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  • UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    UFC 302: Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights & Faceoffs

    We’re deep into UFC 302 fight week, meaning it’s time for the top fighters set to be in action on June 1 to take to the stage and answer some questions.

    The MMA leader’s latest numbered event takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where the main attraction will see UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev put his belt on the line against fan favorite Dustin Poirier.

    Setting the stage for the headliners will be a pair of top middleweight contenders, with former champ Sean Strickland looking to bounce back from his title defeat this past January at the expense of Paulo Costa 

    Also on the card, Kevin Holland will make a short-notice return to 185 pounds to throw down with Michał Oleksiejczuk, Jailton Almeida will look to bounce back from the opening loss of his UFC career against Alexandr Romanov, and Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos hope to kick the PPV portion of Saturday’s lineup off in style.

    As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 302 edition saw Makhachev, Poirier, Strickland, and Costa with mic in hand.

    Check out a replay of the presser below via ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and the two faceoffs!

    UFC 302 Pre-Fight Press Conference Replay

    UFC 302 Press Conference Highlights

    UFC 302 Press Conference Faceoffs

  • ‘One Of The Best Grapplers In The UFC’ – Renato ‘Money’ Moicano Talks Up Under-The-Radar UFC 302 Fight

    ‘One Of The Best Grapplers In The UFC’ – Renato ‘Money’ Moicano Talks Up Under-The-Radar UFC 302 Fight

    The UFC returns to Newark, New Jersey this Saturday night for UFC 302, headlined by a huge lightweight title fight.

    When you have names like Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa at the top of the card, it’s no surprise that some other fights may slip under the radar.

    This is something that Renato Moicano highlighted during his recent preview of the card on his YouTube channel.

    One of Moicano’s fellow fighters out of American Top Team is set to be in action in a fight that he believes is a certain pick in favor of his teammate.

    Renato Moicano Highlights Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki, Praises Dawson As Top-Tier Grappler

    On the prelim card, Grant Dawson will look to bounce back from his first defeat in the UFC where he was stopped by Bobby Green in just 33 seconds.

    Up to that point, he was putting together a serious run in the lightweight division and now faces Joe Solecki in an attempt to regain that momentum.

    Solecki, who is coming off of a loss to Drakkar Klose, is known for his jiu-jitsu skills but Moicano doesn’t believe that he will be effective with them on this occasion.

    “Money” said that Dawson is one of the very best grapplers in the UFC right now so even if the fight hits the floor, he will be able to get back to his feet in no time.

    “I’m not seeing him losing, I think he is the lock of the card. Especially because Joe Solecki is a BJJ guy, he’s a grappler, I don’t think he’s a better wrestler than Grant Dawson. I think he’s a jiu-jitsu guy that will try takedowns, will fail on the takedowns, will pull guard or even if he does take Grant Dawson down, he will not be able to control Grant Dawson on the ground because Grant Dawson is one of the best grapplers in the UFC.

    “Maybe you cannot believe in me but I’m telling you, he is one of the best grapplers on the division. I saw him training against Arman Tsarukyan, I saw him train against Mateusz Gamrot, I train with him myself, so he’s very hard to control, very good grappler.”    

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Highlights Aspect Of UFC 302 Fight Paulo Costa Will Struggle With The Most

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Highlights Aspect Of UFC 302 Fight Paulo Costa Will Struggle With The Most

    Ahead of his showdown with Paulo Costa at UFC 302 this weekend, Sean Strickland’s high pace has been predicted to cause “Borrachinha” problems.

    Strickland entered 2024 with the middleweight gold in his possession. But after narrowly losing out to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in Canada — and subsequently having his calls for an immediate rematch fall on deaf ears — the former champion must earn a shot at redemption in Newark on Saturday night.

    To do so, “Tarzan” is tasked with getting past a fellow high-ranked contender in Paulo Costa, who impressed in defeat when making his long-awaited comeback against Robert Whittaker this past February at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

    The Brazilian has noted the importance of notching a finish on June 1 in order to stake his claim for a title shot. But should he be required to go the full distance, Costa has said nothing will stop him from having his hand raised.

    Unsurprisingly, Strickland’s coach isn’t so sure…

    Nicksick Plans To Use Strickland’s Cardio Against Costa

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Nicksick was asked which area of this weekend’s UFC 302 co-main event that he sees as a possible struggle for his man’s opponent.

    The Xtreme Couture trainer pointed to Strickland’s renowned five-round pace as a hurdle that could prove to be too tall for Costa on fight night.

    “I think, to me, the cardio element, the pacing,” Nicksick said. “Sean dictates a certain kind of pace. Even Izzy (Israel Adesanya) said that after the fight. It’s hard to get a rhythm, hard to get a read on him, especially the first time you’ve ever been in the cage with him. So it takes a while for a lot of guys to feel comfortable.

    “Johnny Eblen said it the best. Johnny, the first three or four times he sparred with him was like, ‘Oh my god, this guy is overwhelming.’ It takes you a number of opportunities to start to get a rhythm with him,” Nicksick continued. “A lot of that, for me, is just to lean heavy on that, lean heavy on his awkwardness, and try to maintain that pace and pressure and stay in Paulo’s face; really, stay out of kicking range.”

    Strickland will hope to prove his coach right come fight night in New Jersey. Should he accomplish that feat, a potential rematch against either Du Plessis or his expected next opponent Adesanya could await him.

  • Mickey Gall: UFC 302 Fight First Time Competing Without A Broken Back In Four Years

    Mickey Gall: UFC 302 Fight First Time Competing Without A Broken Back In Four Years

    Mickey Gall hasn’t appeared inside the UFC Octagon for over two years having gone under the knife for surgery. As it turns out, such a layoff was long overdue.

    Gall, who is well known for handing CM Punk a crushing defeat in his MMA debut back in 2016, is set to make his comeback on the early preliminary card of the UFC 302 numbered event this weekend.

    The 32-year-old heads to the Prudential Center in Newark off the back of a lengthy recovery. That’s after committing to surgery following his knockout loss to Mike Malott at UFC 273 in April 2022.

    That result left Gall on a two-fight losing skid and 3-5 across eight fights since extending his then-undefeated record to 4-0 with a victory over Sage Northcutt more than seven years ago.

    But while the New Jersey native has struggled with consistency for a long time, he’s revealed that the past four years of his career have played out alongside a serious injury.

    UFC 302’s Gall Fought Through Back Break That Left Him Unable To Sit

    During a recent fight week interview with UFC.com, Gall previewed his return to action at UFC 302 and looked back on his layoff, as well as the losing form that came before it.

    The once-highly touted prospect revealed that the most recent stage of his career had played out in spite of intense struggles from a broken back. Having finally decided upon surgery and a pause in competition, Gall is back and feeling better than ever.

