has limited his ability to train fully for the next few weeks. The fight will be rescheduled for a date later this year after Mike’s able to resume training with no limitations and both fighters can have equal time to prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup! Stay tuned for the new fight date to be announced by the end of next week.”

    The postponement comes after the pair had already completed a brief media tour promoting the now-scrapped summer clash in “The Lone Star State.”

    Reacting to the news in a statement posted by his Most Valuable Promotions, Paul backed the decision to delay the match until Tyson is able to resume full training following his health issues.

    “I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” Paul said. “My fans know I don’t want to face ‘Iron Mike’ at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake – when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish. Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup.”

    It appears the cancellation will also lead to a delay for the undercard fights, including the planned co-headlining championship rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

  • UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffs & Full Stream

    UFC 302 takes place on Saturday night, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    The upcoming pay-per-view event at Newark’s Prudential Center provides a chance for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev to further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    If the Dagestani is to move closer to his desired status as the greatest of all time, he must get through Dustin Poirier, who is shooting for the undisputed throne for the third time having previously fallen short against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.

    The stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland enters the cage for the first time since a tight decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis in their championship headliner in Toronto this past January. To stake his claim for a shot earning two-time status in the UFC, Strickland must stall Paulo Costa’s push for another opportunity at the 185-pound gold.

    Ahead of the event, 23 out of the 24 fighters successfully made weight, with André Lima’s sizable four-pound miss marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight has remained intact, and all that remained on Friday was for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 302 ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a full replay via the official UFC YouTube channel below, followed by all the faceoffs!

    UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    UFC 302 Ceremonial Weigh-In Faceoffsj

  • Israel Adesanya Breaks Down The Difference Between Islam Makhachev & ‘Scary To Watch’ Khabib Nurmagomedov As Fighters

    Israel Adesanya Breaks Down The Difference Between Islam Makhachev & ‘Scary To Watch’ Khabib Nurmagomedov As Fighters

    It was always going to be a tall order for Islam Makhachev to live up to what Khabib Nurmagomedov was able to accomplish in the UFC. However since “The Eagle” retired with his undefeated record intact, Makhachev at three years younger has started to take over at 155 pounds.

    The current lightweight champion can match his coach and training partner’s total title defenses at three this weekend if he is able to beat Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302.

    Despite coming from the same area, team, and dominating style of wrestling, there are some clear differences between the two men…

    Adesanya Says Makhachev Is A Better Striker, But Khabib Was A ‘Savage’

    Potentially due to being the younger of the two, Makhachev has been able to advance his game further than Nurmagomedov in the eyes of some.

    Many point to him being a much better and more natural striker than the former champion, as echoed by Israel Adesanya in his recent breakdown video of Saturday night’s event.

    Despite the improvements that the current titleholder has made in this area, Adesanya also pointed out that there was something that Nurmagomedov had that made him special.

    Something that you can’t teach even to fighters that follow the exact same path as “The Eagle.”

    “I think he’s got better striking than Khabib, but he’s not as — Khabib was just a savage, bro. He was a crazy man, it’s different. He’s just a mauler,” Adesanya said. “What was the one I watched live? (Edson) Barboza, that one. When I saw that live and the pace he put on him, even after eating the wheel kick… that was scary to watch.

    “Makhachev is more clean, more polished, even more dynamic than Khabib,” Adesanya continued. “But yeah, if I’m going to put money on this fight, I’m going to go Islam Makhachev, but look, my heart tells me I want Dustin (Poirier) to win.”     

  • UFC 302 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier, Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa, & More

    UFC 302 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, June 1, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be the returning Islam Makhachev, who makes the walk for the first time in 2024 having not competed since his second successful title defense against Alexander Volkanovski last October. In “Brick City,” the Dagestani must withstand the threat of fan favorite Dustin Poirier.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see former middleweight kingpin Sean Strickland back in action. If he’s to earn a potential shot at redemption against Dricus Du Plessis, the outspoken American will have to get past Paulo Costa.

    Also in action on Saturday night will be the always entertaining Kevin Holland, top 10 heavyweight Jailton Almeida, and formerly ranked lightweight Grant Dawson.

    Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 302 main card here.

    UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 302 (as of 5/31), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Islam Makhachev (-600) vs. Dustin Poirier (+440)
    • Sean Strickland (-265) vs. Paulo Costa (+215)
    • Kevin Holland (-290) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (+235)
    • Niko Price (+210) vs. Alex Morono (-258)
    • Randy Brown (-180) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (+150)

    Preliminary Card:

    • César Almeida (-118) vs. Roman Kopylov (-102)
    • Jailton Almeida (-325) vs. Alexandr Romanov (+260)
    • Grant Dawson (-520) vs. Joe Solecki (+390)
    • Phil Rowe (+136) vs. Jake Matthews (-162)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Mickey Gall (+300) vs. Bassil Hafez (-380)
    • Ailín Pérez (-192) vs. Joselyne Edwards (+160)
    • André Lima (-285) vs. Mitch Raposo (+230)

    Be sure to keep it right here on MMA News tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 302!

  • Jailton Almeida Reveals Sizable Helping Hand Ahead Of UFC 302 Return: ‘He Watched My Fights & Had Some Comments…’

    Jailton Almeida Reveals Sizable Helping Hand Ahead Of UFC 302 Return: ‘He Watched My Fights & Had Some Comments…’

    Heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida has an important contest awaiting him at UFC 302 this Saturday night. 

    On the preliminary card of the upcoming pay-per-view event, set for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Almeida is tasked with defending his position in the rankings against Alexandr Romanov.

    “Malhadinho” is in need of regaining some of the hype he entered 2024 with as a fighter yet to taste defeat inside the UFC Octagon. Those who touted the Brazilian for championship success at heavyweight had to hold their horses after Curtis Blaydes hammer-fisted his way to a TKO win at UFC 299 this past March.

    Having escaped relatively unscathed, Almeida pursued a quick turnaround so that he can go someway to righting the wrongs from his unsuccessful outing in Miami. He gets the chance on June 1 when he shares a lineup with some major names again.

    Among them is lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who will have the great Khabib Nurmagomedov back in his corner for the UFC 302 main event. And it seems “The Eagle’s” presence in “Brick City” has benefitted Almeida…

    Almeida ‘Absorbed’ Tips From Khabib Ahead Of UFC 302

    During his appearance at UFC 302 media day on Wednesday, Almeida looked ahead to his upcoming assignment and briefly turned his attention to the man around whom the card was built.

    After noting his positive thoughts on both Makhachev and his team, the Brazilian heavyweight revealed he crossed paths with and received some advice from the champ’s mentor, Khabib.

    “I’ve always been a big fan of Makhachev. As everyone knows, I’m a fan of that school. I’m a fan of that style,” Almeida said. “I’m a huge Khabib fan. I crossed paths with him doing some training and I really got emotional about it. (He’s) just somebody I’ve always admired.

    “I actually found out that he watched my fights and had some comments on my fight. So, I was just there absorbing all the tips, and the fact that he actually watched my fights, and I’ve watched him train as well, so I saw some things,” Almeida added

    Almeida has been criticized in recent times for his grappling approach, most notably following a lackluster five-round contest with Derrick Lewis last November. During it, “Malhadinho” amassed heavy control time but neither inflicted heavy damage on “The Black Beast” nor attempted submissions.

    Given that Khabib thrived in that regard on the ground, perhaps “The Eagle” provided some encouraging words that could bring Almeida back to his finishing ways at UFC 302.

  • Sean Strickland Berates MMA Judges Months On From Narrow UFC Title Loss: ‘They’re Just Government Officials Collecting A Paycheck’

    Sean Strickland Berates MMA Judges Months On From Narrow UFC Title Loss: ‘They’re Just Government Officials Collecting A Paycheck’

    Sean Strickland still believes that he was screwed over by the judges in his last fight at UFC 297 in January.

    The then-middleweight champion lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis in his first defense via the scorecards in Toronto, Canada.

    Judge Sal D’Amato scored the fight in Strickland’s favor, giving him rounds one, three and five. Derek Cleary and Eric Colon, meanwhile, saw the fight going the opposite way and both scored the middle rounds to Du Plessis, giving Strickland the first and final rounds.

    The former champion has been very honest about how he believes there was potential bias and judges being influenced incorrectly that went against him on that night.

    Sean Strickland BlamesJudges For His Loss At UFC 297, Calls Out How Easily Influenced They Are

    In a fight week interview with Daniel Cormier ahead of his return this weekend at UFC 302, Strickland spoke about his views on the judges.

    Cormier had questioned whether Strickland’s losses to the likes of Du Plessis and Jared Cannonier could be an issue in this fight with Paulo Costa owing to the fact he narrowly loses rounds despite not taking too much damage.

    In Strickland’s opinion, it’s not his actions in these fights that are the problem, it’s the judges, the way they score the fights, and how easily influenced they are by corners.

    “It also comes down to bad f****** judges that like, you know, they see guys throwing output and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s doing good.’ Like, what? No. Even when I fought Jared, and Jared’s a good guy, he’ll throw a combination, I block every single one of them and his corner is like, ‘That’s good, that right hand landed,’ and I’m like, what do you f****** know, didn’t even f****** touch me. But, you know, you have stupid a** judges that are like listening to the corners, as much as they don’t say that, whenever you have a corner saying, ‘You’re winning, you’re throwing punches,’ and the judge is like, ‘He must be winning, his corner is saying so.’

    “Dude, judges don’t give a f*** bro, look at judging like a lot of times, they don’t even watch the fight. They don’t give a f***, they’re just government officials just f****** collecting a paycheck.”          

  • MMA News Today: Ryan Garcia’s Team Claims Supplements Used Before Devin Haney Fight Tested Positive For Ostarine, Paulo Costa Gets Twerking Lessons From Fellow UFC 302 Fighter, & More

    MMA News Today: Ryan Garcia’s Team Claims Supplements Used Before Devin Haney Fight Tested Positive For Ostarine, Paulo Costa Gets Twerking Lessons From Fellow UFC 302 Fighter, & More

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

    • Garcia’s team claim ostarine ingestion was unintentional 
    • Costa gets some fight week lessons in
    • Aliskerov misses out on another big fight

    Ryan Garcia’s Team Explains Why They Believe Positive Test Was Caused By Tainted Supplement

    Ryan Garcia’s team have put out a statement in response to the recent findings regarding his testing results for his win over Devin Haney.

    After his A sample tested positive for ostarine, the B sample was sent away and came back with the same result, which appeared to make it a lot harder to defend.

    Garcia’s team believe that this was caused by a tainted supplement, as spoken about in the message that was put out there following the latest update.

    “This confirms what we have consistently maintained: Ryan was a victim of supplement contamination and has never intentionally used any banned or performance-enhance substances. Any claims to the contrary, questioning Ryan’s integrity as a clean fighter, are unequivocally false and defamatory.”

    The statement also provides several examples of why they believe that this is the case.

    It lists the likes of Garcia’s previous track record for voluntary testing, the small traces of ostarine that were found, his other pre-fight tests, and his clean hair sample as points that prove his innocence.

    Paulo Costa Receives Twerk Training From UFC Bantamweight Ailin Perez During UFC 302 Fight Week

    For a Paulo Costa fight week, UFC 302 appears to have been relatively plain sailing thus far, even if weigh-in day is still to come.

    Things can get confusing and crazy very quickly when he’s set to be in action, but in Newark, “Borrachinha” hasn’t been the instigator.

    In fact, the only thing that screams Costa fight week was a recent video that surfaced online of him being given twerking lessons from a fellow member of the roster.

    Ailin Perez caused some discussion last November after she twerked inside the Octagon following her win over Lucie Pudilová.

    From the fighter hotel, Perez has now passed this knowledge on to Costa by giving him step by step instructions.

    https://twitter.com/ChampRDS/status/1796344861614014692

    Rising Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov Has Yet Another Fight Canceled

    Highly regarded middleweight Ikram Aliskerov has had another fight slip through his fingers in 2024.

    He was booked to face André Muniz on June 16 but a report from Laerte Viana announced that Muniz was out of the fight.

    Aliskerov was named MMA News’ Newcomer of the Year for 2023 following two devastating performances inside the Octagon that should have led to big things in the near future.

    The UFC has certainly tried to make that happen but bouts against the likes of Paulo Costa, Nassourdine Imavov, and Anthony Hernandez have all fallen apart during his time in the promotion.

    Aliskerov posted on social media to suggest that he will be staying on the card, providing that the UFC can find him a replacement opponent.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses Big

    UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Weigh-In Results: One Fighter Misses Big

    UFC 302 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After a trip back to Brazil for the May pay-per-view, the promotion is back on United States soil for its latest numbered event. This time, Newark’s Prudential Center will play host to a 12-fight lineup that is topped by championship stakes.

    In Saturday’s main event, Islam Makhachev will look to tie his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson’s record three consecutive title defenses. To do so, the Dagestani must stall the ongoing undisputed ambitions of Dustin Poirier.