    “I’m feeling good,” Gall said. “I had back surgery, so I haven’t fought in over two years. I’ve competed for four years with a broken back. Now that that’s done, I feel better than I ever have. So I’m excited to show my full potential.

    “I was so limited before. I was trying to avoid the surgery ’cause I wanted to keep fighting and people were like, ‘Surgery, that could be career-ending.’ But it got to a point where I couldn’t sit down,” Gall continued. “It was tough. Camp went great. I’m not limited anymore. I was limited in my rotation and certain movements. Now, I had a great camp… I feel better than I ever have, truly.” 

    Gall will look to show his improved condition on Saturday night by getting the better of Bassil Hafez. Following a narrow loss to Jack Della Maddalena on debut last year, Hafez is looking to get in the winner’s circle on MMA’s biggest stage for the very first time.

    The bout also presents an opportunity for some slight redemption for Gall, as he was defeated by his UFC 302 opponent at a local grappling tournament a decade ago.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Dustin Poirier’s Beatdown Of Eddie Alvarez In Main Event Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Dustin Poirier’s Beatdown Of Eddie Alvarez In Main Event Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302

    UFC 302 headliner Dustin Poirier got the better of former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez with an absolute onslaught in Calgary six years ago.

    The former interim UFC champion at 155 pounds will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with bringing the reign of Islam Makhachev to an end in the Dagestani’s third defense.

    Poirier is now approaching his third shot at undisputed glory and fourth divisional title fight overall. To earn his first — a win over Max Holloway to capture the interim belt — “The Diamond” battered Alvarez in a Canada-held UFC main event.

    After an illegal knee from the former champ led to their first showdown concluding in a controversial no contest, Poirier left no doubt about his superiority over “The Underground King” when they ran it back.

    In the headlining act on July 28, 2018, both men picked things up after a pedestrian first round, but it was the Louisianan’s strikes that really found a home. Alvarez hung on and absorbed a brutal onslaught before eventually being stopped with 55 seconds remaining in the second frame.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Poirier vs. Alvarez rematch from UFC on Fox 30 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWc1FU115xs

    “The Diamond” will hope to put in a similar performance en route to a long-awaited undisputed title crowning in this weekend’s UFC 302 headliner. 

    Win or lose, the Louisianan has suggested that the June 1 clash in Newark could mark his final appearance inside the Octagon as an active competitor. With that, he could close out his career by checking the final box on his list of accomplishments.

  • MMA News Today: Islam Makhachev Explains Why He Doesn’t Have A Nickname, Dustin Poirier Flexes Impressive Knowledge Of Lightweight Division By Naming Every Champion, & More

    MMA News Today: Islam Makhachev Explains Why He Doesn’t Have A Nickname, Dustin Poirier Flexes Impressive Knowledge Of Lightweight Division By Naming Every Champion, & More

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

    • Makhachev doesn’t mind being the odd one out
    • Poirier takes on a 155-pound history lesson
    • Strickland isn’t happy with the UFC

    Islam Makhachev Is Happy To Fly The Flag For Fighters That Don’t Have A Nickname

    Over the past few years where he has been dominant at the top of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev’s personality has started to come out more.

    The same could be said for Khabib Nurmagomedov who also saw his sense of humour translate more and more as his English improved.

    Makhachev is very much the same and whilst he is incredibly calm and soft spoken, he’s often sarcastic and funny.

    During a recent episode of his podcast, AKA head coach Javier Mendez spoke about how people are getting to know what his fighter is like behind the scenes more.

    He said that he even asked the champion about why he doesn’t have a nickname that would allow people to connect with him even more.

    In Mendez’ words, Makhachev is happy to be the outlier and represent for the fighters that don’t have a moniker.

    “I asked him ‘hey, everybody’s got a nickname, someone’s got this, cowboy, Khabib’s got the eagle, this and that, what about you?’ And he said ‘well, somebody’s got to hold the trend for no name so let that be me, they can have the names, I’ll be the guy that starts a no name. Everybody has a name so why not me have no name, just my name’.”     

    Dustin Poirier Correctly Names Every UFC Lightweight Champion Before Attempting To Become One Himself

    In a video posted by the UFC ahead of his clash with Islam Makhachev this weekend, Dustin Poirier showed his MMA knowledge.

    In Newark, he will look to add his name to the list of fighters that have reigned as the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.

    Before fight night comes around, “The Diamond” was tasked with naming every fighter that has held the 155-pound gold.

    Poirier was impressively able to name all 12 and wasn’t far off doing it totally in order but he did need to circle back to a few at some points.

    The next challenger was able to correctly trace back the belt all the way from Jens Pulver being the inaugural champion to modern day, passing by the likes of BJ Penn, Anthony Pettis and Conor McGregor along the way.

    One name that did give him some pause as the last one he needed to name was Charles Oliveira who he challenged for the belt back at UFC 269.

    Sean Strickland Vents Frustrations With The UFC: “It Doesn’t Do The Right Things”

    With UFC 302 fight week in full flow, it was only a matter of time before Sean Strickland picked his first target to take a shot at.

    The often controversial former middleweight champion is usually found slandering other fighters or even media members but this time around, he chose to get something off his chest.

    In an interview with Daniel Cormier, Strickland spoke out about the UFC itself and how in his opinion, they don’t try to do right by the fighters.

    He was clearly still frustrated by the rocky negotiations for his fight this weekend against Paulo Costa and this isn’t likely be the last time that we hear about it.

    “Here’s the thing, sometimes you’ve gotta be ready to f*cking throw away your entire career if you don’t get your sh*t,” Strickland said. “Just doing the f*cking right things, man. The UFC doesn’t do the right things. It doesn’t f*cking do the right things. It doesn’t do the right things with most of the roster.

    “If you go look at what these f*cks, the guys that run the UFC, what they’re making and what (fighters) get paid, it’s f*cking sh*t, dude. The UFC does not do the f*cking right things,” Strickland continued. “Unless you hold them at gunpoint, they aren’t gonna do it. But that’s all business these days. All these f*cking corporations are f*cking leeches, dude. Look at the working man’s f*cking (pay) gap, bro. My gap is a lot f*cking smalled than your guys’ gap, but that’s how it works. These corporations are just f*cking sucky.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • UFC Legend Frankie Edgar Describes Seeing Islam Makhachev’s Training In New Jersey: ‘All The Stories About Him Are True…’

    UFC Legend Frankie Edgar Describes Seeing Islam Makhachev’s Training In New Jersey: ‘All The Stories About Him Are True…’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar knows the challenge awaiting Dustin Poirier having witnessed Islam Makhachev’s recent preparation firsthand. 

    Makhachev is a couple of days out from his third defense of the 155-pound title and first against an established contender in the division. In the main event of UFC 302, the Dagestani will meet the challenge of Poirier.

    The bout comes after the champ cemented his grip on the crown in 2023 with two victories over then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski, the second of which came by way of a brutal knockout in Abu Dhabi.

    While Makhachev had the crowd on his side in the Middle East, those inside Newark’s Prudential Center will no doubt be cheering for his opposition come fight night, as one of the sport’s biggest fan favorites looks to reach the throne at the third time of trying.

    According to one former champ, however, Makhachev is unlikely to be unseated anytime soon…

    Edgar Sees Makhachev Remaining UFC Lightweight King ‘For A While’

    During a recent interview with John Morgan for Grind City Media, Edgar spoke about his experience training alongside Makhachev and his team at Nick Catone MMA & Fitness in New Jersey.

    While “The Answer” didn’t delve into the details of Makhachev’s pre-fight work, he did note that those who’ve lauded Makhachev’s talent were certainly not exaggerating.

    “I’m just hanging out with these guys, trying to take as much knowledge as I can while they’re down,” Edgar said. “I got them set up with the right people (in New Jersey)… It’s cool just to rub off on these guys, man. They train amazing, you know, bunch of good guys… It was a cool experience for everybody.

    “He’s an animal, man. I’m not gonna say really what goes on behind closed doors, but watching him against some of the guys he’s sparring is impressive,” Edgar continued. “All the stories about him are true, if that makes sense.”

    Edgar also made an appearance in episode three of the UFC 302 Embedded: Vlog Series, further laying praise on Makhachev’s training and ability.

    “It’s go time for these guys. They’re all zeroing in,” Edgar stated. “Islam, he’s just a freak. I see him having this belt for a while.”

    Makhachev will look to prove Edgar, his supporters, and the oddsmakers right this weekend at UFC 302 by becoming the third individual to stall the championship ambitions of Poirier.

  • Dustin Poirier Has More Regrets About Charles Oliveira Title Loss Than Khabib Defeat: ‘I Was Just Outmatched’

    Dustin Poirier Has More Regrets About Charles Oliveira Title Loss Than Khabib Defeat: ‘I Was Just Outmatched’

    UFC 302 title challenger Dustin Poirier is under no illusion about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s superiority on the night of September 7, 2019.

    Poirier is currently days away from his third crack at reaching the undisputed lightweight throne on MMA’s biggest stage, He’s set to challenge the reign of Islam Makhachev in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view.

    Inside Newark’s Prudential Center, “The Diamond” will look to avoid falling to the fate he did opposite Khabib in 2019 and Charles Oliveira two years later. In both the unification showdown with the Dagestani and title bid against the Brazilian, Poirier was submitted in round three.

    While the results read almost exactly the same on paper, the Louisianan fan favorite looks back on them very differently…

    Poirier Acknowlegdes He Wasn’t Ready To Handle Khabib’s Skills In 2019 Title Shot

    During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Poirier previewed what could serve as both his final championship opportunity and last fight overall as an active competitor in the Octagon.

    When assessing his previous title failures, “The Diamond” was asked whether he regrets certain moments in his defeats to “The Eagle” and “Do Bronx” in Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, respectively. 

    “The Khabib fight, not really,” Poirier said. “Obviously I wish I would have performed better and won. But I was just outmatched, outgunned. I can say that honestly with where I’m at with my life and in fighting. I’m comfortable with saying that. I just wasn’t prepared the way I needed to be for what he was bringing.

    “In the Charles fight, there’s more things that I look back at and say, ‘Damn, I shouldn’t have done that… I wish that didn’t happen,’” Poirier continued. “Yeah (mystique played a part against Khabib). I felt that the first time I fought Conor (McGregor) as well. I think I’m past that, the aura of people… fighting not only the person, but the crowd, the media, the critics. I don’t have that anymore. I’m fighting Islam.”

    Following Saturday night, Poirier will be hoping to look back on his third chance at achieving undisputed champ status more positively.

    That will be no easy feat, however, with Makhachev shooting for a record-tying third successful title defense in the UFC 302 main event as a heavy favorite.

  • ‘Brought Out The Retirement Home’ – MMA Fans React To Nick Diaz & Tony Ferguson’s Returns Being Announced For UFC Fight Night In Abu Dhabi

    ‘Brought Out The Retirement Home’ – MMA Fans React To Nick Diaz & Tony Ferguson’s Returns Being Announced For UFC Fight Night In Abu Dhabi

    Mixed martial arts enthusiasts had a variety of reactions in the aftermath of Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson having their UFC returns announced.

    Both Diaz and Ferguson will be looking to return to winning ways at the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on August 3, but in different matchups.  

    The former, who is without a win in 13 years and has competed just twice since a title loss to Georges St-Pierre in 2013, will make his first appearance inside the Octagon since an unsuccessful comeback against Robbie Lawler in 2021.

    While that saw him square off with a fellow veteran, and do so in unimpressive fashion, Diaz’s latest comeback is set to see him throw down with ranked competition in Vicente Luque, who is less than a year removed from a five-round win over Rafael dos Anjos.

    “El Cucuy,” meanwhile, has been much more active in recent years, but equally as unsuccessful.

    Since the start of 2020, the former interim champion has lost seven straight fights, the most recent of which came opposite rising prospect Paddy Pimblett at UFC 296 last December. He’ll look to bounce back in the Middle East by adding to the woes of Michael Chiesa.

    MMA Fans Concerned As Diaz & Ferguson Gear Up For UFC Returns

    While fight announcements for Diaz and Ferguson would have formally been met with intrigue and excitement, that is seemingly no longer the case.

    Instead, plenty of fans expressed concern over the two 40-year-olds returning to the cage, especially given their opponents. A number of fans questioned why the promotion didn’t simply match them together.

    https://twitter.com/MannyP3166/status/1796012207500558810

  • Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland Slams UFC Higher-Ups After Calling Out Low Offer For Paulo Costa Fight: ‘All These Corporations Are F**king Leeches’

    Sean Strickland thinks you’d need to put a gun to the UFC’s head in order for the promotion to do the right things.

    That sentiment came from Strickland’s first outspoken moment of fight week for this Saturday’s UFC 302 pay-per-view, where the former middleweight champion is tasked with getting the better of Paulo Costa in a five-round co-headliner.

    Having lost the title to Dricus Du Plessis this past January, “Tarzan” was firm in calling for an immediate rematch. And it seems things didn’t go smoothly when the promotion slid a different bout agreement across his desk.

    After reports emerged of Strickland and Costa’s targeted showdown in Newark on June 1, the former took to social media to insist that nothing was official due to the UFC offering an unacceptable sum.

    That issue evidently got sorted and Strickland will indeed make the walk at Prudential Center this weekend. But his frustrations don’t appear to have fully dissipated…

    Strickland: Look At What The Guys Who Run The UFC Earn!

    During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier during UFC 302 fight week, Strickland looked ahead to his clash with Costa and spoke on his public complaints during negotiations for the fight.