    Co-headlining, meanwhile, is a pair of prominent middleweight contenders in former champion Sean Strickland and one-time challenger Paulo Costa. Having failed to secure an immediate rematch with Dricus Du Plessis, “Tarzan” will look to keep his name close to the throne at the expense of “Borrachinha.”

    Elsewhere, the likes of Kevin Holland, Randy Brown, Jailton Almeida, Roman Kopylov, and Mickey Gall will all make the walk.

    UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier Weigh-In Results

    UFC 302 takes place Saturday, June 1, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.

    See above for replay of the UFC 302 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Championship Main Event: Islam Makhachev (155lbs) vs. Dustin Poirier (155lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland (185lbs) vs. Paulo Costa (185lbs)
    • Middleweight: Kevin Holland (185lbs) vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (185lbs)
    • Welterweight: Niko Price (170lbs) vs. Alex Morono (170lbs)
    • Welterweight: Randy Brown (170lbs) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: César Almeida (185lbs) vs. Roman Kopylov (185lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida (241lbs) vs. Alexandr Romanov (265lbs)
    • Lightweight: Grant Dawson (155lbs) vs. Joe Solecki (155lbs)
    • Welterweight: Phil Rowe (171lbs) vs. Jake Matthews (170lbs)

    Early Preliminary Card: 

    • Welterweight: Mickey Gall (170lbs) vs. Bassil Hafez (170lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez (135lbs) vs. Joselyne Edwards (136lbs)
    • Flyweight: André Lima (130lbs)* vs. Mitch Raposo (125lbs)

    *André Lima missed the flyweight limit by four pounds, fined 30 percent of his purse

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61j_2nrgoz0

  • Islam Makhachev Dismisses Claim His Résumé Gets ‘Smoked’ By Dustin Poirier’s: ‘I Beat The Guy Who Beat Him!’

    Islam Makhachev Dismisses Claim His Résumé Gets ‘Smoked’ By Dustin Poirier’s: ‘I Beat The Guy Who Beat Him!’

    UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev isn’t buying into the idea that his résumé and strength of schedule in the sport falls significantly below that of his upcoming opponent.

    Makhachev is set to return to the Octagon for his first assignment of 2024 in this weekend’s UFC 302 pay-per-view main event, where the challenge of Dustin Poirier stands in his way of a third successful title defense.

    “The Diamond” will mark Makhachev’s first defense against an established contender at 155 pounds. To date, the Dagestani has pushed past the threat of featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski on two occasions since ascending to the throne.

    Makhachev will enter Saturday’s headliner as a sizable favorite and with many branding him the clear better fighter. One area that some believe he’s inferior, however, is the matter of résumés.

    Former champion Michael Bisping went as far as to say that Poirier’s “smokes” that of the reigning lightweight kingpin during UFC 302 fight week.

    Makhachev: Résumé Criticism ‘Does Not Make Sense’

    During a recent interview with former two-division champion Daniel Cormier, Makhachev was asked how he perceives criticism of his journey to the lightweight gold and suggestions he’s yet to face the best on offer at 155 pounds.

    In terms of a direct comparison with Poirier, the Dagestani noted that he was able to handily submit Charles Oliveira in their 2022 title fight. Months earlier, “The Diamond” was forced to tap against the Brazilian.

    “Brother, it (does) not make sense,” Makhachev said. “I beat the guy who who beat him too. I agree with this, there’s more big names on his list. But it means nothing.”

    Makhachev also went on to suggest that focus on his strength of schedule en route to the title is unfair owing to a struggle to secure high-profile opponents.

    “Brother, how many times you remember somebody calling my name when I (wasn’t) champion? I don’t remember some guys who are on top calling my name, ‘I want to fight with Islam.’ All my life I had that problem. But finally I finished this, now people want the belt.”

    Regardless of people’s perception, Makhachev has the chance to add another major name to his list of victims inside the Octagon this weekend at Prudential Center.

  • Highly Touted Ikram Aliskerov Has Fourth UFC Fight Canceled In Less Than A Year

    Promising UFC middleweight prospect Ikram Aliskerov is in need of a new opponent — again.

    Aliskerov arrived on MMA’s biggest stage as a highly touted name in 2023. That was after he impressed by earning a kimura submission during an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series the year prior. 

    The Russian, whose sole loss to date came at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev under the Brave CF banner back in 2019, then made a splash inside the Octagon on debut when he brutally knocked out Phil Hawes.

    But making it to the cage since then has been tough, with Aliskerov subsequently having bouts against both Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov fall through. 

    He eventually kept his ball rolling at UFC 294 last October with a violent stoppage against Warlley Alves. Those two performances helped the 31-year-old Dagestani collect MMA News’ Newcomer of the Year award for 2023.

    But the new year hasn’t brought with it better luck in terms of matchups…

    Having already missed out on a major clash with ranked middleweight Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298 this past February, it was recently revealed by Laerte Viana that André Muniz has pulled out from their scheduled contest in a few weeks’ time.

    Aliskerov Hints At Replacement Opponent For UFC Fight Night On June 15

    The Brazilian’s withdrawal means Aliskerov has now had four matchups fall through in under a year. While that has no doubt stalled his planned surge up the middleweight ladder, the Russian appears confident that he’ll still be making the walk on June 15.

    In response to the cancellation, Aliskerov took to social media and hinted at a replacement opponent being in the works for the UFC Fight Night at the Apex next month.

    It remains to be seen who the UFC will place opposite Aliskerov on short notice, but it stands to reason that he won’t be getting the kind of high-profile foe he was due to face.

    Regardless, he’ll have his sights set on another standout performance that will hopefully finally see him have a prominent booking stay together all the way to fight night.

  • Israel Adesanya Advises Paulo Costa On How He Can Beat Sean Strickland At UFC 302

    Israel Adesanya Advises Paulo Costa On How He Can Beat Sean Strickland At UFC 302

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has laid out Paulo Costa’s path to victory over Sean Strickland this weekend.

    Adesanya will no doubt have a keen eye on Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view event in Newark, New Jersey, where two of his former opponents are set to do battle in a five-round co-main event.

    Months on from his rule over the division coming to an end in his first defense at UFC 297, Strickland will look to earn a shot at championship redemption at the expense of one-time title challenger Costa. 

    When it comes to breaking down the skillsets of both men and their best hopes of having their hand raised inside Prudential Center, nobody is better placed than “The Last Stylebender.”

    Adesanya Explains What Costa Must Do At UFC 302

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya provided his thoughts and predictions on this Saturday’s numbered event.

    Having prepared to throw down with Strickland himself and shared the Octagon with “Tarzan” for 25 minutes, “The Last Stylebender” is in a strong position to offer some advice for another of his former foes in Costa.

    “Costa, to win — what would Costa have to do? He’ll have to be aggressive, use body kicks, and also just use his jab. Even if he might not land all of them, or some of them, use his jab as well. Go jab for jab with Strickland,” Adesanya said. “And also mix up the grappling, just to get him (Strickland) tired as well.”

    Adesanya evidently isn’t too confident in Costa following the advice to a tee, though, as he went on to predict victory for Strickland at UFC 302.

    That could pave the way for a potential rematch between the Nigerian-New Zealander and his most recent opponent. Adesanya is expected to serve as the first challenger to Dricus Du Plessis later this year, where a win could set up a second dance for either man opposite a victorious “Tarzan” on Saturday night.

  • Jalin Turner Attributes Hesitation To Finish Renato Moicano At UFC 300 To Late Stoppage In Bobby Green Fight: ‘My Conscience Kicked In…’

    Jalin Turner Attributes Hesitation To Finish Renato Moicano At UFC 300 To Late Stoppage In Bobby Green Fight: ‘My Conscience Kicked In…’

    Jalin Turner was on the verge of beginning an impressive win streak by defeating Renato Moicano at UFC 300 and reclaiming his position as a promising contender in the lightweight division. 

    However, this is not how things went and many believe it to be because of Turner walking off after knocking down Moicano toward the end of the first round.  Instead of getting on top and getting a likely TKO win, Turner turned away as if the fight was over.

    Moicano, on the other hand, was far from knocked out and quickly got back up on his feet. Despite being wobbly, Moicano survived the last 15 seconds and ended up winning the fight via TKO in the second round. 

    Turner’s decision to not follow up with ground and pound was widely criticized. Looking back at it, the fighter has finally revealed what was going through his mind in that moment…

    ‘Rampage’ Jackson Correctly Predicts Why Turner Didn’t Finish Moicano At UFC 300

    Turner recently appeared on the Jaxxon Podcast, hosted by former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson. “Rampage,” who was a devastating KO artist during his prime, was able to accurately make out how Turner’s controversial TKO win over Bobby Green affected his mentality. 