    Strickland unsurprisingly didn’t avoid stepping beyond the company line, slamming the UFC as just another corporation headed by “leeches” who avoid acting correctly to most fighters.

    “Here’s the thing, sometimes you’ve gotta be ready to f*cking throw away your entire career if you don’t get your sh*t,” Strickland said. “Just doing the f*cking right things, man. The UFC doesn’t do the right things. It doesn’t f*cking do the right things. It doesn’t do the right things with most of the roster. 

    “If you go look at what these f*cks, the guys that run the UFC, what they’re making and what (fighters) get paid, it’s f*cking sh*t, dude. The UFC does not do the f*cking right things,” Strickland continued. “Unless you hold them at gunpoint, they aren’t gonna do it. But that’s all business these days. All these f*cking corporations are f*cking leeches, dude. Look at the working man’s f*cking (pay) gap, bro. My gap is a lot f*cking smalled than your guys’ gap, but that’s how it works. These corporations are just f*cking sucky.”

    Strickland is never far from the headlines during his fight weeks. While that was the case for UFC 297 earlier this year due to his tirade against a reporter who questioned his past anti-LGBTQ comments, the promotion itself is the entity coming under fire days out from UFC 302.

    It remains to be seen what Strickland will produce while on the microphone at Thursday’s press conference, or while throwing down with Costa inside the Octagon.

  • Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Conor McGregor Lays Into ‘Scruffy C**t’ Islam Makhachev After UFC 302 Fight Week Photos Spark Staph Concerns

    Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor was ready to give his uncensored thoughts on a recent discussion regarding Islam Makhachev.

    Makhachev, who has reigned supreme over the lightweight division since his title-winning victory over Charles Oliveira in 2022, is set to make his first appearance of the year this weekend.

    In the main event of the UFC 302 pay-per-view in Newark, New Jersey, the Dagestani will put his belt on the line for the third time. After back-to-back defenses against Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier is next in line for a shot at dethroning Makhachev.

    Given McGregor’s in-cage history with Poirier and hostile relationship with Makhachev’s team owing to his bitter rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, it was always likely that the Irishman would be piping up this week.

    And courtesy of the champ’s official fight week photos, the outspoken McGregor was handed a talking point…

    McGregor Reaches Conclusion On Makhachev Photos

    The release of Makhachev’s photos in fight gear immediately drew concerns over a possible staph infection on his left leg. 

    Such a scenario would be déjà vu vu for Poirier, whose most recent opponent, Benoît Saint Denis, was on antibiotics to fight staph during UFC 299 fight week this past March. 

    McGregor followed his usual trend, taking to social media with a slew of verbal attacks directed at Makhachev, whom he branded a “scruffy c**t.” He also called the champ “imbred,” an insult he’s frequently directed at his Dagestani rivals.

    The Dubliner did, however, still predict a quick triumph for Makhachev come fight night.

    “Staph again. This inbred lives with Staph,” McGregor wrote. “This team is infested, make no mistake. Scruff balls. Whatever ya’s are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”

    In a follow-up post, McGregor continued his tirade with a reminder on the importance of washing mats after training sessions.

    “Yous absolute scruffy f**ks I’m sick of yous,” McGregor added. “Wash your f**king self! Wash your clothes! Wash your mats! And do it f*cking everyday you scruffy c**nts

    McGregor’s upcoming return to action has led to some discussion about the rivalry between the Irishman and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team reopening.

    Should Makhachev retain his grip on the lightweight crown this weekend and McGregor make a statement in his comeback fight opposite Chandler, many are predicting that the UFC will look to pair them opposite one another down the line.

  • Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    Islam Makhachev’s Coach Outlines Why He Feels Dustin Poirier’s Calf Kicks Won’t Be ‘As Big A Deal’ In UFC 302 Fight

    A lot of the talk surrounding Dustin Poirier’s best chances of winning the lightweight title at UFC 302 are about his boxing.

    Of course, keeping the fight standing against someone like Islam Makhachev will not be easy, not to mention the champion’s always improving striking game.

    But if there is one clear area that “The Diamond” has the advantage in, it’s his speed, accuracy, timing and power when letting his hands go.

    Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez recognised this in a recent interview whilst talking about another key area that Poirier may have an advantage in.

    Javier Mendez Says He Isn’t Worried About Dustin Poirier’s Leg Kicks At UFC 302

    When asked during an interview on the Weighing In podcast where he feels that Poirier holds any advantages in this fight, Mendez obviously mentioned Poirier’s boxing.

    Another one of the challenger’s best weapons is his low calf kick which he then uses to set up his boxing combinations.

    These were especially crucial in his previous two fights with Conor McGregor which really showed how Poirier is able to use these two main weapons in unison.

    It’s something that Mendez and the coaches are very wary of but they’re not necessarily concerned about ahead of this fight.

    The American Kickboxing Academy coach said that Makhachev isn’t an easy target for leg kicks, let alone the potential of him being able to secure a takedown if he catches Poirier off balance.

    “Low calf kick is dangerous from him also, very very dangerous because he likes to throw it. But Islam is actually fairly adapt at low calf kicks so it’s not going to be as big a deal unless he catches a good one, which could happen. It could happen but Islam knows how to defend the low calf kick.”    

  • Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    As Joe Rogan said on a recent episode of his podcast, Ilia Topuria didn’t need any additional inspiration to believe that he was going to become the UFC featherweight champion.

    At UFC 298, “El Matador” was crowned after he stopped the 145-pound great Alexander Volkanovski with a ruthless knockout.

    Having not been stopped since his fourth pro fight, Volkanovski has now been on the end of two decisive knockouts in his last two fights.

    The Aussie fighter was already planning to defend his title against Topuria when he got the call to step in on a few weeks notice to move up a weight class and face Islam Makhachev.

    With Charles Oliveira out, a generous offer from the UFC and the chance to earn some revenge after he was beaten by Makhachev that same year, Volkanovski knew he had to say yes.

    Joe Rogan Wishes We Could Have Seen Alexander Volkanovski Face Ilia Topuria Without Fighting At UFC 294

    Whether or not Volkanovski’s performance against Topuria was hindered by his knockout loss to Makhachev four months prior is debatable.

    On The Joe Rogan Experience, elite grappler and coach of Volkanovski, Craig Jones, spoke about this with the UFC commentator.

    Rogan believes that the knockout and quick turnaround undoubtedly affected Volkanovski at UFC 298.

    “This is a short amount of time and then everything kind of falls apart and I think it wouldn’t have fallen apart if not for the rematch. If it wasn’t for the rematch, if he just waited for Topuria, I got to think that head kick has a factor. I mean to get brained like that with a shin to the dome, which is the worst way to get knocked out, it’s so much power in legs.”

    Rogan went on to say that he would have tried to talk Volkanovski out of taking the fight so that he could face Topuria in the best shape possible.

    “It’s so tricky cuz I’m just such a huge Volk fan that I just wish I had his ear. I don’t know if he would have listened to me but if I had his ear…”        

    Read also: ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Paulo Costa’s Bloody Brawl With Luke Rockhold Ahead Of UFC 302 Return

    UFC 302 co-headliner Paulo Costa’s latest triumph inside the Octagon came in memorable and bloody fashion almost two years ago. 

    “Borrachinha” will feature in the co-main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with getting the better of fellow contender and former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

    Costa made his return from a lengthy layoff this past February, squaring off against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in Anaheim. The highly entertaining affair came 18 months on from his previous outing at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City in Utah.

    On that night, the Brazilian welcomed former titleholder Luke Rockhold back to action. While the altitude saw fatigue heavily affect their showdown, the three-round affair still featured a number of notable moments, chief among them being the veteran’s gruesome wipe of his bloody face on Costa in the dying moments.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Costa vs. Rockhold fight from UFC 278 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xajbQsU0tJU

    Be it in a similar fashion or a more comfortable one, Costa will be fully focused on having his hand raised inside the Octagon again this weekend inside Newark’s Prudential Center.

    And given that Strickland entered this year with the gold in his possession, such a feat would no doubt leave the Brazilian within touching distance of a second opportunity at achieving champ status on MMA’s biggest stage.

  • ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    ‘If I Lose This, Will They Cut Me?’ – Kevin Holland Warned Against Negative Thought Process As He Looks To Bounce Back From Two Fight Skid At UFC 302

    Kevin Holland will face Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 right before the five-round co-main event between Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland. 

    Many, including Weighing In hosts John McCarthy and Josh Thompson, believe that this fight is important for Holland to reassure the UFC about his prowess as a title contender and that he’s not just a gatekeeper in the welterweight division. 

    Although Holland is on a two-fight losing streak, this isn’t the first time he’s been in this situation. In the UFC, he’s previously lost consecutively to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori but came back with a KO win over Alex Oliviera. 

    Then, he again lost two fights in a row against Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson, but returned with a KO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio.

    Ahead of UFC 302, Holland finds himself in a similar situation as he’s lost to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page, and here’s what the Weighing In podcast hosts believe he should do to bounce back. 

    John McCarthy Claims Kevin Holland Is A ‘Problem For Everyone’

    While discussing the UFC 302 card on his podcast, “Big” John McCarthy had all the praise for Holland,who is easily one of the most active fighters in the UFC roster. 

    McCarthy agreed that Holland is tough and can create problems for anyone inside the Octagon, and that “MVP” wasn’t an ideal matchup for him in many ways. 

    “Kevin Holland, he’s a problem for everyone. He’s in that position. Against MVP, I thought he would end up having a problem and everyone does, because they don’t realize how fast Michal is. 

    “Oleksiejczuk, I love the guy. He’s tough as hell. He is just a grinding monster. I don’t think he can beat Kevin Holland”

    While McCarthy seemed confident about Holland being the better fighter, Thomson was more concerned about the impact of a losing streak on a fighter. The former UFC fighter explained how each loss adds to the mental burden and even someone like Holland could be affected by it.  

    “Losing to Jack Della Maddalena and ‘MVP.’ Now you’re fighting another guy who’s got a good chin, who likes to put the pressure. But one of my points is, though, that two losses in a row, you start thinking, ‘I’ve never lost three in a row. If I lose this, will they cut me?’ Those are the things that start going through your mind.

    “In a fighter’s mind, you’re thinking to yourself. Three in a row, man, after three, it could be four, and then you really start thinking.”

    Both Thomson and McCarthy then agreed on the fact that the UFC is unlikely to cut Holland even if he loses to Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 – something we can likely all agree on too.

  • Sean Strickland’s Difference In Approach Between Adesanya & DDP Fights Pointed Out Ahead Of Paulo Costa Contest: ‘It Changed Him…’

    Sean Strickland was able to shock the world with his middleweight title win and dominant performance against Israel Adesanya.

    He came in a huge underdog at UFC 293 and was able to successfully implement his style in order to cause all kinds of problems for “The Last Stylebender”.

    Whilst his first title defense was still a closely contended fight, Dricus Du Plessis didn’t have many of the same problems when facing Strickland at UFC 297.

    The challenger still struggled to land anything clean on the champion and of course, styles make fights so he was able to threaten with his grappling more.

    There may be lessons that can be learned from these two fights about Strickland’s trajectory which could end up being crucial in his return this weekend.

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Sean Strickland Needs To Find His Groove Against Paulo Costa 

    At UFC 302, Strickland will face Paulo Costa in the co-main event over five rounds in Newark, New Jersey

    The former champion certainly has some attributes that he may be able to use effectively in this fight but there was also one concern that has been highlighted.

    On the latest episode of the Weighing In podcast, “Big” John McCarthy spoke about how the pressure on Strickland changed massively between UFC 293 and 297.

    McCarthy believes that against Du Plessis, the champion at the time was too reserved and cautious at times and as a result, was unable to control the fight or bully his opponent.

    Forcing a dangerous striker like Costa to back up versus letting him dictate the range and pace could be absolutely vital for Strickland as he attempts to bounce back.

    “The real question is, and you bring up the Izzy fight, I thought Sean went into that fight similar to what I was talking with Dustin, he had no pressure on him. No one expected him to win, there’s no pressure, just go be you and he did. You go and look at the DDP fight, he had a ton of pressure on him and it changed him. He was a lot tighter during the fight, you could see where he was pressing at time. He just was not in that flow like he was against Izzy, he needs to get back to that.”  

  • Chael Sonnen Dismisses Concerns Surrounding Mike Tyson In A Wheelchair Ahead Of Jake Paul Fight

    Since the fight was announced, there have only been more concerns surrounding the current health condition of Mike Tyson.

    “Iron” Mike will be 58 years old by the time that he returns to the ring to face Jake Paul on July 20 and it would be hard to say that he’s treated his body well over the years.

    The latest cause for concern was from a health scare during a flight that was later cleared up with his team saying that he is fine despite becoming nauseous and dizzy before landing.

    Tyson echoed this on his own social media account but this recent occurrence doesn’t seem to be an entirely isolated incident or an unexplainable one-off with little significance.

    Chael Sonnen Says Mike Tyson Being In A Wheelchair Isn’t A Concern Ahead Of The Fight

    Back when the fight was made official, some people raised a red flag over him needing to use a wheelchair in recent times.

    Tyson explained that this was due to him suffering from sciatica, a nerve condition which can cause him to have pain in his legs, making this unrelated to the supposed ulcer flare-up that he suffered from this past weekend whilst heading to Los Angeles.