    “I’ve been thinking about this. I think I know why you walked off [against Moicano]. ‘Cause the last time the referee took his damn time stopping the fight and you such a good guy, you didn’t want to hurt nobody.”

    As it turns out, this is exactly what stopped Turner from going for the finish against Moicano.

    He recollected the backlash he received after the fight with Green as he landed several shots before the referee finally stepped in, even after it was apparent that Green wasn’t fighting back at all. 

    “That’s exactly what it is. My conscience just kind of kicked in a little bit, like mid-fight.

    “My conscience really kicked in the fight, like even before the fight, I didn’t, like, fully, like, get to that, ‘Oh, I gotta like kill this dude instinct.’ I was just like, it’s a fight. I’m just, ‘Go, do a like, you know, just go perform,’ and yeah, that’s what happened.”

  • Former UFC Champion Tells People To Take It Easy On Conor McGregor For Party Video: ‘If That’s His Wife & They’re Hanging Out…’

    Former UFC Champion Tells People To Take It Easy On Conor McGregor For Party Video: ‘If That’s His Wife & They’re Hanging Out…’

    As with any Conor McGregor fight since he became a major star, there is always going to be talk surrounding how dedicated he is for the training camp.

    “The Notorious” has openly admitted that for his return to the Octagon to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, he was cutting corners where he shouldn’t have.

    That version appeared to go away for his subsequent fights against Donald Cerrone and Dustin Poirier but there’s always going to be a big question mark surrounding his hunger.

    These questions about his fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 were not helped by the videos that were released this past weekend of McGregor partying at his The Black Forge Inn until the early hours of the morning.

    However, as a former champion pointed out, this could end up being far less damning than it appears.

    Kamaru Usman Defends Videos Of Conor McGregor Partying During His Training Camp 

    The image of McGregor dancing the night away at his own establishment is sure to raise alarm bells but Kamaru Usman questions whether people have jumped to conclusions.

    Upon seeing the videos for the first time on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, he pointed out two key things.

    Firstly, McGregor isn’t seen drinking or holding any alcohol in the video and secondly, he’s only dancing with his fiancée, Dee Devlin.

    “No, if that’s his wife and they’re hanging out and having a great time and yeah, it’s at least he didn’t have a drink in his hand right? So yeah, he’s blowing off some team, he’s hanging, having a great time partying, if that’s what’s working for him, that’s what’s working for him, I don’t judge.”   

    Usman also questioned whether the video could be an attempt from McGregor to play mind games, forcing people to underestimate him based on what they have seen ahead of June 29.

    “There’s no drink in his hand so listen, Conor McGregor is a smart man, I don’t take anything away from him. I think he’s smart enough to understand that ‘hey, I could play possum here if I need to’, so he could be playing like ‘I’m not training’, he could have just left the gym right here.”   

  • Two Khabib Nurmagomedov Records That Islam Makhachev Is On Track To Break With A Victory At UFC 302

    Islam Makhachev returns to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 302 to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier.

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title and chose to retire, it was hard to imagine how Makhachev was going to live up to his close friend and teammate’s legacy by picking up the mantle.

    Despite Charles Oliveira’s impressive title reign, it felt like an inevitability until the lightweight title was back in the hands of a fighter hailing from Dagestan.

    With two title defenses under his belt now, even if both were against a featherweight moving up, people are now starting to question how far the current champion is away from surpassing the legacy of his coach.

    Some already consider to him be the more well-rounded fighter of the two and a win in Newark will see him push in front of “The Eagle” in a few key areas

    Islam Makhachev Is Starting To Separate Himself By Moving Up The Record Books

    Beating Poirier on Saturday night will see Makhachev tie Nurmagomedov at three title defenses. More importantly, he will surpass his winning streak.

    The likes of Makhachev, Nurmagomedov, Max Holloway, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, and Demetrious Johnson have all managed to win 13 fights in a row inside the Octagon. 

    One more win will push the current 155-pound king away from the rest of the pack into third place for all-time winning streaks behind Kamaru Usman and Anderson Silva.

    According to Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez, he could overtake the former champion for one other record as well.

    “I believe he might very well pass it yeah but he also will pass another record, the most wins when you’re favored,” Mendez said on his podcast. “He’s got 15, they’re tied at 15. Since [the] UFC when you’re favored to win, you win, so if he wins this one, it’ll be 16 wins so he’ll be the leader in that department. I have a feeling before he’s done, he’s going to have a few records added to his arsenal of accomplishments because you know, this guy, he’s silent but he’s very progressive, he keeps advancing.”     