    Though the wheelchair images have resurfaced since this news broke, and surely will come back around before the fight, Chael Sonnen isn’t too worried about them.

    “The Bad Guy” is always looking to read between the lines when it comes to fight promotion and the narrative that people want to put out there.

    In a recent YouTube video, he spoke about how these old photos are crucial in telling people about this fight.

    “Or you could look at it the other way which is Mike Tyson and a mention of his fight with Jake Paul on Netflix would not have been on TMZ Sport today without that. It very much is a perspective of how you are going to handle it. I mean it would be a very very strange and insincere gesture, if you’re in the position of Jake Paul, to wish Mike well and Jake hasn’t done this but it would be a very strange gesture.”

    Sonnen went on to say that the main marketing piece for this fight is about how the one attribute Paul has over the boxing legend is his youth.

    Therefore by further emphasizing this, it makes the fight more interesting and compelling for potential viewers.

    “This is a massive courageous moment by Mike and now you’re just going to add one more level of courage that you, the average man, couldn’t do. Because when you say that Tyson shouldn’t be able to fight in a month, you’re not really talking about Mike cuz you’re not really like Mike. You wouldn’t have any ability to relate.”       

  • Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier Explains Why He Discounts Makhachev’s Lone KO Loss Ahead Of UFC 302 Title Fight: ‘I Think The Islam I’m Fighting…’

    Dustin Poirier isn’t putting too much stock into the one loss that is on Islam Makhachev’s record.

    “The Diamond” is set to challenge the lightweight champion at UFC 302 and has a huge task ahead of him in Newark.

    The champ has been dominant in most of his fights aside from one setback that happened all the way back in 2015 in his second Octagon appearance.

    In trying to land his own big, looping shot on Adriano Martins, Makhachev was caught by a powerful counter and dropped, with the referee stepping in to wave off the fight.

    In an interview on mainevent for Fox Sports Australia, Poirier said that the lightweight champion is far better than he was nine years ago so he can’t expect Makhachev to make the same mistake twice.

    “I think the Islam I’m fighting on Saturday night is a different guy than we sat in that time he lost. He was kind of fumbling and his weight was over his feet, he was running in kind of goofy and got hit with a good shot but definitely if he’s lunging in and covering space like that recklessly, I’ll throw check hooks all day.”

    Dustin Poirier Says He Isn’t Interested In Fighting Conor McGregor Right Now

    Poirier also spoke in the same interview about where he is at right now in regards to his rivalry with Conor McGregor.

    “The Notorious” is set to return at UFC 303 and seemingly still has unfinished business to attend to with “The Diamond” after their third meeting ended in him suffering the injury that has kept him out for so long.

    For Poirier, he’s happy to have moved on to being back in title contention and trying to realize his dream of becoming the world champion.

    This is his main focus for now but you can’t help but feel that whilst the two men are still in the promotion, you can never say never.

    “I’ve kind of moved past it and I’m fighting for the undisputed world title, that’s the pinnacle of the sport. Fighting Conor isn’t the pinnacle, being the undisputed world champion is the pinnacle so that’s what I’ve been focused on. But I do think he’s going to beat Chandler.”  

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach On How He Can Win More Rounds In Judges’ Eyes & Not Lose Close Decisions: ‘You Almost Kinda Get Lulled To Sleep…’

    Sean Strickland’s Coach On How He Can Win More Rounds In Judges’ Eyes & Not Lose Close Decisions: ‘You Almost Kinda Get Lulled To Sleep…’

    Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa will face each other at UFC 302 and the highly anticipated five-round middleweight fight will serve as the co-main event. Because the stakes are high, Strickland’s coach Erick Nicksick wants to make his fighter’s style more impressive for the judges. 

    Strickland is coming off a bitter title loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 as the fight was razor close and the challenger bagged a split decision win. Costa, on the other hand, went to war with Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 but lost unanimously on the judges’ scorecards.

    Despite losses, both Strickland and Costa haven’t lost credibility as top middleweight contenders, and winning at UFC 302 can put either on the path to the title again. 

    Nicksick expanded on some things in Strickland’s fighting style that he believes can bore the judges, and he hopes not to repeat the same mistakes this time. 

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Shares Lessons From the Du Plessis Fight  

    In an interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Nicksick was asked whether Strickland’s style needs to change so his fights don’t end up becoming close decisions.

    “I think you just have to give more scoring elements, more things for the judges to be able to see, you know. Sean is so predicated off his lead side and his lead hand,” Nicksick said. “You get a death by a thousand paper cuts. You almost kinda get lulled to sleep by the same offensive action over and over and over. So, you know, in the Dricus fight, I think there was a lot of things we could have done better. 

    “I think we could have implemented some more kicks, some more teeps. The one thing that really stood out to me was you know when we hit the switches on the ground. Instead of getting up and popping right back up, there was an opportunity for us to lay some ground and pound on him.”

    Nicksick went on to acknowledge that a more aggressive or diverse approach would help Strickland in not having frequent split-decision fights. Since joining the UFC, he’s been in five split decisions where he clinched victory against three opponents but lost to Jared Cannonier and Du Plessis. 

    Former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski raised similar concerns about Strickland’s fighting style being too defensive and how it affects scoring even though he doesn’t take a lot of damage. 

  • Ariel Helwani Tells Donn Davis The Issue With Disparaging Kayla Harrison Remarks: ‘If You Want To Be Known As The Fighter-First Organization…’

    Ariel Helwani Tells Donn Davis The Issue With Disparaging Kayla Harrison Remarks: ‘If You Want To Be Known As The Fighter-First Organization…’

    Renowned combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani has further expanded on his firm criticism of Professional Fighters League executive Donn Davis.

    Throughout the PFL’s existence, the promotion’s higher-ups gave pushed forth the idea that the SmartCage is the place to be for fighters who want to valued and treated fairly.

    That notion, however, has taken a hit in 2024.

    While the acquisition of Bellator MMA was advertised as the PFL going from strength to strength, the main topic of discussion in recent times has surrounded fighter complaints, particularly from some of those who crossed over as a result of the merger.

    Both Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima have accused the promotion of keeping them sidelined due to the high figures on their contracts, with the former recently released as a result. Elsewhere, Sobah Homasi has bemoaned his struggle at getting reimbursed for medical bills, while both Larissa Pacheco and Cris Cyborg have spoken out about their struggle to secure a fight.

    Most recently, the PFL’s “fighter-first” claim came into question after its founder and chairman opted to fire shots at one of his promotion’s all-time most successful fighters.

    Weeks on from Kayla Harrison’s successful Octagon debut at UFC 300, Davis branded her a “follower who needs validation.” The comments drew significant backlash, with Helwani among the most vocal…

    Helwani Tells Davis: Take A Page Out Of Coker’s Book!

    During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Helwani expanded on his criticism of Davis’ remarks and explained why the NBA analogy he used to fire shots at Harrison made little sense.

    “Don’t get me started on this. This is crazy to me. When I saw that — it’s so crazy to me on so many different levels,” Helwani said. “Number one, the analogy doesn’t even fit… First of all, LeBron (James) left Cleveland to go join Miami and create a super team, and thus he won two championships with Miami. Doesn’t really fit there. But he’s taking a shot at Kayla by saying Kayla is more Kevin Durant… (Saying) the only way Kevin Durant could win a championship is by joining this super power… The analogy doesn’t work for multiple reasons. Number one, Kayla Harrison had already won championships with PFL!

    “Who’s the big fight (for Harrison in the PFL)? Larissa Pacheco (because) she beat her? Guess what, Kayla beat her twice! You want them to fight a fourth time? None of those fights drew a dime!… Cyborg? Okay, first of all, as of right this moment, Cyborg isn’t on the same page as the PFL and is openly complaining. There’s no guarantee that that fight would ever happen as well,” Helwani continued. “Now let’s compare that to the UFC, where you have a slew of new blood, a slew of new faces.”

    Helwani went on to reveal that he’d exchanged texts with the PFL chief after posting a tweet criticizing his remarks about Harrison. 

    Although he didn’t divulge both sides of the conversation, the Canadian journalist outlined the message he tried to hammer home to Davis.

    “I like Donn Davis a lot… (But) if you want to be known as the fighter-first organization, you can’t be taking shots at a two-time gold medalist, a two-time champion in your organization. You can’t be doing that,” Helwani stated. “You need to do what Scott Coker did when Michael Chandler left, who was the face of Bellator. ‘Good luck, we wish you the best, we’ll be rooting for you.’

    “I had a bit of a text conversation with Donn after I tweeted this. I’m not gonna talk about what we talked about, but what I tried to explain to him — I’ll say what I said to him, I won’t say what he said to me — we can debate who’s tougher, Pacheco or (Holly) Holm, Cyborg or (Amanda) Nunes, but here’s what your missing: Kayla Harrison going from 155 to 135 (pounds) is a challenge greater than all these people combined. That’s the part that you’re missing! … That challenge alone is worth our respect. You have to recognize that, Donn. The fact that you’re not, to me, will only tell other fighters and fans, hey, maybe this guy doesn’t get it,” Helwani concluded.

    Davis is yet to publicly comment on his decision to slam Harrison in the way that he did. The PFL chairman has, however, rejected claims that his promotion is failing to honor contracts it inherited in the Bellator takeover.

    Nevertheless, given the recent saga, it would appear that PFL has some work to do if it’s to convince the masses of its legitimacy as a fighter-first promotion.

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC 302 headliner Islam Makhachev made a statement when he last appeared inside the Octagon.

    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 retention at the expense of divisional veteran Dustin Poirier.

    Following his crowning against Charles Oliveira back in 2022, Makhachev put the belt on the line against the same foe twice in 2023, repelling the threat of then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.

    Their first clash in Perth, Australia, was a tight affair, with many even believing “Alexander the Great” did enough to deserve two-division glory. There was no debate, however, when it came to their rematch.

    Following the late withdrawal of Oliveira, Volkanovski stepped up on a few days’ notice and headed to Abu Dhabi to do battle with Makhachev again at UFC 294 last October.

    The champ closed out proceedings in the first round, flooring the Aussie with a vicious head kick before swarming with an onslaught of ground-and-pound for the knockout finish.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Makhachev vs. Volkanovski rematch from UFC 294 on its official YouTube channel.

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

    The Russian will be looking to deliver a similarly impactful performance when he takes to the cage inside the Prudential Center this weekend.

    If he achieves that feat, Makhachev will have gotten past the first challenge to his reign to come from an established contender at 155 pounds. And from there, the likes of Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings.

  • Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Chael Sonnen Doubts Jon Jones’ Theory On Stipe Miocic Training Footage: ‘I Don’t Know A Single Fighter Whose Ego Is Strong Enough…’

    Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen isn’t buying into Jon Jones’ theory on the training footage recently released by heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic.

    Jones and Miocic are expected to collide toward the end of 2024 with the former’s heavyweight belt on the line. They were originally set to do battle last November at Madison Square Garden but an injury to the champion forced a change of plans.

    Since then, the topic of discussion has been the debate over Jones and the UFC’s insistence on keeping the Miocic matchup together over a unification showdown between “Bones” and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.

    The backlash to the decision not to have the two champs square off only increased upon the release of some recent training footage from Miocic.

    But while many expressed concern over what they perceived to be a clear decline in speed from the divisional legend, who has not competed in over three years, Jones theorized that Miocic may have been attempting to instil a false sense of confidence into him.

    A former opponent of the reigning champ’s, however, has dismissed that take and put forth an alternative suggestion…

    Sonnen Doubts Miocic Is ‘Trying To Dupe’ Jones

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen assessed the brief clip Miocic posted online, as well as Jones’ comments on it.

    “The Bad Guy” dismissed the idea that Miocic may have been attempting to deceive the champ, claiming there isn’t a single fighter who would willingly release footage that shows their ability in a negative light.

    Instead, Sonnen believes the explanation is more simple — Miocic just wasn’t competing an explosive training drill.

    “Jon Jones isn’t buying what Stipe Miocic is selling as legit training footage on Instagram,” Sonnen said. “Stipe looks a little bit slow… But I didn’t interpret it as he was going full out. I interpreted that he was working on technique… Jon Jones is talking about, ‘Hey man, he’s trying to deceive me, he’s trying to fool me. He looked slow in that video but he wants me to see that. He wants me to see that he’s slowed down so that I can build (a false sense of) confidence.’

    “One thing that I have learned… There is no scenario that I could imagine that Jon could make the video and/or have the decision over said video to be posted to the world or not, and Jon, whether for delusion or strategy, would allow anyone to put a video out that he did not think made him look good,” Sonnen continued. “I don’t think Stipe was trying to dupe anybody… I don’t know a fighter whose little fragile ego would allow a video to go out where they perhaps could be perceived as anything not positive. I don’t know a single fighter whose ego is strong enough to allow a video to go out on social media that made them look anything other than superhuman.”

    As he begins preparation for his return to action, Jones looks set to be answering plenty of questions regarding his decision to focus on Miocic and dismiss his division’s interim champion. 

    “Bones” has frequently addressed the backlash and defended his preference online, and he’s even chose to mock the interim title bout between Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes set for UFC 304 this coming July in Manchester, England.

  • Tony Ferguson Returns On August 3 To Try & Break UFC Losing Skid Against Michael Chiesa Up At Welterweight

    Tony Ferguson Returns On August 3 To Try & Break UFC Losing Skid Against Michael Chiesa Up At Welterweight

    UFC President Dana White took to social media to announce the stacked main card that is set for the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    Amongst four other fantastic matchups, the return of lightweight legend Tony Ferguson is locked in for what will be his first appearance of the year.