  • Kamaru Usman Sets Record Straight On Potential Jan Błachowicz Fight: ‘I’m No Longer Champion & He’s No Longer Champion…’

    Back when Kamaru Usman was the dominant UFC welterweight champion, he expressed an interest in potentially trying to become a two-weight titleholder.

    It’s the goal that every champion now wants to work toward, but there was one problem with this in Usman’s case. At the time, his friend Israel Adesanya reigned over the middleweight division and the two men had no intention of fighting each other

    Usman, instead, threw the idea out there of him moving up two weight classes to take on the light heavyweight champion, Jan Błachowicz.

    There was even a staredown between them backstage at UFC 276 where, all of a sudden, fans realized that there wasn’t much of a size disparity between them. 

    Kamaru Usman Makes His Opinion Clear On Fighting Jan Błachowicz At Light Heavyweight 

    During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman spoke about this staredown with the Polish behemoth from several years ago, reflecting on how he felt about it at the time.

    Błachowicz responded to the clip on social media, stating that he is still happy to take on “The Nigerian Nightmare.”

    Following Błachowicz’s post, Usman gave his reaction via the podcast where he said that his words were taken out of context.

    The former welterweight champion states that he was talking about his viewpoint at the time rather than currently, where his thoughts on the fight have since changed. 

    “Obviously they didn’t watch the whole pod and they didn’t get the fact where I said then, when he was champion, I liked the matchup because it made sense, we were fighting for something. Listen, I respect each and every UFC fighter that steps in there, in that Octagon, and even with Jan Błachowicz, I respect him, the original ‘Polish Power’. 

    “Big respect for Jan Błachowicz but I thought that matchup favoured me and I wanted that matchup when Jan Błachowicz was the champion and I was the champion. I am no longer the champion, he’s no longer the champion so that fight makes absolutely no sense, it does nothing for me. If I go up there and I beat Jan Błachowicz, what does that do for me? Nothing, it’s just another paycheck.”   

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Islam Makhachev Is Going Into UFC 302 Compromised: ‘I Can Tell You A Staph Infection When I See It!’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Feels Islam Makhachev Is Going Into UFC 302 Compromised: ‘I Can Tell You A Staph Infection When I See It!’

    Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier will fight for the lightweight title at UFC 302, and the official photo shoots have led to many believing that the champion is dealing with a nasty staph infection. 

    Once the pictures went out, fans could not help but notice the apparent infection right under Makhachev’s left knee. This was followed by people searching for Makhachev’s pictures during camp and noticing that he might have had the infection for quite some time because his knee was covered during training. 

    Not just MMA fans, but the likes of Conor McGregor has also been vocal about Makhachev’s infection heading into the fight. Another name on the list is Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, who thinks that the lightweight champ isn’t going to be at his best during the fight as a result of it.

    St-Pierre’s Coach Coach Calls Islam Makhachev’s Staph Infection ‘Pretty Bad’

    While discussing UFC 302 on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Zahabi was asked how Makhachev’s alleged staph infection could influence his fight. The coach first checked out the pictures from the latest photo shoot and was quick to suggest that Makhachev indeed absolutely has a staph infection.

    “That’s pretty bad, yeah. That’s staph my friends. I could tell you. I’m not a doctor, okay? I didn’t go to medical school, okay? But I know staph when I see it. I’ve travelled all over the world. I’ve trained with thousands of people, thousands. I can tell you a staph infection when I see it.”

    Zahabi was clearly stunned to see Makhachev’s leg. He went on to claim that having a staph infection right before such a huge fight isn’t ideal at all, and that antibiotic medication could negatively impact the champ’s performance at UFC 302. 

    “Damn, listen. If he’s on staph meds, and the fight’s this weekend, if that picture was this week, damn, that’s not good news.”

    It is worth noting that Poirier’s last opponent, Benoît Saint Denis, went into their fight at UFC 299 with a staph infection as well. After a strong first round, the Frenchman was knocked out. He claimed that the antibiotics drained his energy and he could only maintain pressure for one round. 

    Could a similar fate be awaiting the current lightweight champion as well?

  • Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Dan Hooker On Latest City Kickboxing Fighter To Go After Alex Pereira: ‘The Amount Of Camps We’ve Done Preparing For Alex…’

    Carlos Ulberg gets a huge opportunity to leap up the light heavyweight rankings after stepping in as a replacement opponent for UFC 303.