    Ferguson is currently tied for the longest losing streak in UFC history following his tied record for the longest winning streak at 155 pounds at 12.

    Several key details were mentioned by White during his announcement for this next matchup for “El Cucuy,” where he will be taking on Michael Chiesa.

    “Opening the main card is a fight between the legend, Tony Ferguson, moving up to 170 pounds in what could be his final fight to take on Michael Chiesa.”  

    The two major points to highlight in White’s announcement is first of all, that this contest will see Ferguson move to welterweight.

    The former interim lightweight champion has competed at 170 pounds in the past, having faced Nate Diaz at this weight on short notice two years ago and also won The Ultimate Fighter as a welterweight.

    Chiesa is also a former lightweight and TUF winner who made the jump up a weight class back in 2018 and has since fought seven times there.

    He is currently on a three-fight losing streak after winning his first four fights at 170 pounds in impressive fashion.

    Chiesa was last seen at UFC 291 in July of last year, where he was submitted by Kevin Holland in the opening round.

    Ferguson, on the other hand, went three rounds with Paddy Pimblett in December where he was unable to find his groove and show glimpses of the lightweight boogeyman that the fans fell in love with.

    The other key point is that White specifically says, “in what could be his final fight.”

    The UFC boss has suggested in the past that Ferguson should hang up the gloves meaning that Abu Dhabi could be one final ride for “El Cucuy”.

    August 3 will mark the promotion’s first event in Abu Dhabi this year.

  • Nick Diaz Set To Face Ranked Welterweight In Return At Abu Dhabi-Held UFC Fight Night

    UFC veteran Nick Diaz is set for his second attempt at making a successful comeback. 

    Diaz, who became the inaugural Strikeforce welterweight champion back in 2010 and went on to compete for UFC gold against both Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre, has entered the Octagon just once since 2015.

    After a drug test controversy following his bout with Anderson Silva, Diaz didn’t return until UFC 266 in 2021, where he did battle with a fellow vet in Robbie Lawler. The Stockton native was far from his best, ultimately choosing not to return to his feet after being dropped in round three.

    While that led many to call for Diaz’s retirement, he subsequently hinted at further bouts. And his latest comeback is now official.

    This week, UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to confirm the main card for the promotion’s return to Abu Dhabi on August 3. Among the five contests is a welterweight collision between Diaz (26-10, 2 NC) and the #14-ranked Vicente Luque (22-10-1).

    The UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena will be headlined by a bantamweight showdown between former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen and the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of Tony Ferguson, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Mackenzie Dern will all be in action.

    Diaz Targets First Win Since 2011 Against Luque

    When Diaz and Luque collide in a five-round co-main event this summer, both will be looking to bounce back from defeats.

    “The Silent Assassin” was in action more recently, slipping down the pecking order at 170 pounds courtesy of Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City earlier this year. Prior to that, the Brazilian had returned from a brain injury scare by outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in a 2023 main event.

    His opponent, meanwhile, has been without the winning feeling for quite some time. Before a defeat to Silva that was later overturned to a no contest, Diaz had lost two straight title fights against the great St-Pierre and Condit following a decision victory over BJ Penn.

    That result against “The Prodigy” extended Diaz’s win streak at the time to 11, a run that also included triumphs over Frank Shamrock and Paul Daley. He’ll look to return to that winning form at the expense of Luque in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

    With this addition, the main card set to unfold at Etihad Arena is as follows:

    • Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight main event)
    • Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight co-main event)
    • Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
    • Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez (strawweight)
    • Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa (welterweight) 
  • MMA News Today: Conor McGregor’s Coach Sends UFC Plea After Dublin Press Conference Sells Out In Minutes, Benoît Saint Denis Breaks Down Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev, & More

    MMA News Today: Conor McGregor’s Coach Sends UFC Plea After Dublin Press Conference Sells Out In Minutes, Benoît Saint Denis Breaks Down Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For May 29, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Kavanagh calls for the 3Arena to be opened up
    • Saint-Denis says knockout is key for Poirier
    • The all-female promotion is back up and running

    John Kavanagh Calls For The 3Arena To Upgrade Capacity 

    The press conference for UFC 303 and the return of Conor McGregor is shaping up to be a huge moment in the MMA calendar.

    On Monday, The Mac and Michael Chandler will arrive at the 3Arena in Dublin and if there were any doubts as to whether “The Notorious” has still got the backing of the Irish fans, those questions are soon to be answered.

    Tickets went on sale this morning for the event and were free but limited to just two per purchase but that didn’t stop them from selling out in minutes.

    The seating plan for the event shows that as usual for these kinds of occasions, they were only planning to use a part of the full arena.

    McGregor’s own coach, John Kavanagh, said on social media that they should open up the building to accommodate for more seats in order to completely pack out the building for another iconic press conference.

    Benoît Saint Denis Says Dustin Poirier Can Only Win Via Knockout Against Someone As Well-Rounded As Islam Makhachev

    Dustin Poirier earned his shot at the lightweight title following an incredible win at UFC 299 where he was forced to face some real adversity.

    Benoît Saint Denis certainly put “The Diamond” through the ringer before he was stopped in the second round, showcasing his aggression from the very start.

    Poirier weathered the storm and let his striking, specifically his boxing and power, do the talking on that night in Miami.

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Saint Denis said that this will be the same for Poirier this weekend at UFC 302.

    In his mind, he believes that the challenger and his former opponent will only be able to pull off the upset if he is able to stop Islam Makhachev with his strikes.

    “Dustin Poirier is very composed and experienced fighter and I do believe he has the boxing at his side but Makhachev is very well rounded and I do believe he has to watch my fight against Poirier as well as Dustin’s fight with Oliveira. Everybody knows what the game plan is gonna be. It’s gonna be Makhachev trying to submit Poirier and Poirier trying to knock out Makhachev, with Makhachev having a bit more options. Makhachev can knock out or submit Poirier but I see Poirier only having the knockout win. Decision-wise, I also see Makhachev having the physicality to dominate the fight if it goes long.”

    Invicta FC Is Back On June 28 After 8-Month Hiatus And Concerning Reports

    Having not hosted an event since last October, reports were suggesting that Invicta FC was coming to an unfortunate end.

    The all-female promotion has had an incredible impact on the sport by providing an excellent place for fighters to build up experience and prove themselves.

    Despite the concerns for fans, Invicta FC isn’t going anywhere, as was announced by the promotion’s President Shannon Knapp during a recent appearance on Sirius XM.

    Knapp announced that the promotion will be returning home to Kansas City on June 28 where former UFC fighter Talita Bernardo will be defending her bantamweight title against Olga Rubin in the main event.

    Read more on the story here.

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