    The #11-ranked contender in the division picked up his sixth consecutive win just recently when he stopped Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds.

    He will now be taking the place of Khalil Rountree to face the #3-ranked former champion Jamahal Hill on International Fight Week.

    A win would be massive for Ulberg but it could also lead to a big moment for his team due to the implications of beating the former champion.

    Dan Hooker Says City Kickboxing Is Excited About The Idea Of Carlos Ulberg Challenging Alex Pereira

    Victory against Hill on June 29 could tee Ulberg up for a title shot later on in the year and that means one thing.

    Assuming that the champion doesn’t defend his belt beforehand and lose it, this would lead to the City Kickboxing team going up against Alex Pereira once again.

    The New Zealand-based gym are very familiar with “Poatan” given his four previous encounters with Israel Adesanya but with Ulberg potentially getting himself in the mix at 205 pounds, they have a new match-up to think about.

    On Sky Sports New Zealand, Dan Hooker spoke about Ulberg going on to challenge Pereira if he wins on June 29 and how the team feels about the idea of that happening in the near future.

    “That puts Carlos Ulberg one fight away from a title fight against Alex Pereira so I think… we’re all excited about that cuz yeah, Israel didn’t even know and then Israel, I told him. I said he’s fighting Hill and then he goes ‘and then Alex!’ and then Izzy just got goosebumps man, he was so excited for Carlos.

    “So excited just thinking about that fight as well because like in our opinion, not only do we think Carlos beats Hill, we think he beats Alex as well. We think that’s one heck of a fight but we feel like Carlos has the edge over Alex as well and the amount of camps we’ve done preparing for Alex, we got a pretty solid game plan for that here at City Kickboxing.”      

  • ‘Islam Is Maybe Even Tougher Than Khabib…’ – Paulo Costa, Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Other UFC Fighters Predict UFC 302 Main Event

    ‘Islam Is Maybe Even Tougher Than Khabib…’ – Paulo Costa, Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Other UFC Fighters Predict UFC 302 Main Event

    Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier will fight at UFC 302 for the UFC lightweight title and the champion is a huge favorite.

    Of late, however, Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Alexander Volkanovski have lost their titles in fights that they were favorites to win. 

    And over the years, heavy underdog challengers like Matt Serra, Holly Holm, Sean Strickland, and Michael Bisping have proven the oddsmakers wrong in title fights. 

    Can Dustin Poirier follow suit and finally become an undisputed UFC champion?

    Here are notable UFC fighters providing us with their thoughts on the UFC 302 lightweight title fight.

    Michael Chandler, Kevin Holland, & Paulo Costa Pick Islam Makhachev To Beat Dustin Poirier At UFC 302

    MMA Fighting recently shared a compilation of fighters predicting the winner of the UFC 302 main event. 

    Michael Chandler claimed that Poirier was the most skilled fighter he’s stepped in the Octagon with, but even then, he couldn’t see “The Diamond” surviving Makhachev’s wrestling. 

    “He’ll do all of these different things to win the fight. He’s a certified competitor. With that being said, I think Islam is better than him in every single aspect of the sport, except for the sheer boxing.”

    Paulo Costa went a step ahead and claimed that Makhachev might have a better chin than Khabib Nurmagomedov, which further reduces the chances of Poirier coming out with a win.

    “Islam is maybe even tougher than Khabib, maybe. You know, because he has best, in my opinion, he has good striker, good striking skills. And in the ground and grappling, I don’t need to say nothing. You know he’s unbelievable good.”

    Despite favoring the lightweight champ, Costa agreed this wouldn’t be an easy fight for either side. 

    Kevin Holland also picked Makhachev to win against Poirier but made it clear that the veteran finally getting to complete his story isn’t an impossible outcome either. 

    “So, either way the story can be wrote however, imma be good with it. As long as I get my dub and my check, you know what I mean? I’m good to go baby.”

    Cory Sandhagen looked back at recent high-profile upsets to state that anyone has a chance in MMA – and that doesn’t exclude Poirier. 

    Jailton Almeida though, who’s a huge fan of Nurmagomedov, thinks Makhachev will certainly defend his belt at UFC 302. 

    Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, who’ll face Randy Brown in the first fight on the main card, is one of the few people rooting for Poirier based on the striking advantage.

    Randy Brown, too, had all the praise for Poirier’s ability to come back from adversity. Calling “The Diamond” his inspiration and someone he relates to, Brown hopes that Poirier wins, even though it’s a hard fight for him stylistically.